Stories from Friday, November 11, 1994

Irene Presson, 81, of St. Louis died Thursday, Nov. 10, 1994, at Memorial Home in St. Louis. Arrangements are incomplete at Ford & Sons Funeral Home in Cape Girardeau.

When Larry Thomason first heard of a concept being tried in other states to have a citizens' commission set salaries and benefits for some elected officials, he thought it was an idea people in Missouri might like. He introduced the proposal in the 1994 session of the General Assembly, and after some modifications by colleagues, the legislature sent it to voters for consideration as a constitutional amendment...

Kathy and Paul Breitenstein made a decision that rendered their 3-year-old son Seth's life meaningful long after a car accident took him away from them in 1992. "I was in the emergency room when I found out our son Seth had died after being hit by a car," Kathy Breitenstein said. "Just out of the blue I remembered a friend of ours was on a waiting list for a heart donation. I thought maybe we should donate Seth's organs and tissue to help someone like my friend out."...

Voters in several states Tuesday approved term limits for officeholders, but voters across the county used a different method to abbreviate the terms of incumbents: They voted for the challengers, in the process adding to a Republican maelstrom that swept from coast to coast. Not a single GOP incumbent senator, member of Congress or governor was defeated...

Veterans of our nation's military conflicts are remembered today, Veterans Day. The powerful images evoked by those who served in World War II, in the Korean War and in Desert Storm (see column above) give pause to the post-election, pre-holiday hustle and bustle...

At a roundtable discussion the morning after The 1994 Revolution, some of the best in the political business, bleary-eyed and somewhat dazed, offered their interpretations of why the American people elected Republicans to majorities in the U.S. House and Senate for the first time in 40 years. ...

Who do we celebrate Veterans Day? A citizen telephoned the American Legion headquarters in Indianapolis recently to say that he didn't think veterans deserve any special recognition, honor or benefits. It was the caller's opinion that America's wartime veterans have given no more or no less to our country than any other citizen who goes to work each day and otherwise does his or her part...

To the editor: I recently saw the latest version of the movie "Frankenstein." I had never read Mary Shelley's 19th century classic novel. According to what I had read, the current movie stays closer to the story line than other versions. After I saw it, I was determined to find out if this was true. I did, and it was. In addition, I also found out something else, which may be of particular interest to Missourians...

To the editor: Concerning the woman who let her two boys drown: This young woman didn't abort her babies, so obviously she planned to raise them. What about the father? Not much has been said about his background. Was he a good provider? Did he help with the children? As anyone knows who has raised them, children require care around the clock, whether you are tired, overworked or without sleep. ...

COMMERCE -- About 15 voters in the Commerce precinct received the wrong ballot Tuesday and didn't get to vote on one issue. And even though the issue was settled with a 114-vote margin, Lula Rhyne of rural Commerce wants her say in whether the Illmo Special Road District should be dissolved...

At a roundtable discussion the morning after The 1994 Revolution, some of the best in the political business, bleary-eyed and somewhat dazed, offered their interpretations of why the American people elected Republicans to majorities in the U.S. House and Senate for the first time in 40 years. ...

Virgil Cotner, formerly of Cape Girardeau, died Thursday, Nov. 10, 1994, at Memorial Hospital in Hollywood, Fla. Arrangements are incomplete at Ford & Sons Funeral Home in Cape Girardeau.

My obsession with the use of prepositions is no longer news to readers. Requests for a column on the distinction between prepositions and conjunctions, however, open the gate to yet another performance about a favorite subject of mine. Admission is free to all who enter here...

Lillian Ryan, 85, 1681 Perryville Road, died Thursday, Nov. 10, 1994, at St. Francis Medical Center. Lorberg Memorial Funeral Chapel is in charge of arrangements.

SIKESTON -- Peggy Weber, 68, of Sikeston, died Wednesday, Nov. 9, 1994, at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston. She was born Nov. 23, 1925, in Parma, daughter of Jesse F. and Bertha A. Cravens Webb. Webb was a former assistant secretary for the Department of the Navy at the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. She also taught piano lessons in Sikeston 20 years. She was a member of National Association of Retired Federal Employees...

Funeral service for Cordelia Hink of Bonne Terre, formerly of Cape Girardeau, will be held at 10:30 a.m. today at C.Z. Boyer and Son Funeral Home in Bonne Terre, with the Rev. Scott Lohse officiating. Graveside service will be at 2 p.m. in Memorial Park at Cape Girardeau...

Son to Morning Glory Magon and Danny Joe Arcand of Daisy, Southeast Missouri Hospital, 5:43 p.m. Monday, Oct. 3, 1994. Name, Liberty Colt Baker. Weight, 12 pounds 2 ounces. First child. Son to Kyle and Christine Bolen of St. Louis, Christian Northwest Hospital, 7:13 a.m. ...

SEDGEWICKVILLE -- Martha M. Gollwitzer, 90, of Sedgewickville, died Wednesday, Nov. 9, 1994, at her home. She was born Oct. 23, 1904, in Germany, daughter of Josef and Maria T. Tautenhahn Nachbar. She and Josef Gollwitzer were married May 19, 1940. He died in May 1949...

ANNA, Ill. -- Bill Hemby, 80, of Anna, died Thursday, Nov. 10, 1994, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. He was born June 27, 1914, in Laurel Hill, Fla., son of Willie and Emma Saul Hemby. He and Mary Ellen McMahan were married Oct. 18, 1949...

Bob Brosey feels lucky to be alive. Twenty-five years ago, he was seriously wounded and his 19-year-old friend, Tom Miller, was killed when a Viet Cong rocket struck their Marine Corps bunker in Vietnam. Brosey, 46, still carries visible reminders of that war. His left leg was disfigured by the rocket attack, and he bears upper-body scars from other incidents of war -- in one case, he was hit by shrapnel and in another he was wounded by sniper fire...

For years, Alzheimer's victims were shielded from the public eye. No one understood the disease, calling it senility or old age. Families didn't want to admit one of their own was ailing, forgetting where he lived and who his friends were. A few scientific breakthroughs provided encouragement, but no cure is in sight. The American public is still somewhat ignorant about the disease, with some people even fearful of it...

Following Tuesday's vote giving the green light to slot machines on Missouri's gambling riverboats, at least one developer who had put two riverboat casino proposals on hold is going to be moving "very quickly." Boyd Gaming Corp. officials have been meeting in Las Vegas since early Wednesday morning to discuss plans for projects in Kansas City and Cape Girardeau...

Profits from the 1994 SEMO District Fair were almost the same as last year, netting $46,945. The fair generated about $10,000 more in revenues this year, bringing in a total of $387,879 during its eight-day run in September. Fair expenditures were almost $9,800 higher this year, totaling $340,934...

Jackson: Parade begins at 5 p.m. at the old city cemetery. Program begins at 7 p.m. at American Legion Hall. Chaffee: Chaffee High School Band will lead parade beginning at 10 a.m. from North Main Street at Dame Avenue. Cape Girardeau: Municipal Band will perform service songs beginning at 1:30 p.m. Saturday at Capaha Park band shell. Ceremony begins at 2 p.m...

Along the gravel road that wanders down into Keloh Valley in the Ozarks to the west, the persimmon trees still hold some ripe fruit. Underneath the crabapple trees are signs that wild animals have been taste-testing, possibly staggering back to the woods after a few hours with some of the fermented fruit. A check of the persimmon seeds foretells winter. Let's see: a fork, a spoon, a knife -- what do they mean again?...

JEFFERSON CITY -- Senate Republicans chose Peter Kinder of Cape Girardeau to serve as caucus chairman for the next session that convenes in January. Kinder was elected during a caucus session Thursday in Jefferson City, called to re-organize following Tuesday's election. It is one of four GOP leadership positions in the Senate...

The Missionary Image of Our Lady of Guadalupe will be on display in area Catholic churches from Thursday through Nov. 21. Places, times and dates of the tour follow: St. Denis at Benton, 1 p.m. Nov. 17 to 9 a.m. Nov. 18. St. Francis Xavier in Sikeston, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Nov. 18...