Stories from Wednesday, April 19, 1995

To the editor: When you stack the deck, you'll be dealt the cards you want. This is how Sen. Kit Bond's "hearing" on federal regulations was set up. Funny that Rep. Bill Emerson knew about it, that Perry Lumber president Petzoldt knew about it and Farm Bureau president Kruse knew about it. And they all heard in plenty of time to rearrange their schedules and organize presentations...

To the editor: Recently Arlen Specter declared his intention to run for the presidency on the Republican ticket. In so doing, he made a statement that we need to "get the government out of our bedrooms," referring to the "right" of a woman to choose abortion...

An environmentalist bent on halting logging in the Shawnee National Forest in Southern Illinois has come up with a new tactic: Turn the forest into a national monument to protect migratory songbirds. It is a ridiculous notion. There are only 73 spots that have earned the select designation as a national monument. Many are places you know: George Washington's birthplace, Death Valley and the Statue of Liberty. Shawnee National Forest and its songbirds don't belong in that grouping...

Frustrated by out-of-control violence, Missourians in recent years have urged the state's justice system to crack down on criminals. Send them to prison. Throw away the key. In response, Missouri's prison population has steadily grown. It is double just a decade ago. ...

CHAFFEE -- With some prompts on conducting a council meeting, former councilman Bill Cannon began his four-year term as Chaffee's mayor Monday night. Cannon admitted to being nervous as he moved the council through its agenda, asking for motions and votes. He expects to name committee members at the May 1 meeting...

Cape Girardeau's county commissioners have heard from 45 people interested in serving as Cape Girardeau's school board members. Four people have sent in their official letter and resume asking to be considered. They are David Goncher, Jeanette "Jenny" Strickland, David Rosener and Jaynee Browning...

Public transportation, widening Broadway, marking streets and traffic light safety were identified as several needs of citizens at the first Vision 2000 transportation meeting Tuesday. Mount Auburn, Bloomfield and Hopper roads followed as the most urgent projects that deserve attention...

Saying Cape Girardeau's police officers are the lowest paid in Missouri cities of similar size, a letter from the rank and file of the Cape Girardeau Police Department requests a 10 percent pay increase. But the city administration says it doesn't have the money...

How many times have you tried to make a left turn from Sprigg Street to Broadway and found yourself risking an accident to avoid waiting for another light? You could use the help of an arrow right about now. It's been like that for some time. It doesn't seem like that big of a deal until you find yourself in the same situation more times than you care to count. If it's a danger to one person it can be a hazardous situation for many others...

I WAS reading the paper about Steve Wright's reading skills and his stammering as he talked. That has nothing to do with a person's honesty or a person's intelligence. I believe Mr. Wright is honest, and I believe he's intelligent, and I would rather have someone who's honest and intelligent as someone, who, after caught, would go ahead and refund the money that they should not have been entitled to in the first place...

The "no vacancy" signs are out at Cape Girardeau Motels. The city's more than 800 motel rooms have been full or almost full the past two weekends. Vacancies will be scarce for the next three weeks as well. One of the major factors in the influx of visitors to Cape Girardeau the past two weeks has been the Southeast Missouri State University athletic program...

A planning meeting for the second annual River Heritage Regional Black Family Reunion will take place at the Cape Girardeau Civic Center Tuesday at 7 p.m. This year's reunion is scheduled to take place on the campus of Southeast Missouri State University. Additional information may be obtained at the planning meeting...

SCOTT CITY -- The Southeast Missouri Regional Port Authority has about $12 million in assets, its executive director Dan Overbey told the 25 people at the Scott City Chamber of Commerce luncheon Tuesday. Overbey highlighted current projects, such as the Economic Development Administration grants of $1.2 million for the 1,200 feet of interchange track constructed near the Scott City park on the east side of town and the $4 million in federal and state funds for economic development after the 1993 flood.. ...

SCOTT CITY -- Lady Luck Gaming Corp. remains committed to Scott City as a riverboat site, its chief financial officer, Michael A. Hlavsa, told the Scott City Council. Hlavsa, of Las Vegas, said Lady Luck considers its proposed site on the Diversion Channel superior to Boyd Gaming Corp.'s site along the Mississippi River in downtown Cape Girardeau...

ANNA, Ill. -- Leon Davis, 58, of Hoffman, formerly of Anna, died Tuesday, April 18, 1995, at the Memorial Medical Center in Springfield. He was born June 20, 1936, in Anna, the son of Ollie Bryan and Chloe Poole Davis. Survivors include a stepdaughter, Donna Brewer of Centralia, and a stepson, Mike Casper of Patoka, Ill...

VILLA RIDGE, Ill. -- Catherine G. "Katie" Dyas, 84, of Villa Ridge, died Monday, April 17, 1995, at Daystar Care Center in Cairo. She was born Nov. 10, 1910, in Mound City, daughter of George and Catherine Herley Sweeney. She married Edward F. Dyas...

JACKSON -- Blanche Myers West, 88, died April 18, 1995, at the Methodist Central Hospital in Memphis, Tenn. She was born Dec. 7, 1906, in Black, the daughter of George and Florence Dennison Myers. She was married May 19, 1956, to Samuel West, who preceded her in death June 1, 1981...

JACKSON -- Funeral service for Marie L. Kasten of Jackson will be held Thursday at 11 a.m. at St. Paul Lutheran Church, with the Rev. David Johnson officiating. Burial will be in Russell Heights Cemetery. Friends may call at the McCombs Funeral Home today from 4 to 8 p.m...

SIKESTON -- Nina Marie Shields, 79, of Sikeston, died Monday, April 17, 1995, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. She was born Dec. 23, 1915, in Paragould, Ark., daughter of Thomas S. and Alice R. Waters Sturgeon. She and Lloyd L. Shields were married June 22, 1934, at Poplar Bluff. He died Oct. 7, 1986...

CHAFFEE -- Funeral service for Susanne Renae Farrow, Chaffee Route 2, will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday at Amick-Burnett Funeral Chapel in Chaffee. The Revs. Glen Golden and Kendall Hicks will officiate, with burial in Williams Cemetery at Perkins. Friends may call at the funeral home after 4 p.m. today...

CHAFFEE -- Funeral service for David Christopher Farrow, Chaffee Route 2, will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday at Amick-Burnett Funeral Chapel in Chaffee. The Revs. Glen Golden and Kendall Hicks will officiate, with burial in Williams Cemetery at Perkins...

JACKSON -- Funeral service for Thelma Mae Davis of Jackson will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday at McCombs Funeral Chapel, with the Rev. Bill Ellis officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Park at Cape Girardeau. Friends may call at the funeral home from 10 a.m. to service time...

SIKESTON -- Graveside service for Dewey Odell Ramsey of Missouri Veterans Home in Cape Girardeau will be held at 10 a.m. today at Memorial Park Cemetery in Sikeston. The Rev. Kendall Hicks will officiate. Nunnelee Funeral Chapel is in charge of arrangements...

ADVANCE -- Graveside rites for Mildred Mary VanGennip of Advance will be held at 9:30 a.m. today at St. Joseph Cemetery. The Rev. Lewis Hejna will officiate. There is no visitation. Morgan Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. VanGennip, 73, died Monday, April 17, 1995, at Sells Rest Home in Matthews...

CAPE COUNTY International Sales & Consultants Inc. to Tucker Homes Inc.; John M. and Earlene Doris Adams to C. David and Cynthia A. Tatum; First Commercial Bank to Edward A. and Dorothy J. Riley. Bernhardt H. Lang to Hugo A. Lang III and Rebecca J. Walls; Hugo A. Lang III et al. to Bernhardt H. Lang...

Son to Eric and April Harris of Burfordville, Southeast Missouri Hospital, 4:47 p.m. Monday, April 10, 1995. Name, Cody Michael. Weight, 9 pounds 3 ounces. Third child, second son. Mrs. Harris is the former April Conley, daughter of Michael and Reita Conley of Jackson. She is a pharmacy technician at Southeast Hospital. Harris is an auto body technician with Dannie Gilder, and is the son of Garland and Ann Harris of Norfolk, Va...

The Four Seasons Audubon Society of Southeast Missouri will meet Wednesday at 7 p.m. at the Cape Girardeau Public Library, 711 N. Clark. Jim Wilson will speak on current information concerning Missouri birds. He is an ornithologist with Missouri Department of Conservation...

Jackson Fire Department Capt. Ken Koehler displayed a smoke-melted smoke detector that still works after it was in a motel fire in 1989. Smoke detectors are the granddaddy of the clan. Increasingly, home-safety-detection units are being used to examine for potential health risks, checking for anything from carbon monoxide to microwave radiation...

JACKSON -- All Clubs Day was held March 27 at Delmonico's. The devotional was given by Capaha Club, and a group sing was led by Progressive Club. Roll call was describing an heirloom and telling from whom it was received. Mary Gosche, extension club consultant, gave an update on state projects...

Everyone says "There has never been a more beautiful spring." Spring flowers, announcing nature's yearly rebirth with color, have been outstanding. Early spring flowering bulbs were gorgeous until the first rays of the unseasonable heat came. Then they did not last long, although the later ones were most rewarding...