Out of the past 1/5/03

10 years ago: Jan. 5, 1993

Cape Girardeau voters will decide June 8 whether they want riverboat gambling in their city; despite objections of several residents and personal opposition of most council members, city council yesterday approved motion to hold special June election for gambling measure.

Heavy rains that pelted Southeast Missouri Monday nearly claimed lives of four members of Sikeston family whose car overturned in rain-swollen ditch along county road in evening; they were pulled to safety by motorist who is being credited with saving their lives; most seriously injured of four is infant, Josh T. Neal; he is son of Robert N. Neal and Connie S. Neal, who sustained minor injuries; other passenger was their nephew, Lorne B. Thompson, who is in fair condition at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston.

25 years ago: Jan. 5, 1978

Brentwood, Tenn., student pilot on solo cross country training flight escaped injury yesterday when nose gear of his small aircraft collapsed during landing at Municipal Airport; pilot, Leonard R. Craver, emerged unscathed after his Beech 180 aircraft skidded about 200 feet along runway before coming to rest near edge of runway.

Metropolis, Ill. -- Second day of resumed operations at coal-loading facility of Cook Coal Terminal, which had been victim of strike violence, begins extremely quietly as state and federal authorities keep land and water watch over facility; meanwhile, unofficial reports indicate that four of 12 people indicted by Massac County Grand Jury for massive mob violence on Dec. 14, which closed terminal, have been arrested.

50 years ago: Jan. 5, 1953

Old frame grade school at McClure, Ill., is leveled by fire that breaks out at 10 a.m., but all 153 of pupils in building march out in orderly fashion before flames gains much headway; school was being used by Thebes district, the building of which was destroyed by fire in August; it is believed fire started from clogged flue.

Sikeston, Mo. -- Jac W. Zimmerman of Tuscumbia, Mo., announces purchase of Sikeston herald from Joe A. Hanebrink; Herald is a weekly newspaper; C.H. Denman will operate publication until Zimmerman moves to Sikeston; Denman is a former owner of Herald.

75 years ago: Jan. 5, 1928

Ice jam in Mississippi River, near Brickeys, north of Cape Girardeau, results in drop in stage of river and lessening of ice floes which for time appeared almost certain to gorge near here; three ferryboats, tied up near government fleet at Fayville, Ill., south of Cape Girardeau, are broken loose by ice floes early in day; one is corralled, but at last report, other two boats are still floating free.

Ralph E. Bailey of Sikeston, while in Cape Girardeau, announces he will file soon for Republican nomination for Congress from 140th District; Bailey retired from Congress last year after serving one time, intending to again take up private practice of law.

-- Sharon K. Sanders