Out of the past 4/19/04

10 years ago: April 19, 1994

Scott City Council plans to choose riverboat casino operator from among three firms that have expressed interest in city by April 25; bidding for opportunity to locate in Scott City are Lady Luck Gaming Co., Royal Casino Group and Eagle Gaming Ltd.

National Weather Service has good news for flood-weary residents of Southeast Missouri and Southern Illinois: Mississippi River is falling rapidly and for welcome change, no rain is forecast in most of bi-state area through Friday.

25 years ago: April 19, 1979

Commercial zoning district for Westborough Mall, which would be located south of Route K and west of Kingshighway, has expired, several city officials believe; site was rezoned June 5, 1974.

Law enforcement officers remain puzzled by apparent abduction Tuesday of Cheryl Ann Scherer, 19, from Scott City service station; "We're grasping for straws right now," observes Highway Patrol officer.

50 years ago: April 19, 1954

Two 13-year-old girls from Benton -- Ann Ferrell and Shirley Halter -- won top honors in the Missourian's Regional Spelling Bee at Junior High School auditorium over weekend; first place went to Ferrell, pupil in eighth grade in public school at Benton.

Sale of equipment of Rigdon Laundry, 23 N. Sprigg, to Tipton's Whiteline Laundry Inc., is announced jointly by Mr. and Mrs. Thomas O. McGee of Rigdon Laundry and Bill Tipton, president and manager of Whiteline.

75 years ago: April 19, 1929

Road between Cape Girardeau and Jackson will be closed tomorrow in preparation for paving of Highway 61 between Cape Girardeau and Williams Creek.

W.C. Bahn of Cape Girardeau and Ralph E. Bailey of Sikeston are appointed by Gov. H.S. Caulfield as members of Cape Girardeau Teachers College Board of Regents; shortly before Gov. Sam A. Baker left office, he appointed Bailey and J.U. White of Lodi to board, but these nominations were withdrawn by Caulfield.

-- Sharon K. Sanders