Stories from Sunday, April 1, 2001

Jackson's own Mark Green has been chosen to compete in the National Geographic Geography Bee on Friday at the University of Missouri at Columbia. In addition to the honor of competing and representing Jackson Middle School, all students competing will receive a t-shirt and certificate...

At Jackson High School on Tuesday morning, the Jackson High School band held a rehearsal for the state contest set for 7:15 p.m. at the Southeast Missouri State University Center Ballroom. Jackson band directors are Scott Vangilder, Pat Schwent and Tom Broussard...

More than $9,000 was raised last year when two area youths helped organize Missouri's first American Diabetes Association School Walk For Diabetes in Cape Girardeau County. This time around, Majhon Phillips hopes to see the event grow. "I'd like to see us raise $10,000 or more this year," said the St. Paul Lutheran School seventh-grader. "I'm just hoping to continue things this year."...

The Riverside Regional Library will kick off National Library Week this week by joining in a new, national, public awareness effort called the Campaign for America's Libraries. Sponsored by the American Library Association, the multi-year campaign is designed to remind people that today's libraries are dynamic, modern community centers for learning, information and entertainment...

Darrell Sievers can think of worse ways to spend a weekend than suiting up for the Tennessee Air National Guard. "I work in Jackson and live in Jackson," said the Jackson policeman. "It's kind of nice to get paid once a month to leave town." Sievers, a member for 12 years, brought recruiter Sgt. Brad Tidwell to town Wednesday evening to speak to a group of Jackson teen-agers. Sievers stressed that the meeting was in a "stress-free environment" and that "nobody will be signing anything."...

The Friends of the Riverside Regional Library will present the bargain book sale from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. April 21 at Westfield Shoppingtown. People can donate books by dropping them off at the library's Jackson site at 204 S. Union St. People can volunteer at the sale, by calling Nancy Howland at 243-8141. Proceeds from the sale will be used by the Friends group to purchase items for the library's Jackson, Perryville, Altenburg, Scott City, Benton and Oran branches...

Q: When did you become the assistant municipal court judge? A: I got the call on Friday, March l6, and was appointed to the position on Monday, March 19. I have not yet been officially sworn in. Q: What does an assistant municipal court judge do?...

We could define this characteristic of God as: The outward manifestation of pity; it assumes need on the part of the one who receives it and resources adequate to meet those needs on the part of Him who uses it. As we have mentioned time and time again, the mercy of God is sovereign, which means, and we quote from Paul in Romans Chapter 9: "I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion."...

L.R.. Brandes lent a real auctioneer's know-how to the Jackson Noon Optimists' annual White Elephant Auction Tuesday night at Delmonico's. This shirt was one of the serious prizes at the White Elephant Auction. This work belt wasn't quite what Sue Jones had anticipated during the White Elephant Auction...

Whitewater, Mo. -- Methamphetamine makers are willing to risk their lives to steal a substance that sells legally for 58 cents a gallon. But those who store anhydrous ammonia, a meth ingredient more commonly used by farmers as fertilizer, aren't as brave in guarding it...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Make no mistake, former Missouri Gov. Warren Hearnes considers the University of Missouri's Hearnes Center his building. When asked about his role in winning support for the current home of the Missouri Tigers basketball squads and other university athletic teams, Hearnes isn't shy about taking credit...

JACKSON, Mo. -- A junior high teacher has been charged with sex crimes involving a 13-year-old student who gave birth to a stillborn infant and buried the body behind her house. Thomas Mark Sprandel, 37, of Fruitland, Mo., was charged with two counts of statutory sodomy and first degree child endangerment for reportedly having sexual contact with the girl...

On May 16, Bill Pelke will be on hand for the execution of Timothy McVeigh, arguably the most famous man now residing on federal death row in Terre Haute, Ind. He'll be standing in opposition to the terrorist's death. "It's difficult to believe this man is not remorseful," said Pelke, a native of Indiana. "And, I certainly feel for the families of the victims from the Oklahoma City bombing."...

"Semper Fi," a television show co-created by Cape Girardeau native Jim Uhls, airs tonight on NBC. A possible pilot for a fall TV series, "Semper Fi" was co-created with director Steven Spielberg and his Dreamworks company. The program about life at Marine boot camp will be broadcast at 7 tonight...

Want Jonathan Ressel to play in the post? He can do that. Want him to shoot threes? He can do that. Want him to defend the opponent's best player, block a shot or take a charge? He can do all that, too. Just don't ask him to bust onto the court to the trendy, over-played tune "Who Let the Dogs Out."...

By now, we're familiar with Jackson's improbable Final Four run -- a team thought in preseason to be third-best in its district ended up the third-best team in the state. We also know, by now, Andrea Koeper's importance to Jackson's team -- her leadership, her 16 points, eight rebounds and two assists per game...

Southeast Missouri State University has turned out plenty of talented basketball players in recent years, although none of them have been able to ascend to the sport's highest level. But while there are no SEMO products in the National Basketball Association, that doesn't mean quite a few ex-Indians haven't been able to earn money performing overseas...

COOKESVILLE, Tenn. -- Southeast Missouri State University's softball team, which has owned the Ohio Valley Conference in recent years, dropped a doubleheader to OVC foe Tennessee Tech Saturday. Tennessee Tech (23-13, 2-0) needed nine innings to dispose of the Otahkians (9-14, 3-2) 5-4 in the opener, while the Eagles solved Southeast 5-1 in the nightcap...

MURRAY, Ky. -- Southeast Missouri State University's baseball team lost the first game of an OVC doubleheader 6-5 to Murray State Saturday, but the second game was suspended due to darkness with the teams tied at two in the seventh inning. In the first game, Southeast's Todd Pennington (4-1) suffered his first loss of the year. He went five innings and gave up six runs, three earned, on nine hits and three walks. He struck out four...

MURPYSBORO, Ill. -- Cape Central's girls took first and Jackson's boys took second place in the 12-team Murphysboro Invitational Saturday. On the flip side, Central's boys took fourth and Jackson's girls took fifth. The Lady Tigers took first place with 91 points -- 16.5 points ahead of the second-place finisher -- despite having five key contributors out with nagging injuries. Sprinter Vicky Wilson was among those who missed the trip...

BLOOMFIELD, Mo. -- Era E. Mertens, 98, died Friday, March 30, 2001, at the Beverly Healthcare Center in Dexter, Mo. She was born Dec. 11, 1902, at Hazen, Ark., daughter of John Henry and Sara Jessie Wood Owen. She had been a resident of the Clines Island community since 1949. She was a member of the Center Point Baptist Church at Center Point, Ark...

SIKESTON, Mo. -- Pauline Husher, 83, of Sikeston died Friday, Mar. 30, 2001, at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston. She was born Dec. 25, 1917, at Sikeston, daughter of John Foster and Marjorie Bell Swanagon Husher. She was a member of St. Francis Xavier Catholic. She worked as a secretary 50 years at the Bank of Sikeston. She previously worked as legal secretary for the Bailey Law Firm...

Willard W. Middleton, 83, of Cape Girardeau died Friday, March 30, 2001, at St. Francis Medical Center. He was born Feb. 9, 1918, at Centerville, Mo., son of Otto Joseph and Elsie Mae Brooks Middleton. He and Geraldine Jones Minton were married May 12, 1944, at Jackson, Mo...

JACKSON, Mo. -- Loren W. Abbott, 85, of Jackson died Friday, March 30, 2001, at St. Francis Medical Center. He was born March 16, 1916, at Cape Girardeau County, son of Charles W. and Sally E. Phelps. He and Ruby Mangels were married July 9, 1938, at Poplar Bluff, Mo. She died Jan. 8, 1994...

ALTENBURG, Mo. -- Hilda Flora Meinz, 86, of Altenburg died Saturday, March 31, 2001, at St. Francis Medical Center. She was born Sept. 23, 1914, at New Wells, Mo., daughter of Theodore and Margaret Hemmann Koch. She and Rudolph J. Meinz were married Jan. 24, 1937. He died March 25, 1992...

CHARLESTON, Mo. -- Melvin Blanchard, 57, of St. Louis died Thursday, March 29, 2001, at his home. He was born Oct. 3, 1943, in Charleston, son of Angelo and Jessie Kate Blanchard. He was a graduate of Lincoln High School in Charleston. He was employed by Dobbs International Services. He was former member of Mercy Seat Baptist Church...

COBDEN, Ill. -- Carol A. Etzkorn of Cobden died Wednesday, March 21, 2001, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. She was born July 8, 1952, in Tiffin, Ohio, daughter of Harland and Doris Etzkorn. Etzkorn was a graduate of Southern Illinois University-Carbondale. She was a staff horticulturist at the Anna Nursery for more than 20 years...

Ruth Schlue, 80, of Cape Girardeau died Friday, March 30, 2001, at her home. Arrangements are incomplete at Ford & Sons Mt. Auburn Funeral Home.

Dena V. Talley, 78, of Cape Girardeau died Saturday, March 31, 2001, at St. Francis Medical Center. She was born Dec. 5, 1922, at Cape Girardeau, daughter of Dollar and Josaphine Baker Welker. She and Paul Talley were married Dec. 31, 1948, at Piggott, Ark. He died Aug. 10, 1997...

Richard J. Comeau II, 43, of Cape Girardeau died Saturday, March 31, 2001, in Cape Girardeau. He was born Nov. 27, 1957, in Sikeston, Mo., son of Dr. Richard A. and Corinne Comeau. He and Jane Ann Evers were married Dec. 31, 1990, in Cape Girardeau...

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- Hazel Anna Schumer, 90, of Perryville died Friday, March 30, 2001, at her home. She was born Jan. 1, 1911, at Perryville, daughter of Rudolph C. and Flora M. Cissell Huber. She and Otto J. Schumer were married June 12, 1933. He died Oct. 20, 1988...

CHAFFEE, Mo. -- Edith R. Sanders, 87, of Chaffee died Thursday, March 29, 2001, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. She was born Aug. 24, 1913, at Malden, Mo., daughter of Harry and Ida Anthony Kneibert. She was retired from an insurance company and had worked as a clerk at the Chaffee IGA store. She was a member of St. Ambrose Catholic Church at Chaffee. She was also a member of the Daughters of St. Ambrose and the Legion of Mary...

CAIRO, Ill. -- Helen S. Hornberger, 93, of Cairo died Saturday, March 31, 2001, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. She was born Nov. 24, 1907, in Eldorado, Ill., daughter of the late Arthur and Elsie Porter. She and George Roy Hornberger Sr. were married. He died in 1997...

Congratulations to Coach Horrell and the Chaffee Red Devils baseball squad on their convincing defeat of rival Notre Dame. Horrell and his team are a class act and deserve the respect of the Notre Dame coach. THIS IS for the reader who doesn't approve of shorts in church: Since when did God appoint you as the overseer of his house? God's happy to see anyone in his house whether they've got shorts or green hair or even come topless...

The every-10-year census we do in this country generates a lot of interest in population growth and decline. But the census prompts another, more serious task that is in some ways a dark side of the census. Both the federal and state constitutions require redistricting of congressional districts as well as the legislative districts in each state. The aim of redistricting is to distribute equal population among each of the various districts based on the latest census numbers...

To the editor: A question: When did you last spend time at your library? April 1-7 is National Library Week. And if' it's been a while, you'd probably be pleasantly surprised at how libraries have embraced the latest technological advances while maintaining the traditional programs and services that have made them one of America's most cherished institutions...

KENNETT, Mo. -- If there were not thousands of low- and middle-income Missouri families without medical coverage, if the state had one of the nation's best-recognized educational systems and if employment opportunities were available to all willing workers, then -- and only then -- could Missourians indulge in such fiscal misadventures as supplying funds for construction of a professional baseball team's proposed new stadium...

It's the biggest rip-off of public money in history. Without having to bid, a few politically connected trial attorneys will receive as much as $320 million -- $30,000 an hour -- for work on Missouri's tobacco settlement that was already virtually guaranteed. Believing this money should be used for health care and education for all Missourians, I have filed a bill to undo this scandalous arrangement...

"Listen!" my sister, Lou, said, pushing back the bed covers and holding up a hushing hand. I listened. All I heard was the early morning farm sounds. "Hear it?" Lou demanded I sat up, shaking the sleepiness away and listened more intently. "It's the waterfall!"...

Mr. and Mrs. LeRoy Wilke of Cape Girardeau recently observed their 50th wedding anniversary with a celebration at Trinity Lutheran School Assembly Room. Hosts were their children and spouses, Veronica and Larry Prost, Paulette and Bob Williams, Michael and Janean Wilke, and Allen and Kim Wilke...

BENTON, Mo. -- Brandy Marie Bollinger and Robert Joseph Luttrell were married Nov. 25, 2000, at First Free Will Baptist Church in Cape Girardeau. The Rev. Howard Anderson performed the double ring ceremony. Pianist was Cheryl Kern. Soloists were Angela Luttrell and Kim Cunningham of Cape Girardeau...

Amy C. Hook and Ryan R. Rassin were married June 10, 2000, at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church in Chicago. The Rev. Thomas Healy performed the double ring ceremony. Soloist was Brandon Hahs of Cape Girardeau. Parents of the couple are Joseph and Mary Hook of Highland, Ill., and Ronald and Mary Lou Rassin of Deerfield, Ill...

LEOPOLD, Mo. -- Joann Rebekah Schmitt and Daniel Bradley James were married May 20, 2000, at Zion United Methodist Church in Gordonville, Mo. The Revs. William McCormick and Ann Mowery performed the double ring ceremony. Music was presented by Marian Martin of Jackson, Mo., Darlene Revell of Sedgewickville, Mo., and Brenda Neumeyer of Gordonville...

Jimmie and Lisa Gibbar of Cape Girardeau announce the engagement of their daughter, Jaime Lynde Gibbar, to Matthew Michael Morton, both of St. Louis. He is the son of Sheilah and Ronald Smith of Chesterfield, Mo., and Michael Morton of Jackson, Mo. Gibbar is a 1995 graduate of Notre Dame High School. She received a bachelor of science degree in mass communications from Southeast Missouri State University in 2000. She is a research associate with Michael Latas and Associates in St. Louis...

JACKSON, Mo. -- Dr. Walter Branscum of Kelso, Mo., and Dr. Shelba Branscum of Jackson announce the engagement of their daughter, Anne Yavonne Branscum, to Brandon Corey Borgfield. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Terry Borgfield of Jackson. Branscum is a 1997 graduate of Jackson High School. She received a bachelor of science degree in human services from Southeast Missouri State University in 2000, and expects to receive a master's degree in community counseling from Southeast in 2002...

Mr. and Mrs. David Ertel of Apopka, Fla., announce the engagement of their daughter, Kimberly Joy Ertel, to Corey Steven Wright. He is the son of Kathryn Wright of Cape Girardeau, and the late Steven W. Wright. Ertel is a graduate of Forrest Lake Academy in Apopka, and is pursuing a degree in architecture. She is a legal assistant at Williams and Livingston, P.A...

CHAFFEE, Mo. -- William E. and Carol J. Long of New Madrid, Mo., announce the engagement of their daughter, Crystal Dawn Long, to James Kyle Moyers. He is the son of Ron and Joy Moyers of Chaffee. Long is a 1997 graduate of New Madrid County Central High School. She is a junior at Southeast Missouri State University, majoring in housing and interior design...

JACKSON, Mo. -- Craig and Carla Millham of Jackson announce the engagement of their daughter, Michele Renee Millham, to Matthew Scott Rubel. He is the son of Robert and Bonnie Rubel of Cape Girardeau. Millham is a 1997 graduate of Jackson High School, and expects to receive a bachelor of science degree in exercise science from St. Louis University in May...

Tobi Anne Raney and Ryan James Layton of Cape Girardeau announce their engagement. She is the daughter of Ken and Deborah Raney of Hesston, Kan. He is the son of James and Janice Layton of Perryville, Mo. Raney is a 1998 graduate of Hesston High School. She is majoring in early childhood education at Southeast Missouri State University...

MORLEY, Mo. -- Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Rodgers of Morley announce the engagement of their daughter, Kelley Dawn Rodgers, to Dustin Ray Snider of Jackson, Mo. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Ray Snider of Scopus, Mo. Rodgers is a 1997 graduate of Scott County Central High School. She expects to receive a bachelor of arts degree in communications disorders from Southeast Missouri State University in May...

JACKSON, Mo. -- Mr. and Mrs. Jon Bradley Kasten of Jackson announce the engagement of their daughter, Gretchen Anne Kasten, to Mark Anthony Clardy. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. John Clardy of Jefferson City, Mo. Kasten is a graduate of Jackson High School, and a 1995 graduate of the University of Missouri-Columbia. She is an area sales manager with Drury Hotels in St. Louis...

Well, March may have gone out like a lamb but Venus went out in glory! Near the end of last month, Venus became a very large, thin, crescent shape because of the sun, Venus, Earth geometrical configuration. The crescent shape was easily visible in ordinary binoculars. Venus has now streaked across the sun and can be found on the west side, which makes it visible in early morning so you can catch its flipside spectacle if you missed it last month...