Stories from Tuesday, June 8, 1993

To the Editor: Monsignor Joseph Gosche made some interesting and debatable points in his recent baccalaureate address, as reported as excer~pt~ in the June 1 issue of the Southeast Missourian. However, the monsignor errs when he described the decision handed down by the U.S. Supreme Court in the 1947 case o~f Everson v. Board of Education. The court did not decide that the use of tax funds to support Catholic education violated the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment...

There was a time when school officials fretted about exuberant students interrupting their graduation ceremonies with coarse chants or smoke bombs or general rowdiness. At Friday night's Cape Girardeau Central High School commencement, a group of students strayed from the ceremony's schedule by standing and reciting a brief prayer. They did this despite the expressed disfavor of school district officials, who cited last year's U.S. Supreme Court ruling that prohibits prayers at such events...

The words are enough to prompt a double-take: Health and Human Services Secretary Donna Shalala, among the most liberal members of the liberal Clinton cabinet, said last week that low-income women should not be allowed to stay at home at taxpayer expense. ...

JACKSON -- Marie Watkins Oliver had herself quite a life, one that started before the Civil War and ended about the same time as World War II. In between, she married a lawyer with a future in politics, reared a family of six children, and left a legacy that flies over the state Capitol every day...

If absentee ballots are any indication - and they usually are - a large percentage of Cape Girardeau's 19,408 registered voters are likely to participate in today's election to determine whether riverboat gambling will be allowed in the city. Lois Boston, voter registration clerk in Cape Girardeau, reported that absentee balloting was nearly comparable to that in last November's general election. Presidential election years normally draw higher turnouts and absentee voters...

Cape Girardeau seniors citizens hope to celebrate July 4th in their new Senior Center building. Plans call for a June 24 moving day. The kitchen at the new facility should be open for noon meals on June 29. "The building won't be complete," said Jo Nelle Lingo, administrator of the Senior Center. "We'll still have a lot of work inside and out, but we will be moving."...

Only hours after Sunday liquor sales were approved statewide, Cape Girardeau City Councilman Al Spradling III asked for passage of a similar local law. Gov. Mel Carnahan on Monday signed into law legislation that allows liquor stores, groceries and convenience stores to sell packaged alcoholic beverages on Sundays...

SCOTT CITY -- Scott City Mayor Larry Forhan established a special committee Monday to map out emergency weather procedures and a system to coordinate disaster relief. "We were very fortunate that the storm system which hit the area Friday did not cause serious damage to the city," Forhan said. "But in its aftermath, I realized that Scott City does not have a policy in place for disaster situations."...

Cleanup operations continued Monday throughout storm-ravaged areas of Southeast Missouri and Southern Illinois, even as more severe weather may threaten the region later today. Utility officials said electricity was expected to be completely restored by today to customers in the path of the storms that raced Friday through northern Butler, Stoddard and Scott counties and southern Cape Girardeau County...

An 18-year-old Egypt Mills man received moderate injuries when his truck ran off the road Monday afternoon near the Trail of Tears State Park. Jon Friedrich was transported to St. Francis Medical Center, where he was listed Monday evening in good condition...

METROPOLIS, Ill. -- If you've ever found yourself thinking about all the prizes you could win if you could just be a contestant on television's "Wheel of Fortune" gameshow, here's a chance. Wheel of Fortune, America's favorite gameshow, announced it plans to conduct a major contestant search from June 1 through June 25 at Players Riverboat Casino at Merv Griffin's Landing in Metropolis, Ill., targeting hopeful viewers in a broad geographical area that encompasses St. ...

Christopher Robertson of Cape Girardeau, Shawn Nanney of Leopold and Amy M. Eftink of Oran are among 55 high school graduates from 15 states who have been awarded Governor's scholarships to attend Southeast Missouri State University for the 1993-1994 academic year...

Seven Notre Dame High School seniors have received the Missouri Higher Education Academic "Bright Flight" Scholarship. Earning the awards are Amy Eftink, Lisa Hoffman, Greg Rubel, Ryan Gosche, Lori Maurer, Chris Schaefer and Paula Welker. These students qualify for the $2,000 renewable scholarship because they scored 30 or above on the enhanced ACT...

Limited edition commemoratives of Cape Girardeau's 200th birthday will be available at the city's Riverfest celebration Friday and Saturday. Riverfest, held in downtown Cape Girardeau, features entertainment and activities for the entire family. Corporate sponsors for Riverfest '93 include St. Francis Medical Center, Southwestern Bell Telephone, Fox 23 KBSI-TV and Capital Bank...

ROLLA -- A student from Kelso was a member of a six-person University of Missouri-Rolla civil engineering team which placed third in a national steel-bridge building contest recently. The teams built 20-foot-long steel bridges designed to withstand weights of up to 2,500 pounds. Their efforts were judged according to the speed of construction, bridge weight, cost, capacity, capacity-to-weight ratio and aesthetic value...

A number of area students have earned academic distinction at their colleges or universities. Kum Choy Chan, of Cape Girardeau, was named to the dean's list at the University of Central Oklahoma in Edmond, Okla. Those who achieved the honor at the university must earn a 3.25 grade-point average or better for the semester...

Five Cape Girardeau County sophomores have been selected by state education officials to attend the Missouri Scholars Academy, June 13-July 3, at the University of Missouri-Columbia. Jeremy R. Freeman and Jeffrey M. Riley, both of Cape Central High School; Rebecca Neumann and Ericka Trickey, both of Jackson R-II High School; and Craig L. Seabaugh of Oak Ridge R-IV High School are the Cape Girardeau County representatives to the academy...

"Pack Your Bags" is the theme of the June 14 luncheon and meeting of Cape County Christian Women's Club. It will be held from noon to 2 p.m. at Holiday Inn. Cost for the luncheon is $6.50 per person. A free nursery will be provided. Luncheon and/or nursery reservations need to be made by Thursday by calling Linda Lummus at 334-4259...

The sixth annual competition for the title of 1993 Miss Riverfest will be held Friday at 6 p.m. The competition will center on the main stage downtown. Miss Riverfest will be judged on poise, personality, overall appearance, modeling, formal wear and a short interview. There will be five area judges. The Riverfest Queen will be in the parade on Saturday and will reign over the weekend's activities...

Lee Roy Friday, 82, of Sanibel, Fla., formerly of Cape Girardeau, died Thursday, June 3, 1993, at his home. He was born Jan. 28, 1911, in Nebraska. While in Cape Girardeau he was a sales representative with Himmelberger-Harrison Manufacturing Co. Friday served as a Municipal Court judge, and was active in Jaycees and Boy Scouts. He sang one summer with the St. Louis Municipal Opera chorus, directed the choir at Grace United Methodist Church, and 4-H chorus...

BENTON -- John Henry Bohannon, 71, of Benton, died Monday, June 7, 1993, at the St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. The Amick-Burnett Funeral Chapel in Benton is in charge of funeral arrangements, which are incomplete at this time.

KELSO -- Graveside service for Rhianna Morgan Doggett of Kelso will be held at 1:30 p.m. today at St. Paul's Lutheran Cemetery in Woodworth, Ill. The Rev. Mark Nordman will officiate. Segur-Knapp Funeral Home in Watseka, Ill., is in charge of arrangements...

Son to Mr. and Mrs. Jerry Kratochvil, 3025 Melrose, Southeast Missouri Hospital, 3:41 a.m. Wednesday, May 26, 1993. Name, John Tyler. Weight, 8 pounds 6 ounces. First child. Mrs. Kratochvil is the former Cheryl Southern, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Southern of Sikeston. She is an account executive with Medical Computer Solutions Inc. Kratochvil is an accountant with Gilster Mary-Lee Corp., and is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Kratochvil of Springfield, Ill...

PERRYVILLE -- Gilbert Monia, 86, of Perryville, died Sunday, June 6, 1993, at Perry County Memorial Hospital. He was born Feb. 25, 1907, in Perry County, son of Fred and Rowena Schaaf Monia. A retired farmer, he was a member of the United Methodist Church here...

JACKSON -- Bernard Johnson, 69, of Jackson, died Sunday, June 5, 1993, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. He was born Aug. 12, 1923, at Dyersburg, Tenn., son of Tull G. and Lucy O. Arnold Johnson. He and Betty Jean Hill were married Oct. 4, 1944...

MILLERSVILLE -- Edgar Fellows, 81, of Millersville, died Monday, June 6, 1993, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. McCombs Funeral Home at Jackson is in charge of arrangements.

The Rev. Richard A. Dotson, 39, 1514 McDonald, died Sunday, June 6, 1993, at St. Francis Medical Center. He had been ill several months. He was born April 21, 1954, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., son of Chalmer and Alma Goodwien Dotson. He and Susan Fulbright were married Aug. 30, 1974, in Cleveland, Tenn...

MARBLE HILL -- Jimmie Herron, 63, of Marble Hill, died Monday, June 7, 1993, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. He was born Oct. 7, 1929, in Jasper, Ala., son of William L. and Ida Mae Wright Herron. He and Lela L. Stratton were married Dec. 5, 1953...

TAMMS, Ill. -- Clarence A. Fitzgerald, 81, of Thebes, Ill., formerly of Tamms, Ill., died Sunday, June 6, 1993, at his residence. He was born April 14, 1912, at Alexander County, Ill., son of Anderson and Grace Manwarning Fitzgerald. He was married to Pansy Kirby...

Russel Faust of Cape Girardeau has been named to the Order of Distinguished Older Missourians, in part because of his effort to obtain a building for Cape Girardeau's Senior Center. He was honored by Gov. Mel Carnahan at a luncheon May 26 in Jefferson City...

JACKSON -- The eighth annual Grindstaff family reunion will be held Sunday at Shelter No. 1 in Jackson City Park. The event will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., with a potluck dinner to be served at 12:30 p.m. A group photo will be taken before the meal, and ceramic mugs with family name and logo will be available for purchase at $5 each...