Stories from Saturday, August 20, 1994

(When the American Association of Retired Persons announced its endorsement of the Democratic health reform bills in Congress, several AARP members in Southeast Missouri expressed their opposition, saying the AARP doesn't speak for many of its members on this issue. Here is a respons from the national president of the AARP.)...

In desperation to pass the crime bill, President Clinton has called on a higher power. He asked thousands of churchgoers to pray for him and members of Congress to "do the will of God" and pass the crime bill without changes. Some might view it as a violation of the separation of church and state, which virtually went unnoticed by the so-called Constitutional watchdogs...

It is hard to accept a tragedy that claims the lives of eight small children, 5 months to 7 years old. All were related, and all died in an early-morning fire that consumed a bedroom in a Carbondale, Ill., home last week. The mother of three of the children, who was baby-sitting the others, wasn't at home when firefighters arrived. Authorities are considering criminal charges...

There are approximately 100 people in the 22-county Southeast Missouri region who currently are in case management for AIDS or HIV, the virus that leads to AIDS. But Ted Fedler, president of the AIDS Project of Southeast Missouri, estimates another 300 people may be infected with the virus...

Sherry Cheney has breastfed each of her four children, sometimes nursing two of them at a time. Cheney is among the success stories from the Cape Girardeau Health Department's WIC program. Sara Michie nutritionist with the program, Women Infants and Children, said a goal of the program is to encourage breastfeeding among clients...

Officials of the Missouri State Medical Association announced that Dr. William Thorpe of Cape Girardeau will receive the Physician's Recognition Award for July. The award, presented by the Missouri and American medical associations, is earned by physicians who voluntarily complete 150 credit hours of continuing medical education courses in a three-year period...

American Red Cross has issued a blood supply alert to urge people to give blood immediately. Red Cross supplies of Type O blood are down 40 percent. Red Cross urged donors to give blood to prevent an ongoing shortage. The urgent need for blood donors is expected to continue through September...

Southeast Missouri Hospital has awarded a contract for room renovations in preparation for installation of a new linear accelerator in the hospital's Regional Cancer Center. Assistant Administrator Richard Meyer said the contract for approximately $200,000 was awarded Kiefner Brothers Construction Co...

Ted Fedler has death's calling card: Day by day, the Cape Girardeau man is dying from AIDS. Doctors have told the 46-year-old Fedler that he could die within the next year and a half. But Fedler isn't ready to sit back and wait for death. He spends 60 to 80 hours a week directing the AIDS Project of Southeast Missouri. The organization, which he started in June 1993, serves as a resource for AIDS patients and educates the public about the devastating disease...

The impact of the Hancock II Amendment on local governments could range from direct loss of state money to no effect at all. That uncertainty makes officials with Cape Girardeau public schools and city and county governments uneasy. City Attorney Warren Wells said, "It's real clear that the amendment, if approved, will breed sweeping changes for the way local governments operate and state government as well."...

U.S. Rep. Mel Hancock, author of the Hancock II Amendment, says Missouri voters are smart enough to decide tax increases and government should give people a chance. At the same time, Hancock said, "Governments are crying, The sky is falling!" in response to his proposal for taxpayer rights...

Beyond reform of the medical and insurance industries, the health-care debate raging today in our nation is an excellent case study of the argument over a powerful centralized government vs. federalism and individual rights. Imagine for a moment a Wyoming rancher. ...

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Members of the U.S. House of Representatives are expected to take up a long-debated compromise crime bill today, but 8th District U.S. Rep. Bill Emerson said the changes aren't enough to win his support. Emerson and three other rural Missouri congressman, Democrats Ike Skelton and Harold Volkmer and Republican Mel Hancock, said Friday that they still have problems with a ban on assault weapons that remains in the bill...

JACKSON -- Former Missouri Governor John Ashcroft was pounding on doors Friday morning in an effort to gain support in his bid for U.S. Senate. Ashcroft was walking door to door, dropping off literature in Jackson during his latest campaign trip to Southeast Missouri. Last week, he stumped at the Cape Girardeau Public Library...

About 200 to 300 fewer students will be enrolled at Southeast Missouri State University this fall than last year. Enrollment is expected to decline by about 4 percent, university President Kala Stroup said Friday. Fall semester classes begin Monday...

H & R Block, the country's largest income tax preparation firm, will hold an open house today. H & R Block tax preparers will be available to answer questions about income taxes and return preparation. Tax manuals and classroom study materials will be on display...

DEXTER -- Graveside service for Minnie Elizabeth Mouser of Salt Lake City, Utah, will be held at noon today at Dexter Cemetery, with the Rev. R.L. Hester officiating. Friends may call at Watkins and Sons Funeral Home here after 11 a.m. today. Mouser, 92, died Monday, Aug. 15, 1994, in Salt Lake City...

SIKESTON -- Dorothy M. Childers, 68, of Sikeston, died Friday, Aug. 19, 1994, at Hunter Acres Caring Center. She was born July 27, 1926, in Tyler, daughter of Julius E. and Ida Lee Holmes Hundhausen. She and Paul Childers were married April 17, 1966, in East Prairie...

DONGOLA, Ill. -- Beulah Schluter, 84, of Dongola, died Thursday, Aug. 18, 1994, at her home. She was born June 3, 1910, in Pulaski County, daughter of John and Maggie A. Huntsman George. She and Harold Schluter were married Nov. 25, 1928. Schluter helped operate the family farm east of Dongola. She was a member of First Lutheran Church here, and charter member of Willing Hands Group...

Rebecca S. Simonton, 53, 510 S. Middle, died Friday, Aug. 19, 1994, at Southeast Missouri Hospital. Lorberg Memorial Funeral Chapel is in charge of arrangements.

MARBLE HILL -- Janna Monica Pettit, 52, Marble Hill Route 1, died Thursday, Aug. 18, 1994, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. She was born Feb. 10, 1942, at Allenville, daughter of Oliver Richard and Mary Magadaline McBride Groves. She and Donald L. Bradley were married Dec. 6, 1977. He died March 8, 1990. She and Alvin Pettit were married Oct. 6, 1993...

Jessie L. Summers, 74, 1638 County Road 319, died Friday, Aug. 19, 1994, at Deal Nursing Home in Jackson. She was born Dec. 14, 1919, at Gordonville, daughter of Wilson B. and Addie C. Hitt Summers. Summers worked on the family farm near Gordonville all her life. She was a member of New McKendree United Methodist Church, its Dorcas Circle of United Methodist Women, and American Legion Auxiliary to Post 158 at Jackson...

TAMMS, Ill. -- Vernal Lynn Nave of Tamms died Friday, Aug. 19, 1994, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau, Mo. Jones Funeral Home in Tamms is in charge of arrangements.

DEXTER -- Edna Francis Hunt, 90, of Libertyville, Ill., died Wednesday, Aug. 17, 1994, at Condell Medical Center in Libertyville. She was born Sept. 16, 1903, at Dexter, daughter of Daniel and Lavada Casey Morris. She and Fred W. Hunt were married Aug. 1, 1932. He died Jan. 28, 1965...