Stories from Wednesday, February 1, 1995

In the Jan. 25 Southeast Missourian an incident was described in which a disgruntled boyfriend in St. Louis admitted to intentionally drowning a litter of newborn puppies. The owners of the puppies admitted that her boyfriend had been violent in the past but seemed surprised that this violence would be extended to her pets...

Authorities are searching for Melissa "Missy" Long, 16, of Gravel Hill in Cape Girardeau County. She is considered a runaway. She disappeared between 1 a.m. and 3 a.m. Monday. She was last seen leaving in a white van with some older friends. She is the daughter of Ronnie Long and Marie Brotherton...

Nominations for the annual Area Wide United Way volunteer awards are being sought. Ameritech and the United Way will honor volunteers during a program in April. Nomination forms have been mailed to service clubs, organizations, churches and agencies. To request a form, call the United Way at 334-9634...

Jackie Johnson can change the oil, check the transmission and rotate the tires. Johnson is the only girl in her automotive technology course at the Cape Girardeau Area Vocational Technical School. She hopes that will change. On Tuesday, 85 sophomore girls from eight area schools toured the vocational school to get a look at some high-tech career possibilities...

Recycling has caught on across the nation mainly because of the need to conserve depleted landfill space. Reducing the amount of materials going into the waste stream, the experts tell us, is the only way to save valuable dumping space. Cities everywhere are trying to recycle as much garbage as possible. ...

Cape Girardeau residents needn't look beyond their own school district to find a microcosm of big government bureaucracy at work. It was last May a firestorm of controversy was ignited with the district's decision to allow some seniors at Cape Girardeau Central High School to participate in commencement ceremonies although the students had failed to meet graduation requirements...

Employment projections for industry and business continued to increase in 1994, with expectations of the highest employment surge in 10 years during the first half of 1995. Jobs are a major issue on two surveys conducted by the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce...

"We need employees." This was the message Frank Adams relayed during a meeting of a Cape Girardeau Area Personnel Association subcommittee meeting Tuesday. Adams, vice president and general manager of Thorngate's Cape Girardeau operations, which includes a facility at Chaffee, was critical of the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce and the Cape Girardeau Area Industrial Recruitment Association during a meeting held at the chamber office...

The city of Cape Girardeau and TCI Cablevision hope to complete a new cable TV franchise agreement within the next 30 days and end 2 1/2 years of negotiations. The previous franchise agreement expired Dec. 6, 1992. Since then, the city council has granted a series of extensions as negotiations continued between City Attorney Warren Wells and TCI officials...

JACKSON -- Department of Natural Resources officials don't know how much soil was contaminated while a Coop Service Center Inc. kerosene tank leaked, but the petroleum wholesaler contracted St. Louis environmental consultants to figure it out. A 13,000-gallon kerosene tank on East Washington Street across from the Coop office rusted and developed a leak that went undetected until Jan. 25. Residents near the tank smelled the fuel, then noticed a sheen on top of nearby Goose Creek...

We know we're going to get at least one thick blanket of snow before the winter is over. But when? Until it happens, we'll all be as restless as a Super Bowl audience before kickoff. For some, the wait carries more anguish than the Super Bowl game. For others, the absence of snow makes this winter's panorama seem as bland as Kathy Lee Gifford's version of the National Anthem...

CAN LAWS be changed? I guess not, according to our mayor. Just watch O.J.'s TV show, and the answer's there. RAISE the minimum wage to a living wage of $7 or more so the people on welfare can take a minimum-wage job and get off taxpayers' support. CONGRATULATIONS, Coach Shumate. ...

In his role as chairman of the House Agriculture subcommittee on department operations, nutrition and foreign agriculture, U.S. Rep. Bill Emerson will preside over hearings this month related to welfare reform. The agriculture committee has primary jurisdiction over the food stamp program and several other nutrition programs, including the emergency food assistance program...

Astronaut Charles Moss Duke Jr. will speak at the eighth annual Mayor's Prayer Breakfast at the Show Me Center March 2. Both the Cape Girardeau and Jackson mayors participate annually in the event, sponsored by the Christian Business Men's Committee of Cape Girardeau...

State lawmakers are poised to act this week on a bill that would crack down on juveniles who commit serious crimes. Last week, House members completed debate on the bill and gave it preliminary approval. Third reading and final passage could come Thursday, which would send the bill to the Senate...

A former Central High School Booster Club president and a university mathematics professor finished out the slate of candidates for the Cape Girardeau Board of Education. And in Jackson, Jeanette Bollinger has refiled for her position on the Jackson Board of Education...

The tax-aid program for senior citizens and low-income people will be offered each Wednesday through the tax season, beginning today. The program also will be offered on April 14. It will operate out of the Cape Girardeau Senior Center from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m...

Parents Without Partners will hold an orientation for prospective members tonight at 7 at the Harris Room of the Community Counseling Center in Cape Girardeau. Another orientation is planned Feb. 16 at the same place and time. Parents who are divorced, widowed, legally separated or never married may attend...

Southeast Missouri State University Board of Regents 1:30 p.m., Feb. 1 University Center Ballroom Agenda items Swear in Doyle Lee Privett of Kennett as the newest member of the board. Review the progress of strategic planning. Review faculty merit pay policy...

BENTON -- The Scott County Commission approved a 1995 budget Tuesday that will outspend receipts in the General Revenue Fund by more than $300,000. Total income in the General Revenue Fund is estimated at $2,388,150, about $48,000 less than received last year. Expenditures from the fund are projected at $2,690,623...

CAIRO, Ill. -- Gladys H. Finch, 97, of Cairo died Tuesday, Jan. 31, 1995, at the Collinsville Care Center in Collinsville. She was born Jan. 19, 1898, in Cairo, the daughter of William and Clara Walder Hodge. She was a member of the Cairo Business and Professional Womens Club. She was of the Methodist denomination and attended the Cairo Pentecostal Church...

SIKESTON -- Lenzie Beck, 81, of Sikeston, died Monday, Jan. 30, 1995, at Missouri Delta Medical Center, following an extended illness. He was born Dec. 29, 1913, at Sikeston, son of Spurlin and Birdie Agnes Duke Beck Sr. He and Geneva Calvin were married April 19, 1934, in Sikeston...

PERRYVILLE -- Vera K. Lewis, 85, of Perryville, died Monday, Jan. 30, 1995, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. She was born Oct. 5, 1909, in Villa Ridge, Ill., daughter of Elmer and Lora Harrell Koonce. She and J.B. Lewis were married Feb. 14, 1931. He died Oct. 22, 1961...

ADVANCE -- Funeral service for Blanche Mae Revelle of Advance will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday at Morgan Funeral Chapel. The Rev. Virgil Bunch will officiate, with burial in Morgan Memorial Park. Friends may call at the funeral home from 5-8 p.m. today...

SIKESTON -- Annie Lorene Alley, 84, of Jonesboro, Ark., died Tuesday, Jan. 31, 1995, at Missouri Delta Medical Center. She was born Feb. 26, 1910, at Clear Lake, Ark., daughter of Simon and Elizabeth Anderson Smotherman. Alley had been a seamstress at Pitman Cleaners and Faultless Cleaners. She was a member of First United Methodist Church...

ADVANCE -- Roy William Wiseman, 90, Advance Route 2, died Tuesday, Jan. 31, 1995, at Advance Nursing Care. He was born July 14, 1904, at Lutesville, son of Adam and Kate Shell Wiseman. He and Myrtle Fee were married Sept. 9, 1922. She died Aug. 8, 1984...

Daughter to Trent and DeLena Gray of Scott City, Southeast Missouri Hospital, 5:50 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 21, 1995. Name, Samantha Jayne. Weight, 9 pounds. Mrs. Gray is the former DeLena Evans, daughter of Dixie Wunderlich of Scott City and Michael Evans of Kennett. Gray is employed at Hardee's, and is the son of Larry and Sheila Gray of Scott City and Vicki Gray of Jackson...

SCOTT COUNTY James G. and Eleanor M. Robbins to Ag-Lands Investment Co.; Nelson and Beverly Ann Berbling to Harry P. Pratt, two tracts; Mark and Lisa Pratt to Harry P. Pratt. Merlin W. Taber to Johnnie L. Taber; David Franklin to Tamara and Chantelle Crider; Jerry Wayne Bledsoe to Geraldine Florence Bledsoe...

Chaffee's mayoral race heads a list of contested municipal races in Scott and Perry counties. The municipal election is April 4. Besides its mayoral race, Chaffee also a council seat that's contested. In Scott City, three of four council members have opponents. All four incumbent aldermen in Oran have challengers. One contest each has developed in Benton and Perryville...

JACKSON -- Only incumbents were interested in the six city offices open in the April election. The filing deadline for the officers of mayor, four aldermen and city collector was Tuesday, but no procrastinating politicians made 11th-hour visits to city hall...

JEFFERSON CITY -- Although members of the Missouri Gaming Commission claim they aren't actively advocating an increase in the state's $500 gambling loss limit, the panel's paid staff has prepared a report listing problems with the rule. Saying the commission intends to continue studying the effects of the $500 gambling loss limit on riverboat casinos, the report makes a one-sided case for ending the regulation...

Following the announcement last month by the Los Angeles Rams of their intention to relocate in the Gateway City for the 1995 NFL season, some local sporting goods retailers are moving to add Rams merchandise to their stock. However, those fans wanting something bearing the name "St. Louis Rams" will have to wait until National Football League owners bestow their official blessing on the move, which they are expected to do, during league meetings in March...

They come in all forms -- the coffee break cruncher, the noble nibbler, the super snacker -- but most Americans must have a little bite to eat between meals once in awhile. It's OK. Dietitians agree there's a place for snacks in everyone's diet. It's what you eat and how much that counts, and there's no better time to survey snacks than in February, National Snack Food Month...

The Area Vietnam Veterans and Support Group will meet Thursday at 7 p.m. at the American Legion Post 63, over Beard's Sports Shop. Activities include cards, pool and games. Those attending are asked to bring snacks. All Vietnam veterans, spouses and interested persons may attend...

For the past six weeks patrons of Midtown Hair Styling, 623 Good Hope, have been in awe of a cyclamen potted plant, which has had almost 100 blooms (96 to be exact.) A favorite winter house plant, a cyclamen has bright pink blooms with reflex petals that stand high above the heart-shaped leaves which are green and white mottled...