Out of the past 9/29/03

10 years ago: Sept. 29, 1993

For some Girardeans whose property was damaged by this summer's floods, another rise in Mississippi this week has thwarted any attempt to return to water-logged homes; National Weather Service in St. Louis yesterday revised its river forecast upward, projecting 42-foot crest at Cape Girardeau tomorrow.

East Cape Girardeau, Ill. - For motorists weary of sitting in long lines awaiting passage on Illinois Route 146, Illinois Department of Transportation has good news; department's elevation of Route 146 by dumping more than 19,000 tons of rock on road surface will be completed by tomorrow morning, when both lanes of traffic will reopen.

25 years ago: Sept. 29, 1978

The Most Rev. Bernard F. Law, bishop of Springfield-Cape Girardeau Diocese attends Memorial Mass in Rome for Pope John Paul I, who died yesterday; bishop had traveled to Rome to present five-year report of diocese to pope; he has been in Rome since day before coronation of late pope in August.

Grain elevator operating shipping by rail are beginning to feel bite from four-day railroad strike in Missouri; most grain operators in Southeast Missouri, however, say business is pretty much as usual; majority of Missouri grain elevator operators rely on river for transportation of their goods.

50 years ago: Sept. 29, 1953

Board of directors of Chamber of Commerce has approved contract with Earl J. Smith and Associates, fund-raising coporation of Detroit, Mich.; firm will conduct campaign for money to purchase industrial site - the Nothdurft plant, west of Highway 61, north of Independence and East of Arena Park, near end of Missouri Pacific Railroad line.

Randolph Bohnert, farmer of north Oak Ridge, has been named temporary postmaster for six months at Oak Ridge and has taken over duties of post office; he succeeds Vest Smith, who asked to be retired after 35 years serving as Oak Ridge postmaster; post office is in Carron grocery store, and some remodeling will be done immediately.

75 years ago: Sept. 29, 1928

Body of man identified as Coy Underwood, 29, of Thebes, Ill., is found alongside curbing on south side of Mason street; body is lying just east of residence of Mr. and Mrs. Guy Smead, 206 Mason; examination by coroner shows that man's neck is broken, right eye blackened by bruise, and small red wounds appear on right side of forehead.

Bridge company officials are surprised at number of pedestrians who use bridge daily; already several Illinois young people walk over it daily to attend school in Cape Girardeau; record shows that lowest daily figure so far has been 12, and that highest has been 64.

-- Sharon K. Sanders