Stories from Tuesday, April 21, 1992

SACRAMENTO, Calif. Tough-guy actor Neville Brand, who spent part of his childhood in Cape Girardeau, died here last week. Private services are pending. Brand was a highly decorated World War II hero who starred in more than 40 films, including "Stalag 17," "That Darn Cat" and "Birdman of Alcatraz."...

Cape Girardeau Mayor Gene Rhodes criticized the city administration Monday for recent city personnel changes that he said were made without the council's full knowledge or approval. "I feel the staff should have brought their intentions before the council instead of us reading about it or hearing it on the radio," said Rhodes...

Even though he voted for the measure, Sen. Jerry Howard says he is concerned that a bill, signed into law by Gov. John Ashcroft to deal with schools that are insolvent, will increase the number of school districts merging in the state. But Rebecca Cook, an attorney from Cape Girardeau who serves on the State Board of Education, believes just the opposite is true because it provides early warning signs of financial stress that could enable districts to make adjustments and avoid consolidation...

SCOTT CITY -- The Scott City Council will no longer approve or reject city laws before studying their feasibility during at least two meetings. Newly-elected Mayor Larry Forhan enacted the new procedure Monday during his first meeting as mayor. Forhan and five city council members LaDonna Phelps in Ward 1, Kenny Holder and John Rogers in Ward 2, Ron Oller in Ward 3 and Terry Johnston in Ward 4 were sworn in Monday. All were elected April 7...

The 10 Cape Girardeau chapters of Beta Sigma Phi sorority will observe Founder's Day on April 30. The event will be held at the Cape Girardeau Country Club beginning at 6:30 p.m. Chairman is Mrs. Dale Smith, president of Alpha Rho chapter. Mrs. Fred Dormeyer will present the special message from the international executive council of Beta Sigma Phi...

CHAFFEE -- The city of Chaffee has shaved thousands of dollars of its workmen's compensation coverage cost. Council members at their regular meeting Monday night approved the payment of $21,526 for the city to join Missouri Rural Services, a new self-insurance pool. The pool of entities includes members such as cities Jackson being one of them and ambulance and road districts, said the city's insurance agent, Hal Rice...

The American Red Cross has scheduled a number of blood drives in area towns, beginning next week. On April 26, a drive will be held at the Cape Girardeau Naval Reserve Center Drill Hall from 8 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. The Naval Reserve will hold another drive May 3...

When it comes to earthquake preparedness, vigilance and common sense don't have to exclude one another. People of the Southeast Missouri-Southern Illinois region, spread over one of the nation's more infamous geological faults, can't ignore seismic realities. Nor, however, should they be governed by them. Earthquake studies made public last week demonstrate just how tricky this business of planetary movements is...

Julia Kridelbaugh is a Cape Girardeau resident and executive director of the Taxpayers Action Network of Southeast Missouri. The results of a recent voter survey circulated by state Rep. David Schwab of Jackson revealed that 74.5 percent of voters questioned would like to see the legislature raise the dependent exemption on the Missouri income tax return from the present $400 to $1,200 to equal the personal exemption. ...

To the Editor: The old Farmers and Merchants Bank building on Good Hope and Sprigg streets is currently the location of the Salvation Army. This worthy organization is in need of more efficient space and has made the decision to demolish the building. The Historic Preservation Commission, an advisory commission to city government, has requested the Salvation Army reconsider its decision and save the building because of its historical significance...

HEURINGTwin daughters to Mr. and Mrs. Terry Heuring of Farmington, Jefferson Memorial Hospital at Festus, Saturday, March 7, 1992. Courtney Ann was born at 9 a.m. and weighed 4 pounds 1 ounce. Whitney Lynn was born at 9:01 a.m. and weighed 4 pounds 7 ounces. ...

CHAFFEE -- G. Irene McNeeley, 76, Chaffee Route 2, died Monday, April 20, 1992, at St. Francis Medical Center. She was born Dec. 17, 1914, near Advance, daughter of Charles and Ethel Ward Bond. She married J.B. McNeeley July 5, 1933, at Benton. He died Sept. 3, 1979...

JACKSON -- Bids were opened Monday by the Jackson Board of Aldermen for the second phase of the West Main Street improvement project. The project includes repaving and widening of West Main from the Hubble Creek Bridge east to High Street, with a 7-inch slab of concrete, 44 feet wide, plus sidewalks, curbs and gutters. The work will not begin until school is dismissed for the year in late May...

William J. Doane, professor of physics at Kent (Ohio) State University and director of the National Science Foundation Science and Technology Center on Advanced Liquid Crystalline Optical Materials, will be the speaker at the annual Science Honors Program Thursday at Southeast Missouri State University...

At its annual meeting Thursday night, the League of Women Voters of Cape Girardeau County will elect officers, set its budget, and choose its program items for the coming year. The order-from-the-menu dinner will be held at Holiday Inn beginning at 6 p.m., and the meeting will start at 7 p.m. Interested persons are invited to attend...

EAST PRAIRIE -- William Edward Banks, 59, of Marietta, Ga., died Saturday, April 18, 1992, at his home. He was born Aug. 17, 1932, in East Prairie, son of William Bradley and Emma Barnes Banks. A retired master sergeant in the U.S. Air Force, Banks had lived in Marietta 15 years...

PATTON -- Avis T. Yount, 84, of Granite City, Ill., died Sunday, April 19, 1992, at St. Elizabeth Hospital there. She was born Nov. 21, 1907, at White Oak, daughter of Ed and Sarah Overall Evans. She married Jesse Yount Feb. 7, 1925. Yount was a member of Calvary Baptist Church...

MOREHOUSE -- Hubert G. Carrington, 81, of Morehouse, died Saturday, April 18, 1992, at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston. He was born Feb. 25, 1911, in Palmersville, Tenn., son of John R. and Winnie Moore Carrington. He and Myrtle Brewer were married April 21, 1946, at Sikeston...

Dr. James R. Dzur will discuss thyroid disease on this week's "Ask Your Doctor" program. The show airs every Thursday at 8 p.m. on cable channel 13. "Ask Your Doctor" is sponsored by St. Francis Medical Center, Southeast Missouri Hospital, the Cape Girardeau County Medical Society and Channel 13...