Out of the past 9/3/03

10 years ago: Sept. 3, 1993

Two Southeast Missouri State University regents are opposed to idea of school's foundation operating license fee offices in Cape Girardeau and Jackson; regents Mark Pelts of Kennett and Ann Dombrowski of Cape Girardeau say they oppose plan because it smacks of partisan politics; neither will discuss their opposition at length.

Brief but fierce lightning and wind storm struck Cape Girardeau and environs last night, causing at least one house fire and more transformer fires, downing power lines and trees all over city, and flooding out cars on many streets.

25 years ago: Sept. 3, 1978

The Rev. David Lee Cooper of Fort Worth, Texas, has accepted pastorate of Burfordville Baptist Church, and assumes his duties today; he is native of Amarillo, Texas, and recent graduate of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth.

When patrons of 123rd annual SEMO District Fair visit fairground, they have special invitation from Gene Huckstep, president of Fair Board, to come see something board has needed for long time: New offices; until now, board had no offices of its own and had been meeting at Chamber of Commerce quarters.

50 years ago: Sept. 3, 1953

Clad in Spanish-style uniforms and featuring Latin-American rhythms, Jersey Caballeros of Hawthorne, N.J., marched off with $1,000 top prize in American Legion's Dream Contest of national drum and bugle corps champions before cheering crowd of thousands at Houck Stadium last night.

Kelso, Mo. -- Kelso school system must undergo revamping to comply with recent attorney general's ruling on separation of church and state; Kelso children attend public school in building owned by St. Augustine Catholic Church, and seven of teachers are Catholic sisters; school is conducted as public school, however, and no religion is taught in classes.

75 years ago: Sept. 3, 1928

With thousands of people present, Cape Girardeau formally dedicates its traffic bridge across Mississippi River; in very shadow of bridge and on picturesque campus of St. Vincent's College, with huge crowd lining its pretty terraces, formal ceremonies marking official opening are held at high noon; it is generally believed 30,000 people hear dedicatory address by Gov. Sam A. Baker and take part in celebration.

Tenth annual state convention of Missouri Department of American Legion and Legion Auxiliary gets into full swing in Cape Girardeau in afternoon; Legionnaires meet at Park Theater, while members of auxiliary gather at Academic Hall of State Teachers College.

-- Sharon K. Sanders