Out of the past 6/22/03

10 years ago: June 22, 1993

Voters in Cape Girardeau likely will have opportunity Nov. 2 to reconsider riverboat gambling; at last night's city council meeting, proponents of measure presented petitions with signatures of 3,720 citizens requesting measure be placed on November ballot.

Authorities say young child playing with cigarette lighter may have been responsible for fire Monday that caused extensive damage to residence in northeast part of Cape Girardeau; no one was injured in fire at 400 Timon Way.

25 years ago: June 22, 1978

Fifteen sirens scattered throughout city have been recommended by advisory board as nucleus of disaster warning system of Cape Girardeau; system would cost estimated $200,000; suggestion that city install sirens was contained in report filed Wednesday with city council.

Another warning about penalties for low fees at Southeast Missouri State University and rejection of bids for new press box and track facility are among major items taken up by Board of Regents in morning; warning over penalties invoked by formula used by Coordinating Board of Higher Education for allocating state money to university comes from Dr. Robert Foster, vice president for financial affairs.

50 years ago: June 22, 1953

Midway in harvest of one of largest crops of wheat in history, Cape Girardeau County farmers find themselves in middle of predicted squeeze on storage space; they have alternatives of either selling their wheat on open market, or storing it and earning substantially greater sum at government loan prices.

Respite may not be of long duration, but Cape Girardeau had resort weather yesterday and today, after seeing mercury hit new high for season Saturday; temperature hit 103 Saturday afternoon, climaxing heat wave that started back in May; while high mark reached Sunday was 97, it seemed cool by comparison, with steady breeze adding to comfort.

75 years ago: June 22, 1928

Severe windstorm strikes Cape Girardeau early in afternoon, smashing windows in businesses and houses, uprooting small trees and ripping shingles from homes; large plate-glass window is blown from Coca-Cola Bottling Co. on Spanish Street, and another is blown out of Pape Grocery on Broadway; both windows in front of Bank of Southeast Missouri on Broadway are shattered by storm.

Mississippi River at Cape Girardeau will reach stage of 33 feet by Sunday, according to report received by Port Warden Lee Albert from weather bureau; stage this morning is 30.6 feet; no danger is anticipated, if river crests at 33 feet, 1 foot above flood stage.

-- Sharon K. Sanders