Out of the past 5/31/02

10 years ago: May 31, 1992

The Rt. Rev. William A. Jones of St. Louis, bishop of Episcopal Diocese of Missouri, makes his annual visit to Christ Episcopal Church; he is celebrant and preacher for Holy Eucharist in morning; he also confirms and receives persons who are prepared to make commitment to Episcopal Church.

Hottest ticket in Cape Girardeau this month is one to ride riverboat at this year's Riverfest; riverboat rides, one of most popular attractions at annual event, are already selling oæut; event is slated for June 12 and 13.

25 years ago: May 31, 1977

Fifty-two merchants from Pacific to Main Street on Broadway have presented petition to city asking that one-way traffic pattern instituted on Aug. 9, 1976, be rescinded; city council will take up matter at its Wednesday meeting.

Southeast Missouri Hospital next month will add staff physician who will be present throughout weekends in hospital's emergency room; medical director of emergency will be Dr. Jo Robert Cochran, who currently is in private practice in Doctors Park; Cochran says he will phase out his private practice over period of time.

50 years ago: May 31, 1952

Construction is to begin soon on one-story brick office and warehouse structure for Cape Grocers Association that will increase its space and allow it to expand its operations which now extend to 40 stores in 11 Southeast Missouri and Southern Illinois communities; building will be constructed on site on Independence street east of St. Mary's truck terminal.

Letter designations for party lines will be thing of past and customers on rural lines operating out of Cape Girardeau will find different and improved type of service when change-over from manual to dial telephone becomes effective June 28; subscribers will be assigned new numbers; "J," "M," "R," and "W" party line designations will be dropped, and rural users will be offered modern eight-party service.

75 years ago: May 31, 1927

Severe windstorm, accompanied by hail and heavy rain, swept over portions of Southeast Missouri last night, causing damage to buildings and growing crops estimated in excess of $150,000; Sikeston and immediate rural vicinity were hardest hit; buildings there were unroofed, windows broken by hail, and crops in path of storm ruined.

New Madrid - Commercial Trust Company, capitalized at $50,000 and with total resources of $394,088, is closed by its board of directors and placed in hands of state finance department; slow collection of loans, due in part to flood conditions in New Madrid and Mississippi counties a month ago, is blamed by officials for closing of bank.

- Sharon K. Sanders