Out of the past 9/26/02

10 years ago: Sept. 26, 1992

U.S. Sen. Christopher "Kit" Bond brings some good news to Cape Girardeau; "We'll have the National Guard here another year," says Bond, who joins community leaders east of National Guard Armory to reveal his good news and to criticize Geri Rothman-Serot's proposal to slash $150 billion from nation's defense budget.

Altenburg -- Thousands attending East Perry Community Fair flood hillside overlooking livestock auction ring to watch annual event's biggest attraction -- mule-jumping contest; winning in below 52-inch class is Tex, owned by Eilert Mahnken of Farrar, who clears 52 inches.

25 years ago: Sept. 26, 1977

Richard L. McGill, chief juvenile officer of Cape Girardeau and Bollinger counties since 1973, announces he will resign effective Saturday; McGill, who became juvenile officer in 1969 and succeeded Ron Gray as chief officer, says economics is his main reason for retiring; McGill, who works 70 to 80 hours a weeks, cites lack of work benefits, noting he has no retirement or insurance programs.

Differences of opinion over dividing cost for operating joint city-school system swimming pool dissolve when board of education and city council meet to discuss operations-maintenance agreement; governing bodies solve disputes over split on heating bills, sharing costs on repairing air bubble cover, and paying for future replacement of air structure.

50 years ago: Sept. 26, 1952

About 10,000 cotton pickers are needed in Southeast Missouri, according to State Employment Service; it is estimated that 8,000 workers are needed in Sikeston area and 1,000 each at Caruthersville and Kennett.

Peak load of garbage collection, during which men assigned to trucks led harried existence, is over and situation has settled down to more normal status, says Health Commissioner Roy Smith; Smith says there are five independent trucks operating in addition to two city-maintained, enclosed trucks; these are used by their operators to collect garbage on set schedule, in return for which they are given the refuse as feed for their hogs.

75 years ago: Sept. 26, 1927

Application of compromised county tax bills as part of payment of $134,000 by C.A. Vandivort & Co. for two parcels of Cape Girardeau Northern Railroad nearest Cape Girardeau is denied in Common Pleas Court by Judge Oscar A. Knehans; order is given that company must pay $134,000 in cash into receivership of Cape Girardeau Northern, if bid of that amount is accepted and sale approved.

Betting on horse races at Cape Fair this week won't be permitted, despite recent ruling by state Supreme Court legalizing a form of racetrack gambling, declares Mayor James A. Barks; he further says he will instruct police officers to arrest anyone seen making or accepting bets of any kind at city-owned Fairground Park; fair will open Wednesday.

-- Sharon K. Sanders