Stories from Sunday, August 30, 1992

Shelby Steele, the author of the widely acclaimed book, "The Content of Our Character: A New Vision of Race in America," is a professor of English at San Jose State University. ~At Hillsdale~ College's Center for Constructive Alternatives February 1992 seminar "Thought Police on Campus: Is Academic Freedom in Danger~?" Shelby Steele mad~~e the following plea for a return to the ideal of genuine equality and an end to "the politics of difference," which has produced not only a divided campus, but a di~~vided society.~~ It's long but worth reading in a university community.. ...

Hurricane Andrew has been called the nation's worst disaster in history, replacing the Republicans' warning against electing Bill Clinton. --- Missourians will vote in November on limiting the terms of state legislators, who will resist the measure by putting the title of the state Capitol in their name...

Ten days before the August primary election, longtime state Rep. Gene Copeland was discussing Democratic races as he sat in the lobby of the New Madrid airport waiting for St. Louis Mayor Vince Schoemehl to arrive for a political rally. The New Madrid County Democratic Committee was holding a rally that evening where candidates they had endorsed would have an opportunity to speak at a barbecue in Conran...

In a little over two months, Americans will return to the polls casting ballots on people and issues that will affect our lives for years to come. Now, is the time to begin the education process on the issues we will consider Nov. 3. At the local level, ward representation is the issue in Cape Girardeau, while Scott City voters will consider a sales tax...

Two Republican lawmakers Saturday repeated their calls for congressional reform at a political rally. U.S. Rep. Bill Emerson and U.S. Sen. Christopher Bond said that reform of Congress is the only way to ensure positive political change in America. The two lawmakers made their remarks at Emerson's campaign kick-off picnic at the A.C. ...

Melissa Meyer can't go home again. Hurricane Andrew saw to that, virtually wiping out the community of Homestead, Fla., where she lived. Meyer, her Air Force husband, Adrian, and their 2-month-old baby fled from their Florida home on Sunday, ahead of the onslaught of the hurricane...

In the 1980s, they ran Cape Girardeau city government. Today, they are handling administrative duties in cities from Oregon to Missouri and enjoying it. The exodus to greener pastures began with City Attorney Fred Boeckmann, who left in August 1986 to take a position as city attorney in Columbia...

New street construction in Cape Girardeau was up this year thanks in large part to rapid development in several subdivisions. James Tilley, chief inspector in the city's engineering department, said 10,500 feet or nearly two miles of high-grade concrete streets have been built this year with additional projects now under construction...

A Horseshoe Lake campground facility is one of 40 sites affected by the Illinois Legislature's budget-cutting plan. Illinois Department of Conservation director Brent Manning said Friday that the legislature's failure to approve increased fees coupled with budget cuts has resulted in program reductions, season closures, delayed opening of seven proposed sites, and as many as 167 layoffs...

Cape Girardeau businesses are going to be asked to assess the city's strengths and weaknesses in Vision 2000's second business needs survey. John Mehner, a member of the planning committee, said actually two surveys will be done. The first, questioning existing businesses or those in existence for more than five years, should be completed by October. The second, for new or relocating businesses, should be completed by the end of the year...

ST. LOUIS Businesses controlled by the brother of the former head of the failed First Exchange Banks, accounted for about 35 percent of the estimated $46 million cost of bailing out the failed banks by the FDIC, the agency that insures bank deposits...

"This presidential election will be a three-way race Bush, Clinton and the Issues," said Mary Martin. "And we spell issues, Perot." Martin of Jackson, chairman of the "United We Stand" movement in the 8th District of Missouri, said Saturday that the group will continue to promote Perot's ideas...

Kermit "Moose" Meystedt is used to helping others. His Cape Girardeau trucking company, Genesis Transportation Co. Inc., regularly delivers truckloads of clothing to the homeless. So, it's not surprising Meystedt was ready to lend a hand to the local Salvation Army's efforts to aid victims of Hurricane Andrew...

The Missouri Conservation Commission Friday received a special report concerning a rapidly growing volunteer program to help stream problems in the state. It marked the first time the Commission had met in Cape Girardeau in more than a year. The Commission approved several of the recommendations of the report, entitled, "Stream Team: Addressing the Need for Public Involvement," during its August meeting at the Holiday Inn...

The Cape Girardeau County Republican Women's Club will hold its monthly meeting at 11:45 a.m. Friday in the Holiday Inn executive room. Ralph Ford and Julia Kridelbaugh, who attended the 1992 Republican National Convention, will present the program...

Sen. John Dennis has announced that he will serve as honorary chairman for the campaign of Betty Hearnes, who is the Democratic candidate trying to succeed him in the Senate. Dennis, who served 24 years as Scott County sheriff and 16 years in the Senate, will retire at the end of this year and is not seeking re-election. Hearnes won a three-way Democratic primary earlier this month with 57.3 percent of the vote...

CHAFFEE -- Memorial service for Elmer H. Erwin of Houston, Texas, was held Saturday at George H. Lewis and Sons Funeral Chapel in Houston. The Rev. Charles Blackman officiated. Erwin, 78, died Friday, Aug. 28, 1992. He was born Feb. 28, 1914, at Chaffee, son of Turney and Mamie Horger Erwin. He and Irene B. Miller of Cape Girardeau were married in 1969...

CHAFFEE -- Wilma Grojean, 83, of Chaffee, died Friday, Aug. 28, 1992, at Chaffee Nursing Center. She was born March 5, 1909, at Dutchtown, daughter of Martin and Nellie Miller Fredrick. She and Anthony Charles Grojean were married Nov. 18, 1929. He died Oct. 10, 1977...

CHAFFEE -- Mary Lee Hunsaker, 71, of Chaffee, died Saturday, Aug. 29, 1992, at Jackson Manor in Jackson. She was born April 18, 1921, at Chaffee, daughter of Henry Alfred and Melissa Day Watson. He and Hurshel Hunsaker were married Sept. 23, 1951. He died Feb. 19, 1977...

DONGOLA, Ill. -- Elmer "Pete" Dale, 83, of Dongola, died Friday, Aug. 28, 1992, at Union County Hospital in Anna. He was born July 2, 1909, at Dongola, son of James N. and Mary Isabelle Hale Dale. He married Elsie Holshouser May 26, 1932. Dale was a member of First Baptist Church and American Legion Post here, and Carroll P. Foster VFW Post in Anna. He was a veteran of World War II...

BERTRAND -- Funeral service for Jerry C. Beasley of Bertrand will be held at 2 p.m. today at McMikle Funeral Chapel in Charleston. The Revs. Charles Kohlbaker and Dan Stoffel will officiate, with burial in IOOF Cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home from 9 a.m. to service time...

SIKESTON -- Juanita Hollonbeck, 70, of Sikeston, died Saturday, Aug. 29, 1992, at Missouri Delta Medical Center. She was born Jan. 19, 1922, in Delplane, Ark., daughter of Virgil M. and Ellen Tidwell Williams. Hollonbeck had worked at International Shoe Co. and Missouri Delta Medical Center, retiring in May 1988. She was a member of Blodgett Baptist Church...

Philip N. Ventrella, 59, 3913 Carolewood, died Friday, Aug. 28, 1992, at Barnes Hospital in St. Louis. He was born Sept. 22, 1932, in Bari, Italy, son of Ralph and Vincenza Calabrazzi Ventrella. He and Judy Jenkins were married Sept. 17, 1977, in Chicago...

Kenneth Ray Dambach, 31, of Winchester, and his two-year-old daughter, Kaela, were killed in a car accident Friday, Aug. 28, 1992, in O'Fallon. Dambach was born June 28, 1961, in Cape Girardeau, son of Edwin and Judith Smith Dambach. He and Angela Bazzanga were married May 31, 1988, in St. Louis County. She was injured in the accident...

JONESBORO, Ill. -- Marie Alice Knupp, 81, of Jonesboro, died Saturday, Aug. 29, 1992, at Union County Nursing Home in Anna. She was born Feb. 15, 1911, at Anna, daughter of William and Ora Gourley Thorne. She married Owen Knupp April 29, 1946, in Vienna, Ill. He died in 1971...

Olline Cantrell, 56, Route 1 Springville, Tenn., died Friday, Aug. 28, 1992, at Henry County Medical Center in Paris, Tenn. She was born Feb. 20, 1936, in Oklahoma, daughter of Carl and Esther Cain. She and Alex E. Cantrell were married Dec. 12, 1957...

PERRYVILLE -- Leo L. Schweiss, 84, of Perryville, died Saturday, Aug. 29, 1992, at Perry County Memorial Hospital. He was born Aug. 15, 1908, at Perryville, son of Joseph and Regina Basler Schweiss. He and Elizabeth Shelby were married Nov. 24, 1932, at Perryville. She died Jan. 27, 1991...

ANNA, Ill. -- Louise Goins, 56, of Anna, formerly of Grand Chain, died Friday, Aug. 28, 1992, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. She was born Dec. 10, 1935, in Norris City, daughter of Raymond and Dora Hale. She was employed by Illinois Department of Public Aid. She was a member of Grand Chain Order of Eastern Star, and First Christian Church in Anna...

Funeral service for Gladys McGill of Cape Girardeau will be held at 2 p.m. today at Crews-Welsh and Ponder Funeral Home in Sikeston. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery at Sikeston. McGill, 79, died Friday, Aug. 28, 1992, at the Lutheran Home. She was born May 23, 1913, in Stanton, Neb., daughter of Charles and Kate Minton Bolzell. She and Marshall McGill were married Dec. 6, 1933, in Sikeston. He died Oct. 24, 1991...

GLEN ALLEN -- Funeral service for Lena M. Gray of Glen Allen will be held at 2 p.m. today at Liley Funeral Chapel in Marble Hill. The Rev. Ray Meek will officiate, with burial in Bollinger County Memorial Park Cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home from 9 a.m. until service time...

JACKSON -- The American Red Cross will sponsor the Jackson Community blood drive Monday from 1:30-6:30 p.m. at the American Legion Hall on North High Street. "Typically blood donations go down during the summer because schools are not in session and many people are away on vacation. However the demand for blood never diminishes," said Brian McDonough, principal officer of the American Red Cross, Missouri-Illinois Regional Blood Services...

"Growing Old Gracefully" will be the topic of the Mended Hearts when the group meets Tuesday at Southeast Missouri Hospital. Presenting the 7 p.m. program in the hospital's Harrison room will be Dr. Shelba Branscum, associate professor of human environmental studies and director of the Eldercare program at Southeast Missouri State University...

In the Old Testament, God told Abraham that from his seed would come future generations as numerous as the grains of sand. Sand is a common and plentiful raw commodity that has played an important role in the development of the world, past and present...

I haven't thumbed through a college catalog for many years. Don't know what all is on the menu these days. I guess the good old basics are still there English, history, math and sociology. Perhaps there are courses in computers and electronics. Could there be cybernetics 101? Cryogenics? Super Colliderism?...

New federal and state environmental regulations concerning storm-water runoff will affect many large and small area businesses and industries, a state official said. The federal Environmental Protection Administration storm-water runoff regulations are the result of a series of lawsuits filed against the EPA since the 1970s by environmental groups, said the official, Karl Fett of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources water pollution control program...

As he mopped the floors and washed the windows of the Southeast Missourian newspaper building, young Walter Wilson dreamed away the spring days of the late 1940s. He dreamed of traveling to places far more exotic than Missouri's Bootheel; he dreamed of a rewarding job; he dreamed of a future as bright with promise as his just-cleaned windows...

ST. LOUIS The St. Louis district office of the Small Business Administration is seeking nominations throughout eastern Missouri for Small Business Person of the Year-1993 and Small Business Advocates in various business categories. Special activities at the community, state, and national levels will be scheduled to honor the winner of the awards during National Small Business Week in May...

Tri-County Health Related Services has moved from Scott City to 106 Farrar Drive in Cape Girardeau. Tri-County HRS, a subsidiary solely owned by Tri-County Group XV Inc., was established in Southeast Missouri 20 years ago. It covers the counties of Dunklin, Pemiscot, New Madrid, Mississippi, Ripley, Butler, Stoddard, Scott, Bollinger, Cape Girardeau, Madison, Iron, St. Francois, Ste. Genevieve, Perry, Wayne, Jefferson, and Reynolds...

Ronald Jay Hopkins has been promoted vice president of loans at Commerce Bank in Cape Girardeau. Hopkins joined Commerce Bank in 1987, and has been working in the Mexico, Mo., area. He previously worked with Mercantile Bank of Salisbury, Mo., as an agriculture loan officer and at Farmers Home Administration in Jefferson City...

A second Subway Sandwich and Salads Shop has opened in Cape Girardeau. "Our business has been great in Cape Girardeau," said owner Dave Alexander. "We decided that the city needed two Subway shops." The newest operation opened at 252 Silver Springs Road last week...

The Small Business Development Center has received computer equipment designed to aid small businesses. The center at 222 N. Pacific on the Southeast Missouri State University campus is one of four small-business centers in the state that have been designated IBM/Lotus Learning Centers. The others are in St. Louis, Columbia and Joplin...

The Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce Industrial Appreciation Dinner will be held Oct. 1 at the Show Me Center. Highlight of the annual event is the presentation of the Commitment to Excellence award honoring the 1992 industry of the year. More than 950 people attended the 1991 dinner...

Laurel Elizabeth Adkisson has joined Commerce Bank in Cape Girardeau as senior financial services representatives and Timothy M. Sievers of Jackson has joined the bank as a vice president in the loan department. Adkisson, a graduate of East Prairie High School and Southeast Missouri State University with a degree in marketing-management, previously served as marketing coordinator for the Cape Girardeau Convention and Visitors Bureau. ...

St. LouisDrury Inns Inc. announced that construction will start soon on new hotels at Paducah, Ky., Springfield, Ill., and St. Louis, at Lambert International Airport. Drury Inns operates both a Drury and Thrifty Inn at Interstate 24 and Highway 60 in Paducah. The new hotel will be on the northeast corner of that interchange. It will have 118 rooms and is expected to open next summer...

Sixteen undergraduates and 44 graduate students graduated with honors from Southeast Missouri State University this summer. The following is a list of area students who graduated with honors. The students are listed by honor and hometown. SUMMA CUM LAUDE...

Bart Joseph De Brock, M.D., formerly of Cape Girardeau, has completed a residency program in urology at the University of Kansas Medical Center in Kansas City, Kansas. DeBrock is a past graduate of Cape Girardeau Central High School, Southeast Missouri State University and the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine in Nashville, Tenn...

O'FALLON Julian Seeherman, chairman and chief executive officer of Venture Stores Inc., a St. Louis-based regional discount retailer, has been selected by the discount retail industry for the 1991 Discounter of the Year award. The award, presented annually by Discount Store News, honors the retail executive who leads his company to superior innovation, creativity and growth...