Out of the past 1/18/03

10 years ago: Jan. 18, 1993

Report published by Cape Girardeau Police Department shows that total number of violent crimes and property crimes in 1992 greatly exceeded 1991 totals; standing out in crime statistics are two triple homicides that occurred during six-week span in August and September.

Light snow blankets parts of Southeast Missouri, prompting some schools that hadn't closed for Martin Luther King Jr. holiday to dismiss early; .4 inches of snow accumulates at Municipal Airport, while heavier amounts are recorded north of Cape Girardeau.

25 years ago: Jan. 18, 1978

Just when it looks as if snow will never end, skies clear briefly at 9:40 a.m., 38 hours after snow began; after brief stop, white stuff begins falling again, however, adding to estimated 15 inches of snow already on ground; most of region is immobilized, with Highway Patrol reporting roads made impassable by drifting snow.

Former Cape Girardeau police chief, William C. Kelpe, died yesterday in Sacramento, Calif., where he had lived with daughter for two years; Kelpe, 86, headed police force here about 1925 and on Jan. 20, 1928, suffered gunshot wound eight miles north of Cape Girardeau while participating in raid on stills.

50 years ago: Jan. 18, 1953

Mary Joan Moore, Mary Schmittzehe and Odila Schlitt are among 65 pre-clinical students of De Paul Hospital School of Nursing in St. Louis who take part in traditional candlelight capping ceremony, held in evening at hospital chapel; their parents, and some other Girardeans, attend ceremony.

Charleston, Mo. -- Monsignor John J. O'Neil of Sikeston, Mo., dean of Cape Girardeau Deanery, officiates at ceremony in morning which officially marks beginning of school construction program at St. Henry's Catholic Church in Charleston; building will be fireproof and will contain six classrooms, gymnasium, cafeteria, kitchen and offices.

75 years ago: Jan. 18, 1928

Samuel Boutin, local contractor, has been appointed building inspector by city council; appointment was made Tuesday following recommendation of City Engineer E.L. Sailer; office of building inspector was created by ordinance, passed in December, which provided for new building code, and set forth new regulations governing construction of buildings.

Establishment of aviation training school in Cape Girardeau, as first move in program for airport here, will be proposed at meeting to be held Sunday of interested Girardeans with J.H. Duchon, sales manager for Lincoln Aircraft Co. of Lincoln, Neb.

-- Sharon K. Sanders