Stories from Wednesday, July 29, 1992

To the Editor: Once again, those stalwart champions of American civil liberties have come through for us. Again they have denied those radicals (Christians) the right to say a prayer in a public school. It seems that a high school graduate and her parents were forced to sit through a prayer offering thanks to God at her commencement exercises. ...

Jim Newton, a musician who combines song with therapy, will perform for children today at Southeast Missouri Hospital. The concert begins at 2 p.m. for pediatrics patients and youngsters with special needs. This is Newton's first visit to the area as part of the "For Our Kids" program sponsored by the James River Corp., national distributors of Northern Tissues and Brawny Towels...

MILLERSVILLE -- A boundary enlargement proposal of Public Water Supply District No. 2 of Cape Girardeau County will be submitted at Tuesday's primary election. Registered voters living within the current and the proposed areas of change may vote on the question...

JACKSON -- Installation of traffic signals at West Jackson Boulevard and West Lane is a high priority, says the Missouri Highway and Transportation Department. But District 10 Highway Engineer Freeman McCullah at Sikeston said it's doubtful the signals will be installed before the opening of school next month...

Mike Wolff is hoping to turn the success he had in 1988 and a broad base of legal experience into a successful campaign for attorney general. Four years ago Wolff, a St. Louis University law professor, challenged popular incumbent William Webster for the post and ran a closer race than many expected. That success caused many Democrats to take notice in 1992 as they choose a nominee for November in hopes of giving them an office they have not held in 24 years...

The County Clerks offices in Cape Girardeau County will offer special Saturday morning hours for absentee voting for the Aug. 4 primary. The clerk offices are located in the Common Pleas annex in Cape Girardeau and in the administrative building in Jackson. Saturday hours will be 9 a.m. to noon...

More Missourians have learned to stop, look and listen at railroad grade crossings. The payoff is fewer deaths and injuries. Educational programs, stepped-up enforcement of crossing violations, and installation of signals at dangerous crossings have enabled Missourians to get on the right track when it comes to railroad safety...

CAIRO, Ill. -- Cairo is one of a dozen Illinois communities which received grants from the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services during the recent Positive Youth Development Conference held at Springfield. "The Positive Youth Development program helps to establish prevention programs that aid youth in developing greater self-esteem and important decision-making skills," said James Wilson, Cairo mayor. ...

(Third in a series.) It seems only natural that Bill Webster's chosen career is politics and public service. It was an atmosphere he was born into and one that has shaped his approach to government and serving people. "It is safe to say I was infected with the political bug at a very young age," says Webster, whose legendary father, the late Richard Webster, served 27 years in the Missouri Senate and six years in the House...

MARBLE HILL -- A 5-year-old boy swept away in a flash flood was found dead Tuesday following a two-day search involving hundreds of rescue workers. Hopes of finding Austin Chandler alive were dashed just after 3:30 p.m., when his body was found pinned beneath a cluster of logs jammed in a bottleneck of Crooked Creek, just southeast of Marble Hill...

SCOTT CITY -- Jack Darby remembers the time he used to spend at Gray's Point sandbar with his dog. Those days came to a rocky end last month. A barricade of large gray rocks now blocks access to the vestige of the road that leads to the sandbar for decades a recreational spot says Darby. He said the barricade was put in place by Tower Rock Stone, operators of a nearby quarry...

MICHAEL J. DAVIS Occupation: Account representative, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Missouri The best part of my jo b is: "A happy client." The book I'd recommend is: "The Bible." The best part of my life was: "When I married Becky." I've always looked up to: "My Grandpa Davis. His life seemed like an advanture. Plus he was self-educated and died a success."...

JACKSON - New housing starts in Jackson continued at a better than average pace during the first half of 1992, according to a report to the city's board of aldermen. Building Inspector Robbie Roberts said permits for 30 houses worth $2,216,300 were issued during the six-month period through June 30. At this time last year, 37 permits had been issued for housing worth $2,213,600...

Garland Gilliam, 83, of Cape Girardeau, died Monday, July 27, 1992, at Southeast Missouri Hospital. Survivors include two daughters, Dianna Carter and Gloria Taylor of Cape Girardeau. Marianna Funeral Home of Marianna, Ark., is in charge of arrangements...

SCOTT CITY -- Shirley Garrett, 74, of Scott City, died Tuesday, July 28, 1992, at Charleston Manor. Amick-Burnett Funeral Home here is in charge of arrangements.

CHAFFEE -- Loman A. Duniphan, 63, of Chaffee, died Tuesday, July 28, 1992, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. He was born Dec. 18, 1928, at McGee, son of Buford and Mary Morgan Duniphan. He and Jean Humphreys were married July 12, 1946, in Piggott, Ark...

SIKESTON -- John F. "Frank" Crain, 73, of Eldorado, Kan., died Saturday, July 25, 1992, at his home. He was born Dec. 20, 1918, at Sikeston, son of John and Flora Kappler Crain. Survivors include seven sons, Timothy, Andrew, Geoffrey and John Crain III of Eldorado, Frank Crain of Bunker Hill, Ill., Bobby Crain of St. ...

EAST PRAIRIE -- Manie Lou Davidson, 78, of East Prairie, died Tuesday, July 28, 1992, at her home, following an extended illness. Shelby Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

ANNA, Ill. -- Edith Kinder, 84, of Anna, died Tuesday, July 28, 1992, at Union County Nursing Home. Norris and Son Funeral Home at Jonesboro is in charge of arrangements.

JACKSON -- Chester H. Friedrich, 71, Jackson Star Route, died Tuesday, July 28, 1992, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. Friends may call at Cracraft-Miller Funeral Home from 4-8 p.m. today. Parish prayers will be at 7, and honor guard service at 7:30 by Altenthal-Joerns American Legion Post 158...

PERRYVILLE - Brother Daniel D. Gagnon died Tuesday, July 28, 1992 at Perry County Memorial Hospital in Perryville. He was 60. Gagnon was a Vincentian brother at St. Mary's Seminary in Perryville and served as the executive custodian for three years at St. Vincent's College in Cape Girardeau...

After 20 years of work as an advocate for the homeless and needs of low income citizens, Larry Rice is hoping to use the office of lieutenant governor to mobilize a force of volunteers committed to helping people. One of four Democrats seeking the nomination for lieutenant governor in the Aug. ...

A construction accident is being blamed for a power outage that left local cable television customers without service for up to 1 hours Tuesday afternoon. The outage occurred about 1 p.m. when a backhoe accidentally tore down a Union Electric power line as a construction crew was putting in a water line for the city of Jackson along Highway 61 East, said Roger Harms, manager of the local cable system...

OLIVE BRANCH, Ill. -- Plans for a new Horseshoe Lake dam and spillway area have been unveiled. "Basically the new dam will have the same crest elevation as the one it will replace," said Dick Adorjan, a spokesman for the Water Resources Division of the Illinois Department of Transportation Tuesday...

Even before Louis Lorimier's "Land of Promise" had a newspaper, people living east of the Mississippi River were aware that the Spanish land of Louisiana west of the river had much to offer. The problem was reaching the Louisiana territory after it became part of the United States in 1844...

A course for teachers who deal with children with autism will be offered in Cape Girardeau this fall through a statewide program called Project Access. Edna Herron, associate director of Project Access, explained that the program is housed at Southwest Missouri State University in Springfield and is contracted with the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to provide the courses statewide...

Michael Sterling, president of the local branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, this month attended the 83rd Annual NAACP National Convention in Nashville, Tenn. The theme of the convention was "Honoring our Past, Fulfilling our Present and Preparing For the Future." Featured speakers included the Rev. Jesse Jackson, Benjamin Hooks, Carol Moseley Braun, Yolanda King and Marion Wright Edelman...

Several competitions for young people were held over the weekend at Capetown Safari in Cape Girardeau County. Wayne Douglas of Mound City, Ill., was named 1992 Little Mr. Safari, and Ashlee Renee Holland of Scott City got the honor of Little Miss Safari...