Pages past - May 29

On this date ...

1983: The Llano Estacado Computer Club was starting its third year in Clovis and looking forward to "increasing membership as computers become part of daily life," the Clovis News-Journal reported.

Gina Nuemann, president of the club, said some of the members used computers for business, but others were interested in them only as a hobby.

"We try to appeal to the widest segment who'd be interested," she said.

"We have to do away with the idea that the computer is a brain that is going to take over," said Larry Bussanmas, vice president of the group. "It's a sophisticated calculator that's used as a tool. When people realize that, they won't feel so intimidated."

1978: Three people were confirmed dead and a fourth was still missing after floods hit Canyon over the weekend. The area, which had an average annual rainfall of about 20 inches, received more than 7 inches of heavy rain over the weekend.

Storm damages were expected to top $10 million, The Associated Press reported, and "an estimated 400 persons were left stranded or homeless by the storm."

Two housing developments in low-lying areas of Canyon were hit hard. According to the article, "An 18-year-old boy stood on the knobs of a bedroom door from 3 a.m. until 7 a.m. Saturday, with six inches of breathing space from the top of the water to the ceiling," before being retrieved by a rescue worker in a boat.

Pages Past is compiled by Betty Williamson. Contact her at: [email protected]