Out of the past 10/23/02

10 years ago: Oct. 23, 1992

Twenty-two people indicted by Cape Girardeau County grand jury were arrested in sweeping drug raids Thursday that targeted cocaine trade; arrests culminate 11-month-long investigation by SEMO Drug Task Force and federal Drug Enforcement Administration.

Mock earthquake strikes Cape Girardeau in morning, launching massive two-day medical response exercise involving about 2,000 civilian and military personnel; Operation Steel Cure II involves local, state and federal authorities and has been billed as largest emergency response exercise in nation's history.

25 years ago: Oct. 23, 1977

Controversy between group of St. Vincent Parish members and the most Rev. Bernard F. Law, bishop of Springfield-Cape Girardeau Diocese, is building to showdown; decision is forthcoming on whether Mass will continue to be celebrated at downtown church; new St. Vincent's Church on Ritter Drive has replaced old church as worship center of parish; but group of friends of old church would like to see it remain open for Mass, weddings and funerals.

Former student at Cape Girardeau Central High School, and now living in Memphis, Tenn., Bryant E. Lewis, 15, died while competing in junior varsity football game at Crump Stadium yesterday; Lewis was carrying football when he was tackled by Fairley High School defenders.

50 years ago: Oct. 23, 1952

Cape Girardeau and Jackson were both urged by County Sanitarian Marvin Campbell to extend their sewer systems to new additions as one of implied recommendations in lengthy quarterly report submitted this week to city and county officials; sanitarian, who guided county in its Grade A milk progress and other health matters since program's inception, explained that lack of sewers in new sections constitutes hardship for many people.

Colonel Allen F. Clark, district engineer at Memphis, Tenn., announces plans for public hearing to be held at Caruthersville, Nov. 25, for purpose of considering plans for new highway bridge across Mississippi River in that vicinity.

75 years ago: Oct. 23, 1927

Only 19 students in Teachers College this year express no religious preference when they enrolled for present semester, with Methodists leading way; total number expressing Methodist affiliation is 213; number showing preference for Baptist denomination is 85; Presbyterians are third with 60, Christians have 41, Lutherans 31, Catholics 21, Evangelicals 10, Episcopalians nine, Christian Science seven, Congregationalists three, and Unitarian one.

The Rev. J.H. Taylor has taken up his work as new pastor of Third Methodist Church in Cape Girardeau, succeeding the Rev. F.A. Hearn, who has been transferred to pastorate of Benton church.

- Sharon K. Sanders