I'm not sure what temp it went to and for how long.
I was on the expressway for about 30 mins, going at about 90, and, on exiting and stopping, noticed that the gauge was in the red. There was no coolant loss, but the engine was idling rough.

It's the first time I've had something like this happen where apparently the coolant flow was obstructed by a clogged/closed thermostat. I'm examining the thermostat to verify our suspicions.

Also, will have them check the compression as suggested.

How many miles do you have on your '99 ?