Stories from Tuesday, February 6, 1996

Names of some of the local black women are displayed at the museum for Black History Month. Black History Month is observed in February to remind Americans of the contributions African-Americans made to this country's history. That's according to Dawn Evans, president of the Cape Girardeau chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People...

OAK RIDGE -- Carleen Johns teaches art at Oak Ridge schools, but her students learn just as much about math, science and social studies when they enter her classroom. One project that teaches a combination of art and history is a lesson on Michelangelo. Johns lectures first about Michelangelo and his life before the students start their projects on paper taped to the bottom of a desk or table...

The city of Cape Girardeau will seek a grant to buy 16 acres of the old St. Vincent's Seminary property and turn it into a park. The move would aid the Colonial Cape Girardeau Foundation in its effort to turn the former Catholic school into a cultural center...

Bill Dushell shivered in his truck as he watched his home burn to the ground Monday morning just off County Road 635 on Welch Pass. A few moments before making it to his truck, the 23-year-old Dushell awoke to find his home filled with smoke and flames. He quickly put on jeans and fled his half of the burning duplex without shoes, a shirt or coat. He then called 911 on his cellular phone at about 9:45 a.m...

Before he ever warmed up the bandsaw or sharpened his hand chisel, Dan Scott spent more than two years studying how to make a violin. His studies sent him on cross-country trips to speak to violin-making masters whose musical creations sell for thousands of dollars. He visited a German violin-maker in North Carolina and a young couple who both make violins in Sarasota, Fla. On a family vacation to Australia, Scott spent his time seeking out fellow fiddle-makers rather than taking in the Outback...

Doug Downs took an essay test on Plato. But he didn't bother with pen or pencil. He and his Southeast Missouri State University classmates wrote out their answers on computers in a new computer lab. Such technology would have been a revelation to the Greek philosopher...

A Cape Girardeau businessman asked the City Council Monday night to take steps to encourage the federal government to consider building a new courthouse on the old St. Francis Hospital site. Businessman Ted Coalter asked the council to rezone the property from residential to commercial and include it as part of the city's central business district...

Would-be presidents seem confined these days to that freezer of a state, New Hampshire. You have to wonder about the state of mind of presidential candidates. Any normal person would be planning a trip to Disney World or some other suitably warm spot. Presidential candidates, on the other hand, spend their time campaigning through cold and snow...

JACKSON -- The Primary Annex PTO will conduct a Kid Care Fair from 6:30 to 8 tonight at the Primary Annex Building, 444 W. Jefferson. Local organizations, businesses and support groups providing services to young children will set up exhibits to acquaint parents with the services available to them...

JEFFERSON CITY -- Eigthy-five years ago this week, as residents of the capital city prepared to attend evening church services, a single flash of lightning ignited a fire that destroyed Missouri's much-maligned Capitol. On Sunday, Feb. 5, 1911, Jefferson City was struck by a thunderstorm that was to demolish a 71-year-old Capitol that many Missourians had come to hate. ...

Kind neighbors It takes a mighty good neighbor from across the street to pick up the newspaper every day, especially in this bitter cold weather, and put it under the handle on the storm door so that it can be reached. That way, the neighbor knows that we are still alive. A grateful elderly lady in Scott City...

To the editor: God gave everyone a brain, and there is a reason for this. Without a brain, a body would be a fearsome thing. But its greatest danger would be to itself, because it would probably self-destruct in a short time. But there is a flow in all brains. ...

Our Public Works Department has put together a complete list of services offered by our sanitation department. If you wish to receive a copy of this information, stop by City Hall or call 243-2300 and we will be happy to send it to you. Final 1995 construction reports show some leveling off of our new single-family home growth. ...

Narvol A. Randol accepted the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce's Limbaugh Award Friday night with a simple thank you. That is the way he does most things. Without a lot of fuss or fanfare, he gets the job done. With quiet determination, he has served country, state and community beyond the call of duty...

The morass that goes by the name of school desegregation in Kansas City keeps swallowing more and more common sense in spite of clear indications that Missourians are about to stop footing the hefty bill. The latest scenario is a continuation of a long string, more than a decade's worth, of bad judgment, bad decisions and bad results. ...

On Dec. 14 the State Board of Education passed a 95-page agenda entitled "Missouri Goals 2000 State Plan." The endorsement of this document makes crystal clear Gov. Mel Carnahan's intentions of education reform for our children. The entire reform process is nothing more than handing our children over to the federal government for education. ...

Funeral mass for Agnes Angelica Heuring, 536 S. Middle, will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday at St. Mary's Cathedral. Msgr. Richard Rolwing will officiate, with burial in St. Mary's Cemetery. Friends may call at Ford and Sons Sprigg Street Chapel from 4-8 p.m. today. Parish prayers will be at 7...

W. Earl Stroder, 80, 3966 County Road 318, died Sunday, Feb. 4, 1996, at the Lutheran Home. He was born Oct. 11, 1915, at Whitewater, son of Luther and Lela Heimbach Stroder. He and Aminell Scholz were married Aug. 7, 1937, in Jackson. Stroder was with the Cape Grocers Association 20 years, was a custodian at Cape Girardeau County Courthouse in Jackson 10 years, and custodian at Holiday Inn 10 years, retiring in the late 1980s. ...

SIKESTON -- Evelyn Jeannine Riley, 60, of Sikeston, died Sunday, Feb. 4, 1996, at Missouri Delta Medical Center. She was born Jan. 28, 1936, in Tanner, daughter of Bill and Eva Gray Cole. She and Ernest Roy Riley were married Oct. 20, 1956. Riley was a licensed practical nurse at Bertrand Retirement Home. She was a member of Miner Baptist Church and Sikeston Duplicate Bridge Club...

BERTRAND -- Funeral service for Lloyd Diamond of Bertrand will be held at 2 p.m. today at Amick-Burnett Funeral Chapel in Benton. The Rev. Dale Huff will officiate, with burial in Forest Hills Memorial Gardens at Morley. Diamond, 86, died Sunday, Feb. 4, 1996, at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston...

SIKESTON -- Daisy Mae Thompson, 82, of Sikeston died Monday, Feb. 5, 1996, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. She was born Sept. 29, 1913, at East Prairie, daughter of John L. and Ethel G. Woods Buttery. She married Cecil "Bud" Shell on Jan. 11, 1930, at Matthews. He died Aug. 3, 1952. She later married Willie "Bill" Thompson on Dec. 19, 1953, at Sikeston. He died Feb. 6, 1964...

Funeral service for Marvin William Schrader of Cape Girardeau was held Monday at Ford and Sons Mt. Auburn Chapel. The Rev. David V. Dissen officiated, with burial in Memorial Park. Schrader, 83, died Saturday, Feb. 3, 1996, at the Lutheran Home. He was born Jan. 31, 1913, at Dutchtown, son of Albert and Magdalene Keller Schrader...

DEXTER -- Funeral service for John Kevin Watkins of San Jose, Calif., will be held at 7:30 p.m. today at Watkins and Sons Funeral Chapel in Dexter. The Rev. Wayne Dismuke and Mike Watkins will officiate. Burial will be Wednesday in Dexter Cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home after 4 p.m. today...

DEXTER -- Leonard Marion Rose, 83, of Dexter, died Sunday, Feb. 4, 1996, at Crowley Ridge Care Center. He was born Sept. 15, 1912, at Bloomfield, son of William and Lillie Butler Rose. Rose operated a used car dealership in Flint, Mich., 30 years. He had resided in Dexter the past 15 years...

ADVANCE -- Aaron Parks Long, 74, of Adelanto, Calif., died Sunday, Feb. 4, 1996, at his home. He was born Aug. 21, 1921, in Bollinger County, son of Bland and Minnie Welker Long. Long was owner/operator of a crane company in California many years. Survivors include a daughter, Earlene Long of Illinois; his mother of Advance; four brothers, Earshel Long of Biggers, Ark., Benton Long of Advance, Lonnie Long of Yorba Linda, Calif., Charles Long of Los Alamitos, Calif.; four sisters, Nadine Robison, Maxine Myers and Geraldine Moore of Advance, Mella Eaker of St. ...

Funeral service for Dillinger Lee Upchurch will be held at 1 p.m. today at Union Light Church near Patton. The Rev. Diana Cook will officiate, with burial in the church cemetery. Friends may call at the church from noon to service time. Liley Funeral Home at Patton is in charge of arrangements...

NEW WELLS -- Dorothy Brown, 54, of New Wells died Monday, Feb. 5, 1996, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. Arrangements are incomplete at McCombs Funeral Home in Jackson.

MARBLE HILL -- Charley Edward Seabaugh, 61, of Marble Hill, died Sunday, Feb. 4, 1996, at his home. He was born Feb. 21, 1934, at Allenville, son of Amon Edward and Dollie Smith Seabaugh. Seabaugh was a timber dealer, and member of Missouri Troopers Association and NRA...

COBDEN, Ill. -- Cleeta Keller, 88, of Cobden, died Sunday, Feb. 4, 1996, at Union County Hospital in Anna. She was born June 26, 1907, in Union County, daughter of James Wilford and Cora Belle Keller Sheffer. She and Lowell Keller were married Dec. 8, 1924...

JACKSON -- Geraldine W. Seabaugh, 71, of Jackson, died Sunday, Feb. 4, 1996, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. She was born Sept. 22, 1924, in Patton, daughter of John C. and Willie M. Grindstaff Doggett. She and Lloyd E. Seabaugh were married Nov. 14, 1944, in Reno, Nev...

A 20-barge tow stranded in ice near Cape Girardeau will have to lighten its load before moving farther on the Mississippi River. When the Dennis Hendrix started its trek on the Mississippi late last week, it was within load limits, but over the weekend the Corps of Engineers' St. Louis District issued an edict that barges traveling on the upper Mississippi north of Cairo, Ill. would be limited to eight barges, two wide and four long...

Southeast Missouri Hospital's Fitness and Wellness Center will offer health screenings at Chaffee's Medicap Pharmacy, 211 W. Yoakum, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday. Blood pressure and glucose screenings will be offered at no cost. The glucose screening requires a 10-hour fast...

JACKSON -- What started out as a few mild complaints from Oak Hill Road residents has turned into an all-out battle between the city of Jackson and property owners. The city is seeking an order of condemnation against four Jackson couples -- John and Ruth Powers, Cletus and Sue Urhahn, Bradley and Teri Bowman and Greg and Christy Withers. All live on Oak Hill Road, which was recently improved from gravel, and all of their driveways were damaged during road work...

If you are between the ages of 18 and 24 and have about 10-months to spare, the AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps could use your help. AmeriCorps is accepting applications from people interested in its national service program. To receive an application, call 1-800-942-2677. The deadline is May 3...

An academic pep rally Wednesday at Cape Girardeau Central High School will honor students for achievements during the school year. The rally is sponsored by the school's Renaissance Program. In its first year, the Renaissance Program promotes recognition and incentives for good academic progress, attendance and attitude...

CARBONDALE -- The 13th annual conference on teaching mathematics will be held Feb. 15 at the Southern Illinois University at Carbondale Student Center. It begins at 8 a.m. and is sponsored by the Illinois Council of Teachers of Mathematics. The workshop includes 45 sessions for teachers of kindergarten through college. It will also emphasize using calculators, computers and the Internet in the math curriculum...

Jennifer Kopf, formerly of Cape Girardeau, was honored as the section editor of the 1995 issue of Des Moines Magazine. The magazine won an all-American rating from the Associate Collegiate Press. It is published by seniors in the magazine sequence at Drake University's School of Journalism and Mass Communication...

Jennie Lukens of Cape Girardeau was recently named to the High Honors Dean's List of Peabody College at Vanderbilt University. Students who earn a grade-point average of at least 3.5 are named to the list. Lukens is a freshman at the college and is the daughter of Steve and Ellen Lukens of Cape Girardeau...

The Missouri Association of Photographers was recently established to help both amateur and the professional photographer. Membership is open to people interested in photography. It costs $19.95 and includes a magazine subscription and discounts on videos, books and film...

Amber Pool of Cape Girardeau earned the Dean's Scholarship to Westminster College in Fulton. She is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Terry R. Pool and is a senior at Cape Girardeau Central High School. Pool is a member of the National Honor Society, Beta Club, Letterman's Club and Future Homemakers of America. She also was chosen to attend the President's Leadership Conference in Washington...

Jennifer E. Jones of Cape Girardeau was recently selected as a candidate in the 1996 Presidential Scholars Program. The program selects high school seniors on the basis of superior academic and artistic achievements, leadership qualities, strong character and involvement in both community and school activities...

Couples from Southeast Missouri can register for the Aldersgate Marriage Encounter weekend until Feb. 15. The seminar will be March 1 through 3 at the Drury Inn in St. Louis To register, call 264-2056 days or 264-2673 nights. Marriage encounter weekends show couples step-by-step programs designed for better communication...

The Alpha Delta Pi sorority will hold an eight ball pool tournament Feb. 18 at The Billiard Center. Teams should consist of only two people, and Texas Express rules will be followed. Cash prizes will be awarded. The event costs $14 for registration. The Ronald McDonald House will receive $10 from each entry...

Students at Southeast Missouri State University have the opportunity to travel and earn course credit this summer. The university is sponsoring two separate, international trips for students in the foreign language department and the college of education...

Government has a responsibility to protect children from direct harm; it does not have the right to dictate the manner in which children should be raised. An amendment to the Missouri Constitution under consideration in the state Senate aims to affirm those ideas to ensure that parents are free to direct the upbringing and education of their children without undue government interference...

JACKSON -- Ryan Shelton, 16, recently earned the rank of Eagle Scout, which is the highest award given by the Boy Scouts of America. Shelton is a member of Troop 311, sponsored by the Jackson Optimist Club. To earn the award, Shelton completed a service project that included building and installing a storage cabinet in the applied mathematics classrooms at Cape Girardeau Central High School...