Stories from Thursday, December 23, 1993

Each year it seems the celebration of Christmas begins a little earlier. But perhaps it's not just because holiday sales are so important to retailers. Perhaps -- just perhaps -- it's because people cherish that spirit of compassion and generosity the season brings...

Editor's note: the following news story orignally appeared in the Washington Times Monday, December 20. White House officials removed records of business deals between President Clinton, his wife and an Arkansas partnership known as Whitewater Development Corp. from the office of Vincent W. Foster Jr. during two searches after the deputy presidential counsel's suicide, the Washington Times has learned...

To many disabled Missourians, getting their day in court may seem like a climb up Mount Everest. But Missouri Bar President W. Dudley McCarter says that's got to change. Steps must be taken to make Missouri's courthouses accessible to the handicapped, he said, both for moral reasons and to comply with federal law...

There has been a major increase in the number of cases of whooping cough in the United States this year, according to the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta. Missouri health officials also report an increase in the illness, considered serious at all ages. At least four cases of pertussis were reported the past two months in Southeast Missouri...

"Fast ... Free 30 Minute Delivery." So says Domino's new advertisement. Delivery may still be "free," but now, Cape Girardeau County patrons can no longer expect $3 off their Domino's pizza if it doesn't arrive in 30 minutes or less. "We feel like we should follow the national policy," said Dan Lynn, owner of the two Domino's in Cape Girardeau. "The perception of the general public was that it made us driver faster. We want to dispel that."...

The virus grinch may wind up spoiling Christmas for some families in the Cape Girardeau area. The Cape Girardeau County Health Department said major increases occurred the past week in several reported illnesses, including gastro-intestinal, upper respiratory illness, strep throat, pink eye and chicken pox...

CRUMP -- When the Southeast Missouri Beagle Club holds one of its several field trials throughout the year, it's difficult to tell who has the most fun: the pack of bawling, sniffing, tail-wagging beagle hounds or their owners and handlers romping in the field not far behind the pack...

Dec. 23, 1993 Dear Mom and Dad, Leaving Cape Girardeau, I crossed paths with DC's parents on the way to Neosho. They took turns riding with me. First chance I've had to talk to them beyond the formalities. Good time. At Neosho, the new nieces gave me a tour of their home. Devon was the guide, while Danika and Darcy demonstrated the bathtub and toilet, just like the hostesses on "Price is Right." They charm me...

SCOTT CITY -- The gymnasium of the St. Joseph Elementary School in Scott City resembled a scene from a grocery store having a "Going Out of Business" sale Wednesday afternoon. Empty boxes and cartons were scattered across the floor, among giant stacks of canned goods, pallets of flour and crates of juice...

MARBLE HILL -- Jewell M. Belvin, 82, of Marble Hill, died Tuesday, Dec. 21, 1993, at Bond Nursing Care Center. She was born Sept. 2, 1911, in Walnut Ridge, Ark., daughter of John E. and Alta Tyler Pratt. Formerly of Mississippi County, she had lived in Marble Hill the past 15 months. She attended Grace Fellowship Church...

ANNA, Ill. -- Alta Halterman Guth, 90, of Ledbetter, Ky., formerly of Anna, Ill., died Wednesday, Dec. 22, 1993, at the Loudes Hospital in Paducah, Ky. She was born Oct. 20, 1903, at Anna, daughter of John and Sarah Elizabeth Hoffner Halterman. She married Milton Guth. He died in 1947...

JACKSON -- Ralph H. Baker, 73, of Midland, Texas, formerly of Jackson, died Wednesday, Dec. 22, 1993, at a Midland hospital. He was born June 2, 1920, at Cape Girardeau. He married Marge Godwin, July 6, 1945, at Jackson. Baker was a veteran of World War II, having served in the U.S. Army Air Corps from February 1942 to October 1945. While in the military, he served in China, Burma, India, the Philippines and Japan. Baker received seven Bronze Stars during his tour of duty...

SIKESTON -- Vida C. Hornback, 88, of Sikeston, died Wednesday, Dec. 22, 1993, at the Sikeston Convalescent Center. The Amick-Burnett Funeral Chapel in Sikeston is in charge of funeral arrangements, which are incomplete at this time.

MOUND CITY, Ill. -- Retired Staff Sgt. Glenn F. Gustafson, 74, of Hopkinsville, Ky., died Wednesday, Dec. 22, 1993, at Lourdes Hospital in Paducah, Ky. He was born Dec. 22, 1919, in Mound City, son of Franz and Rosa Gustafson. Gustafson served in the U.S. Marines during World War II, Korean and Vietnam Wars...

Funeral service for James F. Dalton of Silver Spring, Md., will be held at 1 p.m. today at Hines-Rinaldi Funeral Home there. Burial will be in a Silver Spring cemetery. He was born Dec. 6, 1915, in Farmington, son of Henry M. and Belle DeGrant Dalton. He was reared in Cape Girardeau and graduated from Central High School...

Son to Mr. and Mrs. Kevin Ewbank of Hazelwood, Christian Northwest Hospital, 11:40 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 30, 1993. Name, Brendan Nathaniel. Weight, 7 pounds 14 ounces. First child. Mrs. Ewbank is the former Luan Webb, daughter of Doug and Diana Webb of Beardstown, Ill. She is an academic evaluator at the University of Missouri-St. Louis. Ewbank is a contract administrator at McDonnell Douglas, and is the son of Wayne and Linda Ewbank of Cape Girardeau...

ANNA, Ill. -- Francis Edward Tucker, 73, of Anna, Ill., died Wednesday, Dec. 22, 1993, at Southeast Missouri Hospital. Ford and Sons Funeral Home is in charge of funeral arrangements which are incomplete at this time.

Blood donations this holiday season are not meeting the anticipated demand. The American Red Cross is asking area residents to take an hour from their busy schedules and donate blood at one of two area drives next week. On Monday, the Knights of Columbus 6420 and Ladies Auxiliary in Scott City will sponsor a drive from 3-7 p.m. at the Scott City Knights of Columbus Hall on Highway 61...

DEXTER -- Nursing home patients in Stoddard County will have an opportunity to be "home for the holidays." Patients who are unable to travel except by ambulance will receive free rides by the Stoddard County Ambulance Service from nursing homes to visit their families for Christmas...

It's Christmas again. The magic is all around us, with toys spilling out of Santa's bags the country over, sending children's imaginations soaring as they await breathlessly the moment of surprise. Remember when you were a child? Were you ever too young to be choosy?...

A number of area churches are using ringers in their worship services -- handbell ringers that is. "Handbells are very popular among churches and now a lot of schools are using them too. Handbells are really a growing phenomenon," said John Broom, minister of music at First Baptist Church...

The First Annual Bob Camp Christmas Hoot will be held Thursday at Broussard's. The free event is an organizational party for a pre-Christmas benefit to be held next year. That benefit will help Toybox or other worthy projects, Camp said. Camp will perform solo from 7:30-9:30 Thursday, to be followed by special guests singing Christmas songs. ...