Stories from Monday, September 27, 1993

Before Cape Girardeau voters approved the city's purchase of the water system from Union Electric two years ago, there were a lot of questions: Would service diminish? Would the water plant operations eat away dwindling fund balances? Could the city take over operations without fees skyrocketing? Skeptics wondered if the city could operate the water utility as efficiently as a private business...

Walking down a corridor in the Missouri Capitol with a friend the other day, we ran into a well-known lobbyist. After exchanging pleasantries, and a couple of political stories with the lobbyist, my friend and I proceeded to our destination, the office of a powerful legislator...

JEFFERSON CITY - State legislators have brought to a close a special session designed to address problems caused by river flooding this summer, after passing four pieces of legislation. Although the House and Senate completed its work Thursday night, lawmakers have not formally adjourned. They want to keep the special session open because of the threat of new flooding...

SCOTT CITY -- When you drive into Scott City, the little "MCB" printed on city limit signs represents a community spirit for self-improvement and self-preservation. The small, unassuming letters stand for Missouri Community Betterment -- a statewide organization that promotes volunteerism and community-based projects, of which Scott City is a member...

The Southeast Missourian asked people for their thoughts about President Clinton's health care plan. Don Garland, Jackson: "I am interested in what it is going to cost me. I've got good insurance already, but I wonder what I will have to pay if his plan goes into effect."...

Yvonne Lossing and her family moved to the city Cape Girardeau four and a half years ago to afford their children a good education and avail themselves to the valuable resources found within the city's sizeable library. Lossing works near the Cape Girardeau Public Library, at 711 N. Clark, and frequents the facility...

JACKSON -- Firefighters believe an electrical short in a box fan started a fire early Sunday in the basement of a home at 1616 Cedar Street. A man sleeping in an upstairs bedroom was awakened at about 1:50 a.m. by a smoke detector. He escaped through a bedroom window without injury, said Jackson Fire Department Assistant Chief Randy Welker...

SIKESTON -- Milton Jack Johnson, 80, of Sikeston, died Friday, Sept. 24, 1993, at the St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. He was born Dec. 31, 1912, in the state of Louisiana. He married Rosa Knox. He was a member of the Smith Chapel United Methodist Church where he served on the usher board...

Son to Mr. and Mrs. Jeff Landgraf of Oreana, Ill., Decatur Memorial Hospital, 10:36 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 14, 1993. Name, Jack Louis. Weight, 7 pounds 10 ounces. First child. Mrs. Landgraf is the former Cheryln Hoffmeister, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Oscar Hoffmeister of Jackson. She is a speech pathologist in Decatur Public Schools. Landgraf is a scheduling analyst with Caterpillar Inc. in Decatur, and is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Vernon Landgraf of Cape Girardeau...

CAIRO, Ill. -- Floyd "Smitty" Smith Sr., 96, of Cairo, died Sunday, Sept. 26, 1993, at the Daystar Care Center in Cairo. He was born March 21, 1897, at Shoals, Ind., son of Harry Millard and Addie May Manning Smith. His family moved to Cairo in 1904...

FESTUS, Mo. Walter R. Drissell, 86, of Crystal City, Mo., died Saturday, Sept. 25, 1993, at Jefferson Memorial Hospital in Crystal City. He was born Dec. 17, 1906, at Crystal City, son of Henry Mike and Bertha Zickendrath Drissell. He married Letha Mitts Drissell...

Pear Florence Eaton, 91, of 1008 N. West End Blvd., died Saturday, Sept. 25, 1993, at Southeast Missouri Hospital. She was born March 18, 1902, at Piedmont, Mo., daughter of Levi A. and Maude Street Varvil. She married Noah Eaton, in Dallas, Texas. He died in 1960...

Marie R. Smith, 88, of Cape Girardeau, died Saturday, Sept. 25, 1993, at Cape LaCroix Nursing Home. She was born Feb. 19, 1905, at Cape Girardeau, daughter of Robert and Lena Warner Schmittzehe. She married Melvin Smith, May 15, 1948, at Osceala, Ark. He died Nov. 6, 1976...

Corporate America is promoting physical fitness and health in the workplace with incentive programs outside the workplace. Executives, driven by concern over health-care costs, morale, absenteeism and other factors, are adding treadmills, exercise bikes, Nautilus machines and other exercise equipment to their list of essential corporate furnishings...

McDonald's Corp. and Wal-Mart Stores Inc. have formed a quasi-partnership. Wal-Mart, the retail giant of general merchandise, and McDonald's, the king of fast foods, have been experimenting with joining forces since January. So far, they like what they have seen...

A coalition of chambers of commerce has been formed in Southern Illinois. The primary goals of the Southern Illinois Coalition of Chambers is to strengthen the region's voice in the state legislature and to boost economic development. Stephanie Boen, executive director of the Marion Chamber of Commerce, is chairperson of the group. Sue Douglas, executive director of the Herrin chamber, was elected vice chairman, and Jim Prowell, executive director of Carbondale's chamber, is secretary-treasurer...

Susan Break of Cape Girardeau, delicatessen manager at Schnucks, 19 S. Kingshighway, has been named "Deli Manager of the Year" in Schnucks Division 5, St. Louis Division, which includes 11 Schnucks stores. The selection is based on selling techniques, merchandise display, sanitation levels and profits...

Sears, Roebuck and Co. is inviting its customers to "come see the softer side of Sears." "When it comes to women's fashions, Sears and style aren't exactly synonymous," said Arthur C. Martinez, chairman and chief executive officer of Sears Merchandise Group. "We have listened carefully to the women who shop at Sears for their families and their home, and we know that they also want affordable, fashionable apparel for themselves."...