Out of the past 3/18/04

10 years ago: March 18, 1994

House Majority Leader Richard Gephardt is backing efforts to secure federal funding for new Mississippi River bridges at Cape Girardeau and Hannibal.

Construction of $5.7 million Jackson Middle School is under way again after being delayed for nearly a month by inclement weather; Penzel Construction Co. resumed work on 93,580-square-foot building earlier this month.

25 years ago: March 18, 1979

Plans for immediate development of regional shopping center here that will include Famous Barr and J.C. Penney department stores is announced as joint project of May Stores Shopping Centers Inc., and Drury Industries Inc., of Cape Girardeau.

Arson is being blamed for fires which destroy or heavily damage five cabins and mobile home at Beachwood Club, private development north of Dutchtown.

50 years ago: March 18, 1954

Two Cape Girardeau members of General Assembly, Dr. A.C. Magill and Albert M. Spradling, are critical of Gov. Phil M. Donnelly for refusing to submit added public school financing to special session of legislature.

First 21 petitions asking recall of Mayor Manning P. Greer show only 55.2 percent of signers on these petitions were valid voters; remaining petitions filed for recall of mayor are being checked, after which registrars will begin similar survey of signatures on petitions asking removal of Commissioner Roy Smith.

75 years ago: March 18, 1929

Mississippi River reaches 32 feet at Cape Girardeau, two feet above flood stage, and water is rising rapidly; it is expected that stream will crest at 35 feet Thursday or Friday.

PUXICO, Mo. -- James King, 50, night watchman, is instantly killed and factory of Fulkerson Bros. Handle Co. is destroyed, when two boilers in plant explode early in morning.

-- Sharon K. Sanders