Out of the past 6/15/03

10 years ago: June 15, 1993

Seven veterans in wheelchairs were among 40 people watching yesterday as Louis K. Juden Post 63 of American Legion retired more than 40 American flags in solemn ceremony at Veterans Home; ceremony is part of Legion's annual Flag Day observance; ceremony concludes with playing of "Taps" by Rob Giles, son of American Legion District 14 Adjutant Tom Giles.

Spurred by recent fatal accident alongside Indian Park, Leola Twiggs, who lives near park, last night urged city's Parks and Recreation Advisory Board to better safeguard children who play in park; Twiggs suggested that speed limit on William and Lorimier near park be reduced, that warning signs be posted, and that parking restrictions be imposed during peak hours park is in use.

25 years ago: June 15, 1978

Long-standing concern for rights of abused and abandoned children that led Circuit Judge Stanley A. Grimm of Cape Girardeau to write bill giving state's juvenile courts greater authority in such matters was signed this week by Gov. Joseph P. Teasdale; bill principally deals with termination of parental rights in cases of child abandonment or serious abuse.

Cape Girardeau County woman, Mrs. John W. Popp Jr., has been elected to top national position by General Federation of Women's Clubs; Popp, of rural Jackson, was installed as junior director of GFWC last weekend at organization's convention held in Phoenix, Ariz.

50 years ago: June 15, 1953

Laying of foundation and other preliminary work in placing of additional kiln to increase capacity of 300,000 barrels of cement annually is under way at Marquette Cement Mfg. Co.; improvements at plant are expected to be completed in September.

Telephone company and city of Cape Girardeau compromise a projected 100 percent increase in firm's gross revenue tax and establish it at flat $13,000 per year, substantially greater amount than heretofore; firm will pay $6,500 semiannually in plan suggested by Commissioner Louis Brune.

75 years ago: June 15, 1928

Kennett, Mo. -- Farmers, National Guardsmen, employees of levee districts and highway department personnel reunite along 25-mile front early in morning in last tremendous effort to hold back raging waters of St. Francis River, which threaten to crumble levees and spread destruction over more than 50-square miles of growing crops in Dunklin County.

Cape Girardeau Republicans, back from party's national convention at Kansas City, return with various impressions of event, but virtually all agree much of action was in "side shows"; locals were impressed with efficiency with which candidacy of Herbert Hoover was handled.

- Sharon K. Sanders