Stories from Thursday, June 6, 1996

ST. LOUIS -- Music will be made by Hootie, Ozzy and Sting this summer at Riverport Amphitheatre. Country's Brooks & Dunn, riding high with the No. 2 song in the nation, "My Maria," kick off the summer songfest Saturday. David Lee Murphy is the opening act...

The annual Midwest Minis National Juried Exhibition will open Friday at Gallery 100. Midwest Minis showcases artwork measuring no more than 14 inches in any direction. This year's competition spotlights 55 works chosen from more than 100 entries from 39 artists in 21 states and Canada...

A free film series titled "Songs for the Summer" will be offered at Southeast. All the musicals will be shown in their original widescreen formats at the University Center Ballroom. "Brigadoon" will kick off the series at 2 p.m. Sunday, to be followed by "1776" at 2 p.m. on June 30 and "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers" at 2 p.m. July 14. The series is sponsored by the Department of Sociology at the university...

Hot sun, a steel barge and turtles don't often mix, but Peggy Barringer has seen the combination and remembers the fastest turtle race in the 18-year history of Riverfest. One year the turtle races were held aboard a floating river barge that doubled as an entertainment stage...

Cross Trails Medical Center and six other rural clinics around the state are forming a network to help meet the demands of managed care for increased efficiency in health-care services. Cross Trails, which operates clinics in Cape Girardeau and Marble Hill, has joined with clinics in Ellington, Hamilton, Richland, Kirksville, Mound City and New Madrid to form the Rural Health Development Corp...

June 6, 1996 Dear Danel and Doug, DC's old friend Tony is visiting from the Bay Area this week. We took him to Meramec State Park to see the 100-year-old graffiti in five million-year-old Fisher Cave, and then we canoed down the Current River amongst a convoy of inner tubes bearing people with beer cans in their hands...

Matching or bettering last year's 30-9 record might be tough, but Steve Williams still expects the Cape Girardeau Senior Babe Ruth White Sox to be quite a formidable baseball team this summer. "Last year we had a really good season," said Williams, Central High's head coach who directs the White Sox along with Notre Dame High head coach Gregg Muench. "I think we'll be solid again this year...

More than 60 businesses have done their part to make the Cape Girardeau Salvation Army auction today a success. Auction organizer Darrell McIntyre said he hopes the Salvation Army will raise about $3,000 through the auction of the donated merchandise and git certificates...

More than 500 people are expected at the annual Copper Dome Society dinner tonight. The event, which recognizes donors to the Southeast Missouri University Foundation, will be held at the Show Me Center. It begins with a cocktail reception at 6:30 p.m., followed by dinner at 7 p.m...

CIRCLE CITY -- William Roland McBenge, 57, of Circle City, died Tuesday, June 4, 1996, at his home. He was born June 5, 1938, at Steelville, son of Cecil and Lora Stulee McBenge. He married Ida Rogers. McBenge was retired from McDonnell Douglas Corp. in Titusville, Fla. He was a veteran of the U.S. Navy...

KANSAS CITY -- The Rev. J. Melton Wienecke, 74, of Kansas City, formerly of Cairo, Ill., died Tuesday, June 4, 1996, at Research Hospital in Kansas City. Arrangements are incomplete at Crain Funeral Home in Ullin, Ill.

SCOTT CITY -- Funeral service for Bob Russom of Cairo, Ga., will be held at 2 p.m. today at Miller-Cooper Funeral Home there. Burial will be in Cairo. Announcement courtesy of Amick-Burnett Funeral Chapel in Scott City. Russom, 58, died Tuesday, June 4, 1996, in Cairo...

ANNA, Ill. -- Lona Caraker, 96, of Anna, died Wednesday, June 5, 1996, at Jonesboro Health Care Center. She was born Oct. 21, 1899, in Union County, daughter of William T. and Cindonia Davis Russell. She and Phillip Caraker were married Jan. 21, 1921. He died Sept. 2, 1976...

ANNA, Ill. -- Helen Brimm, 85, of Springfield, formerly of Anna, died Wednesday, June 5, 1996, at Heritage Manor in Springfield. She was born July 13, 1910, in Cypress, daughter of Joe and Minnie Penrod Brown. Brimm was retired from Anna State Hospital. She was a member of Anna United Methodist Church...

JACKSON -- Memorial service for James F. Lyons of Cleveland, Ohio, will be held at 7 p.m. June 12 at New McKendree United Methodist Church. Lyons, 47, died Monday, June 3, 1996, in Cleveland. He was born Jan. 28, 1949, in Cleveland, son of James and Hazel Francis Lyons...

Willie Avery Mecham, 79, 417 Albert, died Wednesday, June 5, 1996, at Southeast Missouri Hospital. He was born March 6, 1917, in Grand Rapids, Mich., son of Clarence and Sarah Nettie Howard Mecham. He and Ethel M. Lincoln were married Jan. 22, 1938, in Cape Girardeau. She died Dec. 1, 1988. He then married Gloria McClanahan June 12, 1992, in Cape Girardeau...

Bertha G. Hoeller, 86, 611 S. West End Boulevard, died Wednesday, June 5, 1996, at her home. She was born Jan. 1, 1910, in Robinson, Miss., daughter of Joseph and Lottie Long Haslip. She and Russell Hoeller were married July 2, 1950, in Hernando, Miss. He died Sept. 29, 1970...

THEBES, Ill. -- Edna Walker, 75, of Ste. Genevieve, Mo., died Wednesday, June 5, 1996, at Ste. Genevieve Memorial Hospital. She was born in 1921 in Detroit, Mich., daughter of Barney and Mildred Jordan Bagley. Her mother died that same year and she was raised by her grandparents, Oliver and Inda Bagley of Thebes. She and Garold W. Walker were married in 1941. He died in 1976...

To the editor: Many high school graduates agreed Rush Limbaugh's commencement address was indeed one of the most inspiring ever delivered. It was honest and substantial food for thought. Students appreciated his advice to keep moving. Higher grounds are here for them to reach...

The American Association of Retired People, better known to millions of senior citizens as the AARP, has over the last generation emerged as one of the titans of American politics. With its membership rolls swollen by Americans who become eligible for membership at age 50 and who sign up chiefly for travel and insurance discounts, the organization isn't a force to be trifled with. ...

Cape Girardeau's fire chief, Robert Ridgeway, recently was moved to make a statement to local residents concerning solicitations from an organization of state firefighters. The organization is the Missouri State Council of Firefighters, which is requesting help to purchase smoke detectors. Chief Ridgeway said the council is legitimate but that its efforts do little to help local citizens...

The Central High School class of 1961 will have a reunion June 28-29. On June 28 at 6 p.m., they will meet at South County Park, Shelter No. 22. On June 29 at 5 p.m., they will meet at Drury Lodge for cocktails and dinner. For information, call Jeanie Allgood at (573) 334-2728 or Esther Gray at (573) 335-5452...

The Cape Girardeau County Christian Women's Club luncheon and meeting will be held Monday from noon to 2 p.m. at Holiday Inn. A special feature will be melon baskets by Mary Slaughter. Music will be presented by Robyn Hosp. Speaker will be Bettie Gobble of Columbia, Tenn. Her topic will be "Seeds for Growth."...

The Area Vietnam Veterans and Support Group will hold its annual picnic Saturday at Cherokee Park, shelter 3, beginning at noon. Members are asked to bring a covered dish, their own utensils, plates and drinks. Following the meal, a "white elephant" auction will be held and those attending are asked to bring items for the auction...

A number of area student groups and churches lined the Olympic Torch Relay route with banners as the flame passed through the area Memorial Day. Winners in the torch banner contest were St. Mark Lutheran Church, Jackson Middle School, Nell Holcomb LIFE gifted program, Immaculate Conception School in Jackson and St. Mary's School...

LEOPOLD -- The Eeftink-Eftink families will hold a reunion Sunday at Knights of Columbus Hall in Leopold. All descendants of John and Grada Gastenveld Eeftink are invited. There will be a family Mass at 10 a.m. at St. John's Catholic Church in Leopold. Newly-erected grave markers will be dedicated at the church cemetery following the service...

The Southeast Missouri Chapter of the American Red Cross will hold a fund-raiser gala Friday at the home of John and Evelyn Boardman. The event begins at 7 p.m. at 221 Independence. Raffles and a silent auction will be held. The Jerry Ford Combo will perform...

LAS VEGAS, Nev. -- Marion G. McMullin, 72, of Las Vegas, died Tuesday, June 4, 1996. He was born Nov. 17, 1923, in Morley. McMullin was a World War II Marine veteran and received the Purple Heart. He was member of the Marine Corps League and Leathernecks of Nevada and was a retired golf course superintendent...

Son to Gerald Louis and Rae Carmen Robinson Jr., 112 D Street, Southeast Missouri Hospital, 4:56 p.m. Tuesday, May 28, 1996. Name, Caleb Alexander. Weight, 8 pounds 11 ounces. Second son. Mrs. Robinson is the former Carmen Skelton, daughter of Dorothy Skelton of Gordonville. Robinson is the son of Gerald Robinson of Jackson and Wanda Robinson of Bradley, Ill. He was a truck driver with Crouse Cartage Co...

CAIRO, Ill. -- Louis F. Martin Jr., 79, of Cairo, died Tuesday, June 4, 1996, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau, Mo. He was born Jan. 6, 1917, in Cairo, son of Louis and Bessie Dunlap Martin. Martin was operational supervisor with Nabisco in Cairo 46 years. He attended First Southern Baptist Church, was a member of Egyptian Country Club, and a life member of Cairo VFW Post 2649. He was a veteran of World War II...

Former Southeast Missouri State University football players Frank Russell and Kelvin Anderson signed free agent contracts with the Calgary Stampede on Wednesday. Russell was an all-OVC defensive back this past season for the Indians. Anderson, a running back, set Southeast's all-time rushing mark in 1994, his senior season...

JACKSON -- Jackson's Senior Babe Ruth team defeated Jackson's Junior Legion 17-11 Tuesday to improve to 5-0 on the season. Christopher Leimer recorded the victory. Brock Frederick paced the Senior Babe Ruth squad with four hits, including a home run. Jim Gladish also had three hits, while Ryan Harper and Adam Glueck each had three hits and Josh Adams and Jason Goben each collected two hits...

BENTON -- The Cape GMC-Pontiac women's softball team needed just 10 innings to sweep both games Wednesday from the Perryville Lightning. Both games -- the home openers for the Cape GMC-Pontiac team -- went just five innings; it was a 9-0 opener, followed by an 11-0 finish...