Out of the past 4/28/03

10 years ago: April 28, 1993

Area high schools are finding ways to keep prayer as part of their graduation ceremonies despite limitations imposed last year by U.S. Supreme Court; some schools are turning to local ministerial alliances for sponsorship of baccalaureate services, while others will allow student-led prayer at upcoming commencement ceremonies.

Strapped in two buckets suspended above flooding Mississippi River, bridge inspectors from Missouri Highway and Transportation Department are examining steel superstructure of 68-year-old Mississippi River bridge at Cape Girardeau this week and next; before coming to Cape Girardeau, six-man crew conducted similar inspection of Chester, Ill., bridge over Mississippi.

25 years ago: April 28, 1978

First trial run of Cape React, system designed to notify all those in West End of city that flash flood disaster is imminent, was conducted yesterday and was success; those involved in warning system met at Colonial Federal Loan Association's community room to assess test; they agreed it worked well, although there are some bugs to be ironed out.

Dr. Frank Nickell has been named to succeed Dr. Harold Dugger as chairman of Department of History at Southeast Missouri State University; earlier this school year, board of regents granted Dugger's request to be relieved of his administrative responsibilities and return to full-time teaching.

50 years ago: April 28, 1953

Edgar R. Stehr, plant superintendent of Missourian Printing Co., with which he had been connected for 35 years, dies unexpectedly of heart attack; he would have been 54 years old in July; Stehr was son of Mr. and Mrs. Rudolph W. Stehr; he married Lillian Schwab in 1932, and she survives, along with two sons, Don and Paul, both of Cape Girardeau; and two brothers, Elmer C. Stehr and William F. Stehr, both of whom are connected with printing company.

Defending handling of Doggett Park, Dennis M. Scivally, engineer for Cape Girardeau Special Road District, says park has been planted in trees, shrubs and grass, and drainage improved; comments follow statement by Dr. Sylvester Doggett, donor of land, that he will sue to have his bequest annulled on grounds road district has failed to maintain park.

75 years ago: April 28, 1928

Washington -- Plans of Missouri Pacific Railroad to enter Cape Girardeau by purchasing existing lines and by new construction are adversely reported on in preliminary finding of Interstate Commerce Commission; report finds that program would involve unnecessary duplication of facilities and would be adverse to public interest; Mo-Pac had planned to build three miles of new line from Illmo to connection with Cape Girardeau Northern railway, and would then purchase Cape Girardeau Northern line running into Cape Girardeau.

Merger of I. Ben Miller ice cream factory in Cape Girardeau with Midwest Dairy Products Corp., owner of string of ice cream factories in five Midwestern states, is formally announced; local plant will continue to operate as single unit and will be known as I. Ben Miller Ice Cream Co.

-- Sharon K. Sanders