POWER OUTAGE CAUSES WOES IN DOWNTOWN

A 35-minute power outage Monday in the Themis-Middle Street area of downtown Cape Girardeau created some security problems for a couple of businesses.

When the power was turned off, the Federal Building doors "locked," said Roger McMullin, building superintendent.

"We placed security personnel at all doors to let people in and out," he said. He was notified before the power was turned off by AmerenUE, for repair to a power cord damaged by lightning.

The power was off from 8:35 a.m. to 9:10 a.m.

The Southeast Missourian newspaper also reported problems with its new security system.

The downtown outage was limited to a very small area, said Doug Groesbeck of AmerenUE.

Another power outage, about 9:15 a.m., involved 98 customers for up to 30 minutes following a quarry blast in the Bloomfield Road and Highway 74 area.