Out of the past 8/22/03

10 years ago: Aug. 22, 1993

For first time since it was closed in early July, Mississippi River is opened for limited commercial use between St. Louis and Cairo, Ill., but on highly restricted basis; U.S. Coast Guard officials in St. Louis and Paducah, Ky., reopen river after running five groups of barges -- four downstream and one upstream -- to test waters of still swollen river.

Altenburg -- The Rev. Charles Weber is ordained and installed as new pastor of Immanuel Lutheran Church at Altenburg; preacher for afternoon ceremony is the Rev. Willard Stark of Bethany, Okla., cousin of Weber; official ordainer/installer is the Rev. David Dissen, pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church in Cape Girardeau and first vice president of Missouri District of Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod.

25 years ago: Aug. 22, 1978

Cairo, Ill. -- Cairo teachers' strike delays start of school by few hours, time enough for teachers to ratify contract agreement reached early in morning; while details of contract aren't available, it is reported that it doesn't specifically include recognition of Cairo Association of Teachers as sole bargaining agent of teachers.

Strike at Superior Electric Co. begins its second week with unofficial reports from union members that contract negotiations are to resume tomorrow; International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers rejected new contract Aug. 14 by vote of 279 to 168.

50 years ago: Aug. 22, 1953

Bus service to Illmo, Fornfelt and Ancell from Cape Girardeau will be resumed about Sept. 10, if Missouri Service Commission approves application submitted by B.H. Bremermann, president of Missouri Motor Coaches, formerly Cape-Illmo Bus Line.

State Highway Patrol Trooper Jack Little, son of Patrol Sgt. and Mrs. Percy R. Little of Cape Girardeau, has been transferred to Perryville effective about Sept. 15; Little has been with Patrol at Dexter for a year.

75 years ago: Aug. 22, 1928

Thousands of people, perched on tops of box cars, standing on nearby streets, or gathered in industrial district nearby, were attracted to spectacular fire at Leming Lumber Co. mill in South Cape Girardeau last night; equipment destroyed included main mill of company, filling room which housed extra equipment always kept in readiness for emergency use and machine shop; damage is estimated at $40,000.

Laying of concrete slab on roadway of new traffic bridge across Mississippi River is completed at 1:50 p.m.; Dan Munro of Kansas City, contractor for work, has used large force of men in effort to have slab completed in time for dedication of bridge, Sept. 3.

-- Sharon K. Sanders