1993 WAS YEAR OF DISASTER, DEBATE AND DEVELOPMENT

Record flooding, school finance, riverboat gambling, and bank fraud topped Cape Girardeau headlines in 1993. It was a year of disaster, debate and development.

The river began edging higher and higher as early as March. But it wasn't until late June, with continued rain northward, that the impending disaster became clear. Flood forecasts were continually revised upward during July. A countywide curfew was instituted July 11, after forecasters called for a record crest of 47 feet. By then, several houses in Commerce and Dutchtown could only be reached by boat. Ste. Genevieve -- without a floodwall -- became a city under siege. The Bois Bule levee broke July 26 -- flooding McBride and several major Perry County businesses, including Sabreliner and Gilster-Mary Lee. But just as remarkable as the disaster itself, was the outpouring of assistance. Volunteers came from across the state and nation to lend a hand.

Cape Girardeau voters spent considerable time at the polls in 1993.

In early June, Cape Girardeau residents first rejected riverboat gambling by a 53 to 47 percent margin. But proponents wasted no time. Two days later, they launched a grassroots effort to bring back the vote. Their efforts paid off. In November, the gambling measure won by 425 votes. The Cape Girardeau City Council has solicited gaming proposals with a Jan. 15 deadline. But as Cape Girardeau voters embraced this tourism bonanza, not so in neighboring Scott County. Casino Magic's plan to bring gambling to the Southeast Missouri Regional Port Authority was turned down by voters the same day as Cape's vote.

A similar split occurred with Cape Girardeau and Jackson schools. In April, Cape Girardeau voters rejected a $25 million bond issue for a new middle school and elementary school. A scaled-back version narrowly failed in October. But Jackson voters approved a $5 million middle school plan in April to ease crowding, and construction is now under way. Jackson also welcomed its first new mayor in 22 years -- former Ward 1 Alderman Paul Sander -- during an April ballot.

In August, Cape Girardeau voters also overwhelmingly endorsed a measure that will enable the city to move from at large to ward city council elections in April. Al Spradling and Melvin Gateley will square off for mayor, and a number of candidates filed in the various wards.

The past year was also painful in terms of crime. At least two major murder cases saw a kind of resolution. But as new violence erupted in our city, we were reminded that rural Southeast Missouri is not insulated from "big city crime."

In November, Cape Girardeau resident Gary Lee Roll, 41, was sentenced to death for the brutal murders of Randy, Curtis and Sherry Scheper last year. The Columbia judge said circumstances of the case made the sentence "inescapable." Two co-defendants were also convicted in the deaths.

In July, Michael Davis, 21, of Cape Girardeau was sentenced to life in prison without possibility of parole for the stabbing of his sister-in-law Traci Davis of Scott City.

In August, 16-year-old John Wes Selvy was arrested in the shooting death of his 15-year-old girlfriend, Shekelia Johnson. Selvy had been cleared in the death of his 24-year-old cousin in May.

A former Cape Girardeau residents -- Joshua Keezer -- was also charged in April with the death of Southeast Missouri State student Angela Mischelle Lawless of Benton. She was slain Nov. 8, 1992 on the I-55 exit ramp to Benton.

In February, a 53-count indictment was handed down, linking four people with fraud and conspiracy at the Cape Girardeau-based First Exchange Bank. But before their arrest, Don and Patricia Chilton were found dead in California from self-inflicted gunshot wounds. The indictments detailed a series of phony loans to cover bad debts and divert bank assets for personal gain. The potential losses to the bank topped $14 million. Bill Chilton and Andrew Crawford were also indicted. Chilton will be sentenced next week; Crawford was sentenced to 27 months in prison for mail wire fraud.

It was also a year for new faces.

Cape Girardeau welcomed a new fire chief, Robert Ridgeway. Dan Overby was named Southeast Missouri Regional Port Authority director, and Mitch Robinson was selected as executive director of the newly formed Cape Girardeau Area Industrial Recruitment Association. John Mehner became the new leader of the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce, and Randy Holdman assumed duties as airport manager. Doug Leslie was named assistant city manager. Southeast Missouri State University welcomed a new provost, Charles Kupchella, and two new faces on its board of regents -- Don Dickerson and Pat Washington. John Grimm was sworn in as our newest circuit court judge.

It was also a year for controversy.

After 12 years as fee agents of the Cape Girardeau and Jackson license bureaus, the two city chambers lost out. Gov. Mel Carnahan named the Southeast Missouri State Foundation as new fee agents, with Norma Wildman as the manager. The action stirred much ill will.

For the second time in two years, the council is considering a hike intrash fees. That debate follows the council into the new year. Other heated debates that will spill into the new year include minimum property maintenance codes and public housing.

The past year was one of growth for the city of Cape Girardeau as well. The city welcomed many new businesses, and voters approved the annexation of Twin Lakes in August. A new $1.3 million terminal building at the municipal airport was dedicated in October.

Cape Girardeau wrapped up its bicentennial celebration, and mapped out future expansions and growth. Enhanced 911 went on line in November without a hitch.

The past year was one of change and calamity. But through it all, we pulled together as a community and became stronger. That unity should help us face the challenges of 1994.