Out of the past 5/2/03

10 years ago: May 2, 1993

Area's two state representatives -- Mary Kasten of Cape Girardeau and David Schwab of Jackson -- anticipate long hours and headaches as legislative session heads into its final two weeks.

City Council agrees to appoint 10-member task force to examine issue of public housing in city and whether to appoint housing authority; action comes after officials with local chapter of National Association for Advancement of Colored People decried shortage of available low-income housing and publicly funded rental assistance.

25 years ago: May 2, 1978

Chaffee, Mo. --School reorganization plan which would move small portion of Kelso-New Hamburg C-7 school district into Chaffee school district is being proposed by Scott County Board of Education and could be on ballot this fall; idea, if approved, would place those elementary students in C-7 district who live in small strip of land between Illmo-Scott City and Chaffee districts into Chaffee school system.

Jackson construction worker died yesterday from injuries received when he was run over earlier in day by earth mover on street paving job in Jackson; police identify victim as Orville R. Perr, 38; accident occurred at 11:30 a.m. on Strawberry Lane; Perr was tying string to grade stake, when machine, which was backing up, struck him.

50 years ago: May 2, 1953

Damage beyond calculation was done to Southeast Missouri's sandy-land farmers yesterday by dust storms that picked up rich top soil and carried it on high, cut down young crops just coming up and exposed prepared seed beds that will now have to be replanted.

Tokyo -- Sixteen Missourians are included in list of Communist war prisoners produced by Sgt. Harry A. Cutting of Belle Plaine, Iowa; Cutting gave list to Kansas City Star reporter, smuggling names past Reds when he was released in prisoner exchange last week.

75 years ago: May 2, 1928

Night ferry service across Mississippi River at Cape Girardeau will resume for summer, beginning Thursday, according to Finnis Jaynes, who operates ferryboat "A.C. Jaynes"; boat will operate from 5 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.; Jaynes says roads in Illinois, between East Cape Girardeau and Anna, have been repaired and are in good condition.

About 900 people attend opening night of The Missourian's cooking and home-making school at Houck Field House, where Edna M. Ferguson, lecturer and food expert, speaks on "The Home as a Social Center" and demonstrates preparation and cooking of several of her favorite recipes; she will give more demonstrations Thursday and Friday.

-- Sharon K. Sanders