Out of the past 4/1/03

10 years ago: April 1, 1993

Three of four candidates for Cape Girardeau Board of Education support two school-funding measures on Tuesday's ballot; they say fourth candidate should take stand, not sit on fence.

Bloomfield, Mo. -- Dan and Connie Sitze, owners and publishers of The Bloomfield Vindicator for past four years, have sold that newspaper to Gary Rust of Cape Girardeau; Rust also owns newspapers in Cape Girardeau, Poplar Bluff, Dexter, Kennett and Advance; Barbara Hill of Dexter will be publisher of Vindicator.

25 years ago: April 1, 1978

Chaffee, Mo. -- Financial condition of Chaffee school system, which ended last fiscal year with deficit and expects to this year as well, has put teachers and administration at odds and stands as issue in Tuesday's school board election; one of key points in dispute is use of money in teachers fund to pay general operating expenses.

Missouri Public Service Commission has authorized Missouri Utilities Co. of Cape Girardeau to enact 7 1/2 percent rate increase for electric service in Southeast Missouri; increase constitutes "pass-through of a wholesale rate increase" levied by company's supplier, Union Electric Co., says Francis R. Lengefeld, Missouri Utilities president.

50 years ago: April 1, 1953

C.J. Reisenbichler and Co. building and contents at 333 N. Main have been sold to Charles A. Wood, it is announced by William Vedder, administrator for estate of George Reisenbichler; plant has been closed since October; Hood is a contractor.

Mild weather and possible trend toward earlier shopping while merchandise is fresh have combined to make Cape Girardeau's pre-Easter shopping season one of best in many years.

75 years ago: April 1, 1928

The Rev. George S. Ellyson of Denver, Colo., has accepted pastorate of First Baptist Church and will arrive here May 1 to start his pastoral duties; Ellyson preached at First Baptist March 12 and was favorably received.

G.A. Kassel, who on April 9 will have completed 28 years of business as photographer on Main Street, will hold formal opening Monday of new shop at 234 S. Sprigg; shop has been maintained for some time, but Kassel says he has completely refurbished it, and entirely new equipment has been added to enable him to do high grade of portrait work.

-- Sharon K. Sanders