Out of the past 8/17/03

10 years ago: Aug. 17, 1993

Annual migration is about to begin; Southeast Missouri State University students will begin moving into campus residence halls Thursday in preparation for start of classes Monday; students will be greeted by number of changes on university campus, perhaps most noticeably the closing of Towers West residence halls and social science building for renovations.

Three buses filled with euphoric group of sunburned and tired teenagers pulled into St. Mary's School parking lot at dusk yesterday, ending trip they say they will remember all their lives; 450 youths and chaperones from Southeast Missouri were among more than 200,000 people who were in Denver last weekend to see Pope John Paul II on World Youth Day.

25 years ago: Aug. 17, 1978

Councilman Samuel L. Gill played roll of maverick last night as he took opposite side on two controversial issues before city council and protested change in civil service regulations; Gill was lone dissenter on vote denying issuance of special use permit for franchise day-care center at corner of Pindwood lane and Independence; he also protested section of revised civil service code which prohibits city employees from actively seeking political office or being officer of political party.

Cairo, Ill. -- Cairo Parent Teacher Association has intervened in effort to bring striking Cairo teachers and Cairo Board of Education to negotiating table in order to help end teachers' strike; one of main obstacles to agreement between board and teachers is board's refusal to recognize Cairo Association of Teachers as negotiating agent of Cairo teachers.

50 years ago: Aug. 17, 1953

Illmo -- Sgt. Donald R. Sturm, one of five sons of Mrs. Emma Sturm to serve in Korean War, is among U.S. servicemen reported this weekend by communists to have died in prison camps; Sturm was listed missing in action in November 1950.

In editorial on Saturday calling attention to memorial service for Korean War heroes held at Memphis last week, point was made that there is no record of how many men from Cape Girardeau County served in military forces during Korean conflict or how many lost their lives or were wounded; The Missourian is attempting to secure such names; when compiled, newspaper will print Honor Roll, just as it did at end of World War I and World War II.

75 years ago: Aug. 17, 1928

Marble Hill, Mo. -- Preparations for one of largest fall enrollments in history of school are being made at Will Mayfield College, says president W.C. Ferguson; several things have been done to enlarge scope of college's work and to ensure more thorough preparation of students attending school, says Ferguson; several new members have been added to faculty, and complete courses will be offered in regular academic subjects as well as religion, expression and music.

Cape Girardeau County schools will receive $5,501.88 more state school money this year than they received in 1927 as result of apportionment of state school funds; apportionment for county this year will be $34,847.21.

-- Sharon K. Sanders