Out of the past 7/19/03

10 years ago: July 19, 1993

Foster home program for pets has greatly reduced stress and trauma area's domesticated animals are undergoing because of flood of 1993, say animal welfare and animal control officials; organized by Cape Girardeau County Humane Society, foster home program matches stranded pets with volunteers willing to give them home until their owners again have permanent housing.

McClure, Ill. -- Residents traveling north or south of McClure on Route 3 are finding going slow; travelers going from Cape Girardeau to Chester, Ill., should add another half-hour and about 20 miles to their trip; floodwaters of Mississippi are playing havoc with road conditions in Southern Illinois, creating many impassable roads and bridges.

25 years ago: July 19, 1978

Announcement is made by board of directors of Cape Girardeau Doctors Park Inc., that Ronald G. Wittmer, who has been assistant administrator of Boone County Hospital in Columbia, Mo., has been selected as director of medical complex here; he replaces David T. Berry, who had held position since 1971 and who has become affiliated with Mid-America Shared Services.

Apparent low bidder for construction work on new auto body shop for Cape Girardeau School District is Rickard Construction Co.; Rickard submits bid of $115,679, which includes general construction work and alternate which includes extending corridor to improve traffic flow.

50 years ago: July 19, 1953

Church of God's building fund is well under way and construction was to have been started by this date, according to pastor, the Rev. J.L. Rogers; however, rumors of levee to be built near site of new building slowed church's plans, as building would be left in too deep a depression if levee is built; church is located at 1000 Bend Road.

Judge Adolph G. Schmidt of Altenburg, former probate judge of Perry County, dies at Cape Girardeau hospital at age 85; Schmidt was born Aug. 30, 1867, at Altenburg, son of Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Schmidt; in addition to his service as probate judge, he was also retired blacksmith.

75 years ago: July 19, 1928

Tentative plans for new building to be erected by Cape Girardeau Bell Telephone Co., at northwest corner of Broadway and Ellis, were approved by board of directors at meeting in St. Louis yesterday; building will be two-stories, with frontage of 60 feet on Broadway and depth of 94 1/2 feet on Ellis; type of materials to be used hasn't been decided, but bids will be submitted for at least three different types, including brick and stone.

Construction work on overhead crossing over Frisco Railroad south of Cape Girardeau on Highway 61 will begin Monday under direction of Linus Penzel, Jackson contractor, who will begin driving of piling on which crossing bridge will be placed; preparations are being made to start grading leading up to both sides of bridge.

-- Sharon K. Sanders