Out of the past 10/28/01

10 years ago: Oct. 28, 1991

City motorists will soon have new high-tech eye watching them; Cape Girardeau Police Department is installing its first mobile video camera in one of its patrol cars; camera will primarily be used for department's weekend, driving-while-intoxicated patrol.

Jackson - Cape Girardeau County Commission has conducted preliminary discussions with architect about expanding county jail; expansion being considered would be to north of jail and would provide dormitory to house up to eight female prisoners; commission has also agreed to seek bids to replace columns on front of Common Pleas Courthouse in Cape Girardeau.

25 years ago: Oct. 28, 1976

Court crowned next Thursday at Southeast Missouri State University Homecoming coronation won't be just another bunch of pretty faces; for first time in school history, men will get equal attention in this year's Homecoming festivities; along with traditional Homecoming Queen, a Man of the Year will also be named.

Perryville - Gov. Christopher S. Bond in letter yesterday asked U.S. Secretary of Transportation William T. Coleman Jr., for quick, affirmative action on Perryville airport project; project involves extending by 17,000 feet and widening by 150 feet an existing runway; $2 million project would be 90 percent federally funded, if approved by Washington.

50 years ago: Oct. 28, 1951

Christ Evangelical and Reformed Church holds its annual mission service, with Dr. Theophil H. Twente of St. Louis, executive secretary of Board of International Missions of Evangelical and Reformed Church, and former missionary to India, speaking to congregation.

East Prairie - Five people were injured, one seriously, in gas explosion of house last night which blew out two outside walls of room, wrecked third wall and knocked holes in fourth floor and floor; Mrs. Raymond Majors, 26, is in Community Hospital in Sikeston suffering with burns of head, both arms and hands and both legs; she was blown into yard by force of blast; her two children, Ricky, 2, and Larry, 4, were injured, one of them also being blown out of house.

75 years ago: Oct. 28, 1926

Burns sustained yesterday in explosion of coal dust at Marquette Cement Co. plant in South Cape Girardeau prove fatal to John Rodenberry, 38, employee of company; he dies in morning at local hospital, where he was taken soon after accident; Rodenberry was working drier to remove moisture from coal used in heating kilns, when quantity of coal dust fell in front of furnace and exploded.

Cape Girardeau County boys attending Central College at Fayette this year are Elmer Murphy of Cape Girardeau, and Paul and Percy Poe and Rusby Seabaugh of Jackson.

-- Sharon K. Sanders