Stories from Tuesday, November 18, 1997

Geography, the science dealing with the Earth's climates, plants, animals and resources, has become somewhat a lost subject in today's society. More emphasis has been placed on math- and science-oriented classes over the past decade as the demands of technology required more skilled workers...

Cybertip: Registration is under way for the Dec. 8 and 11 beginning Internet training classes. The Monday class will be held from 7-9 p.m., and the Thursday class will be from 1-3 p.m. in Dempster Hall on the campus of Southeast Missouri State University. Cost is $10. To register, call Joni or Peggy at 335-6611...

SIKESTON -- A Sikeston man was killed in a single-vehicle accident in New Madrid County. The Missouri Highway Patrol said Terry "Skeeter" Grogran, 39, died from injuries he received when his Jeep ran off the road and overturned one mile south of Sikeston on Route AA Saturday....

ORAN -- Barbara Tyler still finds excitement in her work even after 40 years as an educator. The Guardian Angel School fourth- and fifth-grade teacher said she gets excited at summer's end when she has to prepare her classroom and herself to greet a new group of students...

Generous contributions of some area people have helped a local collector of Walt Disney memorabilia begin rebuilding her collection after a September burglary left it nearly destroyed and left her personally devastated. Jane Barks of Cape Girardeau, known locally as the "Mickey Mouse Lady," has received a number of contributions of Mickey Mouse memorabilia from people who heard about the burglary or read about it in the Southeast Missourian...

Construction of a performing arts center likely will be among goals of Southeast Missouri State University's new capital campaign, the school's president said Monday. "We are still committed to the project," said Dr. Dale Nitzschke, Southeast's president. "We think it is absolutely vital."...

The Cape Girardeau City Council approved a new cable franchise agreement with TCI of Missouri Inc. Monday night. The council also awarded a contract for improvements to Perryville Road. City officials have indicated they're happy with the new cable franchise agreement, which includes stipulations for a complete systems upgrade and new channels...

Jackson coach Carl Gross talked to his players after Monday's 31-10 loss to Parkway Central. The setback was Jackson's only loss in an 11-1 season. ST LOUIS -- Big plays. The Jackson High football team used them all year during its undefeated season...

The Cape Girardeau Board of Education Monday night approved a deficit-spending budget for this year and said it plans to work to correct the district's financial decline in the next budget. The board, minus absent members David Goncher and Harry Rediger, unanimously adopted the 1997-98 budget. The $24 million budget includes expenditures that outpace estimated revenues by some $500,000...

Mary Cobb's photograph of her two children. Two finalists from the Southeast Missourian's first KINSA contest earned international recognition. Dr. Robert Cox of Cape Girardeau and Mary Cobb of Scott City both received Special Merit Awards in the 62nd Kodak International Newspaper Snapshot Award contest. Each received a $50 check from Kodak and a certificate...

It's been a few days and I'm still recovering from a weekend mixed with sheer perfection and near disaster. I spent three days with friends in Florida attending a wedding. Weddings evoke such a whirlwind of emotions, it takes me a little while to recover...

To the Editor:Separation of church and state is a touchy issue in this country. An assistant principal in Alabama filed a lawsuit that resulted in the recent federal court order restricting prayer in Alabama schools. His actions were met with scorn and hatred. ...

PETE KINDER was right on when he stated that Bill Clinton is the most corrupt president we've ever had. Jesse James was never convicted of a crime because he never got caught. Bill Clinton is a modern-day Jesse James who has yet to be caught. Why do you think they call him Slick Willie?...

Last week saw a remarkable event in Washington: the apparent breakdown of the bipartisan, post-World War II consensus favoring free trade. The immediate issue was the question whether to grant to President Clinton fast-track trade authority, the power possessed by every president since Gerald Ford. ...

It is unquestionably a milestone: "In a nod to the budding political clout of the gay-rights movement," reads the Associated Press story recounting the event, "President Clinton was speaking Saturday night at a fund raiser for the nation's largest lesbian and homosexual group -- the first president to appear before such an audience."...

To the editor: We are writing this letter to the people of Cape Girardeau in an effort to set the record straight and, as a result, shed some light on why the Cape Girardeau School District finds itself in the financial predicament that presently exists...

KRCU, the region's public radio station, recently began broadcasting around the clock thanks to donations from listeners. "Our listeners have been asking us to stay on the air later and later," said Greg Petrowich, the radio station's general manager...

Monday, Nov. 17 7:30 p.m. Public hearings -- Petition for voluntary annexation presented by Michael A. and Bonnie C. Smith for a three-lot tract adjoining the northwest city limits. Consent ordinances -- Approved an ordinance granting a special use permit to Meyer Realty and Mary Ewing-Crafton for constructing, maintaining and operating an addition to the day care at 833 N. Spanish St...

Cape Girardeau School District No. 63 Monday, Nov. 17 6 p.m. Central Junior High Cafeteria Action Items -- Approval of fund transfer. -- Approval of 1997-98 school district budget. -- Approval of contract for Jefferson Elementary parking lot. -- Closed session to consider leasing, purchasing or sale of real estate...

A talented but inconsistent Tennessee State football team stands in the way of Southeast Missouri State University's Indians ending the season with a two-game winning streak. The squads will square off at 1 p.m. Saturday at Houck Stadium in the final contest of the season for each...

It's not that Trevor and Jenny Layden didn't like the sound of their new hometown, but one of the first things they did after settling in Cape Girardeau was drop the "Cape" from the Cape Gators swim club. The Laydens, the new coaches of the local swim club, want to expand the program -- and geographic boundaries were a good place to begin...

EAST PRAIRIE -- Curtis Howard Knupp, 93, of East Prairie died Sunday, Nov. 16, 1997, at East Prairie Nursing Center. He was born Feb. 4, 1904, in Union County, Ill., son of James Andrew and Mary Frances Smithey Knupp. He and Amy Emory were married March 31, 1929. She died June 27, 1996...

OLIVE BRANCH, Ill. -- Hiram W. "Junior" Knott, 78, of Olive Branch died Monday, Nov. 17, 1997, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. He was born Jan. 4, 1919, at Mayview, son of Hiram Wesley and Ada Jean Laughlin Knott. He married the former Marian Wood in Rockville, Ind...

Agnes Irene Lessley, 84, of Cape Girardeau died Sunday, Nov. 16, 1997, at Beverly Health Rehab Center. She was born May 26, 1913, in Bollinger County, daughter of Grover and Cornelia Lessley Slinkard. She first married Howard Fretty. She later married Herschel Lessley...

Graveside service for Bess R. Esicar of Cape Girardeau will be held at 10 a.m. today in Memorial Park, with the Rev. Larry Gallamore officiating. Ford and Sons Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Esicar, 92, died Sunday, Nov. 16, 1997, at her home...

JONESBORO, Ill. -- Graveside service for Alfred Winn of Marion will be held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at St. John's Cemetery. The Rev. Jerry Oakley will officiate. Military rites will be conducted by Carroll P. Foster VFW Post 3455. Friends may call at Crain Funeral Home in Anna from 6-8 p.m. today, and Wednesday from 8:30-10 a.m...

Charles Wilkes Keith, 84, of Tulsa, Okla., died Sunday, Nov. 16, 1997. He was born Nov. 4, 1913, in Dallas, Texas, son of Charles and Mary Alice Keith. He first married Mary Ellen Lewis, who preceded him in death. He later married Kay Stromle. Keith began work with Service Pipe Line Co. in 1930 and had served as treasurer, comptroller and financial vice president. He retired as senior tax manager with Standard Oil Co. of Indiana in 1973...

CHARLESTON -- Funeral service for John R. Reed of Union City, Tenn., will be held at 11 a.m. today at Dunlap Funeral Home in Union City. The Revs. John Archer and James McClure will officiate. Burial will be in East View Cemetery. Reed, 81, died Saturday, Nov. 15, 1997, at Baptist Memorial Hospital in Union City...

JACKSON -- Funeral service for Ruth Mabel Drum of Jackson will be held at 1 p.m. Wednesday at Cracraft-Miller Funeral Home. The Rev. Fred Rister will officiate, with burial in Russell Heights Cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home from 6-8 p.m. today...

JACKSON -- Novella M. Sample, 87, of Jackson died Sunday, Nov. 16, 1997, at her home. She was born May 18, 1910, at Marble Hill, daughter of Felix and Della Eaker Hilderbrand. She and George A. Sample were married March 21, 1927, at Fredericktown. He died Dec. 1, 1965...

PERRYVILLE -- Bertha A. Hoehn, 89, of Perryville died Monday, Nov. 17, 1997, at Perry County Memorial Hospital. She was born Feb. 11, 1908, in Perry County, daughter of Lewis F. and Rosia M. Schemel Hoffman. She and Rudolph A. Hoehn were married April 30, 1928. He died Feb. 18, 1986...

Funeral service for George W. Warrell, 1907 Sherwood, will be held at 11 a.m. Friday at Ford and Sons Mt. Auburn Chapel. The Rev. Clayton Smith will officiate. Entombment will be in Memorial Park Mausoleum. Friends may call at the funeral home from 5-7 p.m. Thursday...

Daughter to Ben and Michelle Williams of Whitewater, Southeast Missouri Hospital, 10:08 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 5, 1997. Name, Brittany Elizabeth. Weight, 7 pounds 5 ounces. Second daughter. Mrs. Williams is the former Michelle Maynard, daughter of Mike and Kathy Maynard of Gordonville. Williams is the son of Jim and Donna Williams of Whitewater. He is employed by Jahn's Excavating...

He was born June 18, 1915, at Yount, son of Henry Allen and Lona Mercer Johnson. He and Emma Wamble were married June 24, 1943, in St. Louis. Johnson moved to Sikeston in 1986 from St. Louis. He was a truck driver with Spector-Red Ball Truck Lines, and member of Illinois Avenue General Baptist Church...