Out of the past 4/18/02

10 years ago: April 18, 1992

Plan announced last week to eliminate 12 city employee positions will result in forced retirement of one assistant fire chief and demotion of second assistant fire chief to captain; city officials say cuts are necessary to help reduce city's $10 million budget by about $250,000.

Poplar Bluff - Investigators sift through rubble to determine cause of five-alarm fire that destroyed or heavily damaged four businesses and several apartments and threatened entire block in downtown Poplar Bluff last night and early today.

25 years ago: April 18, 1977

Cape Girardeau construction worker is killed in morning when crane falls into Hubble Creek about two miles south of Gordonville, where new bridge is under construction; he is identified as Lloyd Sparks, one of five workers in bed of creek when crane apparently slipped from bed of platform and fell into creek; other four are not injured; operator of crane, Ervin Gosche of Scott City, escapes with minor injuries.

City Attorney Thomas M. Utterback has been offered assistant attorney general's post in Virgin Islands and is said to be giving offer strong consideration.

50 years ago: April 18, 1952

While no changes have been made in original forecast that Mississippi River will crest here at 38 1/2 feet about May 4, Weather Bureau in St. Louis has revised its crests for that area downward by amounts ranging from one to two feet; if water hits predicted high, flood waters will move into Independence-Main street area.

Illmo - Flare of burning natural gas shooting into air Monday night will notify local residents that natural gas is reality in Illmo; sponsored by Tri-City Kiwanis Club, program has been arranged to mark occasion; mayors of Illmo, Fornfelt and Ancell, Missouri Utilities Co. officials, local appliance dealers and others will attend ceremony in vicinity of Peck's Cafe.

75 years ago: April 18, 1927

After cresting at 39 feet in Cape Girardeau yesterday, Mississippi River stands at 38.8 feet in morning; battle to hold back floodwaters continues throughout district; near Dorena, water pours through rapidly widening levee breach, flooding 200,000-acre alluvial lowlands and bringing terror to district; at McClure, Ill., levee broke last night, flooding large area and threatening homes in that and other Illinois towns.

Refugees from inundated sections in vicinity of East Cape Girardeau, McClure, and Reynoldsville, Ill., are to be moved to Cape Girardeau this afternoon and will be cared for here until water subsides; it is planned to convert entire Elks Building on Themis street into temporary home for refugees; bedding and cots will be needed.

- Sharon K. Sanders