Out of the past 12/15/02

10 years ago: Dec. 15, 1992

After 13-year-old boy brought two handguns to school last week to show off weapons to friends, Superintendent Neyland Clark told Board of Education Monday he plans to review district's discipline policy, which likely will be toughened; boy had guns in duffel back and was showing them to other children at L.J. Schultz Middle School; he never took them out nor threatened anyone.

SEMO Community Treatment Center in Cape Girardeau is getting lot of attention these days; Mark Steward, director of Missouri Division of Children and Youth Services, says New York Times is planning to do feature story on state-operated center, and group of about 18 Tennessee lawmakers toured center Monday.

25 years ago: Dec. 15, 1977

In its second day, national farmers' strike appears to have taken firm root in Southeast Missouri and Southern Illinois, with several Missouri counties, including Bootheel, reporting more than 80 percent support; in Illinois, there is report that pickets forced closing of huge Bunge Corp. soybean processing plant at Cairo.

Candidate has finally emerged to become first to file for Cape Girardeau City Council seat presently held by Paul W. Stehr; John T. Green files with City Clerk Verna Lee Landis in morning; deadline for filing for February primary is Dec. 23; Stehr hasn't definitely ruled himself out of race.

50 years ago: Dec. 15, 1952

First air freight ever shipped from Cape Girardeau goes to St. Louis in morning on inaugural flight of Cape Central Airways' scheduled airline service; 340 pounds of hides are shipped by Pollack Hide & Fur Co.; airline also has one passenger: Charles Evans of Midwest Dairy Corp.

Missouri's needs in instructional personnel and in plant facilities, and relationship of its resources to effort it is putting forth, are outlined at second session of 14-county conference to explain recommendations of Missouri Citizens Commissions for Study of Education; discussing recommendations are Mrs. Landan Brown of Dexter, C.M. Bell of Hayti and Delmar Cobble of Lutesville.

75 years ago: Dec. 15, 1927

Assembly of God Church will begin construction of new $15,000 church building as soon as weather conditions permit, says pastor, the Rev. H.E. Waddle; plans have been under way since early spring, and congregation which numbers 135 is building to meet needs of Sunday school, which has grown rapidly since church was established four years ago; building will be erected at corner of Sprigg and Hickory streets.

Prospects for reopening Bank of Whitewater, closed last week by withdrawal of deposits, appears bright; virtually all depositors who have been approached have agreed to replace their funds in bank, and in most instances have agreed to take some stock; in order to reopen institution, it will be necessary to put up in cash $10,000, the present capital stock.

-- Sharon K. Sanders