Stories from Wednesday, December 1, 1993

VILLA RIDGE, Ill. -- Geraldine Koonce, 71, of Villa Ridge, died Tuesday, Nov. 30, 1993, at her home. She was born Oct. 30, 1922, at Mound City, daughter of Benjamin Harve Calvin and Elizabeth Amanda McDaniel. She was a member of Villa Ridge Union Church, and Order of Eastern Star Caledonia Chapter 587 of Pulaski...

Cape Girardeau's largest medical group is expanding in an effort to improve local access to primary-care doctors. We welcome this move if it can bring more family doctors to town. Cape Girardeau -- and much of the nation -- continues to suffer from a shortage of family doctors. ...

Five students from Washington Elementary School in Cape Girardeau were selected to make ornaments for Missouri Gov. Mel Carnahan's Christmas tree at the mansion in Jefferson City. The students represented Cape Girardeau public schools. The hand-crafted Victorian ornaments design was selected by the Missouri Mansion Preservation Society...

Jeffery Harms, a volunteer at St. Francis Medical Center, was recently honored by Whiteman Air Force Base for the anti-drunk driving programs he conducted for 2,500 people at the base. Harms, who was severely injured in a drunk-driving accident in 1986, has spoken to more than 29,800 people in the past two years through the Missouri Heads-Up Program, which promotes seat-belt use as a means of avoiding head injuries in automobile accidents...

Capt. Charles Westrich of the Naval Reserve is skipper of the SACLANT Det. 118 in Kansas City -- his seventh command in a row. Westrich, of 1537 Briarcliff, has had commanded positions for the past 13 years in the Naval Reserve. Westrich served six months in Desert Storm working for Naval Forces Central Command as the assistant force plans and policy officer. Westrich was among those who volunteered for duty in the Middle East...

Parents without Partners Cape SEMO Chapter 519 is sponsoring a dance from 7-11 p.m. Saturday. The event, which is open to the public, is being held at the Cape Budget Inn off Route K west of Interstate 55 in Cape Girardeau. Admission is $5. Sodas, dance mixers and door prizes will be offered...

Julie Hoffman and Cassandra Krauss have been named Students of the Month for November by the Cape Girardeau Elk's Lodge 639. Hoffman, 17, is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Richard Hoffman of Cape Girardeau. She is a senior at Notre Dame High School where she has been a cheerleader, and a member of SADD, Pep Club, Student Council and the Liturgy Council. She is also a member of the St. Vincent's youth group and a volunteer assistant coach for St. Vincent's eighth-grade cheerleaders...

Rachel Bettag recently placed second in the Junior Miss Missouri Job's Daughters pageant. Bettag is an eighth-grade student at Cape Girardeau Central Junior High School where she is a cheerleader. She is also active in Pep Club and Spanish Club and is a volunteer at the Humane Society...

The American Red Cross will hold two blood drives next week. The Red Cross is hosting blood drives at the following places: -- Monday, Delta High School, 1-5:30 p.m.; -- Tuesday-Thursday, University Center Ballroom at Southeast Missouri State University, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. each day...

Dr. James E. Hoffman will address cutaneous fungal infections such as ringworm on Thursday's edition of "Ask Your Doctor." "Ask Your Doctor" is sponsored jointly by St. Francis Medical Center and Southeast Missouri Hospital in conjunction with the Cape County Medical Society...

The Cargil Foundation will sponsor $1,000 scholarships for 250 high school seniors from farm families. The program is open to all high school seniors who will graduate in the spring. The seniors must come from families that derive at least half of their income from farming. Scholarship candidates must enroll full time next fall at an accredited two- or four-year college, university or vocational-technical school...

Funeral service for Norman E. Riege of Odell, Ore., formerly of Cape Girardeau, was held Nov. 23 at Anderson Funeral Home in Hood River, Ore. The Rev. Jerald Benedict officiated, with burial in Hood River County Cemetery. Riege, 58, died Wednesday, Nov. 17, 1993, at his home...

CYPRESS, Ill. -- Graveside service for Opal Belle Ferguson of Waunakee, Wis., will be held at 1 p.m. today at the Masonic Cemetery here. Crain Funeral Home of Anna is in charge of arrangements. Ferguson, 94, died Thursday, Nov. 25, 1993, at Waunakee Manor Nursing Home...

PERRYVILLE -- Olinda E. Manley, 93, died Tuesday, Nov. 30, 1993, at Perry County Nursing Home. She was born Aug. 15, 1900, at Perryville, daughter of Gottlieb and Eleonore Marie Bergmann. She and Patrick J. Manley were married June 2, 1926. He died Jan. 13, 1983...

SIKESTON -- Florence E. Davis, 91, of Sikeston, died Monday, Nov. 29, 1993, at her home. She was born Sept. 2, 1902, in Alma, Ark. She and Dewey Davis were married Dec. 28, 1919, in Crawford County, Ark. He died Aug. 14, 1980. Davis moved to the area in 1940 from Pindall, Ark...

CHARLESTON -- Gloria Kimble, 45, of Chicago, died Tuesday, Nov. 30, 1993, at Michael Reese Hospital, following an extended illness. She was born April 9, 1948, in Charleston, daughter of A.D. and Hattie Kimble. Kimble graduated from Charleston High School in 1966, and attended the University of Missouri at Columbia. She was employed by Illinois Department of Public Aid more than 20 years. She was a member of Christ Universal Church in Chicago...

GRAY RIDGE -- Billy R. Adams, 62, of Gray Ridge, died Tuesday, Nov. 30, 1993, at his home. He was formerly of Charleston. McMikle Funeral Home at Charleston is in charge of arrangements.

Son to Mr. and Mrs. Troy Voelker of Altenburg, Southeast Missouri Hospital, 12:37 a.m. Monday, Nov. 22, 1993. Name, Derek Paul. Weight, 7 pounds 4 ounces. First child. Mrs. Voelker is the former Diane Popp, daughter of Edward Popp and Retha Popp of Cape Girardeau. Voelker is the son of Gary Voelker and Doris Voelker of Altenburg...

Dennis Dobson of 157 Pebble Lane Tuesday became the first person to file as a city council candidate for Cape Girardeau's Ward 6. Dobson, 51, is the technical manager at Lone Star Cement plant in Cape Girardeau. As a resident of Twin Lakes subdivision since 1987, Dobson only recently became a resident of the city...

The fire that burned down the Hobbs Chapel United Methodist Church Friday was not caused by arson, local investigators reportedly now believe. After reviewing television news tape not available to the original investigator from the state fire marshal's office, investigators for the Cape County Sheriff's Department and the Cape Girardeau Fire Department want to discuss the fire with him again, according to the Rev. David Stewart, the church's pastor...

Cape Girardeau residents whose homes were damaged by this summer's flooding can have the structures demolished at no cost through a grant program approved Tuesday by the state. Steve Williams, the city's housing assistance coordinator, said the Missouri Department of Economic Development will provide $105,000 to raze up to 30 flood-damaged buildings...

December traditionally is the Salvation Army's busiest time of year, and activity this month at its Cape Girardeau headquarters will be stepped up even more with construction of a new building. The annual Tree of Lights fund-raising campaign is also under way. Applications are being accepted for the Christmas Basket program and today coats collected Tuesday will be distributed to needy individuals...

JACKSON -- Shawn Michelle Batten, 21, of Broseley was named Miss Jackson at the Miss Jackson Scholarship Pageant Nov. 20. The pageant was held at the Jackson High School auditorium. Batten, the daughter of Edwin and Shirley Batten, will represent Jackson in the Miss Missouri Pageant...

Three-year-old Melinda has asked her mother for just one gift this Christmas. She's talked about it for weeks already. Melinda wants a stuffed Barney doll. She faithfully watches the purple dinosaur's television program and pretends that Barney comes to play at her house...

At age 86, Mrs. C is determined to remain independent and in her own home. Mrs. C owns an immaculate little house. While the neighborhood has become somewhat run down, Mrs. C prides herself in keeping her home tidy. Over the past year she has had several break-ins. But thieves find little to steal...

Though common in many churches and public buildings, stained glass virtually disappeared from homes for many years. But now, it is making a comeback, with many new homes including some kind of stained glass decoration. "Years ago, around the turn of the century, there was a lot of it, but it kind of died out," said Thomas Holshouser, a local architect. ...

We have Mother's Day, Father's Day, Veteran's Day, Memorial Day, Grandparent's Day, Children's Day, Daffodil Day and now a Poinsettia Day. Poinsettia lovers can be happy this holiday season as their favorite flower is honored on National Poinsettia Day, Sunday, Dec. 12...

Congressman Bill Emerson has overhauled his mobile office schedule with new times and locations. The new schedule takes effect Dec. 6. "Missouri's Eighth Congressional district comprises 26 counties in nearly 19,000 square miles. Although I can't be everywhere at once, the Mobile office gives folks the opportunity to be in direct contact with me and the federal government," said Emerson...