Out of the past 4/23/03

10 years ago: April 23, 1993

Contractor renovating terminal building at Cape Girardeau Municipal Airport apparently won't make completion deadline; terminal building renovation has been plagued by holdups -- initially by Federal Aviation Administration bureaucratic snafu and now by construction delays.

Rep. Chris Kelly, D-Columbia, speaking at annual meeting of Southeast Missouri Press Association, says citizens of Missouri aren't overtaxed and that state government isn't as inefficient as many people want to believe; Kelly is chairman of Missouri House Budget Committee.

25 years ago: April 23, 1978

Several empty Missouri Pacific Railroad cars jump tracks in loading yard early in afternoon in Scott City; however, accident does no damage to track or cars; train was traveling into yard for freight pickup and was moving about three miles per hour when accident occurred.

Alex C. Waters, member of Sikeston engineering firm, is elected governor District 609 Rotary International at district conference held at Rolla; Robert Cope, member of Poplar Bluff club and past president of Cape Girardeau West Rotary Club, is named governor nominee; he will become governor in 1979.

50 years ago: April 23, 1953

Mayor Manning P. Greer is notified by Maj. Gen. Albert D. Sheppard, adjutant general of Missouri, that if site selected in Arena Park meets approval, state "is definitely committed to construction of a new armory at Cape Girardeau"; Sheppard says need for more adequate and permanent facilities for 140th Infantry Regimental Headquarters, Headquarters Company and Service Company has been firmly established.

Missouri Utilities Co. announces it has filed with Public Service Commission new rate scale for water service that would increase minimum 35 cents per month and raise rates on sliding scale for water used above minimum; scale will become effective automatically on June 1, unless there is formal opposition.

75 years ago: April 23, 1928

S.H. Clelland, division highway engineer in Southeast Missouri for 14 months, has been transferred to Jefferson City to become assistant construction engineer for state department; he will be succeeded as division engineer by P.H. Daniels, who at present is assistant maintenance engineer for state department at Jefferson City.

Banquet of Jackson Chamber of Commerce is largely attended, and much enthusiasm is shown in proposals for betterment of community; it is decided not to hold annual Homecomers celebration this year, as very likely street paving will be in progress about time event is usually staged; this will be second year of last two decades that homecoming is not celebrated in Jackson, other year being 1918, last year of world war.

-- Sharon K. Sanders