Stories from Sunday, June 26, 1994

What role is to be played by our ex-presidents? There is no precise answer and the Constitution is silent on the question. John Adams and Thomas Jefferson functioned as part-time political philosophers exchanging letters back and forth, which are now a rich part of our country's history...

When told the astonishing news that a Jew had become Lord Mayor of Dublin, Yogi Berra knowingly shook his head and responded, "Only in America." I was reminded of the priceless remark of that famous philosopher when learning of the following news item...

Judge Kinder's decision, which formed the judicial pretext for the largest tax increase in Missouri history, was more political manifesto than sound law and is therefore a highly dubious foundation for Senate Bill 380. "The wheels of justice grind slow and exceedingly fine." Missourians watching the continuing developments in the epic school funding case, originally decided by Cole County Circuit Court Judge Byron Kinder, may reflect this week on that ancient and oft-quoted adage...

FRUITLAND -- Richard Schmidt proudly boasts that he rides horses for a living. "I love it," he said. "I've been doing this for almost 40 years, and I wouldn't go back and change a thing." But there is one thing Schmidt wants changed. He has asked the Cape Girardeau County Commission to keep one of his favorite riding trails -- an old county road -- open...

On the eve of the Fourth of July weekend -- one of the most accident-marred holidays of the year -- Cape Girardeau is poised to surpass last year's total number of fatal car accidents. A Friday afternoon accident on I-55 marked the third traffic fatality recorded in Cape Girardeau this year -- the second in a week. Last year, the Cape Girardeau Police Department worked a total of three fatality accidents...

A tree fell and knocked out power to about 100 Union Electric customers Thursday night. The power outage here was among several reported throughout Southeast Missouri Thursday. Calvin Wells, customer service supervisor with Union Electric, blamed the outages on Thursday night's rain, lightening and wind...

HAYTI -- Two Cape Girardeans suffered injuries in a one-car accidents on Interstate 55 near here Friday night. The Missouri State Patrol reported that Cynthia Sadler, 34, and Aaron Sadler, 10, were taken to Pemiscot Hospital at Hayti with moderate injuries following the 6:30 p.m. accident...

As marchers in a parade for what they hold holy made their way down Broadway Saturday morning, few noticed the rising temperatures and glaring sun. "After a while, it didn't take any energy at all," said Lisa Hart Brown of Sikeston. "It felt like you were floating on air."...

CAIRO, Ill. -- Glen L. Lang, 50, of Cairo, died Saturday, June 25, 1994, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. Funeral arrangements are incomplete and will be announced later by Barkett Funeral Home of Cairo.

William Norman Summers, 78, East Prairie, died Friday, June 24, 1994, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. He was born April 25, 1916 in Marion, Ill., son of Norman Oliver and Georgia Heneger Summers. He married Mary Josephine Bond on Sept. 6, 1940. She preceded him in death Aug. 20, 1985...

SUNDAY, JUNE 26 At 3:32 p.m. Friday, firefighters responded to a call for medical assistance at the scene of a car accident near the 95-mile marker on Interstate 55. At 5:39 p.m. Friday, firefighters responded to a call for medical assistance at the junction of Interstate 55 and South Kingshighway...

ADVANCE -- Hazel Kennedy Limbaugh, 62, of Advance, died Friday, June 24, 1994, at the Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston. She was born July 25, 1931, at Tanner, daughter of Robert and Bertha Greer Fisher. She married Kenneth "Stopper" Kennedy, Jan. 14, 1947. He died Dec. 18, 1988. She then married J.D. Limbaugh, Sept. 29, 1990...

Eric Lee Knight, 19, of 1977 Longview, died Friday, June 24, 1994, at the St. Francis Medical Center. He was fatally injured in a motorcycle accident in Jackson. He was born Jan. 4, 1975, at Cape Girardeau, son of Barry D. and Debbie S. Hogan Knight...

JACKSON -- Emil C. Heider, 75, of Jackson, died Thursday, June 23, 1994, at Southeast Missouri Hospital. He was born Oct. 23, 1918, at Cape Girardeau, son of Karl and Minnie Pensel Heider. He married Gertrude P. Voss, Dec. 9, 1945, at Gordonville. Heider was a veteran of World War II, having served as a sergeant in the U.S. ...

Roberta Conner of Cape Girardeau retired nine years ago, long ago enough to wonder if life insurance provided by her former employer still is effective. Knowing her former employer also modified the terms of employee coverage since her departure, Conner had some concerns she needed addressed...

Cape Girardeau's Board of Education will meet Monday at 5 p.m. for a special meeting to consider personnel issues. The agenda includes two items under the topic personnel -- employment and a staff member's leave of absence. Superintendent Neyland Clark said Friday that the special meeting was called so teachers could be hired...

SIKESTON -- Tickets sales for the Sikeston Jaycee Bootheel Rodeo began this weekend at the Bootheel Rodeo office. The ticket office will be open from Monday through Saturday each week from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. Beginning July 5 call 1-800-455-2855 for ticket orders...

During World War I, Arthur Gallion spent nine days hiding in the woods behind enemy lines. His only liquid was drinking from mud puddles and he ate slugs for dinner. Fortunately, Gallion escaped and is alive today to pass down the stories to his family members...

CARBONDALE, ILL. -- Chris Veach is like most 14-year-old boys in Campbell, Mo. He likes to go canoeing, camping and he loves swimming. But because he has a crippling disease called muscular dystrophy, he often has to sit on the sidelines and watch other children have fun...

Darlene Winters grew up in a era where clothes were not made for really big people or really tiny people. Being an example of the latter group, Winters learned the skills of a seamstress early on, first in 4-H clubs and later in home economics classes in school...

Some of my friends gave me some advice about how to keep the squirrels away from my suspended bird feeder. "Just hang it with nylon fishing line," more than one advised. "Tie some bolts at one end of the line and toss it over the limb." It all sounded so easy...

The American Red Cross Blood Services will host the community drive on Wednesday in the Holiday Inn Convention Center from 2-7 p.m. The Cape County Association for Family and Community Educators will sponsor the drive. The goal is 100 units of blood...

"How to live with Parkinson's disease" is the program topic for Monday's meeting of the Parkinson's Disease Regional Support Group. The group will meet from 6:30-7:30 p.m. in the St. Francis Pain Management Center. St. Francis gerontology nurse specialist Desma Reno will present the program. People with Parkinson's disease, their families, friends and health care professionals may attend...

JACKSON -- Warranty deeds issued at the office of Janet Robert, Cape Girardeau County recorder of deeds: Farm & Home Savings Association to Secretary of Housing and Urban Development; Ron and Nancy Humphries to Paul and Helen Hawkins; Kevin and Connie Brown to Eddie and Marilyn Bowen...