Out of the past 6/5/03

10 years ago: June 5, 1993

Instead of lawn mowers, whining sound of chain saws is heard throughout much of area as clean-up operations are under way in large area that was ravaged by severe thunderstorms yesterday morning; in parts of Missouri Bootheel and Western Kentucky and Tennessee, residents had to endure second round of severe weather as more storms redeveloped that night; in Southeast Missouri, line of storms cut wide swathe of damage from Lake Wappapello northeast of Poplar Bluff to Mississippi River.

Cape Girardeau Central High School graduates recited Lord's Prayer at commencement yesterday; at beginning of program, when principal Dan Milligan asked everyone to be seated, students remained standing and recited prayer.

25 years ago: June 5, 1978

Forty-fourth annual convention of Missouri Chapter of National Association of Postmasters begins at Holiday Inn in Cape Girardeau and will continue until noon Wednesday; hosting convention is Cape Girardeau postmaster Wilver W. Wessel; meeting is first such gathering in Cape Girardeau.

Cape Girardeau County native, who while attending Southeast Missouri State University did stint as local government intern with city, has been hired as assistant to Cape Girardeau city manager W.G. Lawley; Alvin Stoverink, originally from Gordonville, began his duties last Thursday.

50 years ago: June 5, 1953

Pilot of one of B-47 Stratojets which made first nonstop mass jet flight across Atlantic Ocean yesterday was former Cape Girardean, Maj. Thomas P. Russell; 15 of Stratojets, called world's fastest atomic bombers, flew from United Sates to Great Britain at more than 500 miles an hour; Russell is son of Mr. and Mrs. Willard Russell of Hayti and grandson of late Mr. and Mrs. T.P. Russell of Cape Girardeau.

Advisory committee appointed by city council to study method of garbage and refuse collection recommends that city not go into the business, but instead contract out for the service.

75 years ago: June 5, 1928

Judges of Cape Girardeau County Court will make tour of inspection of roads in northern section of county Friday with view of giving aid in repairing highways, it is decided at meeting at Jackson; it is probable that county roads in Applecreek and Shawnee townships will be inspected by court; it will be second tour of roads within past few weeks, another having been made recently of roads in western section.

Contract for construction of new Ely Walker clothing factory at Illmo will be let within two weeks, says Dr. G.S. Cannon of Fornfelt, who is visiting in Cape Girardeau; building will cost about $22,000 and will be built on lot east of General Box Co.

-- Sharon K. Sanders