Stories from Wednesday, November 29, 1995

MOUNDS, Ill. -- Mable Elizabeth Calvert, 70, of Boynton Beach, Fla., died Sunday, Nov. 26, 1995, at Hospice By The Sea in Boca Raton, Fla. She was born Nov. 17, 1925, in Villa Ridge, daughter of John E. and Frankie Beegle Price. She married Orville Calvert, who died in 1985. She was formerly of Mounds...

To the editor: Thank you for generously supporting Immaculate Conception School with the YELL literacy grant funds. It is your sponsorship that continues to spread the importance of literacy. This literacy grant will be used to fund the proposals for whole language and literature materials submitted by Mrs. Sherry Mitchem and Sister Susan Biegert...

BENTON -- The Scott County Commission got their Christmas gift a month early. A county resident is giving the county part of his land so a road near New Hamburg can be moved. The intersection where county road 236 intersects with Route A is a dangerous one, said Scott County Presiding Commissioner Bob Kielhofner. So the county wants to move the road over an eighth of a mile...

People keep coming in to ask for help from the Salvation Army's "Tree of Lights" campaign, and Salvation Army officials are hopeful donations will keep pace with requests. Charlie Neese, chairman of the 1995 "Tree of Lights" campaign, announced that $30,621 has been collected toward this year's goal of $150,000...

Expanding local vocational and technical educational opportunities has been suggested as part of Vision 2000's study of Cape Girardeau public schools. A group of about 20 businessmen and educators from the Cape Girardeau area went to Paducah recently to compare the West Kentucky State Technical School in Paducah with opportunities here...

Harry and Rosemary Crisp of Marion, Ill., have supported Southeast Missouri State University consistently and generously for many years without a lot of fanfare. The Crisps own Pepsi-Cola plants in Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas and Missouri...

To the editor: "Ridin' on That Valentine Train." Did you ever hear that song about a train full of love? You did if you were a student of Mrs. Lois Farmer at Southeast Missouri State University. It is just one of many songs she taught her music education class. ...

To the editor: Bob Dole, Newt Gingrich and other Republicans are criticizing President Clinton for vetoing their budget-balancing program. The Republicans still don't understand the intentions of the voters. The voters didn't trust the Republicans in both houses of Congress and the presidency too, so they put a Democrat in the White House with a veto pen to watch over the common people...

To the editor: On behalf of all Adult Basic Education teachers and literacy students, I want to express my sincerest appreciation to the entire YELL committee for the $1,500 grant awarded to the Adult Basic Education program at the Cape Girardeau Area Vocational-Technical School. ...

To the editor: We would like to thank United Way and the YELL program for the opportunity to help promote literacy among young readers in Jackson and Scott City in the most enjoyable of ways (stopping 18-wheelers) and for the generous grant that will allow us to provide kits that will help beginning readers get off to a good start...

COMMERCE -- Residents here have some mixed feelings about how to proceed with a flood buyout option. Earlier this month, the federal government approved Commerce and Cape Girardeau for the program. "It's sad to think of leaving, but I have no other choice," said Alma Pollock, 85. Pollack's home is one of the 72 properties eligible for the buyout option...

Daughter to Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Dayton Green of Jackson, Southeast Missouri Hospital, 7:43 a.m. Friday, Nov. 10, 1995. Name, Kailey Amanda. Weight, 8 pounds 9 ounces. Second daughter. Mrs. Green is the former Deborah Ourth, daughter of Herbert and Dolores Ourth of Jackson. Green is a gas mechanic at Union Electric. He is the son of Dayton and Katie Green of Jackson...

MORLEY -- Funeral service for John Lane of Morley will be held at 11 a.m. today at Ponder Funeral Home in Sikeston. Carl Addison will officiate, with burial in Garden of Memories Cemetery at Sikeston. Lane, 46, died Monday, Nov. 27, 1995, at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston...

CAIRO, Ill. -- Oscar Elbert Dinwiddie, 87, of Cairo, Ill., died Monday, Nov. 27, 1995, at the Jackson County Nursing Home in Murphysboro, Ill. Friends may call at the Christ Temple Church of God in Christ from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday. Funeral service will be at 11 a.m. Friday at the church. Burial will be at Spencer Heights Memorial Park in Mounds, Ill...

MOUND CITY, Ill. -- Arvetta D. McElmurry Danner, 48, of Mound City died Friday, Nov. 24, 1995, at St. Francis Medical Center. She was born Sept. 22, 1947, at Pulaski, Ill., daughter of Raymond and Irene Poindexter McElmurry. She and Will Danner were married...

PULASKI, Ill. -- Clifford Adkinson, 65, of Pulaski, died Thursday, Nov. 23, 1995, at his home. He was born June 27, 1930, in Pulaski, son of Forman and Mary Griffin Adkinson. Adkinson was employed with Orlan Parker Farm more than 40 years. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II and received a Victory Medal...

CAIRO, Ill. -- Carol Marie Weatherspoon, 50, of Milwaukee, Wis., died Wednesday, Nov. 22, 1995, at her home. She was born May 9, 1945, in Cairo, daughter of Thomas and Dorothy Johnson Williams Sr. She and Thomas Weatherspoon were married in 1969. Weatherspoon was a graduate of Sumner High School and served in the U.S. Army. She moved to Chicago and then to Milwaukee in 1971. She was employed at Marquette University...

Missourians expecting the end of the federal speed limit to lead to an autobahn in the state will be disappointed. However, motorists no doubt will be given the green light to drive a little faster on some Missouri roadways. Despite safety concerns, President Clinton signed into law Tuesday a measure that eliminates the national 55 mph speed limit...

In the second disappointment for the Cape Girardeau Regional Airport in as many days, the FAA announced Tuesday that it will cease funding operation of the airport's air-traffic control tower. However, city and airport officials hope there still is a chance to convince the Federal Aviation Administration that its decision is in error...

Mr. and Mrs. C have shared 55 years of marriage: the rocky start, the growing pains and now the golden years. However, the year hasn't sparkled. Mrs. C had a stroke and is now in a wheelchair. When nurses asked Mr. C if they were familiar with Christmas for the Elderly, he offered to make a contribution. The nurses, who know the couple can't afford any luxuries, explained that perhaps someone could help them this year...

Doug Rowe may have best described this week's opening of all seven lanes of the Route K bridge over Interstate 55. "When I crossed over the interstate Tuesday morning it put a smile on my face," said the manager of the Target store in Cape West Business Park on the West side of the interstate. "I'm glad to see it open."...

Organizers of the 1995 Toybox toy drive say they don't have much of a "cushion" to fall back on for this year's distribution. "Before, we've always had toys left over or donations left over to start again the next year," said Kerry Reaves of the Cape Girardeau Jaycees, co-chair of this year's drive. "This year, we are starting out from nothing. We hardly have anything left over."...

Weddings, like sorrows, seem to come not in single spies but in battalions. Unlike visits to the dentist, which are prudently spread over the course of the year to diminish the impact of the accompanying Dread Factor, nuptial celebrations are invariably grouped in close proximity on the calender...

JACKSON -- Jackson residents are readying for a "Hometown Christmas" -- the theme for this year's Jackson Jaycees Christmas Parade. Float judging will begin at 12:30 p.m. and the parade at 1:30 p.m. Saturday. It will begin on the corner of Madison and High streets, proceed down Main Street and end at the Schaper IGA Foodliner...

JACKSON -- Jackson Public Schools will save about $50,000 in insurance premiums this year after joining Missouri United Schools Insurance Council. MUSIC is a not-for-profit, collective plan open to the state's public schools and community colleges. It features property, liability and workers' compensation coverage, along with coverage specific to school districts, such as school board legal liability and special events coverage...

The Southeast Missourian asked people to reflect on the 1995 football season of the Jackson High School Indians. Bob Sink: "Our young men performed very well all year. There was a point that we had to overcome some adversity when we lost two in a row earlier in the season, but we put things together and ended up having a super season."...

JACKSON -- Riverside Regional Library will host a 40th anniversary celebration from 2-5 p.m. Sunday at the library's main center, 204 S. Union St. Today's Cash-Book Journal reports the theme of the celebration will be "From Bookmobile to Information Superhighway."...

DESOTO -- Cape Central boys basketball team made its 1995-96 debut Tuesday and picked up an opening night victory with a 65-58 decision over the DeSoto Dragons. Lavelle Lewis paced the Tiger attack with 18 points while Jay Meystedt hit three 3-points and finished with 15 points. Lawrence Jackson also reached double figures with 10 points...

Now that winter weather has arrived, and we have had touches of snow to prove it, many people are discovering not only the excitement of bird-watching, but also how easy it is to attract bird life. For the small cost of regular handouts, our feathered friends flit about the premises putting on a show each day that rivals a Disney production...

Harlan Smothers displayed a few of the penny post cards in his collection. Michael Roark has collected penny postcards for many years. Displayed on mantels, tables, around doorways and under glass, Christmas cards from friends and family during the holiday season warm more than the room...