Out of the past 9/7/02

10 years ago: Sept. 7, 1992

Labor Day.

Supporters in Missouri and Illinois pledge more than $281,000 through this year's Muscular Dystrophy Association Telethon, helping boost national total raised to nearly $46 million; local segments of telethon, annual event that is responsible for close to half of local MDA's yearly budget, are broadcast from West Park Mall.

City council tomorrow will consider amendments to city's storm water regulations that will enable local developers to comply with new federal erosion guidelines at no additional cost; on Oct. 1, new Environment Protection Agency regulations go into effect that require storm water discharge permit from Missouri Department of Natural Resources for new construction or development on sites of five acres or more.

25 years ago: Sept. 7, 1977

Last-ditch appeal by merchants who allege city is "strangling" Broadway business is turned down as city council refuses to reverse its position on one-way traffic issue; businessmen want two-way traffic restored on Broadway; reactions to city's refusal to do so range from charge that council is discriminating to Broadway merchants and favoring downtown merchants to one man's statement that all of downtown business is dying.

Work on Highway 34-61 widening project is about 40 percent complete, says spokesman for general contractor, R.B. Potashnick Construction Co.; removal of shoulders along old highway from termination of four lanes near Cape LaCroix Creek to Boulder Crest drive has begun, and motorists are urged to avoid highway because traffic at times will be confined to one lane.

50 years ago: Sept. 7, 1955

Dogged Argentine swimmer, Antonio Abertondo, conqueror of English Channel and Straits of Gibraltar, passes Cape Girardeau in mid-afternoon in his quest for new record for 292-mile Mississippi River stretch from St. Louis to Caruthersville.

Corporation which will seek memberships to develop old Burfordville Mill and adjacent property in event State Park Board decides not to accept historic old structure is being formed by interested Burfordville and Cape Girardeau residents; old mill has been placed on sales block by Cape County Milling Co., which has granted option to C.A. Vandivort; he has offered structure to state for use as state park.

75 years ago: Sept. 7, 1927

Cape Girardeau Public Library ranks first in income and second in circulation in cities of from 10,000 to 25,000 population in Missouri, according to report reviewed at last night's monthly board meeting;.

Benton - Scott County Court adopts resolution at its regular session asking State Highway Commission to locate federal Highway 61 through Scott County at same time it is designated through New Madrid County.

- Sharon K. Sanders