Stories from Tuesday, May 12, 1992

A bill on Gov. John Ashcroft's desk that would allow Sunday sales of packaged liquor has supporters and opponents in Cape Girardeau. It's no surprise that convenience store owners and managers favor the bill and that many against lifting the ban on Sunday liquor sales are opposed to alcohol in general...

The Spirit of Riverfest riverboat will offer added excursions when it returns to the annual downtown festival June 12-13. The boat, officially known at the "Spirit of St. Charles," made its first appearance at the Cape Girardeau riverfront at last year's Riverfest. Because of the good response from festival goers, the boat is returning and the number of outings has increased...

It's strawberry picking time, but many area growers say the crop may not be as plentiful as last year because of an early freeze in November and a series of warm and cold cycles this spring. However, the growers said overall quality of strawberries should be equal to that of last year...

The Cape Girardeau Board of Education approved a salary increase for teachers and administrators at its meeting Monday afternoon. New board member Kathy Swan abstained from the vote. "I have difficulty with the package because of the financial crisis we've been through," she told board members before the vote. "In business, salaries are sometimes frozen when other things have to go. I have difficulty justifying this."...

Proponents of the recreational trail portion of the Cape LaCroix Creek flood-control project have again raised concerns that the trail is being compromised. Ken Eftink, Cape Girardeau's planning services coordinator, Monday presented an update on the flood-control project at a Parks and Recreation Advisory Board meeting...

JEFFERSON CITY - Before lawmakers adjourn Friday, state Rep. Dennis Ziegenhorn predicts legislation will pass to ease the burden of skyrocketing costs of worker's compensation insurance on employers. "We're going to have a bill; there's too much at stake for us not to pass one," said Ziegenhorn...

Cape Girardeau businesses and professionals who are not already members of the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce can expect special visitors today. From this morning until this afternoon, volunteers of the chamber will solicit new chamber members. "Our goal is 60 new members," drive Chairman Don Hill said...

SCOTT CITY - Commissioners of the Southeast Missouri Regional Port Authority Monday reviewed a proposed budget of about $250,000 for the fiscal year beginning July 1. Board treasurer Mysie Keene, who presented the proposed budget, said that for the first nine months of this fiscal year the port had spent 65.38 percent of its budget. Keene said overall for the year the port authority will wind up spending less than it had budgeted...

Two men were seriously injured Monday when the garbage truck they were in ran off the road and overturned. Authorities said a steering defect in the truck apparently caused the truck to leave the roadway. Injured were James Wilhelm, 61, of Benton, who was driving the truck. A passenger, Harold Dannenmueller, 72, of Oran, was also injured, said the Missouri Highway Patrol...

"I'm focused on trying to get (anti-drug legislation) to the floor as soon as possible." James Mathewson, Senate President, Jan. 15, 1992 "If we could get rid of (the anti-drug legislation) before the break, I'd be extremely pleased. It is our number one priority."...

G. Carl Schowengerdt, 91, of Columbia, former professor of agriculture at Southeast Missouri State University, died Sunday, May 10, 1992, in Rolla. He was born Jan. 14, 1901, at Independence, son of Louis B. and Maria Carl Schowengerdt. He and Berence Coughlin were married Aug. 5, 1925. She died in 1980...

PERRYVILLE -- Erwin R. Roth, 87, of Perryville, died Sunday, May 10, 1992, at American Care Center. He was born April 21, 1905, at Nennert, Ill., son of Herman W. and Frieda Fritsche Roth. Roth was a retired farmer, and member of Concordia Lutheran Church at Frohna...

ORAN -- Funeral service for Clara Ann Hanselman, Oran Route 1, will be held at 10 a.m. today at Guardian Angel Catholic Church. The Rev. Normand Varone will officiate, with burial in the church cemetery. Amick-Burnett Funeral Home here is in charge of arrangements...

Waddy E. Davis of Cape Girardeau, a former mayor and city councilman here, died Sunday, May 10, 1992, at the Lutheran Home. He was born March 9, 1903, in Spring Hill, Ky., son of John Edgar and Maude Harris Davis. He and Elsie Mae Carter were married in 1939...

GORDONVILLE -- Nelson W. Ulrich, 64, of East St. Louis, Ill., died Sunday, May 10, 1992, at John Cochran VA Hospital in St. Louis. He was born Sept. 10, 1927, at Gordonville, son of Joseph and Mabel Newburn Ulrich. Ulrich operated Ulrich Brothers Garage here for a time, was a truck driver 20 years, and had been a Diesel mechanic with NRT Trucking Co. of East St. Louis. He was a member of Zion United Methodist Church here, and served in the South Pacific with the U.S. Army during World War II...

BENTON -- Ruby Abernathy, 86, of Benton, died Sunday, May 10, 1992, at the Lutheran Home in Cape Girardeau. She was born Aug. 23, 1905, at Oxley, daughter of James Isaac and Clara Teague Lawson. She married Ralph Abernathy Nov. 24, 1926, at Benton. He died Dec. 24, 1968...

SCOTT CITY -- L. Clark Thornberry, 79, of Scott City died Monday, May 11, 1992, at the Missouri Veteran's Home in Cape Girardeau. Funeral arrangements are incomplete at the Amick-Burnett Funeral Home in Scott City.

Gerald M. Reeves, 59, of Marble Hill, died Monday, May 11, 1992 at the John Cocharn V.A. Medical Center in Poplar Bluff. He was born at Steele June 17, 1932 to Elmer and Ellen Walker Reeves. He is survived by one daughter, Carol Blea of Macdill Air Force Base, Fla.; and one brother, Billy Reeves of East Prairie...