Stories from Wednesday, September 8, 1993

The sale of the Lee-Rowan plant in Jackson this week spurred a mixture of feelings. - There was relief. The new owners - the Newell Company of Freeport, Ill. - announced they would retain the more 700 workers in Jackson. As one of the top employers in the region, the news was certainly reassuring. Lee-Rowan represents an important cog in the local economy...

It has been 32 years since a Southeast Missouri District Fair beauty queen was selected. "We'll have four queens this year," said Pete Poe, a spokesman for the annual seven-day fair. "I don't know why the beauty pageant was discontinued following the 1961 Fair, but I'm excited about this year's event," he added. "I'm glad to see it back. It can grow for us."...

A hundred years ago the Ferris wheel was a novelty, a major attraction at the world's fair in Chicago. Since then, it has transformed the landscape of both big and small fairs. The ride itself, originally called a "pleasure wheel," has become an integral part of carnivals...

If you tire of canvassing cattle, checking the chickens or perusing the pigs while at the SEMO District Fair, stop by the R&R Tent north of the fairgrounds for some relaxing, free entertainment. "There's really more than meets the eye to the R&R Tent," said tent project chairman Harlan Siebert. "There's always something going on under the tent."...

Taking a cue from a program that was designed to educate city kids about farming and agriculture, the Southeast Missouri District Fair is trying something new this year: guided walking tours of the livestock area. Glenn Birk, chairman of the livestock support committee of the SEMO District Fair, says the goal of the livestock tours is to give people not familiar with farming in general, and livestock production in particular, a better idea of where their hamburger, pork steak, round steak, and scrambled or poached egg comes from.. ...

One of the biggest draws for crowds at the SEMO District Fair is the horse show. There's something about beautiful animals and the way they relate to their owners that draw thousands of enthusiastic fans whether they've ever sat astride a horse or know the difference between a quarter horse and a paint...

The Charlie Daniels Band, Collin Raye, and the Gibson-Miller Band will be the grandstand headliners at this year's Southeast Missouri District Fair. Fair officials are enthusiastic about this year's bookings, which feature a return engagement by the Daniels band...

A parade from Capaha Park - where the Southeast Missouri District Fair was located from 1900-1929 - to Arena Park where the fair has been since 1940, will kickoff the 138-year-old fair. The parade is planned 5:30 p.m. Monday and will likely include well over 100 units...

The SEMO District Fair is celebrating 138 years of bringing the best the best livestock, the best crops, the best entertainment to the community. The fair is held Sept. 12-18 at Arena Park in Cape Girardeau. Bob Nitsch, president of the fair's board of directors, said, "Basically when we go back a hundred years, that's really what the fair was about. Bringing your best to the fair and showing it. We try to stay with those roots...

Missouri's new "Outstanding Schools Act" is often given another modifier by the state's political and educational leaders. The word that invariably accompanies the education funding law enacted in this year's earlier session of the General Assembly is "reform."...

The Southeast Missouri University Foundation will move ahead with plans to operate the Cape Girardeau and Jackson license fee offices, university and foundation officials said Tuesday. The announcement followed a two-hour, closed-door meeting of the foundation's board of directors, some of whom had expressed concern about their executive committee's decision to accept the offer from Gov. Mel Carnahan...

Al Stoverink, Cape Girardeau's assistant city manager since 1988, will become the director of the physical plant at Southeast Missouri State University on Oct. 1. The hiring announcement was made by the university Tuesday, the conclusion of a two-month candidate search that attracted 70 applicants...

General Sign Co., a nationally recognized firm that has operated in Cape Girardeau for more than a half-century, is under new ownership. "We have new owners, a lot of new orders and we're operating at full capacity," said Jack Koutek, chief executive officer of General Sign. "The future is looking good."...

CAPE GIRARDEAU -- The Cape Girardeau Civic Center's drug awareness program, aimed at keeping lower-income youths off drugs, may not receive the funding it expected from the Cape Girardeau public schools. And Civic Center officials are calling it a "slap in the face."...

In election years Labor Day is considered the traditional kickoff of the fall campaign season. In non-election years, the holiday is considered the day by which decisions must be made about political plans for the next year. Labor Day has come and gone, and U.S. ...

JACKSON - The Jackson Board of Aldermen will make a decision on the exact location of the East Main Street extension before the end of the year, said Jackson Mayor Paul Sander. Construction of the extension from Ridge Road to Interstate 55 will probably not begin for at least another 5-10 years...

Children have a chance to learn hands-on history lessons Saturday at the Reynolds House, 623 N. Main. Sponsored by the Historical Association of Greater Cape Girardeau, the event is part of the city's bicentennial celebration, said Doris Dace. She is coordinating the hands-on history event, which runs from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m...

The Cape Girardeau City Council tonight will review bid specifications for a five-year solid waste services contract. The specifications were prepared by Sverdrup Corporation of St. Louis and include a statement of bidder qualifications. Public Works Director Doug Leslie said the statement will be a "key part" of consideration of any proposal by a prospective landfill operator...

Thirteen agribusiness leaders from seven countries hope to learn more about agricultural production, marketing and distribution when they visit Southeast Missouri State University this month. The delegation will be on campus Sept. 12-21 as part of a month-long tour of the Midwest under a U.S. Department of Agriculture program...

SCOTT CITY -- The city council Tuesday night was presented with a petition signed by 73 residents who want parking banned on both sides of Maple Street. "People can park in their back yards or use their driveways," said Bill Zimmerman, one of the petitioners. "The street narrows there at the end in the 400 and 500 blocks especially and people have to literally stop and wait for traffic to pass...

The long-delayed Route K widening project near the Wal-Mart Supercenter west of Interstate 55 is under way. Bob Wilson, resident engineer with the Missouri Highway and Transportation Department's project office at Jackson, said Tuesday the contractor began work on the south side of Route K about 10 days ago...

Lawrence Fuhrmann, 81, of Cape Girardeau, died Monday, Sept. 6, 1993, at Cape LaCroix Manor. He was born Oct. 21, 1911, at Gordonville, son of John Albert and Anna L. Neumeyer Fuhrmann. He and Bessie Allen were married Sept. 13, 1937, in Cape Girardeau. She died May 2, 1988...

MATTHEWS -- William K. Rudisill, 62, of Matthews, died Tuesday, Sept. 7, 1993, at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston. Amick-Burnett Funeral Home at Sikeston is in charge of arrangements.

CHARLESTON -- Alice Faye Walker, 67, of Charleston, died Sunday, Sept. 5, 1993, at East Prairie Nursing Center. She was born Dec. 17, 1925, in Diehlstadt, daughter of Charles and Delia Robinson. She and Mose Walker Sr. were married in 1945. Walker was a member of Mercy Seat Baptist Church...

DONGOLA, Ill. -- Ralph Eugene Thompson, 49, of Dongola, died Sunday, Sept. 5, 1993, at Twin Rivers Regional Medical Center in Kennett, Mo. He was born May 19, 1944, at Ava, son of Earl C. and Della Marber Thompson. He and Kay Lingle Burkholder were married Aug. 27, 1985...

CHARLESTON -- Funeral service for Onie Strayhorn of Charleston will be held at 11 a.m. today at Sparks Funeral Chapel. The Rev. Murry Williams will officiate, with burial in Oak Grove Cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home after 10 a.m. Strayhorn, 89, died Friday, Sept. 3, 1993, at Charleston Manor...

SIKESTON -- Funeral service for Louis H. Walls of McAlester, Okla., formerly of Sikeston, will be held at 2 p.m. today at Nunnelee Funeral Chapel. The Rev. Tom Walls will officiate, with burial in Hagy Cemetery at Dexter. Walls, 93, died Saturday, Sept. 4, 1993, at Colonial Park Nursing Home in McAlester...

DELTA -- Mable Luceile Hefner, 70, of Delta, died Tuesday, Sept. 7, 1993, at her home. She was born Feb. 1, 1923, at Ellisville, Ill., daughter of Oliver Wendall and Mabel Vera Stecher Bailey. She and Ogie Verlin Hefner were married May 14, 1947. Hefner was a member of Church of God of Prophecy, and American Association of Retired Persons...

ADVANCE -- Iva B. Lee, 85, of Thomasville, died Tuesday, Sept. 7, 1993, at Mountain View. She was born Jan. 4, 1908, in Robert Lee, Texas, daughter of Bert and Naomi Martin Cooper. She and Walter E. Lee were married in 1926. Survivors include her husband; a son, Bill Lee of Supply, Ark.; a sister, Opal Canfield of Mesa, Ariz.; a granddaughter, and two great-grandsons...

ALTENBURG -- Jenna Suzanne Roth, 5, of Altenburg, died Monday, Sept. 6, 1993, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. She was born Aug. 9, 1988, in Cape Girardeau, daughter of Thomas and Susan Mueller Roth. She was a member of Concordia Lutheran Church at Frohna...

Graveside service for Andrea Charlene Keesee was held Aug. 6 at Crestlawn Memorial Park in Conway, Ark. The Rev. Ronnie Allen officiated, with Roller-McNutt Funeral Home at Conway in charge of arrangements. The infant died Aug. 3, 1993, at Conway Regional Hospital...

CARUTHERSVILLE -- A Paragould, Ark., man was killed early Tuesday in an accident involving two tractor-trailer trucks. Tony Cleveland, 31, died as a result of injuries after his tractor-trailer truck collided with another truck, left Interstate-55 and entered the median, overturned and burst into flames, said a spokesman for the Missouri State Highway Patrol...

HOWARDVILLE -- Robert Matthew Thomas "R.T." Pride, 49, of Malden, died Friday, Sept. 3, 1993, at John J. Pershing VA Medical Center in Poplar Bluff. He was born Sept. 22, 1943, at Catron, son of Joe and Birdie White Pride. Pride was organist for the Family Echoes singing group. He served in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War...

CAIRO, Ill. -- Emil J. Beno, 96, of Cairo, died Tuesday, Sept. 7, 1993, at Daystar Care Center. He was born April 24, 1897, in Cairo, son of John F. and Mary Caraher Beno. Beno was a retired hardware salesman, and former sexton for Calvary Cemetery at Villa Ridge. He was a member of St. Patrick's Catholic Church. He was a veteran of World War I...

ADVANCE -- Gladys Edgil, 75, Advance Route 2, died Tuesday, Sept. 7, 1993, at St. Francis Medical Center. Morgan Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

CHARLESTON -- Marshall Louis George, 62, of Charleston, died Wednesday, Sept. 1, 1993, at his residence. He was born Dec. 25, 1929, at Charleston, son of William Louis and Orlena Franklin George. He married Genevieve Hicks, Nov. 11, 1971. She died April 29, 1975...