Stories from Tuesday, February 11, 1992

Cape Girardeau public school teachers have a one-time chance this year for financial incentives to retire early. The Cape Girardeau Board of Education approved the plan, which offers eligible teachers and administrators $20,000 or $25,000 in bonuses if they decide to retire at the end of this year...

CHAFFEE -- The Chaffee City Council has voted to put a 24-cent park tax increase on the April municipal ballot over the objection of one council member. "I don't believe this is the right time to take a tax increase to the voters, not with the type of economy we're dealing with right now," said the council member, Jerry Wolsey of Ward 1...

The city will need to act soon if it plans to replace the Cape Girardeau Central Municipal Swimming Pool bubble, members of the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board said Monday. A replacement bubble over the pool likely will cost about $120,000, said Parks and Recreation Director Dan Muser...

A group of Cape Girardeau teachers met with representatives of the Missouri National Education Association last week as part of an informational campaign by the association in Southeast Missouri. Don Hicks, director of the Southeast Missouri office, said that about 35 teachers attended the informational dinner...

CAIRO, Ill. -- Mayor James Wilson has reached another goal of a comprehensive nine-point program he introduced last month to improve the Cairo Police Department. "We have hired an assistant police chief," said Wilson. Harold Nelson, 60, has been named to the new position...

SCOTT CITY - An effort to seek grants for infrastructure development through the Economic Development Administration was authorized Monday by the board of the Southeast Missouri Regional Port Authority. The board also discussed briefly a planned vote in the Missouri House, that would put a 6-cent gas tax into effect. If it would pass today, the measure would still need Senate approval before it could be sent to the governor for his signature...

American Vocational Education Week is being observed locally. What area could better recognize the benefits that come from this brand of skills training? Cape Girardeau and the region are fortunate to have the Area Vocational-Technical School at their educational behest. Its contributions to area school systems, businesses and the work force are immeasurable...

Missouri Highway and Transportation Commission director Wayne Muri offered an interesting comment this past week on the cost of not passing the proposed six-cent fuel tax increase currently before the Missouri legislature. Muri is a nationally respected figure in highway and transportation circles. ...

ZALMA -- Alva B. Randolph, 85, of Zalma, died Monday, Feb. 10, 1992 at St. Francis Medical Center. He was born Sept. 17, 1905, in Zalma, daughter of Ransy and Callie Randolph. He was a retired farmer and a member of the Berrong General Baptist Church near Gypsy...

Maxine J. Hinton, Cape Girardeau Route 3, died Sunday, Feb. 9, 1992, at Southeast Missouri Hospital. She was born June 5, 1923, in Cape Girardeau, daughter of Samuel and Mabel Marie Smith Sullivan. She and Jack S. Hinton Jr. were married June 15, 1951, in Cape Girardeau...

ADVANCE -- Alva Randolph, 86, of Advance, died Monday, Feb. 10, 1992, at St. Francis Medical Center. Morgan Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

CHARLESTON -- Norman Harper, 75, of Charleston, died Saturday, Feb. 8, 1992, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. He was born June 17, 1916, at Bertrand, son of Robert and Hannah Thompson Harper. He and Frances Selle were married March 31, 1945...

Claude E. "Pete" Morse, 66, 1249 Marilyn, died Monday, Feb. 10, 1992, at Southeast Missouri Hospital. He was born Dec. 8, 1925, in Cape Girardeau, son of Claude Edward and Nell Seabaugh Morse. He and Helen Layton were married Aug. 24, 1945, in New Jersey...

BENTON -- Sadie Irene Holubeck, 84, of Jacksonville, Ill., died Sunday, Feb. 9, 1992, at Skyview Manor Nursing Home there. She was born Sept. 9, 1907, in Scott County, daughter of James David and Plina Rhodes Simmons. Survivors include a daughter, Revella Kasprzyk of Jacksonville; three sons, Alvin Backues of Linn, Charles Jones of Steelville, Herbert Holubeck of Salem; a sister, Edith Parcel of St. Louis; 16 grandchildren, and 15 great-grandchildren...

Doris Mae Thomas, 62, of San Marcos, Texas, died Friday, Feb. 7, 1992, at her home. She was born June 18, 1929, in Missouri, daughter of Raymond and Earis Smith Runnels. She married Donald Thomas Dec. 13, 1950, in San Francisco, Calif. Thomas was reared in Cape Girardeau, moving to Long Beach, Calif., in 1950, and then to San Marcos in 1987. She was a member of Centenary United Methodist Church while living here...

ADVANCE -- Arcia S. Rogers, 81, of rural Advance, died Sunday, Feb. 9, 1992, at St. Francis Medical Center. She was born Jan. 21, 1911, at Bessville, daughter of Miles F. and Mary Long Moore. She married Sylvester "Buck" Rogers Nov. 4, 1927, in Arkansas. He died Feb. 27, 1979...

ULLIN, Ill. -- Dessie Weible, 94, of Ullin, died Sunday, Feb. 9, 1992, at City Care Center in Anna. She was born Aug. 22, 1897, at Beefork, Mo., daughter of Henry and Bell Trip Lay. She married Clarence Howard Weible, who died in 1974. Formerly of Bunker, Mo., she was a member of First Baptist Church at Beefork...