Stories from Sunday, January 23, 1994

That quirky little man speaking from the podium had been a career officer in the Navy. Most Texans were Army, but he was Navy--loyal, precise, regimented, cool, calculating, ambitious. In the military, things work on command. When an order is given, the sailors obey. Sometimes the sailors become the commanders and then they bark the orders with an intense ferocity...

I don't know about you, but I am greatly concerned about the proposal of Governor Mel Carnahan and certain legislative leaders to "pack" the Missouri Highway and Transportation Commission by expanding its membership from the current six to nine or 10 members. ...

In this fast-paced day and age of instant communications, many people believe the government should also move as quickly. However, when it comes to tampering with one-seventh of our nation's economy, I would hope that most Americans can understand that health care reform deserves thorough deliberation in 1994's congressional session...

In one of the most bizarre news conferences since Ross Perot disappeared from national attention, President Clinton's appointee for Secretary of Defense, Bobby Ray Inman, withdrew from the nomination that would have put him in charge of the world's most powerful military arsenal...

Seven years into a rocky marriage, Sue discovered she was pregnant. Her husband, in-laws, and her own parents urged her to get an abortion. Despite the troubles in her marriage, Sue felt abortion was the wrong choice for her. She turned to Birthright for support...

SCOTT CITY -- Efforts to have riverboat gambling at the Southeast Missouri Regional Port Authority have hit rough waters, with the deadline for calling an April election rapidly approaching. Voters in Scott County rejected the local option for riverboat gambling in November after the port authority convinced the Scott County Commission to present the issue to voters. ...

"Project, Earthquake," a program designed by the Southern Illinois regional superintendent of schools office to teach earthquake science and preparedness at junior-high and high-school levels, is a reality. "The new lesson plans give students a strong base in earthquake science," said Pat Orsburn-Robertson, coordinator of the project. "It includes several hands-on science projects, and from there students learn the basics about how to be prepared and stay safe during an earthquake."...

Five new officers join the Cape Girardeau Police Department Monday, the first step in a plan to bring more police presence to the community. Police Chief Howard H. Boyd Jr. said he believes citizens will notice a marked difference by early spring. New officers are Samuel L. Keeley, 23, Richard D. Pipkin, 22, Erik C. Lawrenz, 21, Bridget D. Huff, 26, all of Cape Girardeau; and Joseph Tado, 31, of St. Louis...

SCOTT CITY -- A longtime Southeast Missouri Regional Port Authority commissioner charged Friday that efforts to put a gambling boat at the port are being stymied by Scott City Mayor Larry Forhan. Morty Potashnick of Sikeston, a member of the port's gaming committee, said the mayor has not cooperated in efforts to have Scott City annex a part of the port where a boat could be put. ...

Harry Edwards died Saturday, Feb. 22, 1994 at the Missouri Veterans Home. Arrangements are incomplete at Lorberg Memorial Funeral Chapel.

SIKESTON -- Carol June Christ, 67, of Sikeston died Friday, Jan. 21, 1994 at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston. She was born Sept. 25, 1926 in Sikeston, the daughter of Thomas Jackson and Ida Mae Thompson Heath. She is survived by one son, Charles D. Blancett, Tampa, Fla.; one brother, W.T. Tom Heath, Silvis, Ill.; three sisters, Helen Groesbeck, Sikeston, Jackie Blancett, Tampa, Fla., Doris Caston, Sikeston; and one granddaughter...

ANNA, Ill. -- Tressie Carter, 85, of Anna died Saturday, Jan. 22, 1994 at Memorial Hospital in Carbondale. She was born De.c 1, 1908 in Anna, the daughter of Frank and Catherine Brasel Carter. She married Everett Carter on Aug. 29, 1929. He preceded her in death April 28, 1971...

Margaret Lee Giles, 80, died Friday, Jan. 21, 1994 at the Lutheran Home where she had resided for three years. She was born Aug. 5, 1913 in Benton, Ill., the daughter of Orlie H. and Lora M. Hartin Bain. On Aug. 19, 1936 she married Richard H. Giles in Mt. Vernon, Ind. He died on March 21, 1992...

Charles Latham, 81, of 1431 N. Water, died at The Lutheran Home in Cape Girardeau Saturday, Jan. 22, 1994. Funeral arrangements incomplete at Ford and Sons Mt. Auburn Funeral Home.

MOUND CITY, Ill. -- Wilbert L. "Woody" Travis, 74, of Mound City, Ill. died Saturday, Jan. 22, 1994 at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. He was born Nov. 20, 1919 at Mound City, the son of John Williams Travis and Hannah Caldwell. He was an army veteran of World War II...

Evelyn Mae Bess, a resident of the Fountainbleau Lodge, died Saturday, Feb. 22, 1994 at the lodge. Funeral plans are incomplete; Lorberg Memorial Funeral Chapel is in charge of arrangements.

McGEE, Mo. -- Leonard Duniphan, 88, of McGee died Friday, Jan. 21, 1994 at his home. He was born March 11, 1905 in McGee, the son of Sam and Nancy Richie Duniphan. He was a retired farmer and affiliated with the Baptist church. On April 2, 1923, he married Nancy Prince in McGee. She preceded him in death Sept. 16, 1977. He was also preceded in death by two children...

CHAFFEE -- Modine Annie Frazier, 75, of Chaffee, died Friday, Jan. 21, 1994 at the Chaffee Nursing Center. She was born May 22, 1918 in Mississippi. She was a homemaker. She is survived by one daughter, Hazel Hinton, Chaffee; one sister Pauline Hart, Tallapousa, Mo.; and two grandchildren...

Esther Emilie Johanna Wunderlich, 82, 153 South Park, died Friday Jan. 21, 1994 at St. Francis Medical Center. She was born Jan. 10, 1912 at Altona, Wayne County, Neb. She was the daughter of Johann Martin and Emilie Caroline Vogel. On March 6, 1930 she married Herbert Wunderlich at Farrar; he preceded her in death on Dec. 15, 1992...

Hannah Jane Macon, 93, of Cape Girardeau, died Friday, Jan. 21, 1994 at her daughter's residence in Oklahoma City, Okla. Funeral arrangements are incomplete at Ford and Sons Sprigg Street Chapel.

Nominations are now being accepted for the first Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce Educators of the Year Awards. The awards will be presented annually by the chamber's Education Committee. Designed to focus attention on excellence in education, the Educators of the Year Awards will honor one educator in each of the five categories: elementary, secondary, special services, vocational education, and administration...

U.S. Rep. Alan Wheat of Kansas City says speculation that he will not seek the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate this year "is absolutely untrue." "It is no secret anymore what my intentions are," said Wheat Friday. "I have been traveling the state talking and listening to people. I have created a fund-raising committee for this race."...

Traveling northward recently, into the foothills of the Ozarks, I took special notice of the endings of the numerous little streams that come twisting down the mountains and spread out into miniature lakes or puddles as they butt up against some embankment. Frozen over with what I call china ice, with dark, low-hanging limbs draped above, they look like picture post cards showing off some of Missouri's charm...

The alarm clock failed to rouse you from a deep sleep, and then you spend an hour you can't afford trying to find a tie that matches the only clean pair of pants in your wardrobe. On the way to work some idiot pulls out in front of you, then proceeds to putter along for six blocks at 15 mph. Upon arriving at work you find a note taped to your desk: "The boss wants to see you right away."...