Stories from Saturday, June 28, 1997

To the editor: On July 4, people throughout America will celebrat 221 years as a free nation. This major national holiday commemorates our country's declaration of independence from the oppressive rule of the British monarchy. Moreover, the framers of the U.S. ...

All that currently remains of the oldest building on the Southeast Missouri State University campus is its exterior walls. A decision to renovate the Social Science Building at a cost of $4.4 million rather than raze it and put up a new structure was based on preserving the historical integrity of the campus...

Summer sports from softball to cycling can be fun and healthy. Unfortunately, without proper preparation, conditioning and caution, a pleasant activity can result in a lifelong injury. Gail DiPrete, assistant athletic trainer for Southeast Missouri State University, said many people try to be weekend warriors with summer sports without having the proper conditioning and preparation for the sport or activity...

Fireworks are used to celebrate the Fourth of July, but representatives from the Safe Kids Coalition of Cape Girardeau said to attend a licensed public display and leave the fireworks in the hands of pros. They said if you do use fireworks take precautions and be careful...

I CONGRATULATE 14-year-old Champ Friend for winning the Missouri VFW Youth Essay Competition. The Southeast Missourian reports accomplishments of residents frequently. Where writing awards are received, I think the newspaper should go one step further. ...

Concerns still remain about Cape Girardeau's restaurant tax. Yes, the issue of who is paying -- and who isn't -- was straightened out by the city. A faulty report issued a few weeks ago indicated a number of city restaurants may not have been paying the tax. After considerable finger pointing and red faces, it was determined that all but five were paying and the remainder had paid under different company names...

The Convention and Visitors Bureau is taking a well-deserved closer look at establishing a park for recreational vehicles in the city. The suggestion has made to use land the city acquired in the flood buyout in the Red Star district. It would offer a river view and wide open spaces...

The city of Cape Girardeau Friday was awarded a $446,500 community development block grant for a neighborhood project in South Cape Girardeau. City manager Michael Miller said city officials were notified that they had received funding for the Jefferson-Shawnee Parkway Neighborhood Restoration Project. The grant would be combined with private housing efforts, city funding and in-kind services for a combined total of $712,956, Miller said...

A Cape Girardeau Board of Education ad hoc committee will recommend at a board meeting Monday that Harry Rediger be appointed to a vacant board seat. If the board approves the committee's recommendation, Rediger will complete the eight-month term of Terry Taylor, board vice-president. Taylor resigned three weeks ago after accepting a job transfer to Scottsdale, Ariz...

Congress should abolish capital gains and inheritance taxes and the nation should close off its southern border to drug trafficking, House Speaker Newt Gingrich said Friday. Gingrich voiced his comments during a nearly hourlong speech to a crowd of about 700 people Friday evening at the Holiday Inn Convention Center in Cape Girardeau...

Cape Girardeau's Safe House for Women received a public boost Friday afternoon from House Speaker Newt Gingrich. The Georgia Republican spoke to a gathering of about 30 Safe House supporters at the Holiday Inn prior to a fund-raiser for Rep. Jo Ann Emerson...

The proposed tobacco settlement has some retailers concerned because it would mean added costs to the nation's convenience stores, grocery stores and other tobacco outlets. The proposed settlement, negotiated by states, private attorneys and the tobacco industry, would have to be ratified by Congress before it could take effect...

With a combined total of two husbands, two boyfriends and seven children, going to the bathroom without an interruption is an accomplishment. Last Friday, three female friends and I did something that has been unheard of in our worlds: We stayed away from our homes and families until almost midnight, and we weren't even working...

SCOTT CITY -- Mark Landrum will be speaking today at 6 p.m. and Sunday at 10 a.m. at Eisleben Lutheran Church, 432 Lutheran Lane in Scott City. He and his wife Rahel are evangelists with the Jews for Jesus organizations's Chicago branch. A native of Chicago, Landrum's mother is Jewish. He spend a summer in Israel to learn more about his Jewish roots...

It looked like the Kohlfeld Capahas might be in danger of losing their undefeated status Friday night -- for all of one-half inning. The Paducah (Ky.) Chiefs scored a run in the top of the first inning to grab a 1-0 lead. So, perhaps the Chiefs had upset visions in their minds? Not for long. The Capahas hit Paducah with 20 unanswered runs as they romped 20-2 at Capaha Field. The game was stopped after the top of the seventh inning because of the 10-run rule...

Twenty baskets wrapped in green and iridescent cellophane created more than sparkles of light in the A.C. Brase Arena Friday night; they also created sparkles of hope. The second annual Pennies From Heaven benefit auction sponsored by Southeast Missouri Hospital and the American Cancer Society raised money to help We Can Weekend, a summer retreat for cancer patients and their families...

Son to Doug and Kim Jansen, Chaffee Route 1, Missouri Baptist Hospital in St. Louis, 8:47 a.m. Thursday, May 29, 1997. Name, Caleb Douglas. Weight, 7 pounds 11 ounces. First child. Mrs. Jansen is the former Kim Burger, daughter of Charles and Carol Burger, Scott City Route 1. She is employed in customer service at Lowe's of Cape Girardeau. Jansen is the son of George and Louise Jansen, Chaffee Route 1. He is a warehouseman at Supervalu in Scott City...

JONESBORO, Ill. -- Mary Ada Bailey, 62, of Neoga, died Thursday, June 26, 1997, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. She was born Nov. 13, 1934, in Union County, daughter of Earl E. and Branche A. Freeman Johnson. She and Harry Dale Bailey were married June 8, 1962, at Ware...

Mary Leona Grim, 101, of Cape Girardeau died Friday, June 27, 1997, at Beverly Health and Rehabilitation Services. Friends may call at Ford and Sons Mt. Auburn Chapel from 4-8 p.m. Sunday. Funeral service will be at 10 a.m. Monday at the chapel, with the Rev. Philip Curran officiating. Burial will be in Hobbs Chapel Cemetery...

George Jenkins Jr., 76, of Cape Girardeau died Friday, June 27, 1997, at Barnes Hospital in St. Louis, after a brief illness. He was born Nov. 23, 1920, in Oak Ridge, son of George and Mayme Williams Jenkins Sr. He and Betty L. Stark were married Nov. 22, 1940, in Cape Girardeau. She died Jan. 23, 1995...

ORAN -- Iris Carolyn Maddox, 61, of Houston, Texas, died Friday, June 27, 1997, at Memorial Hospital in Memorial City, Texas. Amick-Burnett Funeral Chapel at Oran is in charge of arrangements.

Bill J. Hensley, 66, of Paducah, Ky., formerly of Cape Girardeau, died Thursday, June 26, 1997, at his home. He was the son of Eskew Benjiman and Jessie Pearl Burton Hensley. Hensley was employed by American General Insurance Co. 29 years. He was an American Red Cross volunteer several years...

A memorial service for Donald David Jewel, 1525 N. Henderson, will be held at 10 a.m. today at First General Baptist Church, with the Rev. David Griesemer officiating. Burial will be at a later date in Fancy Creek Cemetery in Richland Center, Wis. The family will receive friends at the church following the service...