Out of the past 7/27/03

10 years ago: July 27, 1993

Failure of Perry County levee south of McBride, Mo., early Sunday morning was disaster for residents who live in that area, but it has proved to be blessing to workers preparing to raise sandbag levee protecting Dutchtown; on Sunday, National Weather Service predicted new flood crest of 48.5 feet at Cape Girardeau, one week from today; breach in Perry County levee caused 1.6 foot drop in river at Cape Girardeau yesterday.

Gorham, Ill. -- Residents of this town of 400 are being urged by Mayor Ron Ford and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers spokesmen to evacuate their homes and move to higher ground; officials are worried Degognia-Fountain Bluff levee can't hold.

25 years ago: July 27, 1978

Only thing missing from last night's storm was rain; according to Federal Flight Service at Municipal Airport, only .25 inches of rain fell Wednesday night against high winds and lightning; flash flood, thunderstorm and tornado watches were issued for most of Southeast Missouri and Southern Illinois, but rain never really came.

For almost two hours firefighters work to free young Cape Girardeau man whose left hand is caught in printing press where he is employed; Thomas Sawyer, 19, loses three fingers as result of accident at S & S Printing Co.; he was cleaning rollers of moving printing press when his hand became caught.

50 years ago: July 27, 1953

Acting to bolster shrinking general revenue fund -- source of money for most municipal operations -- city council lops two cents off Public Library fund and another penny from Municipal Band fund and transfers three-cent total to operating account; this will bring levee for general revenue fund up from 77 cents, where it has been for several years, to 80 cents and is calculated to add in excess of $6,000 to general fund.

Cape Girardeau County is among 40 Missouri counties which have been designated as disaster areas by President Eisenhower and are eligible for federal aid under drought relief program; other area Missouri counties include Bollinger, Butler, Dunklin, Mississippi, New Madrid, Pemiscot, Perry, St. Francois, Ste. Genevieve, Scott, Stoddard and Wayne.

75 years ago: July 27, 1928

Fire of undetermined origin sweeps two-story unoccupied residence at 211 Pearl on city's north side, causing damage in excess of $500; house, which has been vacant for several months, is owned by Mrs. Ida Ponder, who is residing in Detroit, Mich.

Officers of Cape Girardeau Bridge Co., evidently will have no trouble finding toll keepers for bridge; over 450 applications have been received for job and more come in every day; whole matter probably won't be settled until few days before bridge opening on Sept. 3, when three or four men will be hired.

-- Sharon K. Sanders