Out of the past 4/24/03

10 years ago: April 24, 1993

"A Celebration of American Sacred Music" is theme of spring concert held in afternoon at Centenary United Methodist Church; program, with Chancel and Bell Choirs performing, features early American choral anthems, spirituals and gospel music.

Cape Girardeau's parks have extra sparkle, thanks to work of hundreds of volunteers who spent their Saturday morning picking up trash, painting and planting; most of activity during seventh annual Friends of the Park Day was concentrated at Capaha Park, where up to 500 adults and children scoured park with trash bags, separated limbs from trash, painted outside of pool and swept clean inside, and planted flowers.

25 years ago: April 24, 1978

Last time athlete's uniform was retired at Southeast Missouri State University, it belonged to Ken Inman, former Indian lineman in late 1950s who went on to great years at center with Los Angeles Rams; generation later, Mike Wood, most prolific field-goal kicker in history of NCAA football, has received same honor.

Negotiations for long-term lease for property needed for development of port at Cape Girardeau is expected to be completed in about month, members of Regional Port Authority are told at meeting in Scott City; Charles Clodfelter, port authority director, says conclusion of negotiations with St. Vincent's Seminary and Marquette Co., two property owners involved in 99-year lease proposal, will open way for acquisition of industrial user.

50 years ago: April 24, 1953

Toby Thomure of Bank of St. Marys was elected president of Five-County Bankers Association at meeting in Jackson last night; he succeeds Clarence Vogelsang of Farmers & Merchants Bank of Cape Girardeau.

Based on analysis of data obtained in 1950 census, Bureau of Census reports 98.9 percent of Cape Girardeau's dwelling units have electricity and 80.4 percent have mechanical refrigerators; rents in Cape Girardeau are among lowest in state's larger cities, with median monthly rent being $28.18.

75 years ago: April 24, 1928

Hundreds of farmers from every Southeast Missouri county are expected to attend third annual Southeast Missouri Livestock Day at Jackson tomorrow.

U.G.I. Contracting Co., which has completed its work on traffic bridge across Mississippi River, offers to turn over buildings it used as headquarters for office work and mechanical operations to Boy Scouts of city; company contemplates turning all five of buildings used by company over to Scouts, providing Mayor James A. Barks gives company letter stating that city will preserve buildings until organization is able to take them in hand.

-- Sharon K. Sanders