Out of the past 5/5/02

10 years ago: May 5, 1992

Southeast Missouri State University's Budget Review Committee yesterday approved budget package that calls for 3 percent across-the-board salary increase for all but institution's executive staff; package also includes slight cuts in athletic funding; committee wound up 3 1/2 months of deliberation by recommending a nearly $50 million budget for fiscal year 1993.

More than 400 Cape Girardeau fourth-graders, wearing neon yellow shirts and orange caps, chant, cheer, shout and pledge not to smoke cigarettes for rest of their lives; commotion is part of Smoke-Free Class of 2000 rally; students celebrate completion of another year of smoke-free living on their way to year 2000.

25 years ago: May 5, 1977

Two obscenity ordinances proposed by city attorney were given three readings before city council yesterday, but because council was fearful that language of measures itself may be obscene, ordinances weren't read in full; in other business, council unanimously chose Cape County Cable TV as organization with which city will work out franchise contract for installing cable television system.

McClure, Ill. - Uprooted or shattered trees and thankful members of Pennington family testify to effects of tornado which passed over their heads yesterday; three trailers and house belonging to Mr. and Mrs. Loyd Pennington and Mr. and Mrs. Lige "Bud" Pennington received minor damage from debris scattered by winds which hit around 5:30 p.m.; both families live along Grapevine Trail about three miles east of McClure; no one was injured.

50 years ago: May 5, 1952

Safe burglars took estimated $2,689 in cash and checks from Eggimann Feed & Produce Co., 514 Independence, Saturday night; police report describes break-in as "a very neat punch job"; burglars knocked combination dial off safe, then punched out lock mechanism.

After remaining stationary for almost 48 hours, Mississippi River began its expected fall over weekend, dropping tenth of a foot from Saturday to Sunday and three-tenths more in 24 hours ending at 8 a.m. today; river crested at 38.3 feet Friday morning.

75 years ago: May 5, 1927

Twenty-first annual convention of Missouri Association of Public Utilities opens at Common Pleas Courthouse in morning with 200 representatives of public service companies present; F.S. Dewey of Kansas City Power & Light Co., president of association, presides at morning session.

Charleston - American Theater was severely damaged by fire early yesterday, with loss estimated in excess of $50,000; L.S. Dark, manager, indicates theater will be rebuilt at once; O.W. McCutcheon of Blytheville, Ark., owns theater; adjoining Peoples Bank building and Buckner-Ragsdale store were damaged by flames, but loss isn't expected to be heavy.

-- Sharon K. Sanders