Out of the past 8/20/02

10 years ago: Aug. 20, 1992

City council has taken steps to hire second municipal court judge to handle cases in which Municipal Judge Edwin Calvin has been disqualified; move, say city officials, could resolve legal issue surrounding disqualification of municipal court judges; Calvin, however, maintains that hiring of conflicts judge isn't solution.

One year after breakup of Soviet Union, new independent Republic of Belarus is struggling to reform its economy and education system; delegation of four representatives of Belarus Ministry of Education this week is visiting Southeast Missouri State University to learn more about U.S. system of higher education.

25 years ago: Aug. 20, 1977

Eva Anneli Ignatius, student from Finland, is expected to arrive in Cape Girardeau tomorrow to participate in Rotary International's Youth Exchange program; Ignatius, 15, of Porvoo, Finland, is being sponsored by Cape Rotary West; she will attend Central High School as a sophomore.

State fire marshal's examination of charred ruins left by fire which destroyed home of Sheriff James J. Below turned up no evidence of arson, says sheriff; but Below sticks by his theory that arson was cause of Friday morning's blaze.

50 years ago: Aug. 20, 1952

Vacancy occurring in city council must be filled by appointment by remaining members for remainder of term, City Attorney Jack O. Knehans says; question arose after announcement yesterday by Commissioner Louis Brune that he will submit his resignation as commissioner of public works effective Aug. 31.

Joint funeral services will be held Friday morning at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Festus for Mr. and Mrs. James J. Seyer, who drowned in Lake Taneycomo; bodies of honeymooning couple were found near Rockaway Beach yesterday, having been married Saturday; Mrs. Seyer, 19, is former Betty Berkbigler of Festus; her husband, 26, was son of Mr. and Mrs. Ed Seyer of near Kelso.

75 years ago: Aug. 20, 1927

Contract for construction of combined storm water and sanitary sewer in South Cape Girardeau, to be installed at estimated cost of $92,000, will be awarded by city council Sept. 5; sewer system, which will consist of pipes from 8 to 60 inches in diameter, is being built following petitioned requests of number of residents in sewer district three; district is located in vicinity of May Greene School.

Opening of new laundry on South Boulevard, to be operated by Bryan Laundries, Inc., will be held about Sept. 12, if all equipment can be installed by that time; laundry will be managed by E.W. Bryan and John P. Meyers.- Sharon K. Sanders