Stories from Tuesday, March 13, 2001

Editor's note: This is an installment from a chapter of Jean Bell Mosley's book "Wide Meadows" that was first published in 1960. Last week: Preparing for the butchering We conferred with our friends at school about this and decided that nothing could be more American than taking the Kotiski boys on a snipe hunt. "And I know just the log to use," Lou exclaimed...

Colleges across the nation are developing programs aimed at helping students, especially beginning freshmen, who feel unprepared for academic work at the college level. The problem of students arriving unprepared isn't widespread at Southeast Missouri State University, which offers a diverse list of programs aimed at helping students get the most of their college career, said Dr. Fred Janzow, dean of the school of university studies...

This is Girl Scout Week, a time to celebrate those girls in green (and brown and blue). I regret the fact that I was never a Girl Scout growing up, but as an adult, I'm making up for lost time. I've been an assistant leader of my daughter, Becca's, troop for the last four years, and Bailey can't wait to join Daisy Scouts in the fall...

Early sales of a new book by David Limbaugh have propelled it to the No. 2 best-seller spot at a Cape Girardeau book store. "Absolute Power: The Legacy of Corruption in the Clinton-Reno Justice Department" is selling swiftly at local bookstores, including Barnes and Noble, where its sales are second only to a national best-selling inspirational book called "The Prayer of Jabez."...

BENTON, Mo. -- Kelly school officials will consider an alternative financing method to ease school overcrowding that would require a simple majority for passage. The district's Builders for Tomorrow committee, which promoted three failed bond measures last year to raise funding for construction of a new high school, will sponsor an open meeting at 6:30 p.m. Monday in the high school band room...

U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Emerson's 19-year-old daughter, Katharine, doesn't want to follow in her mother's footsteps. Emerson says her daughter doesn't aspire to be a congresswoman because when she becomes a mother she wants to have more time to spend with her children...

Dr. Frank Nickell, director of the Center for Regional History at Southeast Missouri State University, played a key role in the historical research for a film that won an Emmy award in the "best documentary" category at an awards program in St. Louis earlier this year...

GORDONVILLE, Mo. -- The town board has abandoned plans to annex two nearby subdivisions as part of a sewer project because of opposition from property owners. City officials, however, will continue to push to bring sewers to the 104-year-old Cape Girardeau County town...

New buildings Carpenters District Council, 827 Enterprise St., new building, 2/23/01. Cape Public Senior High School, preliminary plans, South Silver Springs Road, 8/16/2000; preliminary review meeting, 10/27/00; new plans, 1/26/00. Jeff Maurer, storage units, 73 N. Leming Lane, mini storage building, 2/14/01; plans submitted to fire department, 2/14/01...

Campaign committees in Oak Ridge and Scott City school districts are stepping up efforts to gain voter support for bond proposals in April 3 elections. Superintendents in both school districts said special committees led by residents have collected money from patrons and area businesses to cover costs of promoting bond issues to voters...

SIKESTON, Mo. -- A Sikeston man and his stepfather had been feuding for some time before the fatal shooting of the stepfather Saturday afternoon, police said. Police Lt. Dan Armour said Albert Lott, 32, and his stepfather, Theodore Daniel, 36, both of Sikeston, had been engaged in domestic disputes before, including some that required police intervention...

St. Vincent High School boys basketball player Tyler Wengert has been named the most valuable player in the small school division of the Jefferson County Conference. Wengert received first-team all-conference honors. Making the second team for the Indians were Mark Gotto and Ryan Brown while Adam Bockman and Nick Emmendorfer were honorable-mention picks...

For the second straight week, Southeast Missouri State University baseball player Todd Pennington has been named co-pitcher of the week in the Ohio Valley Conference. The junior right-hander tossed a nine-inning shutout last Thursday against Central Oklahoma, allowing three hits and striking out 12 as he lowered his earned-run average to 0.83...

Southeast Missouri State University's Jenny Doehring was named the most valuable player of the Kentucky softball tournament held over the weekend in Lexington, Ky. Doehring went 3-0 in the pitching department, with three complete-game shutouts. Offensively, she led the Otahkians with six hits as Southeast went 3-2 in the tourney...

Jackson High School senior Ray Goodson was named the Class 4A state wrestler of the year during Sunday's Missouri Wrestling Association banquet. Goodson finished the season as the undefeated 215-pound 4A state champion. Three Jackson wrestlers were named academic all-state: Michael Wright, who was second at 119; Brock Howard, six at 103; and Mark Wade, sixth at 171...

Son to Bernie E. and Sarah A. Golinski of Cape Girardeau, Southeast Missouri Hospital, 4:08 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2001. Name, William Eric. Weight, 8 pounds 10 ounces. Mrs. Golinski is the former Sarah Smothers, daughter of Harlan and Doris Smothers of Gordonville, Mo. She is employed at Main Street Fitness...

ADVANCE, Mo. -- Funeral Mass for Bernice Georger of Advance will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday at St. John's Catholic Church in Leopold, Mo. The Revs. Frederick Lutz and Lewis Hejna will officiate. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Friends may call at Morgan Funeral Home from 4-8 p.m. today. Parish prayers will be at 7, and Knights of Columbus rosary will be recited at 7:30...

A Bell City man and his passenger were injured Monday evening after another driver pulled into their path after stopping at her mailbox. The accident happened south of Bell City around 5:30 p.m. The Missouri Highway Patrol said Melissa A. Lovins-Buley, 24, of Bell City pulled onto the opposite side of the road to a mailbox, then crossed both lanes of traffic toward a private drive...

A Cape Girardeau man who allegedly was driving while drunk was injured after a one-car accident in Scott County Sunday evening. The Missouri Highway Patrol said Stephen L. Worley, 48, was westbound on Missouri 91, about seven miles west of Morley, when he struck a bridge railing, ran off the road, struck a dirt embankment and overturned his 1993 GMC...

ESSEX, Mo. -- Dennis Russell "Root Hog" Joseph, 48, of Essex died Saturday, March 10, 2001, at his home. He was born Dec. 4, 1952, at Poplar Bluff, Mo., son of Everett Russell and Lottie Mae Welker Joseph. Joseph was a farmer. He served in the U.S. Navy...

SCOTT CITY, Mo. -- Clara "Wilma" Ross, 88, of Scott City died Monday, March 12, 2001, at the Lutheran Home in Cape Girardeau. She was born June 19, 1912, at Burfordville, Mo., daughter of August C. and Caroline Kamp Huter. She and Elmer Dennis Ross were married Sept. 7, 1946, at Jackson, Mo. He died Nov. 25, 1998...

POCAHONTAS, Mo. -- Victor N. Pfeiffer, 80, passed away Monday, March 12, 2001, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. Friends may call from 4-8 p.m. today at McCombs Funeral Home in Jackson, Mo. Funeral service will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Zion Lutheran Church in Pocahontas. The Rev. Howard Mueller will officiate. Burial will be in the church cemetery, with graveside rites by the Missouri Honor Guard...

Graveside service for Jai-Real Rodrauis Harris will be held at 10 a.m. today at Oak Grove Cemetery in Charleston, Mo. Lorberg Memorial Funeral Chapel is in charge of arrangements. The infant was born and died Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2000, at Southeast Missouri Hospital...

PUXICO, Mo. -- Funeral for Pansy McGhee of Puxico will be held at 1:30 p.m. today at Watkins and Sons Funeral Home in Puxico. The Rev. Kenneth Lambert and Lonnie Guilliams will officiate. Burial will be in Puxico Cemetery. McGhee, 86, died Sunday, March 11, 2001, at Puxico Nursing Center...

FROHNA, Mo. -- Dorothy J. Stueve, 72, formerly of Frohna, died Monday, March 12, 2001, at Jackson Manor in Jackson, Mo. She was born July 9, 1928, in St. Louis, daughter of Ervin and Alma Holschen Kreyling. She and Norbert Stueve were married Jan. 10, 1946. He died June 4, 1990...

GORDONVILLE, Mo. -- Melba H. Deneke, 84, died Monday, March 12, 2001, at the Lutheran Home in Cape Girardeau. She was born March 5, 1917, at Tilsit, Mo., daughter of William and Minnie Siebert Neumeyer. She and Roy Deneke were married April 19, 1939, at Gordonville. He died Dec. 10, 1999...

To the editor: I would like to point out an error in the March 10 Associated Press article on iconoclasm in regard to the Taliban's destroying images of Buddha. The article mentions the iconoclasm that took place under Leo III. The article stated that Eastern Christians (now known as Eastern Orthodox Christians) worshipped icons. Orthodox Christians, then as now, venerate icons, holding that worship is due to God alone...

To the editor: House Bill 59 in the Missouri House would exempt all pensions from state income tax for those 65 years of age and older. Many other states have started competing for retirees by exempting their pensions from income tax. Missouri has not joined in the competition. Passage of this bill would make Missouri very attractive to retirees. It would soon produce an increase in total revenue...

To the editor: Readers of the Southeast Missourian can be forgiven for lacking information on the Florida vote recounts since results reported here have been rather one-sided. According to the Palm Beach Post, a recount of the butterfly ballot revealed 5,330 votes for Gore and Buchanan, 2,908 votes for Gore and McReynolds and only 1,631 votes for Bush and Buchanan. This suggests a 6,607-vote edge to Al Gore, more than enough to overcome the slim Bush certified victory of fewer than 1,000 votes...

There was a collective sigh of relief last week among a lot of legislators and in the governor's office when the Missouri Supreme Court ruled the state wouldn't have to make more than half a billion dollars in refunds to taxpayers. That possibility, along with a projected shortfall in revenue of $133 million, has the state in a tight squeeze, according to the folks who legislate taxes and authorize state spending in Jefferson City...

When Chuck Hatfield, general counsel for Attorney General Jay Nixon, told a Missouri Senate hearing last month that proposed legislation to cap the fees of Missouri lawyers might imperil the state's participation in the national tobacco settlement, he was either misinformed or deliberately trying to derail the bill...

PARENTS, WAKE up. Your children can go to local health clinics and be placed on birth control without you knowing it. We're talking about 13-, 14- and 15-year-old children. You know what else, parents? They can sign out of school because they're forging your name and going to clinics and getting birth control. ...

To the editor: Many of you have heard the song "It Is No Secret What God Can Do." It continues, "What he has done for others, he will do for you." These words ring with a glorious truth. God, will do for others what he has done for you. So when God does something for you, you need to let others know he will do it for them. Thus the reason for this letter...