Out of the past 6/22/02

10 years ago: June 22, 1992

Ware, Ill. - Route 3 entrance road to Union County Wildlife Refuge, which was closed by Illinois Commerce Commission in 1983, is expected to reopen this year; commission issued approval for reopening of road recently in response to petition from Union County Board of Commissioners, which long has supported reopening, and Union County Road district; road, which crosses Missouri Pacific Railroad tracks, was closed following fatal train-car accident.

Fate of former St. Francis Hospital building, Good Hope and Pacific, is question that continues to nag city officials nine months after city council passed law to address problem of dangerous and dilapidated structures; while building is structurally sound, city can do little to force its Texas owner to maintain overgrown site.

25 years ago: June 22, 1977

Construction on pilot project which if successful will enhance Mississippi River's ability to clean itself has begun at Cape Girardeau under Army Corps of Engineers contract; stone dikes along Illinois bank are being extended between 250 and 500 feet to funnel river's flow more towards Missouri side where natural deep channel is.

Acting on complaints it has received from NAACP and women's organization, Missouri Commission on Human Rights has requested meeting with city officials to discuss its employment practices; complaints were made against city, Southeast Missouri State University and news media.

50 years ago: June 22, 1952

In absence of the Rev. C.E. Fleshman, who with his wife is attending General Assembly at Kansas City, the Rev. C.H. Greene of Anna, Ill., fills pulpit at Church of the Nazarene; Green is pastor of Church of the Nazarene at Anna.

Heavy downpour of rain covers eastern and northern parts of Cape Girardeau County late in afternoon, bringing measure of relief to parched crops and welcome, if temporary, drop in temperature; Cape Girardeau shares in relief from heat, but only part of city receives rain of any consequence; north part of town receives 15-minute soaking, but only showers sufficient to settle dust fall elsewhere.

75 years ago: June 22, 1927

Officials of Frisco Railway Co. will be in Cape Girardeau Friday night and will be present at meeting at Common Pleas Courthouse, presumably to discuss their proposal to raise height of railway track on Water Street and their plan to build sea wall along riverfront; meeting will be open to public.

Phil C. Haman announces he will raze his present building at 609 Broadway and replace it with modern, two-story brick structure, to cost about $15,000; stock of Haman drug store is moved from old building to next-door store, where business will be maintained while new store is being constructed.

-- Sharon K. Sanders