Stories from Tuesday, September 19, 1995

Joanie Skinner used to think she loved teaching primary grades best. Then she taught third and fourth grades, which she loved even better. But last year she taught fifth-graders and thought that was the best. This year Skinner teaches remedial math at Jefferson Elementary in the morning and Reading Recovery at Alma Schrader Elementary in the afternoons...

Sherree Reed worked as an intern in finance and accounting at Southeast Missouri State University. Good grades, classroom knowledge and a college diploma are fine things, but what is it that employers really look for in a prospective employee? Experience, measurable, practical experience...

Neighborhood opposition didn't matter. The Cape Girardeau City Council voted unanimously Monday night to approve the preliminary plat of The Capes Subdivision after listening to objections from about 40 residents of the Sylvan Lane area. Mayor Al Spradling III said the council had no choice but to approve the preliminary plat...

Traffic stops at 10 Cape Girardeau County sites Monday launched a $1.7 million look at the area's transportation future. The Missouri Highways and Transportation Department hired Environmental Science & Engineering Inc. of St. Louis to conduct the transportation survey...

The Cape Girardeau Board of Education this year waived a graduation requirement to let a transfer student earn her diploma in January. The student, who transferred from New Madrid County schools last year, will have 24 credits at the semester break, one more than the school district requires for graduation. But the student will be short a half credit of biology...

Our house is catalog city. Our mailbox is regularly crammed with them. I never got all these catalogs when I was single. But now that I have been married for 15 years, Joni and I have become a catalog-targeted couple. Open these full-color catalogs, and you are bombarded with everything from table skirts to toys...

In the SEMO District Fair livestock competition results printed in Monday's edition, incorrect information was provided to the Southeast Missourian for two categories: Open class Angus: grand champion heifer, Brian Meier, Jackson; reserve champion heifer, Brian Wolfenkoehler, Jackson; grand champion bull, Meier Angus Farms, Jackson; reserve champion, Pohlman Angus Farms of Oak Ridge...

Cape Girardeau voters will have a chance to amend the city charter next April. The City Council voted Monday night to put the issue on the April ballot. Council members said they would wait until their Nov. 20 meeting to decide which amendments proposed by the Charter Review Committee to place on the ballot...

I AM calling in response to the comment Out about "Not in my air." There is no way to believe that second-hand smoke is the only thing that caused emphysema in this person. Not with all the crap we have going in the air from factories, aerosol cans and automobiles. All of this garbage has already caused the ozone to have a big hole in it. Smoking is bad for you, but it is not the only problem that causes air pollution in people's private air zones...

Half a million dollars is a nice, round figure. It also is the goal of a fund-raising effort by Mid-America Teen Challenge, which for the past 26 years has worked with thousands of men who have drug-abuse and alcohol problems at its rural campus just north of Cape Girardeau...

On the radio the other day I heard an economist say that we are living in Utopia. I wondered if he thought that we might change our name from "United" to "Utopian States of America." He cited all of the technological advances and scientific improvements that have made our lives more comfortable and enjoyable. ...

In just a few short weeks, generous donors will either contribute or pledge to give half a million dollars to the Area Wide United Way effort. The $500,000 goal is to provide funding for some 24 agencies that offer leadership, comfort and support for youth programs and individuals in need of special assistance...

Robert J. Sides, 83, 6887 State Highway Y, died Monday, Sept. 18, 1995, at his home. Ford and Sons Sprigg Street Chapel is in charge of arrangements.

PERRYVILLE -- Emmett C. Berkbigler, 88, of Perryville died Monday, Sept. 18, 1995, at the Perry County Nursing Home in Perryville. He was born July 11, 1907, at Biehle, the son of William and Theresa Kirn Berkbigler. He married Anna L. Baer in November 1932 at Apple Creek. She preceded him in death Feb. 19, 1995...

Ernestine M. Gerhardt, 74, 316 S. Lorimier, died Sunday, Sept. 17, 1995, at St. Francis Medical Center. She was born June 2, 1921, in Cape Girardeau, daughter of Ernest and Kitty Pounds Miller. She and Kermit W. Gerhardt were married Aug. 2, 1941. Gerhardt was a member of Grace United Methodist Church and Wayside Garden Club...

JACKSON -- Daniel Justin Minnich, 75, of St. Louis, died Saturday, Sept. 16, 1995, in St. Louis County. He was born Aug. 11, 1920, in Lorain, Ohio, son of John Alban and Madolin McNeil Minnich. He married the former Mary Adele Holton. Minnich had worked at Emerson Electirc. served in the U.S. Navy during World War II, and was a member of the Legion of Mary...

SIKESTON -- Inez D. Hunt, 61, of Sikeston, died Saturday, Sept. 16, 1995, at Missouri Delta Medical Center, following an extended illness. She was born Dec. 4, 1933, in Shuqualak, Miss., daughter of Harry and Lurean Hardin Jones. She and Jake Hunt were married March 14, 1954. He died Sept. 29, 1967...

Norma Lynette Janssen, 63, 2510 Jonquil, died Sunday, Sept. 17, 1995, at St. Francis Medical Center. She was born Dec. 27, 1931, in Wilmington, Del., daughter of Stanley F. and Florence M. Johnston Beverage. She and John R. Janssen were married Nov. 7, 1964, in Belleville, Ill...

ANNA, Ill. -- Hazel Morgan, 76, of Anna, died Sunday, Sept. 17, 1995, at Union County Hospital. She was born June 15, 1919, in Cobden, daughter of William and Bertha Claxton Treece. Morgan was a member of First Baptist Church in Cobden. Survivors include a daughter, Linda Morgan of Anna...

SIKESTON -- Myrtle Magdalene "Maggie" Cooper, 65, of Sikeston, died Sunday, Sept. 17, 1995, at Miner Nursing Center in Miner. She was born March 28, 1930, in Bell City, daughter of Harry V. and Ruby L. West Dunnegan. She and Henry Cooper were married Oct. 12, 1946, in Piggott, Ark...

JACKSON -- The cost of hooking up to Jackson's water could be considerably less after repeal of a city ordinance by the Jackson Board of Aldermen Monday night. City Administrator Steve Wilson said the formula for water hookup charges, or tap fees, isn't even-handed. He said customers could be charged as much as $700 to start city water service...

ANNA, Ill. -- Donald W. Casper, 94, of Anna, died Sunday, Sept. 17, 1995, at City Care Center. He was born Oct. 17, 1900, in Cobden, son of L.L. and Blanche Waite Casper. He and Veva Bishop were married Aug. 6, 1921, in Anna. She died Aug. 22, 1988...

THEBES, Ill. -- Grace Lorraine King, 79, Thebes Route 1, died Sunday, Sept. 17, 1995, at her home. She was born June 29, 1916, in Cabool, Mo., daughter of Adam A. and Cora Effie Cox Brown. She and Edward W. King were married June 21, 1935, in Golconda. He died Nov. 20, 1988...

DUTCHTOWN -- Kathryn B. Langston of Dutchtown died Monday, Sept. 18, 1995, at her home. Ford and Sons Mt. Auburn Chapel in Cape Girardeau is in charge of arrangements.

ANNA, Ill. -- Harvey Ligon, 89, of Anna, died Monday, Sept. 18, 1995, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau, Mo. He was born June 2, 1906, in Anna, son of John H. and Birdie West Ligon. He and Helen Church were married Oct. 10, 1931. Ligon was a retired partner of Ligon Lumber Co. He was a member and elder of First Christian Church, and former board member of Union County Hospital...

Daughter to Steve and Tracy Burgett of Albany, Calif., Alta Bates Medical Center in Berkeley, Calif., 3 p.m. Monday, July 31, 1995. Name, Kelsey Anne. Weight, 8 pounds 14 ounces. Second daughter. Mrs. Burgett is the former Tracy Martin, daughter of Gilbert and Pat Martin of Cape Girardeau. She is an attorney. Burgett expects to receive a doctorate degree from Berkeley University in 1996. He is the son of Charley and Karen Burgett of Santa Barbara, Calif...

Thelma Bond, 88, of Cape Girardeau died Monday, Sept. 18, 1995, at the Lutheran Home. Arrangements are incomplete at Ford & Sons Sprigg Street Chapel.

B. Ray Owen, longtime business editor of the Southeast Missourian, is responsible for the newspaper's business section, which received a first-place award in the National Newspaper Association's Better Newspaper Contest. The Southeast Missourian captured eight awards in the National Newspaper Association's Better Newspaper Contest. The awards will be presented Friday at NNA's annual convention in St. Paul, Minn...

After countless hours of refinishing floors and rebuilding walls, the Vandivort-Mellies home is finished. "It's like building a home but you don't get to choose," said Emily Mellies, who has been restoring her home at 504 Bellevue for 10 years. Mellies and her husband, Steven, own another home at 824 Themis that is still in the process of being restored...

For nine weeks, Mondays will be GREAT days for seventh-graders at Louis J. Schultz Middle School. Once a week, Patrolman Charlie Herbst of the Cape Girardeau Police Department will instruct students at the school in the Gang Resistance Education and Training program, known as GREAT...

Robert and Joanna Krone of Cape Girardeau met at a sorority dance at Southeast Missouri State University in 1963. Thirty-two years later, they are the honorary parents of the school's Family Weekend '95. The Krones will be officially recognized by Dr. Bill Atchley, school president, prior to the noon picnic Sept. 30 at Academic Terraces...

Sarah Wernsman, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Steve Wernsman of Cape Girardeau, has been selected a finalist in the 1995 Pre-Teen Missouri Scholarship and Recognition Program to be held Friday through Sunday at the Capitol Plaza Hotel in Jefferson City. Pre-Teen Missouri is an invitation-only scholarship event for girls ages 7 to 12 who rank in the top 10 percent of the state academically. ...

Felisha Session, a senior at Cape Girardeau Central High School, participated over the summer in the Minority High School Student Research Apprentice Program at the University of Missouri-Columbia. The program emphasized laboratory research and allowed each student to work on a project. It also prepared students for the ACT college entrance test...

Shonna Tropf of Chaffee spent the summer planning recreational activities for children of U.S. military people Tropf spent the summer in Sasebo, Japan, as a counselor for Camp Adventure, which is sponsored by the University of Northern Iowa and serves all branches of the military. More than 7,000 participated...

Two nurses at Southeast Missouri Hospital received scholarships for career development from the hospital's auxiliary group. Linda Heitman, a clinical nurse specialist and regional heart center coordinator, and Lisa Moses, a nurse in the intensive care unit, each received a $2,500 scholarship...

Billie Ray Fair of Sikeston was the 1995 recipient of the Rev. A.B. Cooper Scholarship at Southeast Missouri State University. The one-year scholarship is awarded students pursuing study in the ministry. It was established by Cooper's daughter Jane Cooper Stacy, director of alumni services at the university. Cooper was a Baptist minister in Charleston for more than 50 years...

Dale Humphries, president of the Cape Girardeau Area Zonta Club, recently participated in a women's suffrage anniversary march. The event, Shoulder to Shoulder March, was held in St. Louis to commemorate the 75th anniversary of women's right to vote...

Kenneth Seabaugh of Jackson received honors for his entries in the beef cattle division at the Missouri State Fair in Sedalia. Seabaugh entered in the MSF open Charolais and open Charolais contests. He received first place in both contests for his summer yearling bulls and sire. He also earned honors for his intermediate champion bull entry...

Navy Ensign Keith E. Johnson recently completed Officer Indoctrination School. Johnson is a 1991 graduate of Cape Girardeau Central High School and a 1995 graduate of Rice University, Houston Texas. He is the son of Norris E. and Barbara G. Johnson of Cape Girardeau...

Douglas M. Welter was recently promoted to 1st lieutenant in the Air Force. Welter is a public-affairs officer at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base in Goldsboro, N.C. He is a 1989 graduate of Notre Dame High School and a 1993 graduate of Southeast Missouri State University. He is the son of Franklin D. and Linda L. Welter of Chaffee...

Winners in recent Cape Girardeau Bridge Club competition were Irene Lewis and Janice Gilbert, first place; Norma Blattner and Melva Rose Lewis, second place; John Whitehead and Shirley Gesheimer, third place; and Norman and Marie McElreath, fourth place...