Out of the past 10/24/02

10 years ago: Oct. 24, 1992

Fall reopening of Cape Girardeau Central High School swimming pool has been delayed; originally, pool was scheduled to reopen Nov. 1, but arrival of new bubble for facility has been delayed until Nov. 11; crews have also been reconditioning buildings during closure; pool should reopen by Nov. 30.

Circuit Judge Bill Syler administered oath Friday to Sister Mary Jane Jansen at Common Pleas Courthouse, where she became newest special probation officer of Cape Girardeau County Juvenile Office.

25 years ago: Oct. 24, 1977

Because of lack of community support and funding, Associated Community Theater (ACT) I, II and III has been "indefinitely suspended," says Ann Abbott, ACT director; in place of ACT, Abbot is forming 15 to 20-member Cape Repertoire Company, with tryouts next week; even though no more plays will be presented by ACT, group must continue to work to dissolve $700 debt before it can be permanently disbanded.

Appropriations increase of 13.6 percent - highest percentage rise for any four-year institution in Missouri - is approved for Southeast Missouri State University by Coordinating Board for Higher Education; school officials express pleasure with recommendation that had $379,717, just 3 percent, trimmed from $14,462,003 budget submitted.

50 years ago: Oct. 24, 1952

Vice President Alben W. Barkley will address Democratic rally Tuesday evening at Houck Field House, Democratic City Chairman J.J. Russell says; rally will be open to public and Dr. A.C. Magill, Democratic candidate for county representative in Legislature, will preside; Cong. Paul C. Jones will introduce Barkley.

Agreement for tapping of Castor River by control structure and for use of drainage ditches in master plan for development of Duck Creek Wildlife Refuge has been reached by Little River Drainage District and Missouri Conservation Commission; refuge embraces area of approximately 20,000 acres in Bollinger, Stoddard and Wayne counties, but only 4,000 acres are in Bollinger-Stoddard area embraced by the drainage district.

75 years ago: Oct. 24, 1927

Caisson work on Cape Girardeau traffic bridge across Mississippi River will be finished within short time, says P.V. Pennybacker, engineer for Cape Girardeau Bridge Co.; caisson of Pier 2, first to be sunk, is at bedrock and will be sealed shortly; all work which remains to be done on this caisson is leveling of rock and filling of working chamber with concrete; bedrock at this part of river is uneven, and considerable blasting is necessary to set steel box into the rock.

Indications point to 30 percent cotton yield, picked and ginned, or about 120,000 bales, in Southeast Missouri; gins have already paid out more money to farmers for their cotton than they paid for entire crop last year.

- Sharon K. Sanders