Stories from Monday, August 30, 1993

For the third time in a row, Cape Girardeau Public Schools will dismiss early today because of a continuing heat wave. Secondary students will be dismissed at 11:30 a.m. and elementary school students at noon. With the exception of May Greene, all kindergarten classes will begin and end at their regular times. Morning classes are from 8:15-11:15, and afternoon classes meet from 3:15-3:30...

Ninety-year-old Leonora Luckmann cuts her lawn with an extra large-size push mower, and drives her Ford Escort most everywhere except the five-hour drive to visit her son in Champaign, Ill. When her front door sticks, she opens it with a smart kick and a yank...

A new process that evaluates Cape Girardeau city employees based on their performance goes into effect Wednesday. Dan Ward, the city's human resources director, said the new evaluation procedure is intended to improve worker performance, the delivery of city services and communication between supervisors and workers...

Although the city of Cape Girardeau is ready to embark on a new performance evaluation system for employees, not everyone on the city payroll will be subject to the program. Dan Ward, the city's human resources manager, said department heads aren't evaluated under the guidelines established in the new plan. But, he added, their pay increases are based on the same basic concept: Stellar performance should be rewarded...

As many as 46 Southeast Missouri school districts will ask voters Oct. 5 to waive the rollback of property taxes granted under Missouri's Proposition C. The election is part of a rather complicated scenario triggered by passage of Senate Bill 380, Missouri's new funding and education reform act...

The Southeast Missourian asked people how they felt about a new directive put out by the White House that indicates President Clinton's reluctance to rebuild levees along the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers. David Cowell of Jackson: "I feel it's wrong. If it hadn't been for the fact of all those levees holding for all this time, the lower Mississippi Valley would have been under water. It would be a mistake to allow that area to become marshland."...

Two Cape Girardeau police officers were the recipients of funds from the Fraternal Order of Police association to help them rebuild their flood-damaged homes. Detective Sgt. John Volkerding was given $400 and officer Dennis Horn received $100 from a benevolent fund set up by the Missouri branch of the organization...

MARION, Ill. -- Keith McRaven, 23, of Anna, Ill., was killed early Saturday morning in a single-vehicle accident. The accident occurred at 5:30 a.m. at the I-57 and I-24 interchange. McRaven was a passenger in a car driven by Kevin R. Bell, 23, of Marion...

CARBONDALE, Ill. -- The Billy Ray Cyrus concert scheduled for Oct. 3 at the SIU Arena has been canceled. The cancellation was "due to a scheduling conflict with taping obligations for an upcoming ABC TV special..." according to Gary Drake, director of the SIU Arena...

JEFFERSON CITY -- Members of a House-Senate committee are looking at a long list of needs and wishes from state agencies coping with flooding. Rep. Mary Kasten, R-Cape Girardeau, is a member of the committee, which met Friday for the first time and heard that state and local governments might need to pay as much as $68 million to match federal dollars. That figure doesn't include business and individual losses...

The Outdoorsman International Expo and Sporting Clays Tourney drew more than 2,500 sportsmen to Cape Girardeau's Show Me Center this weekend. Buck McNeely, who organized the event, said Sunday he was pleased with his first stab at what he hopes will be an annual show...

Once again a group of politicians is leading the charge to muzzle the public airwaves by re-enacting the so-called Fairness Doctrine, which requires that broadcasters and local cable channels cover issues of "public importance." If the politicians are successful, broadcasters and cable channels would be required to cover those issues of "public importance" (Who knows what they might be?) in a manner that the government deems fair and reasonable. ...

To the Editor: I'm writing concerning the upcoming vote on the NAFTA treaty with ~Canada and Mexico. I am strongly opposed to this act, and I firmly believe it to be the downfall of the American economy, as we have known it in the past. Why would a U.S. ...

To the Editor: I worked on river boats from 1929 to 1976. Every year I have witnessed the rising rivers that flood the lands of the Missis~sippi~, Missouri and Ohio river valleys. During the cold winter months, the snow accumulates in our northern states to depths of six and eight feet or more. ...

To the Editor: Those of us who hope for law and order in this country and peace and understanding in the world, can be encouraged by the actions and behavior of the youths who participated in the Catholic World Youth Pilgrimage in Denver. More than 186,000 young people from 70 nations took part, including 450 from the Springfield-Cape Girardeau Catholic Diocese. ...

PADUCAH, Ky. Eleanor L. Burns, 71, of Paducah and formerly of Cairo, Ill., died Aug. 29, 1993, at Lourdes Hospital in Paducah. She was born in Cairo on Nov. 20, 1921, the daughter of the late Edgar and Iva Mae Bateman Stephens. She was preceded in death by two brothers and two sisters...

ANNA, Ill. -- Keith A. McRaven, 23, of Anna died Aug. 28, 1993, in Williamson County, Ill., as a result of an automobile accident. He was born April 18, 1970, in Cape Girardeau. His parents were Allen and Betty Louis Schultz McRaven. His mother preceded him in death...

Hilde M. Lowes, 66, of Jackson died Aug. 29, 1993, at St. Francis Medical Center. She was born April 30, 1927, in Munich, Germany, the daughter of Albert and Agnes Mayer. She was married Nov. 23, 1948, to Marvin H. Lowes. He died Dec. 21, 1986. She was a production worker for the Lee-Rowan Co. in Jackson, retiring in 1992...

CHARLESTON -- W. Clifton Banta Sr., 82, a prominent Mississippi County attorney and civic leader died Sunday, Aug. 29, 1993, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. He was born Oct. 13, 1910, at Moselle, the son of Julius Edwin and Julia Anderson Banta. On Aug. 1, 1936, he married Mary Ellen Simpson, who preceded him in death on March 10, 1969...

Jeffrey A. Smith, 33, of St. Louis and formerly of Cape Girardeau died Saturday, Aug. 28, 1993, at St. Mary's Medical Center in St. Louis. He was born Aug. 16, 1960, at Cape Girardeau, the son of Fred W. and Ann Hood Smith. Both parents survive of Cape Girardeau...

Lone Star Industries Inc. officials including the company's national president, William Troutman of Stamford, Conn. watched the loading of two barges along the firm's Mississippi River docking facilities Wednesday afternoon. "We're certainly happy to see this shipment," said Troutman, who was in Cape Girardeau last week to congratulate employees for their efforts during the Flood of 1993...

When Joannie Gunther and Jerry L. Smith married earlier this year Feb. 17 they treated guests to Christmas Rose' wine, made by Smith. Now the Smiths are bonded not only by marriage, but River Ridge Vineyards is a bonded winery. Smith has been working more than a decade to perfect River Ridge Vineyards. He will introduce his new wine to the retail market next year, joining a growing domestic wine industry...

As companies grow, typically they invest profits in equipment and inventory while expanding their work force. Equipment can be insured against loss and inventory is sold off quickly, but employers often face frustration when a new employee doesn't work out often after weeks of applicant screening, interviews and expensive, time-consuming training...

The sixth annual reunion for employees of the former Jackson Hosiery Mill will be held Sept. 11 at Cape County Park Shelter No. 20. People attending the reunion, which starts at 11 a.m., should bring a basket dinner lunch, beverage and table service...

Shauna Brennecke of Cape Girardeau has joined Gary & Co. Beauty Salon, 1017 Harmony, as a hair stylist. Brennecke, a graduate of Stage One The Hair School in Cape Girardeau, has seven years experience as a hair stylist. --- Carolyn Drew, manager of Scott City Apartments, has been honored as Manager of the Year by the Missouri Council for Rural Housing and Development...

JACKSON -- Warranty deeds issued at the office of Janet Robert, Cape Girardeau County recorder of deeds: Edward A. Moore Sr. and Rebecca L. Moore to Truman O. and Linda J. Mouser; Charles A. and Vallie M. Graff to Timothy R. and Mary M. Ray; the Florence L. Fowler Trust to Orville F. Russell...

A computer medical software program developed by a Cape Girardeau family practice physician and his son, a computer programmer, has generated national interest in the medical industry. Pal/Med, a comprehensive electronic, patient medical record which could eliminate paper in physicians' offices, was developed by Dr. James E. Palen and his son, Rick Palen...