Stories from Wednesday, June 15, 1994

OLIVE BRANCH, Ill. -- Cody Blake Holder, 6-week-old son of Robert and Misty McKee Holder of Olive Branch, died at Tuesday, June 14, 1994, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. He was born April 30, 1994, in Carbondale. Surviving are his parents; a brother, R. ...

Union Electric Co. is working at the William-Sheridan intersection this week to upgrade its gas mains as part of an on-going project to replace cast iron mains along William. Ralph Maxton, district engineer for Union Electric's gas division, said the outside, eastbound lane of William will be blocked from 500 feet west of Sheridan to just east of Sheridan...

"Brachiosaurus. Monozlonius." Youngsters and adults alike may have problems pronouncing some fireworks available for 1994. "The Purple Dinosaur and Barney Dinosaur have been popular characters the past year," said E.C. Younghouse of Younghouse Distributing Co. Inc. of Cape Girardeau. "It was only a matter of time until dinosaur-oriented fireworks followed."...

The Cape Girardeau County Chapter of the American Red Cross will be rechartered soon, it was announced at the chapter's 77th annual meeting Tuesday. "We have been through a busy and exciting year at our local chapter," said Mary Burton, chapter executive director. "The Red Cross has accomplished so much for so many this year. We have done it with the lowest proportion of givers and smallest average gift of all major philanthropies...

The city of Cape Girardeau is taking a hard look at electrical contracting. Currently, anyone who pays $35 can obtain a permit to do electrical wiring in a new home or house that is being remodeled. This $35 seems little guarantee that the work will be up to standard. In fact, the city building inspectors have documented a number of substandard work. In one particular case, it required six inspections before the work was brought up to proper specifications...

The Missouri mule -- most people probably think it's our state animal. It's not. Missouri has no animal with that current designation, although we have a state flower, state song and even a state fossil. The American Legion Post 63 in Cape Girardeau has taken up this mule project, and hopes to promote the issue all the way to Jefferson City...

The 1994 Riverfest drew one of the largest crowds ever -- upwards of 75,000 for the two days. But a credit to the people and organizers was the fact it was one of the best behaved. Friday night crowds were large thanks to ideal weather conditions. A Saturday afternoon thunderstorm chased away Riverfest-goers, but they returned en masse by concert time...

Southeast Missourian, The school superintendent's decision to allow non-qualified students to participate in the High School Commencement exercises, on surface appears to be, something about nothing. Surely, accumulating a specific number of credit hours during tenure in High School has little to do with the projected success of the student. ...

To the Editor, I submit this letter to you for publication. I feel this way and I make no apology for my position. Mr. Bill Clinton: Moments of truth define character. Your moment came. You walked away ... 58,000 died. On the 50th anniversary of D-Day, I say you standing on Omaha Beach. You were center stage on a field of honor. The world watched and listened...

To the Editor: I believe the point that has been missed in the school graduation issue is -- we no longer have summer school. Without summer school, many of these kids do not have an option. Correspondence classes can be done for some classes, but any class with lab work could not be taken with correspondence. ...

Son to Mr. and Mrs. Scott Butler, 307 Claiborne, Southeast Missouri Hospital, 8:24 a.m. Tuesday, June 7, 1994. Name, Seth Thomas. Weight, 8 pounds 7 ounces. Second son. Mrs. Butler is the former Kathleen Thies, daughter of Walter and Ruth Thies of Poplar Bluff. She is a secretary at Southeast Missouri State University. Butler is a financial planner with Butler and Associates, and is the son of Mea Butler of Cape Girardeau...

Robert Dee Dier Sr., 62, of Hendersonville, Tenn., died Sunday, June 12, 1994, at his home. He was born Aug. 9, 1931, in Hastings, Neb., son of Edward and Hazel Shore Dier. He was a member of the Hastings 1949 state basketball team, served in the U.S. Navy during the Korean War, and attended Hastings College...

ANNA, Ill. -- Funeral service for Lela Grace Lingle of Anna will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday at Lutz & Rendleman Funeral Home in Anna. The Rev. Richard Sullins will officiate, with burial in Ebenezer Hall Cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home from 5:30-8:30 p.m. today...

JACKSON -- Martin Birk, 85, Jackson Route 2, died Monday, June 13, 1994, at Jackson Manor. McCombs Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

CHARLESTON -- Theodore Gillespie Jr., 55, of Charleston, died Monday, June 13, 1994, at his home. He was born Nov. 17, 1938, in Henson, son of Theodore and Sarah Smith Gillespie. Gillespie was a farmer, and member of Opportunity Church of God In Christ...

JACKSON -- Pearl B. Pender, 80, of Jackson, died Tuesday, June 14, 1994, at Jackson Manor. She was born Feb. 12, 1914, at House Mill, daughter of James W. and Mary J. Reeves Worley. She and Ray Pender were married March 9, 1928, at Annapolis. He died March 6, 1992...

SIKESTON -- Lillie Belle Lay, 85, of Sikeston, died Tuesday, June 14, 1994, at Missouri Delta Medical Center. She was born Oct. 22, 1908, in Brady, Texas, daughter of Asa Joseph and Mary Sexton Barker. She and William Samuel Lay were married Oct. 30, 1927, in Okemah, Okla. He died Dec. 30, 1961...

JACKSON -- Funeral service for Rosa Olivia Meyr of Jackson will be held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at McCombs Funeral Chapel. The Rev. Robert Henrichs will officiate, with burial in Russell Heights Cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home from 4-8 p.m. today...

EAST PRAIRIE -- Funeral service for Jim Blackman of the Dogwood community will be held at 1 p.m. today at Shelby Funeral Chapel here. The Revs. Harold Norton and Richard McGehee will officiate. Burial will be in Dogwood Cemetery. Blackman, 75, died Monday, June 13, 1994, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau...

JACKSON -- James B. Henderson, 66, of Jackson, died Monday, June 13, 1994, at his home. He was born Feb. 18, 1928, in Jackson, son of Weston and Lena Goodwin Henderson. He and Lawanna Christy were married Sept. 1, 1950, in Jackson. Henderson had farmed in the area. He was a member of New McKendree United Methodist Church, Altenthal-Joerns American Legion Post 158, Excelsior Masonic Lodge 441 AF&AM, Sword of Bunker Hill, and Elks 2652 of Jackson...

Senate Bill 676 was designed to "clean up" a few problems with Senate Bill 380, the law that made sweeping changes in education funding for Missouri's public schools. But to superintendents like Sikeston's Robert Buchanan, the legislation is a nightmare...

A steady breeze gently nudged the American flag at the Cape Girardeau War Memorial Park as Burt Lehman watched soiled and tattered versions of Old Glory take a "dignified" death. "That's what it's all about, right there," said Lehman, nodding in the direction of the flag that could be seen beyond the hill of the Missouri Veterans Home. ...

On Father's Day, Dick Harrison might be thinking of a flower in Hawaii that has a reputation for running wild and free, seemingly bound by its own laws when the climate is just right. The flower reminds the Cape resident of some of his father's richest and most elegant moments on Earth...

Registration for the Salvation Army day camp will begin June 13 - June 27, 1994. Registration fee will be $7.50 per a child. Age limit will be 4-12 years at time of registration. Theme for this year will be, Our Community, Our World. Activities for this year will be craft classes, Bible classes, games, story time, cooking classes, and etc.. Field trip to the Magic House in St. Louis and other places of interest. For more information call 335-7000. Ask for Lori...

Southeast Missourian subscribers now have two more places to drop off subscription payments: at payment boxes inside the south doors of Schnucks, 19 S. Kingshighway in Cape Girardeau, and at the service desk of Scott City Bestway, 1314 Main in Scott City...

The Southeast Missouri State University Board of Regents today will consider approving a $55.4 million operating budget for the school for the 1995 fiscal year. The regents convene at 9:30 a.m. in the University Center Ballroom. The budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1 is almost $3 million higher than the current year's budget, said Art Wallhausen, assistant to the president at Southeast...

JACKSON -- A committee representing kindergarten and elementary school teachers in the Jackson School District told the Jackson School Board they need more time to plan and prepare for daily classes. The committee presented a report to the board at its regular meeting on Tuesday...

Plan ahead. That's the advice of travel agent Jane Harte. As mother of two children, she did just that when her kids were growing up. "I think if you are a travel agent, you have to be a detail person," she said. But even the best planner can't plan everything. "You have to be flexible," she advised...

Susie Felker laughs at the mere mention of Chevy Chase's movie "National Lampoon's Vacation." She and her family can relate well to the movie antics of the Griswold family as it traveled to Disney-like "Walley World." Over the years, the family has managed to survive plenty of pack-up-the-car summer vacations that make "Vacation" seem like a home movie...

There are great Father's Day gifts in garden centers. If your dad is the creative type, gardening may be the perfect way for him to release his energy and be creative. If he does not have the basic tools of gardening, how about a new rake, shovel, spade, garden hose or a good sturdy trowel? If your dad would rather relax in a hammock and listen to the birds sing, how about a new bird bath, a sunflower feeder or a corn holder?...

QUESTION: My dog has recently begun chasing cars. Is there a way of breaking this habit? ANSWER: Your concern is certainly justified since dogs that chase cars often have short life spans. This can be a very difficult habit to break. It is instinctive for dogs to chase objects that move away from them. In the wild, this behavior is the key to catching prey required for survival. The domesticated dog exhibits this instinct by chasing sticks, balls, cats and moving vehicles...