Stories from Tuesday, June 30, 1992

JACKSON - The Cape Girardeau County Commission voted Monday to renew a one-year contract with the state to operate a federally supported Title IV-D program in the prosecutor's office to collect delinquent child support payments. The new contract begins Wednesday, the start of a new fiscal year in Missouri...

The roof over the cafeteria at L.J. Schultz Middle School has partially collapsed, forcing workmen to shore up the roof and rebuild part of the brick wall. The roof at the northwest corner of the cafeteria did not cave in; it settled about seven inches, said Jim Dohogne, director of buildings and grounds for the school district. The settling caused the western wall of the structure to buckle and sway...

Southeast Missouri State University President Kala Stroup has the fourth highest base salary among presidents of the state's 10 public, four-year colleges and universities. Stroup, who has a year remaining on a three-year contract, makes a salary of $105,000...

Northeast Missouri State University at Kirksville is the state's designated liberal arts school, but in some areas of the state, such as southern Missouri, it is a little-known entity. Northeast officials hope to change that. On Monday, the university's president, Russell G. ...

After three years of sitting idle, the amphitheater at the Trail of Tears State Park is finally being put to use. "We're ashamed it's been empty that long," said Greg Henson, naturalist, "but we're glad to finally open the theater for public activities."...

More than 50 community leaders gathered at Southeast Missouri Hospital Monday for the official kickoff of the community portion of a $1.7 million capital campaign to support the hospital's East Clinical Services Building project. Serving as co-chairmen of the community support segment of the campaign are Kevin Ford, vice president of Ford and Sons Funeral Home, and Jeanne Goodman, vice president of Boatmen's Bank of Cape Girardeau...

A "driverless car" damaged one of three new patrol vehicles for the Cape Girardeau Police Department early Sunday. Sgt. Al Moore, head of the department's traffic division, said Monday the damage was the quirky result of an otherwise routine drunk driving arrest...

JACKSON - The Cape Girardeau County Board of Equalization convenes next week for property owners in the county who want changes in assessed valuations of real estate. The board, which will stay in session during July, holds its first meeting on Monday at 10 a.m. in the County Commission's's chambers at the county administration building in Jackson...

Nona D. Chapman will sing a medley of patriotic songs and the Cape Girardeau Municipal Band will perform a series of pieces dedicated to American independence at the annual Fourth of July week concert Wednesday at Arena Park. The program will begin at 8 p.m., and includes "Armed Forces Salute," "When Johnny Comes Marching Home," "Star Spangled Spectacular," and Sousa's "Stars and Stripes Forever."...

The Area Vietnam Veterans and Support Group will conduct its regular monthly meeting at 7 p.m. Thursday at American Legion Post #63 over Beard's Sports Shop. All Vietnam veterans, spouses and interested persons are encouraged to attend. For additional information, telephone Roy Rhodes at 335-0683 or Bert Lehman at 335-8813...

Funeral service for William August "Bill" Kapfer of Kernersville, N.C., was held Monday at Fountain of Life Lutheran Church in Kernersville. Burial was in Eastlawn Garden of Memory Cemetery there. Kapfer, 67, died Sunday, June 28, 1992, at Forsyth Memorial Hospital...

Son to Mr. and Mrs. Eric Michelsen of Jackson, Southeast Missouri Hospital, 1:50 p.m. Tuesday, June 2, 1992. Name, Nathanael Elton. Weight, 10 pounds 3 ounces. Second child, first son. Mrs. Michelsen is the former Valerie Stokes, daughter of Bob and Carolyn Stokes of Oran. Michelsen is assistant manager of processing center at K-Mart, and is the son of Lloyd and Nancy Michelsen of Oran...

CHAFFEE -- Otis Albert Keller, 61, of Huntingberg, Ind., formerly of Chaffee, died Monday, June 29, 1992, in Huntingberg. Amick-Burnett Funeral Home here is in charge of arrangements.

MCCLURE, Ill. -- The American Legion of McClure will hold its second Fourth of July Festival at the McClure Grade School. Activities will include live music, greased pig contest, cutest baby pageant, crafts, games and food. Other events will include a Miss Independence and Little Uncle Sam contest. The winners will help represent the post during parades and special events...

To Pat Zellmer Targeted Publications: My heartfelt thanks goes to you and your staff for the excellent special edition in the June 23rd Southeast Missourian. The time and effort you spent compiling this publication is evident. Each of the stories was~ so moving I had goosebumps reading them. ...

To the Editor: I am in complete agreement with the sentiments expressed in the letter from George Ann Huck of Commerce published in the Southeast Missourian recently. Her letter referred to the trees which have been cut down next to the Veterans Home...

To the Editor: On behalf of the entire Missouri Department o~f Natural Resources, I would like to offer our thanks for your very kind and generous editorial marking the 75th Anniversary of the state parks system ("Missouri Parks Mark Diamond Anniversary, June 5th"~~)...

To Gary Rust: We would like to take this opportunity to tell you how much we enjoyed having your reporter, photographer, and Wynn (Rust) in our office and to thank you for the terrific article on our new imager. We are now implementing it daily and enjoying the futuristic technology of this amazing system...

In most governmental instances, we offer plenty of support for local inclinations as opposed to those imported from the nation's capital. Local control of local issues is desirable in almost every case. However, the Cape Lacroix Creek-Walker Branch flood control project provides us with an exception to this idea, a federal authority with a firmer sense of judgment than some local entities involved. The advice of the federal agency should be heeded...

To the Editor: This letter is to address the problem of the shrinking number of police officers actually patrolling the city streets. Eight years ago, before the Show Me Center, the annexation of Interstate 55 including the land west of it, and before Ashland Hills, there were approximately 65 police officers with 9-10 officers patrolling the streets daily. ...

The Nell Holcomb School District will again have a principal and superintendent this school year. But for the first time they're separate people. Starting Aug. 10, Jack Mann of Cape Girardeau will assume the duty of part-time principal as well as serving as the elementary district's counselor and special services coordinator...