Out of the past 7/11/03

10 years ago: July 11, 1993

Relentless floodwaters of rain-swollen Mississippi River continue to take toll in Southeast Missouri from Ste. Genevieve to Commerce; forecasts call for record crest at Cape Girardeau of 47 feet on July 20; yesterday's stage was 42.7 feet; U.S. Sen. Christopher Bond visited flood-threatened Dutchtown area Saturday, where high water from river-connected Diversion Channel has flooded acres of farm land and is approaching homes.

The Rev. Craig Lee Molitoris is guest preacher at Trinity Lutheran Church; his theme at Sunday worship services is "Paul: Martyr-Maker Turned Missionary!"; Molitoris, native of New York, grew up in St. Louis; he is associate director of Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod Center for Chinese Ministries in Hong Kong.

25 years ago: July 11, 1978

Architectural plans have been drawn for renovating first floor of Common Pleas Courthouse for use by courts and Cape Girardeau County prosecutor's office; cost is estimated to be $28,565; included in plans is location of county law library in space where county collector and assessor are now located.

Five constitutional amendments, including one which calls for three-cent increase in state motor vehicle fuel tax, will be decided upon in Aug. 8 primary election; Constitutional Amendment No. 5 proposes that fuel tax be increased from seven to 10 cents per gallon, and that counties' share of proceeds be increased from 5 to 15 percent.

50 years ago: July 11, 1953

Marble Hill, Mo. -- Two Lutesville, Mo., teenagers are building house in Marble Hill for their widowed mother and themselves; doing all work themselves, they expect to move into it in middle of month; lads are Albert Burrows, 14, and George Burrows, 16, sons of Minnie Mae Burrows; their former home was destroyed by fire in December 1950.

Strike that went into effect yesterday has stopped construction on new Cape Girardeau Catholic High School; Al Trapf, business manager of A.F. of L. Building and Trades Local 282, says workers were pulled off job because no contract agreement has been reached with Alman Construction Co. of East St. Louis, general contractors for job.

75 years ago: July 11, 1928

George H. Meyer, former county collector, who filed his candidacy for county assessor, has withdrawn from race; Meyer has bought interest in Golden Grain Butter Co. and will devote his entire attention to it; rapid development in dairying in Cape Girardeau County has boomed cream business to such extent that Cape Girardeau creamery has had to expand its business, and he bought an interest for this reason.

Contract for construction of new building on Broadway, adjoining office building to be erected by Cape Girardeau Bell Telephone Co., is awarded to Adam Halter, Girardeau contractor, according to Reither and Lindsay, local architects.

-- Sharon K. Sanders