Out of the past 5/19/03

10 years ago: May 19, 1992

Charles Kupchella, who was hired as new provost at Southeast Missouri State University in December, assumed his job on full-time basis Monday, after completing academic year as dean of Ogden College of Science Technology and Health at Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green.

Representatives of Cape Girardeau met with Scott City officials to discuss feasibility of cooperative efforts between two cities to link Cape Girardeau's water system with airport and, or Nash Road industrial areas.

25 years ago: May 19, 1978

Voters of Trinity Lutheran Church decided last night that Trinity will build new church on present site; secret ballot vote was 68 for and 32 against; congregation has been in process of deciding fate of old structure at Themis and Frederick since mid-January, when it was closed following structural engineer's report that church was unsafe for occupancy.

Federal Aviation Agency has decided not to close control tower and Cape Girardeau Airport; FAA is holding its decision to close tower in abeyance; tower had been among 70 at smaller airports nationwide that faced possible closing under proposed FAA rule changes for starting up and continuing air traffic control towers.

50 years ago: May 19, 1952

Inspection of food handling establishment, off-and-on subject in Cape Girardeau for many years, was altered to fit local situation and then given its three readings and final passage at yesterday's city council meeting.

Aboard 19-car special train of Frisco Railroad, 1,100 people from Southeast Missouri make excursion to St. Louis to see World Mission Exhibition at Kiel Auditorium.

75 years ago: May 19, 1928

Cape Girardeau County strawberries find their way to local market in large quantities; several crates are brought to town early in morning, and berries are selling from 15 to 30 cents per quart at local stores.

The 165-ton locomotive, which crashed through Frisco railroad bridge across Diversion Channel, six miles south of Cape Girardeau and carried two men to their deaths March 19, is in railway shops at Chaffee undergoing repairs; huge locomotive, yielding to power of two giant steel cranes, was slowly lifted from its watery grave last evening and towed to shops at Chaffee; for several days after wreck, Frisco employees worked to raise locomotive, but were forced to abandon task when high water left engine submerged to depth of about four feet.

-- Sharon K. Sanders