Out of the past 1/14/04

10 years ago: Jan. 14, 1994

Long wait is over; next section of Lexington Avenue -- connecting artery between Perryville Road and Cape Rock Drive -- opens in morning.

Four Southeast Missouri shoe factories are among those that will close operations this year; Brown Shoe Co. will close factories at Caruthersville and Mountain Grove, component plant at Piedmont, and centralized cutting facility at Charleston.

25 years ago: Jan. 14, 1979

Over 2,700 people are expected to attend Missouri Baptist Evangelism Conference, which will be held three days next week at Arena Building; conference will open Monday with Bible study led by J. Winston Pearce of Buies Creek, N.C.

A voluntary fund for construction of new bridge over Diversion Channel near Allenville has been established by anonymous rural farmer, who says he is concerned over poor condition of some rural bridges.

50 years ago: Jan. 14, 1954

Ice locks in Cape Girardeau and much of Southeast Missouri and as result many schools are closed, industries are hampered and travel is hazardous as far south as New Madrid.

General Services Administration has advised Cape Girardeau's Civic 500 that it isn't likely that post office will be built here in near future because no funds are available.

75 years ago: Jan. 14, 1929

Ice gorge partially blocks Mississippi River upstream from Cape Girardeau; city looks like winter wonderland, with streets ice coated from last night's rain and snow flakes in air.

M.E. Leming has been re-elected president of board of directors of Southeast Missouri Hospital; other officers are vice president, W.C. Bahn; secretary, Bess Dudley; and treasurer, George Naeter.

-- Sharon K. Sanders