Stories from Tuesday, May 26, 1998

Judge Stanley A. Grimm, who so honorably served 14 years as a circuit judge in Cape Girardeau and Bollinger counties before being appointed in 1987 to the Eastern District of the Missouri Court of Appeals, has tendered his resignation effective at the end of July. He said he isn't retiring but wants to become involved in arbitration and mediation...

This cell will hold two prisoners when the regional jail is completed near Ullin, Ill. Look at a map. You can't drive 100 miles without going through a community with some sort of state correctional facility -- from a minimum-security juvenile center to the new super-max, "lockdown" facility at Tamms...

This "Financial Focus" column is prepared by Edward Jones Investments, headquartered in St. Louis. Jones includes branches throughout the nation, including Cape Girardeau and Jackson. When it comes to investing, single parents share basically the same concerns with two-parent families. They want to provide opportunities -- especially educational opportunities -- for their children, and they want their own retirement to be comfortable...

ERA Cape Realty, 1409-A N. Mount Auburn Road is one of 10 ERA companies in the nation that features ERAtv World Tour. The local company and local real-estate agents will be featured in a satellite film segment broadcast to ERA offices throughout the world...

Heritage Gardens L.L.C, dba Deal Nursing Home Inc., has filed motions with the Department of Health and Certificate of Need Program, to replace its existing facility at 914 Old Cape Road. The request is to add to the existing Monticello House, 115 K-Land Drive at Jackson...

Mercantile Bank of Southeast Missouri-Perryville has received the "High Performance Award" from Mercantile Bancorporation Inc., headquartered at St. Louis, for outstanding service to the community. The award was presented during special ceremonies at Kansas City...

Seven Illinois companies have been selected to receive the 1998 Governor's Export Awards for outstanding accomplishments in the export of Illinois goods and services. Illinois export sales reached an all-time high of $37 billion in 1997, and ranks No. 5 in exports nationally. About 600,000 Illinoisans are employed in jobs sustained by exports...

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Merger partners NationsBank and BankAmerica have pledged to lend $350 billion over the next decade to minorities and low- and moderate-income customers. The package plan consists of $180 billion for small businesses, $115 billion for affordable housing, $25 billion for economic development and $30 billion for consumer loans...

An arboretum in Cape Girardeau County's North Park will become the latest in a progression of improvements in both the North and South county parks that have transformed them over the past three decades into a showpiece along U.S. 61. The mile-long path currently being built across a field will lead to and meander through a new arboretum, which will be planted in the fall. ...

No one who ever witnesses a session of the Missouri General Assembly would describe it as a harmonious symphony whose members give a perfect performance, providing listeners with joy, amazement and rapture. Although some moments on the third floor of the august Missouri Capitol might seem to resonate with symphonic grace and precision, these are rare, not because orchestra members cannot read the music that is before them but because within each section of the group, there are some members playing an entirely different melody. ...

IS HEIDI Nieland really necessary? What a crude-talking woman. I'M CALLING regarding Judge Syler's decision to keep a child molester out of prison. I'm disgusted and appalled, and I feel if he doesn't care anymore about our children than that, then he should step down and give someone else the position that does...

Marsha Pope has opened a Prudential Insurance office in Marble Hill. The office at 203 Presnell will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. Evening appointments will be available. Pope joined Prudential Insurance in mid-March. She was previously advertising manager for the Banner Press newspaper at Marble Hill...

That insurance identification card your auto insurance company sends you has taken on new importance. In accordance with a new state law that went into effect Jan. 1, Missouri vehicle owners must show their insurance ID card when they renew their license plates...

Plans are in the works for facilities to help Cape Girardeau's police and fire departments hone their public safety skills. The city is acquiring land to build a training site for the Cape Girardeau Fire Department, and work should start this summer on a new firing range for the Cape Girardeau Police Department...

SIKESTON -- Investigators were trying to determine the origin of a fire that damaged at least three businesses at River Birch Mall early Monday. Radio Shack, Malco Theater and Freshour Cycle Co. in the mall were damaged by the blaze, although smoke and fire damage occurred throughout the mall, said Capt. Drew Juden of the Sikeston Department of Public Safety...

It is that time of year again when unwanted, young critters are on the prowl in the heart of town. "Wild animals have adapted well to our suburban area," said Charles Stucker, a veteran animal-control officer with the Cape Girardeau Police Department...

Memorial Day services in the region Monday attracted large crowds of people who gathered to honor fallen veterans in special military services. About 200 veterans and their families gathered in the Osage Community Centre for the annual Memorial Day service sponsored by the Joint Veterans Council in Cape Girardeau. ...

A festival celebrating the French cultural heritage of Southeast Missouri came to a close Monday afternoon on the lawn of the Common Pleas Courthouse in Cape Girardeau amid the sounds of French Cajun music and the sights of local actors portraying early French settlers of the region...

One of the difficulties of any job is becoming so accustomed to your work that it has no meaning or effect on your life. While it's not always true of everyone, I can understand how it occurs. It is easy to become hardened and cynical, especially working in the news business, so that you aren't hurt by the job...

This week the Southeast Missourian asked, "What is your favorite summer activity?" Terry Young, Jackson: "Bass fishing, because I just do it every weekend. I just fished last weekend. I've got a $30,000 bass boat and a $30,000 truck to pull it with. That's why I like it."...

One of the country's most outspoken experts on gangs and youth violence will be in Cape Girardeau tonight to present a workshop on the symptoms of and solutions to juvenile violence. Steve Nawojczyk, who retired in 1994 as Pulaski County coroner in Little Rock, Ark., will present the workshop at Southeast Missouri State University's Dempster Hall of Business tonight from 7 to 9...

Southeast Missouri State University's baseball program has reeled in one more honor for the 1998 season. It was announced Sunday that Jeff Bourbon has been named to the 1998 Louisville Slugger Freshmen All-American Team. Bourbon, selected as a utility player, is the first Southeast freshman to ever gain All-American honors...

Southeast Missouri State University's baseball team made its first-ever NCAA Division I Tournament appearance last week. Indians' coach Mark Hogan hopes it's the start of a trend for his program. "It's a great experience for our players and it's a great thing for our program," said Hogan. "What we're striving for is to get our program to the point where we're going to the regionals on a regular basis. That's what every program strives for."...

GOREVILLE, Ill -- With a new sponsor to start the new season, Cape Girardeau's McDowell Capahas got its semi-pro baseball season off on the right foot Sunday with a doubleheader sweep of Goreville. The Capahas pounded their host 10-4 in the first game and 16-4 in the second. Tim Ellis, returning to the Capahas after injuries kept him out of the line-up last season, ripped five hits -- two of them home runs -- and totaled 10 RBIs in the two victories...

DEXTER -- Esther F. Herbst died Saturday, May 23, 1998, at the Beverly Health and Rehab Center in Dexter. She was 87. She was born in St. Louis on June 3, 1910, daughter of the late Roy and Leona Eikenberry Thompson. She married Albert Herbst, who preceded her in death...

VILLA RIDGE, Ill. -- Paul Everett Bucher, 74, of Brideview, formerly of Mounds, died Sunday, May 24, 1998, at the Christ Hospital in Oaklawn. He was born March 13, 1924, in Mounds, son of Louis and Lena Biesinger Bucher. He was a retired automobile salesman in the Chicago area, an Army veteran of World War II, and a lifetime member of the VFW Post 3455 of Anna...

ALTO PASS, Ill. -- Berniece Bilderbeck, 81, of Alto Pass, died Saturday, May 23, 1998, at Memorial Hospital in Carbondale. She was born April 29, 1918, at Harrisburg, daughter of Henry and Ethel G. Hall High. She was married to William Bilderbeck on Aug. 21, 1937, at Paducah, Ky. She was a member of the First Baptist Church in Alto Pass...

KARNAK, Ill. -- Joyce Shepherd House of Ocala, Fla., formerly of Cairo and Karnak, died Sunday, May 24, 1998, at Estelle's Hospice House in Marion County, Fla. She was 67. She was born Aug. 18, 1930, in Cairo and worked until retirement as a beautician...

ANNA, Ill. -- Calvin "Doc" Leslie, 81, of Anna died Sunday, May 24, 1998, at the Illinois Veterans Home in Anna. He was born in Reynoldsville July 31, 1916, son of John and Hattie Davidson Leslie. He was married to Ruth Ann Leslie. She died in 1976...

ZALMA -- Mary Owens of Zalma died Sunday, May 24, 1998, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. She was 77. She was born in Lowell, Mass., on June 30, 1920, daughter of the late Nes and Eliza Abreu. She retired after working as head cook for the Head Start Program in Arab for more than 10 years...

MCCLURE, Ill. -- Selma L. Woodard, 76, of McClure died Sunday, May 24, 1998, at her home. She was born March 27, 1922, in Cache, daughter of William and Ethel Cable Parker. On Aug. 16, 1941, she married Samuel D. Woodard in Jackson. He died March 20, 1984...

ZALMA -- Mildred Irene Stilts, 94, of Zalma died Monday, May 25, 1998, at the Advance Nursing Center. She was born March 16, 1904, at Lowndes, daughter of Henry and Minnie Fox Stilts. Friends may call Wednesday at Morgan Funeral Home in Advance from 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday...

EAST PRAIRIE -- Louis Simpkins Melton, 82, of San Diego, Calif., formerly of East Prairie, died Saturday, May 23, 1998, after an extended illness. She was born Jan. 9, 1916, at Hornersville, daughter of Earl and Bertha Brotherton Simpkins. She was married to Jack Zook, who preceded her in death. She was also married to Ivan Melton, who preceded her in death...

Helen L. Ourth, 83, of Cape Girardeau died Monday, May 25, 1998, at Southeast Missouri Hospital. She was born Sept. 20, 1914, at Benton, daughter of Frank W. and Ida Bollinger Diebold. She and Leo L. Ourth were married Oct. 5, 1940 at Benton. He died Nov. 2, 1961...

MOUNDS, Ill. -- Minnie Mize, 86, of Mounds died Monday, May 25, 1998, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. Arrangements are incomplete at Crain Funeral Home in Tamms.

Tonight, May 26, 1998 7:30 Jackson Board of Education Office Action Items -- Consider proposals for replacement mower. -- Consider technology acquisition grant for 1998-99. -- Consider gifted education proposal for 1998-99. -- Consider furniture bids...

JACKSON -- James "Jim" R. Gentry, age 53, passed away Sunday, May 24, 1998, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. He was born at St. Louis Jan. 13, 1945, the son of Glen R. and Rose Clark Gentry. On Dec. 31, 1964, he married Karen Graff, who survives at the home. Other survivors include his parents, of Jackson; three daughters, Lori Wills, Jill Gentry and Amy Gentry, all of Jackson; and two grandchildren, Kyla and Brandon Wills...