Out of the past 5/23/03

10 years ago: May 23, 1993

St. Paul Lutheran Church in Jackson celebrates its 100th anniversary with special services; guest speaker at worship services is the Rev. James W. Kalthoff, president of Missouri District of Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod; St. Paul began on March 18, 1893, with original constitution signed by six charter members.

Decision year ago by U.S. Supreme Court to ban prayer at school graduation ceremonies seems to have little effect on Cape Girardeau Central High School baccalaureate service; this year, service is sponsored by Cape Girardeau Ministerial Alliance instead of school and is held at Holiday Inn Convention Center instead of traditional location, school gymnasium.

25 years ago: May 23, 1978

Superior Electric Products Corp. plant on Nash Road is idled by labor dispute involving 400 to 500 employees representing all departments and shifts of company; dispute began Friday in punch press department of plant and gradually spread through all departments, according to strikers who are members of International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local Number One.

Committee of Cape Girardeau County residents will be named soon to help study feasibility of development of new lake in county with funds from one-eighth of a cent sales tax that went into effect last July 1, says A.C. Brase, chairman of Cape County Park Board.

50 years ago: May 23, 1953

Sponsors of annual Rose Festival and Garden Pilgrimage, which is being staged today and Sunday, are bit depressed over failure of sun to do its part, but they agree that never have they know Cape Girardeau's roses to be prettier; mixture of rain, cool weather and occasional sunshine seems to have brought out roses everywhere; Ten-Mile Garden and Cape Rock Drive are at their very best.

More than 2,000 people attended last night's commencement exercises of Jackson High School, held in stadium under most favorable weather conditions; the Rev. W.L. Meyer of Charleston was commencement speaker; valedictorian was Mary Hagans and salutatorian was Eloise Sieck.

75 years ago: May 23, 1928

First carload of Cape Girardeau County strawberries to be shipped this season leaves Cape Girardeau late in day; W.F. Bender, shipping manager for Cape Girardeau County Growers Association, reports there are nearly 450 crates on hand, 420 crates being required numbered for carload.

Six students of John S. Cobb School will be graduated this year; they are: Freda A. Brown, Marie A. Cardell, Albert E. Goines, Katherine L. Jackson, Helen M. Thompkins and Leona A. Wiley; commencement address will be delivered by Robert S. Cobb of Jefferson City, son of late John S. Cobb, for whom school was named, on June 1 at St. James A.M.E. Church.

-- Sharon K. Sanders