Stories from Friday, April 3, 1992

To the Editor: I believe that the citizens of Cape Girardeau have a right to understand why the Salvation Army plans to demolish the tired old building it now calls home. There are many services the Salvation Army tries to provide our community, services that the present building is inadequate for...

Open letter to the citizens of the Meadow Heights R-II School District: As a former teacher of the Meadow Heights School District, I read with interest the article about the tax proposal for the Meadow Heights School District. Since it is my understanding that I was the first full-time art teacher hired by the district over 20 years ago, I was greatly disturbed to read of the possible cut to the fine arts program if the proposal does not pass...

Three sporting events promise plenty of muscle, speed and grace this weekend. These events will draw thousands of fans and top athletes to Cape Girardeau. The 11th annual SEmotion Relays will attract more than 1,000 talented track and field athletes for top-flight competition. About 30 women's collegiate teams and 26 men's collegiate teams are entered, along with a number of club and individual athletes...

Maybe this should be listed in the category of worst new trends: name mutilation for the sake of political opportunism. A candidate for Missouri lieutenant governor is Richard Thomas Pisani ... rather, that was his name until Monday. Now, thanks to a St. Louis judge, his name is formally Richard Thomas Bullet Train Pisani...

State Rep. Joe Driskill said he had no idea reaction would be so favorable to his amendment to an anti-crime bill that would provide a way for some citizens to legally carry concealed weapons. The measure was approved by an overwhelming 124-24 margin. The vote was preceded by a flood of letters spearheaded by the National Rifle Association...

Should Southeast Missouri State University athletics remain under the control of a provost? That's a question being asked by university officials and faculty as Southeast prepares to commence a search for a new provost to replace Leslie Cochran. Cochran was recently hired as the new president of Youngstown State University in Ohio. He will officially begin his new job July 1...

Construction on the next major phase of the $3 million Lexington Avenue arterial project in Cape Girardeau is well under way. City Engineer J. Kensey Russell said Thursday that if the weather continues to cooperate the street should be completed from Kingshighway east to Perryville Road by the middle of the summer...

Time "springs forward" one hour Sunday morning as the most of the United States goes on DayLight Saving Time. The official switch occurs at 2 a.m., Sunday, but most people will opt to set their clocks and watches AHEAD one hour before going to bed Saturday night. Of course, there will be some who forget, and wonder why they're late for church Sunday morning...

Participants in a five-state economic development conference were urged Thursday to take advantage of the Mississippi River as a vital transportation resource and a link to international markets. "We're sitting on the biggest interstate system in the country," said Allan Maki, executive director of the Southeast Missouri Regional Port Authority, in reference to the Mississippi. Being part of the inland waterways system gives everyone the opportunity to be an international seaport, he said...

JACKSON -- The St. Louis, Iron Mountain & Southern Railway Company begins its seventh year of operation of the steam-and-diesel-powered tourist railroad this weekend. "We're really excited about the start of the new season," said the railroad's general manager, Taleah Byrne. "Our operating people have been busy during the winter months and especially the past several weekends getting everything ready for opening weekend."...

CHAFFEE -- Park services in Chaffee will be cut if voters reject a park tax increase on Tuesday's ballot. "Things have just deteriorated the last few years," said city Park Board President Robert Sullivan. "We've got to do something or start shutting some stuff down."...

Pat Besand doesn't consider herself a movie critic, but she knew enough about current films to win the Southeast Missourian's "Pick the Oscars" contest this year with seven out of eight correct answers. "I just guessed what I thought would win," Besand said. "I go to a lot of movies and read Entertainment Weekly."...

Between 300 and 400 students from area highs schools throughout Southeast Missouri are expected to participate in the annual FFA judging contests to be held this weekend on Southeast Missouri State University campus in Cape Girardeau. "There are 18 contests this year," said Michael T. Aide, chairman of the university's Department of Agriculture. "Most of the judging contests will take place on campus, but a few contests livestock, soils, dairy cattle and forestry will take place off campus."...

BRIDGETON -- Lloyd Henry Bollinger, 70, of Bridgeton, died Wednesday, April 1, 1992, at DePaul Health Center here. He was born May 6, 1921, at Bell City, son of James Elonzo and Grace Loftin Bollinger. He and Ruby M. Patterson were married in 1946 at Bell City...

MATTHEWS -- Horace W. McCoy, 72, of Matthews, died Wednesday, April 1, 1992, at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston. He was born Oct. 30, 1919, in Obion County, Tenn., son of Willie West and Mary Clara Storey McCoy. He and Marie Dunn were married Sept. 9, 1939, at Caruthersville. She died Jan. 3, 1991...

TILSIT -- The Rev. Julius Strelow, 93, of Litchfield, Ill., died Sunday, March 29, 1992, in St. Paul, Minn. He was pastor of the Lutheran church at Tilsit from 1970-75. A native of Pierce, Neb., he graduated from Concordia Teachers College in Seward, Neb., in 1918. He taught for a time in Canistota, S.D., then went back to seminary and graduated from Concordia Seminary in Springfield, Ill., in 1922...

Daughter to Mr. and Mrs. Mark Devenport, Millersville Route 1, Southeast Missouri Hospital, 2:17 a.m. Thursday, March 26, 1992. Name, Megan Nicole. Weight, 6 pounds. First child. Mrs. Devenport is the former Debbie Acup, daughter of Bill and Louise Acup of Marble Hill. She is a secretary at Southeast Missouri State University. Devenport is a teacher at Chaffee High School, and is the son of Darrel and Bonagene Devenport of Marble Hill...

GLENNON -- George J. Arns, 79, of Festus, died Thursday, April 2, 1992, at Festus Community Nursing Care Center. He was born Oct. 18, 1912, at Glennon, son of Henry J. and Mary Vandermierden Arns. Arns farmed here before moving to Festus, and was a member of St. Anthony's Catholic Church...

Francis J. Reynolds Sr., 72, of Wright City, formerly of Cape Girardeau, died Thursday, April 2, 1992, at St. Joseph Health Center in St. Charles. Ford and Sons Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

ANNA, Ill. -- Mildred McNier, 76, of Anna, died Thursday, April 2, 1992, at her home. She was born Oct. 28, 1915, at Anna, daughter of Daniel and Annie Campbell Batson. She married Frank McNier Aug. 12, 1948. McNier was a retired ticket agent with Illinois Central Railroad, and member of Anna United Methodist Church...

MARBLE HILL -- Vallie Grindstaff, 97, of Marble Hill, died Wednesday, April 1, 1992, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. She was born Oct. 16, 1894, near Scopus, daughter of Marshall Hamilton and Amanda Bess Mayfield. She married Warren Grindstaff April 27, 1913. He died Dec. 3, 1972...

SIKESTON -- Joseph Raymond Leible, 58, of Sikeston, died Wednesday, April 1, 1992, at his home. He was born Nov. 8, 1933, at Bertrand, son of Benjamin and Lillian Clayton Leible. He and Patricia E. Stoker Friend were married March 26, 1983, at Sikeston...