Out of the past 1/21/03

10 years ago: Jan. 21, 1993

Robert Ridgeway, 30-year veteran firefighter and fire chief of Mashpee Fire Department in Mashpee, Mass., was hired yesterday as Cape Girardeau's new fire chief; Ridgeway, 49, will move from Cape Cod area of New England and will begin work in Cape Girardeau March 1.

Statewide effort to improve higher education through such things as tougher admission requirements and incentive funding will carry unknown pricetag, Southeast Missouri State University President Kala Stroup says.

25 years ago: Jan. 21, 1978

Haywood City -- Authorities are attempting to recover bodies of four young children who died last night in fire which destroyed their home in this community south of Morley; mother, Mrs. Marley Hughes, 20, suffered severe burns in attempting to rescue children; dead are Eric Hughes, 4, Tricia Hughes, 2, and 6-month-old twins, Demetrius and Demetrias Hughes.

Like adding insult to injury, yesterday's half-inch of snow is just enough to complicate traffic for motorists already weary of white stuff; street conditions overnight were slick because of additional snow, which froze in some places; city street crew were again called out to sand particularly treacherous spots.

50 years ago: Jan. 21, 1953

Naomi Pott, teacher at Central High School for 31 years and recipient last fall of Ford Foundation fellowship, dies of cancer at local hospital after critical illness of only few days; she had returned early in December from first half of her study of American history under grant made by Fund for the Advancement of Education established by Ford Foundation; she became critically ill after her return.

Price of gasoline in Jackson continues at "gas war" level, change starting week ago; all service stations cut prices when one operator started war; regular gasoline is 22.9 cents per gallon instead of 25.8 as formerly, and high test fuel was cut to 24.8 from 27.8 cents at some stations.

75 years ago: Jan. 21, 1928

S.B. Hunter, who has been prominently mentioned for months as candidate for Democratic nomination for Governor of Missouri, on his return to Cape Girardeau from week spent in north Missouri confirms reports that he has definitely decided not to enter race; he says he will be giving his personal attention to farming of his thousands of acres of land.

Whether Missouri Pacific Railway will be permitted to extend its lines to Cape Girardeau will be determined in testimony to be presented Monday at joint hearing at Common Pleas Courthouse before Interstate Commerce Commission and Public Service Commission of Missouri.

-- Sharon K. Sanders