Stories from Wednesday, February 26, 1992

Black Missourians are more than 11 times as likely as whites to fall victim to homicide, but whites are more likely to die from lung disease or suicide, a study released this week shows. The study by the Missouri Department of Health compares inconsistencies by race in causes of death. The study also found whites in Missouri live an average of 6.2 years longer than blacks...

The National Education Association in Missouri plans a fight for increased state funding for schools on two fronts in the legislature and in the courts. Peggy Cochran, executive director of the Missouri National Education Association (MNEA), said lawsuits will likely prompt more action than legislation...

For accounting major Connie Otto, it adds up to a learning experience. As a student intern at Boatmen's Bank in Cape Girardeau, the Southeast Missouri State University junior says she is gaining valuable experience and academic credit, too. "I work four to five hours a day," said Otto, who also finds time to attend classes at Southeast...

CAIRO, Ill. -- The three infant car seats allocated to the Cairo Drivers License Examination Station didn't last long. "They went out in a hurry," said a spokesman for the office. "We've been contacting other drivers exam facilities to see if they have extra seats. We have several requests for the seats."...

Dr. Lyle L. Brown will speak about peripheral vascular disease and the lack of blood flow to lower extremities, kidneys and the brain on this week's "Ask Your Doctor" program. The show airs Thursday at 8 p.m. on cable channel 13. "Ask Your Doctor" is sponsored by St. Francis Medical Center, Southeast Missouri Hospital, the Cape Girardeau County Medical Society and channel 13...

The City of Roses Charter Chapter of the American Business Women's Association will hold a membership drive at 7 p.m. March 5 at the Drury Lodge. Membership Chairman Janice Haas said the campaign theme is "Keys to Opportunity" and will focus on personal and professional growth opportunities for businesswomen...

CHARLES W. CLENDENIN Occupation: Retired. Birthplace: Portageville. Pet Peeve: "People who will not help themselves." The best part of my life was when: "I retired both times." What do you do in your spare time: "I like to work in the yard and make a garden."...

CHAFFEE -- Ray Murl Hanshew, 63, of Chaffee, died Monday, Feb. 24, 1992, at St. Francis Medical Center. He was born Dec. 5, 1928, in Little Rock, Ark., son of Vestes and Nora Frances Jones Hanshew. Hanshew was a retired self-employed carpenter, and member of Cape Girardeau County Chapter 16 Disabled American Veterans. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army...

CHAFFEE -- William "Bill" Daugherty Jr., 40, of Chaffee died Monday, Feb. 24, 1992, at Tan-Tar-A Lake of the Ozarks. He was born Feb. 20, 1952 at Walnut Ridge, Ark., son of William Daugherty and Anita Cowell Daugherty. They survive. Since 1980, he had taught high school math at Scott County Central High School...

CHARLESTON -- Norma Bassford, 74, of Charleston, died Tuesday, Feb. 25, 1992, at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston. She was born Dec. 14, 1917, in Mississippi County, daughter of Ernest and Evelyn Ferguson Walton. Bassford had worked at Brown Shoe Co., and was a member of Concordia Lutheran Church at Sikeston...

SIKESTON -- Joyce E. Dillender, 62, of Sikeston, died Monday, Feb. 24, 1992, at Southeast Missouri Hospital. She was born Jan. 4, 1930, at Blodgett, daughter of Clarence E. and Juanita Graham Sadler. She and Richard Dillender were married Sept. 11, 1947, in Corinth, Miss...

DUTCHTOWN -- Berniece Marceline Koehler, 68, of Dutchtown, died Tuesday, Feb. 25, 1992, at St. Francis Medical Center. She was born Aug. 17, 1923, in Cape Girardeau, daughter of Andrew and Coletta Westrich Seyer. She first married Melbourne Koehler June 24, 1944, who preceded her in death Dec. 28, 1973. She later married Cletus Koehler Jan. 24, 1976...

Funeral service for William Curtis Matthews, 73, 1528 Water, will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday at Ford and Sons Mt. Auburn Chapel. The Rev. Rodney Travis will officiate. Friends may call at the funeral home from 4-8 p.m. today. Matthews, 73, died Monday, Feb. 24, 1992, at his home...

PERRYVILLE -- Louis Murphy Riney, 87, of Perryville, died Tuesday, Feb. 25, 1992, at Perry County Hospital. He was born April 8, 1904, in Perry County, son of Varice and Lena Layton Riney. He first married Marie E. Thompson, who died Nov. 4, 1947. He later married Frances Merkert May 25, 1950...

Electric streetcars went into operation in Cape Girardeau in December 1905. They replaced the muley cars, and followed the same route. The "Big Square," as it was called, followed Main street north to Broadway, west to Sprigg, south to Good Hope, east to Spanish, and down Independence to Main. Later, lines were extended to the Normal School (now Southeast Missouri State University) and west on Broadway to West End Boulevard...

Cape Girardeau attorney John Oliver has been elected vice chairman of the Missouri Highway and Transportation Commission. Oliver was chosen by fellow members at a recent meeting of the commission in Kansas City. Harry Morley of Chesterfield, who had been vice chairman, was elected the new chairman...

The Cape Girardeau Area Vocational-Technical School, 301 N. Clark, is offering "Quick Study," a six-hour memory improvement course. "Quick Study" utilizes a combination of memory techniques to enhance the development of a comprehensive memory. In the class, students will learn five simple techniques for committing anything to memory, including facts, figures and quotes...

Applications are now being accpeted for the 1992-92 Head Start preschool program. Children ages 3-5 may participate. At the time of application, parents must have a copy of proof of income, the child's birth certificate, immunization card and social security cards for both the child and the head of household...

I've finally stumbled across a reason to dislike the Cape Girardeau recycling program, which cuts in half the number of times residents set out refuse for general collection. The program offers: One less feast per week for neighborhood dogs; One less occasion per week to wander along the curb in coat and tie to pick up used tissues;...

Anyone who has ever stood early-morning watch on a ship at sea knows that it is one of the loneliest jobs of a lifetime. With no one to keep you company, you survey a void that is unbelievably vast, looking into sheer blackness that refuses to yield up a single image, sensing all the while that beyond the nothingness there is something urgently requiring recognition. ...

Turnout for the third annual Community Caring Conference held Friday in Cape Girardeau proves a point: State Rep. Mary Kasten of Cape Girardeau hit upon a genuine need to promote coordination and cooperation between social, educational and business programs when she founded the Community Caring Council in 1989...

JACKSON -- The Regional Arthritis Center at St. Francis will sponsor an instructor training course in April for people interested in leading PACE (People with Arthritis Can Exercise) classes throughout the area. The PACE instructor training course will be held April 13 and 14 at the St. Francis Information Center at Jackson. The course tuition, about $150, is underwritten by the Regional Arthritis Center, so there is no cost to qualified people...

CHAFFEE - The area's Parents As Teachers organization will hold its screenings of 1- to 3-years-olds next month. The organization also serves Delta, Kelly, Kelso, and Scott City. The screenings will be held March 10 at the Scott City Elementary School; March 17 at the Parents As Teachers office in the high school Arts Building at Chaffee; and March 24 at the Kelly Elementary School...

Ken Emmons has been appointed to a three-year term as representative of the rehabilitative services of the blind on the Missouri State Independent Living Council. The Rehabilitation Act stipulates that the state council provide guidance for the development and expansion of independent living programs on a statewide basis...

Teresa Raines knows the value of reading. "Reading opens up so many doors to children," Raines said. "It makes me feel good when a child leaves my room at the end of a year, loving to read. Teaching children to read is very important to me." Raines teaches first and second grade at St. Joseph School in Scott City. She has taught there for 11 years...