Out of the past 5/27/04

10 years ago: May 27, 1994

Barring any legal difficulties, Cape Girardeau City Council June 6 will adopt ordinance for one-eighth-cent sales tax vote to defray increasing cost of solid waste; passage of increase would help avoid raising trash fees from $10.54 to $12.13.

Michael Ballou, a firm supporter of ward system in Cape Girardeau, is only candidate to file for Ward 3 city council seat thus far; seat was vacated by Al Spradling III, who resigned his post when he was elected mayor.

25 years ago: May 27, 1979

BREESE, Ill. -- Sister Marie Cecilia Brenneisen, a teacher at St. Dominic's School in Breese, celebrates her Silver Jubilee as School Sister of Notre Dame at St. Dominic's Catholic Church; native of Cape Girardeau, she is daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Leo Brenneisen of St. Louis.

Change in plans saved life of Cape Girardeau native's husband; Howard Caterson, husband of former Miss Margie Schrader, would have been among 273 casualties in Friday's crash of American Airlines DC-10 at Chicago's O'Hare Airport had he not made last-minute change in his itinerary.

50 years ago: May 27, 1954

Except for final adjustments and floor finishing that has been purposely delayed until later in the summer, construction of gymnasium unit of new Central High School has been completed; preliminary work on erection of auditorium unit has been finished with use of dirt to fill area and with placing of footings.

Thomas Lee Lintz, 21, of Bloomfield, seaman who was called to active duty in 1953 from Cape Girardeau Naval Reserve Surface Division 9-129, was one of those seriously burned yesterday in explosion aboard aircraft carrier Bennington.

75 years ago: May 27, 1929

Plans for construction of building in which will be combined dining hall, restrooms, and complete motor car servicing department are announced by E.C. Smith, manager of Kelso Oil Co., which will erect plant; building will be constructed at northeast intersection of Highway 61 and West Broadway, just west of city limits, at cost of about $20,000.

Mississippi River falls to stage of 31.6 feet at Cape Girardeau, receding practically a foot a day during past six days; river crested Tuesday at 37.4 feet.

-- Sharon K. Sanders