Out of the past 9/12/02

10 years ago: Sept. 12, 1992

Midway and carnival rids are open as SEMO District Fair inaugurates Saturday start to eight-day event; also, 4-H horse show is held in afternoon in grandstand area; Sneak-a-Peek activities are planned Sunday, including open horse show.

Cape Girardeau native Rush Limbaugh, host of most-listened-to radio talk show in nation, apparently is also destined to be best-selling author; his book, "The Way Things Ought To Be," was released last week and is already on top of Waldenbooks' nonfiction best-seller list.

25 years ago: Sept. 12, 1977

All systems are go for official opening tomorrow afternoon of 1977 SEMO District Fair; Fair Board will spend about $200,000 on this year's fair, but expected $2 million coming into city will make investment worthwhile.

Bloomfield -- This Stoddard County community is without water, forcing cancellation of schools, after mechanical failures forced another well pump out of action yesterday; city has been experiencing water problems for several weeks, not because of lack of underground water sources, but because pumps for three city wells haven't been functioning properly.

50 years ago: Sept. 12, 1952

Jackson and Cape Girardeau County residents swarm over fairgrounds in their own special day at District Fair, rivaling throng which crowded grounds from late morning until waning hours of day Thursday for Cape Girardeau Day; total paid attendance for previous three days has been 10,862; another big crowd is expected tomorrow for dog show, harness races, high school band concerts and carnival.

Sam Williams, 73, of Clay, Ky., veteran driver on Midwestern harness racing tracks, was fatally injured in third race on SEMO District Fair program yesterday, when his horse fell on first turn and he was trampled by another pacer in the mix-up; it was Williams first appearance in Missouri, although he had raced in Indiana, Tennessee, Illinois and Kentucky for past 20 years.

75 years ago: Sept. 12, 1927

Three sections of Cape Girardeau Northern railway, 49 miles in length, are sold at public auction at Common Pleas Courthouse at noon; sections and purchasers are: From Ancell to point two miles west of Cape Girardeau, including terminal facilities here, sold to C.A. Vandivort & Co. of Cape Girardeau; four miles from point two miles west of Cape Girardeau to near Jackson, sold to C.A. Vandivort & Co.; and 35 miles, from Saline Junction to point near Farmington, sold to J.P. Cayce of Farmington; other sections of road weren't sold, no bids being offered for them.

Detroit -- Cape Girardeau baseball team, showing remarkable return to form, defeated Port Clinton, Ohio, team 6-2, in their second game of National Baseball Tournament yesterday; Guy Swetman hurled Missourians to brilliant victory; Saturday, Girardeans fell to fast Chevrolets of Flint, Mich., 8-2.

-- Sharon K. Sanders