May 2013

May 31, 2013June 6, 2013

Cubs’ Pitchers Had Problem

The day after I graduated Central High School in 1965, I showed up bright and early to start my Missourian summer internship. To my dismay, my first assignment was to fill in for the sports editor, who was going on vacation.

I confessed to Chuck Murdoch that I knew virtually nothing about sports and was in deep trouble. He took a couple of sucks on his ever-present pipe and a look of relief passed over his face as he realized his job was safe: this was ONE high school kid who wouldn’t show him up. He gave me the crash course in sports journalism (something that I always thought was somewhat of a contradiction in terms).

He explained that the first thing I had to do when I showed up three hours before the rest of the staff was to go to a dropbox on the Broadway door to retrieve an armload of youth league score books the coaches had dropped overnight. I was to take those score books and interpret scratches and scrawls that showed every batter and every play and write a play-by-play of the high spots of the games. I prayed for a tight paper so I could get by with just a game summary.

I got the job done, but I felt like a monk translating ancient scrolls from one language into another. So far as I know, nobody ever complained about my accounts.

Last night I found this comment written by a coach who either had a great sense of humor or a flair for understatement: “Cub’s pitchers couldn’t find the strike zone and walked 22 batters.”

First AP story

I thought it amusing enough I phoned it in to the Associated Press, which put in on the wire. I’m pretty sure that was the first time anything of mine moved on a news wire. It was a real thrill when I heard the clatter of the teletype and discovered that it was my brief that was going out to the world (well, maybe the nation or the region or the state. I don’t remember the codes well enough to know how far it was broadcast. It didn’t win the Pulitzer, I know that.).

I didn’t do too badly covering government and cops, but the society and agriculture beats were a bit of a stretch. I loved it.

May 31, 2013

Another Smelterville Cleanup

Two things were constants in Smelterville: floods and periodic cleanups that accomplished little. I took these photos June 19, 1967.

Arena Building and cute cat captured the news

The photos didn’t run. The bigger stories of the week included the wooden floors being ripped out of the arena building and a picture of a cat in Oshkosh surrounded by ducklings. The paper also warned that the river was coming up and that some lowlands could be covered.

When are this summer’s reunions?

I’ve been trying to find out when some of the Smelterville family reunions will be held, but haven’t had any luck. Last year was the first time the Vine Street Reunion was held, but organizers decided not to hold one this year. If you know of any, please let me know.

Smelterville and South Cape stories

Here are some earlier stories about Smelterville and South Cape:

May 30, 2013

Paul Kaempfer, 1922 – 2002

I could have sworn this photo of Paul Kaempfer ran in The Missourian some time around November 19, 1966, but I couldn’t find it in the Google archives. In fact, except for a couple of short briefs, I couldn’t find much on Paul.

Paul Kaempfer died Nov. 17, 2002

The Missourian DID carry his obituary on November 18, 2002.

Paul E. Kaempfer, 80, of Cape Girardeau died Sunday, Nov. 17, 2002, at Southeast Missouri Hospital.

He was born June 19, 1922, in Cape Girardeau, son of the late Fred A. and Ruby Barks Kaempfer. He and Betty Waddill were married Dec. 4, 1944, in Kirksville, Mo.

World War II vet

He was a World War II veteran with the U.S. Air Force.

He was a member of Grace United Methodist Church and St. Mark’s Lodge No. 93 AF & AM in Cape Girardeau.

Worked at Southeast Hospital 30 years

After working 30 years as plant engineer at Southeast Missouri Hospital, he retired in 1986.

He was also a member of Cape Council No. 20, Cape Girardeau Commandary No. 55, St.Mark’s Chapter No. 167 OES, Cape Shrine Club/ Moolah Temple AAONMS, and a past member of Cape Pilot Club.

Survivors include his wife; two sons, Larry E. Kaempfer of Cape Girardeau and Jim F. Kaempfer of Gordonville; a daughter, Nancy C. Strauser of Cape Girardeau; a stepsister, Lois Flannery of Jackson; three grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.

Garage with graffiti

I see some “Larry Kaempfer” and “L.E.K” graffiti scrawled on the wall of the garage, so I’m assuming that’s Paul’s son. You can click on the photos to make them larger.

May 29, 2013May 29, 2013

Another Mystery Football Game

This undated sleeve had a mixture of football, baseball and youth league baseball in it, sorta like I swept the floor and put all the scraps in it. The only clue I have is that one of the photos shows the Jackson High School band.