Stories from Friday, September 25, 1992

To the Editor: After reading the article entitled "What is the Citadel?" by Rick Reilly that appeared in a September issue of Sports Illustrated, I felt that it was my responsibility to write to my hometown, to the people who know me, and tell them how incredibly false and misleading this article is...

The Bureau of Special Health Care Needs is sponsoring a full-day workshop entitled "Educating Children with Special Health Care Needs" Oct. 3 from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. The workshop will be held at the Southeast Missouri State University Center Ballroom and is free and open to the public...

MARBLE HILL -- Four employees of the Paramount Hat and Cap Company were treated at a hospital Thursday after being overcome by fumes in the factory. A company spokesman said there was some type of leak in the plant, but that the gas company had confirmed it wasn't a gas leak. The spokesman said Thursday afternoon there may have been "a sewage type of leak."...

Eight area industries will set up displays at West Park Mall this weekend for the annual Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce Industrial Fair. The fair will be held in conjunction with the Chamber of Commerce Industrial Dinner, scheduled Thursday at the Show Me Center on Southeast Missouri State University campus...

Two former assistant Cape Girardeau fire chiefs have filed complaints with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, accusing the city of Cape Girardeau and its Fire Department of age discrimination. The complainants are Paul Kesterson, who retired July 1, and Jim Niswonger, who was demoted from assistant fire chief to firefighter...

It's unsettling to watch reports of the starving in Somalia, especially the fragile, wide-eyed children who don't understand the politics of food. But hunger is not limited to the far reaches of the world. The current recession has forced more Americans out of work; others have had to learn to live with less. ...

What would have been a minor traffic accident on the Mississippi River bridge Wednesday almost claimed the life of a Jackson truck driver. Medical authorities say quick action by Candy Tucker, 24, of Olive Branch, Ill., an off-duty administrative secretary at St. Francis Medical Center, helped save the man's life...

In terms of family, what was once considered "broken" is now all too common in American life. Products of a so-called broken home one fractured by divorce or never formed by marriage aren't necessarily prohibited from leading fruitful lives. However, a growing body of research indicates children who come from single-parent households are more likely to encounter social challenges ranging from educational inadequacy to teen pregnancy...

For a half hour each week, Jana Jateff talks with fourth-graders about self esteem and how to make good decisions. Jateff is among the many Project Charlie volunteers who hope their visits will help children resist drug use. Project Charlie (Chemical Abuse Resolution Lies in Education) is a drug abuse prevention program for elementary students. Nationally, the program began in 1976...

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Missouri showed a profit of $23.8 million for the first eight months of this year. The giant health care insurer, based in St. Louis, normally releases financial figures only at the end of each fiscal year. The company decided to disclose its finances Thursday to reassure Blue Cross customers in light of recent reports of financial woes and mismanagement at the West Virginia Blue Cross and Blue Shield group...

President George Bush's veto this week of the family emergency medical leave bill is one of the topics the wife of Democratic vice-presidential nominee Sen. Al Gore will discuss in Cape Girardeau today. "At a time when families are under a great amount of stress anyway, this bill would help shape the workplace, with workers having the ability to hold their families together and maintain their jobs during time of crisis." said Tipper Gore, in a telephone interview from Chicago Thursday afternoon...

Criticism of the Republican party's appeal for "traditional family values" in the presidential campaign is consistent with modern society's general disdain for moral standards of any kind. That's the contention of some religious leaders in Cape Girardeau, who say too many people are missing the point of a call for traditional morality and family values...

PATTON - A 120-year-old building that long occupied by a landmark grocery store was destroyed in an early morning fire Thursday. The building, located next to the Post Office on Highway 51, had been occupied for the past few years by Jones' Market. During most of the previous half century, it had been known as Whitener's Store...

A trust fund has been established for the family of Evelyn Sparks, her daughter and grandson who were killed last weekend in Sparks' home in south Cape Girardeau. The fund has been set up by the Cape Girardeau Police Department and at City Hall, where Sparks worked as a janitor. Contributions can be made in care of either department...

After winning a hard-fought three-way Democratic primary for state treasurer with 51 percent of the vote, Bob Holden is hoping the broad base of support he used to win the primary will translate into victory on Nov. 3. "I think we came out of the primary in very good shape and have shown a broad base of support," said Holden during a recent campaign visit to Cape Girardeau. "The issues of job creation and the Missouri First plan I presented have been very well received."...

THEBES, Ill Gracie Greene, 65, of Thebes, formerly of Memphis, Tenn., died Wednesday, Sept. 23, 1992, at the home of a son in Thebes. Greene was born Feb. 28, 1927, at Four City, Ark., daughter of Calvin and Lela Free Moonley. Survivors include four sons, Donald Pyron of Thebes, Ricky Pyron of Peoria, Ill., Roger Pyron of Memphis and Bobby Pyron of Georgia; three daughters, Patsy Tilson and Shirley Duncan of Rock Falls, Ill., Kathy Hanson of Memphis; a brother, John Moonley of Forest Hills, Ark.; 15 grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren.. ...

MARBLE HILL -- Funeral service for Lester Floyd "Red" Filer of Marble Hill will be held at 11 a.m. today at Liley Funeral Chapel. Dr. John Englehart will officiate, with burial in Bollinger County Memorial Park. Filer, 81, died Tuesday, Sept. 22, 1992, in a farm tractor accident at his home...

DONGOLA, Ill. -- Robert L. Lannom, 70, of Dongola, died Wednesday, Sept. 23, 1992, at Life Care Center in Jonesboro. He was born July 2, 1922, in Marion, son of Grover Cleveland and Hassel Tina Adams Lannom. He and Shirley Jerolds were married Jan. 25, 1941. She died May 25, 1977...

BLOOMFIELD -- Lona Mae Williams, 82, of Bloomfield, died Thursday, Sept. 24, 1992, at Dexter Memorial Hospital. She was born Aug. 1, 1910, at Bloomfield, daughter of Lowery and Elizabeth Davis Parmenter. She and Archie Williams were married in 1925. He died May 4, 1992...

EAST PRAIRIE -- Funeral service for Russia Pope Bennett of Mobile, Ala., will be held at 11 a.m. today at Shelby Funeral Chapel. Larry Smith will officiate, with burial in East Prairie Memorial Park. Bennett, 86, died Tuesday, Sept. 22, 1992, in Mobile...

A country-pop showcase featuring seven bands will be held Sunday at Capaha Park, sponsored by the Cape Girardeau Parks and Recreation Department, Mitch Herod, K103 and KZIM. The free concert will take place at the band shell, with a different band scheduled to play every 45 minutes. The event starts at 2 p.m...

JONESBORO, Ill. -- Vickie Lynn Clover, 39, of Jonesboro, died Thursday, Sept. 24, 1992, at her home, following an extended illness. She was born Sept. 18, 1953, at Anna. She was employed by the federal government. Survivors include her mother and stepfather, Virgie and Frank Spurlock of Jonesboro; three brothers, Stanley Fowler of Carbondale, Scott Spurlock of Jonesboro, and Edward Clover of Anna...

Son to Mr. and Mrs. Craig LeDure, Scott City Route 1, Southeast Missouri Hospital, 9:26 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 17, 1992. Name, Daniel Cody. Weight, 8 pounds 8 ounces. Second son. Mrs. LeDure is the former Margie Wilfawn, daughter of Betty Jean Smith and Mac Smith of Scott City. She is employed at Victorian Inn. LeDure is employed at Ferrell Mobile Homes, and is the son of Lois and Edwin LeDure, Scott City Route 1...

CHAFFEE -- Rachel Elizabeth Hale, 60, of St. Louis and formerly of Chaffee died Thrusday, Sept. 24, 1992, at St. Joseph's Hospital in Kirkwood. She was born Aug. 13, 1932, at Arbor, the daughter of the late Albert Bagbey and Mabel Tidwell Bagbey, who survives of Chaffee...