Stories from Wednesday, March 18, 1998

Citizens of Cape Girardeau don't have to wait three weeks to cast their vote in another city election. But this one isn't official. It is time to choose the design for a new city flag. The entries -- five for the adult city flag and three for the children's flag -- are currently on display at the Cape Girardeau Public Library. Ballots are also available there...

For decades, Southern Living magazine has shared its tasty recipes and succinct advice on entertaining, home and travel with millions of women and men. Southern Living specialists will step beyond the pages of the magazine into the Show Me Center April 30 to bring these ideas to life...

To the editor: Columbia Sportswear Co., which has a plant in Chaffee, has been sending employees who need surgeries that are not emergency in nature to St. Louis since the fall of 1996. That decision was reached when our insurance carrier was unable to sign a contract with either of the two hospitals in Cape Girardeau after protracted negotiations...

Archaeologists have discovered evidence in tombs as old as 8000 B.C. that pancakes were a significant component of the ancient Egyptian diet. And as Maguelonne Toussaint-Samat points out in her 800-page volume, "The History of Food," the "cakes" of the Old Testament were really pancakes. ...

About 3,000 teachers and school administrators are expected in Cape Girardeau Friday for the 122nd annual Missouri State Teachers Association Meeting. The meeting will be held at the Show Me Center. Attendance hasn't been reached the 3,000 mark in three years, but a combination of good weather and good timing mean the annual MSTA meeting will draw a crowd, said Sheryl Smith, MSTA Southeast district director...

WHAT A comfort to know that we have Steve Mosley to enlighten us about others' opinions, as in his retort on "fancy language." Also, why does he comment only on local opinions? Why not George Will's or Paul Greenberg's? What claptrap. Incidentally, "retort" is from the Latin for bend, as in bend the truth...

Whom do you trust? Fox News has released a poll which ought to concern the White House. The public was asked this question: Which is more likely: that Saddam Hussein will "keep his word and allow inspections of presidential palaces" or that Clinton will "tell the American people what really happened with Monica Lewinsky." Thirty-six percent put their trust in Hussein, 16 percent in Clinton and 30 percent said neither! Polls like this show that no matter how many "spin artists" the White House hires to influence the news, the American people have reached a conclusion about Bill Clinton's character and values that isn't likely to change. ...

In three weeks Cape Girardeau voters will consider 13 city fee increases that will be on the April 7 ballot. The increases would raise a relatively small amount of money in relation to million-dollar budgets. The additional annual revenue would be $63,000. But the fee ballot issues are really more of a matter of principle than money...

A joint committee of Cape Girardeau and Jackson officials came away from an hour-long meeting Tuesday with a desire to develop 5-, 10- and 20-year annexation plans to accommodate growth of both cities. It was the first meeting of the committee, which wants to develop a map that outlines possible future boundaries for the two cities. The committee is scheduled to meet again at 3 p.m. June 23 at the Jackson City Hall...

Cape Girardeau's Weed and Seed committee has established the city's south side for its first project. The Cape Girardeau committee met Tuesday night to decide how to distribute about $40,000 to groups that provide educational development and recreational activities on the city's south side...

A former sheriff and a chief deputy will meet in Pulaski County's general election in November, and a chief deputy in Union County was elected sheriff Tuesday. In the southernmost county of Illinois, Alexander, Sheriff Warren Mitchell was winning with half of the precincts reporting late Tuesday...

Munching on green eggs and ham, Jerica Moore explained Tuesday she had seen a leprechaun earlier. "They are little green men who live in a pot of gold," the first-grader at Trinity Lutheran School explained. "They are magical, and I saw one this morning -- in the newspaper."...

I never bounced a check before The Other Half slipped that wedding band onto my finger. I'm not sure exactly when I began losing my mind. It was probably about the time The Other Half and I stood in that Cape County Courthouse gazebo before our relatives, Judge Syler and God Almighty, and swore to love, honor and deeply respect one another until death do we part...

The Village of Dutchtown has taken a big step towards getting a flood-control levee after village officials signed an agreement with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for a project feasibility study. The agreement paves the way for Corps of Engineers experts to study the feasibility and economic justification of a levee to protect Dutchtown and Highway 74 from Mississippi River flooding. The study should be completed in December...

Jon Younghouse used to idolize some of the nation's top collegiate swimmers. Now he's among them. Such is the growing stature of the 1996 Cape Girardeau Central High School graduate, who has established himself as one of the top distance swimmers in the nation this year during his sophomore season at the University of Texas...

ORLANDO, Fla. -- Southeast Missouri State University's women's softball team won two more games Tuesday to improve to 5-1 in the Rebel Spring Games. The Otahkians beat Yale 6-1 in their first contest of the day then rolled past Manhattan 13-1. The victories improved Southeast to 9-3 overall on the season...

SIKESTON -- The Sikeston school board has named head boys basketball coach Fred Johnson as the high school's dean of students. He was named during a special meeting this week. He will assume his duties next school year. The position is designed to help students resolve problems that may interfere with their education...

Cape Central High senior golfer Michael Oslund recorded his first career hole-in-one during practice Tuesday at the Cape Girardeau Country Club. Oslund aced the par-3, 180-yard second hole with a six iron. Witnessing the shot were teammates Dane McLaird, Danny Groesbeck and Bryan Welker...

ST. LOUIS -- The Cape Central swim team won all 12 events Thursday in a 100-86 victory over Parkway North. The Central swimmers will host their first of only three home meets today at 4:30 p.m. against Fort Zumwalt South. Results Medley Relay -- 1. (Mary Beth Owen, Grace Freeman, Jennifer Freeze, Jean Maguire), 2:02.34 (SQ)...

Scott City youth league registration will be held Saturday from 8-11 a.m. in the high school cafeteria. A final registration will be April 4 from noon-1 p.m. at the Scott City Park. Tryouts will follow. For more information, call Phillis Spinks at 264-3411...

The St. Francois Raceway in Farmington will open its 1998 racing season April 11 with a full slate of activities. The raceway will feature winged sprint cars, sportsmen class and hobby stock cars with several other classes of vehicles during the season including rear engine sprints and micro sprints during special events...

St. Vincent High in Perryville will hold its annual round-robin alumni basketball tournament Easter weekend. Action begins Friday, April 10 and concludes Saturday the 11th. Cost to compete is $25. To register or for more information contact athletic director Bruce Valleroy at 547-2560 or Ken Schumer at 547-4173...

A SEMO South Babe Ruth baseball meeting will be held March 23 at 7 p.m. at Scott City High School, room 9. Coaches interested in having their teams play in this area should attend. For more information, call Phyllis Spinks at 264-3411.

The 13th annual Scott City alumni basketball tournament will be held Friday beginning at 6 p.m. The public is invited to attend. Hosted by the Scott City Park Board, all proceeds will go to Scott City youth league recreations.

Signups for the 1998 Girls Softball/Tee Ball season will be held the next two Saturdays (March 21 and March 28) at Jackson City Hall. Registration hours for both days will be 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Registration fee is $30 per player. Checks should be made payable to Jackson Girls Softball League...

The Cape Girardeau Capahas baseball team will hold its annual benefit auction Saturday at the Show Me Center. Doors will open at 8 a.m., with the auction beginning at 9 a.m. This auction is the primary fundraiser for the Capahas, Cape's highly successful summer baseball team. A host of attractive items will be auctioned off...

SCOTT CITY -- William Woods University, an NAIA school in Fulton, recently announced the signing of Scott City senior Amy O'Brien to a letter of intent to play both basketball and softball for the Owls next season. O'Brien, a 5-foot-6 guard, averaged 14 points, six rebounds and three assists this season for the 20-6 Lady Rams...

CHARLESTON -- Jerry Lee Cloud, 54, of Charleston died Monday, March 16, 1998, at the Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston. He was born Oct. 31, 1943, at Tiptonville, Tenn., son of James Claud and Hazel Odell Reynolds Cloud. He lived in Charleston most of his life. He was a self-employed carpenter...

ORAN -- Gilbert A. Hamm, 71, of Oran died Monday, March 16, 1998, at the Advance Nursing Care Center. He was born Sept. 27, 1926, at Oran, son of Irmina Caroline Dannenmueller Hamm of Oran and Leo Hamm. He was a retired farmer and carpenter. He was a member of Guardian Angel Catholic Church in Oran, the St. Joseph Sodality, Knights of Columbus Oran Council 4311 and Morley VFW Post 5368. He served in the U.S. Merchant Marines during World War II...

COBDEN, Ill. -- Bobbie L. "Link" Batson, 68, of Cahokia and formerly of Union County, died Monday, March 16, 1998, at St. Mary's Hospital in East St. Louis. He was born Jan. 5, 1930, at Cobden, son of Glenn and Isabell Fears Batson. He was married to Norma Plott on Jan. 18, 1957, at Cahokia. She survives...

SIKESTON -- Mildred Hawkins, 65, died Tuesday, March 17, 1998, at the Sikeston Convalescent Center. Arrangements are incomplete and will be announced later by Ponder Funeral Home at Sikeston.

CHARLESTON -- Loretta Craig Mims, 49, of Charleston died March 14, 1998, at her home. She was born Dec. 30, 1948, in Dorena, daughter of James E. "Paul" and Annie Canady Craig. She was a member of the Mercy Seat Baptist Church, a 4-H club leader and a member of the Bridge Club...

PERRYVILLE -- William "Bill" O. Alkemeyer. 85, of Perryville, died Tuesday, March 17, 1998, at his home. He was born Sept. 24, 1922, in Bollinger County, son of Charles and Ella Ruessler Alkemeyer. He married Grace Fear Jan. 24, 1947. She died May 21, 1982. He married Dorothy Buchheit Feb. 19, 1983. She survives...

William Dale Woolsey, 67, formerly of Scott City, died Tuesday, March 17, 1998, at the Veterans Hospital in Chicago. Arrangements are incomplete at Amick-Burnett Funeral Chapel in Scott City.

PERRYVILLE -- A memorial service will be held Friday for Kenneth "Kenny" D. Weibrecht, 40, of Perryville. He died Feb. 16, 1998, at Chester, Ill. The service will be held at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Perryville at 7 p.m. The Rev. Jeffrey Lloyd will officiate...

SIKESTON -- Willie Evy Baker, 99, of Sikeston died Saturday, March 14, 1998, at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston. She was born Sept. 15, 1898, in Little Rock, Ark. She was married to Dan Baker, who preceded her in death. She had lived in Vanduser and Sikeston for many years and was a member of Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church in Bell City...

Virden Brown, 92, of Cape Girardeau died Sunday, March 15, 1998, at Southeast Missouri Hospital. He was born Aug. 11, 1905, at West Frankfort, Ill., son of John and Ginny Strop Brown. He had been a live bait shop operator. He was a member of the Gospel Assembly Church in Cape Girardeau...

TAMMS, Ill. -- Donnie I, Tupper, 61, of Thebes died Monday, March 16, 1998, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. He was born Oct. 11, 1936, at Thebes, son of Chelsey and Virginia Tupper. Tupper worked for a riverboat and was a fisherman a number of years...

Area schools begin estimating their kindergarten enrollments this month. In early spring, area schools designate specific dates when they hold screenings and register students for the following school year. Parents hoping to register their child for kindergarten must provide updated immunization records, a birth certificate and a Social Security card to prove state requirements are being met...

The Southeast Missouri Chapter of Children and Adults with Attention Deficit Disorder will host the Missouri ADD Council's fourth annual conference on Friday and Saturday at Southeast Missouri State University. The conference will be held at Robert A. Dempster Hall. The theme of the conference is "Empowering the Child and the Family."...

JACKSON -- Flickering lights and downpours of rain didn't keep Jackson Board of Education candidates from debating issues Tuesday night in preparation for the April 7 school board elections. Connie Wilson, Kay Hendrix, Jeanette Bollinger, Chris Weiss, Charla Myers and Gerald Adams all answered questions regarding safety, transportation, health care, district growth, short- and long-term goals and other issues in Jackson schools. ...

CHARLESTON -- Courtney Tevon Smith, 18, of Charleston died Sunday, March 15, 1998, in Charleston. He was born July 13, 1979, in Sikeston, son of Daryl Hunt of Tamms, Ill., and Essie Smith Wright of Aurora, Ill. Survivors include his parents; a son, D'Marius Tevon Smith of Charleston; a brother, Mujahid Smith of Detroit; three sisters, Tara and Tawana Smith, both of Charleston, and Dania Jones Hunt of Tamms; a grandmother; and great-grandmother...

Son to Geneva Nicole Taylor of Cape Girardeau, Southeast Missouri Hospital, 11:05 a.m. Saturday, March 7, 1998. Name, Avion Deionquez. Weight, 5 pounds 4 ounces. Ms. Taylor is the daughter of Renetta Taylor of St. Louis and Cape Girardeau, and Leroy Carter of St. Louis. She is a student at ECHO Alternative...

The Southeast Missourian asked people how they depend on their telephone service. Local service has progressed far beyond the first telephone line that was installed in Missouri between Jackson and Cape Girardeau in 1877. The line assisted Jackson merchants in conveying orders to the warehouses on the Cape Girardeau waterfront...