Out of the past 5/5/03

10 years ago: May 5, 1993

Written remarks in Regional Commerce and Growth Association executive director's report suggest that "powerful and vindictive" forces are trying to keep Scott City from participating in industrial recruitment group have drawn fire from several members; "I think it's a classic case of paranoia," says Cape Girardeau County Presiding Commissioner Gene Huckstep in response to remarks written by RCGA executive director Walt Wildman.

Optimist Clubs of Cape Girardeau honor area law enforcement personnel through presentation of service awards to officers and agencies; among those receiving awards for outstanding service are officers Rodney Barker, William Boynert and Barry Hovis, all veterans of Cape Girardeau police force.

25 years ago: May 5, 1978

Southeast Missouri Hospital next week will formally begin $1.5 million community fund-raising campaign for Cancer Treatment Center that will afford area most sophisticated treatments in management of the disease; general chairman of campaign will be Francis F. Lewis.

Cape Girardeau County Court has ordered all county parks closed from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. in initial effort to curb problems resulting from night-time drinking parties being attended by teenagers; action was taken after Sheriff James J. Below brought to court's attention party last weekend in Mount Tabor Park which was attended by about 300 people, many of whom were under age of 21.

50 years ago: May 5, 1953

Cape Girardeau City Council yesterday retained firm of Harrison & Harrison as city engineers; firm consists of Robert Harrison, who has been city engineer until Monday, and his father, Lyman Harrison of Benton, former city engineer of Sikeston, former county surveyor of Scott County and consulting engineer practicing in Southeast Missouri and Northern Arkansas the past 25 years.

Large crowd turns out at Arena Building to see three companies of troops of 140th Infantry Regiment put on full-dress parade in front of Maj. Gen. Albert D. Sheppard, adjutant general of Missouri; parade is held on broad plaza in front of Arena Building, and afterward, open house is held inside with refreshments and number of displays of equipment.

75 years ago: May 5, 1928

Among most noticeable street improvements in Cape Girardeau is filling of depression in Normal avenue from Pacific to Sprigg, distance of two blocks; here street not only is being improved, but road bed is being prepared; fill is made possible through cooperation of city officials and officials of Teachers College, latter providing for excavation of dirt from Houck Field and trucking it to street site, where street department of city takes charge of it.

Only three short spans remain to be erected and steel work on Cape Girardeau traffic bridge across Mississippi River will be completed; first three short spans, beyond long span over main channel, have been finished.

-- Sharon K. Sanders