MID-SOUTH MEMORIES
25 years ago — 1994 Crews manning some 300 Memphis city trucks began carving away at mounds of fallen tree limbs Wednesday, and the lights came on in 2,000 more homes as the area continued its painstaking recovery from last week’s ice storm. Still, a week after the two-day storm began, an estimated 18,000 Memphis Light, Gas & Water Division customers remained without electrical service at 11 p.m. Wednesday. They were among the 66,000 Tennessee households and businesses without power, while another 119,000 residences in Mississippi still lacked service. 50 years ago — 1969 City hospital officials warn they will have to keep a 160bed section of John Gaston Hospital closed after it is remodeled unless pay is increased to attract new nurses to city medical facilities. Mayor Henry Loeb said he has been asked to approve monthly pay increases of $53 for registered nurses and $43 for licensed practical nurses to help plug the nursing drain at city hospitals. Hospital officials called for an increase in monthly starting pay for RNS from $522.50 to $575 and from $357.50 to $400 for LPNS at city hospitals. William F. Bowld, chairman of the board of city hospitals, said yesterday the city must keep its nursing salaries competitive with those paid by private hospitals, which he said have raised or have plans to raise nurses’ pay. 75 years ago — 1944 Only a very small percentage of the approximately $108,000,000 worth of War Savings Bonds during the four war loan drives have been redeemed or cashed in by their owners, Doddridge Nichols, chairman of the West Tennessee War Financial Committee, said yesterday. “Memphis has done one of the cleanest selling jobs in the Nation,” Mr. Nichols declared. 100 years ago — 1919 Possession of high-powered automobiles will not enable daring booze runners to get by anymore. Commissioner C.W. Miller has procured for the police department three motorcycles, speedier than any automobile that ever showed its rear lights to the pursuing “tin lizzie” of a lawman. Attached to each motorcycle is a wire basket wherein will repose a sawed-off shotgun. Officers will have instructions to shoot off the tires of fleeing booze cars. 125 years ago — 1894 The annual convention of the Southern Lumber Manufacturers Association convened last night at the Peabody Hotel. Nearly 150 delegates representing 75 firms are present.