Out of the past 3/5/03

10 years ago: March 5, 1993

Wally Lage, general manager of the Paducah Sun newspaper and vice president of newspaper operations for Paducah Newspapers, Inc., has been hired as publisher of the Southeast Missourian newspaper, effective Monday; in addition, perspective editor Jon K. Rust will become assistant to publisher.

Cape Girardeau's new fire chief is expected to arrive next week to prepare for his first day on job, March 15; earlier, it was through chief Robert Ridgeway might assume his new duties on March 1, but Ridgeway had some personal affairs to take care of before coming to Cape Girardeau.

25 years ago: March 5, 1978

Eighth KFVS telethon, which began yesterday and ends this afternoon, raises $173,141 in pledges for United Cerebral Palsy, including about $39,000 in on-air check presentations and telethon fish bowl; total pledges outstrip last year's total of $168,273.

Eighth annual Youth Recital, presented by Southeast Missouri Council on Arts in cooperation with The National Endowment for the Arts, is held in afternoon in auditorium of First Baptist Church; participating are Michele Matzat, Decima Israel, Greg Baker, Lynn Adams, Scott Bierschwal, Cindy Herbst, Leslie Buck, Anneli Ignatius, Michele Petrek, Sarah Strand, Joy Brese, Mary Kiefer, Sheri Burchyett, Linda Masterson, Elizabeth Shelton and Jessica Procter.

50 years ago: March 5, 1953

Comprehensive proposal for long-range development of County Farm into county recreation center was outlined to group of Jackson and Cape Girardeau businessmen last night at Alvarado by A.C. Brase, president of Cape County Chapter of Wildlife Federation of Missouri.

Two members of State Board of Regents, whose terms would expire this year, have been re-appointed for six-year terms by Gov. Phil M. Donnelly; he has sent names of John F. Lottes of Perryville and Charles G. Ross Jr. of Caruthersville, both Republicans, to Senate for confirmation.

75 years ago: March 5, 1928

Main span of Cape Girardeau traffic bridge across Mississippi River is practically completed, and work will soon begin on small spans near Illinois shore; only few pieces of steel remain to be erected on east end of span, and these should be in place this week, according to resident engineer, P.V. Pennybacker.

Illmo -- Schools of Illmo may be forced to suspend classes after this month because of shortage of revenue; failure to collect outstanding current taxes and reduction in valuation of property for taxation purposes has resulted in serious situation, say members of school board; it is estimated that there is between $6,000 and $8,000 in delinquent taxes from this school district.

-- Sharon K. Sanders