Stories from Thursday, September 5, 1996

People from all over Southeast Missouri and Southern Illinois will flock to Arena Park for the SEMO District Fair beginning Sunday and continuing through Saturday Many will find themselves in the grandstand for some of the fair's most popular attractions -- the horse show, the demolition derby and the truck and tractor pulls...

Growing up in Advance, Charla Andre was a quiet, introspective only child whose mother sometimes complained about the pictures of Indians that appeared on the paneling. Becoming an artist may have been "some way to come out in a ferocious way," she says...

CHAFFEE -- The Chaffee City Council has taken two decisive steps toward moving the Chaffee Police Department in a positive direction. First, the council Tuesday night approved an ordinance that will redefine and rename the police commission. The ordinance streamlines the commission's responsibilities and brings it into compliance with a statute governing the actions of a police personnel board...

September precipitation already has surpassed the tiny little splash recorded in August. Dr. Al Robertson, a climatologist at Southeast Missouri State University, reported that 0.22 of an inch of rain fell in Cape Girardeau last month. So far this month, 0.27 of inch has been recorded, Robertson said...

Bob Beckel is unabashedly liberal. Tony Snow is solidly conservative. But they agree on one thing: Bob Dole is history in this presidential election. Neither believes the Republican nominee can overtake President Clinton. "The Republican campaign today is rudderless, punchless and clueless," Snow said. "Who is advising these guys, Dr. Kevorkian?"...

Lunch in the company cafeteria seemed routine on March 19 until Bill Wickham saved a fellow employee from choking to death. Wickham was honored Wednesday with a lifesaving award from Union Electric Co. for his heroic efforts. "I just knew that somebody was not breathing," he said. Until he performed the Heimlich maneuver, Wickham never saw the person who was choking: He had been across the room, standing beside another person who blocked the view...

Whether on the baseball field or volunteering for Area Wide United Way, teamwork is essential to getting the job done. And United Way needs teamwork to get the job done, said Whitey Herzog. Herzog, a former manager for the St. Louis Cardinals baseball team, spoke to about 225 people Wednesday during the annual Area Wide United Way campaign kickoff luncheon. He also addressed a group of local business leaders at a breakfast Wednesday...

Sept. 5, 1996 Dear Pat, People say the president of the United States kissed my mom but it's not true. She told me so. There was a brief cheek-to-cheek hug and then her head ended up against his chest, but there was a good reason. She told me that, too...

That stretch of new, white concrete between Sprigg Street Road and Highway 177 seems to beg for traffic, but drivers must wait a bit longer. The new section of Lexington Avenue originally was slated to open next week, but there has been a delay. City Engineer Mark Lester said some new pavement cracked. He said there are several possible reasons for the cracks, but no matter what the cause the cracked sections must be removed and replaced...

SCOTT CITY -- A group of rural water users in Scott County, which has been attending Scott City Council meetings for two months in an attempt to get answers on a rate increase, were given answers this week. Scott City Attorney Francis J. Siebert, under direction of the city council, sent a letter to members of the Urban Water Users Committee and a lawyer that may be representing them in future litigations...

It isn't hard to see that Southeast Missouri State University is back in session. The town swells with thousands of additional people each day. It may be easy to grumble about the increased traffic, but Cape Girardeans should also appreciate the economic impact of these students. The university provides tremendous economic dividends to the city and region...

While the region benefits from Southeast Missouri State University, it loses out financially from the high rate of high school dropouts. Nearly 40 percent of the region's residents -- 25 years and older -- are high school dropouts. This disturbing number is much higher than both the statewide and national averages...

The Board of Regents will consider approving a campus master plan and endorsing a plan to set up a new polytechnic institute at Southeast Missouri State University that would focus on technical training. The regents will meet at 1:30 p.m. today at the Show Me Center...

Son to Michael Dwaine and Nancy Ann McDowell of Jackson, Southeast Missouri Hospital, 1:39 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 29, 1996. Name, Jared Michael. Weight, 6 pounds 13 ounces. Second child, first son. Mrs. McDowell is the former Nancy Vandeven, daughter of Sylvester "Bud" and Mary Vandeven of Leopold. Mr. and Mrs. McDowell are employed at Lee-Rowan. He is the son of the late Cecil McDowell and Barbara McDowell...

OLMSTED -- Lena Adams Harner, 92, of Olmsted died Wednesday, Sept. 4, 1996, at Magnolia Manor Nursing Home in Metropolis. Arrangements are incomplete with Crain Funeral Home in Ullin.

BERTRAND -- Frances Ellen Peters, 88, of Bertrand died Tuesday, Sept. 3, 1996, at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston. She was born Feb. 16, 1908, in Bertrand, daughter of Charles Eli and Frances Ella Hudson Voelker. She and Charles Wesley Peters were married Oct. 25, 1932. He died Feb. 17, 1961...

SIKESTON -- Mary Francis Harrington, 92, of Sikeston died Saturday, Aug. 31, 1996, at Sikeston Convalescent Center. She was born May 3, 1904, in Byhalia, Miss., daughter of William A. and Savannah Malone Henry. Harrington was a member of West End Baptist Church...

A memorial service for Kenneth Krauska of St. Louis will be held at 3 p.m. today at Kriegshauser West Mortuary Chapel in Olivette. Burial will be private. Friends may call at the chapel from 1 p.m. to service time. Krauska, 53, died suddenly Monday, Sept. 2, 1996, at St. John's Mercy Hospital...

Irene Marie Strack, 93, 714 S. Sprigg, died Tuesday, Sept. 3, 1996, at her home. She was born Aug, 19, 1903, at Kelso, daughter of Louis and Mary Drury Dannenmueller. She and Theon Strack were married June 11, 1928 at Caruthersville. He died April 9, 1988...

PERRYVILLE -- Paul Joseph Kohm, 60, of Perryville died Tuesday, Sept. 3, 1996, in a truck-train accident. He was born July 17, 1936, at McBride, son of Andrew J. and Edith M. Cissell Kohm Sr. Kohm was a truck driver with Gilster-Mary Lee. He was a member of River Hills Eagles, American Legion Boosters and Amvets Boosters...

Shirley J. Sutton, 62, of St. Peters died Tuesday, Sept. 3, 1996, at her home. She was born Sept. 28, 1933, in Cape Girardeau, daughter of Howard and Thelma Mathenia Slinkard. She married Delzia D. Sutton. Sutton had worked at Kroger in St. Charles 10 years, and was head cashier...

PERRYVILLE -- Rosella Ann Lurk, 87, of Perryville died Tuesday, Sept. 3, 1996, at Perry County Nursing Home. She was born Sept. 4, 1908, in Perryville, daughter of Sylvester and Emma Dunker Zahner. Survivors include three sons, Ronald and Stanley Lurk of Perryville, James Lurk of Ste. Genevieve; a daughter, Joan Wengler of Fredericktown; five grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren...

OLMSTED, Ill. -- Paul Dean, 24, of Olmsted died Wednesday, Sept. 4, 1996, at his home. He was born March 18, 1972, in Chicago, son of Virgil and Kathleen Przybysz Dean. Dean was a member of U.S. Marine Reserves. Survivors include his parents, David and Kathy Dakin of Olmsted; three sisters, Julie Revolinski, Danielle and Amanda Dakin, all of Olmsted; three brothers, Darrell Dakin of Chicago, Mike and Ronnie Dean of Jackson, Miss.; and paternal grandmother, Wilma Dakin of Scott City, Mo...

Isaac Henry Crews Jr., 88, 3120 Independence, died Tuesday, Sept. 3, 1996, at Chateau Girardeau Nursing Center. He was born April 19, 1908, in Puxico, son of Isaac H. and Minerva Ann Harty Crews Sr. Crews had worked at General Motors. He was a member of Grace United Methodist Church and United Auto Workers Local 27...

CHAFFEE -- Mae Shaw, 83, of Chaffee died Wednesday, Sept. 4, 1996, at the Chaffee Nursing Center. She was born Dec. 4, 1912, in Kinder. She married John E. Shaw on June 19, 1938, and he preceded her in death on April 2, 1989. Shaw was a former resident of Puxico...