Stories from Friday, October 9, 1998

To the editor: This past week our library was professing its virtues as a champion of freedom. It does this by encouraging its patrons to read a banned book. In the past, some of the books banned were acceptable to a large section of society: "Tom Sawyer," Webster's dictionary, "Of Mice and Men," the Bible...

What is the most mispronounced gland of the human body? It is the prostate (not prostrate, which means to lay flat). The prostate is one of the male sex glands and it is located just below the bladder between the rectum and the scrotum. It is about the size of a walnut and it surrounds the urethra, the tube that drains the bladder of urine to the outside of the body. A normal functioning prostrate contributes fluid to the sperm during ejaculation...

This year's influenza virus vaccine protects against the Beijing, Sydney and Harbin flus. Cape Girardeau County Public Health Center nurse Vicky McDowell, right, gave a influenza virus vaccine to Clara Thurston at the health center. More than 5,000 people were vaccinated against the flu at the center last year...

I JUST returned from Cape and the big stores, I'm having leg trouble. I'm like a cripple with my leg, and I cannot walk through the big stores the way it is. I got to the front, and there were no benches to sit down and rest to wait on someone who's with you. I was wondering if there is something that can be done about these big stores having places for people to sit. You get old, you're tired, and the stores are so big. Would you please put that in the paper?...

A boil-water order for customers in Cape Girardeau's northwest corner was lifted Thursday afternoon. Tom Taggart of Alliance Water Resources said test results were good on samples from the city's water storage tank in Cape County Park. The tank was taken off line after Alliance staff received test results showing contamination had occurred, and found birds had gotten into the water tank. The tank should go back on line by the end of the week, Taggart said...

It is hard to be anything but in favor of disaster preparedness. Cape Girardeau has been a leader in disaster preparedness, and in recognition of this effort it has been chosen as one of the first cities in the nation to become a part of Project Impact. And because of its recognized leadership, Cape Girardeau is eligible to seek a $500,000 federal grant that includes a 25 percent match from the city, mostly through in-kind services...

It would be difficult to find a friendlier, more easy-going fellow than "Freck" Shivelbine, owner of Shivelbine's Music Store in downtown Cape Girardeau and recipient of this year's Otto Dingeldein Award from the Arts Council of Southeast Missouri. The annual award recognizes individuals who have had a lasting impact on the arts. Through his business and his unstinting devotion to making music widely available to local audiences, Shivelbine has created quite a legacy...

To the editor: In 1987, Vision 2000 was created for the purpose of developing a strategic plan to lead Cape Girardeau into the year 2000. The plan was born of dreams and hopes of all members of our community. The first goal recognized the need to raise citizen awareness and participation in the community with special emphasis on increased voter registration and voter participation...

To the editor: As an independent voter, I take great exception to Alan Journet's letter to the editor, "Political will needed to fight cancer." I was taken aback about a generalization Mr. Journet made concerning political parties and cancer prevention and research...

Cape Girardeau hospital officials are waiting to hear from the Missouri attorney general's office on their offer of a consent decree to guarantee cost savings from the proposed merger. James Sexton, president and chief executive officer of St. Francis Medical Center, said he is guessing the state will reply within a month to the offer...

WASHINGTON -- The House of Representatives voted Thursday to proceed with an impeachment inquiry against President Clinton. The vote, largely along party lines, marked only the third time in the nation's history that the House has voted for impeachment hearings...

Two more public meetings have been scheduled for Cape Girardeau residents who want to learn more about the plan to convert historic St. Vincent's Seminary into a River Campus for Southeast Missouri State University. Representatives from Southeast Missouri State and Cape Girardeau will be on hand from 3 to 5 p.m. Saturday at the St. Vincent's Seminary grounds off Morgan Oak to answer questions about the project...

In the Ozark hills west of here last Saturday, it is a gray day. The air feels cold, mostly because the late-September temperatures have been so unusually hot. In the 90s. Not like autumn at all. The cooler temperatures are welcome, and the hot work at hand is all the more bearable...

Cape Central has been good at times this season. Not so good at others. Ditto for Central's opponent in tonight's SEMO North Division contest, the Sikeston Bulldogs. The difference is, the Tigers are 2-3, with near-victories against Columbia Hickman, Blytheville, Ark., and Belleville Althoff, Ill...

BENTON -- The 13th brought good fortune to Kelly after all. Kelly won its 13th consecutive sectional title with a 2-1 victory over East Carter County Thursday at Kelly. The Lady Hawks (15-7) advance to play in a Class 2A quarterfinal on Saturday. Their opponent has not been decided because of rain canellations...

JACKSON -- World-beaters one day, the King's court jesters the next. On Wednesday in the Class 4A, District 2 softball championship game, Hillsboro High toppled Seckman, a would-be state title contender. The Lady Hawks then crossed paths Thursday night with Jackson's Gretchen King...

Which of the area's heavyweights -- Jackson or Cape Central -- is farther along at the midpoint of the season? Maybe Belleville Althoff can provide a clue. Jackson visits Althoff tonight at 7:30. The Crusaders, coming off a 23-20 overtime victory over Central at Houck Stadium last week, are 2-4...

MARTIN, Tenn. -- Southeast Missouri State University's volleyball team pushed its winning streak to five with a three-game Ohio Valley Conference victory over host Tennessee-Martin Thursday night. The Otahkians prevailed 17-15, 15-9, 15-3 to improve their record to 11-7 overall and 6-2 in OVC play...

PERRYVILLE -- St. Pius High School of Festus decided to switch its girls softball program from the spring to the fall this year. Wise move. The Lady Lancers, competing in postseason play for the first time -- softball playoffs are held only in the fall -- defeated Perryville 3-2 Thursday in a Class 3A Sectional game at Perryville City Park...

SIKESTON -- Cape Girardeau Central High's girls tennis team captured the Class 4A, District 1 Tournament Thursday and in the process qualified singles player Eliane Hess and the doubles team of Liz Russell and Lara Golike for the upcoming state championships...

Now that St. Vincent and St. Pius have each knocked off the giant, they have each other to deal with. St. Vincent hosts St. Pius at 7:15 tonight. The Indians (5-0, ranked fifth in the state in Class 1A) edged Herculaneum 14-12 two weeks ago. The Lancers (4-1) beat Herky 24-20 last Friday...

Son to James Scott and Angela Lee Slinkard of Cape Girardeau, Southeast Missouri Hospital, 1:23 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 1, 1998. Name, Theran Reed. Weight, 8 pounds 8 ounces. First child. Mrs. Slinkard is the former Angela Snyder, daughter of Joe and Margret Snyder of Bismarck. She is employed at JCS Tel-Link. Slinkard is the son of Bruce Slinkard of Cape Girardeau, Mary Slinkard of Cape Girardeau, and Linda Slinkard of Advance. He is employed at Rapco International in Jackson...

PERRYVILLE -- Edna C. Hotop, 81, of Perryville died Thursday, Oct. 8, 1998, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. She was born Sept. 7, 1917, in Perry County, daughter of William I. and Rosalia Wucher Bohnert. She and Norbert J. Hotop were married April 18, 1940. He died Dec. 8, 1991...

BENTON -- Carra Hunter, 92, of Benton died Thursday, Oct. 8, 1998, at the Lutheran Home in Cape Girardeau. Funeral arrangements are incomplete at Amick-Burnett Funeral Chapel in Benton.

Taylor Paige Glueck Hill, age 2 days, of Cape Girardeau died Thursday, Oct. 8, 1998, at St. John's Mercy Medical Center in St. Louis. She was born Oct. 6, 1998, in Cape Girardeau, daughter of Andre Hill and Tammy Glueck, both of Cape Girardeau. She is survived by her parents and her grandparents, Jeannie Tanner of Cape Girardeau, Fred Glueck of Cape Girardeau, Leona Slaughter and Floyd Johnson, both of St. Louis...

ANNISTON -- Gladys G. Noble of Apache Junction, Ariz., died Monday, Sept. 21, 1998. She was born in Anniston, daughter of Hobart and Lucy May Balding Manley. She first married Rue Henley, and later married David Noble. Noble was a graduate of Anniston High School and member of the basketball team...

KELSO -- Funeral for Ruth E. Felix of Kelso will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday at Ford and Sons Mt. Auburn Chapel in Cape Girardeau. The Rev. David Dissen will officiate, with burial in Memorial Park in Cape Girardeau. Friends may call at the chapel from 5-8 p.m. today...

ADVANCE -- Dovie T. Masters, 88, of Advance died Wednesday, Oct. 7, 1998, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. She was born Dec. 14, 1909, in Dover, Tenn., daughter of Bill and Eleanor Greer Ford. She and Elmer Masters were married May 8, 1926, in Kennett. He died July 9, 1988...

DEXTER -- Funeral for Maudie Mae Reagan of Dexter will be held at 10 a.m. today at Chiles-Cooper Funeral Home in Bloomfield. Burial will be in Bluff Cemetery at Idalia. Reagan, 79, died Wednesday, Oct. 7, 1998, at her home. She was born March 24, 1919, in St. Louis, daughter of George and Bessie Clubb Rogers. She and J. Matt Reagan were married July 22, 1953. He preceded her in death...

CHARLESTON -- Kasel Williams Sr., 73, of Charleston died Tuesday, Oct. 6, 1998, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. He was born Jan. 2, 1925, at Charleston, son of Willie Ben and Audrey Pettigrew Williams. He and Dorothy Gray were married Aug. 19, 1948...

BERTRAND -- Pearl Eddleman, 78, of Bertrand died Wednesday, Oct. 7, 1998, at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston. She was born Nov. 1, 1919, in Helena, Ark., daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Rhodes. She and Glenn R. Eddleman were married Oct. 8, 1955. He died Jan. 29, 1996...

Funeral for Juanita N. Gentry of Cape Girardeau will be held at 2:30 p.m. Sunday at Ford and Sons Sprigg Street Chapel. Pastor Jack Cathcart will officiate, with burial in Morgan Memorial Park at Advance. Friends may call at the chapel Sunday from 1 p.m. until service time...

COBDEN, Ill. -- Helen Marie Musgrave Ziepfel, 76, of Hamilton, Ohio, died Wednesday, Oct. 7, 1998, at Fort Hamilton Hospital in Hamilton. She was born July 12, 1922, in Elkhorn, W.Va., daughter of Paul and Marie Servay. She first married Robert Fritze in 1940, who died Dec. 29, 1966. She later married Robert Fritze in 1970, who died May 2, 1985. She and Leo Ziepfel were married April 9, 1991, in Hamilton...

Funeral for Earl Crites Jr. of Cape Girardeau will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday at Ford and Sons Mt. Auburn Chapel. Burial will be in Memorial Park, with graveside service by VFW Post 3838. Friends may call at the chapel from 4-8 p.m. today. Crites, 73, died Wednesday, Oct. 7, 1998, at Southeast Missouri Hospital...

MATTHEWS -- Karen Jean Clark Freeman, 45, of Matthews died Thursday, Oct. 8, 1998, at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston. She was born Nov. 29, 1952, in the Windyville community near East Prairie, daughter of Betty Ruth Organ Burnes and the Rev. Bob Burnes...