10 years ago: Sept. 21, 1991

Washington - Year-long struggle in U.S. Senate to save from elimination 1140th Combat Engineer Battalion at Cape Girardeau and other Missouri Army National Guard units ended in success yesterday; Senate Appropriations Committee approved measure that maintains nationwide structure and level of Guard forces in 1992 defense budget.

Autumn makes its debut Monday morning, but chances of colorful fall in woods and forest of Southeast Missouri and Southern Illinois aren't promising; summer heat and drought has dimmed chances of bright fall foliage; this year, arrival of autumn coincides with full Harvest Moon Monday evening.

25 years ago: Sept. 21, 1976

There was extra thrill for wide-eyed children and electrified adults at performance of The Missourian's Bicentennial Clyde Beatty-Cole Brothers Circus at Arena Park; Chief Joseph was running his act with herd of Appaloosas, when three of big horses were crowded from ring; they moved toward grandstand audience, then reared and bolted toward north end of tent.

Sister M. Virgilia Beikler is "surprised and overwhelmed" when Friends of St. Francis honor her during special dinner at Holiday Inn; St. Francis Hospital consulting administrator receives second annual honorary membership award from Friends group; Beikler is serving as consulting administrator following two terms as hospital administrator, from 1957 to 1960 and again from 1966 until last July.

50 years ago: Sept. 21, 1951

Eleven workers of Bootheel Construction Co., arrested yesterday by mayor of Oran for digging up city street, go back to work after Circuit Judge R.B. Oliver II issues order restraining city from interfering; arrests marked eruption of 6-month-old feud between Mayor Abram Hirschowitz and Associated Gas Co. of Sikeston, parent company of Bootheel.

Married men of draft age with wives as only dependents are notified by County Selective Service Board that they soon will be eligible for military service; men with children aren't subject to conscription.

75 years ago: Sept. 21, 1926

J.L. Dean, formerly part owner of flour mill at Murphysboro, Ill., which was wiped out in tornado 18 months ago, had his bakery and residence destroyed by hurricane which swept Florida over weekend, according to message received by his brother, H.K. Dean; J.L. Dean went to Coral Gables, Fla., after Murphysboro disaster, establishing bakery there.

Four of race horses that will participate in racing program of Cape Girardeau County Fair next week are already at Fairground Park and are having daily workouts; they are Ophelia and Robin Reaper of De Soto, and Avondale and Herman Axworthy from stable of J.W. Wald of St. Louis.

- Sharon K. Sanders