Out of the past 5/13/04

10 years ago: May 13, 1994

NEW MADRID, Mo. -- City of New Madrid is laying out welcome mat for casino companies looking for places to dock riverboats in Missouri; at special meeting of city council Wednesday, council members voted unanimously to draft letter to solicit interested casino and gambling firms.

Boyd Gaming Corp.'s hearings on rezoning and special use permit at Cape Girardeau Planning and Zoning Commission's meeting Wednesday met with no opposition; Boyd requested to rezone 230 N. Main from multiple family residential district to central business district.

25 years ago: May 13, 1979

Well-planned pomp of university graduation dissolves into confusion and soaked clothing when sudden rainstorm sweeps Cape Girardeau; Southeast Missouri State University commencement exercises make emergency shift from Houck Stadium to Houck Field House; but in process, commencement address has to be skipped, and some graduates and spectators miss completion of proceedings.

Cape Girardeau man with history of drug offenses has been charged with first-degree assault in connection with April 26 sniping incident at city police station; authorities say they are having difficulty determining motive for shooting.

50 years ago: May 13, 1954

Cold weather damage to cotton in district has been subject of controversy since crops were hit by frost two weeks ago, with estimates of damage reaching as high as 90 percent for cotton in entire district.

Central High Tigers win high school baseball championship by defeating Bell City Cubs, 16-0, at Capaha Park; Tigers will next play sectional game with winner of District 5 of St. Louis.

75 years ago: May 13, 1929

Behrens Motor Co., 420 Broadway, has leased first floor and basement of Anderson Building, 819 Broadway, and following extensive remodeling will move into structure about July 1; upper floor of building is being remodeled as quarters for two units of Missouri National Guard and will be ready for occupancy within a few days.

Severe rainstorm of near cloudburst proportions strikes Cape Girardeau late in day, flooding streets and sidewalks and causing some damage to basements in residences and businesses; Broadway is a roaring river, as water pours from nearby streets to pile up several inches in depth along business section.

-- Sharon K. Sanders