Out of the past 2/19/02

10 years ago: Feb. 19, 1992

Doors to Wal-Mart Supercenter open to public in morning; new Supercenter, 168,000-square-foot retail facility at 3439 William, features wide variety of general merchandise, including full-line grocery store, vision center, auto service center and other departments.

Program started late last year to safeguard city merchants from convicted shoplifters and bad check writers has shown some success; under program, merchants are provided with photos of offenders.

25 years ago: Feb. 19, 1977

Construction will begin in April on 36,000-square-foot building to house completely new store for National Del-Farms, retail grocery chain; new store will be built on west side of South Sprigg street block between William and Merriwether; store will replace present 22,500-square-foot structure.

Newly-appointed officers and members of executive board of Laborers Local 282 are announced at special meeting of local's entire membership and representatives of Laborers District Council in St. Louis and Laborers International Union of North America; Douglas Kitchen is new president of union.

50 years ago: Feb. 19, 1952

Judge J. Henry Caruthers says he is considering running again this year for judgeship of Common Pleas Court he has held three consecutive four-year terms; judge is eligible for retirement at end of his current term at one-third pay under law which allows judges with 12 years service to step down from bench.

Partially lighted Rodney Vista suburb will receive array of new street lights under order entered by City Council yesterday as principal matter before commission.

75 years ago: Feb. 19, 1927

Southern Illinois and Southeast Missouri, soon to be linked by Cape Girardeau traffic bridge, will unite to secure more and better highways that will bring more travelers to area; gathering at banquet last night, arranged by Chamber of Commerce as celebration of starting of work on bridge, representatives of 38 towns enthusiastically pledged their aid in movement designed to open two districts to greater automobile traffic.

S.S. Barnes, for past two years student in U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, returns to Cape Girardeau after being given leave of absence because of serious condition of his eyes; since cruise in which he participated with other middies last summer, Barnes has been troubled with his eyes, and although specialists in Navy have been consulted, condition hasn't been relieved.

-- Sharon K. Sanders