10 years ago: March 22, 1993

Bendway weirs, new concept in channel maintenance on Mississippi River between St. Louis and Cairo, Ill., is paying off in saving tax dollars and time and money to barge and towing industry, says Corps of Engineers official who was involved in design of concept; Rob Davinroy, hydraulics engineer with St. Louis District Office of Corps of Engineers, says new concept is saving money in dredging costs and making river safer and more economical for barge traffic.

None of three plans proposing boundaries for new Cape Girardeau voting wards adequately preserves natural social, economic and racial division in city; that is consensus of city's Zone Election Committee, which defers action on three plans until fourth can be drafted.

25 years ago: March 22, 1978

Cairo, Ill. -- Old saying about not swapping horses in midstream has been around long time, and it was honored by Alexander County voters yesterday as they renominated each incumbent officeholder in both Democratic Party and Republican Party primaries; as votes were being totaled at courthouse Tuesday night, many onlookers commented on extremely light turnout in some precincts.

Dream of Frohna to construct clinic and attract full-time physician to area is nearing realization; Cobden, Ill., doctor Helmut Hartmann will move his practice to Frohna on June 1, just little more than year since massive community-wide drive to raise approximately $200,000 to build clinic began.

50 years ago: March 22, 1952

Education Building of Church of the Nazarene is dedicated; the Rev. E.D. Simpson of St. Louis delivers dedicatory address at special afternoon service; new building, adjacent to church, has been under construction past six months.

Norman Robert is dealer for Robert Shell service station, which opened this week on U.S. 61, between Broadway and Independence, former location of Travelers Oil Co. service station; Robert was formerly salesman with Firestone stores, and has also been employed by Maier Auto & Home Supply Co.

75 years ago: March 22, 1928

Dr. W.C. Patton, 69, prominent physician for 36 years and former mayor of Cape Girardeau, dies at St. Francis Hospital after illness of several weeks; Patton was born in 1858 near Ironton, son of Montgomery and Sara Borland Patton; following his graduation from College of Physicians and Surgeons at Keokuk, Iowa, in 1882, Patton practiced medicine in Ironton, Mo., 10 years; after stay in California, he moved to Cape Girardeau in 1892, and was mayor here from 1907 to 1909; he is survived by his wife, four daughters, a son, two sisters and two brothers.

Pier No. 8 for traffic bridge across Mississippi River is being strengthened by additional pilings and more concrete, according to resident engineer P.V. Pennybacker; pier is yet 30 feet under water, and additional work will render it stronger than specified in original plan.

-- Sharon K. Sanders