Out of the past 11/18/02

10 years ago: Nov. 18, 1992

Long-awaited project to upgrade Capaha Park lagoon is progressing through use of city workers and materials retrieved from pond; improvements involve reinforcement of banks of lagoon, which have gradually eroded; earlier estimates for cost of project ranged from $30,000 to $100,000.

Florsheim Shoe Inc. facility at intersection of West End Boulevard and Highway 74 will expand its work force as result of corporate restructuring; it is estimated plant will take on 50 to 60 new workers.

25 years ago: Nov. 18, 1977

McClure, Ill. -- Probe into shooting death of Southeast Missouri State University coed takes on state dimensions when authorities discover victim's car on Wal-Mart store parking lot on South Kingshighway in Cape Girardeau, Mo.; body of Sheila E. Cole, 21, was found at roadside rest stop on Illinois Route 3, just south of McClure, shortly after 7 a.m. Thursday.

Student delegations on both sides of controversial inter-visitation issue -- whereby students would be allowed to receive visitors of opposite sex behind closed doors at residence halls -- were heard by Southeast Missouri State University Board of Regents yesterday.

50 years ago: Nov. 18, 1952

Bountiful rain, heaviest in 2 1/2 months, comes to Cape Girardeau area in advance of what is predicted to be only moderate cold wave; falling slowly, precipitation starts early in morning, and fall up to noon measures 86/100ths of an inch.

Request of Retail Merchants Association for $500 to assist in its annual Christmas activities was halved Monday afternoon by city council; Elmer Haman, accompanied by delegation of merchants, approached council with request for assistance in Christmas activity, which would include animated Santa Claus display, visit by Santa to polio treatment center at St. Francis Hospital, new decorations and annual parade.

75 years ago: Nov. 18, 1927

Construction work on Cape Girardeau traffic bridge across Mississippi River took on new life this week, as erection of steel work was resumed on broad scale following slight pause occasioned by fear that part of foundation of bridge might not be in readiness when time arrives to put superstructure on it.

Contracts for supplying equipment to new Southeast Missouri Hospital have been awarded, says M.E. Leming, chairman of hospital board; cost of equipment is about $35,000; with contracts awarded and delivery promised within short time, Leming believes it will be possible to formally open $150,000 institution before Christmas.

-- Sharon K. Sanders