10 years ago: Sept. 15, 1991

John Weidman and his wife, Betty, longtime Assembly of God missionaries serving in Central Africa, speak in morning at First Assembly of God Church; they discuss phenomenal growth of church in Africa.

Jackson - Fifty-eighth annual service of Old McKendree Chapel is held in afternoon; chapel is oldest Methodist church west of Mississippi River; speaker at special service is Bishop Monk Bryan of Lake Janaluska, N.C.; music is provided by Chancel Choir of Centenary United Methodist Church at Bonne Terre.

25 years ago: Sept. 15, 1976

Opening day record was set at SEMO District Fair yesterday, and those who waited patiently in lengthy car lines to get in can attest to that; total of 12,381 persons entered Fairgrounds after 3 p.m., 20 percent increase over last year and nearly double crowd of two years ago; today's headline entertainment will be Blue Grass Shows and demolition derby.

Long-awaited move next month to new $13.5 million St. Francis Medical Center at Route K and Mount Auburn Road has been in planning stages for months; move from old hospital at 825 Good Hope, built in 1913, is tentatively set for Oct. 9; open house will be held at new 160-bed hospital Oct. 3, when Gov. Christopher Bond will be guest speaker.

50 years ago: Sept. 15, 1951

Largest crowd of week was on grounds Friday, and one equal in size is expected today for final thrilling performances of 1951 SEMO District Fair, 12th in series since revival of time-honored exposition in 1940; school children by thousands jammed Arena Park yesterday, Jackson and County Day; total attendance was 16,282.

State Highway Patrol and local officers are investigating $800 burglary at Chaffee, third major burglary in this area in two weeks; thieves broke into Essner's Hardware Store Thursday night or early Friday and took 13 shotguns and two rifles; theft came as Cape Girardeau police were still seeking clues in $2,700 Cape Cut Rate Drug Store burglary Sept. 4 and $3,500 Jim Wilson Wholesale Auto Supply Co. burglary Sept. 10.

75 years ago: Sept. 15, 1926

Fall term begins at Teachers College; all classes meet in morning for 30-minute session, during which preliminary details are gone through and advance lessons assigned; only three members of last year's faculty are absent this year; Ethel Sawyer, instructor in commerce and business, is teaching at business college in California; A.C. Magill, instructor in chemistry, is attending Washington University in St. Louis, and A.W. Vaughn, English teacher, is attending Peabody College in Nashville, Tenn., last two being on leaves of absence.

Puxico - Iron ore deposits in Wayne County hills near here will be worked under plan now under way to move big blast furnace from Mideo in Carter County to Wappapello; furnace and plant, constructed during World War has been lying idle since that time.

- Sharon K. Sanders