Stories from Wednesday, June 12, 1996

Once again, members of the PAW staff at Louis J. Schultz Middle School have proven themselves exemplary young journalists. The 1996 seventh grade newspaper staff earned five national awards and 14 state awards in this 11th year of publication. The record of national recognition this publication has garnered is astounding. Among the state awards was Missouri Interscholastic Press Association's prestigious All-Missouri rating, which is the state journalism association's highest overall ranking...

EAST PRAIRIE -- Pansy Smith, 51, of East Prairie, died Monday, June 10, 1996, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau, following an extended illness. She was born July 9, 1944, in East Prairie, daughter of Art and Minnie Grissom Maloney. She and Buddy Paul Smith were married March 5, 1964. He died Aug. 17, 1995...

Daughter to Don Christopher and Prim Schniepp, 1404 Lexington, Southeast Missouri Hospital, 12:44 a.m. Tuesday, June 4, 1996. Name, Kaleigh Nicole. Weight, 7 pounds 6 ounces. First child. Mrs. Schniepp is the former Prim Hopkins, daughter of Dave and Chan Hopkins of Lebanon, Ill. She is a teacher's assistant at May Greene School. Schniepp is the son of Don and Sue Schniepp of St. Peters. He is an office checker at Schnucks...

Good can sometimes grow from tragedy. Some people learn compassion and understanding about terrible events in their lives that they later extend to others. Such has been the case with Debi Oliver. This Cape Girardeau woman has worked hard to educate the public about suicide prevention. She learned the hard way how suicide rips a family apart. Her 16-year-old son took his life a few days after Christmas 1991...

Over 200 Shawnee Community College students received academic honors for the spring 1996 semester. Dean's List From Alto Pass was Candice Bittle. From Anna were Elizabeth Beck, Michelle Barnhart, Erin Blacklock, Jamie Brimm, AnnMarie Caylao, Timothy Coffman, Brenda Dirden, Amanda Fox, Darrell Hannahs, Daralynn Hood, Dennis Jerrell, Cathy Klasner, Ashley Knupp, Heather McLane, Robin Merriman, Sonia Merriman, Timothy Miller, Alex Morgan, Scott Palmer, Jaime Plemon, Kimberly Short, Melanie Stegle, Shannon Williams.. ...

MEDICARE WOULD be far from going broke if all the people in the White House would take care of the American people, their own country, instead of helping all the other countries. THE RECENT comments by the person who thinks we are hearing too much about killing babies from opponents of abortion is interesting but somewhat scary. ...

Out of the 128 scholarships awarded by Procter & Gamble, three are children of Cape Girardeau P&G employees. Bryan W. Daume, a 1996 graduate of Cape Central High School, was a member of the National Honor Society, Beta Club and Latin Club, while playing soccer, tennis, basketball and participating in the band. ...

Jessica Bailey and Lucinda Hillemann, students at Scott City High School, have been selected to participate in PRIMO, a Missouri program that addresses the shortage of primary health care professionals in many areas of Missouri. Bailey, daughter of Glen Bailey of Benton and Belenda Schumer of Scott City, will attend the Chemistry/Physics Academy at the University of Missouri-Rolla. She will be a junior at Scott City High School in the fall...

Bryan W. Schaefer of Cape Girardeau has been awarded a $6,000 four-year Fraternal College Scholarship in national competition with other students who are members of Modern Woodmen of America. Modern Woodmen is a fraternal life insurance society with home offices in Rock Island, Ill. Schaefer is one of 36 scholarship winners chosen in the 1996 Modern Woodmen Scholarship Program...

Southeast Missouri State University has named 1,303 students to its Dean's List for academic achievement during the spring 1996 semester. Area students named to the list earned at least a 3.5 grade point average on a 4.0 scale and completed at least 12 degree credit hours during the spring session:...

MORLEY -- Danner Graham, 98, of Morley, died Tuesday, June 11, 1996, at Sikeston Convalescent Center in Sikeston. She was born Aug. 23, 1897, in Searcy County, Ark., daughter of Bud and Callie Cypert Copeland. She and John Jasper Graham were married Jan. 7, 1916. He died Aug. 11, 1979...

MARBLE HILL -- Mary "Lisa" Jones, 42, of Cologne, Germany, died there Thursday, June 6, 1996. She was born Feb. 20, 1954, in Cape Girardeau, daughter of George R. and Berniece Hawkins Barker. She and Terry Dale Jones were married March 29, 1971. Mr. and Mrs. Jones were ministers in Germany. They founded churches in Munich, Achen, Bonn and Cologne. The church in Cologne, Christliche Gemeinde Koln, is one of the largest Protestant churches in Europe. She also wrote and recorded Christian music...

JONESBORO, Ill. -- Mary Smiddy, 82, of Jonesboro, Ill. died Tuesday, June 11, 1996, at the Union County Hospital in Anna, Ill. Funeral arrangements are incomplete at Hileman and Parr Funeral Services in Jonesboro.

Anna, Ill., -- Lester O. Miller, 89, of Anna, Ill., died Tuesday, June 11, 1996, at the City Care Center in Anna. Funeral services will be 1 p.m. Friday at the United Methodist Church in Anna. Friends may call from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday at Hileman & Parr Funeral Services in Jonesboro, and at the United Methodist Church in Anna on Friday from 11 a.m. until the funeral hour...

SIKESTON -- Norman Lambert, 62, of Sikeston, died June 10, 1996, at his home. He was born Nov. 18, 1933, in Sikeston, son of Earl and Agnes Dyer Lambert. He married the former Patty Vaughan. Lambert was owner/operator of Lambert's Cafes in Sikeston, Ozark, and Foley, Ala...

JACKSON -- Barbara Ann Brockett, 61, of Jackson, died Monday, June 10, 1996, at her home. She was born Jan. 20, 1935, in Cape Girardeau, daughter of Joseph and Mildred McKenley Schmidt. She and Thomas Eugene "Gene" Brockett were married July 28, 1956...

LILBOURN -- Andrew Shemwell, 91, formerly of Lilbourn, died Monday, June 10, 1996, at Clearview Nursing Center in Sikeston. He was born July 22, 1904, in Middle, Tenn., son of Thomas and Ida Williams Shemwell. He and Cinda L. Raines were married Feb. 19, 1927. She died Nov. 28, 1994...

DONGOLA, Ill. -- William Harold Earnhart, 60, of Portage, Ind., formerly of Dongola, died Sunday, June 9, 1996, at Mary Bartz Hospice Center in Valparaiso, Ind. He was born July 24, 1935, in Anna, son of Otto and Ruby Duncan Earnhart. He and Betty Joyce Nelson were married Feb. 23, 1993...

SIKESTON -- Funeral service for James Ray Washburn of Sikeston will be held at 2 p.m. today at Nunnelee Funeral Chapel. The Rev. Robert Gardner will officiate, with burial in Garden of Memories Cemetery. Washburn, 73, died Monday, June 10, 1996, at Missouri Delta Medical Center...

Sophia Tomina Anderson, 94, of Piedmont, died Monday, June 10, 1996, at Lucy Lee Hospital in Poplar Bluff. She was born Nov. 20, 1901, near Luverne, Minn., daughter of Andrew S. and Bertha Bervin Anderson. She received a bachelor of science degree in education in 1937. ...

PERRYVILLE -- William Peter Weibrecht, 92, of Perryville, died Tuesday, June 11, 1996, at Perry Oaks Health Care. He was born Nov. 6, 1903, at Crosstown, son of Henry and Katerine Ilmer Weibrecht. He and Flora Martha Fritsche were married April 26, 1941...

St. Vincent's College open for tours, slide shows for Riverfest Free tours of historic St. Vincent's College, 201 Morgan Oak, will be available both days of Riverfest. The slide show, "A Pictorial History of Cape Girardeau," is also scheduled for viewing Friday evening and twice on Saturday...

SIKESTON -- Norman Lambert threw his share of rolls. He also served up lots of white beans, fried okra, sticky sorghum and down-home conversation at his restaurant, Lambert's Cafe. At 10 p.m. Monday, the 62-year-old Lambert stood on his driveway at his rural Sikeston home, put a .38-caliber handgun to his head, and fired...

Neither rain nor sleet nor snow will stop postal carriers from their appointed rounds. But Rover might. Letter carriers are trained to deal with situations involving dogs, said Cape Girardeau Postmaster Michael Keefe. "But where we have continued problems with dogs, we may withdraw services. In some cases, where a dog or dogs may be roaming, we may cut service for an entire block."...

Assistant fire chief Max Jauch will become acting fire chief of the Cape Girardeau Fire Department July 26. Jauch will take over the duties of outgoing fire chief Robert Ridgeway, who is leaving to take a similar position in Gastonia, N.C. "I'm going to keep the department running in the direction it's running now," Jauch said. "We're a positive, progressive department."...

PE is hell on a girl who spent her summer reading and eating M&Ms. When I saw the article about Randie Fidler taking over as Cape Central High School's principal this year, my childhood fears began rearing their ugly heads. I was catapulted back to FRESHMAN PHYSICAL EDUCATION, a nightmarish hour of each day devoted to the humiliation and torture of couch potatoes. Back then Coach Fidler was the most feared junior high PE coach on the face of the planet...

The guests were gone and tables vacated, but Peggy Nelson and Dusty McDowell still had work to do Tuesday after the annual meeting for the Southeast Missouri Chapter of the American Red Cross. Less than an hour after being honored by the Red Cross as outstanding volunteers, both Nelson and McDowell stayed behind to clear away tables and dismantle decorations at the Drury Lodge...

The Missouri Ambassadors of Music will give a concert at 7:30 tonight at Academic Auditorium. The organization is composed of 197 students who perform in a concert band, choir, string orchestra and jazz band. They were selected on the basis of a recommendation from their high school music teacher...

JACKSON -- Growing pains are getting worse in Jackson schools, but the budget doesn't show any serious signs of strain. The preliminary 1996-97 budget shows expenditures of only 4 percent over last year's expenditures. Even with record-setting kindergarten enrollments and sprouting classes, the district's $17 million fiscal '97 budget shows no signs of stress...

In our May update, we were celebrating the graduation of Seniors at Jackson High School and recognizing the significant accomplishments of students throughout the district who have now completed another step in their formal education. One month later, the district remains alive with activity. Many people ask if the summer will provide a "break in the action." The answer is no for many administrators, faculty and staff -- and even many students...

JACKSON -- Mention parks anywhere in the city, and Vera Wagner springs to mind. City officials lauded Wagner, 82, for her long-time involvement on the city's park board Monday. She retired from the board at the end of her term and after more than 20 years of volunteer service to the city...

JACKSON -- The Jackson Chamber of Commerce's 1996 Installation Banquet will be held Monday, June 24 at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Jackson. Reservations are required and must be made by June 17. Cost is $10 per person. Call the chamber office at 243-8131 for more information...

JACKSON -- Moving day is tentatively scheduled for June 24 as New McKendree United Methodist Church gets ready to take possession of the old city hall building. The church paid $206,000 for the building at a public auction in January. Church officials have had their eyes on the city hall property, which adjoins the church, for some time...

Those folks who won't be attending Riverfest because they're tired of funnel cakes, cotton candy and corn dogs might want to think again. This year's Riverfest, held June 14-15, will have an assortment of new foods that are distinctly un-American and vastly different from edibles offered at past Riverfests...

Big Ben is just one puzzle Hartle had completed. Hartle had put together almost all of the 3-D puzzles in her catalog. Sarah Hartle's puzzles were displayed at Eye Consultants Inc. in Doctors Park where she works. Sarah Hartle figures building the Taj Mahal should take about three weeks, assuming none of the pieces are misplaced...