Out of the past 4/5/03

10 years ago: April 5, 1993

Proponents of school bond issue and building fund tax levy to be decided Tuesday by Cape Girardeau voters denounce "11th-hour campaign" by people hoping to defeat two propositions; opposition, Citizens Against the School Bond Issue, ran half-page advertisement in Sunday's and today's Southeast Missourian outlining their reasons for opposing school bond issue.

Widening of Route K from two to five lanes from west side of its Interstate 55 overpass to westernmost entrance to Wal-Mart Supercenter is scheduled to begin this spring; project is designed to relive traffic congestion that has increased on Route K with opening of that store last year.

25 years ago: April 5, 1978

Experience was major factor in outcome of city and school board elections in Cape Girardeau yesterday, as incumbents in both races finished first in balloting; Paul W. Stehr won third three-year term on city council, while Dr. C. John Ritter, also incumbent, led field of five for two seats on school board; newcomer to city politics, Michael Richey, took second school board seat handily.

Question of legality under federal law of cleaning out and straightening portion of Cape LaCroix Creek has been raised in letter to city by Army Corps of Engineers; issue arose after completion of work done at request of large number of residents.

50 years ago: April 5, 1953

Easter Sunday.

Easter morning is ushered in with special sunrise services throughout nation, and on local scene anniversary of Christ's Resurrection is observed with community sunrise service at 6 a.m. at Central High auditorium, under direction of Cape Girardeau Ministerial Alliance.

Babies are dedicated at morning worship service at Christ Church of Nazarene, and new members are also received into church; infants who are baptized are John Reed, son of Mr. and Mrs. William R. Hinkle; Jean Ellen, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Ben Howard, and Elizabeth Ann, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John W. Seabaugh.

75 years ago: April 5, 1928

Bone of prehistoric animal, found nearly 70 feet under bed of Mississippi River at site of Cape Girardeau traffic bridge, was rib of giant mastodon which probably lived from 1 to 3 million years ago.

F.H. Schafer, general manager of Frisco Railroad Co., is personally observing work of raising locomotive of freight train which crashed through Diversion Channel bridge six miles south of Cape Girardeau a week ago; locomotive was one of fastest and largest in freight service on this division.

-- Sharon K. Sanders