Stories from Saturday, August 31, 1996

To the editor: The Republican Party portrays itself as being family oriented and as the party that represents the true American values. Let's zero in on the GOP claim of being family oriented. Republican President Ronald Reagan was divorced. Bob Dole is divorced -- his first wife said he was so obsessed with politics he never ate more than three meals with her and their daughter the last year of their marriage. ...

You can get a whole new perspective on the president of the United States when you spend an afternoon tagging along behind him. I got that opportunity Friday when President Bill Clinton, his wife, Hillary, Vice President Al Gore, his wife, Tipper, and me -- went on a tour of Southern Illinois...

Natalie Followell thinks it's neat Bill Clinton selected Cape Girardeau to kick off his presidential campaign. "I'm excited about it," said Followell, a sixth-grade student at Nell Holcomb School. "I have a cousin that works in the White House, across from President Clinton. I'm excited about Clinton's visit here. I hope I get close enough to shake his hand."...

Securing the city for a presidential visit is almost a routine procedure for former Cape Girardeau Police Chief Howard "Butch" Boyd Jr. Boyd has worked on security details for six prominent visits during his 26-year tenure as a police officer. During a Clinton-Gore campaign visit Friday, he had more intense work as chief of security for Southeast Missouri Hospital. The hospital is across the street from Capaha Park where the Democratic rally was held...

Among the dozens of national photographers shadowing the president and vice president was a familiar face to Cape Girardeau resident Robin Kinney. His sister, Barbara, is one of four White House staff photographers who travel with the president. In fact, Robin Kinney, his wife, Martha, and son Sean were able to stand by the buses and meet with the Clintons and Gores apart from the crowds...

EMTs and nurses bearing stretchers picked their way through the throng, and Secret Service agents were dipping up Gatorade as heat and humidity took their toll on Clinton supporters at the Capaha Park rally Friday afternoon. So many people came into the first-aid tent set up by Southeast Missouri Hospital that there was no time for medical staff to get an accurate headcount, said Pat Pennington, the hospital's emergency services manager...

The national spotlight shone brightly on Cape Girardeau Friday during a historic moment. It marked the first time the president and vice president of the United States had ever made a joint appearance in town. Bill and Hillary Clinton and daughter Chelsea, along with Al and Tipper Gore kicked off the first leg of their post-convention campaign. The town and region should be proud of its hospitable welcome...

E. coli. Salmonella. Campylobacter. They're hardly ingredients chefs want to whip into a favorite recipe, but they turn up in food all the time. And they don't have to, food safety experts say. Simple sanitation can stop many food-borne illnesses dead in their tracks, says Diane Gregory, a sanitarian with the Cape Girardeau County Public Health Center...

As Charlie Drury passed the praise for an anti-abortion rally he helped organize to other people, one of his young granddaughters said, "Grandpa, we're collecting money for SEMO Lifesavers to help pay for this." Drury, whose financial and organizational support helped make the prayer vigil and rally possible, opened his wallet and dropped a $5 bill into the girl's hat. Delighted, the youngster skipped off to collect more donations...

A shirt-sleeved President Clinton told a cheering, sign-waving crowd estimated at up to 30,000 people Friday at Cape Girardeau's Capaha Park that he wants to be re-elected to "build a bridge to the 21st century." Clinton said he had done his best to change the politics of Washington to make it more like life in Cape Girardeau...

NationsBank Corp. and Boatmen's Bancshares Inc. have announced an agreement to merge into a company that would serve more than 13 million customers in 16 states. NationsBank has agreed to pay about $9.5 billion in cash and stock for Boatmen's Inc. in the third-biggest U.S. banking merger on record...

CAIRO, Ill. -- President Clinton's tour through Southern Illinois wasn't about putting out a message; it was about meeting people and making history. Clinton, Vice President Al Gore, Hillary Clinton and Tipper Gore left Cape Girardeau about 5 p.m. Friday at the head of a lumbering convoy of 11 buses. They weaved their way through Cape Girardeau, waved on by hundreds of people, to the Mississippi River bridge and headed down to Cairo...

Whether they were President Clinton supporters or just curious, people filled Capaha Park Friday as far as the eye could see. They pushed against each other inside orange plastic fences, trying to get closer to the most powerful man in national government. When Clinton, Vice President Al Gore and their wives took the stage, excited shouts were mixed with sighs of relief...

POPLAR BLUFF -- -- The National Rife Association recently honored the late Congressman Bill Emerson at a banquet. His widow, Jo Ann Emerson, an independent candidate for the 8th District congressional seat her husband held for 16 years, attended the NRA Foundation dinner...

CAIRO, Ill. -- Alexander County Republicans charged Friday that the Clinton-Gore campaign may have violated federal election laws over the running of a newspaper ad. Michael Caldwell, Alexander County Republican Central Committee chairman, said he would ask the Federal Elections Commission to investigate...

Fifth-graders from Bloomfield Elementary School got goose bumps when they saw President Bill Clinton Friday at Capaha Park. "I didn't get goose bumps, I was just glad," said 10-year-old Dennis Gibson of Bloomfield. Goosebumps is the title of popular children's reading series...

In real estate, the golden rule is "location, location, location." Businesses around Capaha Park were keenly aware of that rule Friday afternoon as thousands of people streamed into the neighborhood for the Clinton-Gore rally. Renee Schoen and others from St. Mark Lutheran Church's youth group set up a lemonade stand at the corner of Normal and West End Blvd. to take advantage of the traffic...

Remarks by the President to the Community of Cape Girardeau in Capaha Park. THE PRESIDENT: Thank you so much. Ladies and gentlemen, first of all I am thrilled to see you here in such large numbers and with such enthusiasm. It's good the be in Cape Girardeau. ...

One by one, Democratic state officials took the stage at Capaha Park Friday in a political pep rally that had the crowd celebrating long before President Bill Clinton arrived. The speakers changed, but the theme remained the same: President Clinton has a vision that can lead the nation into the next century; GOP presidential candidate Bob Dole doesn't...

CHAFFEE -- The Wessel Ranch will hold the Cattleman's Education Seminar today at the Chaffee VFW starting at 11 a.m. The seminar will feature BBU and their programs. They are holding this field day to help promote and educate the local breeders about Beefmaster cattle in their area...

BERTRAND -- Funeral service for Edd Wesley Badgett of Bertrand will be held at 11 a.m. today at McMikle Funeral Chapel in Sikeston. The Rev. Ted Wimberly will officiate, with burial in Maynard Cemetery. Badgett, 90, died Friday, Aug. 30, 1996, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau...

BENTON -- Clifford F. Hubbert, 69, Benton Route 1, died Friday, Aug. 30, 1996, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. He was born Feb. 16, 1927, in Fayette County, Ala., son of James T. and Ethel Weaver Hubbert. He and Lois M. Shaver were married June 5, 1948, in Piggott, Ark...

JONESBORO, Ill. -- Jesse J. Sronce, 87, of Columbus, Ind., died Thursday, Aug. 29, 1996, at Columbus Regional Hospital. He was born Aug. 15, 1909, in Elco, son of Harvey and Blanche Dickerson Sronce. He and Ruby Morris were married in July 1950 in Murphysboro...

ANNA, Ill. -- Paul Sronce, 75, of Anna died Thursday, Aug. 29, 1996, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau, Mo. He was born March 30, 1921, at Mill Creek, son of Harvey and Blanche Dickerson Sronce. He first married Helen Young in 1946 in St. Louis. She died in 1972. He later married Maxine in 1972 in Elgin. She died in 1982...

CYPRESS, Ill. -- Earl Penrod, 86, of Cypress died Thursday, Aug. 29, 1996, at Massac Memorial Hospital in Metropolis. He was born Dec. 3, 1909, in Dongola, son of Daniel and Ella Mowery Penrod. He married Bernita Thomson, who died in 1986. Penrod was a cattle buyer...

BLOOMFIELD -- Gary J. Trout, 39, of Bloomfield died Friday, Aug. 30, 1996, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau, from injuries received in an automobile accident. He was born Nov. 12, 1956, in Sikeston, son of Paul and Verda Jenkins Trout. He and Melody Brown were married July 6, 1991, in Advance...

Leon J. Dannenmueller, 86, 820 Perry Avenue, died Friday, Aug. 26, 1996, at St. Francis Medical Center. He was born Jan. 29, 1910, in Kelso, son of Otto J. and Annie Gosche Dannenmueller. He and Viola Clara Bollinger were married Nov. 28, 1935, at Benton...

Margaret M. Thompson, 87, of Mt. Vernon, Ill., died Thursday, Aug. 29, 1996, at Fountainbleau Lodge. She was born July 29, 1909, in Baltimore, Md., daughter of Noel Hall and Alice Kate Gassman Matthews. He and Dr. Harry G. Thompson Sr. were married Dec. 1, 1935. He died Nov. 7, 1968...

MORLEY -- Billy D. Wyatt, 57, of Morley died Friday, Aug. 30, 1996, in an automobile accident six miles north of Siketon on Highway 61. Amick-Burnett Funeral Chapel at Sikeston is in charge of arrangements.

Daughter to Laura Ann Reimann of Jackson, Southeast Missouri Hospital, 5:08 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 7, 1996. Name, Cierra Ann Denise. Weight, 6 pounds 10 ounces. Second daughter. Ms. Reimann is the former Laura Garner, daughter of Theresa Garner of Jackson. She is employed at Wal-Mart Supercenter in Cape Girardeau...

Walter J. Berkbigler, 89, of Cape Girardeau died Friday at Fountainbleau Lodge. Lorberg Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.