Out of the past 3/29/03

10 years ago: March 29, 1993

Rare mayoral race between three-term Jackson alderman and 11-term incumbent mayor will highlight this year's municipal election; for 74-year-old Carlton Meyer, this is first time he's had opposition for re-election since 1981.

TCI Cablevision of Missouri announces it will raise expanded basic cable television rates throughout service area "to keep pace with the regional cost of living index, plus an increase from program suppliers"; basic expanded service rates will go up 81 cents to $11.11 per month.

25 years ago: March 29, 1978

Work on three city construction projects is under way, with one job requiring temporary closing of Sloan Creek bridge on Bend Road to prevent serious washout by high water from flooding Mississippi River; other projects that have begun are putting in relief sewer line in Walker Creek watershed to serve north end of city and preliminary work for paving North Clark Street.

Tributaries of Mississippi River upstream from Cape Girardeau continued to fall in past 24 hours, improving outlook and hope that additional flooding here will be awarded; key to situation is rain; further flooding could occur if widespread storms spread over river basins emptying into Mississippi.

50 years ago: March 29, 1953

Nineteen young people are confirmed at Trinity Lutheran Church during morning, Palm Sunday service by the Rev. Wilbert H. Koenig, pastor; rite of confirmation is also conferred on 17 catechumens in morning at Christ Evangelical and Reformed Church.

Jewell Clark, Jack L. Oliver, Vinson Rueseler and Carl W. Summers, newly elected deacons at First Presbyterian Church, are recognized in ordination and installation service held at close of morning service.

75 years ago: March 29, 1928

Two men are killed, one instantly, and third is injured when locomotive and one car of special northbound Frisco freight train crashes through south end of bridge over Diversion Channel six miles south of Cape Girardeau in morning; locomotive plunges into swirling waters of drainage canal, dragging tender and poultry car after it, and carrying its engineer and head brakeman to their deaths.

New Madrid, Mo. -- Hunter's Bank, oldest institution in New Madrid County, is closed by its board of directors, following run that is reported to have caused withdrawal of nearly $20,000 in deposits; bank, which is largely owned by Hunter family, was organized in 1902.

-- Sharon K. Sanders