10 years ago: March 11, 1993

Despite last year's failure of First Exchange Bank, banks in Cape Girardeau area as a group are healthy when compared to others in region and nation, says Dennis Blase, supervisory officer with Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis; Blase was in city yesterday to discuss local banking conditions at economic forum hosted by the bank.

Oran -- Oran facility of Golden Cat Corporation will close next week; plant, located on Highway 77, processes clay for use in agricultural industry as vehicle for herbicide and pesticide delivery systems; Golden Cat has decided to phase out Oran facility, as it focuses on its cat box filler business.

25 years ago: March 11, 1978

Wildlife areas in Cape Girardeau, Bollinger and Stoddard counties are among 43 areas in state which have been acquired during last year under Missouri Conservation Department's Design for Conservation program; in Cape Girardeau County, department has acquired additional 289.43 acres adjoining tract three miles west of Oak Ridge, which was willed to department in 1972, providing total 536.43-acre wildlife area in county.

According to city attorney Robert C. Fick, Cape Girardeau can, at its option, retain its municipal court and keep Judge Vernon Auer on bench when court reform bill for Missouri goes into effect in 1979; provisions of reform legislation permit non-lawyer sitting as municipal judge to retain his position for his term of office, if city chooses to maintain municipal court.

50 years ago: March 11, 1953

Basketball, which grips Southeast Missouri like no other sport, returned to Cape Girardeau last night for climactic event of season, spectacular final eliminations of state Class B tournament that will select single champion from among 512 schools that started quest two weeks ago; before crowd of 2,000 at Houck Field House, John Burroughs Bombers handed Madison Panthers surprising, 81-48 defeat, Adrian Blackhawks trimmed Maysville Wolverines 55-53, and mighty Morehouse Tigers faced stiff competition from Clever Bluejays before winning out 69-61.

First Lt. Henry L. Reynolds, 28, died yesterday in England as result of injures in aircraft accident, it is learned by his father, Ora Reynolds of near Jackson; Reynolds, veteran jet pilot of 90 missions in Far East, was ordered to England with his squadron in May, its mission not revealed even to its members' families; Reynolds is survived by his father and stepmother; wife, former Virginia Headricks; son, Rodney, and half-sister.

75 years ago: March 11, 1928

Maple Avenue Methodist Church has been completely re-decorated on interior and, according to the Rev. J.A. Bertram, has appearance of perfectly new building; Benjamin Cartwright, local painter, decorated church.

The Rev. I.T. Mack is installed as pastor of Corinthian Baptist Church at Jackson; at morning service, the Rev. S.M. Arthur of Cape Girardeau preaches excellent sermon, and in afternoon the Rev. W.L. Ivy delivers installation sermon; the Rev. W.W. Wilcox performs installation ceremony and gives the charge.

-- Sharon K. Sanders