Stories from Friday, January 17, 1997

The right-to-die issue undoubtedly is one of the toughest issues facing this nation. Should compassion -- under the guidance of a physician -- take precedence over the moral imperative to respect life to the fullest? The U.S. Supreme Court is expected to make a ruling on this issue by summer. It will be a difficult decision...

The recent news that President Clinton may not include any funding for federal building projects in his fiscal 1998 budget could affect the proposed new federal courthouse in Cape Girardeau. The president's thinking appears to be a blanket moratorium on such projects and isn't targeted at any specific project...

Those of us who have been working for an appropriation of $3.15 million in state funds for a new area vocational-technical school in Cape Girardeau are hopeful that such an amount will be forthcoming in the proposed budget submitted next week by Gov. ...

I'M INTERESTED in how the Missouri Legislature determines its per diem for times when it is operating in Jefferson City. Recently in an article in the Southeast Missourian one of the state senators indicated his cost for breakfast, lunch and dinner plus hotel. ...

The unborn, aged, sick and handicapped will be the focus of Sanctity of Life Sunday, Jan. 26. Events co-sponsored by Voice for Life and Semo Lifesavers will remember the Roe vs. Wade decision that legalized abortion on Jan. 22, 1973. Teresa LeGrand, chairwoman of the southeast region of Missouri Right to Life, said people have come together since 1974 to call attention to the issue of abortion and to consider the lives of the unborn babies and their parents...

The city of Cape Girardeau has a New Year's resolution: bring employee salaries closer in line with Missouri cities of comparable size. As preliminary work begins on the 1997-98 fiscal year budget, city administrators plan to alter the traditional budget process to give employee raises greater importance...

Another bout of bitter cold moved into the region Thursday, sending temperatures plummeting. The forecast called for lows of zero to minus 5 Thursday night, with wind chills of 25 to 30 below zero. The National Weather Service at Paducah, Ky., warned people to bundle up. Greg Lamberty of the weather service said, "The main threat is frost bite and hypothermia."...

Annoying little things have no explanation, which make them even more annoying. It's a vicious and unending circle. There are some mysteries in life that probably will never be explained. Maybe we mere mortals don't deserve to know everything. However, that doesn't stop me from being perplexed by the ordinary confusion of living in the here and now...

It's tax time; do you know where to go to ask questions about your tax forms? The local Internal Revenue Service office has moved from the Federal Building to 137 S. Broadview. That's in the West Park Village, which also houses Blockbuster Video and CD Warehouse...

The Cape Girardeau High School Student Senate has set the theme for its 1997 Winter Homecoming as "Yesterday." The student senate, in keeping with the theme, has invited past homecoming courts to the Homecoming basketball game Jan. 25 at 5 p.m., and the Homecoming dance at 10. The past courts would be recognized at these times...

CHESTER, Ill. -- Perryville moved into its third tournament championship game this season by upending top-seeded Trico in Thursday's semifinals of the Chester Invitational. Fifth-seeded Perryville, which has already won the Woodland and MICDS tournaments this season, will meet tonight's New Athens-Dupo winner at 8 p.m. in Saturday's championship game...

Son to Bruce A. and Christi L. Jackson, 1440 N. Main, Southeast Missouri Hospital, 5:48 p.m. Monday, Dec. 30, 1996. Name, Colt Allen. Weight, 6 pounds 1 ounce. Second child, first son. Mrs. Jackson is the former Christi Myers, daughter of Sharon Collier of Cape Girardeau. She is a secretary at Motorcycle Stuff. Jackson is the son of Charles and Phyllis Jackson of Cape Girardeau. He is a lineman at Spartech Compounding...

SEDGEWICKVILLE -- Gary Dean Barks, 47, of Sedgewickville died Wednesday, Jan. 15, 1997, at his home, following an illness. He was born July 2, 1949, in Cape Girardeau, son of Wilbur "Wib" and Ruth Conrad Barks. He and Marion Ann Keeth were married Aug. 7, 1987...

Edyth Fay Smith, 89, of Cape Girardeau, formerly of Farmington, died Thursday, Jan. 16, 1997, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. She was born July 27, 1907, at Coffman, daughter of Robert Beverly and Joyce Drewsilla Westover Aubuchon. She married Charles Henry Smith, who preceded her in death...

ANNA, Ill. -- Floyd K. Haas, 82, of Anna died Thursday, Jan. 16, 1997, at Memorial Hospital in Carbondale. Crain Funeral Home in Anna is in charge of arrangements.

Lloyd Alvin Jones, 80, of Cape Girardeau died Tuesday, Jan. 14, 1997, at Southeast Missouri Hospital. Ford and Sons Mt. Auburn Chapel is in charge of arrangements.

Funeral service for Roy D. Gerecke of St. Louis will be held at 1 p.m. today at Kutis Funeral Chapel in Affton. Burial will be in Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery. Gerecke died Tuesday, Jan. 14, 1997. He was a member of Gardenville-Affton Memorial American Legion Post 300...

MORLEY -- Mary Ellen Dollins, 84, of Morley died Thursday, Jan. 16, 1997, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. She was born Aug. 30, 1912, at Denton, daughter of Harry Boyd and Mary Edna Foster Connelley. She and James H. Dollins were married Nov. 6, 1933. He died Oct. 30, 1980...

Funeral service for Paul L. Ervin, 635 Whitelaw, will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday at Ford and Sons Mt. Auburn Chapel. The Revs. David Stewart, S.S. Borum and Donnie Henson will officiate. Burial will be in Hobbs Chapel Cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral chapel from 4-8 p.m. today...

TAMMS, Ill. -- Funeral service for LaVerne Walker of Tamms has been rescheduled for 1 p.m. Sunday at Barkett Funeral Home in Cairo. Burial will be in Green Lawn Memorial Gardens at Villa Ridge. Friends may call at the funeral home after 5 p.m. Saturday...