Out of the past 5/28/05

25 years ago: May 28, 1980

Cape Girardeau city officials hope the city's new disaster warning system will be completed by next week and the first full-scale test of the system can be conducted Monday; four of the system's 15 sirens haven't been installed, and it is uncertain whether they will be operational in time for the test.

CAIRO, Ill. -- Efforts to get voter approval of a tax to support the Alexander County Ambulance Service begins as the ambulance service auxiliary sets in motion a campaign to put a referendum on the November election ballot; the auxiliary is considering asking for a "half-mill" tax.

50 years ago: May 28, 1955

The Rev. J.A. Wilson of Maple Avenue Methodist Church reveals that the church has purchased the residence of Ed Deevers, 620 S. Ellis St., and will use it for the church's parsonage; the present parsonage at 724 Maple Ave. will be converted into an annex for the Sunday school.

A plea to Cape Girardeau residents to fly the American flag Monday, Memorial Day, is made by the committee on flag education of the Louis K. Juden Post of the American Legion, which voices the fear that the holidays "have become merely outlets for recreation and their real meaning is being lost."

75 years ago: May 28, 1930

The Scott County jail at Benton, Mo., has been removed from the list of jails approved by the U.S. government, and six federal prisoners, confined there, were removed to the jail at Jackson Tuesday under a court order; the action follows the recent inspection of the Scott County jail by a federal inspector, who severely condemned it as unfit for further use.

Fifteen condemnation suits are filed in federal court here to obtain land in Mississippi County for right of way for the drainage ditch to be constructed on the land side and parallel to the Birds Point-New Madrid setback levee now under construction.

100 years ago: May 28, 1905

The Rev. Robert S. Brown conducts regular services at the Presbyterian Church and in the evening preaches his farewell sermon.

The Rev. J.C. Maple of Armstrong, Mo., who is in Cape Girardeau visiting relatives, occupies the pulpit at the Baptist Church in the morning; Maple was pastor of the church here 48 years ago, and twice since has held the pastorate; he retired from the ministry about a year ago and only occasionally preaches.

-- Sharon K. Sanders