Stories from Sunday, August 18, 1996

To the editor: Is there any real sanity in the abortion debate? We are trapped in our own semantics. We are all so insulated from any kind of killing that the word has become almost synonymous with abortion. I wonder how many chickens we would eat if all we could buy at the market were live chickens. How many people would eat pork or beef if they had to kill their own animals?...

For the skimmers who only read the first two paragraphs of every article in the newspaper, I will give you a brief synopsis: I am leaving for college soon. This is my last column. Cheerio, tah-tah, aloha, thanks for glancing through. For the faithful readers who usually hang around and read my columns in their entirety, I will develop my good-bye more thoroughly...

The Humane Society of Southeast Missouri will sponsor its second annual photo contest, "Dog Days of Summer." To enter, each contestant should submit a photo of his pet doing its favorite summer activity. Registration forms may be obtained at the Humane Society office, 2536 Boutin in Cape Girardeau...

Jamie Wessel of Chaffee said that she knew what she was getting in to and thought she had a good chance to be the 1996 Miss Teen of Missouri. She was right. On Aug. 11, Wessel's mother Linda's hands were shaking as she filmed her daughter walking across the floor and winning the 1996 Miss Teen of Missouri contest...

The Mississippi River Commission will conduct its annual low-water inspection trip on the Mississippi and Atchafalya Rivers Aug. 26-30. The first of four public meetings will be held at Tiptonville, Tenn., at Old Ferry Landing, starting at 8:30 a.m. ...

The democratic system of our forefathers who believed strenuously, and almost religiously, in the efficacy of electoral participation has slowly eroded over the years. If you doubt that statement, please note the disgraceful numbers that expose the lack of voter participation in this month's primary elections. It is all the proof needed to conclude that perhaps as many as a majority of us no longer place any importance in elections and even less importance in our own responsibilities...

It's never too early to discuss presidential politics -- even the politics of the year 2000. Fast-moving events within a 72 hour period may have determined the course of the Republican presidential race four years from now. Bob Dole debated whether to seek someone he liked but offered nothing to the ticket, or pick someone he didn't like but who could add something to the ticket. He wisely picked the latter, Jack Kemp, a person of unquenchable optimism and every lasting zest...

A presidential campaign dismissed by many pundits as being finished a month ago may just be a horse race after all. For months, Americans have been treated to polls that had President Bill Clinton ahead by 20 points or more. Central to each of these head-to-head matchups is the question: "If the election were held today, for whom would you vote?" But of course, the election isn't being held in April -- or May or June or July or even now. It will be Nov. 5 following a vigorous fall campaign...

To the editor: A spirit stood before the Lord and said, "I will deceive the king." The Lord asked, "By what means?" The devil spirit answered, "I will be a lying spirit to all his prophets." The Lord allowed the spirit to do it. (See II Chronicles 18:19-21.)...

It is a momentous decision -- spend big bucks now to stop an imminent water shortage or try to beat the clock and find cheaper solutions. On Monday, the seven members of Cape Girardeau's City Council will do their part in making the determination. Then voters may have the final say...

Fifty years ago, the aviation industry devised a cross-country race to prove that small airplanes were safe. "The race was for women, because if a woman could do it, anyone could do it," said Lois Feigenbaum, a pilot from Berryman, a town near Potosi...

In 1990, Missouri had more than 13,000 substandard bridges. Five years later, the number had fallen to under 10,000. Fueled by gas-tax hikes, the state has made strides to bridge the gap by repairing and replacing deficient bridges, said Roger Schwartze, a bridge maintenance engineer for the state...

Gov. Mel Carnahan isn't serious about cutting taxes, his Republican opponent charged Saturday. Gubernatorial candidate and state auditor Margaret Kelly dismissed Carnahan's tax cut plan as an election-year ploy. She promised to unveil her own plan next month to provide Missourians with a $500 million tax cut...

But nothing makes a mess like those little jars of food-in-a-blender baby food. Eating isn't for the faint of heart with 8-month-olds. There is no way around it. They are downright messy. Joni and I had forgotten just how messy it can be. After all, it's been four years since we've had this kind of mess with our daughter Becca...

DELTA -- Riley R. Eddleman, 90, of St. Louis, formerly of Delta, died Friday, Aug. 16, 1996, at Deaconess West Hospital in St. Louis. He was born Feb. 6, 1906, at Biehle, the son of Christopher C. and Barbara Ann Fulbright Eddleman. On Jan. 28, 1928, he married the former Ruby J. Cox. She preceded him in death...

GLEN ALLEN -- Grace O. Chumbler, 90, of Glen Allen died Thursday, Aug. 15, 1996, at her home. She was born Oct. 27, 1905, at Marquand, a daughter of William R. and Bertie C. Smith Hawn. On Aug. 15, 1925, she married Leonard L. Chumbler, who died May 16, 1993...

MILLERSVILLE -- Robert Jack, 85, died Friday, Aug. 16, 1996, at the Jackson Manor Nursing Center. He was born Nov. 20, 1910, in Bollinger County, son of John and Paralee Wilfong Jaco. On June 29, 1934, he married Opal Miederhoff. She survives. He is also survived by a son, Raymond Jaco of Ironton...

The Rev. J. Ray Trotter of Cape Girardeau, a retired United Methodist minister, died Friday, Aug. 16, 1996, at St. Francis Medical Center. He was 75. He was born Sept. 11, 1920, in Unionville, Mo., to the Rev. Thomas Homer and Lena Jackson Trotter. He was married June 30, 1943, to the former Dorothy Hill Bryson in Tampa, Fla. She survives...

DONGOLA, Ill. -- Amy Eddleman, 96, of Dongola died Friday Aug. 16, 1996, at City Care Center in Anna. She was born Nov. 28, 1899, in Dongola, the daughter of Rufus and Mary Earnhart Lingle. She was married to Archie Eddleman on March 12, 1919. He died Jan. 15, 1963...

SIKESTON -- Buford B. Baber, 87, of Sikeston died Friday, Aug. 16, 1996, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. He was born Feb. 9, 1909, in Richmond, son of Harry C. and Fannie Mae Baldwin Baber. He operated the Baber Feed and Seed Co. in Sikeston. He was a former member and past president of the Sikeston Kiwanis Club and a member and 32nd-degree Mason in the Sikeston Masonic Lodge 310 AF/AM. He was a member of the First United Methodist Church...

BENTON -- Sylvester A. "Cotton" Felter, 82, of Benton, died Friday, Aug. 16, 1996, at his home. He was born July 17, 1914, at Kelso, son of Adam and Alvina Urhahn Felter. On Sept. 31, 1941, he married Mildred Colletta Schlitt at Oran. She survives. He was a self-employed farmer, a member of the St. Denis Catholic Church in Benton and a member of the Knights of Columbus Council 6420 of Scott City...

BENTON -- Bill Wilhelm, 62, of Benton died Saturday, Aug. 17, 1996, at the Heartland Care and Rehab Center in Cape Girardeau. Funeral arrangements are incomplete at Amick-Burnett Funeral Chapel at Benton.

Gary Lee Sams, 38, of 122 Centennial Drive, died Thursday, Aug. 15, 1996, at his home. He was born Sept. 17, 1959, in Cape Girardeau, son of Clyde W. and Lucille Tomason Sams. He was employed at Lowe's in the home decor department for a year and had helped his father at Sams Auto Sales throughout his lifetime. He was a graduate of Cape Girardeau Central High School and attended Southeast Missouri State University. He also attended Red Star Baptist Church...

Cape Girardeau County Robert L. Woodard and Patricia Reagan Woodard to Kent G. Stodghill and Jane B. Stodghill; Paul Potthoff and Mary Potthoff to Ronald R. Stroder; Leslie Masonry Inc. to Electricians Building Co.; Southeast Missouri University Foundation to Electricians Building Co.; James E. Turner and Brenda J. Turner to John A. Cash and Ketti I. Cash...

Early this spring, two of my little neighbor girls came to see me. "You got time to read us a story?" one of them asked. The Kate Greenaway Book was at arm's length, so I picked it up and thumbed through it, looking for something suitable for first- and second-graders. They were more interested in the pictures than the text, as was I...

Elvira and Jim Hendrickson took a break from the square dancing. Jim Hendrickson started out 40 years ago as a caller and cuer for dances in St. Louis. Jim Dodd of Huntsville, Mo., called the dance. Jim Dodd is a powerful man. With a single "Couples, circulate!" or "Right and left grand!" Dodd can send a roomful of dancers spinning and swirling...