Stories from Sunday, February 19, 1995

Speak Out, the collection of anonymous comments called in by readers that appears on Page 4A daily in the Southeast Missourian, has been the target of complaints this past week. Some members of the Cape Girardeau Board of Education saw fit to use valuable meeting time to air their complaints about Speak Out...

The Jackson High School chapter of the Future Business Leaders of American have designated the week of March 6-10 as "Promote Local Businesses Week" and are sponsoring a number of events alongside the Jackson Chamber of Commerce. According to FBLA co-sponsor Becky Riney, the week provides the chapter with an opportunity to thank local businesses for their support and allows individual members a chance to see what business-oriented jobs exist in their hometown...

Looking for a fun way of getting your preschooler interested in reading? The Riverside Regional Library at 204 S. Union in Jackson offers just such a chance. Three times each month the library offers its "Storytime" program when young children can come to the children's section of the facility, see a puppet show or other entertaining presentation and listen as children's librarian Lynn Farrow reads from children's books...

Women from throughout the Jackson area invited to take part in an annual World Day of Prayer event scheduled for March 3 at the First Presbyterian Church at 206 E. Washington in Jackson. Sponsored by Church Women United of Jackson, the service is titled "The Earth Is a House for All People" and was prepared by Christian women of the nation of Ghana...

During my childhood in the land of cotton, we saw more cotton blowing than snow blowing. During August and September, cotton blowing off wagons on their way to the gin was a common sight. I moved to Missouri and for eight years experienced snow flurries and snowfalls, but on President's Day in 1993 came the blizzard. Fourteen inches of snow fell, and I then found out why snow shovels were sold...

OLMSTED, Ill. -- A pancake benefit breakfast will be held at the Olmsted Fire Station March 4. Proceeds from the breakfast, sponsored by the Olmsted Historical Society, will be used to help restore the city's railroad caboose. The breakfast will be held from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. Cost is $3 for adults and $1 for children 12 and under...

ORAN -- The Oran School District is in good financial shape, Superintendent Jack McIntosh told the school board last week. Revenues and expenditures are balancing well this year, McIntosh said, even with teachers receiving a $1,000 increase in salaries...

Dr. Robert Briner, director of the SEMO Crime Lab, and Buz Sutherland, director of the Small Business Development Center, will be featured on "University Conversations," a televised program of Southeast Missouri State University. Briner will be the show's guest today and Sutherland will be featured Feb. 26...

Nine of the 32 purebred and registered dogs seized from a Bertrand kennel Feb. 10 are still being medically treated at a Cape Girardeau veterinary clinic. Jhan White, administrator of the Humane Society of Southeast Missouri and its animal shelter in Cape Girardeau, said eight of the dogs are responding well to treatment while the chances for one is "iffy."...

STE. GENEVIEVE -- The Federal Emergency Management Agency will place Ste. Genevieve County on probation from the National Flood Insurance Program unless the county corrects deficiencies in its flood plain management program by April 22. FEMA officials said Friday that the county's flood plain program is deficient and there have been serious violations of the local flood-damage prevention ordinance...

Alyson Fritz hopes to work overseas when she graduates from Southeast Missouri State University. She might be well on her way after her experience this semester as an intern for Sanders Enterprises Inc., where Fritz is Southeast's department of foreign languages' first intern...

Kerry Kirk stirs the lettuce in the salad bar at the Home Plate Restaurant. The Kirks bought the restaurant in January and believe it will accentuate the motel they are building nearby. Nobody's sure how many people live in Zalma. Located along sparsely traveled Highway 51 in Bollinger County, between Marble Hill and Arab, Zalma's "city limits" is marked at either end by signs noting the population. One sign says it's 83. The other sign says it's 121...

Members of the General Federation of Women's Clubs-Thursday Literary Club met Feb. 9 at the Jackson Public Library. Fourteen members were present. Following a pledge of allegiance to the American and Missouri flags led by Eula Limbaugh, a devotional titled "Concerning Love," was given by Velma McNeely...

Before they set out to establish the rules under which they would be governed, America's founding fathers laid out some broad principles and goals for their new nation, and while they have sometimes been overlooked or simply bypassed during a brief moment of expediency, they have remained the overriding tenets of our democratic experiment...

Any reform that is acceptable to the educational establishment, and that can gain a majority in a legislature, federal or state, is bound to be worse than nothing. -- From "Kristol's First Law of Educational Reform" by Irving Kristol. For two weeks I have been writing on Senate Bill 380 and its transformation of Missouri public schools. Kristol's article, entitled "The Inevitable Outcome of Outcomes" is among the finest pieces ever written on SB 380-style outcome based education...

Missouri lawmakers are six weeks into the annual legislative session that began last month and will adjourn in mid-May. After a slow start, especially in a House chamber roiled by the brouhaha over the election of Speaker Bob Griffin, some progress on key issues is apparent...

When it comes to college basketball Nathan Daume probably has one of the best seats in the house -- a courtside seat in fact. A 1989 graduate of Oak Ridge High School, Daume is now a student assistant coach with the University of Missouri Tigers basketball team. The team is ranked ninth in the most recent Associated Press college basketball poll...

John Fred Seabaugh, seated, and his sister Jane in the mid-1950s with a 1942 Ford tractor which is still in use on the farm. Among numerous items from the farm's past are a whiskey bottle dated 1898, a number of photos and an electric dvice designed to remedy nerve afflictions...

Air Force 1st Lt. Kevin D. Dixon has arrived for duty at Osan Air Base in Songtan, South Korea. Dixon, a signals intelligence flight commander, is the son of Ken and Betty Dixon of 1949 Greenridge Ln. of Jackson. He is a 1986 graduate of Jackson High School and received a bachelor's degree in 1990 from the University of Missouri at Columbia...

The Jacksonian Charter Chapter of the American Business Women's Association is now taking applications for scholarships for the fall semester of 1995. In order to qualify for a scholarship, candidates must adhere to the criteria set forth by the ABWA including, but not limited to four standards...

Members of the Young Doers 4-H Club met recently at the Riverside Regional Library. Eleven club members, eight leaders and three guests were present. Jessica Winkler presided. Pledges were led by Michelle Griffet and Becky Winkler. In addition, a number of project meeting reports were presented. ...

There are myths and there are myths. There are myths that go out of style with the passage of time. There are myths that take on a life of their own and never quit. POWs/MIAs in North Vietnam is one of those that won't quit. There are many Americans who believe or want to believe that Americans remain alive in captivity in North Vietnam or Laos or Cambodia...

There are probably more, but at least three men in the area know the feel of hot volcanic ash in their boots, the sound of mortar shells exploding and the sight of dead American soldiers -- common memories for veterans of Iwo Jima. Iwo Jima is Japanese for Sulfur Island. Maj. Gen. Curtis LeMay said he couldn't bomb Japan effectively without it, so 50 years ago today -- Feb. 19, 1945 -- these three Marines and the first of over 60,000 others headed for shore in landing craft...

The city of Cape Girardeau paid above appraised value for more than half of 42 tracts it purchased for the Cape LaCroix-Walker Branch flood control project. Ken Eftink, the city's development services coordinator, said the city paid well over market value for some properties...

WE GET our paper through the school for our history class, and as we read it we think there's only one party, because that's all your paper refers to until they want to criticize the Democratic party. We would like more level coverage of both parties. Apparently the editor is one of those Republicans...

Job prospects for 1995 graduates are bright, says Loretta Schneider, assistant director of career planning and placement at Southeast Missouri State University. "All the predictions are that hiring will be up 15 to 20 percent," she said. "The job outlook is much brighter for this graduating class" than in previous years, she said...

Southwestern Bell Telephone hopes to introduce a Local Plus service for customers in the form of flat-fee calling within local calling areas. Residential and business customers could make unlimited calls within an area code. "Residential customers would have the option of paying $30 a month for the expanded local calling area," said Donna Burk, area Bell manager at Sikeston. "Business customers would pay $60 a month."...

JACKSON -- The Jackson Junior High PTO will meet Tuesday at 7 p.m. in the junior high cafeteria. Jackson Police Capt. Robert Hull and Sgt. Howard Hammers will speak on local occult and gang activity. The discussion could concern all parents, regardless of their child's age. The March meeting will be on the same topics...

The Cape Girardeau City Council will meet Monday to discuss ways to regulate strip-tease places. The special meeting will be held at 5 p.m. at city hall and is open to the public. The council is considering imposing restrictions in the wake of public opposition to the recent opening of a strip-tease bar called Regina's House of Dolls...

SCOTT CITY -- Employees of the Scott City police and public works departments will get pay increases, some of up to $3,000 or more annually, beginning March 5. Local officials hope the new pay plan will allow the city to keep its valued employees longer as wages are raised to be more competitive with area towns...

CHAFFEE -- Agnes Urhahn, 61, of Chaffee, formerly of New Hamburg, died Saturday, Feb. 18, 1995, at her home. Funeral arrangements are incomplete at the Amick-Burnett Funeral Chapel in Chaffee.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. -- Harlan M. Boston, 86, of Springfield died Wednesday, Feb. 8, 1995, at the Memorial Medical Center in Springfield. He was born Jan. 31, 1909, in Iola, the son of Burlie A. and Hallie Dewhirst Boston. He was a retired farmer and a U.S. Navy veteran of World War II...

PERRYVILLE -- Louise Marcella Copen, 72, of Perryville died Thursday, Feb. 16, 1995, at Perry County Memorial Hospital in Perryville. She was born April 7, 1922, in East St. Louis, Ill., the daughter of Charles and Irene Hillgamyer Schwartz. She married James Copen, who preceded her in death on April 22, 1993...

SCOTT CITY -- L.H. Shipman, 77, of Scott City died Friday, Feb. 17, 1995, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. He was born June 16, 1917, at Vanduser, the son of Aubrey Cameron and Edith Schatz Shipman. He and Margaret Hill were married Dec. 31, 1941, in Cape Girardeau...

WAPPAPELLO -- Clarence E. Seal, 82, of Wappapello died Friday, Feb. 17, 1995, at John J. Pershing Medical Center in Poplar Bluff. He was born Jan. 3, 1913, at Des Arc, the son of Fred and Paralee Seal. He and Sue Ann Potter were married June 30, 1930, in Greenville...

Paul Albert Griffith, 66, of 733 S. West End Blvd. died Friday, Feb. 17, 1995, at his home. He was born July 10, 1928, at Steeleville, Ill., the son of Louis A. and Flora Lohman Griffith. He and Betty Hoffman were married Oct. 23, 1947, at Cape Girardeau...

Elise Christine Koerber, 97, of 107 N. Frederick died Saturday, Feb. 18, 1995, at the Lutheran Home. She was born May 20, 1897, at Cape Girardeau, the daughter of Albert and Emilie Bertling Koerber. She worked at I. Ben Millers Cafeteria from 1942-1944; Crescent Cleaners from 1945-1947, and Lowenbaum Dress Factory from 1948-1968. She was a member of Hanover Lutheran Church, Ladies Aid and the Dramatic Club...

Edna Marie Strack, 73, of 211 Mason died Friday, Feb. 17, 1995, at St. Francis Medical Center. She was born May 25, 1921, the daughter of Edward A. and Rosa Zent Scherer. She and William Strack were married March 18, 1954, at Jonesboro, Ark. She was a maid at Southeast Missouri State University for 15 years, retiring in 1990. She was a member of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen and Engineers, and St. Mary's Cathedral...

BELL CITY -- Albert Livingston, 84, of Bell City died Saturday, Feb. 18, 1995, at Dexter Memorial Hospital. He was born Oct. 5, 1910, at Commerce, the son of James Robert and Della Mason Livingston. He and Letha Kearby were married Dec. 10, 1929, at Sikeston...

ANNA, Ill. -- Chester McClure, 81, of Anna, died Saturday, Feb. 18, 1995, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. He was born Sept. 17, 1913, at Sparta, Ill., son of James and Maggie Groce McClure. He and Lela Sims were married Oct. 1, 1939...

ZALMA -- David Lee Myers, 28, of Zalma died Friday, Feb. 17, 1995, at the Arab Stone Quarry in an industrial accident. He was born Aug. 17, 1966, at Cape Girardeau, the son of Lenzie and Janice Fisher Myers. He and Ronda Treece were married Dec. 20, 1986...

MORLEY -- Ella W. Koster, 93, formerly of Morley, died Friday, Feb. 17, 1995, at her home in Gardner, Kan. She was born April 5, 1901, at Brockett, Ark., the daughter of Claude and Effie Daniels Cooper. She and Burnie A. Koster were married March 9, 1925, at Maynard, Ark. She moved from Morley to Gardner in 1988, where she was a member of the Church of Christ...

CHARLESTON -- Diana Winston, 35, of Charleston died Friday, Feb. 17, 1995, at the Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston. She was born Sept. 25, 1959, in Charleston, the daughter of Thomas and Barbara Winston Moore. She was a Baptist. Survivors include her parents; two daughters, Lasika and Ishea Winston, and a son, Xavier Winston, all of the home; two sisters, Larneice and Dorothy Moore of Charleston; and two brothers, Harold Winston of Atlanta, Ga., and Bradley Moore of Cape Girardeau...

Villa Ridge, Ill., -- Susie Goines Pfaff, 88, of Villa Ridge died Feb. 18, 1995, at the Cape Girardeau Nursing Center. She was born July 20, 1906, in Grand Chain, the daughter of Albert Goines and Susie Thrasher. She married Fredrick Carl Pfaff on Feb. 24, 1930, at Jonesboro. He preceded her in death on Sept. 20, 1994...

CAPE GIRARDEAU COUNTY George R. and Mary Jane Collier to Robert D. and Marlene J. Wilson; Emil Meyer to the Stephen E. and Patricia F. Strom Trusts; Robert D. and Marlene J. Wilson to Donald George Perry Jr. and Saundra Kay Perry. Edward E. McClary et al. to Ervin and Marilyn Kranawetter; Clarence and Evelyn Carnell to Charles and Marta Hargrave; Paulette and Garry L. Stone Sr. to Timothy W. and Rebecca L. Stone...

A power outage Saturday afternoon forced 500 to 600 people at a swim meet to evacuate the Cape Central Pool after the structure's bubble roof began deflating. No one was injured in the incident, which occurred after a back-up motor failed to kick in to keep the blower that inflates the roof operating...

A three-car accident on Highway 72 three miles west of Millersville injured four people Friday night. The accident occurred at 7:07 p.m. on a curve when a westbound car driven by Magdalene Beussink, 19, of Jackson attempted to pass a westbound car driven by James Starkey, 26, of Marquand...

The National Arbor Day Foundation is giving 10 white flowering dogwood trees to each new member during February 1995. The trees are part of the nonprofit Foundation's "Trees for America" campaign. The trees will be shipped postpaid at the right time for planting between March 1 and May 31 with enclosed planting instructions. The 6- to 12-inch trees are guaranteed to grow or they will be replaced free of charge...

ST JAMES, Mo. -- Nine thousand anglers are expected for the opening day of the regular season at Missouri's four trout parks March 1. These hardy fishers will stand elbow to elbow in the misty dawn, vying for the chance to net more than 28,000 rainbow trout...

Fishermen anticipating the approach of spring are much like kids longing for Christmas: both can hardly wait to play with the new toys. As usual, this spring will allow anglers to attack their local waters with an array of new tackle and accessories. The giant fishing industry continues to grind out fresh wares to coax angler spending, and it usually works. The fishermen and the fish both bite well...

"You got ter get outer heah and see what's goin' on in de thicket," I sez to myself, sezee I, reverting to my Uncle Remus dialect in order to lift the day out of wintertime Slough of Mediocrity. I wonder," continues I, "'spose we have a mild winter, will dat make spring no less trillin'?"...

Slam dunk with Shaq! Build a better mousetrap with "Home Improvement's" Tim Allen or just sit back, relax and play 18 holes at Pebble Beach. This and more are available at the local video store. Cruise in, choose your pleasure and then check out one of the hundreds of home video game titles...

The Certified Professional Secretary (CPS) exam will be administered at Southeast Missouri State University May 6. The deadline for registration is March 1. Late applications will be processed for the next test date in November. Walk-in or standby registration will not be permitted...