Out of the past 12/19/02

10 years ago: Dec. 19, 1992

At sundown, Jews around world light Shamas candle on their menorahs to begin eight-day festival called Hanukkah; there is no observance at Synagogue B'Nai Israel in Cape Girardeau; Hanukkah focuses on family, and thus is celebrated in home with nightly lighting of another candle on menorah.

Thebes, Ill. - Twenty-five-barge tow on Mississippi River collides with pier of Thebes railroad bridge early in morning; one of barges overturns and sinks in about 60 feet of water, about 1,000 feet south of bridge; three other barges float toward Commerce, Mo., but are recovered.

25 years ago: Dec. 19, 1977

Farmers' strike in Southeast Missouri escalated over weekend with bakeries and bread warehouses becoming targets of picketing farmers; from Sikeston comes unofficial report of two demonstrators being injured by car while standing outside Hart's Bakery; meanwhile in Cape Girardeau, which has experienced no picketing of bread warehouses, apparent fear of possible pickets has many people buying large amounts of bread.

Salvation Army reached halfway point Friday toward its $28,000 goal, with additional $7,000 pledged during local television special Saturday and other uncounted contributions arriving today.

50 years ago: Dec. 19, 1952

Shoplifters took advantage of Christmas rush yesterday to steal more than $135 worth of merchandise from three retail stores; missing from Hirsch-Tinsley Radio and Appliance Co., 727 Broadway, are two Motorola radio sets; missing from Hutson's Western Auto Store, 6 N. Main, is Harrington and Richardson .22-calibre revolver; Atlas auto battery was taken from display window at Standard Oil Station, 1001 Broadway.

Arena Park doesn't have archway that many supporters have long hoped for, but progress is being made toward attractive front to greet travelers at Highway 61 entrance; Commissioner J.W. McBride has crew of workers making fill just off blacktop area flanking highway; this has been carefully raked and graded into smooth seed bed; plot will be planted in tulip and canna bulbs to provide colorful entrance next spring.

75 years ago: Dec. 19, 1927

Despite temperature which ranges from 10 to 20 degrees, workers have been busy since early hour Sunday pouring concrete for footings in excavation for Marquette Hotel; concrete is heated thoroughly while being mixed to prevent its freezing.

Francis Scott McBride, successor of late Wayne B. Wheeler as director of Anti-Saloon League of American, and one of nation's noted dry leaders, was in Cape Girardeau yesterday; he spoke briefly at number of church meetings and discussed informally with local leaders the status of cause of prohibition; he arrived late Saturday, virtually unannounced, in quiet tour of Midwest to determine how prohibition is faring.

- Sharon K. Sanders