Stories from Saturday, February 7, 1998

The Rev. Kenneth Harper, a native of Arkansas, is the pastor of the Jackson Church of the Nazarene. He graduated from Nazarene Bible College in 1975, and from Mid America Nazarene College in 1988. The Jackson church began in October 1991, and the Rev. Harper is the founding pastor...

U.S. Sen. John Ashcroft has named Cape Girardeau native Jack Oliver to head his Spirit of America Committee. Oliver will serve as executive director of the political action committee, which was formed in 1996 to support the Missouri senator's activities in behalf of Republican candidates and issues...

ULLIN, Ill. -- Gov. Jim Edgar has released $7.4 million for a building project at Shawnee Community College. The project, which will include construction of four classrooms, a wet lab and a 500-seat educational center, will add about 31,900 square feet to the campus near Ullin...

Nancy Gillard, left, and her husband, Grant Gillard, are pastors of different churches. She is pastor of Lutesville Presbyterian Church in Marble Hill and he is pastor of First Presbyterian Church in Jackson. Editor's note: This is the first in a four-part series profiling area pastors in various aspects of ministry...

Representatives of Missouri's Department of Transportation and the company that designed the Bill Emerson Memorial Bridge were here Friday to quell rumors about the bridge's design and safety. They met with local governmental officials to answer questions and offer information. Another meeting will be held Monday to answer questions of the public, especially concerning the process that will be used to fill fissures in the river's bedrock...

The Show Me Center, Radio City Music Hall, Madison Square Garden, the Pontiac SilverDome and Seattle's Kingdome are among the winners in a magazine poll of the best entertainment facilities in the U.S. The Prime Site Awards are given annually by Facilities Magazine and are based on voting by promoters, booking agents and personal managers. The Show Me Center was one of 26 entertainment venues to receive 1997 awards...

In late August, Cape Girardeau police arrested three men in connection with four 1996 burglaries of elderly people's homes. Police Chief Rick Hetzel recommended that Southeast Missouri Crime Stoppers pay reward money to a number of individuals who provided information that resulted in the arrests of the three...

TAMMS, Ill. -- Communities at one time were opposed to putting prisons nearby. But not any more. Now, job-hungry communities everywhere hope to land prisons because they promise expanded employment and a bonanza of state spending on everything from sewage treatment to power and water...

Missouri's general aviation airports say they can't soar into the future without more state funding. They want the state to earmark money from the sales tax on jet fuel to help fund the more than 100 general aviation airports in Missouri. The funding plan would apply to all but the state's two largest airports: Kansas City International and St. Louis' Lambert Field...

Clean sheets, a home-cooked meal and a guaranteed date are powerful incentives to endorse married life. The approach of Valentine's Day weekend got me thinking about how nice it is to have a sweetheart to celebrate the holiday with. For the second year, Patrick and I are going on a weekend getaway with some close friends for what I hope will become an annual trip...

The Cape Girardeau City Council will get a tobacco licensing ordinance minus the clause that would make it illegal for minors to possess tobacco products. The Youth Advisory Council voted Friday to forward the ordinance to the City Council after debate over whether to keep the possession clause...

To the editor: I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Southeast Missourian and the United Way for the money I received from the Y.E.L.L. grant. I am a reading recovery teacher, and I used these funds (along with some funds from the Alma Schrader PTA) to purchase books for my program. I was really in need of good books for readers who are just beginning to look at print. The books I received are just wonderful. The children and I both look forward to reading these new books...

Often, progress doesn't come without pain. In terms of street projects, the pain is typically motorist inconvenience. Such will be the case with the Perryville Road expansion. But the long-awaited project will bring welcome relief to motorists. This week, the city ceremonially kicked off the project. The real work will soon begin...

Speaking of detours, most motorists in town are well aware of the major sewer project that is currently under way. The work has closed sections of many heavily traveled streets in Cape Girardeau. It's all part of the sanitary sewer improvement program funded by a $25 million bond issued approved by voters in 1994. The project is separating the storm and sanitary sewers in older parts of the city...

To the editor: Divorce is not child abuse. Sometimes divorce is conceived in the best interest of the children. Some may ask how the splitting up of two parents can be in the best interest of children. In some cases, a parent may be unwilling to take care of the children. Sometimes one of the parents is abusive. And it's never good for children to see and hear their parents fighting...

To the editor: Once more to the Titanic. So how did you like the movie? Certain movies one must see. Certain books one must read. Some TV shows one must be able to talk about if he wishes to keep his citizenship current in this modern world. One could ignore all of these pressures, true, but do I really wish to be marked as the only one in town who did not see the movie?...

Entering the final quarter and trailing by 18 at Notre Dame, Woodland coach Jennings Wilkinson implored his team not to give up over the final eight minutes of Friday's game. The Cardinals appear to be good listeners. Woodland made its first five 3-pointers and poured in 30 points to make things close, but the Bulldogs held on at the end to snap a five-game losing streak 79-75...

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. -- The plan entering this week was for Southeast Missouri State University's basketball team to win two out of three road games. The Indians can still accomplish that -- but they're going to have to do it the hard way. Thursday night's 77-57 loss to Tennessee Tech dropped the Indians to 1-1 for the week. In order to go 2-1, they'll have to upset Ohio Valley Conference co-leader Middle Tennessee State today...

The Southeast Missouri State University football team announced the signing of two more high school recruits Friday from the St. Louis area. Danny Fleck, a 6-foot-4, 270-pound offensive lineman from Sherwood High, officially signed to play for the Indians. Ladue senior Eddie McCray (5-9, 170) also signed on with Southeast, bringing the total number in head coach John Mumford's recruiting class to 22 this year...

The Southeast Otahkian gymnasts will attempt to avenge their opening-season loss to Texas Woman's University as they host the Pioneers today at Houck Field House. Admission is free as Southeast celebrates Women's Sport Night. The Otahkians, ranked 54th in the nation, are currently 2-1 following a close victory at Illinois-Chicago...

The Oakville Tigers look like the overwhelming favorite to win the Class 4A, District 1 wrestling title today being held in the Jackson High School Gymnasium. Oakville, the top-ranked team in the state, brings a solid squad that qualified 11 wrestlers to last year's 4A sectional and eventually finished third in the state...

ST. LOUIS -- Riverview Gardens High, ranked No. 6 in Class 4A, beat an overwhelmed Cape Girardeau Central Friday night 88-57 behind 31 points from Christian Morton. "We were just out-manned and have to recognize that," said Central coach Brett Reutzel. "(Riverview is) very aggressive and we got out of control and didn't take care of the ball. We need to do a better job of taking care of the basketball."...

VANDUSER -- Funeral service for Brandon E. Clark of Vanduser will be held at 2 p.m. today at Ponder Funeral Home in Sikeston. Burial will be in Forrest Hills Cemetery near Morley. Clark, 14, died Thursday, Feb. 5, 1998, at his home, following an extended illness...

Funeral service for Elizabeth "June" Hudson of Iron Mountain, Mich., a former teacher here, will be held at 2 p.m. today at Trinity United Methodist Church. The Rev. James McLaurin will officiate, with burial in Cemetery Park. Friends may call at Erickson Rochon and Nash Funeral Home in Iron Mountain from 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m...

DEXTER -- John H. Barton, 88, of West Plains died Thursday, Feb. 5, 1998, at his home. He was born Oct. 15, 1909, in Kevil, Ky., son of Marshall E. and Stella Goode Batson. He and Martha Edsall were married Jan. 17, 1933. She died Oct. 19, 1970. He later married Edith Phares Shisko Feb. 22, 1973...

Arietta F. Hogan, 70, of Cape Girardeau died Friday, Feb. 6, 1998, at St. Francis Medical Center. She was born Feb. 27, 1927, in Anna, Ill., daughter of Charles and Flossie Spurlock. She and Tom Hogan were married Dec. 31, 1949, in Piggott, Ark. Hogan was a nurse assistant 17 years at St. Francis. She was a member of Ladies Friendship Club...

Funeral service for Norma Mildred Sutherland of Cape Girardeau will be held at 1:30 p.m. today at Ford and Sons Mt. Auburn Chapel. The Rev. Larry Gallamore will officiate, with burial in Memorial Park. Friends may call at the chapel from 10:30 a.m. until service time...

Ruth E. Brandt, 70, of Cape Girardeau died Friday, Feb. 6, 1998, at her home. She was born Nov. 30, 1927, in Cape Girardeau, daughter of Ernest and Maude T. Taylor Reed. She and William C. Brandt were married Nov. 26, 1948, in Cape Girardeau. He died Oct. 4, 1992...

PAINTON -- Eleanor Coomer, 90, of Painton died Friday, Feb. 6, 1998, at Advance Nursing Center. She was born May 9, 1907, at High Ridge, daughter of John and Clara Henricks Wondel. She and Gus "Buck" Coomer were married May 31, 1930, at Benton. He died Jan. 17, 1988...

ANNA, Ill. -- Joy E. Carlson, 86, of Anna died Friday, Feb. 6, 1998, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau, Mo. She was born in Burnley, Lancaster County, England, Jan. 8, 1912, daughter of Joe and Edith Gidley Lace. She and Arthur Carlson were married April 21, 1935, in Iron River, Mich. He died in May 1989...

Funeral service for Lynn E. Crafton of Cape Girardeau will be held at Ford and Sons Sprigg Street Chapel at 11 a.m. Monday. The Rev. Milton Ryan will officiate, with burial in St. Mary's Cemetery. Friends may call at the chapel from 4-8 p.m. Sunday. Parish prayers will be at 7...

PERRYVILLE -- Graveside service for Megan Leigh Ann Bird of Perryville will be held at 2 p.m. today at Home Cemetery. The Rev. Stanley Brown will officiate. Friends may call at Miller Family Funeral Home from 1-1:50 p.m. today. The infant, 3 months, died Thursday, Feb. 5, 1998, at her home...

DUTCHTOWN -- Edith Avery, 74, of Dutchtown died Friday, Feb. 6, 1998, at her home. Ford and Sons Mt. Auburn Chapel in Cape Girardeau is in charge of arrangements.

Funeral service for Marilyn Cecelia Jenkins of Cape Girardeau will be held at 1:30 p.m. Monday at St. James AME Church. The Rev. David Allen will officiate, with burial in Lorimier Cemetery. Friends may call at the church from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Ford and Sons Mt. Auburn Chapel is in charge of arrangements...

Daughter to Eric and Marsha Puchbauer of Maryland Heights, St. Luke's Hospital, Sunday, Jan. 18, 1998. Name, Megan Renee. Weight, 6 pounds 8 ounces. First child. Mrs. Puchbauer is the former Marsha VanGennip, daughter of Larry and Ann VanGennip of Puxico. She is a nurse at St. Luke's Hospital. Puchbauer is the son of Carl and Pat Puchbauer of Cape Girardeau. He is pastor of King of Kings Lutheran Church...

Funeral service for Ermal L. Briggs of Cape Girardeau will be held at 10 a.m. today at Lorberg Memorial Funeral Chapel. The Rev. Doyle Randol will officiate, with burial in Fairmount Cemetery. Briggs, 59, died Thursday, Feb. 5, 1998, at Southeast Missouri Hospital...