Stories from Tuesday, May 5, 1998

CHESTER, Ill. -- Traffic has been reduced again to one lane on the Mississippi River bridge at Chester. The bridge, which is undergoing sandblasting and painting of steel and guardrails and some deck work, had been open for two-way traffic through the winter, but two-way traffic was stopped recently when work resumed...

Jackson High School prom-goers flocked in front of Charles Hutchings' camera to record a traditional high school memory. Students lined up for a conga dance through the crowd. Jessie Keys usually prefers simple dresses. No sequins. But this is prom. Her only senior prom...

We think one of the most important holidays of the year is coming up this Sunday: Mother's Day. It's that special time to pay tribute to all those hard-working women -- like us. OK, men and children, daughters and sons. You have a few more days to get your act together -- to buy a gift or at least a card. Dinner out would be nice, too...

JACKSON -- According to at least one student, Jackson Middle School teacher Deanna Walker completed her professional goals and was eligible for retirement after only one year on the job. Walker, who has served 19 years as a life science teacher, said her first year as a teacher included "one of those classes you hope you will never get." One girl in particular was determined to make the year a memorable one, she said, and even joined the softball team Walker coached that year...

Eleven openings remain for the May 11 and 10 remain for the May 20 beginning Internet classes offered by the Southeast Missourian web staff. The May 11 class will be held from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. in Dempster Hall on the campus of Southeast Missouri State University. On May 20, the class will be held from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. The university is a co-sponsor of the community training...

Thirty-eight students from Cape Girardeau Central and Notre Dame high schools were honored at the 39th annual John Blue Academic Excellence Awards Banquet Monday at the University Center. The awards are sponsored by the Rotary Club of Cape Girardeau, which honors students in the top 10 percent of their graduating class...

Southeast Missouri State University president Dr. Dale Nitzschke loves to sing the praises of recruiting international students to the school. He even can hum a few bars. On a recruiting trip to South Korea last month, Nitzschke sang "Puff the Magic Dragon" during a karaoke session orchestrated by the president of Kunsan National University in Kunsan City...

Cape Girardeau will again seek state funding for the city's taxi coupon program. But the bid from Kelley Transportation Co., which provides the taxi service, came in more than $80,000 higher than last year, and city officials are wondering how to make up the difference in cost...

Missouri would fund most if not all of the expense of operating the Cape Girardeau Regional Airport control tower under a bill that has passed the state Senate. The bill would provide added funding for Missouri's general aviation airports, including money for the operation of control towers in Cape Girardeau and Jefferson City...

A new fine arts festival being proposed for spring 1999 should flourish if it focuses on quality and remains community oriented, the director of two successful festivals in Hannibal says. The Arts Council of Southeast Missouri invited Michael Gaines to town to speak to various groups involved in running festivals. His visit also is an opportunity to test the public's interest in starting a fine arts festival...

As the musical sounds of a four-piece Dixieland combo played in the background, the Cape Girardeau Convention and Visitors Bureau kicked off its celebration of National Tourism Week Monday with a visit from the official mascots of the Missouri Division of Tourism...

JACKSON -- Whether 1.6 acres at the intersection of Highway 72 and Old Toll Road should be rezoned from residential to commercial so the owner can sell ornamental plants will be taken up at the May 18 meeting of the Board of Aldermen. David Miller, who owns the property at 1517 W. Jackson Blvd., requested the change at a public hearing Monday. He brought the board a petition with the names of eight nearby property owners who favor the change...

Agenda, May 4 Consent ordinances -- Approved an ordinance accepting deeds from property owners for the 1995 flood buyout program. -- Approved an ordinance approving the transfer of the cable communications television franchise. -- Approved an ordinance approving the record plat of DKR 3rd Subdivision...

A planning meeting for the 1998 Cape Girardeau Regional Air Festival will be held at 6:30 p.m. today at the airport restaurant. Anyone interested in volunteering may attend. The show will be held July 10 through 12 at the Cape Girardeau Regional Airport...

Charter schools have received some nodding attention in the current session of the Missouri Legislature. The state Senate included authorization for the schools, which operate with public funds by have a mission different than public schools, in St. Louis, St. Louis County and Kansas City as part of a bill to put an end to federal desegregation orders in those urban areas. A House committee then removed the charter-school language...

Americans are so used to free enterprise that it is difficult to understand the business climate in places like China and the actions of the Chinese government to regulate the profit motive. The latest wrinkle has to do with direct-marketing enterprises, some legitimate and some that are downright scams. ...

To the editor: Unfortunately, many generally well-meaning -- but naive and woefully misinformed -- individuals and organizations are clamoring for the construction of a network of separated-from-the-road bicycle paths and trails. In general, bicycle paths and trails are very expensive to design, construct and maintain. And, they are rarely, if ever, well-maintained...

With all the wet weather in the area, it had been nine days since the Poplar Bluff High baseball team last played a game. Monday afternoon at Notre Dame, the Mules' bats looked like it -- striking out 13 times against Bulldogs' pitcher Keith Hamm. But the well-rested arm of Poplar Bluff pitcher Andy Cisne struck out 11 Bulldogs on the way to a 2-0 victory...

Jason Swearingen has never professed to be the most physically talented pitcher around. "I'm definitely not going to throw the ball by many people," he said with a laugh. But while flaming fastballs might not be in Swearingen's repertoire, winning baseball games and turning in one dependable performance after another certainly are...

It took three games and a change of venue, but Southeast Missouri State University's offense finally resurfaced. The Otahkians won the Ohio Valley Conference softball tournament Monday night with a 13-4 win over Eastern Illinois at Shawnee Park. The mercy-rule-shortened victory came after a 3-2 win in eight innings and a 2-1 loss in Southeast's first chance to win the double-elimination tournament earlier Monday. Both games were against Eastern Illinois and were played at Parker Field...

The Southeast Missouri Horseshoe Association held two tournaments over the weekend. On Saturday, Doris Stubenrauch and Don Riley captured first at the Kelso Country Clubs. Janie Raines and Jeff Miller were second and Brad Miller and Irv Vandeven took third...

DEXTER -- It was certainly not a good day for Jackson High's baseball team Monday. The Indians had just one hit, committed six errors and issued nine walks as Dexter romped to a 12-2, six-inning victory. Jackson, which fell to 7-9, will host Cape Central Wednesday...

PERRYVILLE -- Calvin E. Foote, 42, of Perryville died Saturday, May 2, 1998, in Perryville. He was born Oct. 10, 1955, in Pine Bluff, Ark., son of Carl E. and Natlie Frances Daugherty Foote. Foote was a technical supervisor at BBL. He was a veteran of the U.S. Navy...

JONESBORO, Ill. -- Leland F. "Jake" Hale, 73, of Jonesboro died Sunday, May 3, 1998, at his home. He was born May 6, 1924, in Alto Pass, son of Zeph and Mary Pittman Hale. He and Catherine Y. Cain were married June 25, 1945, in Anna. Hale worked 33 years at CIPS in Grand Tower. He was a member of Beech Grove Baptist Church, and Operating Engineers Local 318. He was a veteran of World War II...

SIKESTON -- Burrel Ellis Walden, 76, of Sikeston died Saturday, May 2, 1998, at his home. He was born Aug. 22, 1921, in Batesville, Ark., son of Jim and Dottie Walden. He and Stella Jones were married Aug. 24, 1945. Walden was a retired auto body repairman...

PERRYVILLE -- Edmund J.C. Lohmann, 94, of Perryville died Sunday, May 3, 1998, at Perry County Memorial Hospital. He was born Sept. 12, 1903, at Farrar, son of Henry E. and Lina Detjen Lohmann. He and Olivia E. Weinrich were married Oct. 25, 1931. She died Oct. 3, 1972...

Lillian Mary Lawrence, 83, of Cape Girardeau died Sunday, May 3, 1998, at her home. She was born March 23, 1915, in Cape Girardeau, daughter of Joseph and Mary Miget. She and George R. Lawrence were married Oct. 26, 1935. He died July 24, 1965. Lawrence worked at St. Francis Hospital 15 years, and was Ward 2 election judge the past few years. She was a lifetime resident of Cape Girardeau except for three years in Richmond, Calif. Lawrence was a member of St. Vincent's Catholic Church...

BERTRAND -- Gary Steven Kellick, 48, of Bertrand died Monday, May 4, 1998, at Barnes Hospital in St. Louis. He was born March 17, 1950, at Risco, son of Lofton and Mary Virginia Peters Kellick. Kellick had lived in Mississippi County most of his life, and was a self-employed mechanic...

MOUNDS, Ill. -- Emma Lea Casper, 87, of Mounds, formerly of Olmsted and Tamms, died Monday, May 4, 1998, at Meridian Manor Nursing Home. She was born Feb. 4, 1911, in rural Olmsted, daughter of Alfred Marion and Mary Esta Odle Atherton. She first married Sam Devore, who died in 1971. She later married Paul L. Casper, who died in 1981...

PATTON -- Everett Long, 75, of Patton died Sunday, May 3, 1998, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. He was born Oct. 26, 1922, at Hornersville, son of William Joe and Ellen Roe Long. He and Glenda M. Haupt were married Sept. 16, 1950. Long was owner of Patton Steel Co. ...

POCAHONTAS -- Dorothy Helena Walther, 73, of Pocahontas died Monday, May 4, 1998, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. She was born March 26, 1925, in Cape Girardeau, daughter of Arthur and Annie Bartles Krueger. She and Gilbert Walther were married Dec. 5, 1944...

Daughter to Tammy Klaproth and husband Tim Lutz of Madison, Wis., Meriter Hospital in Madison, 4:29 a.m. Sunday, May 3, 1998. Name, Tess Olivia. Weight, 8 pounds 5 ounces. Second daughter. Ms. Klaproth is the daughter of Mary Klaproth of Jackson and Kenneth Klaproth. She is a teacher with Madison Public Schools. Lutz is the son of Eleanor Lutz of Wisconsin Rapids, Wis., and the late Gregory Lutz. He is employed by Financial Technology Inc...

SIKESTON -- Funeral for ElReno Shelton will be held at 3 p.m. today at Ponder Funeral Home. The Rev. Fred Leist will officiate, with burial in Matthews Cemetery at Matthews. Shelton, 92, died Saturday, May 2, 1998, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau...