Out of the past 7/14/03

10 years ago: July 14, 1993

City and county officials say Cape Girardeau's water supply remains safe, despite fact that flood has greatly increased amount of raw sewage being dumped into Mississippi River.

National Guard has been called out to assist beleaguered town of Commerce as surging river Tuesday threatened to cut off lone remaining road into Scott County community; on hopeful note, National Weather Service has revised its flood crest forecast for Cape Girardeau, lowering it from 47 feet to 45 feet on Tuesday.

Cape Girardeau City Council has resolved its long-standing dispute concerning handling of court cases over which Municipal Judge Edward Calvin presides.

25 years ago: July 14, 1978

One of three members of Jackson Board of Education who voted to demote high school principal James R. Nelson has resigned because of allegations of nepotism brought against him during discussion of the issue; in letter to board president Bertha Hoffmeister, John Crites said he was resigning because he doesn't want to "blemish" the board.

Five bids are opened for air structure enclosure of proposed city-school swimming pool project at Board of Education office; of those, Dr. Arthur H. Turner, superintendent of schools, says two look very competitive; this is second round of bidding for air structure.

50 years ago: July 14, 1953

Cape Girardeau voters reaffirm their support of commission form of government by defeating, for third time, proposal to adopt city manager plan of municipal operation; vote is 1,996 in favor of city manager and 2,788 opposed, with 100 absentee ballots yet to be counted; while issue fails to pass, it gains considerably more votes than in either of two previous elections.

City has received its semi-annual check from Missouri Utilities Co. based on its 2 1/2 percent gross revenue tax; July installment amounted to $16,422.72; in January utilities company paid city $14,571.72 in gross receipt taxes, bringing 1953 total of payments from company to $30,994.44.

75 years ago: July 14, 1928

Cape Girardeau Municipal Band will leave early Monday morning for dedication of Sam A. Baker State Park near Patterson in Wayne County; local musicians will help to make up large delegation which will go from here and which is sponsored by Chamber of Commerce.

Cape Girardeau has two new doctors; Dr. W.G. Siemers, dentist, formerly of East Prairie, and Dr. H.V. Ashley, physician, formerly of Illmo, have leased suite of offices on second floor of Neal's Hardware building.

-- Sharon K. Sanders