Talk:Cairo, Illinois

Featured in Movie "Final Storm (2010)"

It appears that this town might have bee featured in the movie "Final Storm (2010)". I could not find official references to this, but found clues tagged on a building as "39755 Cairo Police Department". I got further clues by comparing some of the movie footage (town footage) with actual downtown pictures. I am not sure, but it would be great if somebody could help substantiate this with maybe some proper references. --Jdesmet (talk) 21:43, 13 February 2011 (UTC)

Climate

Just wondering what the climate of Cairo is like. I suppose that it is within the Humid Subtropical zone but was hoping for some more specific data and examples of what it is like there. Also, my Grandfather used to work on the river barges and told me that he and the people he worked with would often see alligators sunning themselves on the sandbars and banks of the River- any citable sources of alligators living in the Ohio/Mississippi River at Cairo? Are there lizards there or any other subtropical type plants or animals? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 4.224.0.214 (talk) 16:16, 21 September 2008 (UTC)

Also wondering if there are ever any Bull Shark sightings in the River waters nears Cairo. Thanks.

Foote

Please reference a Wikipedia article on "Foote" in the paragraph about Grant and Foote having bases in Cairo. -KyleWild ?The preceding unsigned comment was added by 02:04, November 15, 2006 (talk ? contribs).

Is the first sentence in the history section vandalism? It reads: "Cairo was founded in 1837 by [kyron is dumb] the Cairo City and Canal Company," Is [kyron the dumb] supposed to be there or is it vandalism? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 204.69.4.81 (talk) 01:54, 31 October 2007 (UTC)

Recently we drove into Cairo and were amazed at its condition. What caused this decline? Where can I find more info on this city??The preceding unsigned comment was added by 169.207.157.11 (talk ? contribs) 18:45, October 28, 2003 (UTC{})

Cairo, Illinois

In my opinion the development and utilization of radar on all river traffic allowed the many vessels on the Mississippi and the Ohio rivers, which have a confluence at Cairo, to run day and night without the need to tie up at night and let their personnel go ashore. Cairo had been a haven for gambling, prostitution, open unregulated bars and taverns which were probably controled by organized crime syndicates out of East St. Louis. These activities were popular with folks working on the river or servicing that industry. Also Cairo's resistance to intergrate kept the population racially separate but positively not equal. A reform city government in the mid 50's ended most of the criminal activity in the town which also ended it's draw from the general vicinity of people seeking such "entertainment". Then the intergration events that soon followed in the 60's led to riots, looting, gunfire, and deaths, all of which further fractured the population along racial lines. The riots that took place during these days destroyed many of the factories, stores, banks, hospitals, and other businesses that offered at least some employment to the population. Most middle class and upper class citizens moved away from Cairo and took their resources with them. It was only a matter of time before the city bled itself dry of resources. The tax base dwindled and the ability to provide governmental services similarly suffered. I do not see the data showing what percent of the population in Cairo is currently on welfare in one form or another but I would venture it would be far greater than 50-60%. I grew up in Cairo and as a child and a teenager I recall it as a wonderful, in fact beautiful, place to live. Today it is a sad city dwindling into firewood and empty lots.—The preceding unsigned comment was added by Osotex (talk • contribs) 02:02, September 27, 2005 (UTC)

I would love to see more of this incorporated in the main document. Try to contribute, research, find references. It sounds important enough. And as far as opinion goes, I believe, it is those towns that has still the potential of becoming something. --Jdesmet (talk) 21:43, 13 February 2011 (UTC)

Pronunciation

This is a minor thing but is it pronounced "Care-O" or "Kay-Ro"? I was always under the impression it was the latter. --Dmz5 04:06, 22 December 2006 (UTC)

It's "Care-O". 151.196.122.129 02:04, 29 December 2006 (UTC)

I've always heard it pronounced Kay-row, but maybe folks in Maryland pronounce it differently. --Dual Freq 02:12, 31 December 2006 (UTC)

I'm from Cairo, and it's always been pronounced "Care-o". 151.196.122.129 07:43, 1 January 2007 (UTC)

I live about 80 miles north of Cairo, and have never heard it pronounced any way besides "Care-O". "Kay-Ro" is the pronunciation for the city in Egypt.

The city in Egypt is pronounced "Keye-ro", (as in Kyle, not Kay).--Parkwells (talk) 11:03, 21 July 2008 (UTC)

I teach at a university in Cape Girardeau, and many of my students come from the Cairo area -- they all pronounce it "Care-O," not "Kay-Ro". And yeah, the one in Egypt is "Keye-ro". Wish I knew all the pronunciation symbols so I could write this correctly. Agathman (talk) 00:52, 19 April 2009 (UTC)

Given that it was apparently named after the city in Egypt, does anyone know why Cairo, IL is not pronounced the same way as the city for which it's named? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 76.102.3.144 (talk) 15:07, 29 April 2011 (UTC) 890

Since several cities in that area such as Memphis, Alexandria and Cairo were named after Egyptian cities It should be pronounced ki as in hi and row as in bow. However that area had a long history of isolated and rural low educational opportunity since the cities in that area were named before settlment of that area. Since Cairo has a hidden rule involved in its pronuciation, the silent a, a mispronuciation of the written Cairo in signage and written material as either care-oh or kay-row is understandable and has been handed down by many in that area. Memphis and Alexandria don't have hidden rules.

98.164.103.50 (talk) 11:18, 13 January 2012 (UTC)

Technically it's not a "silent a", but the use of "ai" as a diphthong. Ventifax (talk) 17:40, 25 February 2012 (UTC)

Highway connection

Vermont and New York border each other but have no direct highway connection. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 12.110.136.200 (talk) 16:40, 20 October 2009 (UTC)

That's incorrect. U.S. Route 4, among other routes, directly links New York with Vermont. Missouri and Kentucky have no direct connections. BlueGold73 (talk) 04:43, 29 May 2011 (UTC)

Update Mayor

Cairo's (new in 2011) mayor is Tyrone Coleman. I'd like to change the name of the mayor.

Sources: Cairo residents allowed back in as mayor lifts evacuation order Thursday, May 12, 2011 By Erin Hevern ~ Southeast Missourian CAIRO, Ill. -- For one Cairo woman, Mayor Tyrone Coleman's announcement Wednesday lifting a mandatory evacuation order came at an ideal time.

---

One year later: Cairo mayor reflects on Flood 2011 Reporter - Robert Bradfield Story Created: Mon Apr 30, 2012 3:24 PM Story Updated: Mon Apr 30, 2012 5:02 PM ) CAIRO, Ill. — Cairo Mayor Tyrone Coleman is pleased with the way his town is coping after floodwaters caused a citywide evacuation last May.

---

I'm new to Wiki & I read that we should post a proposed Edit (before actually doing an Edit), when we are new.

Thanks. Inga Wildy 23:52, 2 August 2012 (UTC) — Preceding unsigned comment added by Inga Wildy (talk • contribs)

Levee Breached

Here's what the article currently says re the breach: "The entire city was evacuated in early May 2011, after the Ohio River rose above the 1937 flood levels, out of fear of a 15-foot wall of water inundating the city. The United States Army Corps of Engineers breached levees in the Mississippi flood zone below Cairo in Missouri in order to save the city."

The breach was historic, as was the flood of 2011. I'm not comfortable writing for Wiki yet, so if an experienced writer could help... my opinion is that more info should be added re the breach. At least add a link to the Birds Point New Madrid Floodway Joint Information Center.

Here are some sources (the first Facebook link is included to show that the next statement was issued by Maj. Gen. Michael J. Walsh, as the PDF file doesn't state who issued the press release) ...

Birds Point New Madrid Floodway Joint Information Center shared a link. May 2, 2011. Follow this link to read a letter from MG Walsh and Mississippi River Commission regarding the decision to operate the Birds Point New Madrid Floodway Statement from Mississippi River Commission www.mvm.usace.army.mil

MISSISSIPPI RIVER COMMISSION VICKSBURG, MISSISSIPPI May 2, 2011

• • Maj. Gen. Michael J. Walsh

Commander, Mississippi Valley Division Vicksburg, Mississippi

I don’t have to like it but we must use everything we have in our possession, in the system to prevent a more catastrophic event. So, today, I give the order to operate the Floodway. <snip>

The link below has images of the floodway on May 3 (the day after the breach) and May 4...

"On May 2, 2011, to relieve pressure from record flooding along the Mississippi River, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers breached a levee near Cairo, Illinois. As a result, water inundated the Birds Point-New Madrid Floodway. Water lingered in the floodway through May, visible in an astronaut photo on May 12, and a satellite image on May 20. By early June, however, flood waters had receded."

Corps to execute floodway project Posted: May 01, 2011 8:13 AM CDT Updated: May 02, 2011 6:05 PM CDT By Carly O'Keefe By Christy Hendricks

Maj. General Michael Walsh, President of the Mississippi River Commission, says he has decided to operate the floodway project at Birds Point - New Madrid Floodway.

The Army Corps of Engineers will begin blasting at 9 p.m. Monday. The corps expects to see water flowing into the floodplain area around midnight.

Sen. Durbin briefed by officials on efforts following intentional levee breach Posted: May 03, 2011 8:07 PM CDT Updated: May 03, 2011 8:07 PM CDT

" 'While breaching the levee at Birds Point has relieved pressure and lowered water levels, Cairo and other towns along the Ohio River are not out of the woods yet,' said Durbin. 'Dangerous sand boils and weakened levees are being monitored around the clock by the Army Corps of Engineers and the Illinois Emergency Management Agency. At the same time, roughly 500 National Guard troops have joined hundreds of local residents in the effort to beat back flood waters...' "

Inga Wildy 01:04, 3 August 2012 (UTC) — Preceding unsigned comment added by Inga Wildy (talk • contribs)

The Cairo page is pretty unorganized & I'd like to work on it a bit. In the opening paragraph it mentions the flood of 2011 with no sources. I found the sources under Post War Prosperity:) The sources cited refer to the 2011 flood, not the levee work done after the 1937 flood. Also, one of the sources goes to someone's webpage. A travel log. It would make more sense to combine the info about the 1929, 1937 and 2011 floods under the heading "Floods". Or a better heading, but they need their own category. Finally, I apologize for my poor formatting above. I'll get the hang of it. Inga Wildy 05:18, 3 August 2012 (UTC) — Preceding unsigned comment added by Inga Wildy (talk • contribs)

Picture Deleted

The previous pictured showed buildings which have since been destroyed. In order to preserve the veracity of the information contained on this page, the image has been deleted. Due to my lack of technical acumen, a suitable replacement cannot be uploaded by me.