Out of the past 7/1/03

10 years ago: July 1, 1993

For past month, Cape Girardeau police officers have been carrying little vials of granulated chemicals which can determine whether person they have stopped is driving while intoxicated; Missouri Safety Center, located on campus of Central Missouri State University at Warrensburg, Mo., selected Cape Girardeau as test site for new DWI field units.

Among items included in capital improvements budget signed by Gov. Mel Carnahan this week is funding for complete restoration of covered bridge next to Bollinger Mill in Burfordville; one of only four covered bridges remaining in Missouri, Burfordville bridge has been closed to vehicular traffic since mid-1980s.

25 years ago: July 1, 1978

American flags which traditionally have been flown on staffs along sidewalks of Cape Girardeau in business areas won't be on display this July Fourth; Mayor Paul W. Stehr says that although city council has informally discussed taking over project abandoned by Cape Jaycees, no decision has been made.

Vice president for planning and development at Oklahoma City University has been named to same position of Southeast Missouri State University; Ford succeeds Dr. David Strand, who resigned in mid-February to become executive officer at Illinois State University.

50 years ago: July 1, 1953

Six Bell City men in military service staged hometown reunion earlier this month near Seoul, Korea -- 8,000 miles from home; men, serving with U.S. Army, Air Force and Marine Corps, spent parts of four days together from June 6 to 9; servicemen were Pfc. Paul D. Spears, Cpl. Lyman Troph, Pfc. Charles Stanfield, Cpl. Charles G. Bollinger, Pfc. Raymond Rampley and Cpl. Herman Romines.

Cape Girardeau has another hot and humid day, after torrid top of 97 degrees on Tuesday; at 1 this afternoon reading is 96 degrees; there is no relief in sight, weather forecaster says, and about only consolation is that it is hot almost everywhere, also.

75 years ago: July 1, 1928

Approximately 3,500 people attend dedication service for new First Baptist Church, hearing Dr. W.D. Powell, special representative of Foreign Mission Board of Southern Baptist Convention, giving keynote sermon; congregation was organized in 1847, and for years was housed in brick structure at Broadway and Spanish.

Pledges amounting to $1,300, or $300 over goal set to be raised by General Baptists of Cape Girardeau, are received and, following this entire freeing of congregation from indebtedness, church building, acquired and redecorated recently, is formally dedicated; Dr. W.P. Dearing, president of Oakland City College of Oakland City, Ind., delivers main address.

-- Sharon K. Sanders