Out of the past 5/27/03

10 years ago: May 27, 1993

Cape Girardeau County coroner has determined that death of 2-year-old girl Tuesday was accidental; Tendora Jackson of Cape Girardeau was struck by northbound truck at about 6:40 p.m., when she ran out into street in 100 block of South Lorimier; in aftermath of accident, patrons of nearby Indian Park say something should be done to safeguard site for children who play there.

Employees of Cape Girardeau's school district will earn average of 3.5 percent more next year than this year under new salary package adopted yesterday by Board of Education; board approved raises for teachers, administrators and support staff at average of 3.5 percent.

25 years ago: May 27, 1978

Faced with building costs exceeding funds City Library Board has on hand to construct new library on North Clark street, board has cut 5,000 square feet from its design for building; board instructed architect Ted Hoerner to scale preliminary plans for building to 21,000 square feet.

Perryville, Mo. -- Suggested route for Highway 51 bypass around Perryville was submitted to state highway department officials at pre-location study meeting Thursday; recommended location, planned by city officials with help from Southeast Missouri Regional Planning and Economic Development Commission, would use existing streets, primarily Sycamore, as northerly route around city.

50 years ago: May 27, 1953

Sweltering heat and searing sun that have city folks gasping and fanning are things of joy to farmers in area; hot weather, most important item for growing cotton and corn, has taken place of rain which fell nine straight days in varying amounts throughout districts.

Laura St. Ann Keller announces she has sold her interest in Gift Shop, 135 N. Main, to her partner, Marie Friant, who becomes sole owner; shop was opened in May 1921 at 28 N. Main by Mrs. Julia Wilburn and Victoria McCownd; in 1924 Friant and Keller's mother, Mrs. D.J. Keller, purchased store, and same year moved it to 500 block of Broadway; in 1926 it was moved to The Missourian Building, where it remained until 1946, when it was transferred to present location; Keller entered firm in 1947, when her mother died.

75 years ago: May 27, 1928

The Rev. C.D. Lathrop, rector of Christ Episcopal Church, delivers baccalaureate sermon to 84 members of graduating class of Central High School in evening at Centenary Methodist Church; commencement exercises will be held Thursday evening at Teachers College, with Dean R.S. Douglass delivering keynote address.

Ed Erlbacher, young Cape Girardeau mechanic, is building towboat on levee front, which he plans to use in about six weeks on Ohio and upper Mississippi rivers for towing barges belonging to construction companies doing rip-rap work along streams; Don Frazier is assisting him in building boat.

-- Sharon K. Sanders