Stories from Sunday, December 29, 1991

I continue to be astonished at the lack of credit given former President Ronald Reagan for the fall of Communism and the collapse of what he accurately called to the horror of liberal media gurus everywhere "the evil empire." Now comes a new book by seasoned reporter Don Oberdorfer of The Washington Post (not exactly a pro-Reagan rag) that may be the beginning of giving credit to our immediate past President, where that credit is most certainly due...

MARBLE HILL -- Tri-County Health Related Services will conduct a health screening Jan. 9 at the Nutrition Center in Marble Hill from 9 a.m. to noon. Screening of blood pressure, heart rate and blood sugar will be done. Cholesterol screening is also available for a fee...

Several businesses in downtown Cape Girardeau were without water for more than three hours Friday when a "fire line" developed a leak in the 100 block of N. Main. Union Electric Co. water department workers were called to the site about 3:30 Friday, when water was observed shooting up from the street...

An award will be presented to a Cape Girardean who has demonstrated values of justice, freedom and social betterment through non-violence, two local groups have announced. The Southeast Missouri Fellowship of Reconciliation and the local branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People are sponsoring the Martin Luther King Jr. Award...

Two chartered jets, so it was reported, were sitting on the runway at the Albany airport, waiting to fly him to New Hampshire. A certified check for $3,000 to pay the filing fee was already prepaid. The former New Hampshire Democratic state chairman had already carefully rehearsed his spontaneous demonstrators to greet the governor at the state capitol. But only 90 minutes before the filing deadline, Mario Cuomo sang "I Love New York." The Mario scenario is ended forever...

The cascade of global events in recent years so numbed Western minds that the actual dismantling of the Soviet Union proved a mere matter of course. Such an anti-climax is unbefitting a momentous event. Flash back to President Reagan's second inaugural, to the fall of the Berlin Wall, even to a year ago, and you couldn't envision the dissolution of a superpower the world witnessed last week. ...

GORDONVILLE -- From a distance, the new home of John and Ellen Lorberg, situated off Route Z west of Gordonville, doesn't seem much different than other modern contemporary homes in the area. But take a closer look. Nearly all of the timber used to build the two-story house came from hardwood trees grown on Lorberg's 200-acre farm...

As part of the Cape Girardeau School District's planning process, school officials want to know what you think. The district is conducting a survey of residents about their attitudes on education. The information collected will be used in developing a long-range plan for improvement of education, said Superintendent Neyland Clark...

An upcoming educational summit in Cape Girardeau will bring together key community leaders in an effort to get them thinking and talking about schools. The summit will be held Jan. 23 and actually kicks off the district's long-range planning process...

The Cape Girardeau City Council in 1991 was forced to confront for the first time in years stagnant sales-tax revenue amidst expanded city programs and overall planning efforts. The council also endured its share of controversies and discord. Below is a month-by-month account of some of the primary issues the council dealt with during the year...

The State Board of Education has tentatively approved regulations that would help financially troubled school districts remain in operation. The policy is designed to identify districts facing a financial crisis and to help prevent interruption of school for students...

Thirty-three candidates have filed for county races in three Southern Illinois counties: Union, Pulaski and Alexander. Primary elections in Southern Illinois will be held March 17. Eleven of the candidates are from Pulaski County, where primaries will be held in two races: state's attorney and county commissioner...

SCOTT CITY -- A second candidate has filed for mayor in Scott City. Rodney Holloway, a Scott City businessman, filed Thursday for the seat. Mayor Shirley Young has said she will not file for a second term. Scott City businessman Larry Forhan filed for the mayor's seat earlier this month...

Michael Braude, president of the Kansas City Board of Trade and a former radio talk-show host, will speak at the Cape Girardeau Executives Club meeting Jan. 20. The meeting begins at 7 p.m. at the Drury Lodge. Braude will discuss "The Economics of the '90s."...

BLOOMFIELD -- Raymond Matthew Edwards, 77, of Bloomfield, died at his home Friday, Dec. 27, 1991. Edwards, a baseball catcher and infielder, was a member of the Missouri Baseball Hall of Fame. He played ball for 15 years. In 1940 with the Dexter Red Sox, he hit eight consecutive runs against Sikeston and Poplar Bluff. He played for Poplar Bluff and Dexter. In 1937, he signed a minor league contract with the St. Louis Cardinals and played at Springfield...

KELSO -- John Dominic Mattes, 64, of Kelso, died Thursday, Dec. 26, 1991 at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. He was born Dec. 24, 1927 in Mahanoy City, Penn., the son of Damiasso Mattes and Litizia Ghirardini. He married Mary Jane Wichern Nov. 29, 1947 at Perryville. She survives...

SCOTT CITY -- Ruth Myers, 68, of Scott City, died Thursday, Dec. 26, 1991 at the Cape Girardeau Nursing Center. She was born Jan. 4, 1923 at Holcomb, Mo., the daughter of James T. Millhouse and Ella Millhouse. She was married to Robert E. Myers, who preceded her in death...

Funeral service for Kathryn McCarney Newman will be held today at 1:30 p.m. at Ford and Sons Mt. Auburn Chapel. The Rev. Patricia Williams will officiate, and burial will follow at Memorial Park Cemetery. Visitation was held Saturday from 4-8 p.m. Newman, 87, of Cape Girardeau died Thursday, Dec. 26, 1991, at Carrollton, Texas, where she was visiting during the Christmas holidays...

The Rev. Theodore J. "Ted" Probst, 82, of 2022 Montgomery, died Friday, Dec. 27, 1991, at Southeast Missouri Hospital. He was an ordained United Methodist minister serving churches in Missouri, including Maple Avenue United Methodist Church in Cape Girardeau from 1960-1973...

Dr. Ray Ridings, 73, of Route 2, Cape Girardeau, died Thursday, Dec. 26, 1991, at Saint Francis Medical Center. He was born Nov. 22, 1918, at Arbyrd, Mo., son of Gus and Edith Masters Ridings. He married Mary White on Dec. 28, 1941, in Jonesboro, Ill. She survives...

PHOENIX, Ariz. - Paul Wayne Brockmire, 50, of Phoenix, Ariz. and formerly of Cape Girardeau, died Thursday Dec. 26, 1991. He was born Feb. 5, 1941 in Cape Girardeau, and was a graduate of Central High School and Southeast Missouri State University. Survivors include his wife, Isabel (Izzy) Brockmire; his mother, Louella Brockmire, of Cape; a brother, Richard Brockmire, of Cape; and a sister, Margaret Ann Patrick, of Jackson...

ANNA, Ill. -- Doris Myers, 82, of Wolf Lake, died Thursday, Dec. 26, 1991, at St. John's Mercy Hospital in St. Louis. She was born Oct. 16 1909, at Wolf Lake, daughter of George and Mina Hawkins Trainer. She married L. Cecil Myers on Dec. 28, 1940. He survives...

Daric Richard Schumacher, 16, died at his home in Cape Girardeau Saturday, Dec. 28, 1991. He was born July 5, 1975, in Cape Girardeau. Survivors include his mother, Debra Nesler Oliver, and step-father, John Oliver of Cape Girardeau; father, Dale Schumacher, and step-mother, Patti Schumacher, Jackson; half-brother, Josh Schumacher of Jackson; step brother, Jack L. ...

LEOPOLD -- Graveside funeral service for Estella W. Gaines, 91, of Los Angeles, formerly of Bollinger County, was held Saturday at 3:30 p.m. at St. John's Catholic Cemetery at Leopold with the Rev. M.J. Casteel officiating. She died Tuesday, Dec. 24, 1991, at Los Angeles. She was born in Bollinger County on Aug. 16, 1900...

CHARLESTON -- Elvis Long, 79, of Charleston died Saturday, Dec. 28, 1991, at the Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston. He was born Sept. 3, 1912 near Bloomfield, the son of Daniel Jackson and Ida Sparrow Long. He had lived in Charleston since 1956. He was a member of the First Christian Church and owner of Charleston News Agency until retirement in 1970...

JACKSON -- The Rev. Charles Henry Mann, 66, of Jackson died Friday, Dec. 27, 1991 at the Jackson Manor Nursing Center. He was born Jan. 4, 1925 near Bloomfield, the son of James A. and Elva Cooper Mann. He was ordained a General Baptist Minister in 1952 and had served at several churches in Southeast Missouri and Arkansas, including New Bethel Church at Dexter, Mt. ...

JACKSON -- Owen Bently Mackey, 76, of Jackson died Thursday, Dec. 26, 1991, at Jackson Manor Nursing Home. He was born April 22, 1915 at Souder, Mo., the son of Arch and Minnie Parker Mackey. He worked for and retired from the Cargill Corp. in California, Mo...

JACKSON -- Jerry Dean McNeely, 61, of Arnold, formerly of Cape Girardeau, died Thursday, Dec. 26, 1911 at his home. He was born Dec. 23, 1930 at Vanduser, son of Guy and Estle Hawkins McNeely. He married the former Mary Johnson at Cape Girardeau. She survives...

Andrew William Brasher, 83, of Cape Girardeau Route 2 died Thursday, Dec. 26, 1991 at his home. He was born July 10, 1908 at Decatur, son of Grover William Brasher and Verdia French. On Oct. 21, 1929, he married the former Emma Melissa Reed in Cape Girardeau. She survives...

ALTENBURG -- Willa Mae Gerler, 70, of Altenburg, died Thursday, Dec. 26, 1991, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. She was born Feb. 13, 1921, in Grand Tower, Ill., the daughter of Louis and Hattie Smith Golden. She married Walter Gerler on Aug. 10, 1937. He preceded her in death on July 5, 1980...

PATTON -- Pearl L. Robinson, 89, of Patton died Thursday, Dec. 26, 1991, at St. Anthony's Hospital in St. Louis. She was born May 26, 1902 at Yount, Mo., daughter of Charles and Docilie Johnson Kuhlmann. In July 1921, she married Russell Rudolph. She then married Lee Robinson in April 1941. He preceded her in death in February 1983...

MARBLE HILL -- The Rev. Milas L. Rhodes, 81, of Marble Hill, died Friday, Dec. 27, 1991, at Bond Nursing Care Center in Marble Hill. He was born at Hurricane, Mo., Mar. 11, 1910, son of Lee and Amanda Welker Rhodes. He married Lunda Rhodes in 1930. She preceded him in death Feb. 14, 1945. On June 21, 1947, he married Ruth Eaker Proffer. She survives...

Dorothy M. Thiele, 70, of 2821 Vista Lane, died Saturday, Dec. 28, 1991, at St. Francis Medical Center. Ford and Sons Funeral Home is in charge of funeral arrangements.

ADVANCE -- William Pixley, 94, of Advance, died Thursday, Dec. 26, 1991 at the Advance Nursing Center. He was born June 27, 1897 near Advance, the son of George Pixley and Ida Masters Pixley. A member of the First Baptist Church of Advance, he was the oldest deacon. He was also a member of the Advance Masonic Lodge 590 AF/AM for over 50 years...

For 24 years, Robert W. Foster has been a fixture at Southeast Missouri State University, as much a part of Academic Hall as the building's familiar dome. His entire career at Southeast has been spent in administration. During his tenure, he has served under four university presidents, and during the 1989-1990 academic year he served as Southeast's 13th president...

I moseyed on down to the Troll Bridge one recent, sunny, December day. Hadn't been down there much since the aborted Crow Convention. Too cold. However, there were a few old crows mulling around as if they didn't know which way to go or what to do since their Sycamore Convention Centers have been cut down and no clear-cut agenda had been set for next year...

Missouri and Illinois state income tax forms for 1991 will contain some changes. Missouri taxpayers will be receiving their forms the first week of January, according to Raymond T. Wagner Jr., director of the state's Department of Revenue. "A significant change in the forms this year is the mandatory rounding," said Wagner. "The department will require taxpayers to round all dollar amounts on the 1991 forms."...

Hundreds of tour buses and thousands of travelers crisscross Southeast Missouri each year. Travel and tourism is big business in the 12-county Southeast Missouri area, which includes Cape Girardeau, Perry, and Scott counties. More than $120 million are added to the economy in the 12-county area each year as a result of tourism. Other positive results include the generation of more than 2,400 jobs and over $6 million in state and local taxes...

JACKSON -- Kevin Mills of Millersville has joined the Missouri Farm Bureau Insurance Services staff as an agent in Cape Girardeau County. Mills has completed the Farm Bureau's life, property and casualty training program. Mills' office is at 406 W. Washington in Jackson...

Plaza Tire, headquartered at 2301 William in Cape Girardeau, is expanding its operations in the Festus-Crystal City area. "We'll be in a new center at Festus next year," said Mark Rhodes, vice president of Plaza Tire. "We're looking at a mid-March opening."...

Bill and Brenda Bowen are observing a pair of business anniversaries. This month marks the 10th year that the Bowens have operated the Rug Doctor franchise in Cape Girardeau. And, 1991 marks the 20th year for the international carpet cleaning company, which was founded in 1971...

Connie Copsy, AAA Travel Agency consultant recently toured Rome, Italy. Copsy was a member of a group of 24 AAA of Missouri staff people who participated in the tour, hosted in Rome by Travellers Inc. While in Rome, she visited several hotels and sites of historical and cultural significance...

Mary Arendt of Jackson and Liz Merrill of Cape Girardeau have joined Coldwell Banker Blanchard & Associates Realty, Inc., which has offices at Cape Girardeau and Jackson. Arendt has six years experience as a real estate agent and will join the Jackson office of the firm. She previously taught school...

Pearle Vision Center in West Park Mall has received the Pearle, Inc. "Visions of Quality" award for superior quality and services at its center here. Bob and Deb Bennett, owners of the local store, accepted the award on behalf of the store's staff. Pearle, Inc., presents the award to stores that have a superior rating on quality reviews conducted three times a year throughout the Pearle system...

CARBONDALE, Ill. -- Hillbilly Tackle Co., a fishing lure manufacturer, is moving from Marion to Carbondale's Bicentennial Industrial Park. The company, which was founded two years ago with one product a lure retriever today manufactures baits it markets from coast to coast...

Kala Stroup, president of Southeast Missouri State University, has been appointed to the Missouri Small Business Development Center Advisory Board. Stroup's appointment was announced this week by SBDC Director Max Summers. Stroup recently completed a term as chair of the nine-member National Small Business Development Center Advisory Board, which oversees funding and continuance of more than 700 small-business development centers nationwide...

William Martin of Paducah, Ky., was the winner of a $1,000 shopping spree, sponsored by Cutmart, Missouri Lottery and Oldies 100.7 Radio. Participants in the five-week promotion at the 22 Cutmart stores filled out a Christmas Wish List. "We selected a finalist each week," said Laura Younghouse, executive vice president of Cutmart. "The winner was selected from the five finalists."...

I'D JUST LIKE to say one thing. The most beautiful Christmas display in Cape Girardeau happens to be the house on Good Hope street in Cape Girardeau. I'd just like to say the lights are beautiful and the people there are really friendly. Thank you very much...