Stories from Monday, January 7, 1991

SIKESTON -- A Missouri National Guard combat engineer from Sikeston, who was helping with a road building exercise in Panama, died Saturday after his backhoe overturned. The accident killed Spec. Jerry L. Thomas, 25, the Missouri National Guard reported Sunday from Jefferson City. The National Guard said the accident happened in central Panama...

CAPE GIRARDEAU -- Due to freezing rain, sleet and ice, nearly all area schools will be closed today. Much of the southern part of the state is still feeling the effects of Sunday's freezing rain and sleet. Following is a list of schools that have cancelled classes for today:...

CAPE GIRARDEAU -- Ken Johnson always intended for his son, Brad, to become a lawyer. Instead, while in his first year of college, Brad took a flying lesson. Afterward, he told his father he'd never done anything he loved as much as flying. After graduating from Southeast Missouri State University in 1987, Brad joined the Air Force and graduated from the U.S. Air Force Flight School at Del Rio, Texas...

CAPE GIRARDEAU -- City and Chamber of Commerce officials are studying ways to tax Cape Girardeau businesses in a fairer and easier manner than the current merchant-license system. To that end, the chamber's Retail Steering Committee is surveying local businesses to determine if a majority of merchants would favor scrapping the current tax system in favor of a different method...

CAPE GIRARDEAU -- A not-for-profit group is continuing efforts to establish a safe house here for women and children, who are victims of domestic violence. But the president of the group, Patricia Strom, said it takes time to get organized and secure the funding needed to operate such a facility...

CAPE GIRARDEAU -- Cape Girardeau Assistant City Manager Al Stoverink is awaiting Senate approval of his nomination to the Missouri Public Entity Risk Management Fund (MOPERM) board of trustees. Governor John Ashcroft appointed Stoverink to a four-year term on the board last year after the Senate's legislative session. The Senate is expected to confirm his nomination later this month...

PFC. NATHAN R. LITTLEPAGE U.S. ARMY Pfc. Littlepage is the son of Dale and Jennenne Littlepage of Scott City. He graduated from Scott City High School in 1988 and joined the Army in April that same year. He was stationed at Fort Hood, Texas, with the 1st Calvary before being deployed to Saudi Arabi in October...

Students at Franklin Elementary School share some of their New Year's resolutions. Garth Otto: "I'm going to start drawing more so I can be a good artist. Also, I would stop fighting with my sisters and start reading more books so I can be a better reader."...

CAPE GIRARDEAU - The newly-organized Safe House for Women Inc. will sponsor a community awareness and education workshop Saturday. The workshop is entitled: "Sometimes You Wish There Was No Place Like Home." The workshop will be held in the Harrison Room at Southeast Missouri Hospital from 9 a.m. ...