Stories from Tuesday, August 25, 1998

Our attention over the past six weeks has focused on methamphetamine as we have prepared an eight-day series about the drug, which is under way. Meth has its ties to the Internet. Those who cook up the drug can find the recipe online. Addicts can find help online, and crime fighters have taken their war to the Net...

Hiromi Kozono is not a well-known personality in the United States, but when he visited Universal Studios in Hollywood a few weeks ago, he was mobbed by a group of Japanese tourists touring the studio. In Japan, Kozono, known to the Japanese public simply as "Hiromi," is not just a familiar face. He is an actor and television star...

The Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce's board of directors "put on its business hat" to endorse Southeast Missouri State University's River Campus project. Chamber executive director John Mehner said the 19-member board voted unanimously to endorse the $35.6 million project to convert the Old St. Vincent's Seminary property into a school for the arts and performing arts center...

Eagle Ridge Christian School students had several new things to adjust to Monday. Students this week entered a new building, were required to wear new school uniforms and marked the beginning of a new preschool program. Some 120 students from as far away as Southern Illinois and Patton have enrolled, an increase of 33 percent from last year...

While much of the world reels in the latest news of President Clinton and Monica Lewinsky's relationship and its effect on national politics, I tried hard not to pay attention. Which, of course, is impossible because the news keeps coming. Now Democratic and Republican leaders alike are trying to find some common ground and make sense of what they've learned so far...

Gospel singers, Native American drummers and classical, folk, bluegrass and rock 'n' roll groups will be among more than 50 musical acts performing at 14 different venues Friday and Saturday when the City of Roses Festival returns for its second year in downtown Cape Girardeau...

One hundred youngsters, some with special needs, some without, are attending classes at the new Easter Seals Early Learning Center, 1912 Broadway. The last pieces of furniture moved Monday to the renovated building, said Amy Kinder, director of development for Easter Seals...

OAK RIDGE -- The Missouri Department of Transportation will hold a public hearing tonight on the new interchange and roadway improvements at Route E and Interstate 55 at Oak Ridge. The meeting will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Oak Ridge school cafeteria...

I WANT to know what Al Gore was thinking when he solicited money on our time. When he supposed to be working for us, he was soliciting money for the Democrats' campaign. I don't like that a little bit. I JUST thought I'd call and give Dr. Kamath his two cents back. ...

To the editor: I read with interest your paper's Aug. 15 article, "Closing the DWI loophole." I was concerned about the gross misstating of the figures used in the article on DWI statistics. Your author stated that 17.3 percent of all cases filed are DWI cases...

Cursive writing, for those who have forgotten or never learned, is the fine art of handwriting in flowing loops and curves. Once upon a time, penmanship was much emphasized in our nation's schools. Many older readers will remember the displays above the blackboards in virtually every classroom showing how to form both the block-printing letters to guide the youngest students and the precise cursive letters for older students of handwriting...

Most river cities have a rich history owing to the fact that most of our country's earliest settlements were near dependable sources of water. And a drive through many of these river towns will invariably lead to a neighborhood of Victorian-style homes, often on a bluff with a commanding view of the river...

To the editor: Recently, I heard of a school superintendent who had an adulterous affair with a student teacher at his school. The affair went on for awhile, and many people close to the situation new this affair was taking place, or at least they had their suspicions. ...

Money matters in the war on crime. Just ask Dr. Robert Briner, who directs the Southeast Missouri Regional Crime Lab at Southeast Missouri State University. His agency could receive $800,000 in federal money toward renovation of a building to house an expanded lab...

Former Southeast Missouri State University defensive standout Angel Rubio was released Monday by the Pittsburgh Steelers but picked up by the San Francisco 49ers as teams jockeyed personnel prior to today's 60-player roster deadline. Rubio, the OVC defensive player of the year, was selected in the seventh round by Pittsburgh in the 1998 NFL Draft. The 49ers were one of several teams which had shown interest in Rubio, a lineman, prior to the draft...

It's becoming an extremely full plate for fall high school girls softball in this area. As recently as a few years ago, not many local teams played softball in the fall even though that's when state championships are contested. Most of the area squads competed in the spring, when there are no state playoffs...

The Southeast Missourian requests all high school football, volleyball, softball, tennis and soccer coaches to send or fax their fall rosters to us as soon as possible. Rosters will help ensure proper spelling of players' names throughout the season...

It won't be easy, but Cape Girardeau Central High's girls tennis team will shoot for a third consecutive undefeated dual-match record and Class 4A district championship this year. The Lady Tigers have gone 12-0 in duals each of the past two seasons and both campaigns were capped by district tournament titles...

DEXTER -- Marie White, 89, of Dexter died Saturday, Aug. 22, 1998, at her home. She was born Dec. 18, 1908, at Leora, daughter of Daniel Louis and Laura Lewis Clodfelter. She and William E. Bill White were married Sept. 9, 1927, at Bloomfield. He died Dec. 13, 1978...

PERRYVILLE -- Rudolph J. Buerck Sr., 91, of Perryville died Monday, Aug. 24, 1998, at Perry County Nursing Home. He was born June 4, 1907, at Biehle, son of Florian and Helen Wingerter Buerck. He married Bertha Baer Oct. 23, 1930. Buerck was a retired maintenance man and groundskeeper at St. Marys of the Barrens. He attended Christ the Savior Catholic Church in Brewer...

SIKESTON -- Graveside service for Jamie Dawn Blissett will be held at 11 a.m. today at Memorial Park Cemetery. The Rev. B.J. Blissett will officiate. Nunnelee Funeral Chapel is in charge of arrangements. The infant, daughter of Charles and Jamie Lynn Propst Blissett of Sikeston, was stillborn Friday, Aug. 21, 1998, at Missouri Delta Medical Center...

CHAFFEE -- Funeral for Walter Benton Oakes of Chaffee will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Amick-Burnett Funeral Chapel in Chaffee. The Rev. William Marshall will officiate. A graveside service will be held at 3 p.m. Wednesday at Bassett Cemetery in Bassett, Ark...

ALTENBURG -- Lilian Leimbach Heinbokel, 85, of Altenburg died Sunday, Aug. 23, 1998, at the Lutheran Home. She was born Jan. 16, 1913, in Perry County, daughter of Paul and Martha Weinhold Lueders. She first married Walter P. Leimbach Nov. 10, 1935. He died July 7, 1974. She and Edgar Heinbokel were married June 16, 1996. He died Jan. 5, 1998...

MARBLE HILL -- Christine Elizabeth Sutton, 54, of Marble Hill died Sunday, Aug. 23, 1998, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. She was born Nov. 24, 1943, in New Brunswick, N.J., daughter of William and Florence Hall McCaffrey. She and Joel Alan Sutton were married Sept. 29, 1980, in Connecticut. He preceded her in death...

KARNAK, Ill. -- Funeral for the Rev. John F. Kern of Cypress will be held at 1 p.m. Wednesday at First Baptist Church in Mounds. Burial will be in the Masonic Cemetery at Cypress. Friends may call at Wilson Funeral Home in Karnak from 6-9 p.m. today...

Lawrence T. Boos, 78, of Lexington, Ky., died Sunday, Aug. 23, 1998, at the Veterans Administration Medical Center. He was born in Cape Girardeau, son of August and Emma Griffin Boos. He married the former Gerry Brumleve. Boos was a graduate of St. Mary's (Notre Dame) High School. He had been a salesman for Carpet World, and was a former manager of J.J. Newberry Department Store in Gallatin, Tenn...

ADVANCE -- Funeral for Jeanette Moore of rural Advance will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Bloomfield Methodist Church in Bloomfield. The Rev. Hank Foster will officiate, with burial in Bloomfield Cemetery. Friends may call at Morgan Funeral Home in Advance from 4-8 p.m. today, and at the church from 9:45-10:45 a.m. Wednesday...

ULLIN, Ill. -- Funeral for Richard E. "Dick" Hoss of Ullin will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Crain Funeral Home in Ullin. The Rev. William McGhee will officiate, with burial in Jonesboro Cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home from 6-8 p.m. today...

WOLF LAKE, Ill. -- Ellen J. Verble, 85, of Wolf Lake died Monday, Aug. 24, 1998, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. She was born July 25, 1913, at Wolf Lake, daughter of Frank and Roxie Kimmel Williams. She married Ray Lee Verble, who died July 21, 1985...

GLEN ALLEN -- Roy A. Johnson, 70, of Fredericktown died Sunday, Aug. 23, 1998, at Claru Deville Nursing Home in Fredericktown. He was born Dec. 6, 1927, in Glen Allen, son of James F. and Bessie Thompson Johnson. He and Lucille R. Cobb were married Dec. 20, 1947...

ADVANCE -- Funeral for Jane Massa of Advance will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday at Morgan Funeral Home. J.D. Smith, Joe Smith and Clinton Massa will officiate, with burial in McGee Chapel Cemetery at Glen Allen. Friends may call at the funeral home from 4:30-8 p.m. Wednesday...

DONGOLA -- Jason Allen Miller, 19, of Dongola was found dead Sunday, Aug. 23, 1998. He was born May 22, 1979, in Cape Girardeau. He was a member of the First Baptist Church in Dongola. He is survived by his mother and stepfather, Lynda and Kenneth Palmer of Dongola; his father and stepmother, Kenneth and LaVerne Miller of Scott City; two brothers, Tim and Jeff Miller, both of Jonesboro, Ill.; and his step-grandmother, Virginia Miller of Kalamazoo, Mich...

Marvin E. "Cotton" Batye, 63, of St. Louis died Monday, Aug. 24, 1998, in St. Louis. He was born Dec. 4, 1934, at Wilton, son of James W. and Dorothy M. Nichols Batye. He married Clara Lee Hillman. Batye was a towboat operator. He was a member of Engineers Local 513. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army...

CHARLESTON -- Myra May Doss, 85, of Alton, Ill., died Monday, Aug. 24, 1998, at St. Anthony's Hospital in Alton. She was born June 22, 1903, in Brownsville, Tenn., daughter of Robert Lee and Donie Pierce Forgey. She and Paul Doss were married Oct. 18, 1919. He died Dec. 8, 1975...

Tuesday, Aug. 25, 1998 7:30 p.m. Jackson Board of Education Office Action Items: -- Public hearing: Tax rate for 1998-99. -- Consider appointment of two district representatives to the TIF Commission of the City of Jackson. -- Consider Missouri Consolidated Benefits Package for 1998-99...

Dr. Pranila Lall brings many Pakistanis from a world of darkness into the light by restoring their vision. But there lurks a danger that her own bright world could turn dark with just one word: If she talks too much about Christ or insults the prophet Mohammed, she could be whisked away to blasphemy court and convicted...

At age 7, Ann McCarron contracted rheumatic fever and Saint Vitus' dance, a disease that paralyzed her left side. Her parents took her to a hospital, where she met a pediatrician who treated her and who sexually abused her for the next five years. Today, the 35-year-old McCarron views herself not as a victim of sexual abuse but as a victor who has overcome it by "telling a story I never thought I would tell a single person."...