Stories from Tuesday, May 6, 1997

To the editor: This is to the person who commented April 28 in Speak Out. The comment was in reference to suggested savings by the Future Business Leaders of America. In case you are not familiar with the comment made, I will sum it up for you. It was said that many people who went to the state competition in Columbia did not earn their way, and it was a waste of the taxpayers' money to send the extra people for jobs such as voting delegates or campaign boosters...

Opal Aden, a ninth-grade family and consumer sciences teacher at Hawkins Junior High School, presented Lisa Picou, 14, with a newborn baby that operates on four AA batteries. Picou cared for the baby for 24 hours to understand the duties of parenthood...

Dick Decker plans to raise funds for the Gibson Recovery Center by using his head ... and his legs. Decker, executive director of the agency, is soliciting pledges of support for a fund-raising walk May 23 through May 26, Memorial Day weekend. He will attempt to walk from the agency's Perryville office to the Sikeston office, a total of 75 miles...

The Astronomy Club of Southeast Missouri State University will hold an overnight "star party" Friday and Saturday at Trail of Tears State Park. The party is open to the public. Telescopes and binoculars will be provided; however, the public is encouraged to bring their own. Food and bedding won't be provided for those camping overnight...

Cybertip: Send your favorite sites to us so we can add them to the Resource Room on SEMissourian.com. If we don't already have a category for your favorites, we will add one. The countryside is budding. Things are blooming and our thoughts turn to gardening...

Most of the advice and knowledge teachers convey when they aren't making assignments is lost in the hustle and bustle of the school day for their students. But often those "golden apples" of knowledge are remembered years later, and students return to thank the teachers for touching their lives...

It could happen to anyone. It doesn't discriminate and strikes men as well as women equally. It will affect people of all ages, races, ethnic groups and socioeconomic classes. That is the what mental health professionals want people to understand. May is Mental Health Month, and organizers said they want to heighten awareness of mental disorders and reduce the stigma associated with them...

WOODLAND -- Although he grew up in suburban St. Louis County, Woodland Junior High School teacher David Jaegers has always wanted to experience life in the country. This desire prompted him to live "in the fashion of Green Acres" for several years so he could build several land purchases into a viable farm and wildlife refuge...

Elizabeth Fischer Chapman is one of six high school art teachers in the United States who has been invited to participate in the four-day Student Exhibition opening at The Center for Creative Studies in Detroit and sponsored by The Lear Corp. Chapman has taught at Boca Raton (Fla.) High School for 10 years and serves as chairwoman of the art department. ...

To the editor: Thanks so much for the great article you put together and included on the front page and second page on National Day of Prayer events. I really appreciate your effort. The article was informative and timely so that readers in our area were aware of prayer services available on that day...

To the editor: I read with interest Joe Sullivan's column about his problem getting to the Lake of the Ozarks. Let me refresh your memory. When I was governor, we passed a toll-road bill patterned after Kentucky, because that legislation was declared constitutional in the Blue Grass State. We were not that fortunate in Missouri. It was them submitted to the people and was defeated...

When Missouri voters approved the formation of a citizens commission to recommend pay increases for legislators, judges and other state officials, they probably thought removing this responsibility from the General Assembly would eliminate politics from the process. But those same voters probably didn't expect the commission to recommend huge pay increases -- 21 percent for lawmakers and up to 23 percent for judges -- without a single bit of justification...

The good news is that Cape Girardeau's busy west end commercial area is booming. Retail stores, restaurants, cinemas, office buildings and hotels are increasing at a rapid pace in the area west of Interstate 55 between Route K and Bloomfield Road. The bad news is that traffic in the area is becoming more congested every day. ...

I don't know whether you have been watching Mr. Clinton's televised press conferences lately, but I believe the White House has come up with a new art form, which for want of a better term I'll label the Whitewater Shuffle. But, first, a little background on presidential meetings with the nation's news media...

HEY, SPEAK Out, in regard to Scott Moyers' column on wolf whistling. I'm a 74-year-old lady. I always enjoyed being wolf whistled at, and at my age right I would appreciate a little bit of wolf whistling. It means it's OK. It is not demeaning as some people think...

Representatives of agencies dealing with Cape Girardeau County's stray animals will meet Friday to see if a cooperative arrangement is possible to handle nuisance animals. The meeting stems from work to draft a county animal nuisance ordinance. Representatives from the county humane society, Cape Girardeau and Jackson police, the sheriff's department, the state highway department, the county health department and others will attend...

Missourians get a head start on observance of Tax Freedom Day. Nationally, Friday has been declared by the Tax Foundation as TFD day, a day later than last year. That is the day the average U.S. citizen has earned enough money to pay the year's total tax bill -- federal, state and local...

Today marks the beginning of a daily business news package in the Southeast Missourian. Missourian readers will be able to enjoy a special collection of business features Tuesdays through Saturdays inside the newspaper. The collection will feature business news of the day, stocks of local interest and a graphical review of the stock market...

Responsibility has become a four-letter word in this country, and we all want to blame someone else for our stupid actions. I once read that if intelligence is ever present, it is always extinguished by anger. I'll admit that's kind of a highfalutin way of talking that is rarely used in casual Southeast Missouri conversations, apart from the college campus or the bookstore coffee bars, but I know what the writer meant...

The Dow Jones industrial average, bolstered by good things happening in the telecommunications industry and a judge's decision in favor of a tobacco company, soared past the 7,200 mark for the first time in history Monday. The bulk of the 143-point increase came during the final hour as the total went from 7,075 at 2 p.m. to 7,214.49 by closing an hour later...

Seventeen people attended the Cape Girardeau City Council meeting Monday night to oppose a proposal to build a storage locker facility near a home for people with handicaps. Steve LeGrand wants to build the storage lockers at Silver Springs Road and Whitener Street. He needs a special-use permit from the council to build in C-2 zoning, which is normally used for stores, apartments and offices...

JACKSON -- The City of Jackson is on its way to improving sanitary and sewer conditions if voters approve a $10.54 million bond issue in August. The Jackson Board of Aldermen passed an ordinance Monday calling for a city election for the purpose of improving the combined water works and sewerage system. The bonds would be retired within 35 years from the date of authorization...

POPLAR BLUFF -- Nathan McGuire did it again Monday as Notre Dame High's baseball team clinched at least a tie for its second straight SEMO Conference championship. McGuire raised his personal pitching record to 8-0 as he dominated host Poplar Bluff in a 7-0 Notre Dame victory. The Bulldogs are 12-3 overall and 5-2 in conference play with one league game remaining...

JACKSON -- A young Dexter High baseball team has had its moments this season, including playing Cape Central extremely tough during a recent 4-0 loss. So Jackson coach Sam Sides was expecting quite a battle Monday afternoon when his Indians hosted the Bearcats...

DELTA -- Scott City scored in all but one inning, using 10 hits and 11 walks to defeat Delta 17-6 Monday in high school baseball action. Scott City improved to 10-2 while Delta fell to 4-7. Keith Anderson led the Ram attack with three hits, including two doubles and a triple, and five RBIs...

BENTON -- Jerrod Hull of Sikeston inherited the lead when leader Tim Montgomery ran into the spinning Dean Adams on lap three and never looked back as he captured his first Winged Sprint car win of the year at Missouri International Racepark Saturday night...

TAMMS, Ill. -- Sarah E. Pickett, 75, of Tamms died Saturday, May 3, 1995, at her home. She was born Sept. 17, 1921, in Wetaug, daughter of Van Everett and Dora Belle Resch Lingle. She married Lester Pickett on Aug. 13, 1962, and he survives her. She attended the Tamms Community Church and was a member of Caledonia Chapter #587 of the Order of the Eastern Star in Pulaski...

MCCLURE, Ill. -- Mildred "Doe" Rushing, 76, of McClure, Ill., died Monday, May 5, 1997, at her home. She was born Jan. 30, 1921, in Jonesboro, Ill., daughter of Luther and Myrtle Smith Arnold. She married Noah Wright in 1939 in Benton, and he preceded her in death in 1961. She later married Frank Rushing on Feb. 9, 1962, in Jonesboro, and he preceded her in death on Jan. 3, 1995...

Mamie B. Chatham, 96, of 2825 Bloomfield Road died Monday, May 5, 1997, at the Lutheran Home in Cape Girardeau. She was born Sept. 27, 1900, in Cape Girardeau County, daughter of Henry and Matilda Heuer Brinkopf. She married Louis J. Roth on Nov. 21, 1921, and he preceded her in death in November 1949. She later married Tom Chatham in 1953, and he preceded her in death in 1968...

JACKSON -- Volla Charles "V.C." Friedrich, 99, of Jackson died Sunday, May 4, 1997, at his home. He was born April 17, 1898, in Jackson, son of August H. and Martha Snider Friedrich. He and Maud M. Kasten were married May 6, 1923. She died Nov. 18, 1996...

DEXTER -- Maudie Maye Smith, 81, died Sunday, May 4, 1997, at Dexter Nursing Center. She was born Nov. 19, 1915, in Cardwell, daughter of William and Susie Swain Davis. She and Burl Smith were married Jan. 16, 1940. He died Feb. 5, 1981. Smith had lived all her life in the Dudley and Dexter communities. She was a member of First Assembly of God Church at Dexter...

CHESTER, Ill. -- Leona M. Scott, 89, of Chester died Sunday, May 4, 1997, at St. Ann's Healthcare Center in Chester. She was born July 7, 1907, in Perryville, Mo., daughter of Leo and Roeni O'Mara Maddock. She and Edward F. DeRoe were married in 1925. He died Oct. 18, 1958. She later married Clarence Scott, who died in 1984...

CAIRO, Ill. -- A. Dean Bagby, 68, of Cairo died Monday, May 5, 1997, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. He was born Sept. 27, 1928, in America, Ill., son of Claude and Amelia Dick Bagby. Bagby was former administrator of the Veterans Administration Office in Cairo. He was a member of St. Patrick's Catholic Church. Elks Lodge 651, VFW Post 2649, and American Legion, all in Cairo. He served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War...

FARMINGTON -- Benton C. Mabuce, 79, of Farmington died Sunday, May 4, 1997, at Mae Hill Nursing Center in Farmington. He was born Nov. 26, 1917, at Bessville, son of Emil and Mary Jane Murry Mabuce. He first married Jean Mabuce, who preceded him in death. He later married Beulah Stearns Sept. 5, 1981, at Farmington...

Robert Moore Harrison, 69, of Cape Girardeau died Monday, May 5, 1997, at his home. He was born Aug. 21, 1927, at Benton, son of Lyman and Ruby F. Moore Harrison. He and Patricia Ann Dannenmueller were married Sept. 14, 1978, in St. Louis. Harrison graduated from high school at Benton, where he played basketball and baseball. He attended Southeast Missouri State University and then transferred to the University of Missouri-Rolla where he received a degree in civil engineering...

JACKSON -- Dealing "D.D." Runnels, 82, of Jackson died Monday, May 5, 1997, at the Lutheran Home in Cape Girardeau. He was born Nov. 6, 1914, at Millersville, son of Fred and Rosa Ates Runnels. He and Mildred Brown were married July 18, 1935. Runnels had been a farmer and livestock dealer, retiring in 1993. The Runnels moved to Jackson in 1963 from Whitewater...

SCOTT CITY -- The Scott City Council is moving ahead on its plans to pay 50 percent of an employee's spouse and family insurance. Council member Cindy Uhrhan told the council Monday night the plan may cost the city about $1,000 a month. To compensate, employee sick days would be cut from 12 to six a year...

Ruth Evelyn David Evers, 85 of 1503 Briarcliff, Cape Girardeau, Mo., formerly of Pulaski County, Illinois, died Saturday, May 3, 1997 at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. She was born December 11, 1911 near Joppa, Illinois. She was the daughter of Mabel Nix David and Benjamin Fredrick David. She married Harry Owen Evers, Sr. in 1932. Owen, a well-known Pulaski County educator and radio announcer, preceded her in death on September 23, 1979...