Stories from Thursday, March 14, 1996

ANNA, Ill. -- Tressie Henderson, 88, of Anna died Wednesday, March 13, 1996, at her home. Funeral arrangements are incomplete at Crain Funeral Home in Anna.

To the editor: Our Lady's Inn is one among many agencies that provide supportive services for women facing crisis pregnancies. Women in Missouri deserve the right to know and to make informed decisions. Recently we took in a young, pregnant woman who was on her way to an abortion clinic with $400 tucked inside her purse for the procedure. ...

To the editor: On March 16, 1995, the Shiloh Cemetery west of Villa Ridge, Ill., was vandalized. As of yet the case has not been solved. We think that a year would be enough time to solve the case, but evidently not. We, the members of Shiloh Baptist Church, want to let the families of all who are buried in our cemetery know that we are deeply sorry for not being able to bring the perpetrators of this outrageous crime to justice...

It is an unfortunate facet of society today, but many residents of high-crime locales are leery of those charged with protecting and serving their neighborhoods. Too often the perception is that the police harass folks in these neighborhoods but are nowhere to be found when they're really needed. As crime rises in such areas, many residents cite an ineffective police force as the reason...

An ominous deadline, imposed by federal bureaucrats, is looming for Perry County officials. At stake are 143 flood insurance policies held by Perry County residents. The policies provide $4.4 million in coverage against disastrous floods like the ones that hit parts of the county in 1993 and 1995...

In the General Assembly, we are home on spring break this week before returning Monday for the last eight weeks of the legislative session that will end in mid-May. As the session has unfolded, with little floor action on major bills, I keep confronting senior members of both parties with a question. ...

A Teamsters representative involved with union organizing efforts at a Cape Girardeau plant said management, despite its claims, is not helping its workers by opposing the union. Workers at M&W Packaging U.S. Inc. will vote in a secret ballot election March 28-29 at the company's local plant. About 150 production, maintenance and shipping employees will participate...

To the editor: It's time to sound the diabetes alert. For 24 hours on March 26, the American Diabetes Association will be actively trying to identify some of the 7 million Americans who have diabetes and don't know it. Like many Americans, many Missouri residents believe that since diabetes is treatable, they don't need to be concerned about getting it. ...

A memorial service for Lucille Loos will be held at 3:30 p.m. Friday at Shadow Mountain Mortuary in Phoenix, Ariz. The Rev. Tim O'Nell will officiate. Loos, 74, died Monday, March 11, 1996, at Hospice of the Valley, Eckstein Center. She was born Oct. 4, 1921, at Gravel Hill, daughter of Lyman and Etta Jons Proffer. She and Marvin Loos of Jackson were married Dec. 9, 1939...

JONESBORO, Ill. -- Bonnie Lorene Riegger, 75, of Jonesboro, died Wednesday, March 13, 1996, at Union County Hospital in Anna. She was born March 3, 1921, in Grand Tower, daughter of Richard Vance and Agnes Victoria Bailey Vanover. She and Jesse A. Riegger were married April 10, 1937, in Murphysboro. He died June 3, 1978...

COBDEN, Ill. -- Lucille R. Childers, 75, Cobden Route 2, died Tuesday, March 12, 1996, at her home. She was born Nov. 14, 1920, in Chicago, daughter of Robert and June Ruth Ruling Kirkpatrick. She and Charles E. Childers were married March 18, 1940, in Jackson, Mo. He died April 24, 1994...

Mamie Anna Boswell, 91, of Reno, Nev., died Tuesday, March 12, 1996, at Manor Care IV Center in Reno. Ford and Sons Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

SCOTT CITY -- Mary D. Rhyne, 77, of Scott City, died Tuesday, March 12, 1996, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. She was born June 11, 1918, at Egypt Mills, daughter of William and Ada Noland Harmon. She and Floyd Rhyne were married Nov. 23, 1940, at Egypt Mills. He died Dec. 7, 1977...

PERRYVILLE -- Flora L. Hamper, 85, of Perryville, died Wednesday, March 13, 1996, at her home. She was born May 1, 1910, at Perryville, daughter of Emmanuel E. and Mary M. Hansen Hoffstetter. She and Jack Hamper were married July 26, 1942. He died Nov. 4, 1959...

Son to Anthony Reynolds and Cori Beth Koeller of Jackson, Southeast Missouri Hospital, 12:06 p.m. Saturday, March 9, 1996. Name, Zackary Christian. Weight, 8 pounds 8 ounces. First child. Mrs. Koeller is the former Cori Bollinger, daughter of Tom Bollinger and Terry Bollinger of Jackson. Koeller is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Koeller of Jackson. He is employed at Rhodes 101 Stops...

SCOTT CITY -- When Scott City Administrator John Saxton announced his resignation Monday it left council members wondering why. "I knew nothing about it until I got the letter yesterday," said council member Ladonna Phelps. "It is very simply stated."...

TCI Cablevision customers will see increases in cable bills starting June 1, while Falcon Cable customers will see increases effective April 1. Rates for TCI basic cable service will increase 5 percent, from $10.55 per month to $11.05, and rates for expanded basic service will go up 21 percent, from $11.51 to $13.92 monthly, said Roger Harms, general manager of TCI Cablevision in Cape Girardeau...

Carol Rutherford returned home from work about 3:30 p.m. Wednesday to discover that her house at 709 S. Benton had been destroyed by fire. Rutherford wasn't notified about the fire because no one knew where to contact her; she owns a house-cleaning business...

March 14, 1996 Dear John, Karin, Christien and Inga, Remember the conversations we used to have about the kids in Garberville? The ones whose families were marijuana growers and were growing up outside the law. The stoned kids who threw rocks at a deputy sheriff's car during a Fourth of July celebration and literally ran the lawman out of town. The ones who walked out of school one day and offered the principal a list of demands that included a marijuana period...

If area high-school students served on the Cape Girardeau City Council, no gambling would be allowed in the city. In a mock city council meeting Wednesday, students voted down an ordinance authorizing the city to enter into an agreement with Boyd Missouri Inc. and Boyd Gaming Corp...

The American Red Cross is seeking volunteer leaders in its disaster services and armed forces emergency services departments. Openings in disaster services are for volunteers who wish to take an active role not only during times of disaster but in development and management of the department during the year...

JACKSON -- It was tough for English instructor Tracy Fisher to find the perfect play for her first year at Jackson High School. In picking one, Fisher, the director, looked for certain qualities. It had to have more female roles than male since more high school girls try out for plays. It couldn't have too many roles in case interest in participation wasn't there...

`The earth I tread on is not a dead, inert mass. It is a body, has a spirit, is organic, and fluid to the influence of its spirit, and to whatever particle of that spirit is in me." When's the last time you read the 14 volumes -- an estimated 2 million words -- of Henry David Thoreau's journal?...