Out of the past 6/23/04

10 years ago: June 23, 1994

Proposed hiking and biking trail along Bloomfield Road annexation property could cost city of Cape Girardeau $25,000 annually in maintenance if approval is granted by Missouri Highway and Transportation Department; property owners requesting annexation have proposed trail, which would extend from Siemers Drive to County Road 206 or Benton Hill Road.

Decision Tuesday by state Rep. Steve Carroll to withdraw from U.S. Senate race has left many Southeast Missouri Democrats looking for candidate to support.

25 years ago: June 23, 1979

Cape Girardeau firefighters' refusal to offer stand-by fire protection for Ozark Air Lines flights into municipal airport has forced cancellation of all Ozark flights here until service is reinstated; meanwhile, city manager W.G. Lawley calls firemen's actions an "unlawful strike in Missouri; a work stoppage which can have fairly serious consequences."

Commission studying consolidation of Illmo and Scott City communities has decided to ask residents to vote on "Newport" as title for new town.

50 years ago: June 23, 1954

Harvest of golden grain, Cape Girardeau County's wheat crop, is beginning to roll out of combines and will reach floodtide next week that will tax storage space of farmers, practically all of whom will put bumper crop on government loan.

Bids are being accepted for building to be erected by First Christian Church; building will be located at southwest corner of Dunklin and North Boulevard; church is expected to cost about $100,000.

75 years ago: June 23, 1929

Between 2,000 and 3,000 people attend all-day services celebrating historical significance of Old McKendree Methodist Church, eight miles northwest of Cape Girardeau.

One of three people being held in connection with shooting and wounding of police officer Robert Wilson in Cape Girardeau week ago escapes from city jail early in evening; immediately after getaway is discovered, posses composed of entire police force and county officers, led by police chief H.F. Wickham and Sheriff Nat M. Snider, scour city and surrounding county without finding escapee.

-- Sharon K. Sanders