Stories from Monday, May 17, 1993

She's in her early 60s, but appears much older. Her gray facade is haphazardly put together. She has the glazed eyes of someone who has spent the past 10 years searching for her life. Until 10 years ago, none of the members of her extended family had an inkling anything might be wrong. She'd been a housewife who raised four children. A couple of them were handfuls, but the oldest two were out on their own by the time the rest of the family followed her husband's job to another state...

The scenario of the Cape Girardeau woman who has spent the past 10 years needing mental health treatment is uncommon, mental health professionals say. "I'm thankful that's very atypical," said Mati Stone, director of clinical services at the Community Counseling Center...

JEFFERSON CITY - House Speaker Bob Griffin and Senate President James Mathewson joined other legislative leaders Friday night in proclaiming the just-ended session of the Missouri General Assembly the most successful they had seen. The two said legislators, in cooperation with Democratic Gov. ...

JEFFERSON CITY - The final bell signaling the start of the last day of the Missouri House of Representatives had already sounded, but Dennis Ziegenhorn was still in his office. The beautiful view of the Missouri River from his fourth-floor office on a brilliant spring morning clouded by the agony of a decision he was struggling to make...

The Cape Girardeau City Council is considering holding a special election Aug. 3 on proposed amendments to the city charter implementing a ward system of electing council members. Tonight, the council will give the first reading to an ordinance calling for the special election. The meeting begins at 7:30 at City Hall...

When he was a boy, Sam Jarrell used to reassure his youngest sister Amanda that the water moccasins in their swimming hole wouldn't bite her as long as she held her breath. Little Amanda would swallow her fear and go into the water, snakes and all. "I always looked up to him," says Amanda Shaw, who grew up without becoming the victim of a snake bite...

The Southeast Missourian asked people if they thought the fate of the Star Wars program was due to the collapse of the Soviet communist system. Dave Thompson: "The Soviet Union has shattered into smaller fragments, but I'm not sure at some point in time those fragments might not cause us additional trouble. I'm not sure if the Star Wars program would help prevent it but the elimination of it might be too soon."...

The formation of a partnership between area businesses, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Missouri, and the region's medical community in an effort to hold down rising costs of medical care and insurance is an excellent example of local interests acting on the problem without government direction. We think that is as it should be...

CHARLESTON -- William Wayne Downs, 42, of Memphis, Tenn., died Saturday, May 15, 1993, at his home. He was born March 5, 1951, at Cairo, Ill., son of Willis and Joan Frazier Downs. He lived in Memphis, Tenn., for the past 25 years, where he worked as a counselor with the Division of Police Psychological Services. He was a member of the United Methodist Church in Charleston...

Each year, almost 900 bicyclists are killed in collisions with motor vehicles. Another 300 bicyclists are killed in non-roadway collisions in parks, bike paths or driveways. Three out of every four bicycle deaths are due to head injury. The most severe injuries are those that cause permanent damage to the brain...

Lawrence J. McLain, 94, of 2560 Meadow Lane, died Saturday, May 15, 1993, at Southeast Missouri Hospital. He was born July 11, 1898, at Oriole, Mo., son of Jefferson D. and Minnie Shaner McLain. He was married to Pearl Noland, Oct. 20, 1921, at Oriole, Mo. She died Sept. 13, 1992...

CAIRO, Ill. -- Joanna Bush Witt, 68, of Olive Branch, Ill., died Saturday, May 15, 1993, at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. She was born Sept. 7, 1924, at Ft. Totten, N.Y., daughter of Peter and Alda Adams Bush. She was of the Baptist faith...

Jeanne Neels Hey, 37, of 1658 Westwood, died Sunday, May 16, 1993, at Saint Louis University Hospital in St. Louis. She was born June 4, 1955, at St. Louis, daughter of Gerald and the late Betty Roth Neels. She was married to Everett Hey, Aug. 30, 1975, in St. Louis...

Janey Ellen Harrison, of 1515 Carter, died Sunday, May 16, 1993, at Southeast Missouri Hospital. She was born at Cape Girardeau, daughter of Dr. James R. and Margaret Cook Crites. She was married to Dick Harrison, June 15, 1985, in Las Vegas, Nev. Harrison worked at Famous Barr in Cape Girardeau for five years as a beauty consultant. She also worked for Universal Contact Lens for 18 years...

KIRKWOOD -- Dona M. Hartung, 83, of Kirkwood and formerly of Fornfelt, died May 15, 1993, at St. Joseph's Hospital in Kirkwood. She was born June 29, 1909, in Fornfelt to John Courtney Payne and Lucinda Edna Johnson Payne. They preceded her in death. She lived in Fornfelt until moving to St. Louis in 1943...

PERRYVILLE -- Arnold E. Bohnert, 65, of Perryville died May 14, 1993, at his residence. He was born March 22, 1928, in Crosstown to August and Martha Bohnert, both deceased. He married Lorene Moll, formerly of Jackson, on Aug. 26, 1956. She survives of Perryville...

RAYDaughter to Mr. and Mrs. Charles Ray of Scott City, Southeast Missouri Hospital, 1:49 a.m. Sunday, May 9, 1993. Name, Charlee Marie. Weight, 6 pounds 12 ounces. Mrs. Ray is the former Stephanie Pruitt, daughter of George Pruitt and Barbara Pruitt of Cape Girardeau. Ray is the son of Dorothy Ray of Commerce, and the late Paul B. Ray Sr...

Facsimile addiction is taking over the American office world. It's a fact that faxes are getting longer, more businesses are using them, and more people are buying fax machines. "Fax machines have become commonplace and virtually indispensable to many companies," said Jack Mehner, president of Advanced Business Systems in Cape Girardeau. He said large companies were first to buy fax machines, but smaller businesses have been getting into the market the past two or three years...

Pampers, which was first introduced by Procter & Gamble Co. in a 1961 test market in Peoria, Ill., became a household name in Cape Girardeau some six years later when a paper-products facility was constructed 15 miles north of the city for the manufacture of the new, absorbent, paper diaper that was taking the nation by storm...

Advanced Business Systems has formed an additional corporation, RCOMCO Inc., to purchase the assets of the MicroAge Computer Store in Cape Girardeau. Jack Mehner, president of Advanced Business Systems, announced the new corporation recently. He said that Leo DeWitt Jr., who has a dozen years of experience in the computer business, will be manager of the new operation and that the entire staff will continue with the new center. ...

Employees of Wetterau Inc., Scott City Division, will participate in the National Employee Health and Fitness Day challenge walk, to be held at the Scott City plant Wednesday. Last year the Scott City Division walked and, or, jogged 642 miles during the day...

Bill Brockmire of Cape Girardeau has joined Prudential Insurance, 1020 N. Kingshighway, Suite B, as district agent, announced Allen Phillips, district manager. --- James Cox of Delta and Mary Ann Featherston and Kevin Pilla, both of Cape Girardeau, have joined ERA Cape Realty, 2121 Broadway, as sales associates, announced David S. Glastetter, broker-owner...

Pinnacle Sales and Marketing, a food-broker firm, is in a new and larger building in Cape Girardeau. The firm, which has nine employees, recently moved to 353 Christine. Bob Ward, vice president of the firm, said the company calls on grocery stores in the area affiliated with Malone and Hyde of Sikeston and Wetterau of Scott City...

METROPOLIS, Ill. -- Players International Inc., owner of Players Riverboat Casino, and Amerihost Properties Inc., a developer and manager of hotels, have entered into a partnership to build a 120-room motel adjacent to the Players Riverboat Casino on the Ohio River here...

Resume Works, a professional resume-writing and job-placement service, opened recently at 121 S. Broadview, Suite 7. The firm, owned and operated by Mark and Jayme Kolwyck, provides same-day service for resumes. Mark Kolwyck, a graduate of Southeast Missouri State University, has seven years of experience in corporate management. He was formerly employed by Norwest Financial, and has been involved in interviewing and recruiting job applicants...

Dr. Harold D. Ridings of Cape Girardeau has been honored by the Missouri State Medical Association for his 50 years in the practice of medicine. Ridings was among physicians honored during ceremonies at the MSMA's annual convention recently at Tan-Tar-A resort at Lake of the Ozarks...

JACKSON -- The Ranch House Restaurant, 615 Highway 61 East, has added a game room featuring pool tables, video games, pinball machines and a jukebox. "We opened the new entertainment center Tuesday," said Julee Williams. "It is located in a 30-by-40-foot room, which adjoins the restaurant."...

Medical Documentation Services Ltd., a medical records transcription company, has opened operations in Cape Girardeau. The firm, which has clients throughout the U.S., is at 760 S. Kingshighway. "We're not just a typing company," said Debra Watson, president of the company. "We provide solutions to medical documentation problems."...

JONESBORO, Ill. -- Two computer workshops for teachers will be held this summer through the Egyptian Educational Service Center. Area teachers may earn graduate credit through Southern Illinois University. A workshop on Beginning IBM and Software Evaluation will be taught by Lou Parker of Vienna High School...

The classic story of "Beauty and the Beast," made famous by Walt Disney's animated film, will be staged by students at L.J. Schultz Middle School. Performances of the musical are scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday at 8 p.m. in the school library. Admission is free but seating is limited...