Stories from Wednesday, October 13, 1999

To the editor: I have seen several negative editorials, letters and articles about U.S. Sen. John Ashcroft's opposition and vote against Ronnie Whites nomination to be a federal judge. I am in touch with sheriffs and police chiefs all over Missouri, and they know the facts and White. ...

I WAS really glad to see the caller's question about the rules at Blanchard, particularly regarding the lunch rules about no talking. My children went to Clippard and the same rules were in effect there. The children were not allowed to talk at all during lunch. ...

In BIRTHRIGHT'S recent fall 1999 newsletter the following information was included: "Have you noticed Birthright's latest advertisement in the local newspaper, the Southeast Missourian? The ad reads, "Worried about a pregnancy? Call someone who cares about you." The ad lists our office hours, M-F, 10 a.m. ...

Next April, the Cape Girardeau Board of Education will ask voters to approve the second phase of ongoing school-construction projects. The board has kept its word: The $18 million in bonds needed for phase two can be retired without a tax increase. A key project of the next phase will be construction of a new high school...

Two local music legends were honored for their lifetime achievements at the Southeast Missouri Music Awards last week. Also last week, the Arts Council of Southeast Missouri honored Dr. Edwin Smith with its Otto F. Dingeldein Award for Outstanding Achievement in the Arts...

To the editor: Some of us knew it all along. Others are just now discovering it. Still others have not become aware of it. What's that? It's the dual or split personality of American voters. It was Ronald Reagan who crystallized this as he firmly declared "government is the problem" and he and the Democrat-controlled Congress embarked on the greatest spending binge of all time. ...

Mission-enhancement money from the state has helped Southeast Missouri State University reach out to the region through higher-education centers and delivery of courses via interactive television. It also has aided the university in offering technical education through its new Polytechnic School as well as improving academic programs overall, university officials say...

ST. LOUIS -- The Rev. Billy Graham would rather talk about prayer than politics. The 80-year-old evangelist met with the media Tuesday in preparation for a four-day crusade that begins later this week at the Trans World Dome. It is his third crusade in St. Louis; he first visited in 1953 and again in 1973...

When you deal with a noisy air conditioner, an ant-covered mattress and a broken phone in one night, you realize that maybe a motel chain's advertising isn't exactly accurate. Last week marked my first true, long-term business trip. Sure, I'd flown to another city for a job interview, New York for a seminar, etc., but never been on the road -- just me, my rental car and my appointment book -- for a whole week...

Members of House of Prayer hope completion of a new educational center in the near future will mean better opportunities for Cape Girardeau's youth. Just over a year ago, church officials purchased a nearby house at 712 N. Independence but had no clear plans for the property...

Almost half of the 1,000 tickets for the gala Y2K Eve Party at the Show Me Center have been reserved and 15 corporate sponsors have signed on. While there's still a lot of work to do, members of the Y2K Eve Committee, which is planning the Dec. 31 party, are optimistic it will be a success, said David Ross, a committee member and director of the Show Me Center. He said reports at a committee meeting held Tuesday showed preparations are on target...

Jackson Board of Education Meeting Tuesday, Oct., 12, 1999 -- 7:30 p.m. Jackson Board of Education Office Action Items: - Approve contract agreement with Jo Priest for visually impaired consultant. Information Items: - Associate superintendent for instruction report...

U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Emerson's mobile office will be on the road next week. Jayson Clark, mobile office director, will visit with constituents in Perryville and Biehle on Oct. 21. The office will be open from 2-3 p.m. at the Perry County Administration Building in Perryville and from 3:30-4 p.m. at Buchheit's in Biehle...

Kent Zickfield remembers the first Downtown Christmas Parade of Lights. "I was skeptical," said the downtown jeweler. "When Doc, (Dennis "Doc" Cain, first chairman for the event) suggested the lights parade, I just wasn't sure people would accept it."...

A shipment of flu vaccine for the Cape Girardeau County Health Department has been delayed and has forced the postponement of flu shot clinics until 10:30 a.m. Thursday. Charlotte Craig, director of the health department, said the shipment of 6,000 doses of flu vaccine was scheduled to arrive here Tuesday morning. However, a mix up at the distribution company delayed delivery, Craig said...

A little Midnight Madness will help Southeast Missouri State University officially kick off the 1999-2000 basketball season Friday at the Show Me Center. Practice for Division I teams across the country can't officially start until 12:01 a.m. on Saturday, but there will be plenty of activity leading up to the first practice session for Southeast's men and women...

Southeast Missouri State University men's basketball coach Gary Garner won't flat come out and say that the Indians will be better than they were last season. But, during Southeast's media day luncheon at the Show Me Center Tuesday, Garner gave plenty of hints that should have Southeast fans salivating...

After an encouraging comeback against Eastern Kentucky two weeks ago, we felt that the Tennessee Tech game would be a key turning point in righting our season. We came out entirely more focused to start the Tech game than we had against Eastern Kentucky and went into halftime with a 7-0 lead...

CHARLESTON, Ill. -- Southeast Missouri upped its OVC record to 5-1 Tuesday night with a four-set victory over Eastern Illinois. Southeast won the first set 15-9, dropped the second 12-15, but then closed the match with 15-13, 15-8 victories. Southeast improved to 13-5 overall while Eastern Illinois fell to 10-7 overall and 5-2 in the OVC...

The Cape Girardeau Parks & Recreation Department's 12th annual Set & Spike co-ed volleyball tournament will be held Sunday, Nov. 7, at the Osage Community Centre. Trophies and T-shirts will be awarded to the top four teams. Entry fee is $44 per team. Entry forms must be received by 5 p.m. on Nov. 1...

In conjunction with Southeast Missouri State University's cross country meet Saturday at Capaha Park, there will be two open races for the public. At 10 a.m., youngsters in grades 1-6 will have a one-mile run. Then at 11:30 a.m., there will be a race for junior high ages through 50-and-over...

Doubles tennis leagues will be held this winter at Saint Francis Universal Health & Fitness Center. Leagues will be held for men and women. The men's league will be held Monday evenings and the women's league will be held Saturday mornings. Entry fee is $55 for members and $95 for non-members. Registration deadline is Nov. 8...

FESTUS -- Perryville High's boys cross country team won the Jefferson County Conference Meet for the first time, scoring 42 points. Runnerup Herculaneum had 67 points. The Pirates had six of the top 14 finishers: Nathan Moore (4th, 17:58), Tyson Rellegert (7th, 18:20), James Boice (8th, 18:22); Jeff Koenig (10th, 19:01), Jacob Schneider (13th, 19:05) and Tim Winningham (14th, 19:10)...

HAYWOOD CITY -- Floyd Wiley, 63, of Haywood City died Thursday, Oct. 7, 1999, at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston. He was born May 17, 1936, at Gray Ridge, son of Thomas Charles and Emma Phifer Wiley. Wiley retired from Arvin Automotive in Dexter, where he worked 21 years...

SIKESTON -- Veda "Polly" Burch, 70, of Sikeston died Tuesday, Oct. 12, 1999, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. She was born March 18, 1929, in Flint, Mich., daughter of John and Veda Boyd Baker. She and Harold J. Burch were married July 6, 1948, in Piggott, Ark...

COBDEN -- Funeral for Ruby Mae Wright of Cobden will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday at Immanuel Baptist Church. The Revs. Kenneth Mixen and Ken Wilson will officiate. Burial will be in Alto Pass Cemetery. Friends may call at Lutz and Rendleman Funeral Home in Cobden after 5 p.m. today, and Thursday after 10 a.m. at Immanuel Church...

CAIRO, Ill. -- Judy White, 71, of Cairo died Tuesday, Oct. 12, 1999, at her home. She was born Oct. 28, 1927, in Cairo, daughter of Ernest and Martha Parker Chrestman. She married William W. White. White attended Southern Illinois University in Carbondale...

PERRYVILLE -- Wilhelmina C. "Minnie" Berkbuegler, 89, of Perryville died Tuesday, Oct. 12, 1999, at Perry County Nursing Home. She was born Sept. 16, 1910, in Bollinger County, daughter of Joseph and Mary Radin Laurentius. She and Erwin Berkbuegler were married Sept. 17, 1935. He died Nov. 28, 1989...

DEXTER -- Funeral for Thelma Cross of Dexter will be held at 1 p.m. today at Watkins and Sons Funeral Home in Dexter. The Rev. Clifford Wray will officiate. Burial will be in Dexter Cemetery. Cross, 84, died Monday, Oct. 11, 1999, at Beverly Health and Rehabilitation Center in Poplar Bluff...

Louvenia Williams, 75, of Cape Girardeau died Tuesday, Oct. 12, 1999, at the home of a daughter. Ford and Sons Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Edna Ruth Miller, 88, of Cape Girardeau died Monday, Oct. 11, 1999, at the Lutheran Home. Lorberg Memorial Funeral Chapel is in charge of arrangements.

ADVANCE -- Jimmy Beal, 77, of Advance died Tuesday, Oct. 12, 1999, at Advance Nursing Center. Morgan Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Daughter to Michael W. and Danna A. Decker of Cape Girardeau, Southeast Missouri Hospital, 1:57 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 5, 1999. Name, Morgan Paige. Weight, 8 pounds 15 ounces. Second child, first daughter. Mrs. Decker is the former Danna Dow, daughter of Edward and Sharon Dow of Cape Girardeau. She is a loan officer at First National Bank. Decker is the son of Paul and Betty Decker of Kennett. He is environmental engineer at Dana Corp...

Mrs. Mabel L. Clardy, age 61, of Pocahontas passed away Monday, Oct. 11, 1999 of natural causes. Mrs. Clardy was born on Oct. 22, 1937 south of Burfordville, Mo., the daughter of the late Erma and Pansy (Howard) Eakins. She married Paul Dean Clardy on July 9, 1955, and he survives...

The summer of 1956 came to life with the willow trees weeping and the sounds of new animal life echoing across the farming dales. Mr. Widner, a pleasantly round gentleman, owned the local gas station along with a small farm. Mr. Widner suddenly found himself the proud owner of more barn kittens than he knew what to do with. He extended a wide open invitation, "If you can catch one, it's yours." After some sad-eyed persuasion, Daddy agreed to help me catch one...

An antique and collectibles show to raise money for the Community Counseling Center Foundation will be Sunday at the A.C. Brase Arena in Arena Park. The show will be 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. with a pre-show sale from 8 to 9 a.m. Admission is $1 to the show, $5 to the pre-show...

This week's Recipe Swap is loaded with delicious pumpkin recipes for you to enjoy this fall. I know this collection of recipes will not make it to my mother-in-law's recipe files. She is not a lover of pumpkin in any way, shape or form. It has been my experience that you either like pumpkin or you don't. ...

Of all the culinary accidents in human history, which include the chocolate chip cookie and, if you believe Charles Lamb's account, roast pork, surely fudge must rank among the most serendipitous. Nobody knows for sure just who made the first pan of fudge, but most everybody agrees it was invented by mistake. Probably it was the result of a botched batch of caramel or toffee. We do know that it is a relatively recent discovery and that it is uniquely American...