Out of the past 8/20/03

10 years ago: Aug. 20, 1993

It's a mess now, but it won't be long before Lexington avenue arterial is extended in north Cape Girardeau; Nip Kelley Equipment Co. Inc., contractor for short segment of street between Perryville road and Concord Place, today should complete storm sewer work and begin grading tract; section will be completed this fall.

Highway 51 at McBride still looks like lake, and Chester, Ill., bridge across Mississippi River remains closed to traffic; while bridge is high and dry, motorists can't get there from Missouri side; McBride area of Perry County is still under water, result of levee break on July 25.

25 years ago: Aug. 20, 1978

Wastewater treated in Cape Girardeau's new treatment facility is being returned to Mississippi River cleaner than water that is taken out and processed for drinking water; recent tests show that plant, completed at cost of over $6 million, is releasing effluent back that is cleaner than river itself.

Dedication of Zion Lutheran Parish Hall is held at Zion Lutheran Church in Gordonville in afternoon; the Rev. Louis Launhardt, pastor of St. Andrew Lutheran Church in Cape Girardeau, is dedication speaker; the Rev. Karl Leeman, pastor of Gordonville congregation, is liturgist and officiates at ceremony.

50 years ago: Aug. 20, 1953

Local telephone service, operating through dial system, goes on without interruption, but there is delay in long-distance service as Cape Girardeau members of Local 6316, Communication Workers of America join others in six-state area in strike against Southwestern Bell Telephone Co.; strikers set up picket lines at both Broadway and Ellis street sides of telephone company building.

Collection and disposal of Cape Girardeau's garbage and refuse under ordinance adopted yesterday will begin about Oct. 1, says M.H. Hoffmeister, who won contract for three-year period; in meantime, while he obtains trucks and personnel and perfects details of new system, city will continue its collection and disposal of garbage.

75 years ago: Aug. 20, 1928

Excavation for basement for Montgomery Ward & Co. retail store building at 422 Broadway begins by C.J. Reisenbichler, contractor; building, which will have frontage of 74 feet on Broadway and depth of 11 feet, will be two stories high, have full basement and will cost about $50,000 completed and furnished with store fixtures; effort will be made to have building completed within three months.

Steamer Cape Girardeau had large passenger list on its Saturday trip, consisting of about 90 people, making round-trip from St. Louis to Cape Girardeau and return; this isn't unusual number for weekend trips, says Capt. Henry "Buck" Leyhe, for passenger trade on steamer this summer has averaged near that number all the time.

-- Sharon K. Sanders