Stories from Wednesday, June 3, 1998

An electric timer control box operates the sprinkler system. There are many good reasons why lawn sprinkler systems are becoming more popular these days. If the automatic system is one that is designed and maintained properly, it uses water more efficiently than hand watering. The street doesn't get watered. The system turns itself on and shuts itself off at the right time, so you can play golf, go fishing, or have lunch with the girls instead of moving sprinklers and hoses around all day...

The Cape Girardeau County Sheriff's Department took out time last week to honor one of its own. Officer Ron Eakins was presented the Timothy J. Ruopp Award for his role in capturing a suspect in a two-day manhunt. Sheriff John Jordan praised Eakins for his quick response and the fact he is always in the "thick of things." The presentation was made as part of National Law Enforcement Month...

The stock market continues its record-breaking climb. The Dow Jones Industrial Average has been flirting with the 9,000 mark for several weeks. It wasn't that long ago that experts argued whether the Dow could ever break 7,000. Today, some Wall Street experts forecast the market will reach 10,000 by 2000. The Dow seems destined to achieve new heights...

Over the weekend I saw the movie "BULWORTH" which was much better than the St. Louis Post Dispatch review (and rated much higher by other urban newspapers). I enjoyed it, but be prepared for a lot of foul language ... it's not a movie for children. It might appear cynical or a comedy to the young ... but it is a somewhat fearless movie in depicting some political realities -- realities that are more a criticism of the public and the weaknesses of some politicians who succumb to "the game"...

I'VE HAD it with rude receptionists in doctors' offices. I feel that I am not unreasonable when I call and ask some questions to get directed to the right place. I just wish that some of these receptionists knew how lay people feel and would improve their phone personas. ...

Dogs long have been a nemesis of letter carriers. A little over a decade ago, more than 7,000 mail carriers a year suffered dog bites across the United States. That figure has dwindled substantially, said Mike Keefe, Cape Girardeau postmaster. "Through increased training and public awareness programs, that number was sliced in half by the mid-1990s," he said...

Cape Girardeau police say they have no plans to cut back on the number of officers assigned to Riverfest. Capt. Steve Strong, who coordinates police coverage of special events like Riverfest, says staffing is determined by need, not by worries about additional overtime costs...

Two local volunteers were recently honored by the Greater St. Louis Area Council, Boy Scouts of America, with the Silver Beaver award. John H. Cochran III and Daniel Joseph McKeon, both of Cape Girardeau, were recipients of the award. Both have served the Shawnee District in local and district level positions as well as being active in their churches and community...

To the editor: The flag of the United States is a national treasure. No other flag has a patriotic holiday in its honor. No other flag is an international symbol of freedom, justice and equality, the noblest aspirations of humankind. No other American symbol represents all of us, citizens of a uniquely free and blessed land...

In Cape Girardeau and Jackson, municipal bands serve up summer's sounds of music. The two bands are readying for another season of weekly concerts. The Cape Girardeau Municipal Band will hold its first concert at 8 tonight at the Capaha Park Band Shell...

The federal government continues to plan for construction of a new federal courthouse west of Cape Girardeau City Hall. But the project's future depends on securing funding from Congress, officials said. Both U.S. Sen. Christopher "Kit" Bond, R-Mo., and Rep. Jo Ann Emerson, R-Cape Girardeau, want Congress to include more than $2 million in the fiscal 1999 budget to fund design work on the project...

DELTA -- Delta School District received the go-ahead from voters in a special election Tuesday to purchase $200,000 in general obligation bonds and begin several immediate capital projects. Cape Girardeau County Clerk Rodney Miller said the unofficial vote was 236 for the proposal and 32 against. The proposal received nearly 87 percent of the vote, about 20 percent more than the two-thirds majority needed to pass the bond issue...

Proceedings to condemn old St. Francis Hospital could be initiated by the city within a month. Condemnation that would lead to demolition of the hospital and the old Marquette Hotel, both of which are vacant, has been discussed on numerous occasions by the Cape Girardeau City Council. It again will be on the council's agenda June 15...

It seems like only yesterday little Lisha was pretending to perform a wedding ceremony between Barbie and Ken. Now she's getting married. It looked like the usual stack of mail. Phone bill. Computer bill. Save the whales. Record club bill. Save 30 percent at Tire Kingdom. Credit card bill. (Yikes!) Check. (Whoopee!)...

The Oran High baseball team, ranked third in the state coaches poll, will be making its first trip to the Class 1A State Championships since 1981. Ranked seventh in the same poll, New Bloomfield's Wildcats will be making what seems to be their annual journey to Simmons Field on the campus of the University of Missouri in Columbia when the two schools meet today in a 1A semifinal at 11 a.m...

The St. Louis Cardinals were attempting to break a three-game losing streak Tuesday night against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Due to the late starting time, final results of Tuesday's game were not available at press time. The Cardinals were winning 7-4 in the eighth inning when the Southeast Missourian went to press. Complete results will appear in Thursday's edition...

Talley Haines received a telephone call at approximately 5:30 p.m. Tuesday that figures to alter the course of his life for at least the next couple of years. By way of that call, the 1995 Cape Girardeau Central High School graduate learned that he had been selected by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in the 25th round of the Major League Baseball Amateur Draft...

BENTON -- Randy Grady and Brent Prindle teamed-up Sunday to win this week's Southeast Missouri Horseshoe Association competition at the American Legion. Irv Vandeeven and Jeff Koehler took second followed by Brad Miller and Donna Hess in third.

Kelly High baseball coach Mike Scott will be holding the first annual Kelly Hawks Baseball Camps this summer. Those entering grades 4-6 will meet from 9 a.m.-noon June 8-10 while those entering grades 7-9 will meet from 9 a.m.-noon June 11, 12 and 15...

The 16th Annual Kohlfeld Riverfest Run will be held June 12 at 7:30 p.m. in Downtown Cape Girardeau. The 5.25-mile and one-mile events is open to participants of all ages. The Riverfest Run, put on by the Cape Road Runners Club, has become the largest road run in Southeast Missouri as it opens the weekend festivities for the Riverfest...

The sixth annual Four-Person scramble will be held June 20 at Cape Jaycees Municipal Golf course. The tournament will begin with an 8 a.m. shotgun start. Cost is $120 per team. For more information, contact Sabrina Tate at 334-2031 or 335-5421.

BERNIE -- Glenn "Cot" Putnam, 81, died Tuesday, June 2, 1998, at Dexter Memorial Hospital. He was born in Dexter, the son of John Sylvester and Aura Effie Poundstone Putnam. He married Vivian "Vip" Perry at Piggott, Ark., on Nov. 13, 1937. He operated a shoe repair shop in Bernie from the 1950s through the 1970s. He was a Jehovah's Witness...

SIKESTON -- Haskell E. "Hack" Sullivan, 54, of Sikeston died Monday, June 1, 1998, at Vencor Hospital in St. Louis. He was born Oct. 24, 1943, at Vanduser, son of William Earl and Lucille Box Sullivan. Sullivan was a 1961 graduate of Sikeston High School. He served in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War...

Funeral Mass for Bertilla Marie "Tillie" Loos of Cape Girardeau will be held at 10 a.m. today at St. Vincent's Catholic Church. The Rev. Milton Ryan will officiate, with burial in Russell Heights Cemetery at Jackson. Lorberg Memorial Funeral Chapel is in charge of arrangements...

Armella C. Alt, 86, of Cape Girardeau died Monday, June 1, 1998, at the Lutheran Home. She was born Jan. 31, 1912, at New Hamburg, daughter of Andrew and Catherine Dannenmueller Dirnberger. She and George T. Alt were married Nov. 6, 1942, in Abilene, Texas. He died April 19, 1984...

Funeral Mass for Virgil Thomas Christoff of Cape Girardeau will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday at St. Vincent's Catholic Church. The Rev. Milton Ryan will officiate, with burial in St. Mary's Cemetery. Friends may call at the church after 4 p.m. today. Parish prayers will be at 7 and Knights of Columbus rosary at 7:30...

COBDEN, Ill. -- Funeral for Betty Jane Spiller of Savannah, Ga., will be held at 1 p.m. Friday at Lutz and Rendleman Funeral Home in Cobden. The Rev. Dewayne Taylor will officiate, with burial in Cobden Cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home after 6 p.m. Thursday...

Son to Darren and Lynne Wallis of St. Louis, St. Luke's Hospital West, 4:03 a.m. Tuesday, April 21, 1998. Name, James Matthew "Hew". Weight, 7 pounds 7 ounces. First child. Mrs. Wallis is the former Lynne Frauenhoffer, daughter of Jack and Carol Frauenhoffer of South St. Louis County. She is a pre-school teacher with Maplewood School District. Wallis is the son of Jim and Rhonda Wallis of Millersville. He is employed at Shandwick in St. Louis...

The Southeast Missourian asked, "Who makes you laugh?" Tammy Luebbers: "Jeff Foxworthy, because he's country. I also like Howie Mandell." Rachel Leazenby: "My sister makes me laugh a lot. Also Jeff Foxworthy and Howie Mandell. It's the way they act."...

Congratulations to SEMO Regional Planning which will celebrate its 30th anniversary later this month. SEMO Regional Planning, which is headed by Tom Tucker, offers a valuable service to Cities and Counties in Southeast Missouri. They assist in planning, grant requests, comprehensive plans and wide range of other services...

JACKSON -- Though he wants to become a professional comedian, Jason Wray recently took a job selling cars at Brennecke Chevrolet. "It's tough making a living as a comedian in Southeast Missouri," the 20-year-old says. But Friday, Wray will appear in his first local show, "Comedy in Concert!" Wray and partner Jeff Batts, who bill themselves as the World Tag Team Comedy Champions, will take the stage at 9 p.m. at Chances Night Club, 823 S. Kingshighway in Cape Girardeau...