Out of the past 1/15/04

10 years ago: Jan. 15, 1994

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- Man claiming responsibility for threats and fires against Poplar Bluff Schools called city's daily newspaper yesterday and said he plans violent act at future date against school property.

Work is well under way on transformation of Towers West into modern residence hall; 12-story structure was completely gutted for renovation work, including windows, which have been replaced with double-pane thermal units.

25 years ago: Jan. 15, 1979

Area residents found electric blankets and extra covers useful last night as temperatures continue to average more than 25 degrees below normal for this time of year.

Lagoon in Capaha Park is officially declared safe for ice skating by city's Park Department; measurement of ice on lagoon shows average thickness of five inches.

50 years ago: Jan. 15, 1954

Although far from enough, rain and snow of past few days has given farm hopes new life, with much of optimism around promise of revival of pastures

LEOPOLD, Mo. -- Tony Elfrink inaugurated service on new Southwestern Bell Telephone Co. eight-party line Wednesday at Leopold, calling his brother, Isadore, in St. Louis; it is first telephone call made in Leopold in five years.

75 years ago: Jan. 15, 1929

Ice-coated streets and highways in Cape Girardeau and area demoralize traffic, and communications are disrupted as this section is hit by tail end of northwestern blizzard that for several days has gripped other parts of Midwest; Henry Klaproth, 86, is seriously injured when he slips on ice and falls, fracturing his left hip.

Proposed city plan for Cape Girardeau was given final approval last night by City Plan Commission.

-- Sharon K. Sanders