Out of the past 8/21/02

10 years ago: Aug. 21, 1992

Sikeston - Woman and four of her children died early yesterday in house fire that Sikeston officials are calling "worst fire tragedy" in years; Patrice Jefferson, 30, of 403 Dorothy Street, was pronounced dead at scene; also killed in fire were Roy Otis Portwood, 9; Lathreta Portwood, 7; Derick Jefferson, 6, and Carnail Jefferson, 4.

High school friendship has led to agreement for cultural exchanges between Southeast Missouri State University and Kunsan National University in South Korea; cooperative agreement was signed yesterday at luncheon ceremony attended by Southeast officials and Kyung Deuk Kwon, acting president of Kunsan National University.

25 years ago: Aug. 21, 1977

With only handful of members in Cape Girardeau area as late as 1961, membership of Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints has grown to 249 members, and those members plan to dedicate their new chapel Friday; Norman W. Olson, president of new Missouri-St. Louis Mission, of which Cape Girardeau branch is a part, will offer dedicatory prayer at evening ceremony.

Wittenburg - Golden anniversary of ordination of the Rev. Theodore Carl Berhard Predoehl is celebrated with special morning service at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Wittenburg, where Predoehl is interim pastor; president of Missouri district of Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, the Rev. Herman C. Scherer, D.D., presides at service.

50 years ago: Aug. 21, 1952

Sedalia - Tornado, centering its fury on Missouri State Fairgrounds, strikes Sedalia area in morning, killing one man and injuring 17 others; of 160 tents housing exhibits at fairgrounds, only eight or nine remain standing; permanent buildings on grounds lose roofs or suffer other damage; damage is estimated at $5 million.

Naomi Pott of Cape Girardeau, teacher of American history at Central High School, is nominated for selection as recipient of 43,000 Ford Foundation fellowship; selection by local committee isn't conclusive; application has been forwarded to New York headquarters of Foundation for the Advancement of Education, where it will be considered.

75 years ago: Aug. 21, 1927

Fifteen Campfire Girls leave in morning for Lake Killarney near Arcadia, where they will camp for a week; Mrs. H.A. Jamison, Mrs. J.E. Woodson and Deane Woodson are chaperones.

Katherine Johnson, who has taught number of years in mission school in Japan, is speaker at union service in evening at Courthouse Park; Billy Sunday Chorus sings number of songs and leads singing of congregation; outdoor union services have been more popular this year than in previous years, judging by number of people who attend them.

- Sharon K. Sanders