Stories from Monday, October 26, 1998

The parties and outings that accompany Halloween offer children of all ages a chance to be someone or something else if only for a night. Children are thinking about all the candy they will receive, adults prepare for parties and homeowners seek fall decorations to lend a festive touch to their property...

The Holiday Inn Express at Paducah, Ky., has received the Torchbearer Award for overall quality, customer service and profitability. The facility, owned by Midamerica Hotels Corp., headquartered in Cape Girardeau, is one only 78 properties selected from the Bass Hotels and Resorts System of 2,600 hotels in 90 countries, for high standards of excellence in quality and operation...

Sandy Minter has joined Re/Max Achievers, 1471 N. Kingshighway, in Cape Girardeau. Minter, who has more than 12 years experience in the real estate industry, is a member of the National Board of Realtors, Missouri Association of Realtors, and the Cape Girardeau County Board of Realtors...

It was just a little store on the corner. But for more than six decades, "delivering the goods" was a way of life for the family-owned Werner's CGA Supermarket. But, Werner's, an icon of a bygone era of the grocery business, has now become, sadly, part of the past...

"World Class: How to Team Up for Success Wherever You Live and Work," is the topic of the Worldwide Lessons in Leadership, a closed-circuit program, to be shown throughout the nation and 50 countries around the world Nov. 18. The Donald L. Harrison College of Business at Southeast Missouri State University, will be the host of the local gathering at the Show Me Center, from 9:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m...

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. Some investors find the thought of investing in the stocks of individual companies somewhat intimidating. After all, how do you possibly decide which companies, out of literally thousands, to choose?...

Newell Co., headquartered in Freeport, Ill., is acquiring Rubbermaid Inc., in a $5.8 billion stock deal. Newell's product line includes Levelor window blinds, Calphalon cookware, Ace combs, Rolodex address organizers and closet organizers. Rubbermaid makes plastic storage containers, Little Tikes toys and Graco strollers...

"Surviving Low Prices -- Low Yields" is the theme of the 1999 New Trends in Crop Production program, to be held in January at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Jackson. The date for the 20th program, sponsored by the Agronomy Committee and Cape Girardeau Extension, has been set for Jan. 20...

Wiethop Truck Sales Inc. of Cape Girardeau has received a customer satisfaction award from International's Southwest (Dallas) Region. Wiethop won over 76 other International Truck dealers who have averaged a 95 percent customer satisfaction rating. Wiethop obtained a score of 100 percent, based on customer surveys. Criteria is based on overall sales satisfaction and preparation of new trucks for customers...

"Pepsi One" was introduced locally last week during a special ceremony held at the Marion, Ill. Pepsi-Cola Bottling Co. "Pepsi One" is the company's new one-calorie cola, and the first soft drink to contain the new sweetener, "Sunett" -- ACE-K (Acesulfame potassium)...

Classic Design Beauty Spa has opened in Plaza Galleria at 2001 Independence. The beauty salon, which includes four stations, will hold its grand opening Nov. 7. Kathy Bellinger of Cape Girardeau, a graduate of the Salem, Mo., Beauty School, is owner of the new salon, and has been in the beauty business more than 13 years. Working the stations will be Bellinger, Mary Polk and Yvonne Wills...

FROHNA -- East Perry Building Supplies Inc. of Frohna has remodeled to include a 600 square feet gas fireplace showroom. The company, which offers heating, cooling, plumbing and electrical service, will feature the "Heath-N-Glo" fireplace, which does not require, said Bill Bock, owner of the business. But other gas fireplace units will be available...

JACKSON -- High Street Station Home Decor and Gift Shop will open here next week. The new business, at 106 S. High, will Nov. 2, and will feature home decor gifts and supplies. Coffee and tea available all hours. Sharee Galnore, Donna Boardman and Dawn Fallert are owners...

Mercantile Bancorporation Inc. has reported third-quarter earnings at $110,506,000 or 71 cents a share, an increase of 4.4 percent from third-quarter results of a year ago, before the impact of nonrecurring items. Net income for the quarter was $63,144,000, or 41 cents a share. During the quarter, Mercantile recorded after-tax merger expenses of $76.8 million...

An old Cornish prayer implores the Lord for deliverance from "ghoulies and ghosties and long-leggety beasties and things that go bump in the night." But for the hundreds of people who crowded into area haunted houses over the weekend, deliverance from goblins and spooks was the last thing on their minds...

The two major candidates for Congress in the 8th District have raised $1.2 million and spent $746,000 in the race, campaign finance reports show. U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Emerson has raised and spent more money than Democratic challenger Tony Heckemeyer by a wide margin, according to the most recent campaign finance reports filed with the Federal Election Commission...

With local financial participation, construction of the Center Junction and East Main Street interchange, projects deemed vitally important by local government officials, could be moved up to 2002-2004, Missouri Department of Transportation District Engineer Scott Meyer says...

More deer were struck by vehicles last year in rural areas statewide, but locally, Cape Gardeau had more deer-related accidents than Cape Girardeau County. Cape Girardeau, which had 32 deer-related traffic accidents, ranked seventh among Missouri cities. Cape Girardeau County ranked 13th among the state's counties. The county recorded 81 accidents involving deer, the report said...

When Audys Duvall told my first-grade class stories of American history, we believed her. And not just because she was our teacher, nor because she was so old that we imagined she had lived through the events. No, in those days before the Vietnam-era radicalism and post-Watergate cynicism, we, in that little town south of Kansas City, believed her because Mrs. Duvall, with her simple cloth dresses and sensible shoes, was America...

Intent upon getting the Missouri Department of Transportation to agree to their wishes, Cape Girardeau, Jackson and Cape Girardeau County governments jointly resolved last week to ask MoDOT to reconsider its priorities for highway improvements in Cape Girardeau County...

Of an estimated 30 covered bridges that once spanned rivers and creeks in Missouri, only four remain, and the oldest -- the Burfordville Covered Bridge -- is again in its full splendor. The state, through extensive renovation, has put the bridge back in usable condition and allows foot traffic on the bridge. On special occasions, vehicles might be allowed to cross...

To the editor: To the surprise of us Democrats, it appears state Sen. Peter Kinder of Cape Girardeau is supporting Tony Heckemeyer for Congress instead of Jo Ann Emerson. In the Oct. 18 Southeast Missourian, Senator Kinder writes about gambling contributions to political candidates. ...

To the editor: As we enjoy watching the leaves change from green to bright colors during the fall of the year, our attention is also drawn to one of the brightest colored vehicles on the road. The week of Oct. 18-24 was School Bus Safety Week. The Jackson School District buses traveled nearly one-half million miles last year. ...

BLOOMFIELD -- The race for presiding commissioner of Stoddard County is a choice between a man most people say has done a good job in his three previous terms and a man who thinks three terms is one too many. Voters will decide whether the prefer Democratic incumbent Norman Moore or Republican Jerry Elder on Nov. 3...

This week the Southeast Missourian asked, "What was your favorite Halloween costume when you were a child?" Jeri McNeeley, Cape Girardeau "I hated Halloween as a kid because I felt like I was forced to go around begging and I hated it. One time my mom made me this great costume that was like the lion on the 'Wizard of Oz.' She sewed on all of these little layers of stuff to make the hair and the mane. It was a great costume."...

ADVANCE -- Norma Jean Wilfong, 65, of Advance died Sunday, Oct. 25, 1998, at her home. She was born June 12, 1933, at Drum, daughter of Dave and Trudy Atchinson Leggett. She and Clinton Wilfong were married on Oct. 14, 1950, at Piggott, Ark. She was a homemaker. She was a member of the Delta Assembly of God Church...

GALCONDA, Ill. -- Thomas Ray Staggs, 46, of Galconda, formerly of Perryville, Mo., died Saturday, Oct. 24, 1998, from an automobile accident. He was born Sept. 17, 1952, at Dyer County, Tenn., son of Henry Staggs and Esther Hamblin Thompson. He and Michelle Carretti were married on Aug. 3, 1989, in Perryville...

FLORA, Ill. -- Decatur William Beatty Jr., 72, of Flora died Saturday, Oct. 25, 1998, at the Terre Haute Regional Hospital in Terre Haute, Ind. He was born Nov. 13, 1925, at Los Angeles, Calif., son of John Mason and Margaret Swartout Beatty. Beatty was a retired electrician with the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad...

ANNA, Ill. -- Fred W. Blaylock, 70, of Anna died Sunday, Oct. 25, 1998, at Union County Hospital in Anna. Friends may call at Crain Funeral Home in Anna from 5 to 8 p.m. Tuesday. Funeral will be at 1 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home. The Rev. Charles Mitchell will officiate, with burial in the Anna Cemetery...

Donald Lewis Freeman, 58, of Cape Girardeau died Friday, Oct. 23, 1998, at Southeast Missouri Hospital. He was born Sept. 8, 1940, at Hartford, Kan., son of John Frederick and May Belle Holton Freeman. He and D. Jeannie Hengst were married Dec. 1, 1963, at Cape Girardeau...

JACKSON -- Florentine L. Wagner, 105, of Jackson died Sunday, Oct. 25, 1998, at the Lutheran Home in Cape Girardeau. She was born April 18, 1893, at High Ridge, daughter of Gerhardt W. and Louise Caroline Hess Wolgast. She and Henry J. Wagner were married on Nov. 26, 1914, at St. Louis. He died Dec. 16, 1972...

Joseph Harding Kipping, 78, formerly of Cape Girardeau, died Saturday, Oct. 24, 1998, at Clearwater, Fla. Arrangements are incomplete at Ford and Sons Funeral Home in Cape Girardeau.

LILBOURN -- A New Madrid County man, who was allegedly sitting in the middle of the road, was killed Sunday morning when he was struck by a car. Terrance Clark, 30, of Lilbourn was pronounced dead at the scene Sunday morning after he was struck by a car driven by Freddy Akridge, 17, also of Lilbourn...

SIKESTON -- Curtis Shane Street, 4, of Sikeston died Saturday, Oct. 24, 1998, at St. Louis Children's Hospital. He was born May 11, 1994, at Cape Girardeau, son of Michael Wayne and Sondra Kay Martin Street. He was a member of Trinity Gospel Church...