10 years ago: March 21, 1992

Cairo, Ill. - Cairo Mayor James Wilson is requesting special contingent of Illinois State Police to be stationed in Cairo to help city control rampant drug problem; in letter to Illinois Gov. Jim Edgar, Wilson says, "The people of the city of Cairo are under siege by drug trafficking gangs from throughout the country."

James P. Limbaugh announced Friday that Southeast Missouri State University's capital campaign has exceeded its goal of $25 million; as of end of February, campaign had raised in gifts and pledges total of $25,137,000.

25 years ago: March 21, 1977

Dr. Thomas B. Harte yesterday became third Southeast Missouri State University faculty member to be elected national president of Pi Kappa Delta, honorary society in forensics, for two-year period.

Marble Hill - Bollinger County judges suggest compromise in their dispute over deputy sheriffs' salaries with circuit judges, which calls for one deputy's salary to be paid by federal employment funds; county court suggests that one deputy work as jailer-dispatcher and could be paid from federal Public Service Employment funds to work night shift.

50 years ago: March 21, 1952

Kenneth Knox, Sikeston High School coach, with record of 38 consecutive football victories without defeat, has been hired to succeed Wayne Goddard as coach at State College; Knox was elected to twin post of football-track coach by Board of Regents on recommendation of college President W.W. Parker over field of 30 applicants from high schools and colleges.

State College meets head-on the crisis of disappearing elementary teacher by establishing emergency elementary school scholarship open to graduates of high schools in district who finish in upper half of their classes.

75 years ago: March 21, 1927

Rising nearly seven feet within past 48 hours, Mississippi River at Cape Girardeau passes flood stage and is moving upward at rate of nearly two inches per hour; river at 8 a.m. is 30 feet; it is expected to be 35 feet by Thursday.

Injunctions to padlock two establishments near Cape Girardeau, raided by county and city officers Saturday night, in each of which liquor was found, will be sought in circuit court in April, says Prosecuting Attorney S.P. Dalton.

- Sharon K. Sanders