Out of the past 5/1/02

10 years ago: May 1, 1992

Jackson -- Staying off voter registration list no longer is guarantee of avoiding jury duty in Cape Girardeau County; computer now will randomly select jury panel members by drivers license numbers instead of voter registration; County Circuit Clerk Charles Hutson says first panel members picked under new procedure will begin their terms May 11.

Scott City -- Westlake Quarry will reopen soon under new operator; spokesman for Catholic Archdiocese of St. Louis says diocese has signed lease operating agreement with Tower Rock Stone Co. of Ste. Genevieve to operate limestone rock quarry at Grays Point; quarry was formerly operated by Westlake Quarry, which is owned by archdiocese and several other Catholic charities; Grays Point quarry was closed in late March.

25 years ago: May 1, 1977

Elam R. Vangilder died yesterday at St. Francis Medical Center at age 81; pitcher who played 10 years in major leagues, Vangilder spent 19 years in professional baseball; he played for old St. Louis Browns and Detroit Tigers; he had record of 99 wins and 102 losses; Vangilder's best year for Browns was in 1922, when he won 19 games and lost 13.

Former Gov. Warren E. Hearnes, appearing without previous announcement at workshop of Missouri Press Women's 40th anniversary meeting yesterday, flayed the press, saying it is permitted by court rulings in libel cases to make public officials "the target of anything anyone wants to say."

50 years ago: May 1, 1952

Ingenuity, which kept Main Street businesses in operation during last summer's flood, is again being shown by merchants in flood-wrecked area; keeping one step ahead of rising water, they come forth with ramps and sandbag barricades, jack up some stock and hang out the sign, "business-as-usual"; Mississippi River's rise is slowing somewhat, rising only 3.6 inches in past 24 hours; river stage is 38.1 feet.

Shortage of potatoes is being blamed on late crop in California, spoilage of 1951 potatoes due to weather, and lack of government subsidy; price of potatoes has jumped from about 52 cents for 10 pounds to about 80 or 82 cents; one chain supermarket was without potatoes for three days, but has a few today.

75 years ago: May 1, 1927

More than 5,000 Cape Girardeau and Illinois children participated in delayed Easter egg hunt staged by Lions Club at Fairground Park and Teachers College campus; divided into groups according to age, children for more than half hour search high grass and other recesses of park for candy eggs; rain and cold weather on two previous Sunday had forced club to postpone event; local children hunt treasure at park while 150 to 200 refugee children search for goodies at campus.

Essex -- Fire of unknown origin destroys Fox Variety Store and for time threatens adjoining American Hotel building; damage is estimated at nearly $30,000.

-- Sharon K. Sanders