Out of the past 3/23/04

10 years ago: March 23, 1994

Southeast Missouri State University's administrators have scrapped plans to raise room charges for most campus residence halls in face of opposition from student leaders.

Year after opening, Cape Girardeau Senior Center on North Clark Street, nonprofit agency, is struggling to make its monthly payments; center leaders held news conference yesterday announcing they will kick off campaign aimed at raising half-million dollars.

25 years ago: March 23, 1979

SIKESTON, Mo. -- Manager of Sikeston Airport -- Richard A. Weitz, 26 -- was killed when twin-engine airplane he was piloting crashed near airport yesterday afternoon; another man, David W. Beardslee, 25, of Commerce, was critically injured.

Third major store in proposed West Park Mall may be Sears Roebuck and Co.; during recent meeting with city council, developers announced Famous Barr and J.C. Penney will locate in mall; talks with Sears regional office in Atlanta, Ga., are continuing.

50 years ago: March 23, 1954

Names of Mrs. H.B. Newman, incumbent, and Robert G. Brady are filed as candidates for three-year terms on Cape Girardeau Board of Education; election of two school board members and approval of renewal of 25-cent tax levy will be before voters at annual school election April 6.

Contract for installing drainage structure at Ramsey Creek, on Route K, about four miles west of Cape Girardeau has been awarded to Steinhoff-Kirkwood-Joiner Construction Co. of Advance; project, building double concrete box culvert and grading and surfacing with crushed stone or gravel the approaches, is adjacent to Charles Shrock farm.

75 years ago: March 23, 1929

Southeast Missouri will raise its $50,000 of fund of $250,000 to use as collateral for $1 million to be loaned to farmers for making of this year's crop; prominent business men from seven counties discussed proposition at Sikeston Friday and then agreed to raise the money.

O.W. Anderson, president of Barnes Dairy Products Co., announces purchase of tract of land at northeast intersection of Highway 61 and Gordonville Road, just west of city limits, for construction of milk condensery.

-- Sharon K. Sanders