Stories from Friday, January 30, 1998

To the editor: It's ironic that, just as a delegation of Missouri politicians and business leaders were traveling in Eastern Europe to attract business and protect jobs in our state, the Missouri Supreme Court and a state regulatory agency took actions that could punish an existing legal industry and jeopardize the jobs of nearly 9,000 employees...

It's 2 a.m., and your 3-year old toddler has a slight fever. You run to the medicine cabinet to get his fever-reducing medicine, but the only thing you can find is made specifically for infants. It's the same medicine, so I'll just double the dosage, you think to yourself...

Nowadays, a person experiencing a heart attack has a better chance than ever to survive and make a good recovery. According to the American Heart Association, from 1980 to 1990, the death rate for myocardial infarctions declined more than 32%. Survival and recovery depend upon recognition of the signs of a heart attack and immediately seeking medical help. Of course, good long-term recovery often involves full cooperation of the patient including changes in lifestyle...

The $14 million school bond issue approved by Cape Girardeau voters last year resulted in state funding for one capital project and savings for local taxpayers. In his State of the State address last week Gov. Mel Carnahan announced a proposed budget that included $1.5 million for a portion of the cost of a 90,000-square-foot vocational-technical school in Cape Girardeau. ...

THIS IS for the lady, and I use the term loosely, who was driving the large dark green utility vehicle in front of the Cape Wal-Mart at approximately 10:30 a.m. on Jan. 23. What is your problem? My 3-year-old son and I were trying to cross, and we did have the right-of-way. ...

In his State of the Union Address, President Clinton made an appeal that is sure to be well received by an aging generation of Baby Boomers: Save Social Security first. Sadly, the president overlooked federal borrowing from the Social Security Trust Fund that makes it possible for him to take credit for balancing the federal budget. ...

It is a fact that the American news media succumbs easily to the frenzy level whenever certain events occur. As a result, there are probably still a good number of newspaper readers and television viewers who still aren't aware that the Unabomber case is over. Why? Because Ted Kaczynski pleaded guilty during the height of media coverage of the latest Clinton scandal...

To the editor: Just recently I began volunteering at the Teen Challenge Thrift Store. For those of you who may be unfamiliar with this ministry, it is a second-hand store on Sprigg Street whose proceeds fund numerous projects of the Teen Challenge Auxiliary...

To the editor: I had never seen a dehorned tree prior to moving to Southeast Missouri over 20 years ago. Dehorning, stubbing off or topping trees is a common practice here. It isn't common elsewhere. Dehorning is that method of pruning a large, graceful, naturally shaped tree into what looks like a large, grotesque hat rack. The ugliness of the result should be enough reason not to practice this pruning method. Other reasons exist...

An agreement between Alliance Blue Cross Blue Shield and MedAmerica HealthNet Inc. stipulates that the local network won't be liable for losses on a state health insurance contract. The settlement also stipulates that all of the doctors and hospitals contracted with MedAmerica HealthNet for the HealthNet Blue product will contract directly with Alliance Blue Cross Blue Shield until at least Oct. 1...

Auto dealers and manufacturers have reservations about a new regulation that permits the installation of an air bag cutoff switch. The switch would allow drivers to temporarily deactivate the bag in their car. The U.S. Department of Transportation's ruling changes air bag regulations so that certain motorists can install on-off switches for their vehicle air bags...

Recipents of the Vision 2000 Awards of Distinction include, from left, Scott Meyer, Marge Engleman, Carol Sue Reimann, Steve Williams, Mike Edmunds, and Jim Dufek; not present: Julia Jorgensen and Mary Kasten. Fourteen Cape Girardeans were honored at the ninth Vision 2000 Awards of Distinction breakfast Thursday at Southeast Missouri Hospital...

PERRYVILLE -- If an apple a day can keep the doctor away, it certainly sounds worthy of being Missouri's official state fruit. Perryville's eighth graders hope to harvest such an honor for the apple. Missouri has a whole host of state symbols, including a state flower, fossil, insect, rock and tree. But it doesn't have an official fruit...

Adultery already had been invented when Bill and I were growing up, so when did he forget about hell and damnation? Most of us have been caught up in the latest White House scandal, even if our involvement is limited to denouncing what has become lurid news from our nation's capital...

JACKSON -- Last season, Jackson High's girls basketball team finished second in Class 4A. Notre Dame placed second in Class 2A. When the teams met in the HealthSouth Holiday Classic last month, Notre Dame dealt Jackson its first loss this season. Entering Thursday night's rematch, the Lady Indians had won 10 successive games -- but the streak wasn't enough to quash the memories of that lone blemish...

With their inside game somewhat depleted by injuries, Southeast Missouri State University's basketball Indians turned to the outside to pick up a much-needed victory Thursday night. The Indians bombed home 13 3-pointers -- in 24 attempts -- and also did plenty of damage from closer to the basket as they crushed Morehead State 99-79 in front of 4,414 fans at the Show Me Center...

After forcing 20 Cape Central turnovers Thursday at the Tiger Fieldhouse, the Kelly Lady Hawks' defense picked a bad time to fall asleep. Kelly allowed Central's Kim Aslinger to drive in uncontested for an easy layup with 1:05 left to break a 44-44 tie in the Lady Tigers' 48-44 victory...

Only one wrestling match went the distance Thursday at Cape Central in the Tigers' 54-27 dual victory over Marion, Ill. Of 11 matches, 10 ended with pins. Central won seven of those, and added two forfeit victories to easily defeat Marion. Winners for Central were: Paul Miller, Darren Harris, Jon Lowrance, Ben Allen, Jamell Austin, Otis Turner and Matt Strickland. Alex Elfrink and Craig Knoth earned forfeit wins...

After scoring lopsided wins over Murray State last week, Southeast Missouri State University's men's and women's track teams should have tougher competition today. Southeast's men will face defending Ohio Valley Conference indoor champion Eastern Illinois while Southeast's women will take on Tennessee-Martin in a pair of dual meets at the Student Recreation Center. Field events will begin at 5:30 p.m., with the running events slated to start at 7 p.m...

Leon Albert Kipping, 75, of Mount Vernon, Ill., formerly of Cape Girardeau, died Wednesday, Jan. 28, 1998, at Hospice Nursing Home in Mount Vernon. He was born Dec. 23, 1922, in Cape Girardeau, son of Julius Heinrich and Anna Marie Miesner Kipping. He attended Trinity Lutheran School and Central High School in Cape Girardeau and the University of Oklahoma. He served in the Army in Germany during World II...

DEXTER -- William G. "Bill" Evans, 68, of Dexter, died Wednesday, Jan. 28, 1998, at his home. He was born July 18, 1929, at Dexter, son of Edison Evans and Hallie Evans Crutcher. He was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Dexter and a former grain inspector for the MFA Exchange at Bernie, a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps and a member of the Stoddard County Association for Retarded Citizens...

Estus Jones Jeffery, 56, of Norfolk, Va., formerly of Haywood City, Mo., and Paducah, Ky., died Tuesday, Jan. 27, 1998, in Norfolk. She was born Sept. 16, 1941, in Shugulak, Miss., daughter of Harry and Lurean Hardin Jones and had lived in Missouri since 1950. She was a Baptist...

HOWARDVILLE -- Jewell Caruthers, 76, of Howardville died Sunday, Jan. 25, 1998, at Pemiscot Memorial Hospital in Hayti. He was born Feb. 7, 1921, at Oxford, Miss., son of Will and Stella Williams Caruthers. He had lived in Missouri for more than 25 years and was a former employee of the city of Howardville...

Esther Louise Grim, 71, of Cape Girardeau died Wednesday, Jan. 28, 1998, at her home. She was born Sept. 15, 1926, in Hibbing, Minn., daughter of Dr. Olav and Esther Larsen Birkland. She and Wayne Grim were married Oct. 14, 1965, in Upper Marlboro, Md...

MARBLE HILL -- Patricia JoAnn Zimmerman, 58, of Omaha, Neb., died Tuesday, Jan. 13, 1998, at Methodist Hospital in Omaha. She was born May 26, 1939, at Marble Hill, daughter of Charles F. and Hazel Schreiner. She and "Jim" Zimmerman were married July 3, 1958...

SILVER LAKE -- William Robert Jannin, 94, of Silver Lake died Wednesday, Jan. 28, 1998, at Perry Oaks Healthcare Center. He was born July 18, 1903, in Perry County, son of Marcellus and Mary Louise Seifert Jannin. He and Mary "Edna" Layton were married April 24, 1933. She died Feb. 26, 1977...

JACKSON -- Leona E. Ponder, 89, of Jackson died Wednesday, Jan. 28, 1998, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. She was born July 8, 1908, at Frohna, daughter of Henry and Alma Koenig Mangels. She and Marion L. Ponder were married June 1, 1946. He died April 5, 1988...

PERRYVILLE -- Elmer B. "Spitz" Unterreiner, 87, of Perryville died Wednesday, Jan. 28, 1998, at Perry County Memorial Hospital. He was born Jan. 22, 1911, at Old Appleton, son of Leo and Julie Meyer Unterreiner. He and Rose P. Welker were married July 12, 1941, at Apple Creek...

BLOOMFIELD -- Graveside service for Jane Elizabeth Curry of Bloomfield will be held at 1 p.m. today at Bloomfield Cemetery. The Rev. Charles Hanna will officiate. Chiles-Cooper Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Curry, 97, died Thursday, Jan. 29, 1998, at Chateau Girardeau Health Center in Cape Girardeau...

PORTAGEVILLE -- Fred Battles, 72, of Portageville died Thursday, Jan. 29, 1998, at his home. He was born April 11, 1925, in Nobel, Ark., son of Fred and Goldie Scott Battles. He and June Harrison were married Aug. 27, 1952. Battles had worked at Richardson Gin in Marston. He was a member of First Methodist Church of Marston...

Louise Anna Steimle, age 77, of Cape Girardeau died Thursday, Jan. 29, 1998, at St. Francis Medical Center. Miss Steimle was born May 6, 1920, in Cape Girardeau, the daughter of Joseph and Frances Job Steimle. She was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church and also Council of Catholic Women. Miss Steimle had been a physical therapist, LPN, and worked with the Crippled Children's Service, Polio Department of St. Francis Hospital. She also was a nurse at the Boy Scouts Camp...