Out of the past 2/1/03

10 years ago: Feb. 1, 1993

Cape Girardeau Jaycees, in cooperation with Cape Girardeau Regional Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 33, is seeking donations to purchase bulletproof vests for officers of Cape Girardeau Police Department and other FOP members; Cape Girardeau has largest police force in area and is only regional department that doesn't provide vests for its officers; it is estimated at least $15,000 will be needed to outfit more than 60 officers on local force.

Sister Jeanne Goessling, principal at St. Mary's Cathedral School, is leaving in September for three years of missionary work in Kenya; she will teach and probably administer secondary girls school in bush country of Kenya, in area called Gakano in western part of country.

25 years ago: Feb. 1, 1978

About 100 demonstrators met Judy Langford Carter, daughter-in-law of President Jimmy Carter, at Municipal Airport last night to make known their opposition to Equal Rights Amendment; Carter, who is on last leg of two-day trip through Missouri to promote ERA, said demonstration was first she had encountered in seven Missouri cities on her trip.

Concerted efforts by various tow boats have succeeded in breaking up some of major ice blockages and should have more of river open by this evening; C.W. "Woody" Rushing, of Missouri Barge Lines, say several larger towboats worked during night to break up major ice jam about 20 miles south of Cape Girardeau; their efforts were successful, and opening of icy dam caused Mississippi to drop about three feet at Cape Girardeau.

50 years ago: Feb. 1, 1953

Charleston -- Two people lose their lives when fire destroys five-room frame house in Charleston in evening; Mrs. Lizzie Hurd, about 80 years old, a helpless invalid, is burned to death in her bed; Luther "Luke" Drasdall, 73, apparently dies of suffocation.

St. Louis -- International Shoe Co., giant of nation's shoe manufacturers, plans to buy Florsheim Shoe Co. of Chicago for about $21 million; officials of two firms announce that top officials of Florsheim have agreed to accept International's offer; management of two firms will be coordinated, but otherwise no change is contemplated in management or operation of Florsheim company.

75 years ago: Feb. 1, 1928

Workers are completing laying of steel reinforcement over forms for first floor of new Marquette Hotel; following installation of electric light wires, which will be completed within next two or three days, concrete for floor will be poured; two boilers were installed in basement last week.

Twenty-one fire alarms during month of January set new high record for any month in history of Cape Girardeau, says fire chief George French; while number of alarms was greater, actual damage was comparatively light.

-- Sharon K. Sanders