Stories from Wednesday, November 5, 1997

To the editor: A members of the board of directors of the Southeast Missouri Chapter of the American Diabetes Association in Cape Girardeau has a 9-year-old son who was recently diagnosed with cancer. He was brought to Cardinal Glennon Hospital in St. Louis for further tests and results. The family decided that some fun was called for, and they took him to the Rams game...

Franklin Elementary School teacher Judy Gau recently won state recognition for her efforts to increase the science "want to" in her students. Gau was one of three elementary school teachers named as a finalist for the Presidential Award for Excellence in Science Teaching by the Missouri Council of Science Teachers during October. The competitive award recognizes excellence in teaching by elementary, junior high and senior high school teachers...

A Scott City woman died as a result of a two-vehicle accident in Cape Girardeau Monday. Wanda Lee Fiesler, 85, of 420 E. Maple in Scott City, died from injuries she received when her vehicle crashed with a tractor-trailer truck driven by Paul Richard Counts of Bismark...

JACKSON -- Two additional attorneys have joined the staff as assistant public defenders in the Southeast Missouri district of the state's public defender system. Mercedes Fort of Cape Girardeau and Wayne Keller of Perryville have been added to the staff, announced Kenton Hall, district defender and managing attorney of the district office. They bring the total number of public defender attorneys in the district to eight...

I WANT to comment about the person who said he was a homosexual here in Cape and that people ought to read a book called "Stranger at the Gate". Well, I've got a book he can read. It's called the Holy Bible. And I call your attention to Romans, the first chapter. ...

To the editor: Speaking of trees, did you know: 1. Any citizen or city employee can complain about your tree limbs hanging over the street, and you are not notified. You are not important. 2. Without anyone in authority in the Cape public works department verifying the complaint, a street crew may cut down any limbs to the trunk they deem necessary to satisfy the complaint. Your property has no value...

Towards the end of an 18-hour day this week, I found myself enjoying two seemingly unimportant events in the way too many judge unimportant. One was joining in the celebration of "EASY" ELROD'S 90th birthday celebration (she's the widow of Dr. DENNIS ELROD who passed away 16 years ago after an illustrious career delivering babies at St. Francis Hospital initially and then Southeast Hospital)...

This year's "crisis" is, we are told, a "silent" one. It is a "silent crisis" in day care for America's families. At least this is the story according to President Bill Clinton and his wife, Hillary, now emerging from a self-imposed absence from policy matters that lasted through the election of one year ago this week...

House Speaker Newt Gingrich last week unveiled an ambitious agenda for dealing with the nation's fiscal affairs, so long mired in endless deficits but now -- just possibly -- headed for years of surpluses. Gingrich is calling for recession-proof surpluses each year, annual tax cuts and extra spending for science, transportation and defense. ...

Cape Girardeau businesswoman Judith R. Wilferth has been named the 1997 Woman of Achievement by the Zonta Club of Cape Girardeau. Wilferth received the honor at a ceremony Tuesday at the Holiday Inn. The award is presented annually to a woman who exemplifies the ideals of Zonta in improving the legal, political, economic and professional status of women...

JACKSON -- Fruitland-Pocahontas area voters approved creation of the Cape Girardeau County Common Sewer District Tuesday. The measure won 58.2 percent of the ballots cast, with 228 votes for and 162 votes against its creation, showed unofficial results released by Cape Girardeau County Clerk Rodney Miller...

Candidates for the Cape Girardeau City Council can begin filing nominating petitions for the April 7 general election today at City Hall. Filing for the mayor's office and council seats in Wards 1, 2, 3 and 6 won't close until Nov. 25. Races are already developing in two wards...

CAIRO, Ill. -- Voters came out in force to elect four people to positions on the Cairo Board of Education Tuesday. A spokesperson for the Alexander County clerk's office said nearly 35 percent of registered voters turned out for the election. County Clerk Sue Harrington earlier had said participation is generally light in school board elections, with fewer than 10 percent of voters usually casting ballots...

Mary and Patrick Aldredge believe special interests have corrupted the nation's two major political parties. The rural Jackson couple are tired of what they see as politics as usual. They hope their efforts and those of approximately 400 other delegates at the Reform Party's national founding convention in Kansas City last weekend will revamp the face of politics...

And to think, I once despised people who put their kids on leashes. I'm approaching my 29th year of life and my marriage is in its third. Those seemingly unrelated numbers are triggering a rare condition in my friends and relatives. I like to call it "Babyitis."...

JACKSON -- As Engine No. 5 chugs past brown cornfields under a blue sky, engineer Bill (Red) Baran spots animals in the shadows on the track far ahead. We wonder if they might be wild turkeys. "Dogs," the keen-eyed Baran says as the train closes the gap...

The Southeast Missourian asked children at West Lane Elementary School about their experiences aboard the St. Louis Iron Mountain & Southern Railway. Norman Popp: "I have been on the train about 30 or 40 times. They have had the Jesse James gang ride up on horseback and rob the train crew. Bonnie and Clyde were at Gordonville once, and they held up the train too."...

Last year, about 60 displays were mounted, according to Alderwoman Val Tuschhoff. The display is sponsored by the city and Jackson merchants. The displays will be turned on Nov. 29. Tuschhoff said the lights can be put in place between Nov. 21 and 29...

JACKSON -- The City Staff and the City Council are starting to discuss the 1998 City Budget for Jackson. Many projects and requests will be discussed before a final budget is approved. In the end I am confident that we will approve a budget that is balanced to our incomes but also meets the needs of Jackson. Jackson's present financial position is the best in our history. We intend to work toward maintaining this strong position for many years to come...

Voters in Pulaski and Union counties picked members for a number of school boards Tuesday. In Pulaski County, voters elected three people to the Meridian School District Board of Education and four to the Century School District Board of Education. Robert A. Spaulding was the top vote-getter among the seven candidates in the Meridian school board race in Mounds. Also winning four-year terms were Kevin Mize, 261 votes; and Stacy Powers, 214 votes...

Our road trip to Austin Peay last weekend proved to be a successful one as we defeated the Governors 31-0. Our squad bounced back very well from an embarrassing loss to Middle Tennessee, put in a good week of practice and carried it over to the game field...

Saturday's state cross country meets in Jefferson City will be flooded with area runners as athletes from Cape Girardeau Central, Notre Dame, Jackson, Perryville, Kelly and Advance high schools all qualified. Kelly figures to have the best chance at bringing home the most team success as both the school's boys and girls teams captured Class 1A-2A district championships last weekend...

Judging by his statistics, no one would ever guess the tough season Cape Central tailback Justin Blackmon is having. Big gains have been nothing new to Blackmon as he's eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark for the second season in a row. But just before the 1997 season got started, Blackmon -- and his family -- were thrown for a terrible loss...

CHARLESTON, Ill. -- The Southeast Missouri State University volleyball team jumped back into a tie for first place in the Ohio Valley Conference with a 16-14, 15-11, 15-4 win at Eastern Illinois Tuesday night. Southeast improved to 22-8 overall and 12-3 in league play. The Otahkians are currently tied with Murray State atop the OVC...

POPLAR BLUFF -- Third-seed Cape Central kept alive its drive for a sixth straight district championship with a 3-2 semifinal win over host Poplar Bluff, seeded No. 2, in Class 4A, District 1 action Tuesday. The Tigers, now 10-12-4, advance to face top-seed Jackson in the district final Thursday at 5:30 p.m. The Indians (13-3-6) shut out fourth-seed Sikeston 2-0 in an earlier match...

Lawrence Fornkohl, 66, of Cape Girardeau died Tuesday, Nov 4, 1997, at Southeast Missouri Hospital. Arrangements are pending at Ford and Sons Funeral Home.

SCOTT CITY -- Vivian Catlett, 70, of Scott City died Monday, Nov. 3, 1997, at her home. She was born July 6, 1927, in Scott County, daughter of Hazel Marie Backus and Mr. Backus. She married Anthony P. Catlett in November 1976 in St. Louis. He died in April 1984...

Ernest G. Mutschler, 64, of LaJolla, Calif., died Friday, Oct. 24, 1997, at his home. He was born in St. Paul, Minn., son of George and Hedy Brohn Mutschler. He and Martha Kelly of Cape Girardeau were married March 23, 1985, in LaJolla. Mutschler was an executive in the computer industry. He was a member of the American Institute of Physics and National Contract Management Association. He was a veteran of the U.S. Navy...

Funeral service for William Engle Strain of Gilbertsville, Ky., will be held at 11 a.m. today at Lorberg Memorial Funeral Chapel. Dr. Larry Gallamore will officiate, with burial in Memorial Park. Friends may call at the chapel after 9 a.m. A Masonic service will be held at 10:30...

BELLEVILLE, Ill. -- Eunice K. Aldrich, 79, of Belleville, Ill., formerly of Sikeston, died Tuesday, Nov. 4, 1997, at her home in Belleville after an extended illness. She was born Oct. 15, 1918, at Essex, daughter of Convers and Josephine Trace Kamplain...

WILSON CITY -- Carrie Pollard, 102, of Wilson City died Friday, Oct. 31, 1997, at her home. She was born Dec. 25, 1894, in White Station, Tenn., daughter of Robert and Betty Nickle. Pollard lived in Missouri most of her life. She was a member of Holly Grove Baptist Church in Wyatt, and its Mothers Board and Friendly Sisters Organization...

CAIRO, Ill. -- Letsey Jean Whitaker, 59, of Cairo died Tuesday, Nov. 4, 1997, at her home. She was born Oct. 7, 1938, in Tupelo, Miss., daughter of Winford and Ula Glasgow. Whitaker was a member of St. Patrick's Catholic Church. Survivors include a daughter, Sharon Adams of Cairo; three sisters, Nadine Pannell, Brenda Hitchcock and Peggy McVay of Pontotoc, Miss.; a brother, Quay Glasgow of Randolph, Miss.; and three grandsons...

ANNA, Ill. -- George E. Gray, 88, of Anna died Tuesday, Nov. 4, 1997, at Jonesboro Health Care Center. He was born March 26, 1909, in Hamilton County, son of Samuel and Alice Ellis Gray. He and Helen Marie Keistler were married April 4, 1946, in Anna...

ANNA, Ill. -- Frederick Arthur Dawley, 66, of Anna died Tuesday, Nov. 4, 1997, at his home. He was born Nov. 23, 1930, at Danielson, Conn., son of Raymond M. and Gertrude Lillian LaPrade Dawley. He and Norma Jean Vines were married Dec. 10, 1949, in Cairo...

Eldor "Willie" Borchelt, 80, of Cape Girardeau died Tuesday, Nov. 4, 1997, at his home. Ford and Sons Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

OAK RIDGE -- Gene R. McLard, 73, of Oak Ridge died Monday, Nov. 3, 1997, at the Lutheran Home in Cape Girardeau. McCombs Funeral Home at Jackson is in charge of arrangements.

Earl Haman Davis, 85, 709 Albert, died Monday, Nov. 3, 1997, at his home. He was born April 6, 1912, at Commerce, son of Samuel W. and Rosa Haman Davis. He and Velma B. Sprenger were married April 9, 1939, at Illmo. Davis was a dock worker with ABF Trucking Co. more than 20 years, retiring in 1974. He was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church and its Men's Club, and VFW Post 3838...

SCOTT CITY -- Wanda Lee Fiesler, 85, of Scott City died Monday, Nov. 3, 1997, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. She was injured in an automobile accident earlier that day at Kingshighway and Highway 74. She was born Jan. 29, 1912, in Delta, Ill., daughter of Joseph Clarence and Pearl Mae Dover Gearing. She and Earl "Neal" Fiesler were married May 23, 1930, at Illmo. He died Jan. 9, 1987...

THEBES, Ill. -- Flossie Estell Snell, 87, Thebes Route 1, died Monday, Nov. 3, 1997, at Jonesboro Health Care Center. She was born March 21, 1910, in Alexander County, daughter of William and Estell Hebbert Miller. She married Charley "Humpy" Snell, who died Nov. 9, 1982...

Daughter to Kevin and Gina Weisenborn of St. Louis, Christian Hospital North West in Florissant, 5:48 p.m. Friday, Oct. 24, 1997. Name, Mallory Nicole. Weight, 7 pounds 2 ounces. Second child, first daughter. Mrs. Weisenborn is the former Gina Nunn, daughter of Jerry and Barbara Nunn of Desloge. Weisenborn is the son of Mary Ann Smith of Scott City. He is an accountant at Kilark Electric...

River City Workers of the Blind hosted the Missouri Council of the Blind Convention Oct. 17-19 at Holiday Inn. Ken Emmons, a member of the host group and president of Missouri Council of the Blind, conducted the event. An update on talking books and other available equipment was given by Beth Eckels, a representative of Wolfner Library for the Blind. Jack Fox, narrator for American Printing House for the Blind, talked about reading books for the talking library...

The Southeast Missourian's Colossal Cookie Contest is under way. Recipes will be accepted through Wednesday, Nov. 19. As many recipes as possible will be published in the Dec. 3 edition of the newspaper, in plenty of time for holiday baking. Christmas cookies are a natural part of the holiday season. And the paper hopes to pull together several hundred recipes that can become a valuable holiday resource to be used year after year...