Stories from Friday, December 4, 1992

MARBLE HILL -- Kenneth D. Huff, 37, of Fredericktown, died Thursday, Dec. 3, 1992, in a fire at his home. He was born Oct. 6, 1955, at Lutesville, son of William Quentin and Betty Rainey Huff. Huff was employed at Madison County Wood Products. Survivors include a daughter, Sarah Corbin of Sturdivant; his mother of Marble Hill; a brother, William Huff of Marble Hill; three sisters, Donna Barks of Glen Allen, Charlotte Cook and Ramona Stoverink of Marble Hill...

The official 1992, Second Annual "Christmas in Southeast Missouri" collector's ornament is available at The Easter Seal Society in Cape Girardeau, 316 Plaza Way. The ornament is a three-dimensional, solid brass depiction of the Common Pleas Courthouse in Cape Girardeau as seen looking west from in front of the Main Street clock. It sells for $12 per ornament, with proceeds benefiting The Easter Seal Society...

Saying that management is not satisfied with sales and production, Miltenberger and Willing (M&W) Packaging U.S.A. Inc. announced Thursday that the company is taking some steps to adjust to the condition. "One of the steps will be a reduction of the workforce," said Hermann Krimer, vice president of administration in a fax to explain the situation...

The state of the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce will be discussed at the Chamber's December First Friday Coffee, to be held this morning at the Drury Lodge. Harry Rediger, who was elected new chairman of the board of directors during the organization's annual retreat last month, and John Mehner, outgoing chairman, will be guest speakers, beginning at 7:30 a.m...

A can of food will be the admission for Saturday afternoon movies at West Park 4 Cine in West Park Mall Saturday. "We'll accept more than one can of food," said Kevin Dillon, general manager of the theater. "If a person donates as many as 10 cans, we will give them an additional movie pass."...

An exchange can be made at McDonald's Restaurants in Cape Girardeau and Jackson. "We're looking for winter coats for young people and adults," said Bo Shantz, a spokesman for the Cape Girardeau Kiwanis Club. "There are a lot of unfortunate people who need warm clothing this winter."...

JACKSON -- The holiday season has many traditions and one of them is food...lots of it. Christmas cookies, candied yams, pumpkin pie, baked ham, turkey and stuffing and other holiday treats help make this time of year especially festive. Unfortunately for those who may be watching their weight, the holidays can also be extra fattening...

The Cape River Heritage Museum, decorated for Christmas, will open with a holiday season for the first time ever today. "Count the Santas" is the theme for the museum, 538 Independence, Santas dressed in period costumes up through the present time and Santas from different countries are on display...

Somebody in Cape has been lying. Or so it appears now that campaign finance reports due 30 days after this November's election have been filed. Specifically, I am talking about those who led the Elect a Neighbor Committee, who, after failing to meet every campaign disclosure deadline before the election, finally made one on time. And what does it show? Somebody wasn't telling the truth...

Winter's return gladdens few hearts here, at least not for those who chill easily. One thing sure to warm a few nights is the return of basketball to Southeast Missouri State University. The Indians and Otahkians have begun their seasons, the second at the NCAA Division I level, and anticipation is building for exciting seasons. A highlight of the early season for the men's team can be found tonight and Saturday when the Indians host the River City Classic. It is an event worth noting...

To the Editor: Recent correspondence "To The Editor" about "sodomy" and "homosexuality" calls for an answer from God's Word. "Sodomy" can be traced to Genesis 19. Lot, a godly man who was deeply vexed because of the moral perversions existent in Sodom, was visited by two strangers. ...

To the Editor: The GFWC Scope Club of Cape Girardeau would like to take this opportunity to thank the Southeast Missouri Council on the Arts in cooperation with the Cape Girardeau County Court for the beautiful and meaningful Holiday of Lights display in the Cape County Park North. We also appreciate the hours of work that Chet McCain and the other Parks Department workers do and the many organizations and individuals who invest time and money to make this display possible for all to view...

To the Editor: After suffering from Lyme Disease for more than nine years, I am tired of and very angry about the negative publicity that Lyme patients and their doctors are receiving. Isn't suffering with fatigue, headaches and severe pain in joints, muscles and nervous system enough? Why do we have to be labeled "crazy" and "misdiagnosed," while we are for the most part too weak and tired and in pain to defend ourselves? I'm happy to say that I have improved enough to be able to respond to the criticisms with this letter thanks to a good doctor who has never quit trying to help me, and taking good care of myself.. ...

Somebody in Cape has been lying. Or so it appears now that campaign finance reports due 30 days after this November's election have been filed. Specifically, I am talking about those who led the Elect a Neighbor Committee, who, after failing to meet every campaign disclosure deadline before the election, finally made one on time. And what does it show? Somebody wasn't telling the truth...

PERRYVILLE -- Agnes C. "Dude" Bauwens, 74, of Perryville, died Thursday, Dec. 3, 1992, at Perry County Memorial Hospital. She was born Oct. 23, 1918, in Perry County, daughter of August Peter and Anna Gotto Versheldon. She and William Edward Bauwens were married Sept. 3, 1938. He died Sept. 2, 1964...

FRIEDHEIM -- Harding J. Grossheider, 68, of Friedheim, died Wednesday, Dec. 2, 1992, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. He was born Sept. 17, 1924, at Friedheim, son of Gustav and Lelie Weinrich Grossheider. Grossheider was a farmer, and member of Trinity Lutheran Church here...

Dolores Ann Obrock, 65, of Florissant, died Wednesday, Dec. 2, 1992, at St. Ann's Home, a division of DePaul Hospital in Bridgeton. She was born Aug. 21, 1927, in St. Louis, daughter of Bernard and Anna Unnerstall Abeln. She married Walter Obrock, who preceded her in death...

SIKESTON -- Funeral service for Cathran I. Vaughn of Memphis, Tenn., formerly of Sikeston, will be held at 9 a.m. today at Memorial Park Funeral Home in Memphis. Graveside service will be at 2 p.m. today at Garden of Memories Cemetery in Sikeston. Pat Hogan will officiate, with Nunnelee Funeral Chapel in charge of local arrangements...

CHARLESTON -- Callie Johnson Currie, 75, of Charleston, died Thursday, Dec. 3, 1992, at Sikeston Health Care Center. She was born Nov. 30, 1917, in Marianna, Ark., daughter of Charlie and Addie Rhodes. Currie was a member of the Church of Christ. Survivors include nieces, nephews and cousins...

Like many of the elderly people featured in Christmas for the Elderly, Mrs. E is reluctant to ask for help. She works very hard to get by on her very small Social Security check. But often the money just won't last the month. Mrs. E suffers from arthritis, a heart condition and poor eyesight. She has trouble each month buying the medication she needs and still paying her bills. It's a struggle...

Four little girls bring a lot of joy to their father, but also a lot of work and worry. Raising his daughters alone has been a struggle. He's learned how to make pony tails, dress Barbie dolls and enjoy tiny tea parties. Christmas this year will be sparse. Raising four girls, ages 2, 3, 9, and 10, takes a lot of money. While this dad is working full time, his paycheck barely covers the bills. He has turned to Toybox for help...

FREDERICKTOWN -- A Marble Hill man living in an apartment while working here died in an early-morning fire Thursday. Kenneth DeWayne Huff, 37, was pronounced dead by the Madison County coroner at 2:30 a.m. Huff, who was employed by Madison County Wood Products, was living in an apartment above a business on West Main Street in Fredericktown...

An investigation is under way to determine how a 25-to-30 pound glazed-clay pylon fell from the top of the closed Marquette Hotel early Thursday. No one was injured when the roof ornament crashed onto Fountain Street. "We were lucky," said Cape Girardeau building inspector Rick Murray. "If anyone had been struck by the pylon, it would have killed them instantly."...

You don't have to go to California to enjoy California-style lunacy. That's because bungee jumping has come to Cape Girardeau. St. Louis Bungy, the Midwest's oldest bungee business, will be at Big Al's nightclub, 610 S. Kingshighway, from 3 p.m. to midnight tonight and Saturday. The company also offered jumps Thursday at Big Al's...

The Southeast Missourian will publish an edition Saturday, the second in a five-week trial of Saturday publications for the newspaper. The newspaper will be delivered to subscribers and will be available at newsstands at the weekday price. Saturday's publication will be a full news product, including an Opinion page, comics and the full range of Friday's sports scores...

A long-standing dispute over the city's motel and restaurant tax apparently will be resolved as part of a parks and recreation proposal approved recently by the Cape Girardeau City Council. The council last month gave initial approval to a $4 million project that will expand parks and recreation facilities in Shawnee Park and at the corner of Mount Auburn and Kingshighway...

The Southwestern Bell directories recycled in Cape Girardeau stack up nearly as high as the St. Louis Arch plus the Statue of Liberty. Cape Girardeau area individuals, schools and businesses recycled 21,300 directories during the first Project ReDirectory campaign...

JEFFERSON CITY - An advisory group on economics and agriculture to Gov.-elect Mel Carnahan will be holding its first meeting this afternoon in Jefferson City. State Rep. Joe Driskill, D-Poplar Bluff, chairman of the House Commerce Committee, is co-chairman of the panel with Tom Irwin, a top aide to St. Louis County Executive Buzz Westfall...

SIKESTON -- A new Miss Missouri Preliminary scholarship pageant will be held Saturday in Sikeston. The pageant is called the Miss Sikeston Winter Princess and will be held at 7 p.m. in the Sikeston Field House in conjunction with the Chamber of Commerce's City of Lights...

JACKSON -- A chili supper fund raiser hosted by the Jackson Community Teachers Association netted about $1,800 in profits for two local organizations. A check for $900 went to the Jackson Children's Fund, to provide items for needy school children in Jackson...

Four blood drives are planned next week by the American Red Cross and area organizations. Delta High School is sponsoring a blood drive Monday from 1-5 p.m. in the school band room. Hardware Wholesale Inc. is also sponsoring a blood drive Monday from 12:30-3:30 p.m. in the company's cafeteria on Nash Road...

The East Missouri Action Agency has received over $40,000 in federal money to provide emergency utility crisis assistance. The money is available to individuals and families who may find themselves without heat this winter. The funds are to be used as a last resort in cases where utilities have been shut off or shut-off notices have been issued...

The Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity at Southeast Missouri University is sponsoring its first annual Shoe Drive to buy shoes for needy children of Cape Girardeau. The fraternity will dispense collection cans next week with decorated with the emblems and names of different student organizations in the University Center and the Towers student housing complex...