Out of the past 6/14/02

10 years ago: June 14, 1992

Riverfest '92 offered mix of music and fun for crowds Friday and Saturday at Cape Girardeau's 14th annual downtown celebration; although attendance started out slow Friday and early Saturday, crowds really poured into downtown late Saturday; organizers blamed slow start on rumors of Ku Klux Klan rally that might occur Saturday; it didn't materialize.

Star gazers tonight will be able to see Earth's shadow on moon during lunar eclipse; physics department is providing binoculars and setting up several telescopes at north end of Rhodes Hall parking lot on campus for those who wish to view celestial event.

25 years ago: June 14, 1977

For past two weeks, restoration work of "drastic" nature has been progressing at Old McKendree Chapel, with blessing of board of trustees and area Methodists; according to J.W. Gerhardt, who is directing reconstruction work, building would have been destroyed in matter of months by termites, if old logs and caulking hadn't been torn down and replaced immediately.

Burning permits won't be issued and hours for burning leaves will be suspended until current water crisis has ended, says Fire Inspector Warren Strack; fire department is seeking cooperation of all residents in attempting to conserve city's water supply.

50 years ago: June 14, 1952

Delegate registration nears 2,000 mark as state encampment of Veterans of Foreign Wars continues; more delegates and visitors are expected to arrive before convention concludes tomorrow; at yesterday's session, delegates heard plea for establishment of State Department of Veterans Affairs and attack on president pro temp of State Senate by Kansas City lawyer, Fred Mancuso, chairman of legislative committee.

Construction trades in Cape Girardeau racked up first $200,000-plus month of year in May, surpassing total dollar value of permits issued in same month last year and boosting 1952 building total in city to $637,455; construction in May rose to $204,600, or $62,000 more than previous high month this year.

75 years ago: June 14, 1927

Splendid new hotel for Cape Girardeau seems assured; since bottom fell out of project last year, due to failure of St. Louis promoters to fulfill their contract, there has been general apprehension, but new proposition assures complete success of venture, provided Cape Girardeau puts in about one-third of cost; spokesman for George S. Jackman & Co., Inc., St. Louis firm specializing in hotel service, explained at meeting yesterday that his company has made contract with St. Louis bonding company to underwrite bond issue for hotel in Cape Girardeau that will cost about $300,000.

Organized band of thieves, which uses anesthesia to quiet its victims, has looted homes in number of area towns, including Bernie, Morehouse, Kennett, Malden and Campbell.

- Sharon K. Sanders