Out of the past 1/17/03

10 years ago: Jan. 17, 1993

Several Jackson-area churches will participate this week in observing Week of Prayer for Christian Unity; taking part in weekday prayer breakfasts and other activities will be Emanual United Church of Christ, First Presbyterian Church, Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, New McKendree United Methodist Church, and Zion United Methodist Church at Gordonville.

Two Cape Girardeau men were honored for their work promoting justice, freedom and social betterment through non-violence at Friday's community-wide Martin Luther King Jr. celebration; Michael Sterling and Ferd Sturm received Martin Luther King Jr. Award for 1993.

25 years ago: Jan. 17, 1978

After 38 hours of snowfall, Cape Girardeau residents are coping with 15 inches of white stuff, deepest measurement in state; estimates of actual accumulation are difficult, because of drifts; most of region is immobilized.

Blizzard of 1917 was one for city's history books; as one area farmer bluntly put it years later, "I ain't been thawed since"; on Dec. 8, 1917, snow blanket between 15 inches and 26 inches deep covered area; 1917 blizzard was worst area had seen since 1873; snow remained on ground all of December that year, and all of January.

50 years ago: Jan. 17, 1953

What threatened to become major ice tie-up in Southeast Missouri is being dissipated as some warmer weather wipes out frozen deposit on highways, communication and power lines and trees.

Two workers escape serious injury when gasoline being used for cleaning catches fire at Travelers Oil Co. service station on North Kingshighway; fire is extinguished with hose used for washing automobiles.

75 years ago: Jan. 17, 1928

Preparations are being made for completing erection of steel work between Piers 1 and 2 of Cape Girardeau traffic bridge across Mississippi River; it is expected that span over main channel of river would rest on Pier 2 the latter part of the week; all of wooden falsework has been removed from under span, and one steel tower is dismantled.

Despite application for continuance filed by Frisco Railroad, joint hearing before Interstate Commerce Commission and Missouri Public Service Commission on application of Missouri Pacific Railway to extend its lines to Cape Girardeau will be held Monday; George W. Cross, receiver for Cape Girardeau Northern Railway, was notified that Frisco had requested postponement of hearing for two weeks in order to prepare its arguments in opposition to extension.

-- Sharon K. Sanders