Stories from Wednesday, September 23, 1998

A bonita poinsettia plant shows lateral branching with lighter-colored leaves after being "pinched." The process provides more but smaller bracts. I've been playing a lot of Christmas carols in my head lately. I know the weather has recently been very hot and extremely humid -- not weather that would put you in the mood for Christmas. Yet, if you're in the greenhouse or retail business, you are already thinking about and preparing for Christmas...

A panel of political-science and history professors at Southeast Missouri State University will discuss "The Future of the Clinton Presidency" today. The Common Hour discussion will be held from noon to 1:15 p.m. at Crisp Hall Auditorium. The panel will feature Dr. Peter Bergerson, who chairs the political science department; and assistant professors of political science Dr. Brian Smentkowski and Dr. Michael Levy...

Sections of Cape Girardeau experienced a two-hour power outage early Tuesday after what utility officials believe was a lightning strike to one of the electric lines on the west side of the city. Jim Niswonger of AmerenUE said Tuesday that shortly before 3 a.m. the utility company received a report of a power outage affecting businesses in west Cape Girardeau. About 50 percent of the West Park Mall and 60 percent of Doctors' Park were affected by the outage...

Gourmet fare from area restaurants will be featured at the March of Dimes second annual Chef's Auction Saturday. The Chef's Auction will be held from 6:30 p.m. to midnight at the Osage Centre. The event raises money to help prevent birth defects and reduce infant mortality...

I'M SO disappointed with the American people. We claim to be a Christian nation yet we allow a liar and adulterer to represent us to the world. In the recent past, other military personnel have been discharged with dishonorable on their records for some of the same crimes. ...

At church Sunday my minister talked about ANGELS. ... I found it uplifting to focus on something of a positive nature with so many negatives in the media today, so I am going to share with you some positive things I've recently read or viewed. First ... let me applaud the guest appearance of Cape's DAVID LIMBAUGH (who was identified by his profession, lawyer, but could easily be called a Bible scholar) on "HANNITY & COLMES" ... national FOX TV talk show over the weekend...

When the headlines fade after sensational and deadly crimes have occurred, some people may remember the circumstances but forget the names of the murder victims. But the families never forget. And law enforcement officers and the criminal justice system work to ensure that individuals don't kill or hurt people again...

Public servants answer the call of service for many reasons. Too often, people take their efforts for granted. Two Cape Girardeau firefighters were honored recently for their exceptional service to the community. Capt. Steve Niswonger was recognized with the Star of Merit Award for his volunteer efforts to create and continuously upgrade a street index used by firefighters to locate houses. ...

To the editor: The photo of John Deere starting fluid that accompanied the article "Area businesses join in meth fight" by Jeffrey Jackson published in the YELL paper certain caught our attention. As a local John Deere dealer, we became aware of heavy traffic and increased sales of John Deere ether, by the case, in the summer of 1996. ...

To the editor: Several Speak Out callers have chastised the clergy for not taking a stand against the sin and shame the president has brought down on our country. To sit in the seat of judgment is not as comfortable as you imagine. Further, in the depth of human depravity, a festering condemnation of the obvious only forestalls the necessary healing our country needs at this time...

Southeast Missouri State University will welcome students' families to the Cape Girardeau campus this weekend for the annual Family Weekend celebration. Events tie in with the school's 125th anniversary celebration with the theme "Happy Birthday Southeast."...

Local officials expressed surprise and disappointment after meetings Tuesday in Cape Girardeau and Jackson at which officials of the Missouri Department of Transportation announced priorities for highway projects. Of the three top-priority projects for Cape Girardeau, Jackson and Cape Girardeau County, two were on a list for future consideration and the third wasn't on the list...

JACKSON -- A Memphis, Tenn., industrial loss will be Jackson's gain. Lee-Rowan Co., a manufacturer and distributor of home organization products, announced it will close its Memphis Systems Works plant that makes wood closet and utility storage units and combine the operation with its Jackson plant...

Some 300 people turned out Tuesday night to hear pros and cons of the proposed merger of Cape Girardeau's two hospitals. Southeast Missouri Hospital and St. Francis Medical Center held a town hall meeting at the Osage Community Centre to outline plans for the merger under consideration...

Even though Southeast Missouri State lost Saturday to Murray State 26-14, our football team played its most complete and physical game to date. As I've stated over the years, a well contested football game will usually boil down to three to five key plays. In our case, against the Racers, the game came down to two key plays...

The Eastern Illinois volleyball team was intent on making a major statement Tuesday night. Consider the mission accomplished. EIU came to Houck Field House and handed Southeast Missouri State University a resounding 15-10, 15-9, 15-6 loss in front of 115 stunned fans...

Kerry Robinson, a former Southeast Missouri State University baseball standout, saw his first major-league action Tuesday night. Robinson, who has starred in the minor leagues the past four seasons, was called up by the expansion Tampa Bay Devil Rays late Friday night. He was in uniform but did not play during Tampa Bay games Saturday, Sunday and Monday...

Former Southeast Missouri State University football standout Angel Rubio was waived Tuesday by the San Francisco 49ers. Rubio, a noseguard who earned NCAA Division I-AA All-American honors for Southeast in 1997, was selected by Pittsburgh in the seventh round of this year's NFL draft...

The YMCA of Southeast Missouri will hold a women and coed slow-pitch softball tournament Oct. 17-18 at the Sikeston Sports Complex. Entry fee is $75 for the double elimination tournament. Entry deadline is Oct. 12. All proceeds will benefit the YMCA...

Cape Girardeau Central High School will recognize the 1968 conference championship football team during the St. Charles West game on Oct. 16. Members of the '68 team should call Central athletic director Terry Kitchen at 335-8467 to confirm attendance...

The Healthsouth 5K Twilight Run will be held Oct. 11 in Cape Girardeau. The race, which will benefit United Cerebral Palsy, will begin at 5 p.m. Registration fee is $10 in advance and $12 after Oct. 9. All participants will receive a T-shirt and water bottle. Trophies will be awarded to the top male and female overall. Medals will be awarded for first- and second-place finishers in each age group...

The Notre Dame Bulldogs soccer team had an opportunity to avenge its only loss of the season, but saw Carbondale escape Cape Girardeau's city limits Tuesday with a 1-1 tie. Notre Dame took an 8-1 record into the match, with its lone loss coming at the hands of the Terriers in the title game of the Notre Dame Soccerfest. Carbondale won that contest 2-1 in overtime...

COBDEN, Ill. -- Ruth H. Burnett, 82, of Cobden died Tuesday, Sept. 22, 1998, at Union County Hospital in Anna. She was born March 5, 1916, in Huntington, Ind., daughter of Charles and Nellie Kaeter Hughes. Burnett retired from the merchandising and retail business department at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale. She was a member of Phi Beta Phi sorority...

CAIRO, Ill. -- Funeral for Cynthia M. Rundles of Cairo will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday at Cairo United Pentecostal Church. The Rev. Robert Burchyett will officiate, with burial in Green Lawn Memorial Gardens at Villa Ridge. Friends may call at the church Thursday from 11 a.m. to service time...

CHARLESTON -- Lucille Reed, 85, of Charleston died Saturday, Sept. 19, 1998, at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston. She was born Jan. 16, 1913, in Brookfield, Miss., daughter of Sam and Anna Brown Johnson. She and Albert Reed were married in 1922 in Brookfield. He died in 1987...

SIKESTON -- Funeral for Loisel E. Byrd of Sikeston will be held at 11 a.m. today at Ponder Funeral Home. The Rev. Lee Fansler will officiate, with burial in Garden of Memories Cemetery. Byrd, 74, died Monday, Sept. 21, 1998, at Clearview Nursing Center...

SIKESTON -- Carson L. Pitman Sr., 91, of Sikeston died Monday, Sept. 21, 1998, at Festus Nursing Center in Festus. He was born Aug. 24, 1907, in Middlebrook, Ark., son of John Cullen and Margaret Lucinda Holcomb Pitman. He and Maudie Jane Quartermous were married Nov. 10, 1927, at Doniphan. She died Nov. 16, 1982...

CHARLESTON -- Annie Ruth Napier, 77, of Fulton, Ky., died Monday, Sept. 21, 1998, at Western Baptist Hospital in Paducah, Ky. She was born Dec. 18, 1920, in Obion County, Tenn., daughter of William and Maggie Reese Sizemore. She married John Napier Jr...

Funeral for Eva Bessie Allen of Cape Girardeau will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday at Lorberg Memorial Funeral Chapel. Jeff Williams will officiate, with burial in Fairmount Cemetery. Friends may call at the chapel after 5:30 p.m. today. Allen, 85, died Monday, Sept. 21, 1998, at Beverly Health and Rehabilitation Services of Cape Girardeau...

MILLERSVILLE -- Olga "Babe" Webb, 87, of St. Louis died Monday, Sept. 21, 1998, at her home. She was born April 4, 1911, at Pocahontas, daughter of Zachary and Julia Kasten Wunderlich. She and Glenn "Fat" Webb were married Jan. 21, 1933. He died Feb. 4, 1984...

DEXTER -- Sylvia L. Plemmons, 54, of Rockford, Ill., died Monday, Sept. 21, 1998, at her home. Watkins and Sons Funeral Home in Dexter is in charge of arrangements.

JACKSON -- Jettie Barks, 90, of Jackson died Tuesday, Sept. 22, 1998, at Jackson Manor. Arrangements are incomplete at McCombs Funeral Home in Jackson.

Son to Leven D. and Shelley Elizabeth Cox of Sikeston, Southeast Missouri Hospital, 3:11 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 16, 1998. Name, Samuel Thomas. Weight, 6 pounds 12 ounces. First child. Mrs. Cox is the former Shelley Meeks, daughter of Pauletta Meeks and Danny Meeks of Sikeston. She is a secretary at Home Oil Co. in Sikeston. Cox is the son of Jean Cox and J.F. Cox III of Sikeston. He is employed with the family business, Home Oil Co...

COMMERCE -- Jack Carson High, 77, of Commerce died Tuesday, Sept. 22, 1998, at his home. Ford and Sons Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

TAMMS, Ill. -- Oris W. Mowery, 83, of Tamms died Tuesday, Sept. 22, 1998, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. He was born Oct. 6, 1914, in Alexander County, son of Edward Calvin and Martha Rachel Bundschuh Mowery. He and Edna Brown were married Oct. 6, 1936...

The Notre Dame High School cheerleaders recently participated in an Elite Cheer Camp summer workshop where several team members received the top recognition of Elite All-Americans. Karen Ivers, Jody Glastetter, Trisha Brase, Alecia Thomas, Julie Mier and Gretchen Pfautsch all received the distinction. Selections were based on cheerleading technique, leadership and all-around cheerleading ability...

The Southeast Missourian asked people for their thoughts about the Jackson High School football team's current 0-3 record and its traditional winning ways. Larry Cunningham: "It feels that they are in a rebuilding mode. They had several good players graduate last year. Every so often a school has to go through that. We're still going to have a winning season."...

To celebrate its 125th anniversary, Southeast Missouri State University is sponsoring an essay contest patterned after one that was done in 1874 at the close of the first school year. The topics for the contest will be "The Power of Trifles," "School Days," "Celebrated Rivers," "Paddle Your Own Canoe," and "Cape Girardeau in 2025."...

JACKSON -- The Jackson Board of Education approved policy changes and a testing plan during a meeting Tuesday night. The Missouri School Boards Association annually reviews policies for school districts to keep them in compliance with changes in Missouri law. Minor changes in wording were made to most of the 27 proposals reviewed this year...

A recipe by Marie James of Cape Girardeau for "Easy Sausage Pizza" won the R.B. Rice recipe contest at the SEMO District Fair. James won $100, a ribbon, an apron and award certificate. This is the first time James has entered a recipe contest. She is an experienced cook, having raised 10 children...