Out of the past 5/24/03

10 years ago: May 24, 1993

Mississippi River at Cape Girardeau is expected to drop below 32-foot flood stage this week; it has crested above flood stage here five times in last month and a half; falling river is welcome news to farmers and residents in water-logged East Cape Girardeau-Clear Creek Levee District and others living in four levee districts located in basin that extends from Big Muddy River levee southward to levee near Gale, Ill., in north Alexander County.

Southeast Missouri State University has netted its biggest class of National Merit scholars ever; 38 students from 14 states have accepted National Merit scholarships to attend university for 1993-94 academic year.

25 years ago: May 24, 1978

Perryville, Mo. -- Resolution endorsing Highway 51 bypass around Perryville was unanimously adopted by Southeast Missouri Regional Planning and Economic Development Commission last night.

Temporary restraining order against striking workers at Superior Electric Products Corp. on Nash Road was issued Tuesday by 1st Division Circuit Court Judge Stanley A. Grimm; majority of members of Local Number 1601 of International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers voted to return to work, and by this morning operations were returning to normal at plant.

50 years ago: May 24, 1953

Water-skier Frank Beddor of Minnesota fails by only 40 miles to set new world record for nonstop distance; he skims down Mississippi River from Cape Girardeau 146 miles, to point about 30 miles north of Caruthersville; there one motor dies as fuel tank is being changed, other motor is unable to keep Beddor on top of water, and he loses a ski.

Estimated crowd of more than 475, larger turnout than at any of previous pilgrimages, was on hand for seventh annual Rose Festival and Garden Pilgrimage yesterday and today in Cape Girardeau.

75 years ago: May 24, 1928

Simple yet impressive memorial service is held in historic Lorimier Cemetery in morning at grave of Lucius H. Cheney, first president of Third District Normal School of Cape Girardeau, by group of his former students here for reunion, members of college faculty and other friends from Cape Girardeau.

Poplar Bluff, Mo. -- With handkerchief as mask, lone robber holds up Butler County Bank shortly after noon and escapes with cash estimated at between $1,200 and $1,500.

-- Sharon K. Sanders