Stories from Saturday, August 1, 1998

Brian McClure, left, and Mikkaela McCullough looked through pictures taken during a trip to Houston. Youth from First Baptist Church in Cape Girardeau recently attended the Baptist Youth World Conference in Houston. Megan Goncher, left, helped Betsy Hogan with Bible study. The older children often help the younger children with activities during Vacation Bible School at Centenary United Methodist Church...

Cape Girardeau County Republicans turned out to shake candidates' hands and eat barbecue Friday night at a picnic to raise funds for the party. Several GOP candidates and officeholders were on hand for the picnic at Cape Girardeau County Park South...

SIKESTON -- Cowgirls and cowboys toting roughouts and hobbles, latigos and lariats will saunter into the Bootheel Rodeo Grounds next week for the 46th Jaycee Bootheel Rodeo. Starting Wednesday, steers will houlihan, and horses will gallop the cloverleaf while cowboys toil for an appearance at the pay window. ...

Most educators use their three-month summer vacation to recuperate from working in classrooms, but several educators are using the time to gain technical experience they hope will improve their job performance. Some 20 area teachers and counselors are participating in the Educators in Business and Industry summer internship program. ...

I like to watch award shows on television. That's not to say I get excited to hear the Country Music Awards or MTV Awards are being given away, but I do like to flip between channels every now and again to watch a performance or special presentation...

A number of environmentalists have asked Missouri to study the possible damage from chip mills. Why stop there? A group of about 100 scientists has asked President Bill Clinton for a national ban on chip mills. These chip mills grind trees into chips used by pulp and paper manufacturers to make paper for copiers, computers and glossy magazines...

There's a war going on. Local law enforcement is battling the near explosion of methamphetamine cases in Southeast Missouri. The drug itself is highly addictive. But the dangers go far beyond personal safety. Clandestine methamphetamine labs are springing up throughout the region. Volatile ingredients can lead to fires or explosions. And each batch of meth leaves behind several pounds of hazardous chemicals...

TO THE gullible person who is critical of the government running the health care field. I suppose he would rather the rich insurance companies to do it. Like the pseudo-practice the HMOs are trying to put forth. I don't know if the dear brother realizes that there are over 40 million people without health insurance. ...

To the editor: The city of Benton has prided itself on self-government for all of its long history as a town, and the will of the people in the community has prevailed. But that is about to change. The self-government and the will of the people are being challenged by outside forces, namely a local mobile-home and manufactured-home distributor, in a lawsuit brought against the city declaring the guidelines of the Planning and Zoning Commission's regulations limit his ability to provide housing on lots he has, by design, acquired in the city, even though he is opening a 100-unit park in the near future. ...

Only three of the nine offices on the ballot for the Aug. 4 Scott County Democratic primary are uncontested. In four of the contests, three or more candidates have filed for the office. The wide open races are due, at least in part, to the retirement of three Scott County officials and the appointment of a fourth to another position in the county...

PERRYVILLE -- Five candidates are competing in Tuesday's primary election for the Republican nomination to become Perry County's next presiding commissioner. Incumbent Karl Klaus isn't seeking re-election after having held the post for 12 years. The winner of the primary will win the post in November. No one has filed for the office on the Democratic ballot...

Cape Girardeau's Ford & Sons American Legion baseball team certainly played the part of a gracious host Friday during the Zone Tournament. In what will probably go down as two of the worst back-to-back tournament performances in recent Cape Legion history, Ford & Sons was bounced from the five-team, double-elimination event being played at Capaha Field...

SIKESTON -- Harvey Woodrow Head, 79, died Friday, July 31, 1998, at Sikeston Health Care. Ponder Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Kiana L. "Kiki" Willis, 10 months, of Cape Girardeau died Thursday, July 30, 1998, at Southeast Missouri Hospital, after falling into a bucket of water. Funeral will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday at Ford and Sons Sprigg Street Chapel.

JACKSON -- Paul A. Bogues, 42, of Jackson died Friday, July 31, 1998, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. McCombs Funeral Home in Jackson is in charge of arrangements.

PERRYVILLE -- Elvis Joseph Difani, 93, of Perryville died Friday, July 31, 1998, at Perry County Memorial Hospital. He was born Oct. 5, 1904, in Perry County, son of Charles J. and Cora B. Cross Difani. He and Martha Viola Claudle were married Oct. 6, 1924. She died Nov. 15, 1978...

Daughter to Kenneth Bradley and Julie B. Keck of East Prairie, Southeast Missouri Hospital, 11:19 a.m. Wednesday, July 15, 1998. Name, Ali Logan. Weight, 4 pounds 15 ounces. Mrs. Keck is the former Julie Lambert, daughter of Rodger and Pat Lambert of East Prairie. She is an internal auditor at Security State Bancshares in Charleston. Keck is the son of Kenny and Sandra Keck of East Prairie. He is senior vice president of First Security State Bank in Charleston...

PERRYVILLE -- Ruth Joan Flentge, 67, of Perryville died Thursday, July 30, 1998, in Perryville. She was born Sept. 7, 1930, in Bedford, Ind., daughter of Roscoe D. and Mildred O. Tickner Moore. She and Robert J. Flentge were married Aug. 3, 1952. Flentge had been an elementary teacher and child social worker. She was a member of the United Methodist Church and its Bell Choir...

As Jesus and his disciples, together with a large crowd were leaving Jericho, a blind man, Bartimaeus was sitting by the roadside begging. When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me! Mary rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, "Son of David, have mercy on me!" Jesus stopped and said, "Call him." So they called to the blind man, "Cheer up! On your feet! He's calling you." Throwing his cloak aside, he jumped to his feet and came to Jesus. ...