Stories from Friday, December 13, 1991

To the Editor: I am writing to let the public know that there still are a lot of good Christian young people in this old world today. Hat's off to Mike Rouggly my modern day Good Samaritan! Recently, I ran out of gas at the I-55 overpass between Jackson and Cape Girardeau, on my way to an interview at the Missouri Department of Conservation Office...

We celebrate the 200th anniversary of a remarkable document Sunday. The Bill of Rights has shaped America as the cornerstone of our free society. Rights we too often take for granted were guaranteed in these first 10 amendments to the Constitution 200 years ago...

The question was fair enough. Someone asked why I had not written anything about Magic Johnson and the revelation of his HIV infection. My answer was not as fair but the best I could do. I told the person I didn't know what to write. It was the truth. ...

SCOTT CITY -- Two more candidates have filed for seats on the Scott City Council. Filing this week were George Moit, 65, who is seeking a two-year term in Ward 2, and Kenny R. Holder, 24, who is seeking a one-year, unexpired term in Ward 2. Moit, a Scott City resident for nine years, said he's been attending council meetings and isn't satisfied with what he sees. He said instead of taking action, council members too often put motions on hold...

SIKESTON - Representatives from four Southeast Missouri port authorities agreed Thursday that before ports can become key players in the future wave of intermodal transportation, the state and federal governments are going to have to provide funds to help develop infrastructure...

The tide seems to be turning for the better in this year's Toybox campaign. Organizers are optimistic but cautious. On Thursday, a steady stream of gift-givers brought many toys and a glimmer of hope that people in the community would again respond to the Christmas wishes of children and the needed number of presents would arrive...

Southeast Missouri State University's "New Vision of Excellence" capital campaign is nearing and will ultimately surpass its $25 million goal, the university's development director said Thursday. "We feel very confident that we are going to surpass the goal," said the director, Don Ford...

A local rape victim said Thursday that the sensational trial and acquittal of William Kennedy Smith may have further clouded the issue of date rape. Rape counselors said the trial and acquittal may make it much more difficult to persuade victims to trust the justice system...

ADVANCE - The Advance R-4 School District will be closed today because of a flu outbreak. About 100 of the district's 500 kindergarten through 12th grade students, or 22 to 23 percent of the student body, did not attend school Thursday, District Superintendent Terry Pearcy said...

U.S. Sen. Jack Danforth, in Cape Girardeau Thursday, told area Jaycees that tax reform is needed before there will be any long-term economic recovery. The Missouri Senator also criticized a recent resurrection of "America first" isolationism and contempt of foreign affairs...

SCOTT CITY - The Scott City School District is worthy of high marks according to a team of educators from the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. In an evaluation completed this week, the district received overall favorable ratings and was commended for efforts made toward building renovations and creating a constructive learning environment...

Christmas for the Elderly organizers hope that gifts for the people featured in the newspaper are on their way to drop-off points today. Gifts are scheduled to be delivered to the elderly people next week, but deliveries may have to be delayed several days until gifts arrive. We'll wait. We want to be able to give the older residents of community who are in need and alone a merry Christmas. We need your help...

Southeast Missouri State University's "New Vision of Excellence" capital campaign has raised more than $24.2 million so far. The total includes more than $6.3 million from pledges, nearly $8 million in cash, $656,894 in securities and in-kind gifts of $9,251,098...

CHAFFEE -- The annual Chaffee Christmas parade will be held at noon Saturday. The parade's theme this year is "Christmas Carols." Entries will include half dozen floats, decorated vans, fire trucks and ambulances, Boy and Cub scouts, the Cape Girardeau and Sikeston Shriners, and local politicians, as well as high school bands from Chaffee, Delta and Kelly...

COMMERCE -- Winston Darrell Johnston, 68, of Commerce, died Wednesday, Dec. 11, 1991, at St. Francis Medical Center. He was born Sept. 6, 1923, at Piedmont, son of Claude Lee and Helen Brown Johnston. He and Dolores McKinney were married June 9, 1945...

PULASKI, Ill. -- Graveside service for Lucille Lackey of Paducah, Ky., formerly of Pulaski, was held Thursday at Rose Hill Cemetery here. The Rev. Stanley Gerard officiated, with Roth Funeral Home of Paducah in charge of arrangements. Lackey, 84, died Monday, Dec. 9, 1991, at her home...

MORLEY -- Isabel Hagar Franklin, 85, of Morley, died Wednesday, Dec. 11, 1991, at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston. She was born Jan. 24, 1906, in Ripley County, daughter of Dolphus and Dellia Davidson Green. She married Lige Hagar Oct. 12, 1924. He died Feb. 15, 1975. She later married William Franklin April 21, 1977, at Chaffee...

DONGOLA, Ill. -- Elva Crader, 84, Dongola Route 2, died Wednesday, Dec. 11, 1991, at St. Elizabeth's Hospital in Granite City. She was born Aug. 29, 1907, at Ullin, daughter of Turner and Lucy George Kesler. She married Loren Crader Aug. 29, 1930. He died Aug. 30, 1986...

Betty J. Howard, 54, 706 S. Sprigg, died Thursday, Dec. 12, 1991, at Southeast Missouri Hospital. She was born Aug. 4, 1937, in Murphysboro, Ill., daughter of Elvin and Cora Maglone Thomas. She married Donald Howard Dec. 29, 1955, in Cape Girardeau...

JACKSON -- In the obituary of Herbert N. Henckell of Jackson that appeared in the Thursday Southeast Missourian, the first name of his wife was omitted. Her name is Nicoll Rae "Nikki" James Henckell.

ADVANCE -- Sylvester Leroy Murphy, 71, of Advance, died Thursday, Dec. 12, 1991, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. He was born Jan. 21, 1920, in Advance, son of Ellis J. and Ophelia King Murphy. Murphy retired from the U.S. Steel Co. in Chicago. He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II...

Lillian M. Keller, 76. of Cape Girardeau died Thursday, Dec. 12, 1991 at St. Francis Medical Center. She was born Dec. 29, 1914 at Cape Girardeau Route 1, the daughter of Conrad and Mayme McKinnis Fornkohl. On Nov. 3, 1948, she married Norman A. Keller in Cape Girardeau. He survives...

Son to Mr. and Mrs. Jeff Gorman of Kansas City, hospital there, 7:55 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 30, 1991. Name, William Charles. Weight, 7 pounds 7 ounces. First child. Mrs. Gorman is the former Tina Heisserer, daughter of Don and Wilma Heisserer of Scott City. She is a speech therapist at North Kansas City School District. Gorman is an accountant with Farmland Industries, and is the son of Doris Gorman of Kansas City and the late William Gorman...

MORLEY -- Funeral service for Gertrude McFall of Morley will be held at 2 p.m. today at Amick-Burnett Funeral Chapel in Scott City. The Rev. William Dickey will officiate, with burial in Old Morley Cemetery. McFall, 94, died Tuesday, Dec. 10, 1991, at Vintage Villa in Dexter...

Janet R. Brase of Jackson and Wes L. Williams of Chaffee are among area residents who will graduate with honors at winter commencement exercises Saturday at Southeast Missouri State University. Brase of 2508 Green Trail Drive in Jackson will graduate magna cum laude with a bachelor of science degree in education, with a major in elementary education...

WARE, Ill. -- The Southern Illinois Canada goose count is nearing the quarter-million mark. "The latest survey, conducted Tuesday, revealed 464,250 geese," said a spokesman from Union County Wildlife Refuge near here. "All were in Illinois except 11,000 which were counted at the Ballard County Refuge across the Ohio River in West Kentucky."...

MACON -- The Atlanta-Long Branch Wildlife Area has 4,474 acres of public hunting land in one of Missouri's most productive deer hunting region. It has a rifle range and excellent fishing for walleye and catfish. It even has marshes where you can hunt ducks...

CARLYLE, Ill. -- Illinois Department of Conservation fisheries biologists recently placed 403,000 white crappie fingerlings into Carlyle Lake. The experimental project, in cooperation with the U.S. Army Corps of engineers, was undertaken in response to the low population of crappie in the lake...

The American Red Cross and Cape Girardeau Naval Reserve are sponsoring a blood drive from 8 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Sunday at the Drill Hall-Naval Reserve Center, 2530 Marie Louise Lane. Mike Krueter is blood drive chairman. To be eligible to give blood, people must weigh at least 110 pounds and be at least 17 years old...

Pat McClain will make her debut as director of the Girardot Rose Chorus of Sweet Adelines International during the group's Christmas Singouts to be held Tuesday. The Christmas Singouts program will include 20 minutes of favorite carols by the barbershop chorus and a song from the Hearts Achord quartet...