Out of the past 8/27/02

10 years ago: Aug. 27, 1992

Farrar - Minor earthquake rattled windows and houses and awoke some people in parts of Southeast Missouri yesterday morning; no damage or injuries were reported; quake registered 3.5 on Richter scale at St. Louis University's seismograph.

Mild, dry weather this summer has enabled Cape LaCroix Creek-Walker Branch flood-control project to proceed ahead of schedule; first segment of project involves construction of concrete and rip rap creek channel along Cape LaCroix Creek from just south of Bloomfield Road to Arena Park.

25 years ago: Aug. 27, 1977

Long, laborious search for .38-caliber gun used to kill Mary Parsh and her daughter, Brenda Parsh, more than two weeks ago began yesterday with test firings of about 10 weapons; police are contacting owners of similar makes and types of guns in elimination process that will eventually involve more than 100 weapons; guns being test fired by police have been voluntarily brought in as investigators examine area gun distributor and dealer sales records back to 1970.

Scott City - City's first Mid-Summer Festival is held, complete with apple bobbing, dunking tanks, tugs of war, hundreds of people - and a greased pole; atop that greasy pole is $25; John Sample, 12, walks away with prize.

50 years ago: Aug. 27, 1952

Ray Klemp of Caruthersville, attorney and Pemiscot County Republican leader, was named 10th District Republican chairman at meeting of 11-county G.O.P. organization Tuesday at Common Pleas Courthouse; he succeeds Ruben R. Schade of Cape Girardeau, who presided at meeting until Klemp was elected.

Crop-dusting pilot was doused by 160 gallons of toxathene insecticide yesterday afternoon, when his plane crashed on farm owned by Kenneth Servacious, two miles south of East Prairie; pilot, John Seesing of Cape Central Airways, walked away from crash and was brought to St. Francis Hospital; it was feared at first that insecticide may have injured his eyes, but he is expected to be dismissed from hospital later today.

75 years ago: Aug. 27, 1927

Chaffee - I.R. Kelso of Cape Girardeau, legal counsel for Missouri Utilities Co., declared himself in favor of "west" route for permanent location of Highway 61 through Scott and New Madrid counties at meeting of Chamber of Commerce last night; meeting was held to celebrate successful consummation of two drives for industrial plants by Chaffee chamber.

New abstract office will open in Cape Girardeau next week, it is announced by Roy Ristic, who is here from Stuttgart, Ark., to organize what will be known as Fidelity Abstract Co.; company will have headquarters in Room 311 of H.-H. Building and will make complete set of abstract books on Cape Girardeau County city and farm property.

- Sharon K. Sanders