Stories from Saturday, January 24, 1998

Funding for construction of the Bill Emerson Memorial Bridge at Cape Girardeau will not be affected by any congressional delay in authorizing a federal transportation bill, the Missouri Department of Transportation said. Contracts for the jet grouting work, which must be completed in the Mississippi River bedrock, and for the Illinois approach span will be let in March, the department said. ...

Southeast Missouri State University will hold a memorial service Wednesday for former regent and major benefactor Donald L. Harrison. Harrison, 72, died Dec. 19, at Southeast Missouri Hospital after collapsing at a Christmas party. He had served on the Board of Regents since 1989. He was president of the board from April 1993 to fall 1996...

Catholic Education Week will be the topic of discussion on KRCU's "Going Public," and local travel agent Mark Hill will be guest on the station's "Let's Talk Business." "Going Public" airs Sunday at 3 p.m., followed by "Let's Talk Business" at 3:30 p.m...

Attending a Mass celebrated by the pope is a powerful and unforgettable opportunity, and area Catholics recalled their experiences with past papal visits as Cuba welcomed Pope John Paul II on Wednesday. Sarah Strohmeyer, youth director at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church, attended a World Youth Day rally with the pope in Denver in 1993...

Christ Presbyterian Church will host a DivorceCare seminar and support group program, Feb. 4 through April 29. The 13-week program is designed for adults who have been through a divorce or are currently separated from their spouse. Meetings will be held each Wednesday from 7-9 p.m. at the St. Francis Health and Education Center...

The Rev. Fred Burgard was raised in Central Illinois and attended Hannibal LaGrange Baptist College. He is a graduate of Moody Bible Institute, and received his master's degree and doctor of ministry degree from Covington Theological Seminary, where he graduated cum laude. ...

Editor's note: The following story is being republished because some names were inadvertently omitted in Friday's edition. The Area Wide United Way celebrated its past year's successes at its annual meeting on Thursday. Board members, volunteers, campaign coordinators and agency directors met to approve a slate of new directors, review the past year's accomplishments and look to 1998...

Most Christmas decorations come down the first week of the new year, and generally those in Cape Girardeau are no exception. But decorations along Broadway and Main have been forgotten in the post-holiday rush. Street decorations still hang in downtown Cape Girardeau, but their presence is due more to constraints of time rather than an effort to hold onto the holiday season...

If January is any indication, the local construction industry is on track for healthy growth this year. During the first three weeks of 1998, more than 30 permits were issued by the city inspection services. The permits were worth more than $3.1 million...

Radio talk-show host Rush Limbaugh will be inducted into the National Association of Broadcasters' Broadcasting Hall of Fame in April. The Cape Girardeau native will be honored at a luncheon in Las Vegas April 7 as part of the National Association of Broadcasters 1998 convention...

Alliance Blue Cross Blue Shield, MedAmerica HealthNet and individual providers have reached a tentative agreement to continue cooperating on providing medical care for HealthNet Blue clients. Randy Ressel, Alliance Blue Cross Blue Shield's vice president of sales, issued a letter to brokers Friday announcing the agreement...

I'll take a tough wimp over a tough thug any day for a father, husband or son. I often get a laugh watching the posturing and machoism of men when they get out in public. The same men who cry during weddings and who love to say "Gitche gitche goo" to babies will get around other men and act as if kryptonite couldn't bring them down...

Opponents of a Cape Girardeau ordinance that would make it illegal for minors to possess tobacco say the measure violates their rights. Proponents of the measure say they're trying to protect children from the dangers of smoking. But action on proposed changes to the city's tobacco licensing ordinance will have to wait until next month...

To the editor: I lived for over 20 years in that other America, at time jokingly described as the land of "manana." Some think that their approach is too lackadaisical and that little or less is accomplished. Actually, at times, our hurry to get things done can be more detrimental than beneficial. We are in such a hurry that we don't always get things done properly, or we may be in such a hurry that we don't have enough time to enjoy what we have accomplished...

IF THIS Paula Jones gets away with what she's trying to pull on President Clinton, there wouldn't be a man safe in the United States from any woman who wanted to get up and tell a bunch of lies about him. MARY KASTEN was all for this health care bill for employers who cannot afford health care. ...

Nothing much works in Missouri. We have an underfunded highway-constructions plan, gambling riverboats that can't float and a $3 billion desegregation program that seems to have made kids dumber. An old-timer is someone who can still remember when we voted for politicians because they promised to protect U.S. businesses from bankruptcy by Far Eastern manufacturers...

The annual report, Quality Counts '98, was issued by Education Week magazine and Pew Charitable Trusts. It scores such factors as standards and assessments, quality of teaching and funding resources. Money seems to be the leading factor in determining quality of education. The fact Missouri and Illinois aren't at the top of the spending heap earns both states low marks...

When it comes to divorce, children are often the real losers. Sometimes the good of the children is overshadowed by parental quarrels over child support, custody and visitation. That is why a new program of mediation for child support and visitation disputes may work wonders...

To the editor: Various articles in the Southeast Missourian during the first week of December reminded me of remarks delivered by Dr. William J. Petrek at the May 1990 graduation ceremony at Richmond College. The following excerpts from Petrek's address are offered with the belief that some of us might gain valuable insights by reflecting on his ideas and words...

The mission tonight for Southeast Missouri State University's basketball team is clear, but certainly not simple: Try and slow down Rick Kaye, who is the heart of sole of a strong Eastern Illinois squad. "Some way, you have to slow him down, but I don't know for sure how to do it," said Southeast coach Gary Garner...

SCOTT CITY -- After 32 minutes of play featuring as much breathing room as there was air to breathe in Scott City High's steamy, packed gymnasium, Denver sent the Hawks soaring to a mile-high feeling. Kelly's Denver Stuckey scored on a drive with 5 seconds remaining, giving the Hawks a 69-67 triumph over third-seeded Delta in a semifinal game in the Scott-Mississippi Conference Tournament Friday night...

According to Notre Dame High coach Chris Janet, six minutes are all that separated his Bulldogs from the best basketball team in Southeast Missouri. In those six minutes, which occurred in the third quarter of Friday's homecoming game at Notre Dame, the Jackson Indians outscored the Bulldogs 20-6 on the way to a 70-51 victory...

Donna Ryan has been named the interim head women's tennis coach at Southeast Missouri State University. She replaces Marla Reid, who recently resigned to become the head men's and women's tennis coach at Eastern Illinois. Ryan is excited about taking over the Otahkians' program...

A host of complex records fell and one school mark was shattered Friday night as Southeast Missouri State University notched a pair of lopsided dual track victories over Murray State. Southeast's men won 74-48 and the Southeast women romped 83-27 in action at the Student Recreation Center...

DEXTER -- Funeral service for retired Lt. Col. Anna Omega Miller of Jacksonville, Ark., will be held at 2 p.m. Monday at Watkins and Sons Funeral Home in Dexter. Retired chaplain Charles Law will officiate. Burial will be in Dexter Cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home from 3-9 p.m. Sunday...

ANNA, Ill. -- Funeral service for Joseph E. Bennett of Anna will be held at 1:30 p.m. Sunday at Crain Funeral Home in Anna. The Rev. Howard Opperman will officiate, with burial in Olive Branch Cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home from 4-8 p.m. today...

BLOOMFIELD -- Funeral service for Dovie Harper of Bloomfield will be held at 10:30 a.m. today at Chiles-Cooper Funeral Home. The Rev. Hank Foster will officiate, with burial in Walker Cemetery. Harper, 88, died Thursday, Jan. 22, 1998, at Dexter Memorial Hospital in Dexter...

Katie Thompson, 90, of Jerseyville, Ill., died Friday, Jan. 23, 1998, at Greenwood Manor in Jerseyville. Ford and Sons Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

THEBES, Ill. -- Delanie Pearson, 71, of Thebes died Thursday, Jan. 22, 1998, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. She was born Sept. 28, 1926, at Gale, daughter of Lawrence O. and Pearl Wilson Hill. She married Marion Pearson on Nov. 26, 1973. He survives...

CAIRO, Ill. -- Sue Lipe Wilson, 55, of Cairo died Thursday, Jan. 22, 1998, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. She was born March 23, 1942, in Miller City, Ill., the daughter of David Earl and Ruby M. Bledsoe Lipe. She married Bobby Wilson May 27, 1961. He survives...

MARBLE HILL -- F. Rae Ward, 68, of Marble Hill died Thursday, Jan. 22, 1998, at Southeast Missouri Hospital. She was born Sept. 25, 1929, at Herral, Ark., daughter of Beau and Bessie Johnson Hopper. She married Gene Ward on June 29, 1948. She was a member of the Marble Hill First Baptist Church, a licensed Missouri funeral home director with Liley Funeral Homes, and a jewelry clerk at Wal-Mart SuperCenter in Cape Girardeau...

MALDEN -- Funeral service for Ethel Mae Matthews of Malden will be held at 1 p.m. today at Bradshaw Funeral Home in Malden. The Rev. Scott Keller will officiate, with burial in Memorial Park Cemetery at Malden. Matthews, 85, died Wednesday, Jan. 21, 1998, at Malden Nursing Center...

CAIRO, Ill. -- Funeral service for Carolyn Jo "Jody" Coffman of Barnhart, Mo., will be held at 1 p.m. Sunday at Barkett Funeral Home in Cairo. The Rev. Kelly Cox will officiate, with burial in Green Lawn Memorial Gardens at Villa Ridge. Friends may call at the funeral home after 4 p.m. today...

MARBLE HILL -- Christa U. Logan, 72, of Marble Hill died Thursday, Jan. 22, 1998, at her home. She was born Aug. 12, 1925, in Plauen, Germany, daughter of Karl and Clara Ott Sommer. She and Thomas R. Logan were married Dec. 3, 1953. Logan retired as a teller with Chase Manhattan Bank...

CHARLESTON -- Ray R. Crisel Sr., 56, of Charleston died Friday, Jan. 23, 1998, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. He was born Jan. 29, 1941, in East Prairie, son of William J. and Enna Drewery Crisel. He and Janice Putzke were married Sept. 22, 1971. He and Melissa Russell were married Oct. 14, 1997...

MARBLE HILL -- Shirley J. Steen, 60, of Bond Nursing Home in Marble Hill died Friday, Jan. 23, 1998, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. She was born June 2, 1937, at Chaffee, daughter of Marvin and Earl Hider Steen. Steen was a member of Caney Fork Baptist Church...

JACKSON -- Hester L. Miller, 99, of Jackson died Friday, Jan. 23, 1998, at Jackson Manor Nursing Home. She was born Oct. 2, 1898, at Kurreville, daughter of John M. and Maloda Mayfield Dalton. She and Thomas E. Miller were married Dec. 14, 1927. He died Aug. 24, 1960...

GORDONVILLE -- Emma Bodenstein, 99, of Memphis, Tenn., died Thursday, Jan. 22, 1998, at her home. She was born Jan. 22, 1899, near Kurreville, daughter of Louis and Wilhelmine Haupt Schmidt. She and Henry Bodenstein were married Feb. 14, 1931. He died Aug. 13, 1971...

Karen Sue Herron, 49, of Cambria, Ill., died Friday, Jan. 23, 1998, at Carbondale Memorial Hospital in Carbondale, Ill. She was born March 2, 1948, in Cape Girardeau, daughter of Alvin and Helen M. Mehner Bertrand. She married Bill Herron. Herron had worked 23 years for Kroger, most recently at the Marion store. She served as steward of the executive board of Local 881 of United Food and Commercial Workers for 10 years...

Son to Tina Marie Henderson of Jackson, Southeast Missouri Hospital, 3:35 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 11, 1998. Name, Christopher Miguel. Weight, 7 pounds 8 ounces. Miss Henderson is the daughter of Glenn and Joanna Henderson of Jackson. Son to Kenneth Duane Hutson and Kristie Lynn Newell of Cape Girardeau, Southeast Missouri Hospital, 3:46 p.m. ...

MARBLE HILL -- Paul C. Douglas, 76, of Marble Hill died Friday, Jan. 23, 1998, at the Bond Nursing Home in Marble Hill. He was born Oct. 15, 1921, at Hurricane, son of Charles and Emma Patton Douglas. He was a retired log turner, an Army veteran of World War II, and he became a born-again Christian on Feb. 23, 1997...