Out of the past 4/25/03

10 years ago: April 25, 1993

Organizers say weekend's blustery weather cut down on number of people who participated in third annual Mississippi River Valley Scenic Tour; about 1,150 turned out in Sunday's sunny but windy weather for Craftsfest at Black Forest Villages, and another 850 ignored Sunday's rains to watch demonstrations of weaving and basket-making and other disappearing skills.

Cape Girardeau police are changing their stripes -- on their cars, that is; officers Danny Niswonger, Ken Rinehart and Brian Ritter, with blessing of Chief Howard Boyd Jr., recently sat down to design new decal for squad cars; design includes something similar to shoulder patches worn on officers' uniforms.

25 years ago: April 25, 1978

Flurry of activity by Republican candidates for legislative and county offices has helped flesh out party's ballot for August primary; new candidates include Vernon C. Landgraf of Cape Girardeau, who is seeking legislative seat being vacated by Gary Rust; Neele P. Rohyman of Jackson Route 4, who files as candidate in adjoining 155th District; Ivan E. McLain, who is seeking seat on county court.

Dr. Robert J. VanRegenmorter of Cape Girardeau, Southeast Missouri State University faculty member, has filed as Republican candidate for 10th District congressman; he is seeking to unseat U.S. Rep. Bill D. Burlison, D-Cape Girardeau, who has held post 10 years.

50 years ago: April 25, 1953

Louis Brune, commissioner of public works, says he believes it possible that construction of sanitary sewers in Rodney Vista-Cape Rock Drive-Kingshighway area could be under way during construction season just beginning; all field work has been completed, both for main line and laterals that will feed into it from throughout area; detailed plans must still be made.

Superintendent Edwin W. Sander issues formal call for election to be held May 12 at high school at Oak Ridge on proposal to consolidate Oak Ridge district with four other contiguous ones; proposed to be included in merger are Apple Creek Valley, Buckeye, Liberty No. 1 and Horrell.

75 years ago: April 25, 1928

Having reached 100 years, Mrs. Sarah Rector, grandmother of Mrs. Julien Friant and Mrs. W.W. Beard of Cape Girardeau, dies early in morning at home of her son, B. Frank Rector, in Chaffee; Rector traveled to Illinois from Tennessee in covered wagon at age of 3; her maiden name was Sarah Bruce.

Cape Girardeau residents begin spring clean-up efforts; two city trucks are put into use by Commissioner Martin C. Krueger to hall away tin cans and other rubbish from places where residents deposit it.

-- Sharon K. Sanders