Out of the past 3/20/04

10 years ago: March 20, 1994

NEW HAMBURG, Mo. --Voters in Kelso School District are being asked to raise their taxes once again, thanks to Senate Bill 380, Missouri's sweeping education funding and reform law; if voters say yes to $1.23 increase on April 5, tax rate in district will have more than doubled in two years time to $2.75.

The Rev. L. Don Henson has been named new pastor of Word of Faith Fellowship Church; he succeeds the Rev. Earl Cox, who died last fall.

25 years ago: March 20, 1979

Announcement last weekend of major mall development -- joint effort of Drury Development Co. and May Co. -- hasn't dimmed optimism of Charleston real estate developer Charles C. Staples about his planned shopping complex; Staples says Westborough Mall, first announced in winter of 1973, still looks forward to opening in August 1980.

Cape Girardeau Fire Department lifts its no-burning order after succession of showers eased wildfire hazard in city; fire chief Charles F. Mills had imposed restrictions on open burning after firefighters spent busy week trying to control grass fires in different parts of city.

50 years ago: March 20, 1954

ORAN, Mo. --Young farmer of Oran district dies in Sikeston hospital where he was taken after he received severe burns in fire that destroyed his home; Edward Frazier poured kerosene in heating stove to rekindle fire yesterday afternoon; liquid ignited and exploded, burning him; his wife and children ran from house without injury.

Two 16-year-old Cape Girardeau boys, pupils at Central High School, have confessed to breaking into junior high school Thursday night, wrecking cafeteria kitchen and leaving office of superintendent L.J. Schulz in shambles; boys admitted several other acts of vandalism and implicated four other boys about same age.

75 years ago: March 20, 1929

Engineers of highway department have completed surveys of proposed routes through Jackson for Highway 61; by end of week they will have their data sufficiently complete to make report to highway commission.

Three new directors of Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce are selected by membership: Robert Vogelsang, banker; Charles Himmelberger, lumber dealer; and A.P. Rueseler, motor car dealer.-- Sharon K. Sanders