Out of the past 7/1/04

10 years ago: July 1, 1994

Cape Girardeau and Jackson cable television customers will pay a little less for most services as result of government regulations designed to put brakes on cable charges; rate changes take effect July 14; monthly rate for basic service will decrease from $10.23 to $9.17.

MARBLE HILL, Mo. -- Leland and Joan Flor, owners and publishers of The Banner-Press in Marble Hill, have sold that newspaper to Concord Publishing House of Cape Girardeau.

25 years ago: July 1, 1979

Federal mediation between city of Cape Girardeau and representatives of local firefighters' union is expected to begin as early as Wednesday; firefighters Friday agreed to return to work after city council announced mediation would take place.

Capacity crowd says goodbye to Purple Crackle, last of Midwest supper clubs; after 40 years as top night spot, Illinois club is changing its format to that of family restaurant; event also marks final appearance of Jack Staulcup's Orchestra at Purple Crackle after 17 years -- or more than 850 appearances -- as club's "house band."

50 years ago: July 1, 1954

Attorney General John M. Dalton holds that under May 17 U.S. Supreme Court ruling against racial segregation in public schools, Missouri districts may integrate whites and blacks now; but they don't have to, he says, until Supreme Court decree is handed down after arguments scheduled for this fall; ruling apparently gives Cape Girardeau school board leeway to make Jefferson School voluntary school for black elementary school children next year.

Three cars were stolen in Jackson last night, and two are recovered this morning wrecked, lying on their tops, one in Jackson and one near Millersville.

75 years ago: July 1, 1929

About 50 farmers of county expressed unanimous approval Saturday in proposed plan of Cape Girardeau County Bankers Association to establish Better Bull clubs throughout county; under plan, purebred bulls will be distributed in county according to cow population; plan also provides that certain farmer in each "block," or "ring" will quarter a bull, the other members of block paying for maintenance.

Tentative plans have been approved for church building for Christian Science Society in Cape Girardeau, to be built on west wide of West End Boulevard, between Luce and Themis streets.-- Sharon K. Sanders