Stories from Friday, September 5, 1997

To the editor: The liberal politicians are always mouthing the word "progress" around as if this is something magical created by them to benefit mankind. Just what does progress mean? It means the advancement toward a goal. Whose goal? Everyone has a different goal. ...

To the editor: One of the several questions to which I would like an answer before I die is: Why have we as a nation expended (and continue to expend) as much time, energy and money in debating, discussing and formulating high(er?) educational and academic standards as we have, when the reality is that teacher and schools cannot require and enforce even minimum standards?...

To the editor: What I did on my summer vacation. Probably no one cares. And it really wasn't a vacation, for both my wife and I are retired, and you can't take a vacation from a job you don't have. But we left home for the American-prescribed two weeks and moved about madly for thousands of miles, racing from time zone to time zone and latitude to latitude with careless abandon. ...

To the editor: This letter is in regard to your decision to print the sex-offenders list. I don't think you should. I have one question, and it is directed to all married men with children. What would happen to your life if your wife decided to accuse you of molesting your child just to get you out of her life? You see, everyone already things you're guilty because of the charge. ...

To the editor: One wonders why Gov. Mel Carnahan vetoed a ban on partial-birth abortions. Perhaps he was misled into believing such abortions are medically prudent. They are not. Partial-birth abortion, which is often performed in the fifth or sixth month of pregnancy, is not a recognized medical procedure. ...

Perhaps it is because more than four decades have passed since the U.S. Supreme Court ruled, in its Brown vs. Topeka Board of Education decision, that public schools must be integrated. The years have allowed many of the former students of all-black schools to develop a perspective tempered by time and experience...

Residents of Cape Girardeau, particularly the elderly, vividly recall the growing fear and frustration that spread last year in the wake of 17 home burglaries, most of which involved older occupants. At the time, it seemed unimaginable that there could be so many victims without any arrests...

Two cars collided at Benton and Good Hope streets Thursday evening, sending three people to the emergency room at Southeast Missouri Hospital. Police said the accident occurred at 6:23 p.m. Roger Hastings, 24, of Chaffee said he was driving his car north on Benton and stopped at the stop sign at Good Hope...

The Southeast Missouri State University Board of Regents Thursday gave the go-ahead to investigate funding of improvements to the Student Recreation Center and outdoor recreation fields. The board reserved approval of the projects until more details on funding are available...

Southeast Missouri State University student-affairs officials got an audio tape in May of an alleged fraternity hazing, but didn't turn it over to campus police until this week. Cape Girardeau County Prosecuting Attorney Morley Swingle and campus police learned of the hazing allegations a few days ago through news reports...

It just so happens I have a good cat, and she needs a good home. If you're a good person, please call me. And please hurry. I'm not going to make any bones about it. What you are about to read is an unabashed effort to find a good home for a nice cat...

When Christine Grigsby moved into her first-floor apartment last December, she assumed she would stay dry when it rained. During a rainstorm Dec. 28, water ran down the wall of her kitchen. Grigsby, who lives at 604 Jefferson Ave. with her husband, Robin, said she complained to the landlord, who told her it was a leak from the shower from the tenant upstairs...

Warning: Highly explosive football team coming to Jackson for season-opening contest. That warning label describes the (St. Louis) Riverview Garden Rams as they enter tonight's season-opening contest hosted by the Indians at 7:30 p.m. Last Friday during a Jamboree against Hazelwood Central, Francis Howell and McCluer North, Riverview ripped off several big plays that, if Jackson coach Carl Gross didn't have scouts at the scrimmage, he may not have believed what he heard...

Entering Notre Dame's soccer season opener, Rob Cuba had yet to conquer coach Danny Wittenborn's prescribed time for running the mile and he was still less than stellar kicking with his left foot. Thursday against Poplar Bluff in the opening round of Notre Dame's Soccerfest, Cuba scored his first career goal -- with his left foot -- 70 minutes into the match to break a 0-0 tie and spur the Bulldogs to a 2-0 win...

After competing in the their first-ever Football Jamboree last week at Sikeston, Cape Girardeau Central coach Jerry Dement said his team wasn't quite ready for a game. But with a solid week of practice under their belt, Dement declared the Tigers will be ready to open the season on the road tonight against the Farmington Knights at 7:30 p.m...

Southeast Missourian sports editor Jeff Breer will be out to defend his Weekly Media Grid Picks championship this year. The annual football selection contest kicks off this week as high school teams get there seasons going tonight. Panel members will each week predict the outcomes of selected high school games, along with Southeast Missouri State University, Missouri and St. Louis Rams contests...

On paper, the Scott City Rams appear to have everything going their way when they host the St. Vincent Indians tonight. Scott City has eight offensive and nine defensive starters returning from last year's competitive 4-6 team, while the Indians return only one starter from last season's 9-2 Class 1A playoff team...

BENTON -- According to Cape Girardeau Central High softball coach Don Lang, there is a reason Kelly annually fields one of the area's top teams as well as a state title contender. "They're just a good ballclub," said Lang following Kelly's 7-3 win over visiting Central Thursday. "They're solid. They don't make many mistakes. I think our young team probably learned some things today."...

The driver of a car that ran off a road in Scott County Thursday morning was in intensive care at Southeast Missouri Hospital Thursday evening. Lisa Bridwell, 26, of Chaffee, was heading north on County Road 204 six miles west of Scott City at 7 a.m. when her car ran off the right side of the road and overturned, according to the Missouri Highway Patrol...

EAST PRAIRIE -- Funeral service for Rose Keever of East Prairie will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday at Shelby Funeral Home in East Prairie. Larry Smith will officiate, with burial in East Prairie Memorial Park Cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home after 4 p.m. today...

MOUND CITY, Ill. -- Private graveside service for Alice E. Sheerer of Tempe, Ariz., will be held today in Beechwood Cemetery at Mounds. The Rev. Arnold Hoffman will officiate. Barkett Funeral Home in Mound City is in charge of arrangements. The body was cremated...

Helen H. Harlow, 80, of Parsons, Kan., died Wednesday, Sept. 3, 1997, at the home of a daughter in Wichita, Kan. She was born July 24, 1917, in Chautauqua County, Kan., daughter of Neal L. and Cora E. Hess Sullivan. She and Paul F. Harlow were married April 18, 1935, in Oklahoma City, Okla. He died April 14, 1992...

WHITEWATER -- Albert L. Rodgers, 79, of Whitewater died Thursday, Sept. 4, 1997, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. He was born Nov. 18, 1917, at New Madrid, son of Albert and Maude Rochelle Rodgers. He and Carole Gentry were married June 9, 1967...

BLOOMFIELD -- Charles Allen Jennings, 93, of Bloomfield died Thursday, Sept. 4, 1997, at Lucy Lee Hospital in Poplar Bluff. He was born Jan. 5, 1904, in Long Prairie, Ill., son of John Harrison and Sarah Frances Glenn Jennings. He and Freda Hickerson were married Nov. 6, 1930...

Son to Douglas John Ressel and Karen Elizabeth Lampe of Scott City, Southeast Missouri Hospital, 8:10 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 26, 1997. Name, Tyler Douglas. Weight, 6 pounds 12 ounces. First child. Ms. Lampe is the daughter of Joe and Dorothy Lampe of Benton. She is employed at Pendergrass Enterprises. Ressel is the son of Luke and Alice Ressel of Scott City. He is employed at Westrich Paint and Drywall...

CAIRO, Ill. -- Stephen Paul Kearney was stillborn Wednesday, Sept. 3, 1997, at Southeast Misso1ri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. Survivors include his parents, Edward and Angela Kearney of Cairo; two brothers, Benjamin Phelps and Derrick Kearney of Cairo; two sisters, Chelsea and Rachel Kearney of Martin, Tenn.; maternal grandmother, Patsy Vaughn of Cairo; paternal grandparents, Richard and Sharon Kearney of Cairo...