Stories from Thursday, September 19, 1996

Dear Editor: I am writing this letter on behalf of those who went to Delta High School and made it to graduation before dropping out. First of all, I would like to say that Carrie Cline's report regarding dropouts at Delta on Sept. 12 on KFVS-12 was one-sided. No one was interviewed who did graduate from Delta. Many other residents I've spoken to thought her report was a poor excuse for investigative reporting...

JACKSON -- The Jackson Jaycees will conduct its annual Punt, Pass and Kick competition Sunday at the Jackson High School football field. Registration begins at 1 p.m., and the competition will start at 1:30 p.m. Boys and girls will be divided into four age divisions: 8 and 9-year-old; 10 and 11-year-old; 12 and 13-year-old; and 14 and 15-year-old. Children will be required to show a valid birth certificate for age verification...

If lines in "Julius Caesar" are among Shakespeare's most familiar, it's because the political envy and lust for power the play portrays remain very modern. There is still a tide in the affairs of men, there's always someone who loved Caesar not less but Rome more, and the unkindest cuts of all keep occurring. Add on a bloody coup d'etat, assisted suicides and murderous vengeance and you pretty much describe the state of affairs in various spots around the world...

An estimated 900 students from Clarkon (Ill.), Meadow Heights, East Carter (Ill.), Naylor, Malden, Scott City, Advance, Richland, Vienna (Ill.), Viburnum (Ill.), South Pemiscott, Greenville, Zalma, Bell City, Perryville, Jackson, Marquand, Charleston, Oran and St. Augustine high schools attended Wednesday morning's performance of "Julius Caesar" by the Shenandoah Shakespeare Express at Academic Auditorium...

They will come out together, in formation. Shining white in the electric lights of the Show Me Center, the Lipizzaner Stallions, possibly the world's most renowned horses, will perform an array of movements only one of the world's best-trained horses can execute...

I TOOK my family out to the SEMO Fair last week. The kids got a blue Team Emerson '96 balloon and a yellow Vote Democrat balloon. The next morning the blue balloon was on the floor. The yellow was still flying high. I guess the Democrats had more hot air...

Republican presidential nominee Bob Dole continues to press the $548 billion tax cut proposal that is the centerpiece of his campaign. It is a worthy proposal. The effectiveness of the advocacy the Dole-Kemp ticket brings to bear on behalf of it will likely determine the outcome of the presidential election...

It is September, back-to-school time, so it seemed that the teachers in Cairo, Ill. public schools could once again go out on strike. But such a repeat of the 1994 strike was narrowly averted when members of the Cairo Teachers Association accepted a one-year agreement and returned to the classroom on Monday, Sept. 9...

Dear Editor: Although we are only a few weeks into the school year, it appears KFVS is doing a "bang up" job covering area schools. I wish to address their report on the "dispute" in the Delta school district (air dates Sept. 12 at 10 p.m., Sept. 13 at 6 a.m.)...

PERRYVILLE -- If this keeps up, Tyson Koenig may have to hire an agent. Tyson, 8, is trading his knowledge of presidential trivia for fame and fortune. He appeared Monday night on "The Late Show with David Letterman" and on the "Today" show Tuesday morning with Bryant Gumbel...

A number of residents of Hillcrest Manor subdivision have voiced opposition to a proposed water and sewer rate hike by Hillcrest Utilities Co. The private utilities company has provided water and sewer service to the subdivision along Route K about three miles west of Interstate 55 for more than 20 years...

They came with Bibles in hand, crosses dangling from chains around their neck, and wearing T-shirts with Christian slogans to send a simple message to their campus. "We came to open the doors to witness to people," said Jeff Myers. "It will definitely make a difference. They will know what the Christian life is all about."...

When Bill Clinton and Bob Dole square off in presidential debate, Cape Girardeau's opinion of their performances will count. Cape Girardeau is among 18 national research sites participating in Debate Watch '96, a project of the Commission on Presidential Debates. The commission coordinates presidential debates...

Sept. 19, 1996 Dear Ken, The season probably already has changed up there but it's just happening here. The big rainstorm that usually hits the district fair came the day the men in full-body tattoos left. DC and I took our niece Casey out to see teen heartthrob Bryan White. Most of the other girls spent at least part of the concert screaming at him, but Casey was ready for the carnival rides after just a few songs. Guess the Bryan White years are still to come for a 9-year-old...

Missouri's economy is much more diverse than just corn, cotton and cockleburs: It spans industry, telecommunications, health care and agri-business, said the state economic development director. "It's a great place to live, work and do business," said Joe Driskill, director of the Missouri Department of Economic Development. Driskill was a featured speaker at the Greater Missouri Leadership conference in Cape Girardeau Wednesday...

The Salvation Army will be serving "Meals With Friends" beginning Monday. The meals will be served from 4:30 p.m. until 6 p.m. Anyone is welcome to eat at no cost. Monday -- Macaroni and cheese, peas and carrots, pickled beets, fruit salad, bread and butter...

MARBLE HILL -- Entrepreneur Loyd Ivey has returned home to Bollinger County where he hopes to share his wealth in the form of new businesses. Ivey grew up dirt poor in Bollinger County. He left home at 16 and made a fortune in high-tech electronics...

Disease doesn't discriminate, and people of every age, race and gender are afflicted with diabetes. But very few people actually know anything about diabetes. The American Diabetes Association hopes to raise awareness with its annual fund-raiser, Walktoberfest...

To go "Cruising on the Mississippi" you might need the latest in fall fashions. So the Zonta Club in Cape Girardeau is planning its 18th annual fashion show to highlight the latest trends. The fashion show will be held Sept. 30 at the Holiday Inn Convention Center. It begins at 7:15 p.m., but doors open at 6 p.m. for dinner. All proceeds from the event will be used to fight illiteracy...

You can't get a hamburger in space. But the steak isn't too bad, says astronaut Linda Godwin. "The food we eat up there is pretty good food," Godwin told 700 people at a noon-time lecture Wednesday at the Show Me Center. The event was part of Southeast Missouri State University's series of "Common Hour" programs. Many in the audience were area school children...

JONESBORO, Ill. -- Mac C. McRaven Jr., 82, of Jonesboro died Tuesday, Sept. 17, 1996, at Union County Hospital in Anna. He was born Sept. 5, 1914, in Reynoldsville, son of Mac C. and Cora Correll McRaven Sr. He and Mildred Rhymer were married July 27, 1941, in Jackson, Mo...

GREENBRIER -- Jack Lloyd, 77, of Greenbrier died Tuesday, Sept. 17, 1996, at his home. He was born Oct. 22, 1918, in Greenbrier, son of John and Nellie Dixon Lloyd. He and Loradean Allison were married April 29, 1940, at Bloomfield. She died Aug. 24, 1988...

JACKSON -- Willard E. Talley, 86, of Jackson died Tuesday, Sept. 17, 1996, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. He was born April 27, 1910, west of Jackson, son of Walter B. and Flora Browning Talley. He and Della Statler were married March 2, 1929. She died April 23, 1981...

SIKESTON -- Robert Noah Friedline, 75, of Sikeston died Wednesday, Sept. 18, 1996, at Baptist Memorial Hospital East in Memphis, Tenn. He was born Feb. 2, 1921, in Elkville, Ind., son of Ardel and Nora Murray Friedline. He and Mary Skaggs were married Dec. 25, 1941, in Jackson...

SCOTT CITY -- Verda Faye Stogsdill, 63, of Scott City died Wednesday, Sept. 18, 1996, at her home. She was born Jan. 10, 1933, in Granite City, Ill., daughter of Charles Hamilton and Katharine Hasty Ryan. She and James R. Stogsdill Sr. were married July 10, 1964, in Granite City...

Son to Bradley W. and Amy D. Mezo of Wolf Lake, Ill., Southeast Missouri Hospital, 6:16 a.m. Friday, Sept. 6, 1996. Name, Braden Wayne. Weight, 6 pounds 15 ounces. First child. Mrs. Mezo is the former Amy Hill-Mouser, daughter of Bonnie and Avery Mouser of McClure, Ill., and Kenneth M. Hill of Johnston City, Ill. She is an accountant with Gail Lee, CPA. Mezo is the son of Kenneth Mezo of Grand Tower, Ill., and Judy Henson of Los Angeles, Calif. He is a Diesel mechanic at Schaefer's Enterprises...

SIKESTON -- Larry Dixon, 36, of Detroit, Mich., formerly of Sikeston, died Saturday, Sept. 14, 1996, at St. John's Hospital in Detroit. He was born Jan. 28, 1960, in Lee Force, Miss., son of J.D. Dixon and Erma Jean Marshall. Survivors include two sons, Perez Wiggins of Sikeston, Larry Dixon of St. ...