Out of the past 11/19/01

10 years ago: Nov. 19, 1991

John E. Fidler, former chief executive officer at medical facilities in California and Florida, has been named new president of St. Francis Medical Center; Fidler, 52, who lives in Los Angeles, will begin his duties here Jan. 2.

Jackson - City of Jackson has agreed to pay estimated $182,000 as its share of cost of cleanup at Missouri Electric Works site in Cape Girardeau; U.S. Environmental Protection Agency determined soil at 6.4-acre site at 824 S. Kingshighway is contaminated with polychlorinated biphenyls from electrical transformer waste oil that leaked from storage drums.

25 years ago: Nov. 19, 1976

Southeast Missouri State University has been awarded $150,000 federal matching grant toward purchase of 400 acres south of Trail of Tears State Park next to Mississippi River.

Chaffee - State audit of Chaffee city government's financial practices listed several procedural reforms to tighten controls over accounting of funds, but found no criminal wrong-doing in city's finances; state auditor's office performed audit after receiving petitions from 5 percent of registered voters of city.

50 years ago: Nov. 19, 1951

Mr. and Mrs. Marvin H. Arsta, Highway 61 just south of city limits, plan to leave Wednesday for Washington, D.C., where on Friday they will attend funeral of her brother, S-Sgt. Thomas R. Adams, at Arlington National Cemetery; bodies of five airmen, who lost their lives in World War II, will be interred in combined grave, in simple ceremonies; Adams' body was recovered in September from Adriatic Sea.

Retail Merchants Association has requested that city fathers approve $500 appropriation to assist in purchase of new type aluminum Christmas decorations to be used on streets this year instead of evergreen strands used in past.

75 years ago: Nov. 19, 1926

More than 1,000 Cape Girardeau school patrons visited May Greene School yesterday afternoon and night on occasion of reception for formal opening and dedication of new $55,000 annex to south side of school.

Campaign to secure larger strawberry acreage in vicinity of Cape Girardeau will be launched soon, with hope of having more than an additional 100 acres planted next spring; spearheading effort is Cape Fruit Growers Association.

- Sharon K. Sanders