Out of the past: Dec. 17

1989

LaCroix United Methodist Church receives its charter in a special morning service, with district superintendent Kenneth Johnston presiding; Bishop W.T. Handy Jr. of St. Louis preaches at the worship celebration that follows.

The bitter arctic air that swept through the area early Friday set record low temperatures here Friday and yesterday; between 6 and 7 a.m. yesterday, the temperature at the municipal airport fell to 2 degrees below zero; that broke the 4 above record low for Dec. 16 that had stood since 1951.

1964

Contributions to the Salvation Army Tree of Lights total $2,152.50; the donations will provide Christmas baskets for families and necessities for the Army's welfare program during the remaining months; it is hoped the total of $5,000 will be reached by Christmas Eve.

Funds have been approved by the federal government for three job centers in Southeast Missouri under the anti-poverty program; the program is aimed at training out-of-school youths from 16 to 21 who lack education or basic skills; one of the projects is to be at the Mingo National Wildlife Refuge in Stoddard County; other district projects would be in Butler and Ripley counties.

1939

Christmas food baskets are filled at Grace Methodist Church with food items contributed by members of the congregation; the baskets will be distributed to the needy by the Community Christmas Club.

Tickets are on sale at all Cut Rate Drug Stores for a dance at the new armory in Sikeston, Missouri, featuring Duke Ellington and his famous band; with the orchestra will be Ivie Anderson, the California singer.

1914

President J.W. Phillips of the school board has been given authority by the board to make repairs on the new Lincoln and Washington schools, so that the possibilities for keeping warm there may be increased; a vestibule door may be installed at Lincoln School; what can be done at Washington isn't exactly known.

H.C. Winters of Oran, Missouri, a lad of 15, breaks both legs in the evening, while coasting down the steep hill east of that town on a sled; flying down the hill at a fearful rate, the sled gets away from Winters and he is dumped into a ditch.

-- Sharon K. Sanders