Stories from Thursday, September 3, 1992

The true measure of a quality Division I-AA football program is depth. Teams rich enough to send wave after wave of talent onto the field can withstand the adversity of injuries and emotional uprisings with impressive regularity. Southeast Missouri State University football coach John Mumford uses this standard of excellence to show how he's building a contender in the Ohio Valley Conference. We applaud the course he's taking...

PIRATES OF THE MISSISSIPPI The SEMO District Fair will have three nights of live music in the grandstands this year, featuring some established stars in country music. Neal McCoy, Billy Dean and the Pirates of the Mississippi have been booked to perform this year...

What walks on two legs, speaks in dozens of voices and is absolutely "Mesnerizing?" Paul Mesner and the Paul Mesner Puppets. Mesner will perform two shows at Southeast Missouri State University sponsored by the Cultural Programs Committee and in part by a grant from the Missouri Arts Council...

Appearances by soap opera stars, Mr. Food and the Mid-South Boys will highlight the Heartland Women's Show scheduled at the Show Me Center Sept. 11-13. The show is sponsored by KFVS and Town & Country Stores. More than 150 women's products and services will be exhibited from the Cape Girardeau area. Some of the special features include seminars, fashion shows, a bridal festival, aerobic dance demonstrations and gospel singing...

ALTENBURG -- The East Perry Community Fair has been called "The Best Little Fair in the Land." It's scheduled this year for Sept. 25 and 26 in Altenburg. The fair officially opens with a traditional parade through the streets of Altenburg at 1 p.m. on Sept. 25...

A neglectful mother. An unofficial version of the story of Noah's Ark. Witchcraft. Sex. Riddles and limericks. Religion. Halloween. A negative view of life. A sad ending. These are all reasons used to challenge or ban books from schools and libraries in the United States during the past year...

Three Southeast Missourians have agreed to serve on the farm advisory committee of Republican gubernatorial candidate William Webster. Webster says the committee's formation will show his desire to make government a partner with farmers. Among the 33 members of the committee are Robert Nitsch of Jackson, and Dan Jennings and Peter Myers of Sikeston...

Secretary of State Roy Blunt confirmed the other day that Missourians would vote in November on a proposal to limit terms of state legislators, a measure that has been placed on the ballot through the initiative referendum process. The proposed restriction was placed there through the determined efforts of an amazingly small number of citizens who did an exceptional job of harnessing volunteers in six of Missouri's nine congressional districts...

MORLEY -- The 20th annual Morley Fall Festival will feature good, old-fashioned fun, starting with a parade and ending with a street dance. Sponsored by the Morley Community Betterment Club, the festival is scheduled Sept. 11-12. Stands will open at 4 p.m. on the first day of the fair, followed by three pageants. Stands open again at 10:30 a.m. the following day...

FARMINGTON -- The third annual St. Francois River Rendezvous will be held at Farmington's Industrial Park Sept. 25-27. Indians and trappers will camp on the banks of the St. Francois River during the three days of festivities. An area near the lake at the south end of the park will be designated for campers wearing primitive costumes and trading and using primitive goods. An area will also be available for modern camping...

CHESTER, Ill. -- A yearlong effort to repaint and renovate the Chester, Ill., bridge over the Mississippi River is expected to begin in January, a Missouri Highway and Transportation Department spokesman said Wednesday. While the work is in progress traffic over the two-lane bridge will be reduced to a single lane. Temporary traffic signals will regulate the movement of traffic across the bridge...

It's going to take six years, but Melvin Schott is determined to graduate from college, and so far he's paid the bills himself. "It's really been a struggle for me," Schott said. "I'm not eligible for any financial aid. But I knew I'd have to go into debt. I'm hoping that when I get out I get a good enough job to pay for it all."...

Two and one-half years ago young Elton was out of control. Dealing with a 3-year-old who was hyperactive with attention deficit disorder took his mother to the end of her knowledge, patience and endurance. "I was physically, mentally and emotionally exhausted, the child's mother said. "I knew I needed help."...

Nearly 90 percent of motorists support seat-belt usage, but only 68 percent in Cape Girardeau actually buckle up. Law enforcement officials, those in the medical profession and traffic safety promoters hope to see that number reach at least 70 percent by the end of the year...

As with most discussion of solid waste issues, the formation of a regional solid waste district in this area hasn't been without snags. Although established little more than a month ago, a mild controversy already has arisen among the cities and counties in the Region R Solid Waste District over voting representation...

SCOTT CITY - A final inspection of the first phase of construction of a railroad spur into the Southeast Missouri Regional Port Authority is planned for this week. Work on the first phase was started June 8, 1991, and should be wrapped up by the end of this week, Port Executive Director Allan Maki said Wednesday...

JACKSON - Cape Girardeau County Clerk Rodney Miller said Wednesday he is seeing interest by people of all ages to get registered to vote for the Nov. 3 general election. "We're having people come in to register from all age groups," said Miller. Interest in voting and registration increases in presidential election years, and to make it easier for people to register Miller and his staff are again conducting a Registration Outreach campaign around the county...

A living will program detailing what is a living will, what is durable power of attorney and who will make decisions for you if you are incapacitated will be held Sept. 15 at 7 p.m. at the Cape Girardeau Public Library. Dale Gerecke, an attorney with the firm of Finch, Bradshaw, Strom and Steele of Cape Girardeau, will present the program, which is free and open to the public...

The 18th annual Teen Challenge Walk-a-Thon will be held Sept. 19, beginning at 8 a.m. The goal of $20,000 will be used to purchase buses to transport students to and from church and work. Local youth and adults who plan to participate or sponsor a staff member or student in the 12-mile hike should contact the Mid-America training center at 335-6508...

CHAFFEE -- Funeral service for Georgia S. Buck of Chaffee will be held at 2 p.m. Friday at Amick-Burnett Funeral Home in Scott City. The Rev. Maurice Eagan will officiate, with burial in Oakdale Cemetery at Commerce. Friends may call at the funeral home after 4 p.m. today. An Eastern Star service will be held at 7:30...

DONGOLA, Ill. -- Clella L. Miles, 83, of Dongola, died Wednesday, Sept. 2, 1992, at Union County Nursing Home in Anna. She was born Jan. 7, 1909, in Union County, daughter of George B. and Leina Brooks Garner. She first married Relis Keller and then Charley Miles, both of whom preceded her in death...

Anthony P. Essner, 74, 800 S. Pacific, died Wednesday, Sept. 2, 1992, at his home. He was born July 10, 1918, at Benton, son of Eugene and Clara Diebold Essner. He and Leana Felter were married Nov. 14, 1945, at Benton. Essner was a building and remodeling contractor here more than 45 years, having been a carpenter's apprentice with Penzel Construction Co. He was an active member of St. Mary's Cathedral, and served in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers during World War II...

Vernon E. Swader, 70, 44 S. Frederick, died Tuesday, Sept. 1, 1992, at his home. He was born Dec. 23, 1921, in Tennessee, son of Turner and Elizabeth Turner Swader. Swader was a truck driver with North American Van Lines, retiring in 1970. Survivors include two sons, Larry and Vernon Swader of Cape Girardeau; two daughters, Norma Windeknecht nad Rose Mary Clover of Cape Girardeau; a brother, Wren Swader of Leeds, Ala.; 13 grandchildren, and 11 great-grandchildren...

CHARLESTON -- Clara Newnam, 95, of Charleston, died Tuesday, Sept. 1, 1992, at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston. She was born Jan. 20, 1897, near Charleston, daughter of John Perry and Nannie Adams Drinkwater. She and William E. Newnam were married in 1937. He died in 1949...

PULASKI, Ill. -- Leon Boyd, 66, Pulaski Route 1, died Tuesday, Sept. 1, 1992, at his home. He was born Sept. 7, 1925, at Jonesboro, son of Robert L. and Hattie Edwards Boyd. He and Christina McBride were married Oct. 22, 1977, at Pulaski. Boyd was a retired farmer. He was a member of Caledonia Masonic Lodge 47, and Carroll P. Foster VFW Post 3455. He was a veteran of World War II...

ANNA, Ill. -- Ray Edison Lefler, 77, of Anna, died Tuesday, Sept. 1, 1992, at City Care Center. He was born July 9, 1915, in Jonesboro, son of Hobart and Bertha Scharf Lefler. Lefler retired from Union Electric in St. Louis. He was a member of Mt. Moriah Lutheran Church, and American Legion Post 179. He was a veteran of World War II...

ULLIN, Ill. -- Oscar Harland Gaskill, 87, Ullin Route 1, died Wednesday, Sept. 2, 1992, at Hillside Terrace Nursing Home in Cobden. He was born Oct. 8, 1904, in Illinois, son of H.L. and Arminta LeMay Gaskill. He married Myra Mayberry, who died July 12, 1987...

U.S. Rep. Bill Emerson said Wednesday his patience with the Environmental Protection Agency has run thin and he has urged President George Bush to bolster ethanol's role in the federal Clean Air Act. Emerson released a copy of a letter he sent to Bush regarding ethanol's role in the implementation of the Clean Air Act...

Officer Eddy James was suspended last week from the Cape Girardeau Police Department for reasons officials wouldn't reveal. Police Chief Howard Boyd refused Wednesday to release any details on why James was suspended, but said the department is "conducting an internal investigation" concerning James...

JACKSON -- Mollie Schweer, 92, of Jackson, died Tuesday, Sept. 1, 1992, at Deal Nursing Home. She was born July 14, 1900, in Jackson, daughter of Edward and Layra Kathryn Yoder McBryde. She and Otto Schweer were married Oct. 4, 1917. He died Oct. 20, 1965...