Out of the past 2/4/03

10 years ago: Feb. 4, 1993

Owner of several buildings in 400 block of Good Hope Street says structures, which serve as gathering spot where illegal cocaine sales are staged, soon will be torn down; Robert Blank of Bi-State Southern Oil Co., says he expects to have demolition permits and utilities disconnected at buildings in early February.

Jackson Board of Aldermen unanimously votes to submit to voters $4.7 million bond issue proposal for construction of sixth- and seventh-grade middle schools.

25 years ago: Feb. 4, 1978

Southeast Missouri State University is taking to air; Board of Regents has voted approval for acquisition of government surplus DC-3, one of mainstays of early commercial aviation; cost of plane will be $5,000; to refurbish it with 26 passenger seats and new instrumentation for certification will cost about $20,000.

For first time in more than decade, Cape Girardeau will have kidney dialysis machine to facilitate treatment of acute renal disease.

50 years ago: Feb. 4, 1953

City is considering proposal to put garbage and refuse collection on pay basis, with householders and business firms paying monthly fee as is done in many other cities; there has been no definite decision by city council, but city officials are observing demonstrations of truck built to take all kinds of refuse -- ashes, clinkers, tin cans, bottles as well as garbage, with all going into one container.

Appointment of A.W. Zimmer Jr. as general chairman of $250,000 Greater Cape Girardeau Catholic High School Building Fund Campaign is announced; Zimmer in turn announces that Thomas L. Meyer of St. Mary's Church and Joseph H. Quatmann of St. Vincent's have volunteered to head their respective parish organizations.

75 years ago: Feb. 4, 1928

William J. Kies of Cape Girardeau was named by Gov. Sam A. Baker late yesterday to serve on Cape Girardeau County Court; he will be sworn in Monday when court meets at Jackson; Kies will serve out term of Judge E. Drusch, who resigned; term will expire Jan. 1; Kies is manager of Riverside Lumber Co. and has resided in Cape Girardeau for 10 years, coming here from New Philadelphia, Ohio, where he went five years before from near Jackson, where he was born and raised.

Audrey Davis, daughter of Dr. and Mrs. Charles Davis of Fredericktown and former student of Teachers College, has signed contract with Florenz Ziegfeld, noted New York theatrical producer, to appear in singing chorus of his latest production, "The Three Musketeers."

-- Sharon K. Sanders