Out of the past 7/14/02

10 years ago: July 14, 1992

National Weather Service says some relief from week-long string of hot and dry days may be near; there's slight chance of thunderstorms late today, but forecasters say chances of storms should increase by mid-week as front that has been stalled for over week across Missouri, Iowa and northern Illinois begins to sag southward into central and southern Missouri.

Southeast Missouri State University has received $541,185, three-year federal grant to train Missouri elementary and secondary school educators on teaching English skills to students who lack proficiency in the language; funding, first of its kind in state, is announced at press conference by U.S. Rep. Bill Emerson, R-Cape Girardeau.

25 years ago: July 14, 1977

Man whose name became synonymous with Southeast Missouri State University Golden Eagles Marching Band and whose 20 years of dedication to that group brought national prominence to school and to city, LeRoy French Mason, dies at St. Louis County hospital; Mason and his wife were in St. Louis visiting friends when he became ill unexpectedly; he was 64 years old.

Chaffee - Hot weather and hard water combined to knock out Chaffee General Hospital's air conditioning yesterday, but by 10 p.m. portable air conditioners donated by area residents were cooling 90-degree temperatures reached during day; only surgical unit and delivery room remain out of commission, because they are windowless.

50 years ago: July 14, 1952

Chaffee - Mr. and Mrs. R.C. Hanna of Rockview have learned of death of their son, Pfc. Robert D. Hanna, 23, who was killed in action in Korea on July 2; Hanna was last home on March 28, for 10-day leave, during which time his daughter, Karen, was born to him and his wife, former Betty Margrabe; besides his parents, wife and daughter, he is survived by brother, Eddie Hanna, of Rockview.

Yesterday's 97-degree weather has given way to cloudy skies, showers and lower temperatures; scattered thunderstorms are expected to continue through Tuesday, as will cooler weather.

75 years ago: July 14, 1927

With high prices predicted and production expected to be below normal in corn belt, corn appears to be Southeast Missouri's best farm bet for season; price has topped $1-per-bushel mark and is still soaring as reports of small acreages and damaging prospects come in from great corn belt of Middle West.

"Million dollar" rains, which have extended to all parts of Southeast Missouri, breaking drought of four weeks duration, have aided materially growing corn, cotton and melon crops throughout district; sections of Southeast Missouri which failed to receive any rain Wednesday, receive bountiful share today.

- Sharon K. Sanders