Out of the past 4/5/02

10 years ago: April 5, 1992

The Rev. Rymes Moncure speaks in evening at Lenten worship service at Grace United Methodist Church; special music is provided by youth of church; Moncure is pastor of Union Memorial United Methodist Church in St. Louis; he serves as director for World Division of Board of Global Ministries of United Methodist Church.

Sanctuary Choir and Orchestra present "Handel's Messiah" in evening in sanctuary of First Baptist Church; presentation is under direction of John Broom, minister of music; organist is Gary Miller; guest vocalists are Doyle Dumas, Chris Hayes, Jonathan Stewart, Steve Meir, Mary Mills and Sara Dyer.

25 years ago: April 5, 1977

Action by state House of Representatives yesterday would, if it stands, restore $400,000 to Southeast Missouri State University operating budget as recommended by governor and state higher education coordinating committee; House Appropriations Committee had voted to cut that amount from governor's budget for Southeast, which would leave university with $12 million.

Sweep of cold Canadian air into Missouri has orchard owners and gardening hobbyists warily watching thermometer, hoping their efforts won't literally be nipped in bud; freeze warning is posted for tonight, with cold to be in mid-20s to low 30s.

50 years ago: April 5, 1952

Plans for reopening of powder plant at Wolf Lake, Ill., become known with letting of contracts for construction of first two units; Gerhardt Construction Co., is awarded contract for erection of three buildings in each unit, these including canister houses and dryer structures; work will be started immediately; plant is being reopened by Trojan Powder Co., of Allentown, Pa.

Crash of light passenger automobile into rear of stationary tractor-trailer truck on Highway 61 south of Municipal Airport took lives of three teen-agers and critically injured another young man last night.

75 years ago: April 5, 1927

River watchers predict Mississippi will rise additional two feet, sending stream to stage of 37 1/2 or 38 feet by Friday; river reaches 36 feet this morning, sending flood waters into basements of more businesses along Water street and driving dozens of families from their homes in inundated sections on south side.

Workers fought for more than two hours yesterday to save heavy bridge caisson which, due to heavy swells of swollen river, became unmanageable when employees of U.G.I. Contracting Co., sought to moor it to derrick boat at foot of Themis street.

- Sharon K. Sanders