Out of the past 9/10/01

10 years ago: Sept. 10, 1991

SEMO District Fair is going full tilt at Arena Park, with 6,688 people in attendance; today's attractions at exposition include baby contest, Moonlight Madness discounts on midway rides, and tractor pull in front of grandstand in evening.

Twenty-two area businesses, which combined have about 6,000 employees, are seeking to reduce their ever-rising health care costs through efforts of group they have established - Cape Area Business Health Care Group; group has been in existence for about 15 months and is in process of hiring executive director, says Bob Cramner, employee relations manager at Procter & Gamble plant and president of health care group.

25 years ago: Sept. 10, 1976

With Fair Day rapidly approaching, preparations are being made at Arena Park with first midway rides being set up by Blue Grass Show workers for SEMO District Fair opening Tuesday; cooler temperatures are ushered in by Canadian air mass, bringing first breath of fall and making work easier.

Benton - Thirty-six petitions are being circulated throughout Scott County area in effort to establish county ambulance service; J.A. Chronister of Chaffee, director of North Scott County Ambulance services, says 2,000 county signatures are needed in support of establishing ambulance district; it can then be requested that matter be placed on ballot for April elections.

50 years ago: Sept. 10, 1951

Red, white and blue welcome banner hangs over entrance to Arena Building headquarters of SEMO District Fair, greeting those who view opening-day events; despite rain overnight, enthusiasm of fair officials is undampened; in fact, barring continuation, rain has been benefit, as it has settled dust which hung over fairgrounds yesterday.

Burglars break into Jim Wilson Co., wholesale auto supply firm, 224 S. Spanish, early in morning, load 1 1/2-ton stake truck belonging to Wilson with loot, and drive away; truck, empty, is found later in East St. Louis by police.

75 years ago: Sept. 10, 1926

Cape Girardeau "goes over the top" in its campaign to guarantee construction of Mississippi River traffic bridge; stock sold here and in adjoining districts totaled $388,900, $88,900 more than the goal; end of successful campaign is celebrated in evening, with monster parade traveling from near Central High School on Pacific to Fairground Park, where more festivities are held.

Three people are burned - a mother and her child seriously - and fireman is slightly hurt in fire which partially destroys two-story frame residence on New Madrid Street, near Perry, in morning; injured are Mrs. Wilson McClard and her 3-year-old son, W.C. McClard.

- Sharon K. Sanders