Out of the past 3/15/03

10 years ago: March 15, 1993

Cape Girardeau Police Department will hire five new officers over next few months -- three to replace departing officers, two more if approved in police budget by city council; in 1988 force hired five officers by holding mass "tryout," but this year hiring is being coordinated with Missouri Job Service.

Study of Cape Girardeau transit needs recommends city consider expanding its current taxi coupon program to provide public transportation to larger segment of population; Tom Tucker, director of Southeast Missouri Regional Planning and Economic Development Commission, reports to city council that present taxi coupon system meets about 60 percent of transportation needs of city's elderly population.

25 years ago: March 15, 1978

Cape Girardeau Board of Education has awarded three-year transportation contract to Rustman Bus Co. of Kansas City and St. Louis, breaking 14-year hold on service by Cape Transit Co.; cost difference between two bids amounted to approximately $30,000 per year.

Jackson -- Leonard F. Sander, 1st District Judge of county court, urges operators of heavy trucks and equipment to stay off county's more than 400 miles of gravel roads to avoid further deterioration brought on by thaw.

50 years ago: March 15, 1953

The Rev. Harold W. Stanfield, first missionary for Church of the Nazarene in Nicaragua, is at local Church of the Nazarene for morning worship service; he is in this country on his second furlough, and is spending his time in deputation work and will also be engaged at seminary as resident missionary professor in Nazarene Theological Seminary in Kansas City.

First Baptist Church has employed its first assistant pastor, the Rev. Jerry Niswonger, who will serve for six months at end of which period he will continue with post graduate studies at seminary; Niswonger is son of Mr. and Mrs. Floyd Niswonger of Cape Girardeau.

75 years ago: March 15, 1928

Apparently overshadowed by interest in approaching city primary and general elections, school election in April is creating little interest, although two new members of school board will be elected; terms of Mrs. C.A. Vandivort, first woman member of board and its vice president, and Waldo W. Watkins, have expired; Vandivort says she will likely be candidate for re-election, while Watkins says he hasn't decided whether he will run again.

Construction of two-story addition to Red Star Baptist Church will begin Monday morning, according to the Rev. W.E. Hicks, pastor; addition will contain four department rooms for Sunday School.

-- Sharon K. Sanders