Stories from Thursday, April 23, 1998

To the editor: Recent images carried by the media across the country showed a school bus containing 31 children trapped in the floodwaters of the Little Patuxent River in Maryland. Thankfully, everyone got out safely. In the past year, regional images have included vehicles traversing flooded roadways, motorists rescued from their stalled vehicles after attempting to drive across flooded areas, and children playing or riding their bikes in floodwaters. ...

Jefferson City-based bassist Jim Widner leads the big band that will accompany Clark Terry. Pairing a jazz trumpet legend with arguably the best big band working today is a bill worthy of Carnegie Hall or Lincoln Center. Academic Auditorium will have to do...

Volunteers honored Wednesday more likely would be found pruning rose bushes, raising money or sitting by the bedside of a sick friend than standing up at a recognition banquet. But on Wednesday three people and one organization were honored at the annual Volunteer Recognition Awards program sponsored by the Area Wide United Way and Ameritech...

I WANT to comment about the person who wanted to know why there was an uproar about Clinton taking communion in a Catholic church. I'll tell you why. Because they have closed communion. If you don't agree with the teachings of the church, you're not supposed to take communion. ...

The plot is from the files of our very own FBI, but it reads like the script of a television sitcom -- or perhaps a movie starring Eddie Murphy. Seven years ago, the FBI was intent on getting to the heart of what it believed was high-level corruption within a trade union. That belief was, at least in part, supported by one William Russell, who said he had inside information that would help the FBI in its case...

To the editor: Saturday I had the privilege of shoveling dirt with a group of teen-agers, members of the Beta Club at Central High School. These young people had given up their Saturday to work at the Habitat for Humanity construction site. Our job was not a glamorous one. ...

Several months ago, the nation's eyes were opened a bit by an agreement with the nation's tobacco companies in which the cigarette makers pretty much said their smokes caused health problems that cost states billions of dollars to treat. The agreement was a settlement for the tobacco companies to pay more than $365 billion over 25 years to offset those health-care costs and to fund programs to persuade youngsters not to smoke. ...

JEFFERSON CITY -- The Missouri House Wednesday restored $1.5 million in funding for construction of a vocational-technical school in Cape Girardeau. On a voice vote, the House added the money to the $150,000 that the Budget Committee had earmarked for the project...

Students at St. Mary Cathedral Grade School took a walk on the world Wednesday when the St. Louis Science Center's Big Map exhibit came to school. The exhibit was brought to the school to celebrate the Model School designation received last month by St. Mary's Reading Recovery program. Fourth-grade teacher Monica Macke said the map exhibit provided students with a fun yet educational activity for the day...

Few rooms are available at inns throughout Southeast Missouri, Southern Illinois and Western Kentucky this weekend as thousands of people prepare to flock to the area for a full weekend of activities. Quilts, old and classic vehicles, soccer, a leisurely drive through Southeast Missouri, and, or a look at history are among the weekend attractions...

A team from the U.S. Economic Development Administration Wednesday got to see flood improvements their agency helped fund. The team, along with city staff members, inspected new water-intake facilities and an emergency generator at the city water-treatment plant, a recently elevated access road to the wastewater plant and the South Sprigg Street elevation project area...

April 23, 1998 Dear Pat, To say DC just celebrated a birthday would be inaccurate. She observed it, reluctantly allowed herself to be treated to dinner and accepted her gift of an urn large enough to hide Ali Baba and the 40 thieves. DC says she feels older since we moved back to Cape Girardeau. She is 3 1/2 years older but she means she's more aware of her age here...

The Great Wall Chinese Super Buffet remained closed today after being shut down Tuesday by the Cape Girardeau County Public Health Center for violations of state regulations. A routine field visit, followed by a thorough inspection, yielded 18 critical and 40 non-critical violations Tuesday and Wednesday at the restaurant at 3254 William. ...

The Missouri First Steps program will hold a 10-year reunion from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. Friday at Bavarian Halle in Fruitland. Entertainment, food and information will be available for anyone ever touched by the program. First Steps is an early intervention program for infants and toddlers with special needs. For more information contact Cori Stoverink at (573) 238-4557...

Southeast Missouri State University's recent dynasty in Ohio Valley Conference women's track and field just keeps rolling on. The Otahkians made it four straight OVC championships -- two indoor and two outdoor -- last weekend by winning the outdoor crown in Clarksville, Tenn...

Brent Self doesn't look like a pitcher. Scouts don't congregate at Sikeston High games to watch him heave a baseball. And while some players eye the professional draft, he'll prepare for his freshman season at Three Rivers Community College. But the best high school pitcher in the area he may be...

Chris Bradshaw School: Cape Central Class: Senior Sport: Baseball Position: Third Base-Catcher Coach: Steve Williams Week report: In the clutch, Bradshaw was automatic as Cape Central completed a 4-0 week on the diamond to move into the seventh slot in this week's state coaches poll in Class 4A. ...

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Southeast Missouri State University's golf team placed sixth in the Ohio Valley Conference Championships at Spring Hill Golf Course. Middle Tennessee State won with a three-day total of 857. Southeast shot 878 over the three-days of competition...

FREDERICKTOWN -- Notre Dame scored 10 runs in the seventh inning Tuesday to finally pull away from Fredericktown 22-9. The Bulldogs pounded 19 hits, two for home runs, to improve their record to 7-4 overall. Notre Dame led only 12-9 before the seventh-inning eruption...

KARNAK, Ill. -- Funeral for Printha Ford of Karnak will be held at 11 a.m. Friday at Wilson Funeral Home. The Rev. Shawn Wasson will officiate, with burial in Massac Memorial Gardens at Metropolis. Friends may call at the funeral home from 6-9 p.m. today...

ANNA, Ill. -- Margaret Lutz Adams, 81, of Anna died Tuesday, April 21, 1998, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. She was born April 11, 1917, in Anna, daughter of Halford R. and Pearl Roberts McCarty. She first married James Ratcliffe Lutz Feb. 11, 1934. He died Dec. 1, 1971. She later married Oley O. Adams, who died Feb. 19, 1989...

GORDONVILLE -- Alma M. Birk, 86, of Gordonville died Wednesday, April 22, 1998, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. She was born Aug. 17, 1911, at Tilsit, daughter of William H. and Anna Best Fluegge. She and Edwin Birk were married Feb. 4, 1934...

Alvin Joseph "Uncle Bud" Kimmich, 87, of Cape Girardeau died Tuesday, April 21, 1998, at St. Francis Medical Center. He was born May 13, 1910, in Cape Girardeau, son of Samuel and Daisy Taylor Kimmich. He and Delia Loos were married Nov. 22, 1931, at Jackson. She died July 13, 1991...

Graveside service for Ollie A. Collins of Cape Girardeau will be held at 10 a.m. today at Lorimier Cemetery, with the Rev. Cy Smith officiating. Ford and Sons Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Collins, 81, died Wednesday, April 22, 1998, at St. Francis Medical Center...

Harry W. Chrismer Jr., 80, of Cape Girardeau died Wednesday, April 22, 1998, at Southeast Missouri Hospital. He was born Dec. 31, 1917, at Ferguson, son of Harry W. and Lila Mae Williams Chrismer Sr. He and Ethel E. Harris were married in 1952 in St. Louis...

JACKSON -- Eula V. Bollinger, 88, of Jackson died Tuesday, April 21, 1998, at Heritage Gardens Nursing Home. She was born July 20, 1909, at Scopus, daughter of John H. and Lucinda Stroder Hahn. She and Marvin Bollinger were married Aug. 27, 1932. Bollinger worked 21 years at the former Lowenbaum Dress Factory in Cape Girardeau, retiring in 1975. She was a member of Emanuel United Church of Christ...

JACKSON -- Raymond O. Welker, 86, of Jackson died Tuesday, April 21, 1998, at Heritage Gardens Nursing Home. He was born Nov. 8, 1911, in Oak Ridge, son of Burrett O. and Nora M. Bowers Welker. He and Hazel Sadler were married May 5, 1937. She died Dec. 11, 1977...

Jackson Fire Department Thursday, April 23 Firefighters responded to the following calls Monday: At 10:30 a.m., medical services. At 5:03 p.m., a motor vehicle accident. At 6:06 p.m., medical services. Firefighters responded to the following calls Tuesday:...

SIKESTON -- First National Bank of the Mid-South, headquartered at Sikeston, wants to expand into the St. Louis area. The bank has applied for a branch expansion. "We're pleased to be able offer the St. Louis marketplace the same type of personal service that our current customers have enjoyed for more than 40 years," said Phil Lyon, executive vice president of First National."...

KARNAK, Ill. -- Michael Anderson, 17, of Karnak died Tuesday, April 21, 1998, at Lourdes Hospital in Paducah, Ky. He was injured in a truck-train accident on the Belknap blacktop April 14. Wilson Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

JACKSON -- Clark Hovis of Jackson died Wednesday, April 22, 1998, at Southeast Missouri Hospital. Arrangements are incomplete at McCombs Funeral Home in Jackson.

Bernard "Doc" Heath of 1533 William St. died Tuesday, April 21, 1998, at Southeast Missouri Hospital. He was 86. He was born July 7, 1911, in Lobelville, Tenn., the son of Andrew Jackson and Rebecca Baugus Heath. He married Etta B. Stewart Dec. 24, 1937, in Helena, Ark. She died Jan. 29, 1992...

Son to Petty Officer 3rd Class Micah Scott and Jennifer Nicole Graviett of Virginia Beach, Va., Portsmouth Naval Hospital, 2 a.m. Wednesday, April 8, 1998. Name, Clayton Michael. Weight, 7 pounds 12 ounces. Second child, first son. Mrs. Graviett is the former Jennifer Stubbs, daughter of Kimo and Mary Foeste of Chaffee. ...

PUXICO -- Troy Hodge, 77, of Puxico died Tuesday, April 21, 1998, at Puxico Nursing Center. He was born March 25, 1921, at Puxico, son of John H. and Mary Wilfong Hodge. He and Vivian Johns were married Feb. 4, 1942, at Puxico. Hodge had lived all his life in the Puxico area, and was a retired farmer. He attended Life Chapel Assembly of God Church, and was a member of American Legion...