Out of the past 5/12/04

10 years ago: May 12, 1994

Trans World Express boardings for April reached five-year high of 510; this tops last April's total by 23 percent; TWE has had 1,648 boardings this year compared to 1,357 for same reporting period last year, increase of 22 percent.

Cape Girardeau Police Department dispatcher Ken Bullard has been named regional Telecommunicator of the Year by international organization of dispatchers and police communicators.

25 years ago: May 12, 1979

Local gas station operators believe area service stations will stay open May 17 through 20, despite urging by many retail gasoline associations that stations shut down next week to protest government control of retail gasoline prices.

BENTON, Mo. -- Eight Southeast Missouri fire departments battled fire for about two hours yesterday afternoon after gasoline truck carrying about 3,500 gallons of gas caught fire at Benton; truck, owned by Park Oil Co. of Poplar Bluff, was unloading fuel into storage tanks at Big Don's service station when gas spill touched off the fire.

50 years ago: May 12, 1954

Mr. and Mrs. John Forster, owners of Sunset Motel on North Kingshighway in Cape Girardeau, have sold their property to undisclosed St. Louis investor; motel consists of 14 units, some of which are double, five living rooms for manager and an office; Forsters have operated motel 13 years.

In one of its concluding actions, retiring city council formally sets June 8 as date for special citywide election, at which residents will vote on $300,000 bond issue, payable by residents of area, for sewers in Rodney Vista-Cape Rock Drive-Golladay section in west part of town.

75 years ago: May 12, 1929

Area Catholics are looking forward to visit of Archbishop John J. Glennon of St. Louis during coming week; he should arrive tomorrow at noon and go immediately to St. Vincent's College, where he will be entertained at dinner; that evening, he will confirm candidates at St. Vincent's Catholic Church, and Tuesday he will do same at St. Mary's Catholic Church.

Baccalaureate service for graduating class of Jackson High School is held in morning with the Rev. C. Jankowsky delivering sermon.

-- Sharon K. Sanders