Out of the past 7/17/02

10 years ago: July 17, 1992

Seventeen years after Trail of Tears State Park Marina on Mississippi River was completed, Missouri Department of Natural Resources is giving up its attempt to maintain $1.5 million marina as slackwater harbor; DNR notified Corps of Engineers in May that it will sacrifice concept of slackwater harbor so improvements can be made that will allow continued operation of boat ramp for access to river.

In effort to get its pollution-reducing, coal-burning boiler running more efficiently, Southeast Missouri State University plans to enlist aid of boiler's designer; designer, Alex Wormser, will be hired by university as consultant at cost of about $6,000 or $7,000; Wormser expects to have $4.7 million boiler operating smoothly within week of his arrival in August.

25 years ago: July 17, 1977

Norvel Wampler of Cape Girardeau resigned his job as choir director of First General Baptist Church last week, but intends to continue singing with group; Wampler joined church when it was located on Broadway in 1951 and has been choir director since 1955; Kenneth Barrett, another member of church, has agreed to replace him as director.

The Rev. Bernard P. Degan, C.M., has been assigned as associate pastor of St. Vincent Parish; he replaces the Rev. Anthony J. Rechtin, who has been associate here since 1974; Rechtin will serve St. Philip Neri Church in Houston, Texas.

50 years ago: July 17, 1952

Cape Girardeau County apple crop is about a third short of normal, local orchardists say, as early apples start to ripen; W.F. Curnell of Ochs Pioneer Orchard reports that harvesting started Monday on South Carolina Summer variety; they are small because of lack of rain, but quality is excellent; Lawrence Fuhrman of Northland Hills Orchard says Jonathans will be heady for harvest by mid-August.

Safe burglary was attempted Wednesday at Schwab's Cities Service Station, 834 Broadway, but burglars gave up before they got safe open; dial and knob were knocked off small combination safe, evidently with heavy hammer; according to owner, A.C. "Hatz" Schwab, nothing is kept in safe except records.

75 years ago: July 17, 1927

"Neighbor Day" is observed at Maple Avenue Methodist Church; every member of congregation is urged, in observance of occasion, to bring his neighbor to church services.

The Rev. Charles H. Morton, pastor of First Presbyterian Church, delivers sermon at union service in evening at Courthouse Park; evening services have been well attended, with many residents taking advantage of opportunity to attend religious worship out of doors in the cool.

- Sharon K. Sanders