Out of the past 1/27/03

10 years ago: Jan. 27, 1993

Workers are dismantling 180-foot storage building near Kingshighway and Independence Street, which city of Cape Girardeau purchased from Wolohan Lumber; J.W. Strack Construction will reassemble 168 feet of building near city's public works building on North Kingshighway, where it will be used as open garage for waste disposal trucks.

Elizabeth Link, director of Riverside Regional Library, says it's too early to know if extended operating hours at library's main center in Jackson have attracted more patrons; last month library board of trustees voted to extend operating hours of library for 90-day trial period beginning this month.

25 years ago: Jan. 27, 1978

Heavy ice floes on Mississippi River, combined with low river stages, are creating serious problem for barge traffic between Cairo, Ill., and St. Louis, according to Army Corps of Engineers; river isn't completely blocked, but traffic is moving slowly; Cairo office of Corps reports that Mississippi River at Cairo bridge is about 95 percent ice covered, and that problem is worse midway between Cape Girardeau and Cairo.

Snow has been on ground in this area 13 days; and while it's still cold here, situation is back to near normal after area was clobbered with double dose of blowing snow and ice Wednesday night; seven inches of snow remain on ground in Cape Girardeau; overnight low at Municipal Airport was 2 above zero and temperature by 9 a.m. is 7 degrees.

50 years ago: Jan. 27, 1953

Formal contract with Dixie Contractors for grading of new high school tract is signed and other business transcribed at breakfast meeting of board of education; contract had to be signed with 10 days after opening of bids, and some members had to be out of town or otherwise couldn't be present at any other time.

Yesterday 100 pupils were absent from Grade School in Jackson because of illness, this being largest number to be absent so far in present siege of flu and chickenpox, Principal Robert Brooks reports; there are also four cases of scarlet fever in lower grades.

75 years ago: Jan. 27, 1928

Ordinance providing for construction of combination sanitary and storm water sewer in sewer district No. 2, on city's north side, has been referred to City Counselor Rush H. Limbaugh, following objection from property holders presented at meeting of city council yesterday.

Klages heirs were awarded $3,700 by jury in circuit court in Jackson late yesterday for their land taken as right of way for Highway 61 in vicinity of Cape Girardeau; appraisers had previously awarded them about $2,500, but heirs appealed, asking $12,000.

-- Sharon K. Sanders