Out of the past 5/15/03

10 years ago: May 15, 1993

Boyd Group of Las Vegas, Nev., has pledged it will make $37.5 million capital investment in Cape Girardeau if voters approve riverboat gambling in city next moth; company, which owns and operates four casino and resort hotels in Las Vegas, revealed its proposal for riverfront development and floating casino at news conference Friday.

Veteran deputy with Cape Girardeau County Sheriff's Department is this year's winner of Timothy J. Ruopp Award; Sgt. Vince Diebold, who has served department for 13 years, was given award Friday; award is named for former county deputy, who later became police officer in San Diego, Calif.; Ruopp was shot and killed in line of duty in September 1984.

25 years ago: May 15, 1978

Lutesville, Mo. -- Parents protesting what they claim is excessively severe paddling of Woodland R-IV schoolchildren set up pickets outside school in morning; pickets carry signs declaring that school administration has employed "unreasonable punishment" and that school board "has closed its eyes and ears to the situation."

Jackson and all of Cape Girardeau County continues outpouring of tribute and respect for R.A. Fulenwider, for almost four decades leading force in development of Jackson; Fulenwider, 73, died Saturday at St. Louis hospital, little more than 24 hours after he suffered head injuries in fall down staircase at Masonic Hall.

50 years ago: May 15, 1953

Citizens committee studying garbage problem in Cape Girardeau has recommended that city council advertise for bids on contract to collect and dispose of city's refuse.

Several types of Navy airplanes will be on display tomorrow at Municipal Airport by members of Naval Air Reserve as part of observance of Armed Forces Day; planes will be flown here by Lt. Cmdr. A.B. Buchanan Jr., commanding officer of reserve; Lt. Charles Brune, squadron member, and Lt. Cmdr. C.E. Stiver and Lt. Frank Mollenhour, Cape Girardeau residents attached to St. Louis squadron.

75 years ago: May 15, 1928

Moses Whybark, 79, for nearly 60 years lawyer in Southeast Missouri, died yesterday at local hospital; he had been ill for nearly five years; for many years, Whybark was associated with Frisco Railway Co. as head of legal department in Third Division; he was born in Bollinger County in 1848 and was admitted to bar in 1870.

Two youthful bandits held up Kelso Oil Co. filling station on North Main Street and Park Drive last night, intimidated proprietor, Otto Willa, and escaped in Ford roadster with $34.93 in currency.

-- Sharon K. Sanders