Out of the past 7/24/02

10 years ago: July 24, 1992

Parents ordered to pay child support in Cape Girardeau County are making payments in less than half of county's child-support cases; figure, at 48.8 percent, is slightly less than state's overall figure of 49.8 percent; numbers were released this week by Missouri Division of Child Support Enforcement.

Cape Girardeau public schools Supt. Neyland Clark's employment contract has been extended for additional year; Board of Education recently approved extension following evaluation and review of Clark's first year with district.

25 years ago: July 24, 1977

The Rev. Lester B. Butler has resigned pastorate of Bethany Baptist Church, 430 Koch Ave., to accept call to Park Baptist Church in Ferguson; during Butler's tenure here, bus ministry was established, new classrooms were added, along with new kitchen and dining room, and additional auditorium on lower floor; 299 members were added to church during his 8-year pastorate.

New Bethel Baptist Church, 1507 S. Sprigg, along with A.M. and A.F.M. St. Matthew Grand Lodge, hold cornerstone-laying ceremony in afternoon at church; pastor of church is the Rev. W.J. Moore.

50 years ago: July 24, 1952

Although it may be of short duration, some relief from extreme heat that brought 95 or above readings for five consecutive days reached Cape Girardeau overnight, but it is without rain needed for crops parched by second prolonged dry spell of summer; break which sent mercury down to cool 69 during night came after temperature reached 100 early Wednesday afternoon.

Annual summer encampment plans for 140th Infantry of National Guard are announced by Maj. A.J. Edmiston, regimental adjutant; regiment, commanded by Col. Russell Boyt and composed of 20 companies in 18 Southeast Missouri towns, will leave Aug. 16 to spend two weeks at Camp Riley, Minn.

75 years ago: July 24, 1927

Captain J.G. Carpenter of local corps of Salvation Army delivers sermon at union religious service at Courthouse Park in evening; his group of workers also sings number of gospel selections.

The Rev. O.L. Smith, Cape Girardeau Christian church minister, occupies pulpit at services at Christian Church in Illmo; he delivers sermon at morning service on "Value of the Spiritual" and at evening service speaks on subject, "The Needs of the Times."

- Sharon K. Sanders