Stories from Wednesday, October 14, 1992

Today marks the last day to register to vote for the Nov. 3 general election. Because of some extraordinary registration efforts across the state, the numbers may be up significantly with a record 3 million Missourians registered. Registration is a critical step in the election process, but Americans can't stop there. ...

An adult inpatient psychiatric unit, the first to operate in Cape Girardeau since 1987, will open in late November at Southeast Missouri Hospital. The announcement was made Tuesday by Administrator James W. Wente. The 14-bed acute unit will serve patients who are in a psychiatric crisis...

SPRINGFIELD -- Kenny Hulshof, a special prosecutor in the Missouri attorney general's office and a former assistant prosecutor of Cape Girardeau County, was honored recently by the Missouri Bar. Also honored earlier this month at the 113th meeting of the Missouri Bar in Springfield was Warren Welliver, a former judge of the Missouri Supreme Court...

Although any official certification as a Trail of Tears National Historic Trail site by the National Park Service is a year away, the Trail of Tears State Park north of Cape Girardeau may display a logo designating it as a "National Historic Trail" now...

JACKSON -- The Jackson School District Board of Education Tuesday adopted a $12.2 million dollar budget that projects black ink this year in all of the district's funds. The board also took time out from their meeting to burn $1.13 million in retired bonds...

An old-fashioned political picnic is planned for Friday by supporters of Republican attorney general candidate David Steelman. The picnic will be from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at the Cape County South Park, Shelter 20. Sheriff Norman Copeland will be cooking the barbecue and Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Ian Sutherland will skydive into the picnic...

The Student Recreation Center at Southeast Missouri State University will be open to the public during the university's fall break. The center will be open to people ages 16 and older from 5 p.m. Thursday to 5 p.m. Sunday. Cost of admission is $3. Those seeking to use the center are asked to bring a picture identification and proof of age...

I'm returning today after a three day weekend AOPA (pilots) convention, equipment, and trade show, where I went to seminars to upgrade my pilot skills and equipment knowledge. The first presidential and vice presidential debates have been held ... and I do not know the outcome, but I expect they drew a large viewership...

The Consumer Credit Counseling Service calls bankruptcy "a ten-year mistake." The nonprofit agency, which helps people avoid bankruptcy through restructuring their debt, contends that those who do file bankruptcy face at least 10 years of difficulty getting credit or loans...

Longtime Missouri Republican Party leader John Powell is upset that aides to GOP gubernatorial nominee Bill Webster issued a press release Saturday attributing comments to him he did not make. On Saturday night, the Webster campaign office faxed a one page news release with quotes from Powell criticizing Kennett attorney Mark Pelts for endorsing the Democratic nominee for governor, Lt. Gov. Mel Carnahan...

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Missouri agreed Tuesday to pay for a costly bone marrow transplant for cancer patient Mike Carlton of Cape Girardeau. The agreement ended months of dispute over who would pay for the treatment. Carlton's attorney, Sheldon Weinhaus of St. Louis, said an attorney for Blue Cross informed him late Tuesday afternoon that the insurer would agree to submit to a proposed court injunction and pay for the transplant...

Back when Joe Jones was in college, credit card companies generously sent him pieces of plastic that gave him the power to buy now and pay later. All he had to do was fill out an application. "I felt like `Wow, I must be special'," he says. Now it's much later, but Jones is still paying...

After years of being an orphan, Cape Girardeau Central High School has been adopted by Mid-America Hotels. In addition, the Parents as Teachers program has been adopted by Commerce Bank. This marks the first time the program, for parents with children through age 3, has been part of the Adopt-a-School program...

CAROLYN SIKES Occupation: Industrial sewing technician. Pet Peeve: "Having to get up in the morning." The best part of my job is: "The girls I work with." The book I'd recommend is: "The Gentle Rogue." What do you do in your spare time? "Cook, clean house, play bingo, crochet and embroidery."...

About 250 high school publications students will be in Cape Girardeau today for the annual meeting of the Southeast Missouri Scholastic Press Association. The gathering will be held at the Southeast Missouri State University Center. Students from 17 schools will be represented...

The Adult Basic Education Program at the Cape Girardeau Vocational-Technical School has expanded hours for night classes. Those interested in studying for their GED may attend class any night, Monday through Thursday. Hours are from 4-9 p.m. A person may choose the hours and days they wish to attend. Classes are free and open to anyone wishing to obtain their GED...

FLORISSANT, Mo. Mary Jane Allsup Lesar, 65, of Florissant, Mo., and formerly of McClure, Ill., died Tuesday, Oct. 13, 1992, at her home. She was born Oct. 20, 1926, in McClure to William and Eva Tinsley Allsup. She married Travis Lesar Sept. 15, 1947...

Vester Shell, 95, of Marble Hill, died Tuesday, Oct. 13, 1992 at Southeast Missouri Hospital. He was born Sept. 10, 1897, at Lodge, Mo., the son of Frederick Shell and Mary Huffman Shell. He married Arminta May Stilts March 17, 1908. She died June 5, 1980...

JACKSON -- Roy S. Fox, 99, of Jackson, died Monday, Oct. 12, 1992, at the Lutheran Home in Cape Girardeau. He was born Jan. 21, 1893, in Jackson, son of John and Alpha Steward Fox. He and Rose Ellen Jones were married in 1913. She died July 12, 1967...

SIKESTON -- Lee Roy Dykes, 59, of Sikeston, died Monday, Oct. 12, 1992, at John J. Pershing VA Medical Center in Poplar Bluff. He was born Aug. 18, 1933, in Marion County, Ala., son of John Arley and Toy Ervin Dykes. He and Cora Gross were married Feb. 16, 1956...

CHARLESTON -- Arliler Gater, 73, of Charleston, died Friday, Oct. 9, 1992, at Missouri Delta Medical Center. She was born Nov. 17, 1918, in Water Valley, Miss., daughter of Robert and Lottie Green Yarber. She married Webster Gater, who died Aug. 7, 1963...

OLIVE BRANCH, Ill. -- Graveside service for Raymond E. Long of Olive Branch will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday at Green Lawn Memorial Gardens in Villa Ridge. The Rev. Larry L. Potts will officiate, with Barkett Funeral Home of Cairo in charge of arrangements...

MARBLE HILL -- Sherry Lynn Cureton, 36, of Marble Hill, died Monday, Oct. 12, 1992, at her home. She was born Dec. 11, 1955, in South Bend, Ind., daughter of Charley and Mildred Withers Lentz. She married Troy Lee Cureton March 19, 1978. Survivors include her husband; four daughters, Tina Compton of Perryville, Lisa Cureton of Dudley, Tammy Cureton of Marble Hill, Michelle Cureton of Buchanan, Mich.; two sisters, Joan Oliver and Debbie Draper of Buchanan, and three grandchildren...

CHARLESTON -- Funeral service for Minnie Mae Upchurch, formerly of Charleston, will be held at 1 p.m. today at McMikle Funeral Chapel. The Rev. Gerald Collier will officiate, with burial in IOOF Cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home from 9 a.m. to service time...

JACKSON -- Eugene "Gene" Moore, 75, Gordonville Route 3, died Tuesday, Oct. 13, 1992, at Southeast Missouri Hospital. He was born May 23, 1917, at Laflin, son of James C. and Charlotte Lund Moore. He first married Erma Sander, who died in July 1958. He later married Evelyn Fluegge Oct. 16, 1959, at Gordonville...

Son to Johnny Cathcart and Pegi Drennan, Perryville Route 4, Southeast Missouri Hospital, 7:37 a.m. Friday, Sept. 18, 1992. Name, Angelo Saxxon. Weight, 8 pounds 8 ounces. First child. Drennan is the former Pegi Brunton Ruopp, daughter of Verlin and Katie Lorenz of Fairdealing. Cathcart is the son of Carol Hale amd Bernie Jannin of Perryville...

A World Food Day dinner to benefit two relief agencies is planned for Tuesday on the campus of Southeast Missouri State University. The dinner, sponsored by the Association of Campus Ministries and the university's student development office, will begin at 6 p.m. in the south cafeteria of the University Center...

Southeast Missouri State University's Bootheel Education Center in Malden has been named the winner of the Distinguished Program Award for 1992 by the Association for Continuing Higher Education. Interim Provost Sheila Caskey accepted the award on behalf of the university at the conference banquet Tuesday in Milwaukee...

JACKSON -- Meier Angus Farms became eligible for "Century Farm" status last month. The farm, which was first owned by Bartholomew Cousins and later by John Mogler, a state representative, was acquired by William F. "Boss Bill" Meier on September 14, 1892...

Paul W. Meier of Jackson has been elected as a delegate to the 109th annual meeting of the American Angus Association, Nov. 15-17, to be held at Louisville, Ky. Meier, a member of the American Angus Association, headquartered in St. Joseph, Mo., is one of 269 Angus breeders who have been elected by fellow members of their state association to serve as a representative at the annual meeting...

JACKSON -- The first general Jackson Community Teachers Association meeting was held at the junior high on Oct. 6. The president, Karen Kight, conducted the meeting. The following reports were given: retirement law update by Roland Sander, legislative update by Frances Dooley, professional rights and responsibility by Lou Lintner, and salary and welfare by Marilyn Jansen. Building representatives also gave brief news reports...

Once every decade or so, a "new" way to teach reading and writing is rediscovered by the disenchanted. Today, the old look-say method has been resurrected in some parts of the country under the guise of "whole language." The emphasis is on teaching children to write before they can spell...

"Premenstrual Syndrome" is the topic of the October Woman to Woman luncheon. The meeting will be at noon Thursday in Conference Rooms A and B of the St. Francis Health and Education Centre. Carolyn Brune, registered nurse, will speak. Approximately one of every five women in the United States experiences some degree of PMS, a physical condition that responds to treatment. The program will identify common symptoms and offer an overview of treatments...

Science is not just an indoor subject with Paul Albertin at Trinity Lutheran School. "One of the things I use to build interest in the classroom is to bring the outside into our class," Albertin said. "The students, as well as myself, enjoy observing the unusual as well as the common things in nature."...

The Washington School PTA will hold a chili supper Thursday from 4:30-7 p.m. in the school cafeteria. The menu includes chili, burritos, chili dogs or hot dogs, plus drinks and dessert. Tickets are $2 and may be purchased from students or at the door. Carry outs are available for those who bring a container...

The 1992 presidential campaign is capturing the attention of the American public. Presidential elections have always been exciting, and in some states where the Democratic and Republican voters are about evenly divided (as in Missouri), the tension is especially high...