SCHOOLS HOPE FOR COOL

As the 100-degree dog days of summer linger into the starting dates of area schools, superintendents are panting for cooler days.

Cape Girardeau Public Schools Superintendent Neyland Clark said a few cool days and rain would be welcome before classes start Aug. 28. The days have been so hot for so long that district buildings don't have a chance to cool off in the overnight hours, Clark said.

"Our problem now is that the substructures are even hot."

The building staffs typically would open windows in the morning and let some of the heat escape. But the mornings have been so hot lately that the buildings aren't getting a respite from the heat, he said, noting that even the bottom floors of buildings are hot.

Most of the classrooms in the Cape Girardeau Public Schools aren't air-conditioned. Only two buildings have air conditioning throughout most of their structures: Franklin and Clippard elementary schools. The rest are at the sun's mercy in warm weather.

"We're hoping the weather might break by the time school starts," Clark said. "Since we're in Missouri, that might happen."

The decision to send students home early would be made after consulting principals, a nurse and board member Dr. C. John Ritter. "There are some hot spots we really need to watch," Ritter said. "The hottest is probably the third floor of Schultz."

Jackson Superintendent Howard Jones shares Clark's optimism, hoping the weather breaks by Wednesday when classes start in his district. But Jackson might be able to avoid dismissing classes early anyway.

"Most of the buildings have air conditioning," Jones said. "And for some of the classrooms that don't, we might be able to move them into the cafeteria or library where we have air conditioning."

While superintendents look ahead to next week, others are trying to keep up the second straight day of 100-degree heat.

Friday's high of 100 tied a record set in 1988, according to the National Weather Service.

Union Electric officials said the heat has kept them busy. Because of the temperature and increased use of appliances, mainly air conditioners, crews have scrambled successfully to keep service constant in most areas.

A power outage affected about 10,000 Union Electric customers for up to four hours Thursday afternoon as temperatures soared to 100.

Scott Blankenship, supervisor of the UE office in Dexter, said a high line circuit failed in a substation transmission line, causing the outage.

All of Dexter was affected, a portion of Poplar Bluff and a number of small communities and rural customers in Stoddard and Butler counties.

No other power outages were reported Friday in Southeast Missouri, according to UE.

In addition, the hot dry spell has dried things out, raising the fire risk, a spokesman for the Cape Girardeau Fire Department said.

The Salvation Army is loaning fans to anyone who needs them. So far, only four people have taken advantage of the fan program, a spokeswoman said.

The National Weather Service continues to sing the same song: hot and humid with a chance of afternoon thunderstorms for the next several days.

The Associated Press contributed information to this story.