Out of the past 7/30/02

10 years ago: July 30, 1992

Ross Perot's presidential quest may be over, but area supporters plan to have visible presence at SEMO District Fair; Gil Degenhardt, 8th Congressional District coordinator for Perot, says Perot supporters will have booth at fair in Cape Girardeau, Sept. 13-19.

Salvation Army has received $200,000 challenge grant toward its goal of raising $1 million for construction of new building; grant challenges local Salvation Army to raise $800,000; if it hits that goal, J.E. and L.E. Mabee Foundation will contribute $200,000.

25 years ago: July 30, 1977

Rep. Bill D. Burlison, D-Cape Girardeau, is keynote speaker at summer commencement ceremony on terraces of Academic Hall; 184 undergraduate and 135 graduate students receive their degrees; Burlison received bachelor of science degree from Southeast in 1959, and this commencement marks his first return to university in an official capacity.

After two weeks of training at Ft. McCoy, Wis., 454 members of 1140th Engineering Battalion of Army National Guard return home in morning with new honor; they're only engineering battalion in Missouri to be validated as C-2, which means unit is capable of being deployed anywhere in world, for any assignment, within four weeks.

50 years ago: July 30, 1952

Historic marker is back on boulder at Cape Rock, after doing disappearing act for third time in two years, says D.M. Scivally, Cape Special Road District engineer; marker, which was removed from boulder last December, was found on river-side slope of promontory within few feet of rock by Ed Huber, employee of water plant; marker was upright and apparently had been placed there not long before as it was in full sight by passerby.

More normal temperatures continue in Cape Girardeau, and there are indications that torrid wave of earlier in week won't return, at least for a week; mercury rose to 95 degrees yesterday, but it was mild compared with 107 attained Monday, highest of season and hottest day in 18 years.

75 years ago: July 30, 1927

Fire, originating in second story closet room, guts second floor and destroys portion of roof at residence at 108 N. Park, occupied by Fred Smith and family; damage to roof and from water is estimated in excess of $500.

Cape Girardeau's riverfront, for short time in morning, presents vivid picture of what resumption of river traffic on large scale will mean to inland river towns; eight boats are in, or near, Cape Girardeau harbor at one time; boats include Towboat Winoka, government Tow Ottawa, government boat Tuscumbia, the Gulfport, Steamer Gillespie, Ferry A.C. Jaynes, Ferry Gladys, sand boat Grace, and Steamer Cape Girardeau.

-- Sharon K. Sanders