Out of the Past

Anther section of the former St. Louis, Iron Mountain & Southern Railroad's historic Belmont Branch between Delta and Oran, Missouri, will fade into history this year when its tracks are removed and the right-of-way turned back to adjoining landowners; the branch line, once the main line of the Iron Mountain, and later a branch line of the Missouri Pacific Railroad, was the first built into Southeast Missouri...

Highway 51 at McBride, Missouri, still looks like a lake, and the Chester, Illinois, bridge across the Mississippi River remains closed to traffic; the bridge may be high and dry, but motorists can't get there from the Missouri side; the McBride area is still under water, the result of a July 25 levee break...

A 50-foot crack developed in the Fayville-Miller City agricultural levee near Olive Branch, Illinois, yesterday; Corps of Engineers officials are hoping to stop the leak by filling it with sandbags and rock. Federal buyouts of flood-damaged homes in Cape Girardeau may be unlikely, according to State Rep. ...

The Cape Girardeau City Council yesterday learned about a $25 million bond proposal for the first time, which would address a perennial problem with combined sanitary and storm sewers; for years, residents of the city's older neighborhoods have asked City Hall to repair or replace their outdated sewers; by extending the city's quarter-cent capital improvements sales tax through 2020, the city can finance the sewer improvements, with no added cost to taxpayers...

With the flooding Mississippi River continuing to fall, the city of Cape Girardeau is distributing packets to flood victims detailing the cleanup program that will be initiated once the receding water allows; dumpsters will be placed in seven locations in both north and south Cape Girardeau to help with the removal of flood debris...

Bishop John J. Leibrecht of the Springfield-Cape Girardeau Catholic Diocese has announced a number of pastoral changes; the Rev. Mr. Glenn Eftink, who will be ordained a priest Oct. 1, has been assigned to serve at St. Mary's Cathedral in Cape Girardeau, effective Oct. 15; the current associate pastor there, the Rev. Michael Zoellner, has been appointed pastor of St. Elizabeth Parish in El Dorado Springs, Missouri, and the mission of St. Peter at Stockton, Missouri...

Emergency services officials and volunteer flood workers aren't the only ones keeping an eye on the Mississippi River gauge at Cape Girardeau; on both sides of the river, school administrators have one eye on the calendar and the other on the gauge; they hope the river will drop low enough so school buses can travel over roads and highways that are now submerged; the river stage here is at 44.9 feet...

ST. LOUIS -- President Bill Clinton yesterday signed into law a $5.7 billion disaster relief bill to aid Midwestern flood victims; Clinton stopped in St. Louis on his way to see Pope John Paul II in Denver. Between 1 and 1 1/2 inches of badly needed rain fell Thursday morning on parched corn fields in the Cape Girardeau area, but agricultural sources say at least another 2 to 3 inches of rain are needed to prevent additional crop yield losses...

Even if there is no additional, significant rain in river basins to the north, forecasters say the Mississippi River at Cape Girardeau isn't expected to drop below flood stage until early September. McBRIDE, Mo. -- Eighth District U.S. Rep. Bill Emerson surveyed the flood damage in the Chester, Illinois, and McBride area from a barge yesterday and assured local residents the broken levee in the McBride area will be repaired at federal expense; the Bois Brule levee break along the Mississippi River near McBride is 1,200 to 1,500 feet in length.. ...

The Mississippi River continues its slow fall; the stage at Cape Girardeau yesterday was 47.3 feet; the river at Cape Girardeau has been over flood stage -- 32 feet -- for 131 days. Since its formation in May the Cape Girardeau City-County Narcotics Enforcement Unit has nabbed 23 suspected drug dealers in the area, as well as having found answers to unsolved crimes related to the drug market; in the process of catching drug traffickers throughout the county, the unit has happened upon stolen cars and goods taken from homes and businesses in the area, as well as weapons carried by drug dealers.. ...

Area relief organizations have pooled their efforts to create a "grocery store" where people don't need money to take home plenty of food for their families; in the old IGA building at 80 Plaza Way, aisle after makeshift aisle stands stocked with food, clothing and cleaning supplies to be distributed to flood victims...

The Mississippi River crested at Cape Girardeau at 47.9 feet overnight; but at the crest, Tom LeGrand, family members and others lost the battle to save the family home attached to LeGrand's Transmission at 1237 N. Water St.; they lost, 10 1/2 hours after water began coming up beneath the triple row of sandbags protecting the house; water is now 4 feet deep in the house, 5 feet deep in the garage...

As the Mississippi River in Cape Girardeau inches closer to an expected overnight crest of 49 feet, weary flood warriors continue to wage battle against the water's assault; at 6 p.m., the river here stands at 47.9 feet; workers strengthen a sandbag levee around Red Star Baptist Church in north Cape Girardeau, and in the southwest part of town, rising waters begin to threaten more homes in the Meadowbrook area along South Kingshighway...

The Mississippi River is at a 47.2 foot level, a flood-stage that almost completely obscures the mural on the city's floodwall; the flood crest is expected tomorrow, with a height of 49 feet. Members of the Cape Girardeau fire and police departments have combined their job-specific abilities to form an investigation team designed to determine the cause and origin of suspicious fires; the Cape Girardeau Arson Task Force was formed in April by fire chief Robert L. ...

The start of school at Delta has been postponed three weeks due in part to flooding; the first day of classes is scheduled for Sept. 7 instead of Aug. 19; the communities of Allenville and Dutchtown, both virtually cut off by the flooding Mississippi, are part of the district...

Once again, the crest prediction for Cape Girardeau has been lowered; the Mississippi River is expected to crest here the day after tomorrow at 47.2 feet The few voters who turned out in Cape Girardeau yesterday overwhelmingly endorsed a measure that will enable the city to move from at-large to ward city council elections in April; in addition voters authorized the expansion of the city limits westward with approval of a measure to annex the Twin Lakes subdivision...

The flood crest predicted tomorrow at Cape Girardeau has been revised downward to 48.5 feet, according to the National Weather Service; the crest had been predicted at 49 feet; the revision was caused by levee breaks north of the city. PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- Streets in Perryville remain dry, but Mississippi River flooding has impacted this town; a levee just a few miles east gave way last week, flooding thousands of acres; two major employers, Sabreliner and Gilster-Mary Lee, are under water...

A sign hanging on the street clock at the corner of Main and Themis streets in Cape Girardeau proclaims the feelings of downtown merchants: "We love our floodwall"; the sign, installed by John and Evelyn Boardman, marks where Mississippi River water would be at the predicted 49-foot crest, if not for the wall...

Floodwater from the Mississippi River causes the congregation of Red Star Baptist Church to move worship services to 2912 Bloomfield Road, the former West Park Baptist Church; the Rev. Mike Perry, interim pastor, says the congregation will likely continue meeting there through August...

Yesterday, the National Weather Service revised the Cape Girardeau Mississippi River flood crest up one-half foot, to 49 feet; the river is still forecast to crest Thursday, barring any significant and prolonged rain to the north; the river at Cape Girardeau is at 46 feet...

There's no change in the 48.5-foot record flood crest expected to pass Cape Girardeau in six days; and the good news is that no heavy rains are forecast for the next six to 10 days over the Midwest; but river watchers say to expect the flood to linger at Cape Girardeau through late August...

Sand-baggers and other flood workers continue to shore up for next week's record 48.5-foot Mississippi River flood crest at Cape Girardeau; the river here is again rising slowly, after having fallen 1.9 feet over the weekend following the breach of the Perry County levee near McBride, Missouri; yesterday's river stage was 45.8 feet at Cape Girardeau...

Local government and Corps of Engineers officials say they are spending a considerable amount of time responding to rumors of impending levee failures and other Mississippi River flood-related problems; despite almost daily assurances that the Little River Drainage District's Diversion Channel levee is in good shape, officials say they continue to get inquiries from residents living south of the drainage district; residents are concerned about rumors of an imminent failure of the levee...

The failure of the Perry County levee south of McBride, Missouri, early Sunday morning was a disaster for residents living in that area, but it has proven to be a blessing to workers preparing to raise the sandbag levee protecting Dutchtown given the new flood crest of 48.5 feet at Cape Girardeau a week from today; the breach in the Perry County levee caused a 1.6 foot drop in the river at Cape Girardeau yesterday...

Today is the last day for flood victims to visit the Federal Emergency Management Agency disaster application center at Centenary United Methodist Church; since Friday, more than 70 persons have signed up for emergency assistance, and dozens more have come in to contact the 11 other agencies located at the center...

Four area natives and residents were among a group of Adorers of the Blood of Christ who recently celebrated their anniversaries of religious profession; they are Sister Ignatia Greaser, a native of New Hamburg, Missouri; Sister Celeste Compas, a native of Kelso, Missouri; Sister Dorothy Reinhold, a resident of Kelso; and Sister Etheldreda Heard, a native of Oran, Missouri...

The Mississippi River at Cape Girardeau reached a crest Friday and is receding slightly, but the worst isn't over; after a crest Friday of 46.6 feet, the National Weather Service is predicting another crest of 47 feet on Aug. 3. More than 30 balloonists from 14 states are in Cape Girardeau for Balloon Fest '93; they are competing for more than $10,000 in prize money; conducting the races here for a second straight year are Rob and Jetta Schantz, who own and operate Skysigns Unlimited Inc., a business of hot-air balloon sales, service, instruction and show promotions.. ...

The Mississippi River is predicted to crest at Cape Girardeau some time today at an all-time record flood stage of 46.6 feet; weather forecasters have warned the river may not fall below flood stage here until some time in mid-August. During a visit to Cape Girardeau County yesterday morning, Gov. Mel Carnahan praised the work of volunteers and the National Guard in battling floodwaters and promised the state will do its part to fund disaster relief efforts...

The Mississippi River at the Cape Girardeau gauge yesterday was 46.7 feet; the crest has been moved back to Saturday at a mark of 47.2 feet; Marcella Bennett, disaster application center coordinator for FEMA, arrives in Cape Girardeau to oversee the opening of a disaster application center in the basement of Centenary United Methodist Church...

Cape Girardeau police closed Big Bend Road early Tuesday, giving up the battle to keep floodwater off the roadway between Olive and First streets; the Mississippi River rose to 46.7 feet yesterday, more than 14 1/2 feet above flood stage; it is expected to crest tomorrow at 47.7 feet...

Inaccurate data from electronic equipment that transmits Mississippi River stages by telephone from the Cape Girardeau river gauge has prompted the national Weather Service to raise the expected flood crest here; the river is now expected to crest at Cape Girardeau on Wednesday at 47.7 feet...

The floodwaters of the Mississippi River penetrated a Union Electric switching station south of Cape Girardeau yesterday morning, causing a two-hour power outage that affected an estimated 42,000 customers in Cape Girardeau, Scott City, Kelso and Chaffee, Missouri; waters entered the switching station across from the Viaduct Court substation around 9 a.m., causing a low voltage control center to short circuit...

The Rev. Earl E. Weis of Fairfield Bay, Arkansas, is the guest preacher at St. Paul Lutheran Church, as part of the church's 100th anniversary celebration; the visit by Weis marks the fifth in a series of special events planned throughout the year; Weis was pastor of St. Paul from 1968 to 86...

Eighth District Rep. Bill Emerson toured parts of his flood-ravaged district with officials of the Army Corps of Engineers and the Mississippi River Commission; the tour began at New Madrid, Missouri, and included stops at Commerce, Missouri, Dutchtown and Cape Girardeau...

OLIVE BRANCH, Ill. -- An earthen levee along the Mississippi River south of Miller City, Illinois, broke yesterday afternoon, flooding farm land and forcing area residents to flee to higher ground; the levee broke around 1 p.m.; by late afternoon, the levee break had widened to about 300 feet...

More heavy rain along the Missouri and Mississippi rivers north of St. Louis prompted the National Weather Service to raise the predicted flood crest at Cape Girardeau by 1 1/2 feet; the revised forecast calls for a crest of 46.5 feet here Wednesday...

The National Guard has been called out to assist the beleagured town of Commerce, Missouri, as the surging Mississippi River yesterday threatened to cut off the lone remaining road into the Scott County community; a security contingent of eight guardsman is being deployed to Commerce to help prevent looting, while Guardsmen are also being called upon to build an emergency road to serve the town...

Levees along the bloated Mississippi River in the area are in good shape, although most of them have had water against them since late March; the levee situation looked better after Sunday, when the Coast Guard closed the final stretch of the upper Mississippi River between Cairo, Illinois, and St. Louis...

Relief efforts throughout Cape Girardeau have intensified as floodwaters steadily rise, forcing more people to leave their homes; approximately 56 area homes and nine businesses have been affected to some degree by the surging waters; seven area families have sought emergency shelter from the American Red Cross; the river stage here yesterday was 43.2 feet...

The relentless floodwaters of the rain-swollen Mississippi River continued to take their toll yesterday in Southeast Missouri from Ste. Genevieve to Commerce; U.S. Sen. Christopher Bond, R-Mo., Saturday visited the flood-threatened Dutchtown area, where volunteers are building a wall of sandbags along Highway 74 in an effort to hold back the rising water and protect low-lying homes in the town of about 120 people; forecasts call for a record crest at Cape Girardeau of 47 feet July 20...

The Southeast Missourian published a special edition in an effort to disseminate important information about flooding in the Cape Girardeau area. The Cape Girardeau County Commission, meeting in special session, approved an order imposing a curfew in flooded areas of the county; Presiding Commissioner Gene Huckstep said the action was taken because "the situation is going to deteriorate rapidly. ...

The raging Mississippi River is heading for historic flooding; for the eighth time in the past two weeks, the National Weather Service has upped its flood forecasts, after yesterday's torrential rains in central Missouri; the latest forecast for a crest at Cape Girardeau is a 47-foot reading Thursday; the record crest here is 45.6 feet, set May 1, 1973...

The Missouri National Guard's 1140th Engineer Battalion in Cape Girardeau has been placed on alert and its Company D at Farmington activated to assist flood-fighting along the Mississippi River; an updated National Weather Service forecast yesterday warned that the Mississippi River will exceed record levels of flood of 1973 in many areas...

Farm experts say corn should be knee-high by the Fourth of July, but in some Southeast Missouri and Southern Illinois fields, the water is that deep; it is estimated there is between 18,000 and 20,000 acres of farmland under water in Alexander County, Illinois; that estimate was made July 2, when the Mississippi River was at 35.2 feet at Cape Girardeau; the river is now three feet higher and is expected to be at 40.5 feet tomorrow...

The National Weather Service is still holding to its prediction of a 43-foot flood crest on the Mississippi River at Cape Girardeau late Friday, even as more rain continued to fall yesterday in parts of northern and central Missouri and Iowa and Illinois...

The Mississippi River reaches a flood stage of 37.4 feet, with a forecast of rising waters until the weekend, when it is expected to crest at 43 feet Friday, 13 feet above flood level. The Cape Girardeau Civic Center is planning a major remodeling project to convert its building solely to an education and youth center; the Civic Center, 232 Broadway, has shared its home since 1987 with the Cape Girardeau Nutrition Center; but last week, the senior center moved into its new home on Clark Avenue, leaving the Civic Center with the building all to itself.. ...

Independence Day. Cape Girardeau celebrates the Fourth of July with a bicentennial concert by the Missouri Symphony Society Pops in the evening in the A.C. Brase Arena, followed by a fireworks display in front of the grandstand; the fifth annual Jackson Jaycees July 4 Picnic is held in Jackson City Park; the picnic includes a Fun Run and 5K Run, mud volleyball, a car show, horseshoe tournament, greased pig contest and fireworks in the evening...

Onlookers gather at the riverfront to watch the arrival of the Mississippi Queen and Delta Queen riverboats at Cape Girardeau in the morning; an estimated 700 passengers arrive on the two boats and tour the area; the high river leaves little room on the wharf for local residents to view the ornate vessels...

Heavy rains that continue to occur in the Upper Mississippi River watershed north of St. Louis have forced the National Weather Service to revise its flood crest at Cape Girardeau for a third time this week; the higher crest here isn't expected to deter the arrival of the Mississippi Queen and Delta Queen steamboats tomorrow as part of the Great Steamboat Race...

Southeast Missouri State University administrative, managerial and executive staff will make just more than $53,000 on average for the 1994 fiscal year, which begins today; among Southeast's 403 faculty members, the average salary totals $41,351. Among items included in a capital improvements budget signed by Gov. ...

To handle an increasing caseload channeled through the U.S. District Court branch in Cape Girardeau, the federal public defender's office in St. Louis recently opened its own office here; heading the office is Assistant Public Defender Jeffrey J. Rosenswank...

High water in the Mississippi River may shorten the distance for the Great Steamboat Race from New Orleans to St. Louis this weekend, but plans for a four-hour stop by the Mississippi Queen and Delta Queen steamboats at Cape Girardeau are still on. Cape Girardeau sales tax receipts for the 1993 fiscal year that ends tomorrow will exceed budget projections and enable the city to compensate for sagging city revenue in 1991-92; comptroller John Richbourg said sales tax revenue this year has increased more than 7 percent over last year's receipts.. ...

A holdup in the distribution of $63 million in federal highway money to the state could delay several road projects in Southeast Missouri; those include some work on the new Mississippi River bridge route at Cape Girardeau, the extension of Nash Road to the Southeast Missouri Port near Scott City, and the Highway 60 widening project...

The Southeast Missourian will become a seven-day-a-week morning newspaper this fall when it begins to publish a regular Saturday edition Oct. 2, announces publisher Wally Lage; during the next few months, a major redesign of the newspaper will take place, including a commitment to publish process color on the front of sections on a daily basis, not just Sundays...

Cape Girardeau city officials are hoping a $1.1 million renovated terminal building at the municipal airport will be a catalyst for increased boardings and, eventually, airline service to additional cities; representatives of Trans World Express, the airport's commercial airline, met with travel agents and city officials Thursday to tour the new terminal facility and discuss the future of the airport...

The Blue Unit of the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus arrived yesterday by train at the Burlington Northern Railroad's South Cape Girardeau yards; the traditional circus parade occurs this morning, with a walk up Broadway and out to the Show Me Center; The Greatest Show on Earth will be in town through Sunday...

The owners of St. Vincent's College in Cape Girardeau have rejected a sales offer by the Colonial Cape Girardeau Foundation, but further negotiations for sale of the historic campus are continuing. Members of the Housing Assistance Task Force met for the first time Wednesday and wasted no time framing the scope of the debate; many task force members said they want the City of Cape Girardeau to provide temporary, emergency shelter for people with no housing and transitional housing to enable low-income tenants to save to buy a home.. ...

At an appearance yesterday in Cape Girardeau, former secretary of defense Dick Cheney assailed President Bill Clinton over economics and national security; Cheney was the featured speaker at a $50-a-plate breakfast at Drury Lodge; the event benefited the Missouri Futures Fund of the Republican Party...