Out of the past 8/10/03

10 years ago: Aug. 10, 1993

Cape Girardeau's Board of Education will ask voters for 51-cent tax increase on Oct. 5; money generated would fund construction of middle school and other improvements; board president John Campbell estimates 51 cents per $100 assessed valuation would generate between $16 million and $18 million; board would finance building through lease-purchase plan.

Southeast Missouri Regional Port Authority has sustained estimated $150,000 to $175,000 in damage to its physical facilities due to Mississippi River flooding; estimate, which is just that until water begins to recede and damage can be surveyed, includes cost of debris cleanup.

25 years ago: Aug. 10, 1978

Copies of petition by Cape Rock drive residents concerned over proposed widening and paving of portion of street east of Perryville road have been presented to city; petition is signed by 38 individuals representing 25 property owners; while signers say they support paving of road, they are asking city to pay all costs of improvement and maintain present 20-foot width of street.

Unsuccessful candidate for county judge in Tuesday's primary election announces he will be write-in candidate for office in November general election; Doug Hartis of Dutchtown was defeated in his bid for Democratic nomination for Cape Girardeau County 1st District judge by James H. Kuehn.

50 years ago: Aug. 10, 1953

Damage certain to pass far above $100,000 mark and which could conceivably reach $500,000 figure was done to Cape Girardeau residential and business property by Friday night's devastating hail and wind storm; there is no slackening of demand on lumber companies and insurance agencies for service as result of storm; practically all routine construction in city is at halt as carpenters and craftsmen temporarily leave their regular work to pitch in to repair damage in the emergency.

Quick thinking and presence of mind of small boy saved his father's life in Leopold Friday; Elmer Clippard was cleaning out pond with caterpillar tractor, when machine turned over, pinning him; his son, Stanley, 9, hooked chain of borrowed tractor to overturned machine and pulled it off his father.

75 years ago: Aug. 10, 1923

J.W. Miller of Jackson is declared winner by five votes in race for Republican nomination for sheriff of Cape Girardeau County at conclusion of official count of votes in Tuesday's primary election; vote for two leading candidates for sheriff is: Miller 661, Illers 656; unofficial vote given just after election was Illers 660 and Miller 659.

Graveling and repairing of road from Illinois approach of Cape Girardeau traffic bridge over Mississippi River to Reynoldsville has been completed, and highway is in good condition.

-- Sharon K. Sanders