Stories from Saturday, May 14, 1994

Dear Editor, The first "Tour de Girardot Cycling Classic" was a tremendous success. The weekend was built around competition and proved to be educational, fun and entertaining. Hosted by the Friends of St. Francis, cyclists came from eight states to participate. Children participated in a safety clinic on Sunday. Volunteers enjoyed a dinner and learned "bike talk." The conclusion is: cycling is an exciting sport!...

SCOTT CITY -- Activity is continuing to boom at the public dock of the Southeast Missouri Regional Port Authority. At the monthly meeting of the port's board of commissioners this week, Chairman Mysie Keene announced that for the second consecutive month, a single month record was set for net tonnage moving through the port...

Tip of Illinois Health Services, Inc., opened a branch office in Olive Branch on May 9, 1994. Tip's Cairo branch office serves homebound residents primarily in the Cairo, Mounds, Mound City, and Villa Ridge areas. The Olice Branch office serves homebound residents in the remainder of the Alexander and Pulaski County areas. Referrals may be made at either location...

The end of the school year marks the unofficial start of summer. At St. Francis Medical Center, it also signals the beginning of the hospital's summer Junior Volunteer program. Young men and women between the ages of 14 and 17 are eligible to join the St. Francis Junior Volunteer program. A Junior Volunteer orientation session is scheduled for Tuesday, June 14, in the St. Francis Health and Education Center. Orientation activities will begin at 9 a.m...

St. Francis Medical Center's sleep laboratory, a facility for conducting diagnostic studies of various sleep disorders, has doubled its capacity and is now able to conduct up to eight sleep studies a week, according to Jean Gooden, director of the St. Francis Respiratory Care Department...

Margot Atwood grieves for her son, for the things he has missed and the things she has missed. Her son has schizophrenia. The symptoms first showed up when he was 20 and in the military. He was discharged. "I would get calls from all over the United States," Atwood said. When he's sick, he exhibits bizarre behavior...

When Missourians limited state legislative terms to eight years, they sent a clear message: Career politicians be damned. The public is clearly frustrated with too much talk, too little action and way too much spending. Taxpayers are ready for fresh blood and refreshing ideas...

To the Editor: Smokers of America have been defensive of late as an anti-smoking movement is justifiably afoot all over the country. Smokers' claim that their rights (to smoke and kill themselves slowly) are violated no longer holds water, as there is ample proof that second-hand smoke is highly dangerous; and the cost of treating smoke-related diseases burdens unfairly those who do not smoke...

The April election remains unfinished business for county election officials throughout Missouri who are gearing up for a recount of ballots on the statewide gambling measure. In counties where ballots are counted by hand, that's a major task. But in Cape Girardeau County and surrounding counties, punch-card and optic-scanner systems will make the job much easier, election officials said...

The Missouri Highway and Transportation Department says no improvements are currently planned at the Interstate 55-Highway 61-34 interchange between Cape Girardeau and Jackson unless there is local support and local financial assistance for the project...

Cape Girardeau may not be required to hold a special local election on the constitutional amendment that would allow games of chance on Missouri riverboats, but voters statewide may still have to go the polls on the slot machine issue. Any city or county that has passed the local referendum necessary to legalize gambling boats, and did not defeat it later, will not have to vote on that issue again according to one of the changes in a special riverboat gambling bill that received approval of the Missouri General Assembly Thursday.. ...

JEFFERSON CITY -- Despite intense lobbying efforts by Gov. Mel Carnahan, several department directors and the governor's top aides, a major health insurance reform bill was not voted on during the last day of the General Assembly Friday. Carnahan and his staff were seen on the side galleries of the House and Senate frequently the last two weeks of the session, and the governor was a regular visitor to legislative offices trying to drum up support for the plan...

JEFFERSON CITY -- Gov. Mel Carnahan and Democratic leaders in the Missouri House and Senate praised the accomplishments of the 1994 legislative session that adjourned Friday night, even though a health-care reform bill that was a focal point of their agenda failed to win approval...

A Scott City man was killed early Friday when his motorcycle skidded out of control on Southern Expressway and South Kingshighway. Cape Girardeau County Coroner John Carpenter identified the victim as Thomas E. Johnson, 40, of 222 W. Cherry. Johnson was pronounced dead at the scene by the coroner at 3:34 a.m...

Crime and punishment doves this week surely must be lauding the new strategy adopted by the city of Fort Worth, Texas, to cope with that city's mounting gang violence: Hire the punks. The Fort Worth City Council, with the police chief's backing, has agreed to pay six gang leaders $204 a week to visit schools and civic organizations and to mediate disputes. ...

SIKESTON -- Willie Williams, 85, of Miner Nursing Center, formerly of Sikeston, died Thursday, May 12, 1994, at the center. He was born June 15, 1908, in Mississippi, son of Wiley and Cora Williams. He married the former Ella Mae Parker Williams. Williams worked at Wagner Electric in St. Louis more than 30 years, moving here 20 years ago. He was a member of First Church of the Nazarene...

CHAFFEE -- Funeral service for Shelba Joan Kean of Florissant will be held at 10 a.m. today at Hutchens Funeral Home in Florissant. The Rev. Pat Christopher will officiate, with burial in Sacred Heart Cemetery in Florissant. Kean, 54, died Wednesday, May 11, 1994, at her home. She was born Sept. 24, 1939, at Chaffee, daughter of Raymond Harold and Zella Foster Moore. She and John N. Kean Sr. were married in St. Louis...

SCOTT CITY -- Thomas Eugene Johnson, 40, of Scott City, died Friday, May 13, 1994, in Cape Girardeau. He was born Nov. 30, 1953, in Santa Monica, Calif., son of Eugene Hazelrigg and Marjorie Ann Johnson. He and Sandra Lewis were married Aug. 6, 1983, in Cape Girardeau...

Milford M. Cook, 69, of Cape Girardeau, died Friday, May 13, 1994, at Missouri Veterans Home. Ford and Sons Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

The 1994 Cape Girardeau March of Dimes Walk America will be held May 21. The same route as in the past will be used, with the start and finish at Cherry Hill Circle in Capaha Park. The goal is to raise $20,000. The walk begins at 9 a.m. Prizes will be awarded based on the amount of money walkers raise...

Cape Girardeau's Antique and Collectible Market will be held Sunday from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Arena Building. Exhibitors from four states will be offering antique furniture, glassware, jewelry, pottery, comics, primitives, baseball cards, dolls, toys and paper Americana...

Son to Mr. and Mrs. Patrick Eggimann of Merriam, Kan., St. Luke's Hospital in Kansas City, Mo., 2:30 p.m. Saturday, April 30, 1994. Name, Gabriel Richard. Weight, 3 pounds 8 ounces. First child. Mrs. Eggimann is the former Linda Kuss, daughter of Jim and Rita Kuss of Cape Girardeau. She is a veterinarian assistant in Kansas City. Eggimann is a self-employed building contractor in the Kansas City area, and is the son of Richard and Joan Eggimann of Cape Girardeau...