Out of the past 7/18/03

10 years ago: July 18, 1993

The Rev. Earl E. Weis of Fairfield Bay, Ark., is guest preacher at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Jackson, as part of church's 100th anniversary celebration; topic of his sermon is "Faithfulness and Its Final Reward"; Weis was pastor of St. Paul from 1978-86.

Floodwaters of Mississippi River penetrate Union Electric switching station south of Cape Girardeau in morning, causing two-hour power outage that affects estimated 42,000 customers in Cape Girardeau, Scott City, Kelso and Chaffee; water enters switching station across from Viaduct substation at 9 a.m., causing low voltage control center to short circuit.

25 years ago: July 18, 1978

Mississippi River isn't being too cooperative for planned riverfront concert by American Wind Symphony later this week; high river stage will likely force change of location for free concert Friday night; appearance of Point Counterpoint II, barge housing small theater and displaying various art forms, is sponsored by Southeast Missouri Council on the Arts.

Preliminary work on South Kingshighway-Bloomfield road traffic signal project has begun after lengthy delay caused by wet weather; Girardeau Contractors, Inc., has done some grading and removed culvert at site in preparation for installation of signals.

50 years ago: July 18, 1953

Fourteen-inch water main has been laid from Kingshighway intersection with Independence to top of hill on Gordonville Road, completing first unit of Missouri Utilities Co.'s west end expansion program; line will tie in with new 2,000,000-gallon reservoir which will overlook city from hilltop.

Accelerating in June to its greatest pitch in 10 months, construction work in Cape Girardeau for first half of 1953 neared three-quarter million mark in dollar value, survey of permit records on file at office of city engineer shows; declared total of permits issued in six-month period was $709,950.

75 years ago: July 18, 1928

Two-story brick building, to have frontage of 57 feet on Main street, will be built in Cape Girardeau by J.C. Penney Co., it is announced by J.B. Carpenter, manager of local store; building, to house retail store of Penney company, will be erected on site at 5, 7 and 9 N. Main, formerly occupied by I. Ben Miller drug store and confectionery, and will replace present one-story structure.

City council is seriously considering purchase and installation of number of automobile "stop and go" signs at important intersections in Cape Girardeau; with this in mind, number of companies manufacturing the devices have been asked to submit prices.

-- Sharon K. Sanders