Stories from Thursday, March 20, 1997

A group of congressmen will introduce legislation today designed to make rural health care more accessible and affordable. The group includes U.S. Reps. Jo Ann Emerson, R-Mo., and Glenn Poshard, D-Ill. Poshard is co-chairman of the U.S. House Rural Health Care Coalition. Emerson is outreach coordinator for the group of more than 130 House members...

OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. -- As someone who had been participating in Indian dances since childhood, Dennis Zotigh was aware that Native American dances and songs were not considered performing arts. He envisioned a dance company that performed on the same stages as the world's finest ballets and operas...

JACKSON -- When Tracy Fisher directed her first play at Jackson High School last year, a drama called "The Jury Room," she was dismayed when some of her actors and actresses began ad-libbing funny lines during the performances. "They were trying to make it a comedy," she said...

Dr. Dan B. Cotner of Cape Girardeau has received the Service Above Self Award presented by Rotary International. The award is the highest honor provided to a Rotarian by the international service organization. Cotner, a dentist and a 30-year member of the Cape Girardeau Rotary Club, is one of 144 Rotarians worldwide to receive the award, which recognizes individuals who embody, through their volunteer work, the Rotary motto of "Service Above Self."...

A Rotary Study Exchange group from Southeast Missouri recently visited a Rotary District near Bombay, India. Dr. Marvin C. Swanson of the Cape Girardeau Rotary club was the team leader. Members of the team included Dr. C. John Ritter of Cape Girardeau, a physician specializing in internal medicine; Shelley Bush of Desloge, a community development specialist with the University of Missouri Extension; Alan Harris of Farmington, a pilot and flight instructor; and Mel Zielinski of Fredericktown, program director for University of Missouri Extension in Madison County.. ...

Southeast Missouri State University wants to raise incidental and general fees by $4 a credit hour next academic year. In-state undergraduate students would pay $100 a credit hour if the increase is approved. The Board of Regents will consider the fee hikes when it meets Friday at 3:30 p.m. in the Bootheel Education Center at Malden...

Spring officially begins today at 7:55 a.m., and the weather will make the fact known. Michael York, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service, said cold weather is probably over until autumn. "It is certainly going to be spring-like for now," York said. "It's going to stay especially nice through Friday."...

JACKSON -- City public works and utilities employees rejected union representation Wednesday by nearly a 2-to-1 margin. Employees voted 33-17 against unionization during two hours of secret-ballot voting at City Hall. Only one city worker eligible to participate didn't cast a ballot...

Students at Southeast Missouri State University would pay $135 to $190 more to live on campus next school year under a plan that will be submitted to the Board of Regents Friday. Room-and-board charges would range from $3,920 to $4,760 annually, depending on the residence hall...

March 20, 1997 Dear Leslie, Maybe because spring itself is such a chlorophyll-powered fireworks display here, people don't make much noise about the first day of the season. No walking through the streets at dawn singing "Wild Thing." No gathering beside the Mississippi to eat a teaspoonful of mud, a ritual to symbolize our bond with earth and the river...

As it stands right now, the public -- voters and candidates alike -- still don't know what results, if any, are being produced by a federal investigation into allegations of voting irregularities during last year's general election in Mississippi County. The FBI was asked by U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Emerson to look into charges of vote buying. But because of the FBI's lid on information about the probe, not even the county clerk there is sure if there was an investigation or if it is continuing...

To the editor: Like many that have read the article explaining the NAACP's position on the school bond issue, I am deeply disturbed. Their decision not to support the school bond is poorly argued. Why make this a racial issue? We all lose if this bond is not passed. ...

I JUST can't understand your paper and this continued diatribe about a balanced budget amendment. For God's sake, haven't you people read Dr. Cain's book that there are times when the economy goes down and it's necessary to have a deficit, but when the times are good, you have to collect more money than you spend. ...

To the editor: The Missouri State Highway Patrol has joined with Safety Belts First, a committee of concerned Missourians, in its effort to promote strong laws protecting the lives of Missouri citizens. A strong primary seat belt law will save lives in Missouri, as it already has in 11 other states. ...

There is talk that Gov. Mel Carnahan will call a special session of the Missouri Legislature to address transportation needs in the state. Such a move would be largely based on a yet-to-be-produced report from the governor's Total Transportation Commission, which is considering a broad program involving some 30 separate strategies for highways, aviation, waterways, ports, railroads, mass transit and even bicycles and pedestrian paths...

To the editor: The town meeting moderated by Secretary of State Bekki Cook concerning the election and voting process was a learning experience for me. Rather than a partisan focus, sound information was shared concerning our privilege, the vote. The tone was one of encouragement for us all that an individual's vote does matter at the polls and in the process...

To the editor: For two consecutive days, the Southeast Missourian carried the developing story of concerned citizens in Charleston. I'm referring to the efforts of students, teachers, parents and former members of the board of education to get a reconsideration of the decision to fire high school principal Joe Forrest. ...

To the editor: For lots of folks, home ownership is still the American dream. The tax on home ownership occasioned by the necessity to support the public school system is an obstacle to the achievement of that dream. While property taxes don't present an insurmountable hurdle, they do raise the bar. ...

To the editor: I am a lifelong resident of Southeast Missouri and am proud of the overall character and appearance of our area. The current building boom in residential development is great. The local economy is helping many people acquire the dream of home ownership...

To the editor: Quite early in life we begin to learn about authority. The first authority a child learns is that of the parents. However, not much time passes before children begin to question parental authority. One is told to do something, and the question is "Who said so?" -- often to the parents' surprise or dismay. The child soon learns to express his own independence...

SIKESTON -- The Mississippi and Scott County Interagency Councils will present a grant writing workshop Tuesday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Sikeston Regional Center. Registration fee is $25 per person and $20 for additional persons from the same agency. Lunch will be provided...

CHAFFEE -- Raffle tickets are on sale to benefit the Scott County Emergency Management Association. The purchase of a raffle ticket will give someone the chance to win a 24-karat gold Winchester 94 model 30-30 rifle with an engraved walnut stock. Raffle organizer John Halter said only 10 of thee rifles, plus the proof guns, were made for Scott County. The rifles are valued at $3,000 and have been resold for twice that amount...

The Missouri Department of Transportation has a new road map. The 1997-88 official state highway map is available free of charge, said Keith Hassler, mapping and drafting supervisor in the department's Jefferson City General Services Division. "We've made a lot of improvements to the map, and we hope our customers find the map useful," Hassler said...

SCOTT CITY -- Scott City voters have three perspectives to choose from April 1 when they cast their ballots for a school board candidate. Incumbent Nancy Caldwell was a teacher for 32 years before joining the school board three years ago. Rick Sample has been involved as a volunteer in school activities for years. Lisa Ellison is a mother of two and the vice president of Scott City's Parent-Teacher Organization...

Without a doubt, the "no respect" theme has become exceedingly cliched, but if any team has a right to use a Rodney Dangerfield-type angle as motivation, Notre Dame High's girls basketball team does. Notre Dame never appeared in the Associated Press 10-team state-wide poll this season. But what irked the Lady Bulldogs most was their absence from the SEMO top-10 area media poll. In the final SEMO poll, 17 teams received at least one vote...

Southeast Missouri State University's gymnastics team continued its march toward a likely NCAA Regional berth by turning in another impressive performance Tuesday night. Competing on the road in Normal, Ill., the Otahkians scored 193.85 points to defeat host Illinois State, which had a 191.50...

WICHITA, Kan. -- Southeast Missouri State University's baseball team has struggled through much of the early season. But the Indians looked like anything but a struggling squad here Wednesday in claiming a stunning 14-6 victory over Wichita State, which is one of the nation's premier programs...

Teams from Cape Gymnastics Center dominated the competition at the 1997 Spring Invitational, held recently in St. Louis. In capturing the first-place team trophies in levels 5 and 6, along with second-place team honors in level 8, the Cape gymnasts amassed 71 individual awards, including 27 championships...

PERRYVILLE -- Players from St. Vincent High are included on the All-Jefferson County Conference Small Division basketball team that was recently announced. On the boys side, Jonathan Wengert made the first time, Jason Cissell the second team and Chad Winkler honorable mention...

HILTON HEAD, S.C. -- Southeast Missouri State University's women's tennis team notched a victory here Wednesday by beating Lipscomb (Tenn.) 7-2. Singles winners for the Otahkians were Izabela Slowikowska, Vicky Wood, Brigitte Stotter and Melinda Thomas. Those four also won in doubles, as did Thais Olive and Michelle Gruber...

The 27th annual spring Arts & crafts Fair will be held at the A.C. Brase Arena building Saturay and Sunday. Sponsored by the Arts Council of Southeast Missouri, the fair will feature more than 140 exhibit spaces displaying hand-made arts and crafts sold by their makers...

Daughter to Darrell Lynn and Susan Diane Mayfield of Jackson, Southeast Missouri Hospital, 5:53 a.m. Wednesday, March 12, 1997. Name, Taylor Lynn. Weight, 6 pounds 14 ounces. First child. Mrs. Mayfield is the former Susan Patten, daughter of Eugene and Helen Patten of Kearney. Mr. and Mrs. Mayfield are employed at Procter & Gamble. He is the son of Geneva Mayfield of Jackson, and the late Milford "Doc" Mayfield...

Funeral service for Tony J. Van Amburg of Cape Girardeau will be held at 1:30 p.m. Friday at Ford and Sons Sprigg Street Chapel. The Rev. Vester Keesee will officiate, with burial in Memorial Park. Friends may call at the chapel from 4-8 p.m. today...

MCCLURE, Ill. -- Vernon Morrison, 68, of McClure died Wednesday, March 19, 1997, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau, Mo. Ford and Sons Sprigg Street Chapel in Cape Girardeau is in charge of arrangements.

SIKESTON -- Roxie Mae Boyle, 78, of St. Louis died Tuesday, March 18, 1997, at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis. She was born Jan. 21, 1919, in Manila, Ark., daughter of James Andrew and Molly Mae Warren Parker. She and Arlin C. Boyle were married May 15, 1937, in Keiser, Ark. He died July 21, 1993...

ALTENBURG -- Zadie B. Gerler, 86, formerly of Altenburg, died Tuesday, March 18, 1997, at the Lutheran Home in Cape Girardeau. She was born Dec. 4, 1910, in Marshall County, Ala., daughter of William David and Fannie Lou Smith Gamble. She and Albert N. Gerler were married July 27, 1946. He died June 15, 1992...

Memorial service for Doris N. Morehead of Cape Girardeau will be held at 2:30 p.m. today at First Presbyterian Church. The Rev. Brendan Dempsey will officiate. Ford and Sons Mt. Auburn Chapel is in charge of arrangements. Morehead, 84, died Saturday, March 15, 1997, at Chateau Girardeau Health Center...

PERRYVILLE -- Rita M. Wibbenmeyer, 76, died Wednesday, March 19, 1997, at her home in Perryville. She was born on March 25, 1920, in St. Louis to Lillian Glaub Hagan. She married Sylvester August "Pickle" Wibbenmeyer, and he preceded her in death on Sept. 8, 1965...

JACKSON -- Charles F. Mayberry, 66, of Jackson died Wednesday, March 19, 1997, at his home. Arrangements are incomplete at McCombs Funeral Home in Jackson.