Out of the past 5/2/04

10 years ago: May 2, 1994

Scott City moves forward with plans for riverboat casino; city council announces its intentions to hire attorney to negotiate agreement with Las Vegas-based Lady Luck; gaming corporation has proposed building riverboat casino complex just east of Rhodes Travel Center off Nash Road.

Illinois' funding for new Mississippi River bridge is included in its five-year transportation improvement program contingent upon federal funding; meanwhile, funding has been set aside for early work on Route 146, which leads from bridge into Illinois.

25 years ago: May 2, 1979

Yoshimichi Jafe Suzuki, landscape gardener in Cape Girardeau many years, died last night at his home at age 77; Suzuki is best known for his work in Rose Display Garden at Capaha Park and Riverfront Garden along Water Street; he was born in Tokyo, Japan, and came to America during World War I.

BENTON, Mo. -- Scott County sheriff's deputy David Stuckey is beaten on head with broom handle during unsuccessful attempt by four county jail inmates to escape.

50 years ago: May 2, 1954

The Rev. L.W. Cleland celebrates his sixth anniversary as pastor of First Baptist Church; since he started his ministry in Cape Girardeau in 1948, church records show attendance at services and Sunday school has grown from 450 people to 640.

Chair that slipped off its soda-case perch catapulted Edwin Clayman, 36, of Ste. Genevieve, drummer in Elmo Donze orchestra, out open window of Country Club last night and to pavement about 12 feet below; he sustained fractured skull, but is in good condition at local hospital.

75 years ago: May 2, 1929

Terrific hail storm, accompanied by high wind, swept over central and southern sections of Missouri and Illinois late yesterday, causing heavy damage to crops and buildings and paralyzing lines of communication; cutting swath through Missouri in vicinity of Perryville, St. Marys, Ste. Genevieve and McBride, storm did extensive damage to wheat and alfalfa fields, smashed windows in buildings and unroofed barns and small buildings.

On trail of high wind that whips up floodwaters of Mississippi River, temperature drops to 34 degrees in Cape Girardeau.-- Sharon K. Sanders