Out of the past 9/2/03

10 years ago: Sept. 2, 1993

Cape Girardeau and Jackson chambers of commerce, which for 12 years have been agents for Missouri Department of Revenue license fee offices in their respective cities, no longer will serve as agents; Gov. Mel Carnahan has decided that fee offices in both towns will be awarded to Southeast Missouri State University, which will take them over during next few weeks.

LeeRowan, St. Louis-based manufacturer and distributor of home organizational products, has been sold to Freeport, Ill., company; company was reportedly sold to Newell Company Corp., which also manufactures home organizational products.

25 years ago: Sept. 2, 1978

The Missourian has learned that for past two years small group of Cape Girardeau businessmen and city council members have had discussions that could lead to massive redevelopment program along deteriorating section of riverfront; while talks have been informal, they have gone far enough that private consulting firm and architect have met with them to discuss possibilities for program.

Jackson Board of Education is hoping for large turnout at meeting Tuesday designed to gather public opinion on whether to build new football stadium and track or to remodel present stadium and build only new track.

50 years ago: Sept. 2, 1953

Release of Ens. Roland G. Busch Jr. from communist prison camp leaves two Cape Girardeau men who are believed prisoners of war: Capt. Archie P. Trantham and Staff Sgt. Don Edwards; Trantham was reported missing in Korea June 6, 1952, after he and his crew bailed out of their burning Air Force plane; Edwards, who entered Army in 1949, was reported missing in action May 18, 1951.

Eight of nation's finest drum and bugle corps perform in evening before capacity crowd at Houck Stadium; competing in Dream Contest of Champions are units from Hawthorn, N.J.; New York City; Stratford, Conn.; Skokie, Ill.; Bayonne, N.J.; Newark, N.J., and two from Chicago, Ill.

75 years ago: Sept. 2, 1928

The Rev. Bascom Patrick of Cape Girardeau preaches at McClure, Ill.; last Sunday, he closed revival there, during which 22 people were converted and 15 were received into membership of Baptist church; they were baptized in waters of Mississippi River, opposite Cape Girardeau; it is planned to organize church at McClure on Sept. 9; organization of congregation will be supervised by Red Star Baptist Church of Cape Girardeau.

The Rev. H.C. Hoy, pastor of Centenary Methodist Church, and the Rev. C.C. Barnhart, pastor of Methodist church in Sikeston, swap pulpits in morning; the Rev. Barnhart preaches on "The Power of Methodism."

-- Sharon K. Sanders