Stories from Thursday, September 28, 1995

To the editor: With the death of Paul Lueders, Cape Girardeau has lost an artist, a craftsman and a gentleman. Almost from the beginning of his career in Cape Girardeau, Paul did the yearbook photography for local high schools and the university. Although he could have treated these contracts simply as jobs to be completed, he instead approached each of these assignments with the same drive and skill he used in all areas of his profession...

BENTON -- The Missouri Department of Natural Resources is working to correct an illegal storage of old tires near Benton. The mounds of tires two miles east of Benton along Highway 77 are in violation of waste-site regulations, said Pat Dwyer, a DNR environmental specialist...

Three Cape Girardeau lawyers were recently recognized by the Missouri Bar Association. Cape Girardeau County Prosecuting Attorney Morley Swingle, John L. Oliver Jr., and Edwin F. Ragland were all honored at the Missouri Bar-Missouri Judicial Conference annual meeting in Springfield...

Southeast Missouri State University has published a series of transfer handbooks -- all-in-one guides for community college students from 12 regional colleges who want to complete their bachelor's degrees at Southeast. The handbooks are a road map for students, showing them an eight-semester plan for completing course work for a variety of majors, first at the community college level and later at Southeast...

The Board of Directors of Mothers Against Drunk Driving has named Rich Echols, former deputy director of the Missouri Division of Highway Safety, its new state executive director. Echols' responsibility is to further the goals of MADD in reducing the number of alcohol-related accidents and in assisting victims...

A state publication lets consumers of medical services shop for the lowest prices on a number of services at area hospitals and surgical centers. The Missouri Department of Health has released its fourth "Buyer's Guide" for outpatient procedures ranging from cataract removal to treadmill stress tests...

Southeast Missouri State University's financial aid office has entered the political fray over congressional plans to cut the nation's student loan budget. The financial aid office took out a full page ad Wednesday in The Capaha Arrow, the student newspaper...

Brynne Mercer, one of five regional sales directors for Guess USA, Baby Guess and Guess Kids, will visit Children's Bazaar in Cape Girardeau on Saturday. Children's Bazaar is beginning their 23rd year in business with a Guess blowout. Mercer will be in the store from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdya to help with fall wardrobing and to help with a "Decorate a Pair of Jeans" contest and drawings for 23 gift certificates for Guess clothing...

PERRYVILLE -- Which flood insurance plan is right? How do I file a claim? What is a flood hazard? These are questions insurance agents hear from customers interested in flood insurance. Answers can be found at an agent-lender flood-plain-management seminar Oct. 20...

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. -- It's understandable that the son of missionaries Charles and Lucille Ford of Jackson would make art that is almost sacramental. John Ford uses bits of wood, paper, photographs and other found objects, things most people tend to ignore or throw away, to create installations that reflect his belief in the significance of the supposedly insignificant...

I am responding to the Southeast Missouri's Sept. 24 editorial entitled "Republican action on farm bill will be symbol, substance." My concern is that there are some very factual errors about my proposal -- The Agricultural Competitiveness Act of 1995 -- in your editorial which give rise to certain implications which I feel must be addressed. ...

The Southeast Missouri counties of Cape Girardeau, Perry and Bollinger continue to show signs of a healthy economy. Unemployment consistently hovers around 4 or 5 percent in Cape Girardeau and is slightly higher in Perry and Bollinger counties. Unfortunately, low unemployment and a growing economy can make for too few workers to fill a growing number of jobs. Employers are seeking workers in the in all types of fields...

Crime control is a battle fought on many fronts. There are police officers who respond to the calls, make arrests and, when necessary, testify in court. There are prosecutors and judges who strive to put teeth in laws passed to protect the citizenry There are legislators who draft, debate and enact those laws. No less important are the citizens who take steps to protect themselves and their neighborhoods from preying criminals...

ATHENS, Ga. -- Years before most Southeast students were born, Kenny Rogers was a jazz musician, then a folk singer and finally the leader of a Top 10 rock 'n' roll band before settling in comfortably as one of the most revered entertainers in country music...

So Ross Perot, in the manner of an ex-high school quarterback who craves attention suddenly seeing the spotlight focus elsewhere, says he'll form a new party. Well. Herewith, a prediction. Should such an undertaking actually be launched, Mr. Perot's Independence Party will prosper in inverse relation to the extent of his high-profile association with the enterprise. ...

A Cape Girardeau school district fund-raising foundation established in December 1993 has been revived with four former school board members at the helm. The four are Kathy Swan, Pat Ruopp, Lyle Davis and Ed Thompson. All either resigned from the school board or decided not to run for re-election this year. Steve Wright, a current school board member, also serves on the foundation board...

About 15 people hauled in bricks and wooden boards for the Power Team demonstrations Wednesday night at the A.C. Brase Arena Building. Tom Sirotnak, the human cannonball, broke five, wooden 2-by-4s with his shoulder as part of the performance. At least 100 bricks will be broken throughout the week's performances. Each program builds on the next so the demonstrations get more involved each night...

Frost is yet to visit the pumpkin patch, and Thanksgiving turkeys still look like they're on a diet. But Christmas is upon us. Eager to cash in on early consumer holiday spending, many area stores already have relegated Halloween and Thanksgiving merchandise to the back shelves to make room for Christmas...

Downtown Merchants Association members are excited about this year's third annual Christmas Parade of Lights. Although the event is almost two months away, the parade was a major topic during the association's meeting this week. "The Clydesdales will be here," said Dennis "Doc" Cain, a chairman for the annual parade. "This will be a great draw for the annual parade."...

Sept. 28, 1995 Dear Pat, Last week we had one new puppy, this week there are two. Life has an uncontrollable way of multiplying itself. The first puppy, who's about 6 weeks old, appeared one day in the park next door, miserable and cold. A few days later, DC learned that our puppy was not as alone as he seemed. Two more puppies from the same litter had been found by a family a block away and were already in new homes. And a neighbor had taken a fourth puppy to the Humane Society...

So far the recently enacted law to crack down on juvenile crime has had little effect on the local juvenile court. Eventually, however, changes are likely to be seen. "I'm sure there will be some effect, but like I said we'll have to wait and see," said Division IV Associate Circuit Judge Pete Statler. "When something comes up we're going to have to handle it on a case-by-case basis."...

Applicants are being sought for scholarship and awards programs offered through the Veterans of Foreign Wars and its auxiliaries. Nov. 15 is the deadline for entries in the Voice of Democracy contest. Awards for the taped essay competition will be given at the local, district, state and national levels. Topic is "Answering America's Call."...

Wednesday is moving day for the monument erected in 1931 to commemorate the one confederate troop gathered from Cape Girardeau during the Civil War. The monument was placed at the Morgan Oak Plaza, the Morgan Oak Street median just before the Mississippi River bridge, 64 years ago by the United Daughters of the Confederacy...

SEDGEWICKVILLE -- Loy Friese, 59, of Sedgewickville, died Tuesday, Sept. 26, 1995, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. He was born Aug. 10, 1936, in Sedgewickville, son of Albert and Donie Hobeck Friese. He and Eullean Mae Pillars were married Sept. 28, 1957...

DEXTER -- Daisy Irene Lacy, 83, of Sweet Springs, died Tuesday, Sept. 26, 1995, at Fitzgibbon Hospital in Marshall. She was born Jan. 4, 1912, in Brownwood, daughter of John and Emma Simmons Roper. She and Daniel M. Lacy were married Aug. 2, 1929, in Bloomfield. He died March 26, 1980...

UNITY, Ill. -- Dean Dan Hagler Sr., 88, of Unity, died Tuesday, Sept. 26, 1995, at the Lutheran Home in Cape Girardeau, Mo. He was born May 23, 1907, in Pomona, son of Tom and Phoebe Phillips Hagler. Hagler was a retired mill foreman with the Bruce Co. near Cairo. He was a member and deacon at Unity Baptist Church...

GRAND CHAIN, Ill. -- Fern Shannon, 69, of Grand Chain, died Wednesday, Sept. 27, 1995, at Memorial Hospital in Carbondale. She was born Sept. 18, 1926, in Metropolis, daughter of Thomas Y. and Ida Mae Fisher Larrison. She and Orlie L. Shannon were married Dec. 24, 1945, in Metropolis...

Anna J. Neace, 80, of Paducah, Ky., died Wednesday, Sept. 27, 1995, at her home. She was born Nov. 29, 1914, in Jackson County, Ill., daughter of Joseph and Etta Murden Reace. She and George Neace were married April 4, 1932, in St. Louis. He preceded her in death...

Son to Robert and Kay Tackett, 1217 William, Southeast Missouri Hospital, 3:31 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 21, 1995. Name, Tyler Ryan. Weight, 8 pounds 6 ounces. Second child, first son. Mrs. Tackett is the former Kay Gross, daughter of Nettie Ford of Cape Girardeau and James Ford of Cahokia, Ill. Tackett is a self-employed construction mechanic. He is the son of John and Melony Steen of Puxico and Robert and Sharon Tackett of Sturdivant...

CAIRO, Ill. -- The death of a Michigan man missing for two weeks during July has officially been declared an accidental drowning. An Alexander County coroner's jury made its ruling Tuesday during an inquest at the county courthouse. Edgar Willis, 66, of Canton, Mich., was traveling the Mississippi River by sailboat this summer. ...

Margaret Thatcher, former prime minister of Great Britain, may speak at Southeast Missouri State University next spring. The College Republicans and the Conservative Club hope to bring Thatcher to the Show Me Center, possibly in mid-March. Nathan Cooper, a member of the two clubs, said nothing has been finalized. "There is no contract."...

JACKSON -- Funeral service for Vivian Leona Straedey of Jackson will be held at 2 p.m. today at McCombs Funeral Chapel. The Revs. Cecil Barham and Carl Cureton will officiate, with burial in Russell Heights Cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home from 8:30 a.m. to service time...

Artists interested in being considered for school programs, summer classes, commissioned works, gallery shows, guest performances and other opportunities are invited to sign up for a regional Artists Registry being compiled and distributed by the Arts Council of Southeast Missouri...

The Sun Sawed in 1/2 is more than a band with an odd name. In a recent competition, they placed among the top five unsigned bands in the nation. The Sun Sawed in 1/2 will perform from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. Friday at the River City Yacht Club in downtown Cape Girardeau...