Out of the past 3/23/03

10 years ago: March 23, 1993

Pending approval of proposed $4.7 million bond issue by district voters on April 6, Jackson school board has plans in place for layout of new middle school; board accepts tentative floor plans for 84,000-square-foot building; 57 percent voter approval on bond measure is needed to move ahead with project.

With spring planting just around corner, area farmers are anxious to get into fields; but rain, snow and mud have made field work difficult first two months of year; farmers are also keeping watch on winter wheat, which does better when ground is not real wet.

25 years ago: March 23, 1978

Cape Girardeau County will be one of eight counties to share $70,000 in emergency energy assistance for low-income households faced with fuel shutoffs; Sen. Thomas Eagleton announced grants for Cape Girardeau, Iron, Madison, Perry, Ste. Genevieve, St. Francois, Bollinger and Washington counties; funds will be distributed through East River Action Agency in Flat River.

Mississippi River crept above flood stage yesterday, and this morning is at 33.6 feet, 1.6 feet above flood mark; National Weather Service's long-range prediction calls for river to crest here Monday or Tuesday about 2 1/2 feet above flood stage.

50 years ago: March 23, 1953

Alarm is expressed by Southeast Missouri District Fair officials over action of House appropriations committee in removing $150,000 item for aid to local fairs from bill introduced in House; A.E. Kies, president of fair association, says efforts are being made throughout district to induce House to restore cut item to bill.

Kennett, Mo. -- Seven men are still at large following carefully planned escape yesterday from Dunklin County jail; two robberies, car theft and safe burglary which occurred here shortly after jailbreak are believed to have been committed by escapees.

75 years ago: March 23, 1928

Tract of land, including town of Torch, has been sold by Leming Lumber Co. to Jess Priest of Poplar Bluff, it is announced by M.E. Leming; timber rights on land are reserved by company; Torch was established little more than six years ago, incidental to location of sawmill there; lumber company has owned land four years and during that time has cleared hundreds of acres; Priest intends to develop land, making it suitable for farming.

L.M. Price, banker and lawyer, and D.B. Robnett, furniture dealer, of Columbia, are in Cape Girardeau and have lunch with about 25 local men to discuss proposition of building apartment house here.

-- Sharon K. Sanders