Stories from Wednesday, March 12, 1997

To the editor: On Tuesday, April 1, we will have the opportunity to do something for our community and for the continued economic growth of our area. We can help move Cape Girardeau forward by approving the Cape Girardeau School District's master plan bond issue...

Fred Stone will present his one-man play "Will and Testament" at 7 tonight at the Forrest H. Rose Theatre on the Southeast Missouri State University campus. . The performance is free and open to the public. The presentation is this year's Dr. H.O. Grauel Memorial Lecture...

The latest in handheld cellular phones fit in the palm of your hand and can be used to send and receive electronic data from a portable computer. A tone sounds and before the dispatcher speaks a firefighter jumps into high gear. Reached in route to an appointment, a saleswoman juggles her schedule to meet her client's request...

THIS IS to all the landowners who are opposed to the lake in Bollinger and Cape counties. I know you say that you don't "want your ground stolen" because it has been in your family for years and years. Who do you think your ancestors "stole it from?" The Indians...

St. Louis County's population of 1,000,690 is larger than Kansas City and St. Louis City combined! In the last three decades St. Louis City's population has declined from 500,000-plus to 383,733, according to the 1992 census. St. Louis County has 22 percent of Missouri's employers, 24 percent of Missouri's jobs, 27 percent of Missouri's personal income and 34 percent of Missouri's income tax...

William Faulkner scholars will be drawn to Cape Girardeau, because Southeast Missouri State University is home to one of only four Faulkner collections in the world. The others are housed at universities in Virginia, Texas and Faulkner's home state of Mississippi...

Jeff and Kim Harms are an inspirational story. It has been 10 years since both suffered traumatic brain injuries in separate automobile accidents. They hold jobs, maintain a loving relationship and fight a daily frustrating battle of constant short-term memory loss...

State Rep. David Schwab of Jackson says he won't support the Cape Girardeau-Bollinger counties recreational lake bill without major changes. Schwab Tuesday proposed three amendments to state Sen. Peter Kinder's lake bill. Under Schwab's amendments: -- The lake project would first be voted on by affected property owners. If a majority of landowners approve it, the county commissions would put the lake-tax issue before voters in both counties...

Advancements in tornado tracking will aid Dave Hitt as he prepares for the upcoming tornado season. Hitt, the Cape Girardeau County emergency management director, said a new Emergency Alert System will enable someone from his office to issue an alert over the radio or on television that specifies the location of a tornado...

It isn't necessary to have Doppler radar to see conditions that are favorable for tornadoes. Tornadoes usually spawn from severe thunderstorms. So, if a person feels threatened by a storm, then would be the advisable time to seek shelter. Storm clouds can take on certain similarities that give tornado-chasers an idea of where a tornado can form. ...

Secretary of State Bekki Cook wants lawmakers to give her office the power to investigate election fraud or any other voting irregularities. Cook's office would be given that power under a bill she is pushing in the Missouri General Assembly. It is one of several pieces of legislation drafted by Cook's office that would make changes in the state's election laws...

Just last year Cape Girardeau voters amended the city charter to keep city agencies from raising fees more than 5 percent in any year. As this year's budget process progresses, members of the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board have found problems with the cap...

Schools don't need to teach Ebonics because students are already fluent, Dr. Robert L. Williams told a group at Southeast Missouri State University Center Tuesday night. Williams named the black dialect in 1973. He wrote the book "Ebonics: The True Language of Black Folks" and has studied ways of using Ebonics as a tool to increase the learning potential of black students...

I think there's a lot to be said for the power of names. If roses had been called dung, slop or burps, would anyone want to smell them in the first place? Take my name for example, Angier, pronounced ain-jer (like ranger without the R, danger without the D or stranger without the STR). It's a French moniker and many people have asked me why I don't pronounce it in the French fashion -- on-jay?...

While a dozen students watch, the rolling simulator -- made from a truck -- begins to spin with two dummies in the cab. The spinning is slow at first but speeds up to a mercuric blur. One of the dummies begins to bob and bounce around inside the cab...

A Southeast Missouri State University group plans to spend spring break next week ministering to the needs of refugees in southwest Texas. Neal Kluba of Catholic Campus Ministry said about 10 people will take part in the trip. Similar trips have been held the previous two years...

Five Southeast Missouri State University graduates have been selected as recipients of the 1997 Young Alumni Merit Award. The awards will be presented at spring commencement May 17 in the Show Me Center. The honorees are Capt. Jay A. Carroll of Arlington, Va.; Dr. Bart DeBrock of Vincennes, Ind.; Susan M. Haake of Springfield, Ill.; John Hensel of Atlanta; and Rodney Pensel of Sikeston...

JACKSON -- Board of Education members decided several issues for the 1997-98 school year during its meeting Tuesday night at the Jackson Middle School. Superintendent Dr. Howard Jones surveyed district faculty and staff on calendar preferences before the meeting. Faculty and staff voted 226 to 55 for a school-year calendar that includes two weeks at Christmas, a four-day Easter holiday and additional weather make-up days at the end of the school year...

The Southeast Missourian asked people what they thought about the possible elimination of annual state vehicle inspections, if a bill that passed through the Missouri Senate and on to the House becomes law. Mark Hornback: "I don't think it's a good idea. People with unsafe vehicles out there are a hazard to people with safe vehicles, or anyone for that matter."...

JACKSON -- The mayor and Board of Aldermen announced their unified opposition to an effort to unionize some city employees in a formal statement Monday. Approximately half of Jackson's municipal workforce are eligible to participate in the March 19 election to decide whether to be represented by International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 702, which is based in West Frankfort, Ill...

Don't look for water or gangplanks when you enter Riverport Casino Center, home to four gambling casinos, a 291-room hotel, entertainment lounge, 450-seat restaurant and a child-care facility at Maryland Heights. The casinos are constructed on barges that float in a basin adjacent to the Missouri River, but visitors to the glitzy new riverboat entertainment center will never know the difference when they leave the land-based pavilion and enter one of the four casinos...

Fat Tuesday and Mardi Gras have passed, but local celebrants can still look forward to the American Cancer Society's Carnivale. The organization is sponsoring the benefit gala March 22 at the Show Me Center. The theme will celebrate regional French heritage in the form of a Krewe Ball...

Southeast Missouri State University's gymnastics team's meet against Illinois State at Houck Field House Tuesday had to be one of the longest in the school's history. The Otahkians must not have minded. Southeast (13-7) set a school record with a 195.650 as a team, Erin Chenier broke her school record with a 39.425 in the all-around and Kate Farrington, the team's only senior, capped Senior Night with a perfect on 10 on floor...

The Notre Dame Lady Bulldogs will have the luxury of playing their Class 2A sectional game tonight against the East Carter County Lady Redbirds in their home town. The contest, starting at 6:30 p.m., will be played at the Cape Central Fieldhouse. But Notre Dame coach Jerry Grim wasn't ready to say his team will have a great advantage over the Lady Redbirds...

The Scott City Rams will be looking for a repeat performance tonight at 8:15 in their sectional rematch at the Cape Central Fieldhouse against the East Carter County Redbirds. Last year Scott City ended the Redbirds undefeated season with a shocking 70-61 sectional win. The upset loss finished the Redbirds' season with a 27-1 record while the Rams moved onto the quarterfinals...

JACKSON -- Jackson High's girls basketball team is a close-knit unit -- so close, in fact, that the Lady Indians consider themselves something of an unofficial family, both on and off the court. And two of Jackson's top players take that even a step further -- they really are part of an official family...

Cheryl Jansen won the individual title and teamed with Meleia Sides for the doubles crown at the Cape Girardeau Women's Bowling Association 56th Annual Tournament, held at Jackson Lanes Saturday and Sunday. Jansen bowled a 702 scratch series and a winning 757 handicap total. Linda Eudy also rolled a 702 scratch, but finished runner-up with a 745 scratch total...

The Cape Central girls' swim team opened their season in exciting fashion Tuesday at the Central Pool with a 95-90 dual-meet win over Parkway Central. Leading by only three points heading into the final event, Central needed a win in the 400-yard freestyle relay to claim the meet. The Lady Tigers got the win in an exciting final event with a state-qualifying time of 4:08.94. Members of the relay team are Elizabeth Green, Jennifer Freeze, Laura Dombrowski and Grace Freeman...

JACKSON -- Reba Dow, 86, of Jackson died Monday, March 10, 1997, at Heritage Gardens. McCombs Funeral Home at Jackson is in charge of arrangements.

SIKESTON -- James S. "Jimmy" Graham, 59, of Sikeston died Monday, March 10, 1997, at his home. He was born June 29, 1937, at Matthews, son of Lee and Rosell Cook Graham. Graham had farmed in New Madrid County. He was a member of Fellowship Baptist Church...

BERTRAND -- Funeral service for Jackie Lee Groves of Bertrand will be held at 1 p.m. today at McMikle Funeral Home in Charleston. The Rev. Bill Meeks will officiate, with burial in Oak Grove Cemetery. Groves, 61, died Monday, March 10, 1997, at his home...

DIEHLSTADT -- Paul Bartlett Norman, 87, of Diehlstadt died Monday, March 10, 1997, at his home. He was born June 10, 1909, in Hickman County, Ky., son of Wilbur Walter and Ann Embry Hilliard Norman. He and Beulah M. Sneed were married March 17, 1939. She died Sept. 8, 1995...

CHARLESTON -- Thelmo Dean, 76, of St. Louis died Friday, March 7, 1997, at Barnes Hospital in St. Louis. He was born Oct. 23, 1920, in Parks, Ark., son of Joe and Tennie Davis Dean. Dean and his twin brother, Delmo, were landscape contractors and yard maintenance workers in the Charleston area...

Son to James Michael and Marjorie Anne Bono of St. James, St. Mary's Hospital in Jefferson City, 8:06 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 29, 1997. Name, Matthew Robert Alexander. Weight, 9 pounds 8 ounces. Third child, second son. Mrs. Bono is the former Marjorie Simmons, daughter of Arnold and Phyllis Simmons of Cape Girardeau. ...

CHARLESTON -- T.C. Williams, 53, of Mt. Vernon, Ill., died Friday, March 7, 1997, at Crossroads Community Hospital in Mt. Vernon. He was born March 17, 1943, in Dyersburg, Tenn., son of T.A. and Elnora Cobbs Ware Williams. He married Flora Jean Andrews, who preceded him in death...

OLMSTED, Ill. -- William "Bud" Holmes, 69, of Olmsted died Monday, March 10, 1997, at Union County Hospital in Anna. He was born Aug. 11, 1927, at Tunnel Hill, son of Julius and Nora Simmons Holmes. He married Elsie Watson, who preceded him in death...

DONGOLA, Ill. -- Funeral service for Ethel M. Hancock, Dongola Route 2, will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday at Hileman and Parr Funeral Home in Jonesboro. The Rev. Chuck Miller will officiate, with burial in Jonesboro Cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home from 5-8 p.m. today...

CAIRO, Ill. -- Leon Cantrell, 83, of Cairo died Tuesday, March 11, 1997, at Daystar Care Center. He was born May 28, 1913, in Ash Hill, son of Bethel and Della Donovan Cantrell. Cantrell was a retired construction worker, and attended Cairo United Pentecostal Church. He was a veteran of World War II...