Stories from Wednesday, April 21, 1999

At this time of the year, I'm asked the same question 10 or more times a day, "Is it too early to plant tomatoes or impatiens?" My response is always the same, "Tell me what the weather is going to do and I'll answer your question." I know this is not the answer that most people want to hear...

Agenda Wednesday, April 21, 1999, 6:15 p.m. 303 34th Street -- Board Operations - Call to order/roll call - Adoption of agenda for regular meeting - Adoption of agenda for closed meeting - Minutes from previous meeting - Recognition of guests - Correspondence...

Cape Girardeau School District lost two more administrators Monday after the Board of Education accepted resignations of principals Stan Seiler and Pamela Barnes. Their resignations are effective July 1. Both are leaving the district to accept other positions...

The Richard J. Oglesby Camp 61, Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War, will meet at 7 tonight at Port Cape Girardeau restaurant. The organization is dedicated to keeping alive the memory of Union veterans of the Civil War through educational and patriotic displays...

A 36-year-old Sikeston man died Tuesday afternoon after falling 35-feet from a roof at his job near Cape Girardeau. Randy William Riley was pronounced dead at Southeast Missouri Hospital at 1:15 p.m. after sustaining massive head trauma in the fall...

At the end of each year, many people pause to reflect on the past 12 months' accomplishments and then make resolutions for improvement in the coming year. Dr. Michael Osborn wonders what resolutions will be made on the eve of a new millennium. Osborn will contemplate "Communication Resolutions for the New Millennium" at the fourth annual Joseph H. Low Jr. Lecture tonight at Southeast Missouri State University. The free lecture begins at 7 p.m. in the University Center Ballroom...

The Missouri Department of Transportation will close Route EE between Chaffee and Delta today and Thursday to make repairs to a railroad crossing. The road will be closed from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. both days. The crossing will be open overnight, weather permitting...

Earlier this week I received an e-mail from one of our publishers who is an officer in the National Guard in which he said in part: "I just arrived back from my National Guard weekend. I was there for the after-action review of the two-week active duty for the military operations in April...

The seventh annual Southeast Missouri State University Research Conference will take place April 27 and 28 at the University Center. The conference recognizes student research in a variety of academic disciplines. Eight awards will be presented for Best Poster and Best Paper. The conference features 63 entries, including 15 posters and 48 papers...

Products manufactured in Southeast Missouri are helping consumers throughout the world. This impressive fact not only helps local businesses, but it aids Missouri's reputation as a player in overseas markets. There is much more international trade in Southeast Missouri than many people realize. ...

A walkable community? A daylong conference at the Osage Community Centre last week focused on making communities more walker friendly. The director of Walkable Communities recommended narrower streets, more sidewalks, tree plantings along roadways, walking trails and bicycle lanes...

To the editor:I would like to make a comment. If anyone is to use an alley as a thoroughfare, then let them stay in the alley instead of driving over and knocking down a post that identified the property line and leaving it lay. That happened in the 800 block of East Olive in Scott City. A sensible person doesn't do that. Im sorry, but I had to let it be known.FANNY KJERScott City...

To the editor: The recent municipal elections in Jackson provided the opportunity for voters to make a choice. Throughout the campaign, especially in the mayoral race, the candidates ran a positive campaign highlighting the tremendous amount of growth that Jackson has endured over the past few years. This growth is truly a testament to how great Jackson is and why so many people are proud to call this town home...

Dr. Charles Kupchella, provost at Southeast Missouri State University, was selected the 10th president of the University of North Dakota at Grand Forks Tuesday. The announcement was made Tuesday afternoon after on-campus interviews with two finalists, the University of North Dakota said. The North Dakota State Board of Higher Education interviewed eight candidates in all for the job...

Most come under cover of night, with headlights shining on the heaps of trash along Cape Girardeau's streets. Many of the scavengers who were out late Monday night didn't really want anyone to know their identities. They preferred to remain anonymous. After all, would you really want someone to know you were digging through his trash?...

Parents are doing a better job of having their children immunized in Cape Girardeau and the state. A recent Missouri Department of Health survey revealed that 83 percent of all 2-year-olds had up-to-date shot records. That record immunization rate compares to a statewide rate of 64 percent rate in 1995 and a 78 percent national rate in the most recent survey conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention...

Dr. Jean A. Chapman, a Cape Girardeau allergist and internist, has received the Missouri State Medical Association's 1999 Citizenship and Community Service Award. The award recognizes doctors who have reached beyond the practice of medicine. Chapman is the fourth Cape Girardeau doctor to earn the statewide award. Dr. John Ritter received the honor in 1996. Dr. James Kinder was honored in 1997 and Dr. John Holcomb was honored in 1998...

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Southeast Missouri State University's golf team has finished second in the Ohio Valley Conference Championships three times but has never captured the title. Today, the Indians just might have one of their best chances yet to finally get over the hump...

Southeast Missouri State University's football Indians will have their work cut out for them if they hope to improve on last year's 3-8 record. The Indians' 1999 schedule was officially released Tuesday and to say it is difficult would be an understatement...

ST. LOUIS -- Southeast Missouri State University and Chad Bogenpohl appeared to be cruising to an easy victory Tuesday night. But then Bogenpohl left the game -- and the Indians went on to suffer a stunning 9-7 loss at the hands of host St. Louis University...

BENTON -- Bradley Kolwyck has been one of Kelly High's top baseball players since his freshman season. But Tuesday, the Hawks' junior topped anything he had done previously in a big way as he belted three home runs and a triple -- good for eight runs batted in -- as Kelly slipped past visiting Portageville 13-11...

Southeast Missouri State University's women's tennis team fell to 0-7 Tuesday as visiting Tennessee-Martin rolled to an 8-1 victory. The Otahkians lone victory came at No. 2 singles as Mel Thomas defeated Beatrice Allnott 7-5, 6-2. Singles Martha Montana (TM) def. Thais Olive 6-0, 6-1...

Sunday's baseball game between Southeast Missouri State University and Tennessee-Martin will be host for the Spring Fun Fair during Family Day at Capaha Park. The event, which is sponsored by the Southeast athletic department, is open to all elementary and pre-school age children and their families. There will be free food, drinks and games beginning at 1 p.m...

PERRYVILLE -- Elsa J. Friese, 81, of Perryville died Monday, April 19, 1999, in Perryville. She was born July 9, 1917, in Cape Girardeau, daughter of Adolph and Augusta Wilhelm Zschille. She married Roy Friese, who died April 9, 1987. Friese had been a presser at a dress factory. She was a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church...

DEXTER -- Everett Mills, 91, of Dexter died Monday, April 19, 1999, at Dexter Memorial Hospital. He was born April 29, 1907, near Bernie, son of Marion and Florence Cross Mills. He and Dollie Williams were married Nov. 20, 1926, in Piggott, Ark. Mills was a teacher, farmer, and worked many years at Worley John Deere Implement Co. He was a member of the Masonic Lodge, and served as a deacon at First General Baptist Church...

John Randall Fee, 60, of Cape Girardeau died Tuesday, April 20, 1999, at St. Francis Medical Center. He was born Feb. 11, 1939, in Denver, Colo., the son of Milford H. and Edna Belle Kincaid Fee. He had moved to Cape Girardeau from Littleton, Colo., about seven years ago...

CAIRO, Ill. -- Flossie Shaw, 102, of Cairo died Monday, April 19, 1999, at her home. She was born March 15, 1897, in Belen, Miss. Shaw attended St. Patrick's Catholic Church. There are no local survivors. Friends may call at Barkett Funeral Home in Cairo after 9 a.m. Thursday...

JOPPA, Ill. -- Raymond Sheffer, 66, of Joppa died Tuesday, April 20, 1999, at the Massac Memorial Hospital in Metropolis. Arrangements are incomplete at the Wilson Funeral Home in Karnak.

JACKSON -- Charles E. Wehrenberg Jr. of Jackson and formerly of Mounds, Ill., died Tuesday, April 20, 1999, at Jackson Manor Nursing Home. Arrangements are incomplete at Barkett Funeral Home in Mounds.

SIKESTON -- Louis Thomas, 77, of Sikeston died Thursday, April 15, 1999, at the Clearview Nursing Center in Sikeston. He was born Oct. 17, 1921, in Walls, Miss., son of David and Tempie Thomas. He retired from Capitol Hardware in Chicago and moved to Sikeston in 1979. He was a member of the St. John Baptist Church where he served on the Board of Deacons...

ORAN -- Scott Edward Stanley, 29, of Oran died Tuesday, April 20, 1999, at his home. He was born June 10, 1969, at Chaffee, son of George Edward and Margaret Loretta Vincent Stanley. He and Marcy Sabrina Appleton were married July 25, 1998, at Oran...

FROHNA -- Jane Kniestedt, 62, of Frohna died Monday, April 19, 1999, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. She was born March 9, 1937, at Zell, daughter of Fred and Grace Grein Bauman. She and Thomas Kniestedt were married April 19, 1958...

ANNA, Ill. -- Donald W. Hill, 73, of Anna died Tuesday, April 20, 1999, at his home. Lutz and Rendleman Funeral Home in Anna is in charge of arrangements.

PERRYVILLE -- Barney J. Cissell, 92, of Perryville died Tuesday, April 20, 1999, at Crystal Oaks Nursing Home in Crystal City. He was born May 13, 1906, in Perryville, son of August and Mary Florence McCauley Cissell. He married Verna T. Taylor, who died Dec. 12, 1990...

EAST PRAIRIE -- Earlene Riley, 83, of East Prairie died Tuesday, April 20, 1999, at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston. Shelby Funeral Home in East Prairie is in charge of arrangements.

Helen Marie Benson, 86, of Cape Girardeau died Monday, April 19, 1999, at Southeast Missouri Hospital. She was born Aug. 2, 1912, in Jackson, daughter of Alphonson and Carrie Brown Lacey. She and Clyde Lee Benson were married Nov. 8, 1943. He died June 6, 1972...

Daughter to Matt and Amy Craig of St. Louis, St. John's Mercy Medical Center, 5:16 p.m. Tuesday, March 23, 1999. Name, Delaney Madison. Weight, 9 pounds 6 ounces. First child. Mrs. Craig is the former Amy Flaker, daughter of Clyde and Mary Flaker of Cape Girardeau. She is employed by State Farm Insurance. Craig is the son of Betty Craig of St. Louis, and the late Mr. Craig. He is employed by the federal government...

Mrs. Betty B. Stockman of Cape Girardeau passed away at St. Francis Medical Center on Monday, April 19, 1999. She was 74 years old. She was born on Jan. 31, 1925 at Cape Girardeau, the daughter of William and Inez Floy Boswell Butler. She married Charles H. Stockman on Aug. 1, 1947 at Jackson...

SIKESTON -- Randy William Riley, 36, of Sikeston died Tuesday, April 20, 1999, in a work-related accident in Cape Girardeau. Funeral arrangements are incomplete at Ponder Funeral Home in Sikeston.

Late one night in 1974, I was sitting alone in the Atlanta Airport coffeeshop, silently wailing over the misfortune of missing my connecting fight to Nashville, Tenn., and home. My sorrowful thoughts were interrupted by a stranger with a strong Texas brogue. He said, "You look lower than a snake's belly in a wagon rut." While I was not totally amused, I did let him sit down. Clive was his name...

I had a real surprise when I opened an envelope from Rob Weeks of Cape Girardeau. He is sharing some of his favorite recipes with you, and they all contain seafood. It is so rare that we get recipes from a man, so I am excited about that and the interesting information he shares about each recipe...