Out of the past 5/4/02

10 years ago: May 4, 1992

Cape Girardeau Public Schools soon will be able to pinpoint students' homes on computers; system is replacing old pin-head map with computerized map; first project for new mapping program is to help re-map school bus routes and boundaries; maps will also be used for redistricting evaluation, building assignments and enrollment projections.

City council agrees to endorse and send to Missouri Highway and Transportation Department list of area road projects for department's 15-year highway plan; resolution asks for "comprehensive study of the needs of the entire (Cape Girardeau, Jackson and Scott City) area" as part of state's highway plan, and includes list of seven priority road projects for area.

25 years ago: May 4, 1977

Feasibility study into possibility of municipally owned electrical distribution system will begin soon; Bill Ford of Kirkwood, consulting engineer who has served as witness for city in several utility rate cases, has been retained to assist with development of background information for study, primarily in areas of cost and construction.

Advance - Advance voters yesterday overwhelmingly approved six proposals which will allow city to fund its share of industrial park construction made possible by federal grant.

50 years ago: May 4, 1952

Work of restoring Lorimier tomb and pagoda in Old Lorimier Cemetery may be completed in time for annual garden club pilgrimage May 17 and 18; F.E. Snider, member of Associated Committees for Historic Cape Girardeau, says new tombstones for Louis Lorimier and his Indian wife are being made by monument firm, and pagoda over burial place is being patched, bleached and painted with off-white ceramic paint.

Bill Pledger, student at State College, gives his first message before congregation of Red Star Baptist Church at worship service in evening; he is son of Mr. and Mrs. Willice Pledger of Cape Girardeau and is member of Red Star church.

75 years ago: May 4, 1927

Big reduction in number of flood refugees is brought about when 103 people depart on noon southbound Gulf line Frisco train for Thebes, Ill., where they will transfer to Missouri Pacific line and be take to their homes in Illinois flood zrea; steady recession of floodwaters in Illinois district past several days has made possible restoration of service over Mo-Pac lines, giving refugees transportation and leaving many of homes in flood area above water.

Showing fall of nearly 16 inches in past 24 hours, despite heavy rain, Mississippi River at Cape Girardeau has dropped to stage of 33.1 feet and is still receding rapidly; horse-drawn road scrapers and motor trucks with dozens of men handling shovels are being employed to remove mud and debris from Main Street drives and flower gardens.

-- Sharon K. Sanders