Stories from Wednesday, September 11, 1991

The American Heart Association works to reduce disease and death caused by cardiovascular disease. The agency sponsors cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) classes given to professionals and the public. In addition, the Heart Association sponsors a number of other educational programs including a speaker's bureau...

The Easter Seal Society hopes to help people with disabilities achieve maximum independence. The agency offers three main programs: the Early Learning Center for pre-school children with disabilities; vocational training for adults with disabilities; and a loan-a-seat program to provide a car safety seat to any family with a child who needs one...

The Mental Health Association's mission is to promote awareness, understanding and acceptance of mental-health issues through education, services and advocacy. In 1990 the agency provided a series of workshops and lectures that included "The Americans with Disabilities Act: The Impact on Those with Mental Illness," "Painting a Different Picture: Changing Perspectives of Mental Illness," and "Building Family Strength: The Ultimate Prevention."...

Lutheran Family and Children's Services offers counseling and education to individuals, couples and families. The agency offers adoption services and also a number of services for the elderly. Lutheran Family and Children's Services also provides counseling for single, expectant mothers, fathers and grandparents...

The American Red Cross has three primary objectives: to improve the quality of human life; to enhance self-reliance and concern for others; and to help people avoid, prepare for and cope with emergencies. The agency offers services ranging from blood drives to water safety for infants...

The Boy Scouts of America hopes to serve young people by helping to instill values and prepare them to make ethical choices in their lifetimes and achieve their full potential. The Southeast Missouri Council, which includes 14 counties, serves 7,411 youths and 1,200 adults...

The Cape Girardeau Civic Center provides recreational, educational and vocational activities for disadvantaged youths in the community. The youths served are predominantly low-income and minorities, but over the past year organizers have noticed an increase in non-minority users...

The Salvation Army is designed to provide basic human necessities for anyone in need. Usually those who are assisted by the Salvation Army are low-income families and individuals on fixed incomes. When someone is in need, they can go to the Salvation Army for help. When needed, the Army provides groceries, rent and utility assistance, emergency and transient lodging and meals, disaster services, clothing, prescriptions, school supplies and coats for children...

The Family Learning Center strives to prevent and treat child abuse and neglect and to help children with emotional or behavioral problems by strengthening the family unit. The agency also works to develop positive parent-child relations and to help families cope with specific issues including the child's behavior problems...

The Professional Black Men's Association provides a series of youth programs aimed at enhancing educational and employment opportunities for area youths. Among programs offered by the club is a youth tutorial program. Beginning this year the agency will help implement "Grow Your Own" with Cape Girardeau Public Schools. ...

Habitat for Humanity provides decent housing in a decent neighborhood for families who otherwise could not afford to own their own home. Through Habitat for Humanity, community volunteers work beside family members to build or remodel a home. The agency targets families in Cape Girardeau County, but is currently managing projects in Bootheel counties. To date, including houses at Hayti, the agency has provided homes for 22 people in need, including 15 who live in Cape County...

The mission of the Jackson R-2 Children's Fund is to provide medical services, dental care, medication, clothing, shoes, eyeglasses and other items to needy children. By providing the services, needy children will keep physically and emotionally healthy to be academically successful...

The mission of the Jackson Nutrition Center is to promote the wellbeing of people who are 60 and older. It provides a place to congregate and delivers meals to home-bound people. The nutrition center is at 402 E. Washington in Jackson. The center is open from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Mondays through Fridays...

The Cape Girardeau County 4-H Council's mission is to help young people develop into happier, more productive citizens. The organization helps youths to grow in self-confidence, awareness, decision-making, knowledge and citizenship by learning more about themselves, their home, family, community and all living things...

The Jackson Ministerial Alliance's mission is to provide benevolent aid to local needs and transient people in Jackson and the surrounding area. The needs include gasoline for vehicles, bus tickets, food, lodging, utilities and medicine. In 1990 the Alliance handled 139 cases. The organization spent $976 in travel assistance, $987 for food and medicine, and $678 for lodging...

The American Lung Association sponsors a number of activities aimed at better breathing. The association sponsors Camp Superkids each year for children ages 8 to 14 with asthma. The one-week camp is held in Potosi for children from all over eastern Missouri. The local association sponsors local children to attend...

For 50 years the USO has served military personnel and their families. In turn, the local United Way supports the USO. Because so many area families have members serving in the military, the United Way locally supports the international organization...

The Association for Retarded Citizens strives to provide services to mentally retarded, developmentally disabled and physically handicapped people and their families. The agency also provides an avenue for shelter, employment and financial counseling for people with retardation through cultural depravation...

Doctors, lawyers and bank presidents ... housewives, educators and next-door neighbors ... retired people and plant managers. "People from all walks of life are United Way volunteers," said Dorothy Klein, executive director of the Area Wide United Way, which officially kicks off its $470,000 fund-raising campaign today...

The Girl Scouts encourages girls to be the best they can be by providing program opportunities and experiences with caring adults so that girls can develop decision-making skills that will help them make positive life choices. The local Otahki Girl Scout Council offered such programs to 3,067 girls and 825 adults during 1990...

The Cape Girardeau Senior Center works to promote the wellbeing of people 60 and older through meals and companionship. The agency's primary service is providing congregation and home-delivered meals. But the center also serves as a social hub for participants...

Cape Girardeau is observing a very important occasion this week, hosting the 136th Southeast Missouri District Fair in Arena Park. The theme of the 1991 celebration is "The Family Fair" and the title was wisely chosen because babies to senior adults have participated in the activities...

The Cape Girardeau Parents as Teachers program will be hosting three family information nights next week. Each meeting will be held from 6:30-7:30 p.m. at the Jefferson School gymnasium, 520 S. Minnesota. On Sept. 16, families with children ages 2-3 will meet; Sept. 17, families with children birth to 1 years will meet; and Sept. 18, families with children ages 1-2 will meet...

The Gibson Recovery Center provides alcohol- and drug-recovery treatment on an outpatient or long-term residential basis. In March 1990, the center opened a new facility at 1112 Linden to accommodate all of the agency's services. The center provides services to those in need of recovery, residential support and rehabilitation for alcohol or drug abuse and dependency...

The 1991-92 Area Wide United Way fund-raising campaign is under way with volunteers working toward a goal of $470,000. The money raised by United Way will be distributed to 25 community agencies. "This is a team effort," campaign chairman Harry Rediger said when key players in this year's campaign were announced at the annual kickoff luncheon Sept. 4. "As you can see there are many people involved in the United Way campaign."...

Since August 1990, Cape Girardeau has not had a safe house at which women and mothers with children can take refuge when domestic violence occurs in their homes. But that's going to change with the opening next month of the Safe House for Women, which is partly funded by the Area Wide United Way of Cape Girardeau and Jackson...

The United Way is a national fund-raising organization that works because it focuses on the needs of individual communities. United Ways across the country last year raised in excess of $3 billion. The local campaign under way this month has a goal of $470,000...

The Radio Information Service provides a source of information ranging from current events to novels for persons who are blind or disabled. The agency provides radio receivers to eligible people. Information from newspapers and magazines, for example, is read and broadcast over a special radio frequency...

Hugh Logan knows well the value of pooling resources to help non-profit agencies in need of financial help. That was one of the primary reasons he and a handful of other Cape Girardeau businessmen formed the predecessor to the United Way in Cape Girardeau, the United Fund, in 1955...

For more than 11 years the SEMO Eldercare Center has provided socialization and education opportunities for elderly people in the area. The Eldercare Center is the only licensed, social, adult day-care center in Missouri and it has served as a model for programs in other states...

Students in area classrooms receive a brand-new textbook every day filled with information from around the world and down the street. Their textbook is the Southeast Missourian newspaper, which is delivered daily to 200 teachers at no cost to schools through the Newspaper In Education (NIE) program. This marks the second year the Southeast Missourian has sponsored NIE...

Shortfalls in state funding for Missouri schools mean larger classes and fewer teachers, according to area school officials. And they warn that unless the state's financial support for schools is increased significantly, the 1992 and 1993 school years could mean not only fewer teachers, but scaled-back academic programs...

The Missouri Department of Conservation recently purchased about eight acres of property that will connect Cape Girardeau's Twin Trees Park to Southeast Missouri State University's Kelso Wildlife Sanctuary. The purchase of the Juden Creek Natural History Area now links the three nature areas as a continuous wildlife preservation site within the Cape Girardeau city limits...

Cape Girardeau Public Schools the Board of Education, administration and teachers agree that Proposition B is probably the state's best hope for increased funds for education. While the educators admit it's not a perfect measure, they pledge to support it...

JACKSON -- The Jackson School Board voted 6-0 Tuesday to adopt a resolution supporting Proposition B. The proposition, on the state ballot Nov. 5, is an education reform and tax package designed to provide increased funding for Missouri's elementary and secondary schools and higher education...

About 15 years ago Henry Piper bought a motor home and headed to Florida from his farm in Mount Vernon, Ill., to enjoy retirement. He and his wife decided they would like to travel and see the country. But Piper didn't like what he saw in Florida: it seemed everyone was kind of sitting around waiting for their final years to roll by...

County clerks from all over the state will be in Cape Girardeau this week to participate in the 85th annual conference of the Missouri Association of County Clerks and Election Authorities. The conference, being held in Cape Girardeau for the first time, also will include the annual training session that clerks are required to have...

Karen Altenthal of Cape Girardeau, a vocational home economics major at Southeast Missouri State University, has received the Lilly Brucher Gehrs Scholarship for the 1991 fall semester. Recipients are selected by the environmental studies department. The scholarship is open to Kappa Omicron Phi members with high academic achievement and leadership in home economics...

RHONDA CHAMLEY Occupation: Librarian, Cape Girardeau Public Library The Best part of my job is: "Being able to help the public." The book Id recommend is: "Dictionary of Cultural Literacy." The best part of my life was/is: "I like to think the best part of my life is always now!"...

Success stories and concerns in the fight against crime will be aired before the Governor's Crime Commission at a public hearing in Cape Girardeau Thursday afternoon. The hearing will be held from 2-4 p.m. in the City Council chambers at City Hall, 401 Independence...

U.S. Sens. John C. Danforth and Christopher S. "Kit" Bond announced Tuesday that the Federal Aviation Administration has awarded a $420,000 grant to the Cape Girardeau Municipal Airport for renovation of the terminal building. The money is part of the Airports and Airways Trust Fund, which provides airport improvement funding for the nation's "primary airports." Primary airports are those with at least 10,000 enplanements annually...

The Cape Girardeau Board of Education has changed tactics in pursuit of a middle school by asking the community for its input on the issue. A plan, called Project Partnership: Schools and Community, was outlined by superintendent Neyland Clark at the school board meeting Tuesday night...

JACKSON -- One of the surviving relatives of Sarah M. Edwards of Jackson was not reported in Monday's obituary. A grandson, Glen Edwards of Minnesota, should have been listed as a survivor.

JACKSON -- Funeral service for Autumn Renee Sander was held Tuesday at Haynes Chapel Congregational Methodist Church near Millersville. The Rev. Donald Sander officiated, with burial in the church cemetery. The infant died shortly after birth Saturday, Sept. 7, 1991, at Southeast Missouri Hospital...

PERRYVILLE -- Harold L. Gibbar, 75, of Perryville, died Tuesday, Sept. 10, 1991, at Perry County Hospital. He was born Oct. 7, 1915, in St. Louis, son of James H. and Eleanor Mary Belsha Gibbar. He and Vita M. French were married Feb. 6, 1940. Gibbar was a self-employed contractor, member of Perryville Elks 2701, Ushers Association at St. Vincent's Catholic Church, and was a 3rd Degree Knight...

EAST PRAIRIE -- Thomas Raymond Murphy, 93, of St. Louis, died Sunday, Sept. 8, 1991, at Mark Twain Nursing Home there. He was born March 10, 1898, in Clinton, Ky., son of Robert C. and Mary E. Bone Murphy. He and Sarah Lucy Bailey were married Nov. 16, 1919...

The Tri-State Coalition, a cooperative effort of volunteers from western Kentucky, Southern Illinois and Southeast Missouri, has culminated several months' work with the establishment of a board of directors and mission statement. The mission statement says, in part: "Through the combined human and material resources of the tri-state area, innovative programs can be implemented that will let the region exert a more comprehensive sphere of influence and consequently have a greater effectiveness than any single portion of a state working alone.. ...

DELTA -- Delta High School will sponsor a Senior Parents Night Sept. 19 at the high school band room. Parents of senior students are invited to attend the 7 p.m. event. Delta counselor Bill Link and a representative of Southeast Missouri State University will be on hand to discuss steps parents should take to prepare their children for post-secondary education...

BELL CITY -- Ethel Mae Back, 80, of Bell City, died Monday, Sept. 9, 1991, at Southeast Missouri Hospital. She was born Jan. 10, 1911, at Buchanan, daughter of Jason and Florence Myers Hedrick. She married Jim Back March 28, 1935. He died June 17, 1983...

Bertha Loretta Snider, 95, of Cape Girardeau, died Monday, Sept. 9, 1991, at Southeast Missouri Hospital. She was born April 9, 1906, at Chaffee, daughter of George A. and Mollie A. Glaus Harris. She married Clarence Butler Snider March 22, 1924, at Jackson. He died Aug. 17, 1974...

SCOTT CITY -- John Edward Schwartz, 79, Scott City Route 1, died Tuesday, Sept. 10, 1991, at Southeast Missouri Hospital. He was born Nov. 12, 1911, at New Hamburg, son of Albert and Mary Grasser Schwartz. He and the former Johanna Backfisch were married May 2, 1939, at New Hamburg...

DONGOLA, Ill. -- Larry E. King Jr., 16, of Dongola died Monday, Sept. 9, 1991, in Anna. He was born Sept. 24, 1974, in Cape Girardeau, Mo., son of Larry E. and Ethel Smith King. Survivors include his parents; a brother, Patrick King of Cobden; paternal grandparents, Fred and Betty King of Cobden; maternal grandmother, Ellen Smith of Dongola, and maternal great-grandmother, Alma Teller of Anna...

EAST PRAIRIE -- Ida May Cooper, 62, of East Prairie, died Sunday, Sept. 8, 1991, at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston. She was born Dec. 10, 1928, in Holcomb, Miss. Survivors include her husband, Wash; five sons, Jesse and Walter Cooper of Sikeston, Dennie Cooper of Denver, Colo., Wash Cooper Jr. ...

MOUNDS, Ill. -- Joyce Eleanor Hayden, 78, Mounds Route 1, died Tuesday, Sept. 9, 1991, at Meridian Manor Nursing Home here. She was born Oct. 21, 1912, at Mounds, daughter of Frank and Mary Titus Goza. She married Herbert L. Hayden Aug. 14, 1930. Hayden was a lifelong member of First Congregational Church...

Edward L. Boardman, 88, 2850 Whitener, died Monday, Sept. 9, 1991, at Chateau Girardeau Health Center. He was born May 10, 1903, in Evansville, Ind., son of Edward Lewis and Emma Louise Daisy Boardman. He and Ruby Pearl Trousdale were married June 1, 1924, at Bertrand. She died Dec. 6, 1990...

PERRYVILLE -- Kenneth Willie Sandlin, 58, of Perryville, died Monday, Sept. 9, 1991, at Southeast Missouri Hospital. He was born Feb. 15, 1933, at Crosstown, son of William and Lacie Pruitt Sandlin. He and Iva Petot were married July 30, 1951. Sandlin was a heavy equipment operator at Tower Rock Quarry in Ste. Genevieve, and member of St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church at Silver Lake...

CHAFFEE -- Sally Conyers, 95, of Doniphan, died Monday, Sept. 9, 1991, at the home of a daughter in Chaffee. She was born June 20, 1896, at Doniphan, daughter of John and Mary Crowe. She married Charles Spencer Bacon July 14, 1914. He died in 1933. She then married Jess Conyers in 1948, who died in 1962...

The puzzling schedule of my profession sometimes calls for me to spend daytime hours away from the office. I usually manage to spend this time productively, steering clear of the sirens of leisure, Oprah, Vanna, Joan and the rest. Daytime television is not a place to invest your time wisely. It demands a greater toll of avarice, titillation and social disbelief than you should have at your disposal...

It's a tough job being a law enforcement officer these days. Not only do you have to deal with all those criminals, but you have to deal with the press and the public's right to know. Law enforcement officials can no longer conduct business behind closed doors. Some sheriff's departments in Southeast Missouri seem to understand that better than others...

The real reason the Soviet coup failed so miserably was that its leaders were following the Democrats' campaign strategy plan for recapturing the White House. --- Just think of the money the state could save if the Missouri Lottery prize was a job in the St. Louis Traffic Violation Bureau...

When it comes to children, the first teachers are the most important. And that education comes even before a child takes his first step into a classroom. Just as school has geared up this fall, so has the Parents as Teachers program. All Missourians - both parents and non-parents - can be proud of our state's acclaimed program. It has served as a model for 34 other states and several foreign countries...

The assistant area director of the Cape Girardeau Division of Family Services has been named as a member of the state's Child Fatality Review Panel. Gary Thurman was named to the eight-member oversight committee in a recent announcement from the Missouri Department of Social Services in Jefferson City...

PORTAGEVILLE -- Missouri cotton is making a comeback. Acreage has almost doubled since the mid-1980s, and is now back to 300,000 acres, all in Southeast Missouri. "Our short-term season has found niche in the market," said Dave Albers, cotton scientist at the University of Missouri's Delta Center here...