Out of the past 3/9/03

10 years ago: March 9, 1993

Mississippi River at Cape Girardeau is forecast to crest late this week at 36 feet, four feet above flood stage; however, no significant flooding typically occurs in city at that level; today's river stage at Cape Girardeau is 34.7 feet.

Cape Girardeau public schools have been designated drug-free and gun-free zones, as part of citywide effort to curb drug and weapon offenses; Monday, Cape Girardeau Board of Education adopted formal resolution designating all school properties and areas within 1,000 feet of schools as drug- and gun-free zones; as part of project, signs will be posted informing passers-by of zones

25 years ago: March 9, 1978

Dr. Joyce Brothers, nationally-recognized psychologist, speaks at opening session of Southeast Missouri District Teachers Association's two-day meeting; about 1,500 educators from throughout area are attending 102nd annual meeting on campus of Southeast Missouri State University.

Slow, continuous, freezing drizzle in Cape Girardeau past several days is being blamed for deaths of about 3,000 starlings and blackbirds, whose carcasses were found strewn about lawn near Old St. Vincent's Catholic Church on South Main Tuesday.

50 years ago: March 9, 1953

Urgent call goes out from community committee for Missouri Class B basketball tournament urging residents who have rooms that could accommodate out-of-town fans to list them with Mavis Holmes, dean of students at State College, or at Houck Field House; many of teams from considerable distance will be accompanied by delegations of business people and pupils; hotels and tourist courts are filled, most of them with teams participating in tournament.

Residents of Jackson School District will vote Thursday in special election on school bond issue; issue will be for $270,000 for purpose of increasing high school by five classrooms, enlarging study hall-library through alterations at high school building and building gymnasium-auditorium on site adjacent to stadium.

75 years ago: March 9, 1928

Today is last day candidates for city office may file their declarations of candidacy; those who have filed for city commissioner are A.P. Behrens, John Herbst, George L. Weber, H.L. Lewis, Al F. Meystedt, J.F. Anderson, J.F. Krause, Ross Young, A.J. Flentge, William A. Yount, Martin C. Krueger, J.C. McLain, Louis Wittmor, Philip H. Steck and F.A. Kage; as of 2 p.m., Mayor James A. Barks hasn't filed for re-election, although he says he intends to do so by end of day.

Number of instructional features are presented at meeting of county school boards held at courthouse in Jackson; County Superintendent of Schools James T. McDonald presides over meeting.

-- Sharon K. Sanders