Stories from Thursday, July 2, 1998

To the editor: In March, the House Republican leadership postponed a vote on campaign reform, House Resolution 348 (authored by U.S. Rep. Bill Thomas), because some House members, led by pro-abortionist U.S. Rep. Chris Shays, R-Conn., were pressing to be allowed to offer as an amendment the text of the McCain-Feingold bill. ...

Tragedy was narrowly averted on Interstate 55 north of Cape Girardeau Wednesday when a southbound tractor-trailer truck crossed the median, lost its fuel tank and came to rest in the northbound lanes. The truck, belonging to Jeadon Trucking of Harrisburg, Ill., was traveling southbound near the Jackson-Fruitland interchange when the accident occurred shortly after 3 p.m...

BERNIE -- In 1888, the Cottonbelt railroad line was laid to transport lumber prepared at sawmills south of Dexter. Ten years later, on Dec. 12, 1898, the village of Bernie was incorporated. The hamlet was named for a daughter of D.S. Crumb, who owned most of the land in the town...

This Fourth of July there may be smoke in the air but it isn't from the fireworks. It's the Sixth Annual Cobden Backyard Barbecue. Teams come from Missouri, Illinois and Kentucky to be in the competition. "People come from all over the area," said Dianne Flamm, chairperson of the barbecue...

MR. CLINTON is making a big show in China at Tiananmen Square, supposedly concerned about human rights in that country. What about the human rights violations in this country? Just try to speak out about the U.S. government and see what happens to you. This is not a free country...

Son Gary II is visiting the United States from his home in Osaka, Japan. Since he's paid in yen, his purchasing power while visiting the U.S. has been reduced over 30 percent with the strengthening of the U.S. dollar. That's the effect on one person, and it decreases the attractiveness for the Japanese who travel to the U.S. while increasing the purchasing power of the dollar if you travel to Japan...

At a meeting in Jackson last week, a comprehensive regional road, highway and bridge improvement plan was unveiled before an audience of local citizens, elected officials and officials of the Missouri Department of Transportation. Presenting the plan was local transportation consultant Walt Wildman, who has spent years lobbying for the proposed Interstate 66 project. ...

Jackson Mayor Paul Sander received well-deserved recognition last week in the form of the R.A. Fulenwider Award by the Jackson Chamber of Commerce. The award is presented annually to a Jackson citizen who distinguishes himself or herself by an unusual commitment to public service in the community...

McCLURE, Ill. -- Ron Medlin and Randy Colyer watched as hundreds of gallons of water gushed out of a fire hydrant on the grounds of the Shawnee Elementary School Center at McClure Wednesday. "We're flushing out the water system," said Colyer, a Southern Illinois farmer who serves as a maintenance man for the McClure-East Cape Girardeau Water District. "We'll let the water run until it's perfectly clear."...

SIKESTON -- Tom Grey is ready to do battle with Missouri's gambling industry, and he is traveling the state to enlist soldiers for his army. "Local people active in politics can get amazing things done," he said. Grey, a United Methodist minister in Hanover, Ill., is executive director of the National Coalition Against Legalized Gambling...

They are an unlikely pair of farmhands: Melvin Gateley, retired school principal, and David Hitt, director of emergency operations for Cape Girardeau County. But on Saturday, Gateley and Hitt will square off for a Fourth of July milking contest. The milk-off is scheduled for 4 p.m. at Cape Girardeau's Arena Park as part of the Fourth of July celebration...

School administrators at Cape Girardeau and Jackson public schools said a number of factors contributed to the increases in fund balances for the fiscal year that ended Tuesday. Officials from both school districts said unanticipated funding, including fewer delinquent local taxes; increased participation in local programs; more money from state sales taxes and checks for adjusted state funding from preceding years all played a part in the unexpected higher balances at the end of the fiscal year.. ...

Every time the Atlanta Braves, the Bolshoi Ballet or the Rolling Stones play St. Louis, Missouri's arts organizations benefit. Now they're going to benefit more. A bill Gov. Mel Carnahan will sign this morning increases from 50 percent to 60 percent the allocation the Missouri Arts Council Cultural Trust Fund receives from taxes on non-resident athletes and entertainers. ...

July 2, 1998 Dear Julie, At the hot tubs and sauna oasis down on 12th street in Arcata, Bavarian music spills over the international newspapers and the sound of frothing milk warms the cool air. I take my towel from the proprietor, a musically confused leprechaun of a man who plays the bagpipes. ...

When 1998 Cape Central graduate Tobie Bittle applied for the Jackie Joyner-Kersee Gold Medal Scholarship, she hardly had visions of receiving the honor. "No, it was another one of the many, many scholarship forms I filled out," Bittle said with a laugh...

The McDowell Capahas will be hosting the annual National Baseball Congress Mid-South Regional Tournament next weekend. But this weekend, the Capahas will also be participating in a pretty high-profile tourney as they take part in the 12-team Evansville (Ind.) July 4th Tournament...

Cape Girardeau's Ford & Sons American Legion baseball team had to turn to its ace Wednesday night to salvage a split of a doubleheader with visiting Paducah, Ky., at Capaha Field. After Paducah won the opener 7-3, Cape scored two runs in the bottom of the sixth inning of the nightcap to rally for a 9-8 lead...

SEMO Bank's Tom Wencewicz blasted three home runs and hurled a five-inning complete game in the first game of Wednesday's Junior American Legion doubleheader with Dunklin County. Cape won the first game 13-3, but lost the nightcap 5-2 to put its record at 23-14 overall and 16-4 in district play...

EAST PRAIRIE -- Earl William Metcalf Jr., 79, of East Prairie died Tuesday, June 30, 1998, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. He was born Oct. 8, 1918, in Anniston, son of Earl William and Ethel Lowell Redden Metcalf. A retired carpenter and painter, Metcalf lived in Mississippi County most of his life and was a member of First Church of God...

SIKESTON -- Hurley Laster, 88, of Ft. Walton Beach, Fla., formerly of Sikeston, died Wednesday, July 1, 1998, at Ft. Walton Beach Medical Center. He was born Aug. 8, 1909, in Fulton County, Ky., son of Thomas O. and Maggie Sue Carroll Laster. Laster retired as an electrician with Missouri Utilities Co...

CANALOU -- Graveside service for Laura T. Breedlove of Canalou will be held at 2 p.m. Friday at Garden of Memories Cemetery in Sikeston. Dan Richardson will officiate. Friends may call at Amick-Burnett Funeral Chapel in Oran after 6 p.m. today. Breedlove, 93, died Tuesday, June 30, 1998, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau...

MARBLE HILL -- Billy Earl Rutherford, 44, of Oakland, Calif., died Monday, June 22, 1998, in Oakland. He was born Nov. 27, 1953, at Fort Knox, Ky., son of Willie and Dorothy Haynes Rutherford. Rutherford was a hotel manager. Survivors include a son, Michael Rutherford of Chaffee; a daughter, Sherri Burgess of Chaffee; his father of Marble Hill; two sisters, Sue May and Roberta Rutherford of Grassy; five brothers, Donnie, Darroll and Rodney Rutherford of Arkansas, Willie Rutherford of St. ...

BROWNWOOD -- J.B. "Bill" Ashcraft, 98, of Lander, Wyo., formerly of Brownwood, died Tuesday, June 30, 1998, at Lander Valley Regional Medical Center. Morgan Funeral Home in Advance is in charge of arrangements.

KARNAK, Ill. -- Mary B. Smiley, 87, of Karnak died Wednesday, July 1, 1998, at Magnolia Manor in Metropolis. She was born Oct. 9, 1910, at Gideon, Mo., daughter of Webb and Maude Husk Hill. She married Lodis Smiley, who preceded her in death. Smiley was a member of First Baptist Church in Karnak...

BURFORDVILLE -- Charlie N. Proffer, 91, of Burfordville died Wednesday, July 1, 1998, at Heritage Gardens Nursing Home in Jackson. He was born Sept. 27, 1906, at Burfordville, son of Lafe and Eva Thompson Proffer. Proffer farmed most of his life. Survivors include two nieces and two nephews...

David A. Keiper of Cape Girardeau died Saturday, June 27, 1998, at St. Francis Medical Center. He was 67. He was born March 12, 1931, in Washington, D.C., the son of Francis and Helen Margaret Fien Keiper. He was a graduate of Cornell University and had four years of graduate studies toward a Ph. ...

FLORISSANT -- Zola A. Allstun, 84, died Wednesday, July 1, 1998, at her home in Florissant. She was born Sept. 1, 1913, in Orangeburg, S.C., daughter of Kelly O. and Georgia Smoak. She and Leo W. Allstun Sr. were married. He survives. She was a homemaker and member of Park Baptist Church in Florissant...

Daughter to Rodney and Pam Pensel of Sikeston, Missouri Delta Medical Center, 5 p.m. Tuesday, June 9, 1998. Name, Lydia Catherine. Weight, 6 pounds 13 ounces. Second daughter. Mrs. Pensel is the daughter of Jesse and Carol Kirk of Sikeston. She is a teacher with Sikeston Public Schools. Pensel is the son of Harold and Donna Pensel of Jackson. He is principal at Sikeston Middle School...

DONGOLA, Ill. -- The Rev. Lester Kesler, 88, of Paducah, Ky., formerly of Dongola, died Wednesday, July 1, 1998, at Union County Hospital in Anna. He was born July 11, 1909, in Union County, son of Calvin A. and Flora A. Beggs Kesler. He and Vernell Rudolph were married Dec. 3, 1944...