Out of the past 12/8/02

10 years ago: Dec. 8, 1992

Jackson - Recently formed Cape Girardeau Area Industrial Recruitment Association will have its choice of at least two office locations that will be offered at no charge; Cape Girardeau Mayor Gene Rhodes, chairman of groups' board of directors, says he has received proposal from Capital Bank, while John Mehner outlines offer from Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce.

Former Southeast Missouri State University president has accepted position as interim president of Southwest Baptist University at Bolivar; Robert W. Foster, who served as Southeast's 13th president from July 1989 to July 1990, begins his duties at Southwest Baptist today.

25 years ago: Dec. 8, 1977

Benton - More than 60 farm trucks and tractors occupy or block all available parking spaces around Scott County Courthouse at Benton as farmers intensify efforts to publicize their concern over commodity prices; "demonstration" forces courthouse employees, county officials and others to find parking as far as two blocks away, but they voice approval and support for farmers' efforts

Early December package has been delivered throughout area; icy road conditions throughout most of area early in morning dissipates into slushy rain by mid-morning, but forecasters are calling for chance of more freezing rain later today, possibly mixed with snow flurries.

50 years ago: Dec. 8, 1952

Sixty-five new parking meters ordered by city have arrived, and it is expected installation will begin at once; 56 of meters will be placed in first block of South Main street, between Independence and Merriwether; meters will be erected on both sides of each lane of divided-pavement street; remaining meters will be installed at various points in city's business districts.

Throngs of people - far surpassing 10,000 to 15,000 estimated for last two Christmas parades - pack line of march in evening as delayed Salute to Santa Claus parade ushers in Christmas season in unseasonably warm weather; gaily-decorated floats, 11 marching bands in full regalia and hordes of group and individual masquers are lead down Broadway by Golden Troopers, American Legion's drum and bugle corps.

75 years ago: Dec. 8, 1927

Washington - Placing full support of his administration behind it, President Calvin Coolidge sends to Congress Army Engineers' plan for controlling Mississippi River floods; proposal deals with lower valley alone, from Cairo, Ill., to Gulf, and would cost $296,400,000, to be expended in 10 years; it provides for spillway above New Orleans, diversion floodways in Atchafalaya and Tensas basins in Louisiana, a riverbank floodway from Cairo to New Madrid, Mo., strengthening and raising of existing levees and stabilization of river channel.

In grip of coldest weather of winter season, Girardeans bustle to work in frigid cold; mercury on commercial thermometers in various parts of town sinks into single digits.

- Sharon K. Sanders