Stories from Wednesday, May 11, 1994

The debate over medical competition has been around since the establishment of two hospitals in Cape Girardeau. But as medical costs have continued to rise, disputes over duplicated services have heated up. At the center of the recent controversy is St. Francis Medical Center's plans to construct a doctors' office building on its campus...

SCOPUS -- The Scopus Rural Volunteer Fire Department will host a breakfast Saturday to raise money for a recently-purchased fire truck. The breakfast, which will be from 6-10 a.m. at the fire station on Highway M west of Scopus, will feature a menu of pancakes, bacon, sausage, eggs, biscuits and gravy...

A tea party planned with an Old South theme will benefit the American Cancer Society. The tea will be held May 25 at Beechwood, the home of Carole and Charles Cozean, from 3-5:30 p.m. Reservations are requested by Thursday. Chairman Carolyn Thomasson said the event not only raises money for the Cancer Society, it is also gives women in the community a chance to visit with others they may not see on a regular basis. This is the second tea the local Cancer Society has sponsored...

If the Bible were taught as literature in the schools, as it should be, young people would get more out of what their elders keep trying to impart to them today. Few speakers or writers in my age-bracket can resist quoting or paraphrasing Biblical bits that have been a part of them since their childhood...

JEFFERSON CITY -- During most of the 1994 session of the Missouri General Assembly legislative action in the Senate has been moving slowly. In fact, the pace had been so slow last week that it prompted Senate Majority Leader J.B. "Jet" Banks, D-St. Louis, to urge members of the chamber, which prides itself on unlimited debate, to try and work out amendments before they hit the floor and limit discussion on any bill to 45 minutes...

The moon glided in front of the sun Tuesday, creating a partial eclipse that turned the sun into a crescent of light locally. In many parts of the United States, sky watchers saw a perfectly round silhouette of the moon surrounded by a ring of sunlight. John Peterson, director of the El Paso, Texas, Planetarium, called it "spectacular."...

Women preparing to have a baby may want to check a new buyer's guide to obstetrical services in Southeast Missouri. The Missouri Department of Health released the guide, aimed at helping women make decisions about where to receive obstetrical services based on the costs of care and the services available. It also discusses quality and outcomes at different hospitals. The report includes satisfaction ratings provided by women who were patients at the hospitals...

A jogging acquaintance taught me an interesting lesson about minimum property standards. He could have given Aesop -- you know, the guy who was good with fables and morals -- a nice run for his money. It began innocently enough, as do most columns. We were walking around the Abe Stuber Track and Field Complex and I noticed he (Al, not Aesop) had a new silver car glistening in the parking lot...

More pronounced fiscal responsibility, rainy day funds, mayoral elections at-large or by the city council, the ward system and a proposed retention vote for the city manager became issues put before the Cape Girardeau Charter Review Committee Tuesday night...

Harley Edward Adams, 85, of Cape Girardeau, formerly of McClure, Ill., died Monday, May 9, 1994, at Cape Girardeau Nursing Center. He was born Aug. 18, 1908, in Gale, Ill., son of Andrew P. and Minnie A. Bartels Adams. He and Jewel Behr were married in December 1951 at Thebes, Ill. She died July 28, 1986...

JACKSON -- Thomas Allen Burke Jr., 71, of Jackson died at his home Monday, May 9, 1994. He was born Nov. 28, 1922 at Mason City, Iowa, the son of Thomas Burke and Elizabeth Price. He married Sally Ann Horn on Nov. 3, 1951. She survives. He is also survived by one son, Thomas Burke III, St. ...

CHAFFEE -- Monroe White, 79, of Ste. Genevieve, died Monday, May 2, 1994, at his home. He was born Oct. 12, 1914, at Chaffee, son of William H. and Charlotte Carter White. He and Pauline Burns were married Oct. 16, 1937. He and Annalee Laney were married in 1961...

Daughter to Mr. and Mrs. Thomas E. Lappe of Oak Ridge, Southeast Missouri Hospital, 8:22 a.m. Thursday, April 28, 1994. Name, Amanda Elizabeth. Weight, 7 pounds 3 ounces. Second child, first daughter. Mrs. Lappe is the former Pamela DeBrock, daughter of Ralph and Berneice DeBrock of Jackson. She is a receptionist at Southeast Missouri Bank. Lappe is a heavy equipment operator with Clark and Sons Excavating, and is the son of Thomas and Sharon Lappe of Oak Ridge...

ANNA, Ill. -- Funeral service for Lena Mae Graves of Anna will be held at 1 p.m. today at Crain Funeral Home here. The Rev. Tom Miller will officiate, with burial in Anna Cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home after 10 a.m. Graves, 86, died Tuesday, May 10, 1994, at Union County Hospital...

Max A. James, 84, of 615 S. Pacific, died Tuesday, May 10, 1994, at Southeast Missouri Hospital. Ford and Sons Sprigg Street Chapel is in charge of arrangements, which are incomplete at this time.

The Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce's membership is over the 1,150 mark following a one-day recruitment blitz Tuesday that netted at least 71 new members. "Our goal for the annual one-day membership drive this year was 65," said John Mehner, president of the chamber. "The early count Tuesday evening showed us with more than 50 new, paid memberships. The count as of 5:15 was 71. That put us over our goal."...

Cape Girardeau Municipal Airport is the final regional stop and trophy-award site for Saturday's Federal Aviation Administration Flight Safety Aviation Poker Run competition. The event is one of a series of regional flight safety poker runs that will be held in Missouri, Illinois, North Carolina, Alabama, Florida, Tennessee and Hawaii...

The American Red Cross has scheduled several area blood drives to build a reserve supply for the summer months, when donations typically decrease. Blood drives will be held: -- Thursday, Cape Central High School, 8 a.m.-4 p.m.. -- Friday, Chaffee V.F.W., 1-6 p.m...

JACKSON -- The Jackson School Board voted unanimously Monday to raise base pay for new teachers by two percent for the 1994-95 school year. The school board also voted to add a 23rd pay step for veteran teachers in the district. In addition, the board heard a report from Superintendent Wayne Maupin on pending legislation in Jefferson City...

Wanda and Charles Seyer's grandchildren love to watch home movies of their parents, the Seyers' children, as youngsters. Laughter is inevitable. "They tease them about the clothes that they wore," Wanda Seyer said. "It's just unbelievable to them sometimes. They get a big kick out of it."...

This is a time of lush growth in the garden. Wouldn't it be a continual picture if all of the foliage, grasses, trees and shrubs remained such a vivid green throughout the summer? Then the colors of the flowers would really make a show. What a dream!...