Stories from Tuesday, June 2, 1998

Cybertip: A few spots remain in the June 8 and 17 Internet classes for beginners. The June 8 class is from 7-9 p.m. and the June 17 is from 1-3 p.m. Call 335-6611 as soon as possible to register. There is a $10 fee. We're sorry that you didn't win the big Powerball. We didn't win either, but you can keep up the dream of joining the rich and famous by visiting castles online...

A giant health-care corporation has acquired one of Cape Girardeau's outpatient surgery centers. HealthSouth Corp., headquartered in Birmingham, Ala., announced Monday that it has acquired Missouri Surgery Center Inc. at 300 S. Mount Auburn Road. The center, opened in 1993 by Dr. Greg Tobin, a plastic and hand surgeon, is now called HealthSouth Surgery Center of Cape Girardeau, said Todd A. Johnson, administrator of the outpatient surgery center...

The emphasis was placed on fun when the Cape Girardeau Public Library held a carnival to kick-off its summer calendar of activities Saturday. Each year the library plans a calendar full of kid-oriented events, said Betty Martin, director of youth services. The carnival is held as a fun way to inform the public of what activities will be offered, she said...

In an effort to improve school district finances in the coming year, the Cape Girardeau Board of Education Monday night reduced and eliminated expenditures and froze salaries. In all, $611,000 in budget reductions will become effective July 1, the start of the next fiscal year. The cuts are necessary because the school district has been spending more money than it has taken in since the 1995-96 school year, and the result is a fund balance that is lower than the state recommends...

The Cape Girardeau City Council Monday night gave initial approval to increasing fees for water and trash service. The council also effectively rejected a request for a special-use permit for construction of storage units on Perry Avenue. The council approved on first reading measures increasing water fees by 2 percent and trash collection fees by 2.1 percent...

Two Cape Girardeau churches will help construct new homes this summer during a blitz project with Habitat for Humanity. First Baptist Church and Cape LaCroix United Methodist Church will provide labor for the homes to be built at 50 and 54 Green Acres...

Almost five miles of new pavement is to be poured in Cape Girardeau County during the summer construction season. While a few miles a year may not seem like much, County Associate Commissioner Larry Bock says the investment is significant. Much of the work of the county road department is maintenance and repairs...

More often than not, scientists find rather unusual things to study. But I was pleased to read the findings of a nine-year British study released this week. Unlike the bizarre studies correlating a link between accident deaths and running red lights or the higher birth rate among fruit flies taking hormone supplements, this study had some relevance for me...

7:30 p.m. Monday, June 1 Consent ordinances -- Approved an ordinance establishing the boundaries of Lateral Sewer District 14-1-F-10. New ordinances -- Rejected a special use permit to Mitch Shelby and Jeff Overbeck for a special use permit for constructing, maintaining and operating seven self-storage units at 920 Perry Ave. Motion died for lack of a second...

To the editor: I think this article by Dr. James C. Dobson, president of Focus on Family, and Gary L. Bauer, president of Family Research Council, is a wake-up call to all parents. Here are excerpts from the article, entitled "They Only Know What You Teach 'Em."...

The National Federation of Independent Business has emerged over the last few years as America's foremost organization fighting for the interests and concerns of small business. In Missouri the NFIB represents 12,000 businesses. On a range of issues from taxes to worker compensation to health care policy to fighting excessive regulation, the NFIB has been in there pitching. ...

Proposed deregulation of the sale of electric utilities has moved onto the national agenda in a big way. State after state is at least looking at this complex issue, and Missouri is no exception. In Missouri, a joint House-Senate study committee has been established to investigate the matter and propose legislation. The committee is chaired by veteran state Sen. Wayne Goode, D-St. Louis. Goode's approach is to proceed cautiously...

To the editor: The Southeast Missourian has given Louis J. Schultz School the royal treatment for 13 years now. That is about 325 Paw newspaper student staff members who have had the opportunity to publish and quality paper -- because of your Adopt-A-School sponsorship and kind help...

DELTA -- Voters will decide at a special election today whether the Delta School District finances some immediate capital projects by selling bonds. The Delta Board of Education is asking voters' permission to issue $200,000 in general obligation bonds for various improvements in the district. A two-thirds majority is needed to pass the measure...

JACKSON -- After Mayor Paul Sander vetoed a decision to rezone a parcel of property along West Jackson Boulevard two weeks ago, the Jackson Board of Aldermen on Monday decided to consider issuing the owner a special-use permit instead. On May 18, the board voted 5-3 to rezone the David Miller property at 1517 W. Jackson Blvd. from residential to commercial so Miller can sell ornamental plants. Sander vetoed the change, saying he wants to wait until plans for the future of Highway 72 are settled...

BRENTWOOD, Tenn. - Southeast Missouri State University became the first school in OVC history to win four straight women's all-sports titles after nipping Eastern Kentucky by one point for the 1997-98 championship. The honor, which is a symbol of overall athletic excellence in conference-sponsored championships, was announced Monday...

JACKSON -- In a slugfest Monday night, Sikeston's Senior Legion held off Jackson's ninth-inning rally for an 18-17 win. Trailing 18-14 in the bottom of the ninth, Jackson scored three runs before stranding two runners to end the game. Jackson fell to 2-3...

SIKESTON -- Funeral for Q.T. Quertermous of Sikeston will be held at 2 p.m. today at Ponder Funeral Home, with Travis Quertermous officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery. Quertermous, 73, died Sunday, May 31, 1998, at his home. He was born Dec. 3, 1924, in Charleston, son of Clarence Auburn and Thelma Quertermous. He and Cecil Mae Little were married Oct. 1, 1948...

SIKESTON -- Funeral for Anna Sue Cline of Murray, Ky., was held Monday at Ponder Funeral Home. Dr. Jim Davis officiated, with burial in Memorial Park Cemetery. Cline, 63, died Saturday, May 30, 1998, at her home. She was born July 12, 1934, at McMullin, daughter of Ed and Susie Barnes Cline. She was a 1950 graduate of Blodgett High School...

SIKESTON -- Graveside service for Lendell B. Schaefer of Sikeston will be held at 11 a.m. today at New Morley Cemetery, with the Rev. Richard Lause officiating. Friends may call at Ponder Funeral Home from 9-11 a.m. Schaefer, 78, died Sunday, May 31, 1998, at Missouri Delta Medical Center...

CAIRO, Ill. -- Therese Ann Petermichel, 70, of Chula Vista, Calif., died Thursday, May 28, 1998, at Sharp Memorial Hospital in Chula Vista. She is formerly of Cairo. Barkett Funeral Home in Cairo is in charge of arrangements.

Alvis Truman Lemonds, 84, died Saturday, May 30, 1998, at the Lutheran Home. He was born Oct. 4, 1913, at Kennett, son of Edgar and Beulah Charlton Lemonds. He and Helen Mayberry were married Aug. 6, 1938. Lemonds was a letter carrier with the U.S. Postal Service in Kennett, retiring in 1973. He was a member and former deacon at First Baptist Church in Kennett...

PATTON -- Ralph Howard Brown, 67, of Marshall died Sunday, May 31, 1998, at Fitzgibbon Hospital in Marshall. He was born Jan. 18, 1931, at Patton, son of J. Ralph and Lynnie Mae McCord Brown. Brown attended Patton Presbyterian Church before moving to Marshall several years ago...

Virgil T. Christoff, 82, of Cape Girardeau died Monday, June 1, 1998, at St. Francis Medical Center. Lorberg Memorial Funeral Chapel is in charge of arrangements.

SIKESTON -- Leon Brown, 67, of Jonesboro, Ark., died Saturday, May 30, 1998, at St. Bernard Regional Medical Center in Jonesboro. He was born Nov. 17, 1930, in Lepanto, Ark., son of Melvin and Bessie Pogue Brown. He first married Lois Louise Brown. He and Lesia Marshall were married July 17, 1993...

PATTON -- Meredith H. Moran, 89, of Patton died Monday, June 1, 1998, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. He was born Oct. 30, 1908, at Crossroads, son of Luther and Garthea Moran. He and Estie Bollinger were married Nov. 18, 1930. Moran was a retired farmer and timber worker. He was a member of Patton Presbyterian Church, Lions Club, Fireman's Association, and the Happy Old People of Patton...

Bertilla Marie "Tillie" Loos, 88, of Cape Girardeau died Monday, June 1, 1998, at Southeast Missouri Hospital. She was born Jan. 1, 1910, at Millersville, daughter of Barney and Helen Scherer Heisserer. She and William Loos were married June 4, 1932, at Jackson. He died May 20, 1954...

Funeral for Howard McGee Sr. of Cape Girardeau will be held at noon Thursday at Second Baptist Church. His son, the Rev. Howard McGee Jr., will officiate. Burial will be in Fairmount Cemetery. Friends may call at the church from 6-8 p.m. Wednesday. Lorberg Memorial Funeral Chapel is in charge of arrangements...

Son to Gary and Mary Van Hoet Miller of Cape Girardeau, Southeast Missouri Hospital, 2:52 a.m. Monday, May 25, 1998. Name, Alex Stephen. Weight, 6 pounds 4 ounces. Fourth son. Mrs. Miller is organist at Centenary United Methodist Church. Miller is a professor at Southeast Missouri State University...

Funeral for Nancy Salyer McDowell of Cape Girardeau will be held at 1:30 p.m. today at Cotrell Funeral Home in Poplar Bluff. George Salyer and Darrell Fears will officiate, with burial in Poplar Bluff City Cemetery. McDowell, 37, died Friday, May 31, 1998, at Southeast Missouri Hospital...