Out of the past 8/31/04

10 years ago: Aug. 31, 1994

Southeast Missouri coalition wants to establish assistive technology center in Cape Girardeau where disabled persons could try both low- and high-tech aids.

New Optimist Tot Lot in Capaha Park is dedicated in afternoon; it is along Broadway, south of swimming pool.

25 years ago: Aug. 31, 1979

Cape Girardeau County voters will go to polls in November to decide fate of county sales tax; under new Missouri law, counties will be able to levy maximum sales tax of half a cent, provided it is approved by voters.

Telephone communications with Saint Francis Medical Center, Doctors' Park and about 500 telephone customers in western section of Cape Girardeau are cut off in morning when underground telephone cable is damaged in vicinity of Kroger Plaza.

50 years ago: Aug. 31, 1954

Leslie R. Abernathy, 44, of Cape Girardeau was killed yesterday when he fell 25 feet from scaffold, striking his head on concrete pavement; he was operating hoist at new Red Star Baptist Church, lifting a heavy terra cotta block, when part of hoist broke.

Resolution providing for sanitary sewer facilities in Rodney Vista area, including Arena Park, was approved by city council yesterday and forwarded, with accompanying engineer's sketch, to state National Guard headquarters in Jefferson City.

75 years ago: Aug. 31, 1929

Seven bids for construction of new church building at Ellis and Merriwether streets for Christ Evangelical Church were received by building committee yesterday at office of Reither & Lindsay, architects; bids were satisfactory, and it is believed contract will be let shortly.

Harvesting of 1929 corn crop has already started in Illinois, across river from Cape Girar-deau; Arthur Winchester, who has farm 2 1/2 miles east of approach of traffic bridge, has started harvesting corn from 20-acre field, which he planted March 25.

-- Sharon K. Sanders