Out of the past 6/18/02

10 years ago: June 18, 1992

Wild horses will continue to roam free, at least for now, along Current and Jacks Fork rivers in Shannon County, thanks to federal judge's ruling; U.S. District Judge Stephen Limbaugh issued ruling Wednesday; it puts halt to National Park Service's plan to round up and remove horses from wilderness area of Ozark National Scenic Riverways; ruling may be appealed.

Steel work has begun for construction of new Bloomfield Road bridge over Cape LaCroix Creek; new bridge, which is part of Cape LaCroix-Walker Branch flood-control project will be 16 feet wider than old 20-foot-wide bridge and will include pedestrian walkway.

25 years ago: June 18, 1977

First Division Circuit Judge Stanley A. Grimm of Cape Girardeau has been elected president of Missouri Council of Juvenile Court Judges, organization designed to promote juvenile justice legislation, educate judges in juvenile law and seek solutions to problems.

Missouri Utilities Co. recommends some relaxation from more stringent water conservation measures it requested June 11; Virgil D. Chirnside, secretary and assistant treasurer of utilities company, says public has reacted favorably to conservation requests and has helped restore reserve water supplies to more normal levels.

50 years ago: June 18, 1952

Weather conditions give no indication of break in early-summer drought that has already damaged pastures, cut production of grains and promises to hurt corn prospects unless rain falls soon; some sections of county have received no rain at all this month.

First tangible benefits of newly imposed one-cent state gasoline tax hike on Cape Girardeau County roads were indicated this week when State Highway Department was assigned maintenance of three county routes; they are: Nine miles of road between Oak Ridge and Jackson along old Byrd Creek roadbed.

75 years ago: June 18, 1927

Charles L. Harrison declares, "The hotel proposition is now nailed down"; Col. Robert B. Dickinson, vice president and general manager of Marquette Cement Manufacturing Co., sent Harrison telegram saying big company will subscribe $10,000 for new hotel stock; with this pledge, total stock sold amounts to $60,000, and Harrison is sure remaining $40,000 needed will be subscribed easily.

Officials of construction company engaged in building Cape Girardeau traffic bridge of Mississippi River are preparing to double work force on project as quickly as river recedes sufficiently for work to be resumed on large scale; it expected to be several weeks before work on mid-stream piers can be started; river must drop to stage of 18 feet, fall of from 12 to 14 feet, before this work can be started.

-- Sharon K. Sanders