Stories from Saturday, August 9, 1997

The ink was hardly dry on the new math assessments described above when Missouri's commissioner of education, Robert Bartman, summoned local superintendents to a before-the-start-of-school session in Jefferson City. Message: "Missouri high school students graduating in 2000 would have to meet specific academic standards to get a state-approved diploma." Bartman said the state doesn't require students to reach a minimum achievement level to receive a diploma. ...

The Outstanding Schools Act of 1993 mandated an expensive new scheme of testing for all Missouri schools. Henceforth, we won't have what previous, benighted generations knew as "tests" but rather something the educrats pretentiously call "performance-based assessments."...

TO THE person who feels like television is not good for us. It is true that it is hard to pick quality television. I guess that is why shows like "Dateline" and other news magazine shows aren't doing so well on television. I think there are pearls are in everything if you seek them. I don't see how it would help you to get rid of your television set, especially in the case of the natural catastrophe. I just think you would want to be informed...

A unit of whole blood, left, and at right, a unit of blood without plasma. Nancy Wilson, a medical technologist at Southeast Hospital, examined plasma that is frozen at minus 30 degrees Celsius. Blood was retested at Southeast Hospital to be sure the blood types are correct after they were received from the St. Louis Blood Bank...

SIKESTON -- Southeast Missouri educators met in Sikeston Friday to discuss the social studies portion of the new performance-based assessments standards for Missouri students. Eighty-six social studies teachers attended the meeting, which was held at Sikeston High School, to voice their opinions about the social studies assessment. Bob Depro, Sikeston schools social studies department chairman and a member of the statewide test development committee, led the meeting...

One site of interest during a tour of churches in Altenburg was the old log cabin seminary, the first Lutheran Church west of the Mississippi River. It was constructed in 1839. Mrs. Willard Roth of Perry County visited with Archbishop Janis Vanags of Latvia, who was one of a number of international visitors in Altenburg Friday...

The Arts Council of Southeast Missouri has named Greg Jones as the new executive director of the organization. Jones replaces Beverly Stroemeyer, the director for 12 years. She resigned last month to accept a position with the Missouri Arts Council in St. Louis...

Educare is offering special passports to make entering kindergarten feel less like going into a foreign country for first-time students. Educare is a free, school-readiness program that helps parents teach children ages birth to 5 years old. The program has sponsored the Kindergarten Passport project for two years. Family specialist Janice Friedrich said many parents are taking advantage of the opportunity to ease the transition from home to school...

After a 10-year hiatus, I've returned voluntarily to wearing my glasses. I'm seeing just fine, but I now have a different view of myself and some of my acquaintances. I can't see. For some people, that statement means only a momentary problem; something has happened that has temporarily obscured their vision...

Jonathan Younghouse doesn't know if he'll ever be good enough to compete in the Olympic Games. But the Cape Girardeau athlete does already own the distinction of being the finest swimmer that this area has ever produced. Younghouse made that official last week when he excelled during the Phillips 66 National Swimming Championships held in Nashville, Tenn., becoming the only local swimmer to ever place in the prestigious event that features a host of Olympians and collegiate standouts...

The Kohlfeld Capahas, after making their second long trip to Wichita, Kan., will now be out there until they lose again as the National Baseball Congress World Series continues. Capahas' manager Jess Bolen and his players are hoping they won't be coming back for quite a while...

Daughter to Mike Keith and Cherity Lee Jones of Portageville, Southeast Missouri Hospital, 1:43 p.m. Wednesday, July 30, 1997. Name, Keileigh Briar. Weight, 9 pounds 4 ounces. First child. Mrs. Jones is the former Cherity Estes, daughter of Virgil and Shirley Estes of Portageville. She is employed at Plastene Supply in Portageville. Jones is the son of Dorothy Jones of Portageville and the late James Jones. He is employed at Noranda Aluminum in New Madrid...

Delia Marie Carnero, 80, 1105 Linden, died Friday, Aug. 8, 1997, at Southeast Missouri Hospital. She was born April 17, 1917, in Tampa, Fla., daughter of Patrizio and Soledad Bazarte. Carnero moved to Cape Girardeau in 1986 from Key West, Fla. She was formerly a cook in a restaurant. She was a member of Salvation Army Church, River City Workers of the Blind, and American Association of Retired Persons...

CAIRO, Ill. -- Elizabeth L. Lindsey, 81, of Cairo died Thursday, Aug. 7, 1997, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau, Mo. She was born Feb. 25, 1916, in LaCenter, Ky., daughter of John Thomas and Eddie Holland Lewis. She married Ogle Lindsey, who died in 1986...

LILBOURN -- Jack Calbert, 78, of Lilbourn died Thursday, Aug. 7, 1997, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. He was born July 27, 1919, in Tiptonville, Tenn., son of Travis Leonard and Ruth Evelyn Daniels Calbert. He and Edith Imogene Frazier were married May 28, 1943...

BLOOMFIELD -- Ann Swallows, 94, of Bloomfield died Thursday, Aug. 7, 1997, at Beverly Health and Rehabilitation Center. She was born Aug. 12, 1902, in Advance, daughter of James and Ina Dunlap Sims. She married Cecil Swallows, who preceded her in death...

JONESBORO, Ill. -- Robert Lee "John" Johnson Sr., 56, of Jonesboro, Ill. died Friday, Aug. 8, 1997, at his home. He was born June 9, 1941, in Miller City, Ill., to Marshall Allen and Mable Irene Dover Johnson. Johnson was a carpenter and a member of the Labor Local 773 in Cairo. He was a member of the All Saints Lutheran Church in Woodridge, Ill. He was a veteran...

Kanchan K. Rohatgi, 52, of Cape Girardeau died Friday, Aug. 8, 1997, at his home. He was born in Delhi, India, to Krishen Das and Ram Dulari Rohatgi. He and Dr. Reeta Rohatgi were married Jan. 29, 1975, in New Delhi, India. She survives. Rohatgi was a graduate of Jamshedpur College of Engineering in Orissa, India. In 1976 he moved to Chicago, Ill., and worked as a graduate engineer. In 1987 he moved to Cape Girardeau and was employed in the investment business...