Stories from Saturday, April 5, 1997

To the editor: For centuries before the arrival of European settlers, the Mississippi River, like all great rivers, marched to the beat of its own natural and seasonal drummer. During this annual cycle, it would pass through the spring flood cycle when upstream rains and ice melt increased the volume of water flowing down the channel...

A group of 10 Cape Girardeau County organizations have joined to implement a health service information line. It's a good idea that should help both users and providers. The hotline number is 573-332-0030. It will provide recorded information on hospitals, walk-in clinics, immunizations, physician referral services, family planning services, support groups, drug and alcohol treatment programs, sexual transmitted diseases, Medicaid and Medicare services and abuse and neglect. ...

Deadbeat parents ought to pay the child support they owe. They also shouldn't be spending money on themselves when they get behind on child-support payments. That's the notion behind legislation moving through the Missouri General Assembly. Deadbeats would lose their licenses to hunt, fish, drive and even work...

Jim Turner took a blood sample from Eleanor Brown of Cape Girardeau at the diabetes screening fair held at Southeast Missouri Hospital. Susan Farrow, a nurse at the foot care clinic of Southeast Missouri Hospital, used a monofilament with Aline Bruns of Cape Girardeau to check nerve sensations in the feet at the hospital's diabetes screening fair last week...

Sometimes, Edythe Davis admits, she feels a little like Cinderella left to clean up after the festivities she helped plan. Friday, the festivities focused on her. After 22 years of working -- mostly behind the scenes at St. Francis Medical Center -- Davis is retiring. Friday was her last day...

JACKSON -- An architectural firm specializing in jail construction will take a look at Cape Girardeau County's plans for an addition to the jail. The County Commission gave its OK this week to a feasibility study by Lawrence Goldberg Architects of St. Joseph. The study will cost $2,750 plus travel expenses...

Paul Simon, a former U.S. senator who now directs the Public Policy Institute at Southern Illinois University-Carbondale, emphasized in an address here Friday that academia should raise questions that guide the U.S. toward a better direction. "I sometimes sense that we are floundering a little," said Simon, who spoke at the first event to kick off a week of activities leading to the inauguration of Dr. Dale F. Nitzschke as the 16th president of Southeast Missouri State University...

Four brick pillars that serve as the backdrop for Cape Girardeau's Freedom Corner are in danger of collapsing due to weather and time. Cape Girardeau American Legion Post 63 hopes to rebuild the pillars and maintain a part of Cape Girardeau County's history...

There is perhaps no better place than that which is dedicated to both artistry and communication, which is why I have a standing appointment to get my hair done every week. Whether I'm going in for a simple wash-and-curl or to get the full "fried, dyed and laid to the side" treatment, getting my hair done is like visiting an amusement park...

The Cape Girardeau County Health Department is sponsoring a walk-in immunization clinic Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. as part of Public Health Week in Missouri. No appointment is necessary and immunizations are free. The health department is at 1121 Linden Street...

You need to stay awake if you want to be president. Cape Girardeau ninth-grader Zach Hasheider knows that all too well. Hasheider lost his job as president during a mock session of Congress in Bruce Aden's civics class at Cape Girardeau Central Junior High School...

FRUITLAND -- Nationally known motivational speaker Penny Lea will keynote the annual Missouri Right to Life Convention to be held April 11 through 13 in Fruitland. Several hundred people are expected to attend convention events. Programs are open to the public and registration is open at the door...

Rain might have put an overall damper on the 1997 ALL SPORT Relays Friday, but not even horrible weather could slow down many of the teams on the opening day of the 16th annual track and field event. Host Southeast Missouri State Universitys women and Marquettes men were the first-day team leaders during competition at the Abe Stuber Track and Field Complex...

Southeast Missouri State University women's gymnastics coach Bill Hopkins knows qualifying for the NCAA Championships would be somewhat of an upset. But Hopkins also believes his squad has a legitimate shot at making the elite 12-team field for the first time ever...

Weather could cause a problem, but Southeast Missouri State University's baseball team is looking forward to a big three-game weekend series against Ohio Valley Conference foe Eastern Illinois. The squads are scheduled to play a 4 p.m. doubleheader today at Capaha Park, with a 1 p.m. single game set for Sunday...

NASHVILLE -- Only two shots separated the top five scores for Southeast Missouri's golf team and the Indians finished Friday's first round of the Tennessee State University Invitational tied for eighth. Southeast's scores ranged from 2-over par to 4-over par on the par 72 layout at the Hermitige Golf Course...

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Southeast Missouri State University's women's tennis team improved to 9-5 overall and 3-2 in Ohio Valley Conference play by routing host Tennessee State 6-0 Friday. Only singles matches were played, doubles being canceled due to rain...

BLOOMFIELD -- Virgie M. Richmond, 85, of Bloomfield died Thursday, April 3, 1997, in Bloomfield. She was born Feb. 2, 1912, at Bloomfield, daughter of Robert Matthew and Effie May Walker Edwards. She and Wayne Richmond were married March 16, 1931. He died Nov. 5, 1987...

MORLEY -- Fearl Isaacs, 78, of Morley died Thursday, April 3, 1997, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. He was born Sept. 2, 1918, in Randolph County, Ark., son of Willian Jink and Eliza Tyree Isaacs. He and Juanita Emerson were married Oct. 26, 1942...

MAKANDA, Ill. -- Funeral service for Jesse C. Heern of Makanda will be held at 1:30 p.m. Sunday at Lutz and Rendleman Funeral Home in Cobden. The Rev. P.K. Sunny will officiate, with burial in Evergreen Cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home from 5-8 p.m. today...

COBDEN, Ill. -- Funeral service for Edward R. Sauerbrunn of Cobden will be held at 1 p.m. Tuesday at Lutz and Rendleman Funeral Home in Cobden. The Rev. David Kollmeyer will officiate. Burial will be in Cobden Cemetery, with military rites by Anna VFW Post 3455...

VILLA RIDGE, Ill. -- Ruth Hartwell, 90, of Pulaski died Friday, April 4, 1997, at Severin Nursing Home in Benton. She was born July 6, 1906, at Villa Ridge, daughter of William and Ida Essex Cheniae. She married William E. Hartwell, who died Aug. 7, 1979...

JONESBORO, Ill. -- Mary K. Forsythe, 88, of Jonesboro died Thursday, April 3, 1997, at City Care Center in Anna. She was born April 10, 1908, in Union County, daughter of Thomas and Myrtle Morgan Nimmo. She and Charles M. Forsythe were married Dec. 7, 1929, in Rector, Ark. He died Aug. 22, 1976...

JACKSON -- Margaret M. Wagner, 85, of Jackson died Friday, April 4, 1997, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. She was born Oct. 12, 1911, at Jackson, daughter of Charles and Olga Illers Macke. She and Carson Wagner were married July 1, 1931, in Jackson. He died Aug. 4, 1995...

JACKSON -- Sandra Michelle Frohlich, 44, of Jackson died Thursday, April 3, 1997, at her home. She was born Feb. 15, 1953, in Tampa, Fla., daughter of Hubert R. and Nancy Jean Goode Waters. Frohlich was a surgical technician at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau...

BENTON -- Samuel Lee Colbert, 35, of Benton died Friday, April 4, 1997, at his home. He was born April 17, 1961, in Portageville, son of William Jennings and Opal Ruth Jolly Colbert. He and Rebecca Gates were married Nov. 30, 1989. Survivors include his wife; a son, William Colbert of Chaffee; three daughters, Marlana Colbert, address unknown, Ashley and Julie Colbert of the home; his mother of New Madrid; eight sisters, Audrey Mims of Bernie, Loretta Colbert of Gray Ridge, Karen Colbert of New Madrid, Kathleen Halterman and Carolyn Hamilton of Lilbourn, Joyce Green of Mississippi, Janet Likes of Morehouse, and Doris Chapman of Brevard, N.C.. ...

BENTON -- Funeral Mass for Victor C. Diebold of St. Louis was held Thursday at Cure of Ars Catholic Church in St. Louis, with the Rev. Clarence Good officiating. Burial was in Resurrection Cemetery in St. Louis. Hoffmeister Colonial Mortuary was in charge of arrangements...