AREA CONTINUES GROWTH INTO THE NEW MILLENNIUM

The final decades of the century brought continued growth to the region, with a series of reminders about Mother Nature's power.

Businesses, roads, sewers and a variety of community buildings are testament to decades of planning and work that preceded the 1980s and 1990s, explained J. Ronald Fischer. Fischer is a former business owner, Cape Girardeau County Commissioner and served as Cape Girardeau city manager.

"What you see is very good, steady, orderly growth," Fischer said. "That only comes about with good planning and cooperation."

The decades began with the Nov. 5, 1980, election when Bill Emerson unseated 12-year incumbent Bill Burlison in a race for Congress. He was the first Republican to win election to the seat since 1928.

His message of bipartisan work for farmers and business people generated support in staunchly Democratic counties as well as Republican strongholds throughout the 8th District.

Emerson represented Southeast Missouri until his death June 22, 1996, due to lung cancer. The Emerson legacy continues as his wife, Jo Ann, successfully won election to his seat in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Emerson's death came on the heels of another death, Rush H. Limbaugh Sr., who died April 8, 1996, marking the end of an era.

Rush Hudson Limbaugh was one of Cape Girardeau's favorite sons and the nation's oldest practicing lawyer when he died at age 104.

In addition to his own career, Limbaugh passed on a legacy of the law as sons and grandsons followed in his footsteps. And his skill in oration was passed to the grandson of radio fame who shares his name.

Known as an outstanding lawyer and orator, Limbaugh's words marked the news events of the day. He was highly sought after as a speaker and always found the words to punctuate an occasion.

Amid heavy balloting, Cape Girardeau voters approved a multipurpose building on April 6, 1983. Now called the Show Me Center, the building caused plenty of controversy before construction was completed. The controversy concerned the site of the building -- near the campus or near the interstate highway.

"There were different groups who were all concerned about the community and what was best for the community," Fischer recalled. "Their ideas were just different."

In the end, Fischer said, the building has been good for the community. "Yes it had a rocky start, but look at the contribution it has brought to our community."

On Aug. 13, 1987, workers began clearing land for the Southeast Missouri Port Authority, an idea that was some 20 years in the making. "It was really Woody Rushing's idea," Fischer said.

Cape Girardeau and Scott counties cooperated to place sales tax measures on the ballot in both counties. Voters said yes to the money to develop the port.

"There hasn't been much down there to show up until the last 10 years," Fischer said. "But it's one of those things that takes time to get put together, like a subdivision development, very much similar to a subdivision development. Today, the port stands on its own."

Planning got a boost in Cape Girardeau on April 22, 1987, when Vision 2000 was announced. The plan called for an all-out planning process to improve the city before the end of the century.

Vision 2000 celebrated its success with the formation of the new Vision 2020, taking the planning process into the next century.

The decade of the 1990s was one of change for the banking industry. Savings and Loans were declared insolvent and federal regulators took over at the beginning of the decade. Toward the end of the decade mergers became the name of the banking game.

Up and down again for gambling in 1993. Voters rejected riverboat gambling on June 9, 1993. Then, thanks to a massive voter turnout, riverboat gambling was approved on Nov. 2, 1993.

On March 7, 1994, the city endorsed Boyd Gaming's riverfront gambling proposal. However, on Jan. 23, 1997, Boyd announced it would close its Cape Girardeau office.

December 3, 1990, came and went without the predicted earthquake; however, the attention generated by Iben Browning's prediction served as a catalyst for emergency preparedness.

The push to take action had been spurred by flash flooding along Cape LaCroix and Walker creeks in 1986.

The city joined with the U.S. Corps of Engineers to improve the creek channels in hopes of preventing another flash flood.

In 1993 the Mississippi River reclaimed a portion of Cape Girardeau with record flooding that garnered national attention.

The river crested at 48.49 feet on Aug. 8, 1993, having been on the rise all summer.

The result was a massive federal buyout of flooded homes.

The Mississippi River advanced on the city again in 1995, with a crest of 46.7 feet.

But the impact wasn't nearly as significant, and the homes weren't there.

The city has joined a federal initiative called Project Impact to make Cape Girardeau a disaster resistant community as it heads into the next century.