Out of the past 5/30/04

10 years ago: May 30, 1994

Early morning thunderstorm forces cancellation of Avenue of Flags display at Cape County Park, but by mid-morning rain stops and several hundred people are on hand for annual Memorial Day observance of Joint Veterans Council; keynote address is made by Cape Girardeau County assistant prosecutor Ian Sutherland.

Lightning strikes Union Electric substation in morning, disrupting electrical service for about two and one-half hours to about 1,175 UE customers in southwest part of Cape Girardeau.

25 years ago: May 30, 1979

Gulf states petroleum brokers are hoarding gasoline and diesel fuels for resale to oil companies at great profits, causing steadily climbing prices at retail level, contends major oil jobber; Gene Rhodes, owner of Rhodes Oil Co. and member of Missouri Jobbers Association board of directors, also blames federal bureaucracy for current spiraling prices of gasoline and diesel fuel.

BENTON, Mo. -- Group opposed to consolidation of Illmo and Scott City files petition in Scott County Circuit Court seeking cancellation of Tuesday's election on proposed merger.

50 years ago: May 30, 1954

Service rare in records of Baptist church takes place in afternoon, when Don Niswonger and his older brother, Jerry, are ordained ministers of church in single ceremony; they are children of Mr. and Mrs. Floyd Niswonger of Cape Girardeau; service takes place at Red Star Baptist Church.

It is festival day for Trinity Lutheran congregation members, who are joined by hundreds of local and out-of-town guests in celebration of their 100th anniversary; bringing centennial sermon to 1,400 people at Houck Field House is Dr. J.W. Behnken, president of Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod.

75 years ago: May 30, 1929

Cape Girardeau, with appropriate services, pays tribute to its soldier dead; on Mississippi River traffic bridge, service is held for departed sailors and Marines; at Courthouse Park there is joint memorial service for all war dead, and at historic Lorimier Cemetery a program is held at graves of veterans.

Final approval of proposal of Southeast Missouri Telephone Co., with headquarters in Cape Girardeau, to purchase holdings of Southwestern Bell Company in number of towns in district was given by Missouri Public Service Commission yesterday; sale of properties involves expenditure of $1,336,000.

-- Sharon K. Sanders