Out of the past 4/1/10

25 years ago: April 1, 1985

The Mississippi River is on the rise again; heavy rain over the weekend is pushing the river up once more with a predicted crest of 36.5 feet Thursday; that would put the stream 4.5 feet above official flood stage.

During a ceremony at the University Center, Evelyn LeGrand, Cape Girardeau deputy city clerk, swears in 11 Southeast Missouri State University public safety officers as deputy city police officers.

50 years ago: April 1, 1960

Except for sampling by each of the enumerators, the mass count of Cape Girardeau's population for the 1960 census has been delayed until next week; the delay in training caused by early March snow has moved back the date of the count.

Main Street pumping stations are in operation and precautionary measures are being taken to offset a possible rise in the Mississippi River above a currently forecast crest of 37.5 feet on April 10; sandbags in storage since the 1951 flood are to be readied for emergency protection of the riverfront power plant of the Missouri Utilities Co.

75 years ago: April 1, 1935

With necessary materials ordered, construction of a power line for which electric energy will be purchased from the Jackson municipal plant appears certain for Gordonville; the line will extend from Jackson along Highway 25.

Customers of the Lila Drew Dairy are notified that after tomorrow they will no longer be served by the dairy, the business having been sold to Midwest Dairy; I. Ben Miller, owner of Lila Drew farm, has sold his herd of Guernseys; he is being forced out of business because of high operating costs.

100 years ago: April 1, 1910

Mrs. M.E. Weldon, past president of the Illinois Rebekahs, who has been in Cape Girardeau the past several days introducing the new ritualistic work, leaves in the morning for Illmo, where she will hold a lodge of instruction for the members at that place.

The City Medical Society holds a special meeting in the evening to consider the Saint Francis Hospital proposition; the doctors are enthusiastic about the plan to help the Sisters raise money for a new facility.

-- Sharon K. Sanders