SEMO Port Authority historical photos

Published April 29, 1990. Port commissioner Mysie Keene christened the Southeast Missouri Regional Port Authority with a bottle of champaign on April 28, 1990, as C.B. Taylor, a former port commissioner, held an umbrella for her next to port commissioner Charles F. Blattner. (Fred Lynch ~ Southeast Missourian archive)

Published Jan. 20, 1988. U.S. Sen. John Danforth was in Scott City to talk with commissioners of the Southeast Missouri Regional Port Authority. Danforth visited the riverport site with commissioners and Army Corps of Engineers representatives. From left are Bill Busch, Army Corps of Engineers; John Huetsch, executive assistant to the colonel of the corps' St. Louis District; C.W. Rushing, chairman of the port authority board; Danforth, and Lammert Buchhold, corps construction chief. (Mark Sterkel ~ Southeast Missourian archive)

Published Dec. 7, 1987. Construction of the Southeast Missouri Regional Port Authority's port, near Gray's Point, was progressing ahead of schedule because of good weather, according to the Corps of Engineers. The dredge Elco, upper right, dredged the upstream approach to the harbor channel, which was filled with water due to a rise in the river. The dredge was expected to begin dredging the sag channel later in the week. (Southeast Missourian archive)

Published April 26, 1990 The Southeast Missouri Regional Port Authority's 350-foot long public dock is located in the middle of the 1,800-foot slackwater harbor. The harbor is the heart of the developing, $12 million facility that was dedicated April 28, 1990. This aerial view is looking to the south down the river. The public was encouraged to attend the dedication ceremonies. (Southeast Missourian archive)

Published April 29, 1990. People walked toward the "Mississippi" for the dedication ceremony of the Southeast Missouri Regional Port Authority on April 28, 1990. (Southeast Missourian archive)

Published April 29, 1990. The public dock was shown as the vessel entered the harbor on the day the Southeast Missouri Regional Port Authority was dedicated. About 120 attended the rain-delayed ceremony on April 28, 1990. (Southeast Missourian archive)

Published April 29, 1990. U.S. Rep Bill Emerson spoke at the dedication ceremony of the Southeast Missouri Regional Port Authority on April 28, 1990. Listening was river commissioner R.D. James. (Southeast Missourian archive)

U.S. Senator Christopher S. "Kit" Bond speaks to about 120 people aboard the Corps of Engineers vessel "Mississippi" Saturday, April 28, 1990 during dedication ceremonies at the Southeast Missouri Regional Port Authority. At left is Cape County Commissioner Leonard Sander. (Fred Lynch ~ Southeast Missourian archive)

U.S. Senator Christopher S. "Kit" Bond speaks to about 120 people aboard the Corps of Engineers vessel "Mississippi" Saturday, April 28, 1990 during dedication ceremonies at the Southeast Missouri Regional Port Authority. Behind Bond include, from left, C.W. Rushing, U.S. Rep. Bill Emerson, river commissioner R.D. James and Cape County Commissioner Leonard Sander. (Fred Lynch ~ Southeast Missourian archive)

The Corps of Engineers vessel "Mississippi" enters the harbor of the Southeast Missouri Regional Port Authority as a string of balloons is cut by Congressman Bill Emerson from aboard the boat. (Southeast Missourian archive)