Out of the past 3/24/02

10 years ago: March 24, 1992

Cape Girardeau Historic Preservation Commission has passed resolution opposing Salvation Army's plan to demolish its building at 702 Good Hope to make room for new facility; commission says old Farmers & Merchants Bank building at South Sprigg and Good Hope, which houses Army, is only surviving bank structure from its era in city.

Perryville - State audit released Monday questions payments made to Perry County sheriff to cover cost of feeding prisoners in county jail; report found county commissioners didn't require Sheriff Dutch Schmidt to submit invoices or bills from food purchases he makes for jail, but it reimbursed them on a per-prisoner, per-day basis.

25 years ago: March 24, 1977

Jesse Owens, former Olympian who stunned sports world in 1936 by claiming four gold medals in track events, is guest speaker at Southeast Missouri State University Auditorium in evening; Owens serves on Olympic fund-raising committee and conducts youth track programs across United States as part of his Phoenix-based public relations firm.

City Council, Municipal Airport Board and Cape Central Airways are seeking answer to question of who is responsible for expanding municipal airport facilities and will submit proposals; problem of who pays for expanding hangar space when it benefits private business but also benefits public through increased airport service arose in meeting among the three sides Wednesday.

50 years ago: March 24, 1952

Caruthersville - Pemiscot County begins burying its dead and turns to task of finding new homes for estimated 50 families left homeless by Friday night's death-dealing tornado; 16 people were killed when twister ripped through south part of county; nearly all those left homeless were sharecroppers, and most landowners say their losses were so great, they won't be able to replace all tenant houses at once.

Chapter headquarters of Red Cross receives notification that Cape Girardeau County's quota in current campaign, as with counties throughout nation, has been increased 10 percent to care for victims of weekend tornadoes.

75 years ago: March 24, 1927

After reaching crest of 33.3 feet, Mississippi River at Cape Girardeau is stationary and with favorable weather forecast, additional rise isn't expected; lowlands throughout river district south of here, however, are flooded with water from depth of few inches to several feet; livestock are being moved from low sections north of New Madrid on warnings levees in area are in danger of breaking.

Cape Girardeau manufacturing establishments are laying in big supply of coal to last several months in anticipation of long tie-up of Southern Illinois coal mines when miners walk out on strike on April 1; strike is scheduled for midnight of next Thursday, when present wage scale agreement expires.

- Sharon K. Sanders