Out of the past 12/21/01

10 years ago: Dec. 21, 1991

County officials may attempt to clarify whether Missouri statutes require state to reimburse counties for medical expenses of some state prisoners held in county jails; Prosecuting Attorney Morley Swingle says he believes statutes require state to reimburse medical costs of prisoners charged with felonies.

Faculty Senate task force at Southeast Missouri State University has recommended university retain its textbook rental system, but with some policy changes.

25 years ago: Dec. 21, 1976

Southeast Missourian's Comptroller John Mehrle's decision to drop off some business papers at his office last night helped prevent major fire in basement of The Missourian Building; entering building about 7:30 p.m., Mehrle smelled smoke, traced it to basement and called fire department.

Police are called to Family Physicians Group, 35 Doctors' Park, after office personnel receive bomb threat; no explosion occurs, and search of two-story building by police doesn't turn up a bomb; about 100 people were evacuated from building, which houses offices of five doctors.

50 years ago: Dec. 21, 1951

Southbound Frisco passenger train smashed into automobile stalled on crossing in South Cape Girardeau yesterday afternoon, but driver of car, Mrs. A.D. Caraker, had climbed out of machine in time and was unhurt; she was standing 5 feet from tracks at time of collision, and auto, sent spinning in air by impact, narrowly missed her.

Major portion of northeast quadrant of Cape Girardeau was darkened yesterday for period of up to two hours starting about 4:15 p.m., when insulator failure caused burn-out of two electrical circuits; for period of 30 minutes Broadway business district and fringe area to south were without electricity.

75 years ago: Dec. 21, 1926

Merlin Barnes has arrived in Cape Girardeau to spend holidays with his mother, Mrs. Emma Latimier, 222 Independence; Barnes received his degrees from Missouri University last year and was chosen from 37 graduates and applicants for position in linoleum department of Armstrong Cork Co. at Lancaster, Pa.

Invitation to public to visit plant and display room of Cherry, the Broadway Florist, is extended following completion of new series of units which will triple capacity of plant.

- Sharon K. Sanders