Stories from Monday, October 30, 2000

For the seventh consecutive year, Sonic Corporation has been named to Forbes 200 Best Companies in America list, proving its unique approach in the highly competitive quick service food industry is a hit among consumers and investors. In the Oct. 30 issue of Forbes Magazine, Sonic is ranked No. ...

Scott A. Van de Ven, a certified public accountant with Schott & Van de Ven, has been appointed chairman of a committee for the Missouri Society of CPAs. The Tax Credit Task Force will help obtain authoritative guidance for the use of state tax credits. This is a new undertaking for the Missouri Society of CPAs...

Charles L. Hanners of Jackson, Mo., has been honored for his 20 years in the insurance profession by the Society of Certified Insurance Counselors. Earning his CIC designation and maintaining all update requirements for 20 years places Hanners in the top 1 percent of all insurance professionals in the country...

Tim Reinbott of Bertrand, Mo., has been named superintendent of the University of Missouri Bradford Farms at Columbia, Mo. He has worked for 15 years as a research associate under the direction of Dale Blevins in both the lab and the field conducting research...

Dr. Shannon Kirchhoff of "The Brace Place" has announced the release of his video and Web site. "A Smile That Lasts a Lifetime" is a complimentary information video providing viewers with an inside look at what orthodontics is all about. Over 25 local residents are included in the project...

Dana Corp. announced that its sales for the quarter that ended Sept. 30 were $2.9 billion, down from $3.1 billion for the same period last year. The local Dana facility is a Spicer Light Vehicle Axle Division. Operating income for the quarter totaled $61 million, or 41 cents per share -- in line with expectations announced by the company on Sept. ...

SBC Communications, Inc., reports that its rapidly expanding data services business, wireless operations and successful entry into the Texas long-distance market highlighted strong third-quarter results. Normalized third-quarter revenues grew 8 percent to $13.5 billion, excluding the impacts of shifts in directory publication dates, normalized third-quarter revenues increased 8.4 percent. ...

ST. LOUIS -- Spartech Corporation has announced that it completed the purchase of Alshin Corporation, a manufacturer of urethane-based tires located in Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. Alshin has annual sales of approximately $10 million, supplying primarily the healthcare industry...

The Missouri Division of Aging recently ranked Beverly Healthcare of Cape Girardeau "deficiency free" during its annual nursing home inspection. Their process looks at eight areas, including administration, resident care, and environmental concerns. Beverly Health care also passed other stringent requirements such as those dealing with medication of residents, quality of life issues and building codes...

This "Financial Focus" column is prepared by Edward Jones Investments, headquartered in St. Louis. Jones includes branches throughout the nation, including Cape Girardeau and Jackson. When you accumulate wealth in your IRA, you're certainly helping yourself prepare for a comfortable retirement. But if you're not careful, your big IRA could end up making things quite uncomfortable for your heirs...

Matthew J. Kremke has been appointed senior vice president and chief marketing officer at Capaha Bank in Cape Girardeau. He will be responsible for the bank's marketing and public relations functions. Previously, he was vice president of marketing for the Key Corp. of Indianapolis, Ind. He is a graduate of Butler University and holds a master's degree in business administration and marketing and a bachelor's degree from Indiana University in Bloomington, Ind...

Occupational Medical Services announces the addition of two new associates, Sarah Froemsdorf and Brenda Birk. Froemsdorf is a master's prepared, family nurse practitioner, certified in diabetes mellitus. She has 20 years experience, with the majority of her background in cardiac care and endocrinology...

Sheila Gray of Scott City, Mo., an independent sales manager for The Homemaker's Idea Co., recently attended the first in a series of time management and life leadership workshops offered by the company. "What Matters Most," the nationally recognized Franklin Covey seminar, was presented by the company's vice president, Bonni Davis, a certified time management instructor...

Bob Etherton of Cape Girardeau, an investment representative with Edward Jones, has volunteered to share his knowledge with the firm's investment representatives from Canada. Fabio Mangiapane, newly hired investment representative from Jones' affiliate in Canada, will participate in a two-week program in the United States. He is doing branch observation...

Dr. Michael Wulfers of Cape Girardeau attended the conference on "Infant, Child and Adolescent Medicine" sponsored by the American Academy of Family Physicians in San Antonio, Texas. The conference focused on a comprehensive approach to care of younger patients...

Southern Missouri Truck Driving School has announced the graduation of Steve Pinskton of Jackson, Mo., from the four-week, 192-hour tractor-trailer driving course. Pinkston received a Certificate of Attainment from the Professional Truck Drivers Institute and obtained a 96 percent grade-point average...

David M. Plassman, a certified public accountant with Schott & Van de Ven, Certified Public Accountants, attended a seminar on advanced federal income taxation of estates, trusts and beneficiaries. The seminar also covered Advanced Form 1041 Return Preparation Issues...

DNA expert Imtiaz Hussain could have gone almost anywhere in the world to fight crime, but he chose Cape Girardeau. He likes small towns. "I really didn't want to move to a big city again, with all the crime," said Hussain, who started work at the Southeast Missouri Crime Lab earlier this month. "Here, it's small enough. And people are very friendly."...

All but gone are the days when teachers kept paddles guaranteed to cause pain in their desk drawers. So, too, have gone the days when principals applied corporal punishment to the rear ends of students to teach them right from wrong. Although corporal punishment is still allowed in Missouri public schools, paddles are gathering dust while principals seek other methods to curb misbehavior...

Brian Hale of Sikeston, Mo., was swimming in Lake Whippoorwill nearly a decade ago when he lost his gold Advance High School class of 1991 ring. Hale had figured the ring gone forever until recently, when it was returned to him by a stocky, bespectacled metal detector hobbyist...

John Carpenter would like his job back, and Harold Cobb would like his job back. But the present and past Cape Girardeau County coroners want the same job. Carpenter took the job away from Cobb when he was elected in 1988 by a difference of 180 votes. When Cobb tried to return as coroner in 1992, he lost 11,028 to 15,980...

The Cape Girardeau Public Works Department deemed its recent household hazardous waste drop-off collection a success. More than 220 people delivered household wastes to the drop-off location in Arena Park. It was an increase of 50 people over last year...

SIKESTON, Mo. -- Community and civic leaders in the Sikeston area will "serve time" for the Muscular Dystrophy Association during its annual Lock Up Tuesday. More than 100 people will participate in the event from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Participants can turn themselves in at the Ryan's Steakhouse in Sikeston and be put in a jail. Participants can help raise a $500 bail within an hour. If they don't succeed, they can call for help...

The city public works department begins its annual leaf pickup program next week on the city's south side. Leaves there will be picked up during the week of Nov. 6 before crews move to other areas around the city. The service has been offered in Cape Girardeau since the 1960s. It does not cost residents any additional charges beyond the usual charges for utilities and trash service...

Southeast Missouri State University's volleyball team dropped a rare Ohio Valley Conference set, but the Otahkians recovered to post a four-set victory over visiting Tennessee Tech at Houck Field House Sunday afternoon. The Otahkians lost the opening set 14-16 but rolled in the final three sets 15-1, 15-4, 15-11...

BRENTWOOD, Tenn. -- Southeast Missouri State University freshman running back Marcus Patton has been named the Ohio Valley Conference newcomer of the week for his performance during Saturday's 34-14 win over Tennessee-Martin. Patton rushed for a career-high 81 yards on 15 carries and he scored two touchdowns, including a dazzling 14-yarder in which he carried several tacklers into the end zone. Patton also caught two passes for 27 yards...

Despite a victory from No. 1 singles player Mel Thomas, Southeast Missouri State University's women's tennis team suffered a 5-2 home loss to Western Illinois Sunday. Thomas beat Kate Ciler 3-6, 6-3, 6-4. The Otahkians' other singles win came from No. 6 Kay Ehlke, who defeated Courtney Ivers 2-6, 6-3, 6-4...

St. Vincent lost its three-game shutout streak, but it posted a lopsided win nonetheless, beating Valle 31-6 Friday night in area high school football action. The Indians spread the ball around and really didn't rack up a lot of offensive yards partly because their defense and kicking game set them up so well...

An Oak Ridge, Mo., man was injured early Sunday in a single-vehicle accident west of Fruitland, Mo. The accident happened at 12:28 a.m. at County Road 439 and Route FF. David Maintz, 28, was taken to Southeast Missouri Hospital for moderate injuries. He failed to stop at a stop sign and skidded through the intersection hitting an embankment, the Missouri State Highway Patrol said...

JACKSON, Mo. -- Ruby M. Reitman, age 85, passed away Saturday, Oct. 28, 2000, at her home in Jackson. Friends may call Monday, Oct. 30, between 4 and 8 p.m. at the McCombs Funeral Home in Jackson. Funeral service will be Tuesday, Oct. 31, at 11 a.m. at the funeral home followed by interment in Russell Heights Cemetery. Kelly and Kenny Francis will officiate...

Gregory S. McGill, 37, of Cape Girardeau, died Saturday, Oct. 28, 2000. Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. today at Ford and Sons Mount Auburn Chapel. Funeral will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday at the chapel.

ALTO PASS, Ill. -- Lena Agnes Norton, 97, of St. Charles, Mo., formerly of Alto Pass, Ill., died Saturday, Oct. 28, 2000, at the National Health Care Facility in St. Charles. She was born Nov. 1, 1902, at Cobden, Ill., daughter of John William and Annie Rhodes Wallace. She and Arty Norton were married Oct. 17, 1924, at Cairo, Ill. He died in September 1953...

BENTON, Mo. -- Cecil V. Ford, 83, of Benton died Saturday, Oct. 28, 2000, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. He was born March 21, 1917, at Harrisburg, Ill., son of Gilbert and Maude Church Ford. He and Charlsie "Sal" Earnheart were married Nov. 1, 1941, in St. Louis. She died Jan. 27, 1983...

Tessie H. Steckler, 90, of Cape Girardeau died Sunday, Oct. 29, 2000, at Southeast Missouri Hospital. Ford and Sons Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, I don't know what part of no you don't understand. We voted out planning and zoning in 1992, and I don't think you know the definition of no. If people have extra tax money, let them put it on the school bonds. We need schools, but we don't need planning and zoning. Vote no...

For the third time this year, Jackson School District voters will be asked Nov. 7 to approve a 10-cent levy to finance a $6 million bond issue to expand R.O. Hawkins Junior High School. Twice voters have rejected the proposal along with other funding proposals that would have also increased property taxes...

Countywide planning and zoning remains as controversial today as it was 30 years ago when the Cape Girardeau County Commission first proposed planning. The county has never had zoning, but it had countywide planning for the 20 years from 1972 to 1992. ...

To the editor: I recently received two political information letters from the National Rifle Association. The second one had a John Ashcroft bumper sticker inside and referred to Al Gore and his buddies as "traitors." The first letter was more interesting. ...

To the editor: I find it hard to believe that golfers in Cape Girardeau are not petitioning the city to put in bent grass greens at the Jaycee Municipal Golf Course. After all these years playing on very poor Bermuda greens six months of the year and then playing on worse temporary greens the other six months, I would have thought you all would say "Enough!"...