Out of the past 7/6/04

10 years ago: July 6, 1994

USS Squall, Navy coastal patrol ship that was christened in St. Louis Monday, visited Cape Girardeau yesterday; Navy's newest coastal patrol ship is seventh of 13 to be built in new Cyclone class.

After wrestling with his conscience, Cape Girardeau City Councilman Richard Eggimann decided he had to reverse his endorsement of planned hiking-biking trail along Bloomfield Road; three other councilmen -- Tom Neumeyer, Melvin Gateley and J.J. Williamson -- followed suit, and Eggimann's motion to kill application for grant through Missouri Highway and Transportation Department to fund trail passed 4 to 2 last night.

25 years ago: July 6, 1979

Letter-of-request for federal mediation has been signed by both parties in labor dispute between city of Cape Girardeau and employees of fire department and public works; it should arrive in St. Louis office of Federal Mediation Service this week.

About 100 construction workers, idled for nearly two months by strikes, have gathered at Marquette Co. plant building site for past two mornings seeking to return to work, most of them without success.

50 years ago: July 6, 1954

Fifty-nine hours after her automobile was found abandoned in middle of highway not far from her home, body of Bonnie L. Huffman, 20 years old, was located at 9 p.m. yesterday on Farm Route N, one-half mile from Delta.

Large crowd debated fate of old Burfordville mill property Sunday on banks of Whitewater River; many were descendants of original 20 families who came from North Carolina with Col. George F. Bollinger to found settlement; committee was named to investigate ways to preserve landmark.

75 years ago: July 6, 1929

Controlling interest of capitol stock of Sturdivant Bank has been purchased by John Tlapek of St. Marys and C.A. Vandivort and Co., subsidiary of Harrison Securities, Inc., in Cape Girardeau; purchase was made from Board of Directors of Southeast Missouri Trust Co.

W.P. Bergmann of Cape Special Road District says immediate effort will be made to get Missouri Highway Department to rebuild bridge over Cape LaCroix Creek west of city limits, which collapsed yesterday under weight of Kroger truck.

-- Sharon K. Sanders