Out of the past 7/28/03

10 years ago: July 28, 1993

Local government and Corps of Engineers officials say they are spending considerable time responding to rumors of impending levee failures and other Mississippi River flood-related problems; despite almost daily assurances that Little River Drainage District's Diversion Channel levee is in good condition, officials with Memphis District of Corps say they continue to get telephone calls and inquires from residents who live south of drainage district levee.

East Cape Girardeau, Ill. -- The 580 residents of this low-lying village are being assured their levee is in good shape, but they are asked to leave their homes voluntarily; request, made during town meeting, follows similar appeals earlier in week to Illinois residents to north in Grand Tower and Gorham.

25 years ago: July 28, 1978

Lt. James A. Crites, member of Cape Girardeau County Sheriff's Department since March, has been appointed chief deputy; Crites, former chief of detectives with Cape Girardeau Police Department, replaces late Zane C. Hulcy.

Cape Girardeau Central High School baseball coach Paul Kitchen has tendered his resignation as coach and teacher; letter was presented to Dr. Arthur H. Turner, superintendent of schools, last week; however, final action on letter won't take place until August meeting of school board; in resigning, Kitchen indicated he would devote his full time to selling real estate and to his own construction company.

50 years ago: July 28, 1953

Damages in Frisco train derailment at Red Rock Saturday are estimated roughly at $100,000; report from office of division superintendent at Chaffee indicates that actual damage may possibly run over estimate; wreck, which took life of National Guard Sgt. Lawrence Johnson of Lilbourn, and injured numerous other Guardsmen, is believed to have been caused by broken rail.

Southeast Missouri truck line owners agree to accept 10 percent increase in general shipping rates allowed last week by Missouri Public Service Commission, but on shipments of 5,000 pounds or less only.

75 years ago: July 28, 1928

Charles L. Harrison has been elected permanent chairman of City Plan Commission; Julien Friant was elected vice president, and Charles G. Wilson was chosen secretary and treasurer of organization.

Representatives of county court and Cape Girardeau Special Road District drive over road from Dutchtown to Whitewater, then to Allenville and back via Dutchtown to see what progress is being made in building of road to Whitewater.

-- Sharon K. Sanders