Out of the past 12/26/02

10 years ago: Dec. 26, 1992

Southeast Missourians awoke to white blanket Christmas Day, surprise pleasing to most everyone except maybe National Weather Service; snow, which wasn't predicted in forecast issued late Christmas Eve by weather service in St. Louis, began falling in Cape Girardeau at 5 a.m. Christmas Day and continued until 11:15 a.m., with accumulation of 1.1 inches at airport.

Today marks final publication of Southeast Missourian's five-week Saturday newspaper evaluation; in coming weeks, newspaper will be studying financial viability of continuing this product.

25 years ago: Dec. 26, 1977

Paul M. Vandivort, 69, whose family has been involved in extensive farming in this area and in Northern Arkansas since early 1900s, dies at St. Francis Medical Center, where he had been patient for six days.

Two Cape Girardeau youths are arrested after car-window shooting spree in 1700, 1800 and 1900 blocks of Dunklin; police receive flood of telephone reports of car windows being shot out and one report of storm windows damaged in span of hour; eight vehicles are damaged.

50 years ago: Dec. 26, 1952

Christmas passed quietly in Cape Girardeau, with usual religious observances, suspension of business and family celebrations; there were no serious accidents to mar occasion, with only three collisions reported in city and no fatalities throughout district; there were no fires.

Dr. Theo W.H. Irion, noted Missouri educator and until three years ago head of School of Education at University of Missouri, died yesterday in hospital in Columbia; Irion lived in Cape Girardeau when his father, the Rev. C.F. Irion, was pastor of Christ Evangelical and Reformed Church, and starting his educational career was graduated from old Normal School in 1904.

75 years ago: Dec. 26, 1927

The Rev. J.P. Scruggs, retiring pastor of First Baptist Church, delivered his farewell sermon at morning service hour Sunday; this closes six years of work for him in service of Cape Girardeau church, rendered in two pastorates, first a period of two years and last covering four-year period.

Thousands of people attended Christmas programs in Cape Girardeau over weekend; many of churches gave programs from Friday and Sunday evening, and few will be given tomorrow; very impressive service was held Christmas Eve at Christ Episcopal Church, beginning with singing of familiar Christmas carols.

-- Sharon K. Sanders