Out of the past 11/12/02

10 years ago: Nov. 12, 1992

City's Planning and Zoning Commission has recommended zoning change that will open door for proposed Lowe's Home Center; Lowe's, which is second largest chain of home centers in United States, is proposed for site southeast of Cape Girardeau's Wal-Mart Supercenter, west of Interstate 55.

River steamboats Delta Queen and Mississippi Queen will make one port call each at Cape Girardeau during their 1993 cruise season, according to Delta Queen Steamboat Co. official; meanwhile, company says it is going to build third steamboat that's scheduled to go into service on inland waterways by mid-1994.

25 years ago: Nov. 12, 1977

Simultaneous major fires at two businesses and lesser fire at apartment wreaks havoc upon Cape Girardeau firefighters early in morning; at one time, city is without stand-by fire company and all equipment is out; hectic night begins at 12:43 a.m., when fire breaks out in offices of Missouri Dry Docks and Repair Co., 500 Aquamsi; at 1:25 a.m., Roth's Department Store in Town Plaza erupts in flames.

Visitors from as far away as Edmonton, Canada, and Newhall, Calif., are part of continuous stream of visitors to The Missourian's 29th Art Exhibition, which begins in afternoon; 400 people view 215 works on display in newspaper offices today; show continues tomorrow.

50 years ago: Nov. 12, 1952

Deaths of two Southeast Missouri soldiers are reported in casualty list released by Department of Defense; men reported killed in action in Korea are Pvt. Richard R. Crook, son of Mr. and Mrs. John Crook of Malden, and Cpl. Doyle Schatz, son of Mr. and Mrs. Edward B. Schatz of Bell City; latter death had previously been reported.

There's two-way squeeze on Cape Girardeau taxpayers this year; city-wise, there is only overall three-cent increase this year over what was paid in 1951; that is one of rubs; other is blanket 5 percent assessment increase ordered by State Tax Commission in Jefferson City on all real estate in incorporated towns in Cape Girardeau County.

75 years ago: Nov. 12, 1927

The Missourian became entirely too optimistic over returns in railroad fund drive yesterday and put total amount too high, finance committee declares; subscriptions actually received up to noon total $44,573.49, according to W.G. Yardley, auditor in charge of accounts; to this amount can reasonably be added $4,500 in pledges that seem sure to come in within next day or two, bringing grand total to $49,073.49.

Judge Emil Drusch of Cape Girardeau County Court and owner of Cape Mattress Co., says he will dispose of his business interests here immediately and will go to St. Louis, where he will devote his entire time to wholesale furniture establishment.

-- Sharon K. Sanders