Stories from Monday, March 11, 1991

DAISY - Daisy resident Harold K. Hahs, died Sunday, March 10, 1991 at the Cape LaCroix Nursing Home in Cape Girardeau. He was 45. He was born in Cape Girardeau Feb. 1, 1946 to Gifford S. and Veda Barks Hahs. Hahs, a member of the New Salem Methodist Church, spent his lifetime in the Daisy community...

The Southeast Missouri State University Board of Regents recently raised tuition and room and board fees substantially. And it did so with virtually no comment on the part of its members. Unfortunately, that has been a standard practice at regents meetings for many years now...

CAPE GIRARDEAU - People who work while they are getting Social Security benefits need to report their earnings by April 15, if their earnings are above certain limits. For 1990 earnings, the reports are required from beneficiaries (other than those receiving disability benefits) who were age 65-69 and earned more than $9,360, or under 65 and earned more than $6,840, and received some benefits in 1990. Earnings over those amounts count in determining the amount of Social Security benefits due...

The Guide To Health Insurance For People With Medicare tells about the 1990 changes in Medicare protection, types of private health insurance, and hints on shopping for private health insurance. The guide was prepared by the Health Care Financing Administration, which administers the Medicare program, and the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. Copies are available free by writing to the Consumer Information Center, Pueblo, CO 81009...

CAPE GIRARDEAU - A change in the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) law effective Jan. 1, will allow more working disabled people to qualify for SSI checks. The cost of work expenses related to their impairment will be excluded when determining their income for SSI purposes...

The Cape Girardeau Office is one of four offices in the Cape Girardeau District of the Social Security Administration. We also have offices in Kennett, Sikeston, and Flat River. The Cape Girardeau office serves the northern part of Scott County and Cape Girardeau, Bollinger, Perry and Ste. Genevieve counties...

WOLF LAKE, Ill. - A McClure man died early Sunday morning when the pickup truck he was driving ran off Route 3 and hit a tree. Jason Jacobs, 18, was killed in the accident, said an Illinois State Police spokesperson. The spokesperson said Jacobs was driving south when the accident happened at about 2:20 a.m. on the north edge of Wolf Lake. Jacobs was alone in the truck, he said...

This marks an important week for the Cape Girardeau Public Schools and the community. The two superintendent finalists will visit the city, meeting with administrators, teachers and parents. Now is the time to offer input and ideas not after the decision is reached...

McCLURE, Ill. Jason Jacobs, 18, of McClure, died Sunday, March 10, 1991 as a result of a traffic accident. He was born Feb. 17, 1973 in Cape Girardeau, son of Jerry Lee and Joann Phillips Jacobs, who both survive of McClure. He was a senior at Shawnee High School, a member of the FFA chapter, and a member of the Bow Hunters Club in Cape Girardeau. He was of the Baptist faith...

CAPE GIRARDEAU -- Wilford J. "Bill" Murphy, 68 years old, of 1530 Whitener, died Saturday, March 9, 1991 at Baptist Memorial Hospital in Memphis, Tenn. He was born on Oct. 21, 1922 in Valparaiso, Ind., the son of Wilford B. and Dorothy Riddle Murphy...

PERRYVILLE -- Nettie E. Johnson, 88, of Perryville, died Saturday March 9, 1991, at the American Care Center in Perryville. She was born March 25, 1902 in Bollinger County to Sherman and Pernecia Barks Henry. She was a homemaker and a member of the United Methodist Church of Perryville...

CAPE GIRARDEAU -- Funeral service for John Schnurbusch, who died Friday, March 8, 1991, will be held Wednesday at 10 a.m. at St. Vincent de Paul Church in Cape Girardeau. The Rev. Chris Robinson will officiate. Friends may call Tuesday from 4-8 p.m. at the Ford & Sons Mt. Auburn Chapel. Parrish prayers will be a 7 p.m. and KC rosary at 7:30 p.m...

BERTRAND -- Nona High, 82, of Bertrand, died Sunday, March 10, 1991 at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. She was born Aug. 20, 1908, in Birdwell, Ark. to the late Benjamin Franklin and Mary Elizabeth Carter Million. She was co-owner and operator of the Shannon Hotel in East Prairie for many years. She then moved to Charleston and was the owner of Sands Motel until her retirement in 1976...

Daughter to Mr. and Mrs. Steve Halter of Sikeston Route 1, Southeast Missouri Hospital, 8:20 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 27, 1991. Name, Stephanie Elizabeth. Weight, 6 pounds 10 ounces. First child. Mrs. Halter is the former Debbie Robertson. She is manager of Taco Bell in Sikeston. Halter is assistant manager at Wal-Mart in Cape, and is the son of Flavian and Barbara Halter of Poplar Bluff...

CARTERVILLE, Ill. -- A united Illinois congressional delegation led by U.S. Rep. Glenn Poshard, D-Carterville, has asked the U.S. Forest Service to temporarily suspend timber sales in the Shawnee National Forest. Twenty-two members of the congressional delegation recently sent a letter to F. ...

CAPE GIRARDEAU -- A Cape Girardeau teacher who recently returned from a trip to the Soviet Union and Hungary says students and teachers worldwide share the same concerns and problems. "Students are the same there as they are here, and the teachers there are facing the same problems we are facing here," said Dixie Cook. "The idea was that by sharing those problems, we may be able to come up with some answers."...

WOLF LAKE, Ill. -- F. Dale Robertson, chief of the National Forestry Service, and John Walker, Ducks Unlimited president, will visit Oakwood Bottoms Thursday. Oakwood Bottoms is a stopping off point for ducks when they start their migration back to the Canaddian Northlands each spring...

S. SGT. JIMMY GOCKEL U.S. AIR FORCE Gockel has been enlisted in the Air Force for the past 12 years. He attended Cape Central High School, and earned a degree in criminal justice from Southeast Missouri State University. While he was a student, he worked as a security guard at West Park Mall...

With the Cape Girardeau Public Library seeking a state trant to purchase a bookmobilel, the Southeast Missourian asked patrons of the library's monthly outreach service about their reading habits. Thelbert Watson: "I like to read novels, non-fiction and some westerns. I get the large-print books which are easier to read. When I am finished reading my books, I trade with a couple of other people."...

CAPE GIRARDEAU -- "We need a `bookmobile.' That way we can take the library to the people." That's how Terry Risko, director of the Cape Girardeau Public Library, summed up his feelings toward a bookmobile here. Risko assumed duties at the library in early December...

CAPE GIRARDEAU - People interested in learning about various health care careers are invited to attend a Health Career Day later this month. The free event will be held March 28 at the Health & Education Centre at St. Francis Medical Center. It will run from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m...

CAPE GIRARDEAU - Southwestern Bell Telephone Co. and the Cape Girardeau Area Wide United Way will be accepting nominations for the fourth annual Bell Volunteer Awards through March 25. The Bell awards are a tribute to individuals who donate their time to serve others at the grass-roots level...

CAPE GIRARDEAU - Unlike some private pension plans Social Security's computations are not based on the best five years of wages. Instead, average lifetime earnings establish the amount of payment. For example, if you're turning 62 in 1991 or later your retirement benefit will be based on your best 35 years of earnings from 1951 to the present. Neither the best five years nor the last five years before age 62 have extra significance...

CAPE GIRARDEAU - Are you thinking about retiring? Social Security could be in your plans. If you are at that stage in life when Social Security Retirement Benefits interest you, please read on. Social Security retirement benefits can begin as early as age 62. Benefits are permanently reduced, though, if you start them before age 65, for now. But 67 will be phased in as the retirement age beginning early in the 21st century...

CAPE GIRARDEAU - In addition to being chronologically advantaged, you have to be retired to get Social Security. Once you turn 70 you're considered retired no matter how much you work or earn and you can receive all benefits you normally would be entitled to...

CAPE GIRARDEAU - Even if you start your Social Security earlier you'll have to wait until age 65 to get Medicare. The only exceptions to that rule are for people who are disabled or have chronic kidney disease. Unless you fit in one of those categories you'll have to make other provisions for paying medical bills if you retire before age 65...

CAPE GIRARDEAU - "Could I support myself on my Social Security benefits if I became disabled?" "Would my children be able to get Social Security if something happened to me?" These are questions that we want young adults to ask. Young people can get answers to these questions with a Personal Earnings and Benefit Estimate Statement...

The open enrollment period is set aside each year to allow people to change their minds if they have never signed up for medical insurance or had it before and dropped it. Medical insurance helps pay doctor bills, outpatient hospital services, durable medical equipment, and certain other medical items and services not covered by the hospital insurance part of Medicare...

CAPE GIRARDEAU - People who make more than $5l,300 in 1991 will see an increase in their Social Security taxes. That is because the wage base -- the amount of annual earnings subject to the Social Security tax -- increased to $53,400 this year. And, for the first time, the wage base for Medicare hospital insurance will be higher than for Social Security...

CAPE GIRARDEAU - Apply for Social Security about two months before you expect benefits to start. You can visit, call, or write your Social Security office. Social Security offices are usually very busy on Mondays and days after holidays. So, we suggest contacting us in the afternoon on a non-busy day...

CAPE GIRARDEAU - People who receive Social Security checks because of a disability and who have what we call a trial work period can have unlimited earnings during that time without a reduction in their benefits. The trial work period, which lasts up to 9 months, allows the disabled person a time in which to test his or her ability to work productively and become self-supporting...

CAPE GIRARDEAU - Surviving dependents of a deceased worker should apply for Social Security benefits as soon as possible following the worker's death. Prompt application will allow benefits to start at the earliest time. In addition, some benefits cannot be paid for more than a month before the month of application...