Out of the past 3/31/03

10 years ago: March 31, 1993

Southeast Missouri State University's board of regents voted unanimously yesterday to hike incidental fees and raise rental charges for its off-campus apartments; new charges will take effect this fall; school officials say hike in incidental fees is based on projected operating budget of $52.6 million, which includes projected state funding of about $31 million.

Although progress in Colonial Cape Girardeau Foundation's plan to purchase St. Vincent's Seminary seems idle, foundation's director, David Murphy, says he's confident project is on right track; Murphy believes city is behind project.

25 years ago: March 31, 1978

Forecasts of rising college expenses became reality for Southeast Missouri State University students yesterday, when board of regents approved fee hikes for room, board and tuition; minimum increase of $15 per semester was approved for room and board to go into effect this fall.

Audience composed almost entirely of teachers sought Jackson board of education candidates' views on issue of individual teacher contract negotiations during 'meet the candidates' forum last night; through their questioning, Community Teachers Association members expressed concern over school board's recent decision to award lengthened and more lucrative contract to Jackson High School head football Coach Paul A. Webber Jr., and two of his assistants.

50 years ago: March 31, 1953

Cape Girardeau County dairy farmers, locking horns with their cotton-soybean growing neighbors to south, are generally backing bill that would ban replacement of butter fat in milk products with oils produced from seed of cotton and soybean; there is feeling among county dairy farmers that while substitution now largely hurts those selling ungraded milk, there may be day when Grade A milk producers may be on receiving end.

Mr. and Mrs. Bennie Green receive message from War Department that their son, Pfc. Jerry M. Green of Jackson, was wounded in action Friday in Korea; extent of his injuries is unknown.

75 years ago: March 31, 1928

Benton - Daring daylight holdup and robbery of Scott County Bank at Morley last November is solved, authorities, announce, and three men, alleged to have participated in robbery, are under arrest; one man is in Scott County Jail here, another is under heavy bond, and third is under bond in Illinois, awaiting return to Missouri.

U.G.I. Contracting Co. will virtually complete substructure of traffic bridge across Mississippi River at Cape Girardeau within 30 days, says C.C. Gettles, erecting engineer in charge of operations; company has only to complete present support, Pier 8, for which foundation has been poured, and do small amount of work on Pier 6.

-- Sharon K. Sanders