Out of the past 7/17/04

10 years ago: July 17, 1994

KASKASKIA, Ill. -- Parishioners came to Church of Immaculate Conception yesterday hoping for miracle, a way to save their historic church; but there was no miracle; Bishop Wilton Gregory of Roman Catholic Diocese of Belleville told 125 people gathered in 150-year-old edifice that church will cease to hold regular services at end of August.

Salvation Army is collecting supplies to aid those suffering from flooding in Georgia; among those helping out in emergency are victims of last year's flooding here.

25 years ago: July 17, 1979

Names of four attorneys, including Edward L. Downs of Cape Girardeau, are being mentioned as possible successors to U.S. District Judge James H. Meredith of Missouri's Eastern District in St. Louis; others are James E. Reeves of Caruthersville, James E. Spain of Bloomfield and U.S. Attorney Robert Kingsland of St. Louis.

Dr. H.F. Baumstark, 81, Cape Girardeau dentist for more than half a century, died last night following illness of 15 months; he received his degree in 1919 from St. Louis University School of Dentistry and, after practicing briefly in Ste. Genevieve, he came to Cape Girardeau in 1920; he is survived by his wife, former Vernice Vogelsang; two sons and two daughters; and two sisters.

50 years ago: July 17, 1954

Men of two Cape Girardeau and one Jackson National Guard companies board 23-car Frisco troop train at Cape Girardeau and leave for two-week training encampment at Camp McCoy, Wis.; boarding train are men of Service Company, commanded by Capt. Raymond Roth of Illmo, and Headquarters Company, commanded by Capt. Vinson Rueseler, both Cape Girardeau units, and Company E of Jackson, commanded by Capt. Thomas K. O'Loughlin.

Eyes of community officials throughout Southeast Missouri are focused on their water supplies, many of which are dwindling as result of evaporation and heightened consumption during recent near-record heat wave.

75 years ago: July 17, 1929

C.A. Vandivort of C.A. Vandivort and Co., who during past several years has been connected with number of enterprises in Cape Girardeau County and this city, has been elected president of Sturdivant Bank; he succeeds A.L Harty.

Highway 61 between Cape Girardeau and Jackson will be open to traffic in about 10 days.-- Sharon K. Sanders