Out of the past 6/27/02

10 years ago: June 27, 1992

For second consecutive year, Gov. John Ashcroft has vetoed $100,000 appropriation of planning money for new College of Business Building at Southeast Missouri State University; new business building is regarded as top priority for university, and school officials were hoping for state financing to move planning process further.

Organizers of new community-wide beautification effort hope to find volunteers to take over job of keeping Old St. Francis Hospital grounds mowed and trimmed; city crews worked yesterday and will finish Monday cleaning up grounds to give group a good start; when crews arrived Friday, they faced waist-high grass and weeds; city brought in heavy equipment, including brush hog and chain saws, to begin cleaning up location.

25 years ago: June 27, 1977

New telephone prefix number will go into operation in mid-July which will have effect of designating Southeast Missouri State University as separate small community within Cape Girardeau Southwestern Bell network; new prefix is 651; it will be added to existing two city prefixes of 334 and 335, but will entirely be for use of telephones of university.

There were no witnesses, but leading theory is that lightning killed 16 ducks at Capaha Park during Sunday's storm; City Park Department Superintendent Robert Gass says another possibility, which is unlikely, is that ducks suffered from botulism.

50 years ago: June 27, 1952

Continued searing temperatures brings renewed appeal from Missouri Utilities Co. that Cape Girardeau water users conserve in every way possible to arrest 2-foot-a-day drop in level of reservoir serving city; repeated request comes in wake of another 100-degree temperature Thursday that sent water consumption to highest mark in history, 2,700,000 gallons.

Members of Cape Girardeau Police Department are granted small measure of relief from heat, when Police Chief Irvin J. Richmond signs order permitting them to go without neckties until further notice.

75 years ago: June 27, 1927

Assuming commanding lead on early holes, Walther "Buddy" Bartels and F.B. Goodwin captured first-place honors in Country Club's team golf tournament yesterday by winning over Charles A. Himmelberger and Dr. C.A.W. Zimmermann; championship match drew large gallery of more than 100 people

Illmo - Protests against proposed removal of division offices of Missouri Pacific Railroad from Illmo to Poplar Bluff in next 10 to 30 days are expressed at meeting called by Illmo-Fornfelt Chamber of Commerce; C.C. Chapman, assistant division superintendent of road, explains that losses from recent flooding are forcing curtailment and retrenchment in all parts of Mo-Pac system.

-- Sharon K. Sanders