Stories from Tuesday, June 13, 2000

Abdul Sides worked on math problems in the GED class at the Salvation Army. A person who can't read probably can't get a job. A person who doesn't read well or have basic educational skills likely won't get a good job. But for those who aren't able to read or are lacking in basic academic skills, help is available. Numerous adult basic education centers have been developed to help people develop their education skills or pass graduate equivalency degree assessments...

The story so far: Twins Brian and Melissa O'Donnell, 10, have moved to Roanoke to stay with their grandparents while their parents sell the family farm in West Virginia. On the first night at their grandparents' house, an old 1849 brick manor called Belle Vie, the lonely twins sit on the front porch by candlelight. Something strange flickers in the yard. They think it may be a ghost...

Driving down the streets of Havana, Cuba, is a little like stepping back through time with 1950s-era vehicles traversing the roads. But it's a journey well worth it, a Cape Girardeau couple said. People who don't travel to Cuba are missing out on friendly people, great beaches, beautiful architecture and history, say Barbara and Larry Haertling of Cape Girardeau...

JACKSON, Mo. -- A five-member transit authority to coordinate public transportation services in Cape Girardeau County was established Monday by the County Commission. The board members may be getting some help soon in the form of an advisory committee whose members could include representatives from some of the various transportation services the transit authority will try to coordinate...

The National Weather Service predicts above average temperatures for Southeast Missouri this summer, which means above average risk of heat-related illnesses, says the Missouri Department of Health. "This summer we urge all Missourians to take extra precautions to prevent heat-related illness and death," said Dr. ...

The issue of childbirth comes up more and more often after a woman turns 30, and I'm halfway to 31. It's prime baby time. I'm young enough that I won't have to attend the child's graduation in a wheelchair. But I'm old enough that I've enjoyed five years of child-free marriage, visited two foreign countries and had at least limited success in my career...

Wednesday, June 14 at 7 p.m. Council chambers, City Hall, 401 Independence Hearings n Request of Emad and Marie Salamy for a special-use permit for storage unites for a 15-year period at 336 N. Sprigg St., in an R-4, multiple-family residential district...

The news gets better each year for volunteers in the annual Ohio River Sweep. More than 23,000 volunteers in six states participated in last year's riverbank cleanup, which produced about 9,000 tons of trash. Two years ago, it was 11,000 tons of trash...

What should the Cape Girardeau Regional Airport expect in passenger boardings or commercial flights for the coming years? What sort of runway space and taxiway extensions might be needed to accommodate added planes? No one has a crystal ball to forecast how much growth the airport can expect in coming years, said Bruce Loy, airport manager for the city, but there are ways to prepare for whatever might come along...

School superintendents use an apparent revolving door when it comes to sustaining long-term tenures in the nation's school systems. All but gone are the days when top school officials spent the majority of their administrative careers in a single district. Now, the average superintendent stays with a district 7 1/2 years before moving on...

Two Cape Girardeau County people were injured in separate accidents, according to reports from the Missouri Highway Patrol. Joe Heflin, 56, of Cape Girardeau was injured when his vehicle struck a dump truck from behind. Heflin was driving westbound on U.S. 60 in Stoddard County, two miles east of Dexter. Liman Jines, 66, of Dexter, was driving the dump truck but was not injured. The accident occurred at 10:55 a.m...

A Cape Girardeau man was sentenced to federal prison on drug conspiracy and possession charges. Kenneth Wayne Pryor, 37, was sentenced to three years on a felony count of conspiracy to distribute cocaine and 5 grams or more of cocaine base and a felony count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine...

Considering that Cape Girardeau's Ford & Sons American Legion baseball team had just six hits during Monday's doubleheader against visiting Poplar Bluff, the squad was probably lucky to earn a split. Cape managed just one hit in the opener off hard-throwing Jamie McAlister but rode the stellar pitching of Justin Cook to a 3-1 victory...

The following is a listing of players with area ties who are competing in professional baseball. Included in the list are each players' local connection, his last year as an amateur and his major league affiliation. Statistics are through Sunday. Steve Bieser, OF (Ste. Genevieve High School, Southeast Missouri State 1989) St. Louis Cardinals:...

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. -- After a brief two-year return to the Ohio Valley Conference, Western Kentucky's football team will leave the league after the 2000 season. The school said Monday it's seeking membership for the team in the Gateway Football Conference, following a decision by the OVC's leadership that all sports teams at member schools must be affiliated with the OVC...

JACKSON -- Jackson's Jr. American Legion baseball team remained undefeated in District 14 play by beating visiting Dunklin County 8-3 Monday night. The second game of the doubleheader was rained out. Jackson is now 5-0 in the district and 8-7 overall...

ZALMA, Mo. -- Funeral for Jeff D. Pack of Zalma will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Morgan Funeral Home in Advance. Bill Sargent and the Rev. James Johns will officiate. Burial will be in Morgan Memorial Park in Advance. Friends may call at the funeral home from 5-8 p.m. today. Masonic rites will be at 7:30...

Daughter to Matthew Allen Dorris and Christy Ann McKinley of Benton, Southeast Missouri Hospital, 1:23 a.m. Wednesday, June 7, 2000. Name, Taylor Abigail. Weight, 7 pounds 11 ounces. First child. Ms. McKinley is the daughter of Kathy McKinley of Benton and Preston McKinley of Cape Girardeau. Dorris is the son of Rick and Debbie Aters of Sikeston. He is employed at The Goedecke Co. in Scott City...

OLMSTED, Ill. -- Lee Hannan, 76, of Olmsted died Friday, June 9, 2000, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau, Mo. He was born Nov. 8, 1923, at Olmsted, son of Mike and Adalia Krigsheuser Hannan. He married Mary Lillian Barnes. Hannan was a member of Retired Postmasters Association, St. Mary's Catholic Church in Mound City, VFW Post 8891 in Mounds, Knights of Columbus in Cairo, and Concord Cemetery Board...

Ronald Joseph Touchette, 67, died Sunday, June 11, 2000, at home. Survivors include his wife, Martha; two daughters, Amy Touchette of Sheboygan Falls, Wis., Jennifer Palmer of Cool, Calif.; two sons, Joe Touchette of Jackson, Paul Touchette of St. Louis; and five grandchildren...

SIKESTON, Mo. -- Shirley Ann Barnes, 38, of Sikeston died Friday, June 9, 2000, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. She was born Aug. 6, 1961, in Drew, Miss., daughter of Ivory Tillman of Tampa Bay, Fla., and Nellie Mae Wells of Sikeston. She and Gus Barnes Jr. were married July 7, 1992...

CHARLESTON, Mo. -- Joseph Edward Burk, 93, of Charleston died Monday, June 12, 2000, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. He was born Nov. 23, 1906, in Hornersville, son of Joseph Edward and Edith Fike Burk Sr. He and Edith Mae Pride were married Nov. 25, 1933. She died Jan. 16, 1992...

SIKESTON, Mo. -- Emma Evens, 86, of Sikeston died Sunday, June 11, 2000, at Missouri Delta Medical Center. She was born March 5, 1914, in Thompsonville, Ill., daughter of James Adam and Angeline Morris Cowgur. She and Reuben West were married in 1941 in Kirkwood. He died in 1967. She and Woodrow W. Evens were married Feb. 14, 1975, in Sikeston...

WYATT, Mo. -- Katie Louise Adams, 69, of Wyatt died Sunday, June 11, 2000, at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston. She was born Feb. 22, 1931, in Mississippi County, daughter of Luther Earl and Helen Dismore Woodruff. She and Walter Adams were married Feb. 28, 1948. He died Oct. 29, 1991...

EAST PRAIRIE, Mo. -- Vivian L. Brown, 75, of East Prairie died Sunday, June 11, 2000, at East Prairie Nursing Center. She was born March 7, 1925, in Mississippi County, daughter of Kilmer and Agnes Cooper Matthews. She and Charles W. Brown were married May 13, 1939. He died March 4, 1974...

BLOOMFIELD, Mo. -- Thomas Ray Lee, 46, of Bloomfield died Monday, June 12, 2000, at Lucy Lee Hospital in Poplar Bluff. He was born June 7, 1954, in Bloomfield, son of Billy Dean and Helen Dean Cravens Lee. They survive. Lee was a member of Bloomfield Masonic Lodge #153 A.F. and A.M. and was elected Master in 1983. He was also a member of the Bloomfield Chapter #385 Order of the Eastern Star...

CATRON, Mo. -- Norman C. Sharp, 73, of Catron died Monday, June 12, 2000, at Southeast Missouri Hospital. He was born Dec. 4, 1926, in Kansas City, Mo., son of Clyde and Rose M. Baur Sharp. He and Sue Wrather were married Dec. 18, 1976, at Catron. He previously had been married to Wanda Maxine Rice Sharp...

CHARLESTON, Mo. -- Roosevelt Williams, 78, of Charleston died Friday, June 9, 2000, at Charleston Manor Nursing Facility. He was born Oct. 15, 1921, in Marianna, Ark., son of Allen and Maggie Unfrey Williams. He first married Martha Ann Williams in 1953. He later married Fleater Hursey Williams...

JACKSON, Mo. -- Joseph H. Knowlton, 71, of Jackson died Sunday, June 11, 2000, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. He was born June 13, 1928, at Chaffee, son of George I. and Eva Mae Thompson Knowlton. He and Wilma F. Green were married May 16, 1987...

RENO THE storm trooper has sent a message to all companies and entrepreneurs: You'd better not get too big and successful, or Justice will split you in two. Also, don't compete with Albert Gore's Internet or you'll get sued. WELL, HERE we go again printing on the front page of the paper that the old Marquette is going to go. ...

Just days after vandals trashed the building that once housed Notre Dame High School, Cape Girardeau police nabbed two suspects, thanks in large part to a tip to Southeast Missouri Crimestoppers. Sometime over the weekend of June 3-4, vandals rammed their vehicle into a set of doors at the former school, now known as the De Paul Center. ...

The Cape Girardeau City Council is moving forward on a plan raise water-usage rates and solid waste collection fees. While nobody likes paying more for city services, the council -- and city staff -- deserve credit for keeping the increases low. Water rates would go up 2 percent, and trash collection fees would increase a modest 1.5 percent. The higher rates would generate a total of $112,500 in additional annual revenue to help offset increased operating costs...

To the editor: I read with interest the June 8 editorial regarding the United Way's offer of $20,000 to the Cape Girardeau County Commission to apply toward hiring a county transit authority director. Once again, the Missouri demonstrated its support toward this effort, but questioned the wisdom of the United Way making this offer, perhaps disappointing United Way supporters. ...