Out of the past 9/21/02

10 years ago: Sept. 21, 1992

Mother, grandmother and 11-month-old boy were fatally shot yesterday in second triple homicide in Cape Girardeau in just over a month; dead are Evelyn Sparks, 49; her daughter, Bridgett Harris, and grandson, Dontay Harris; two other children hid under bed in house during shootings and later escaped unharmed; arrest has been made in murders.

Cape Girardeau Police Department likely will benefit because city budget estimates last year were too conservative; city council tonight will formally consider earmarking $25,400 in general fund for purchase of two police motorcycles with radios.

25 years ago: Sept. 21, 1977

Tamms, Ill. -- Overwhelming public support was demonstrated for proposed medium-security prison at public hearing held last night by Illinois Department of Corrections; after hour and half of testimony, show of hands at meeting in Egyptian School indicated that about 500 people favored prison being built near Tamms, while only five were opposed.

Rain that almost drowned opening days of last week's SEMO District Fair is still problem; getting Arena Park back in shape will be more costly and time consuming because rain-soaked ground was more heavily damaged than usual; each year city cleans up park after thousands of fairgoers leave; city then restores grounds, grading, leveling, reseeding and fertilizing; bill for work, expected to be considerably higher this year, will go to Fair Board.

50 years ago: Sept. 21, 1952

Mr. and Mrs. Coy L. Welker, 1721 Brucher, sustained severe burns last night when broken jar of gasoline ignited as it spread across kitchen floor of their home; Mrs. Welker was trapped in middle of flames, and only quick thinking of her husband prevented her injuries from being more serious; couple's four children were asleep and were removed by Welker.

The Rev. Carl Middleton is guest speaker at Maple Avenue Methodist Church in evening in absence of pastor, the Rev. James M. Overby, who is preaching in series of meetings at Sedgewickville.

75 years ago: Sept. 21, 1927

Light frost, which from reports from number of sources will cause little damage to maturing crops, is observed in Cape Girardeau early in morning; Oscar Royse, farmer living south of city, reports only light frost on roofs, and no damage to tender tomato and caster bean plants.

Theresia M. Norberg of Kalamazoo, Mich., has been elected superintendent of new Southeast Missouri Hospital, having been sleeted as most acceptable of number of applicants; Norberg comes to Cape Girardeau with highest recommendations.

- Sharon K. Sanders