Out of the past 5/21/03

10 years ago: May 21, 1993

Residents of Cape Girardeau Route 1 are first to be advised of address changes caused by Cape Girardeau County's conversion to enhanced-911 emergency telephone system; eventually, every resident in county will have number and street address that will make it easier for emergency vehicles to find locations around county.

According to just-released economic impact study, riverboat casino would bring nearly $150 million into Cape Girardeau economy in its first year of operation; but opponent of riverboat gambling says study is based on flawed assumptions; study was conducted by Pauline Fox, economics professor at Southeast Missouri State university, using data provided by The Boyd Group, Las Vegas-based casino operator that has proposed bringing riverboat to Cape Girardeau.

25 years ago: May 21, 1978

The Rev. True Taylor of Cape Girardeau is guest minister for traditional morning service at Apple Creek Presbyterian Church; worship is followed by basket dinner on grounds at noon and annual business meeting.

Dedication for renovation of interior of Third Street United Methodist Church is held in morning; covered-dish supper follows worship service in church yard; fire destroyed interior of edifice on Oct. 7, 1977; church is at Bend Road and Third Street intersection.

50 years ago: May 21, 1953

Jackson school board announces that contract for construction of combination gymnasium-auditorium for public schools has been let to J.E. Williams Construction Co. of St. Louis on bid of $232,595; work will start within 10 days; construction of building will be financed by proceeds of bond issue voted at recent election.

Planes land and take off 24 times a day in good weather at Fruitland's new "airport"; Cape Central Airways, engaged in spraying fields infested with army worms in northern Cape Girardeau County, has arranged to use level pasture on Eli McDowell farm, two miles east of Fruitland; planes land on improvised, 1,800-foot strip and refuel with gasoline and spraying liquid.

75 years ago: May 21, 1928

Judge Jerome L. Cheney of New York State Supreme Court arrives to participate in reunion of old teachers and students of Teachers College; Cheney, son of professor Lucius H. Cheney, first principal of Third District Normal School, entered school as boy at first term of Normal School in 1873 and in 1888 graduated from institution.

In effort to give residents of southwestern section of county rural mail service, which was halted several weeks ago by impassable condition of road, county court has ordered county engineer to place road in shape for traffic, and this work is being done; road, known as Siemers road, runs in westerly direction from Highway 25 to connection with Gordonville-Whitewater road.

-- Sharon K. Sanders