MORE THAN 1,000 UE CUSTOMERS LOSE POWER

Lightning struck a Union Electric substation early Monday disrupting electrical service for about two and one-half hours to about 1,175 UE customers in the southwest part of Cape Girardeau.

UE spokesman A.D. Cox said the lightning bolt struck the Union Electric LaFerth substation near the intersection of Southern Expressway and South Kingshighway at about 4:40 a.m.

"The strike damaged some insulators and lightning arrestors and took out three of the 12,000-volt distribution circuits that feed from the substation," said Cox.

"The outage affected Union Electric customers along Southern Expressway east of the substation and northward along both sides of South Kingshighway to approximately William Street and the Pioneer Mobile Home Court on Silver Springs Road," he explained.

Cox said power was restored after UE workers replaced the damaged insulators.