Stories from Thursday, November 19, 1992

Following are a few short takes on recent news items that deserve some mention: Missouri Gov. John Ashcroft says he is "very seriously consi~dering" running for Republican National Committee chairman. To that, we say "great." This nation is at its best with a strong two-party system; it takes energetic and articulate opposition to throttle a party in power, and Ashcroft would bring vitality and eloquence to the national Republican Party. ...

The Southeast Missouri Ballet Theatre will perform "The Fantastic Toy Shop" Nov. 28 at Academic Auditorium. The ballet, an updated version of Rossini-Respighi's classic, "The Magic Toy Shop," will be performed at 2:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. The performance lasts about one hour and is meant for the holiday enjoyment of children and families...

You've heard of paper trails and paper tigers and even paper roses. Welcome to the world of paper fruits and vegetables. At this time of year, Greg and Linda Illers and their sons Cliff, 10, and Clay, 6, spend almost every evening making their living room look like the produce section in a grocery store...

Every baby born at Southeast Missouri Hospital in November will be given copies of "Goodnight Moon" and "Chicken Soup With Rice" to start their libraries. The Southeast Missouri Council of the International Reading Association is donating the books and educational pamphlets in recognition of National Children's Book Week, which continues through Sunday...

A new video on the history of Cape Girardeau shows the city developing from a wilderness trading post to a modern city. The video, created by Robert McNeely and written and researched by Gregory Dullum, took a year and a half to complete. Told through old photographs, artwork and current video footage, the story is a diary of events leading up to the present day...

Superman is dead! "Not in Metropolis," says Clyde Wills, editor and publisher of the Metropolis, Ill. Planet. "He's alive and well here, and always will be." Superman, who has been battling the "bad guys" for more than 50 years, met his match while once again fighting to protect his beloved city of Metropolis against his most lethal opponent ever the big, bad "Doomsday" in a battle which ended in the death of both hero and villain...

JEFFERSON CITY - Governor-Elect Mel Carnahan, who used a $196 million tax increase for education as a key component of his campaign, made it clear Wednesday that he plans to push a tax plan in the 1993 session of the Missouri General Assembly. "I'm committed to the proposition that we don't have a future worth having in this state without better education," declared Carnahan, in brief comments to about 100 people interested in education who gathered at an issues forum in the Truman Building...

National Public Radio is sounding better and better these days, says Susan Westfall, general manager of KRCU, the local NPR affiliate. Two years after ushering in National Public Radio on the Southeast Missouri State University campus, KRCU continues to make improvements at its studios in a former apartment building at 338 N. Henderson...

Some members of the city's Convention and Visitors Bureau Advisory Board questioned the city council's approval Monday of a sports and recreation facility to be financed with excess tourism funds. Board member Walt Wildman said Wednesday the council's action has "handcuffed" the board and taken away the scope of its responsibilities...

Last week, the Church of England announced it will begin ordaining women priests. On Wednesday, Roman Catholic bishops rejected a pastoral letter that would have affirmed the ban on women priests. Placed side by side, the two events suggest a new attitude of openness toward a practice already accepted by some denominations...

Students at May Greene Elementary School are jumping double as part of a new after-school program. Double dutch involves jumping two twirling ropes and often two or more jumpers hopping through those ropes at the same time. No easy task. But May Greene sixth-grader Kijuana Harris, who has been jumping double dutch since she was in second grade, insists it's not too hard. "If you can jump with one rope, you can jump with two."...

POCAHONTAS -- A Jackson woman was seriously injured Tuesday night in a collision on Route C in Pocahontas. Linda Mirley, 36, of Jackson was taken to Southeast Missouri Hospital and later transferred to St. Francis Medical Center after the 7:10 p.m. accident...

MARBLE HILL -- A 43-year-old Marble Hill man was killed Tuesday evening when his van ran off the road and overturned several times 10 miles northeast of Marble Hill. Bruce Troyer sustained fatal injuries in the 7:15 p.m. accident on Route UU. He was airlifted to St. Francis Medical Center...

Jeannie Hirsch Blaylock, a native of Cape Girardeau, has been nominated for two Emmy awards for newscasting. The awards will be presented Saturday in Miami. Blaylock has been honored two years in a row by the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences for her work. She is news anchor and reporter at NBC-affiliate WTLV in Jacksonville, Fla...

BENTON -- Funeral service for Marcella Cannon of Benton will be held at 10 a.m. Friday at St. Denis Catholic Church. The Rev. Art Basler will officiate, with burial in Benton City Cemetery. Friends may call at Amick-Burnett Funeral Home here after 2 p.m. today. A prayer service will be held at 6:30...

MOUNDS, Ill. -- Anthony P. Siadek, 87, of Tampa, Fla., formerly of Mounds, died Tuesday, Nov. 17, 1992, at AMI Town and Country Hospital in Tampa. He was born June 9, 1905, in Stephen, Minn., son of Andrew and Martha Derdowski Siadek. He married the former Mamie Merritt...

Funeral service for James H. Killian of Joplin, formerly of Cape Girardeau, was held Nov. 7 at Mason-Woodard Chapel in Joplin. The Rev. David Miller officiated, with burial in Ozark Memorial Park Cemetery. Killian, 68, died Wednesday, Nov. 4, 1992, at St. John's Regional Medical Center in Joplin...

ANNA, Ill. -- Daisy Alice Thompson, 83, of Anna, died Tuesday, Nov. 17, 1992, at Union County Hospital. She was born March 27, 1909, in Marion, Ky., daughter of Frank L. and Lela Wilborn Williams. She married William Thompson, who died in 1974. Thompson was a member of Anna United Methodist Church, and Anna Star Chapter 522 Order of Eastern Star...

SCOTT CITY -- Lorraine Hope Dorris, 80, of Scott City, died Tuesday, Nov. 17, 1992, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. She was born June 25, 1912, in Mississippi County, daughter of Russell "Bud" and Lillie Mae Bridges Summers. She and Archie J. Dorris were married June 14, 1929. He died Sept. 17, 1988...

JACKSON -- Emerson J. Wade, 85, of Jackson, died Tuesday, Nov. 17, 1992, at Jackson Manor. He was born Nov. 16, 1907, at Jackson, son of Burrell and Emma Bollinger Wade. He and Ruby Sheppard were married Feb. 6, 1932, at Jackson. She died Dec. 24, 1989...

Kyle Matthew Vandergraph, five months old, died Tuesday, Nov. 17, 1992, at Cardinal Glennon Hospital in St. Louis. He was born June 6, 1992, at Farmington, son of Matthew and Margaret Vandergraph of Farmington. Survivors include his parents; grandmother, Joyce Baugher of Alto Pass, Ill., and great-grandmother, Georgia Vandergraph of Alto Pass...

MARBLE HILL -- Bruce G. Troyer, 43, Marble Hill Route 1, died Tuesday, Nov. 17, 1992, shortly after arrival at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. He was involved in a car accident on Highway UU near Marble Hill. He was born Oct. 21, 1949, in Honolulu, Hawaii, son of Gordon Elwin and Verna Myers Troyer. He and Dixie Manley were married Aug. 13, 1972, in Hawaii...

ADVANCE -- Robert "Bob" Towery, 84, Advance Route 2, died Tuesday, Nov. 17, 1992, at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston. He was born Jan. 10, 1908, at Lilbourn, son of Garmon and Jennie Devars Towery. He and Hazel Breitzke were married Aug. 4, 1956, in Angola, Ind...

JACKSON -- Virginia Louise Thiele, 67, of San Jacinto, Calif., died Monday, Nov. 16, 1992, in Hemet Valley Hospital in California. She was born Jan. 18, 1925, in Oak Ridge, daughter of Elsie Brown Clifton. She married Floyd Thiele Dec. 13, 1947. He died Oct. 3, 1985...

Son to Mr. and Mrs. Steven P. Kolbek of Munford, Tenn., Covington Baptist Hospital in Covington, Tenn., 11:20 p.m. Monday, Nov. 2, 1992. Name, Steven Paul III. Weight, 7 pounds 1 ounce. First child. Mrs. Kolbek is the former Audrey Lynn Cook, daughter of Navy Chaplain Terry and Nellie Cook of Okinawa, Japan, formerly of Whitewater. Kolbek is a construction worker, and is the son of Staff Sgt. Steven and Marilyn Kolbek of Munford...

CAPE GIRARDEAU -- David Franklin James, 56, of Jefferson City and formerly of Cape Girardeau died Wednesday, Nov. 18, 1992, at St. Mary's Health Center in Jefferson City. He was born April 7, 1936, at Holland, the son of Milton Clyde and Lucy Ora Hollingshead James. On Nov. 10, 1956, he married Ellen Joyce Rettig at Columbus, Ga. She survives of the home...