Out of the past 3/26/03

10 years ago: March 26, 1993

General Sign Co. of Cape Girardeau has prospects for some big jobs this year, but may not be around to do them; Lon Maxie, owner of 53-year-old business at 780 Nash Road, says company may be closing its doors within 30 to 60 days; according to Maxie, business is for sale and some people have expressed interest in purchasing it.

Jackson official says it will be at least one-and-a-half years before Jackson's municipal offices are moved into former Jackson Exchange Bank building at West Main and Court streets; city announced this week it is purchasing two-story bank building from Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. for $625,000.

25 years ago: March 26, 1978

Easter Sunday.

Alto Pass, Ill. -- Forty-second annual sunrise service at Cross of Peace on Bald Knob Mountain at Alto Pass begins at 5:57 a.m., heralded by sounding of trumpets and ringing of historic bell at mountain top; guest speaker is the Rev. Clyde R. Funkhouser, D.D., pastor of First United Methodist Church of Mount Vernon.

Altenburg, Mo. -- Sunrise service is held at ball park starting at 5:30 a.m.; the Rev. W.E. Fehrmann preaches sermon; coffee and donuts are served by Trinity VPS at Trinity Lutheran Church hall following service.

50 years ago: March 26, 1953

Cloth jackets for nation's leading retail firms are being stitched in new Cagleco Sportswear plant, in former Playdium Bowling Alleys space at 115 Themis; owners of manufacturing firm are Homer Yount and Ralph Edwards.

Annual meeting of Southeast Missouri Retail Lumber Dealers Association opens unofficially in evening with Hoo Hoo Dinner and Concatenation at Country Club; Hoo Hoo is social subgroup of lumbermen who are known as "Cats," and their wives, "Kittens."

75 years ago: March 26, 1928

Third span of Cape Girardeau traffic bridge across Mississippi River should be completed within a week, says resident engineer P.V. Pennybacker; all foundation work, with exception of one pier, also should be finished within that period; erection of steel by American Bridge Co., has progressed to point midway between Piers 3 and 4.

Illmo -- Operation of public schools at Illmo will continue, despite financial crisis caused by delinquent taxes, but teachers are to receive only half their salary at end of each month; remainder will be paid when tax money is received.

-- Sharon K. Sanders