Week of Dec. 12-18

Dec. 15, 1914

EXTREMELY COLD WEATHER AND SNOW FOR REAL WINTER

THERMOMETER WENT DOWN TO 14 BELOW MONDAY MORNING

Did you know it was somewhat cold Monday morning?

Prof. Magill of the Normal school said Monday morning between 4 and 5 a.m. the mercury went down to 14 degrees below zero.

It is the coldest weather the Cape has had for two years. On Jan. 7, 1912, it was 15 below zero. A week later, on Jan. 13, it was 16 below.

The cold is tough on the poor people of the community. A score of families suffered dreadfully from the cold last night, although the Provident Association had provided many with coal and food necessities.

Many families are equpped with only cook stoves...

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Dec. 17, 1994

Bekki Cook named secretary of state

The Cape Girardeau lawyer and political outsider becomes only the fourth woman to hold statewide office.

By Jim Grebing ~ Southeast Missourian

JEFFERSON CITY -- The question being asked Friday morning in Jefferson City was: "Who's Bekki Cook?"

Gov. Mel Carnahan appointed the 44-year-old Cape Girardeau lawyer and political outsider to replace ousted Secretary of State Judith Moriarty.

Her appointment was a surprise to pundits. It also was a surprise to Cook, who Carnahan contacted Tuesday morning about the job.

Seventy-two hours later, Cook stood at center stage in the House Information Center before a packed auditorium...

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Dec. 13, 2003

BILL EMERSON MEMORIAL BRIDGE

Crossing into new era on Emerson Bridge

Missouri Department of Transportation workers placed crossover steps on the Bill Emerson Memorial Bridge on Friday for today's dedication of the bridge.

By Sam Blackwell ~ Southeast Missourian

Many gaps had to be leapt to build the Bill Emerson Memorial Bridge: 4,000 feet across the Mississippi River, Illinois' initial reluctance to join in the project, different political allegiances on each side of the river, and technical problems with the bedrock that stopped construction for a time. When dedicated today, the $100 million bridge will symbolize the regions join in the project, different political allegiances on each side of the river, and technical problems with the bedrock that stopped construction for a time...