Out of the past: July 29

1993

Sand-baggers and other flood workers continue to shore up for next week's record 48.5-foot Mississippi River flood crest at Cape Girardeau; the river here is again rising slowly, after having fallen 1.9 feet over the weekend following the breach of the Perry County levee near McBride, Missouri; yesterday's river stage was 45.8 feet at Cape Girardeau.

EAST CAPE GIRARDEAU, Ill. -- The 580 residents of this low-lying village have been assured their levee is in good shape, but they are being asked to leave their homes voluntarily; the request, made last night during a sweltering town meeting, followed similar appeals earlier in the week to Illinois residents to the north of Grand Tower and Gorham.

1968

Walter H. Ford, mayor of Cape Girardeau for three terms during periods of growth and community challenge, and currently an associate judge of the County Court, dies at a local hospital after an illness of eight months; a lifelong resident of Cape Girardeau, Ford was 58 years old.

Connie M. Hay, 43, of Dallas has been hired as a new scout executive by the Southeast Missouri Boy Scout Council; he will replace Howard C. Ray, who will leave that post Aug. 14.

1943

Some melons and cantaloupes produced in the area are being sold in Cape Girardeau, large and small trucks bringing them here each morning; some melons are bringing around 75 cents, with some growers getting $1 each for choice ones; fine cantaloupes are selling from 10 cents to 25 cents.

E.W. Opfer is named county chairman for the next war fund drive, which will be made in October; a quota for the fund drive will be announced later.

1918

O.G. "Doc" Edwards has been accepted as a mechanic in the aviation corps of the Army and will leave Cape Girardeau on Aug. 7 for Scott Field, Belleville, Illinois, to enter training; in his absence, his supply station on West Broadway will be conducted by his wife with the assistance of Frank Ross.

Convincing proof the manufacture of ice cream has become a big industry in Cape Girardeau was given Saturday, when a Frisco train left with six truck loads of the delectable; 1,672 1/2 gallons of ice cream was shipped out by I. Ben Miller; this amount was shipped in 350 packers and reached 192 customers.

-- Sharon K. Sanders