Out of the past 8/15/02

10 years ago: Aug. 15, 1992

About 45 volunteers hit streets of southeast Cape Girardeau to pick up litter; cleanup activity is part of Community Investment in Cape Girardeau beautification project, spearheaded by City Councilmen Melvin Gateley and Doug Richards.

State Rep. Mary Kasten will serve as campaign chairman for Peter Kinder in his run for Southeast Missouri's 27th State Senate seat; now in her sixth term in Missouri General Assembly, Kasten has served on several House committees, including budget, commerce, children, youth and families, higher education, and appropriations for health and mental health.

25 years ago: Aug. 15, 1977

Unclothed bodies of Cape Girardeau woman and her 27-year-old daughter are found in morning lying face down with their hands tied behind their backs in mother's home in southwest Cape Girardeau; victims are Mary Parsh, 58, and Brenda Parsh of Milwaukee, Wis., model and fashion coordinator and winner of several beauty contests in Southeast Missouri; police believe women have been dead since Friday or Saturday.

Review by city attorney of release forms gathered by West End businessmen to permit city to enter property for cleaning of Cape LaCroix Creek is about complete; merchants turned in what they believe is final release from a property owner on Friday.

50 years ago: Aug. 15, 1952

Mr. and Mrs. P.F. Rhodes of Bessville in Bollinger County have been advised by military that their son, Paul Rhodes, member of Marine Corps, was killed in fighting in Korea on Aug. 7; youth was wounded about month before, but after recovery was sent back into action.

Largest general revenue budget in city's history was drafted and approved by city council Thursday, whopping $360,000 appropriated to several municipal departments to carry on their operations through June 30, 1953; it is $30,000 larger than previous budget.

75 years ago: Aug. 15, 1927

Bernie - While townspeople battle fire in vacant house, two unmasked bandits shortly before noon dash into Bernie State Bank, cover two employees with their revolvers, scoop up about $3,000 in currency, and flee; before bank employees can give alarm, bandits make their getaway in Chevrolet automobile, speeding north on Highway 25.

Feeling fit and pleased with their annual two-week training at National Guard encampment at Nevada, Mo., members of Service and Headquarters companies of Cape Girardeau National Guard returned home yesterday; honors in marksmanship and boxing were won by several locals at encampment.

- Sharon K. Sanders