Out of the past 8/12/02

10 years ago: Aug. 12, 1993

Broken levee in McBride area in Perry County will be repaired at federal expense, says U.S. Rep. Bill Emerson; Brois Brule levee break along Mississippi River near McBride is now about 1,200 to 1,500 feet in length, according to Emerson, who toured flooded area near Perryville by barge yesterday.

Even if there is no additional and significant rain in river basins to north, forecasters say Mississippi River at Cape Girardeau isn't expected to drop below flood stage until early September; yesterday, river stage at Cape Girardeau was 46.4 feet, down more than half a foot from Tuesday's level.

25 years ago: Aug. 12, 1978

Television drama, "Something for Joey," written and produced by Jerry McNeely, has won for its creator an Emmy nomination from Academy of Television Arts and Science; McNeely, whose home was Cape Girardeau through his school years and graduation from Southeast Missouri State University, is son of Mr. and Mrs. A.H. McNeely and brother of Donald T. McNeely, program director for KFVS-TV.

Despite patchy rain in region Thursday and Friday, area corn and soybean crops may end up low in quality from lack of moisture, says Norman Weiss, executive director of Agriculture Stabilization and Conservation office in Jackson; Weiss says prospects look excellent for bumper crops in both corn and soybeans, but quality depends on rain received in next few weeks.

50 years ago: Aug. 12, 1953

Jefferson City, Mo. -- State Public Service Commission grants Missouri Utilities Co. right to increase Cape Girardeau water rates by about $54,000 a year; decision is made despite opposition of R.P. Smith, Cape Girardeau attorney, who says overall increase of about 35 percent is too much.

New bridge spanning Ramsey Creek, will be built along 24-foot highway between Municipal Airport and Ancell, according to announcement of approval of bids by Missouri Highway Commission; Frank Trager of Chillicothe has low bid of $323,322; project includes 1.5 miles of grading, 24-foot paving and 301-foot bridge; section of road remained unimproved when rest of Highway 61 from Ancell to Highway 55 junction near Morley was widened and resurfaced last summer; stretch is from Cape Girardeau County line to Ancell.

75 years ago: Aug. 12, 1923

Tuesday will be "work day" at Old McKendree Methodist Chapel, 10 miles northwest of Cape Girardeau, it is announced by the Rev. J.C. Montgomery, presiding elder of Cape Girardeau district of Methodist churches; call is to be heeded by every available man in this section who is willing to put on overalls and spend day at chapel, helping to repair and preserve it in memory of establish of Methodism in Midwest; church will be given new roof and grounds will be thoroughly cleaned.

The Rev. J.A. Bertram, pastor of Maple Avenue Methodist Church, delivers sermon at union worship service at Courthouse Park, speaking in evening to crowd of 300 people; male quartet from Maple Avenue church and mixed quartet from Red Star Baptist Church furnishes music for service.

-- Sharon K. Sanders