Out of the past 12/26/01

10 years ago: Dec. 26, 1991

Salvation Army's Tree of Lights campaign will be extended to end of year, assuming Christmas Eve totals don't push annual fund-raising effort over its $100,000 goal; Salvation Army Capt. Elmer Trapp says that as of Monday, campaign had raised $90,000.

Shoppers are back in stores today exchanging Christmas gifts and bargain hunting during what has become traditional after-Christmas shopping spree; with last-minute gift-buying blitz of Christmas Eve barely a memory, retailers gear up for another big day today.

25 years ago: Dec. 26, 1976

Addition of second circuit judge to serve Cape Girardeau and Bollinger counties should benefit not only 32nd Judicial Circuit, but neighboring circuits as well, says Circuit Judge Stanley A. Grimm; Grimm says he and A.J. Seier, who becomes 2nd Division judge of 32nd Judicial Circuit, Jan. 3, have agreed to handle bulk of cases involving transfers of judges to other Southeast Missouri circuits, all of which annually carry heaviest caseload of any area in Missouri.

There's law on books that says effective Jan. 1, 32nd Judicial Circuit and four other circuits in Missouri shall have full-time public defender; however, they'll have defenders in theory only; problem is lack of funding of additional defenders provided for in legislative-enacted measure.

50 years ago: Dec. 26, 1951

Inclement weather featured Christmas in Cape Girardeau on Tuesday, with chilly rain falling most of day to dampen any outside activities that might have been planned; temperatures were in upper 40s; with business and industry suspended, day was quiet one in community.

Thieves stole 61 mink hides valued at $1,100 and 43 muskrat hides valued at $75 in break-in at Pollack Hide & Fur Co., Independence street and Kingshighway, Christmas night; Jack Pollack says one-inch steel bar across basement window of his establishment was sawed, then bent upward to gain access.

75 years ago: Dec. 26, 1926

Snow and sleet storm, that came through early yesterday morning, provided Cape Girardeau with "White Christmas"; with storm came sudden drop in mercury that tumbled to 12 degrees; snow was general throughout state and was reported as extending as far south as Dallas, Texas; traffic was hampered on highways near here and many accidents were reported, but none of serious character.

New Madrid -- Two deputy sheriffs are shot and seriously hurt in gun battle with man wanted for slaying peace officer in Ohio; wanted man is killed in duel; officers who are injured are Albert Henderson and Hugh Dunn.

-- Sharon K. Sanders