Stories from Saturday, October 31, 1998

The search is on in three of the region's largest school districts. Superintendents in Cape Girardeau, Jackson and Perryville are leaving July 1. It is not unusual for an area school to be in the midst of a superintendent search. But the fact all three districts face vacancies simultaneously may have both a negative and positive effect...

MANY CHRISTIANS say they don't believe in abortion but everyone should have the right to choose. I'm sure God is pleased to know you don't object to someone else taking a child's life. I'm sure he'll say you're right, this is none of your business, and you shouldn't care about another human life. I'm sure he'll praise you for not getting involved and suggesting an alternative. I'm sure you'll be able to explain your position, because, after all, he created life...

It's time to get in the spirit with Southeast Missouri State University's Homecoming. This year's celebration is all the more special because it marks SEMO's 125th anniversary. Homecoming's "Spirit of Southeast" theme goes well with Halloween. It also goes hand in hand with the anniversary theme of "Honoring Yesterday and Creating Tomorrow." Cape Girardeau would certainly be a much different place today if the university had not located here 125 years ago...

To the editor: Amendment 1 on next Tuesday's ballot will prevent fraud and allow us to ensure the accuracy and honesty of the initiative process. Passage of Amendment 1 is essential to ensure the integrity of Missouri's initiative process. Missouri one of only 17 states that give citizens the right to propose amendments to the Constitution and changes in statutes independent of the Legislature. I value this right and want to protect it...

To the editor: As a Libertarian, I must take issue with the Proposition A, the proposed ban on animal fighting. Some would object to such activities on the basis that it is cruel and inhumane to animals or that animals have little to say in the decision whether to fight or not. While this seems to be a valid objection, the issue involved here is about freedom and personal liberty...

To the editor: I is my understanding that whenever gambling comes in to a community, consumer spending goes down and credit delinquencies go up. This seems reasonable, because there is only so much money to be spent. Giving some of it to gambling means taking it away from somewhere else...

To the editor: A little story I read tells of the old fox who lost his mate shortly after the cubs were weaned. Being very sad and wanting to do all he could for his offspring, the fox vowed to take exceptional care of the cubs. Every day he went out into the forest to provide for their upkeep, always admonishing them to state in or very near the cave to nothing would hurt them. Every day the cubs watched other cubs in the distance wrestle and play and catch small animals to eat or to toy with...

To the editor: The ads that have been running on TV and radio in support of boats-in-moats are telling only a small part of the impact that the gambling industry is having on our state's economy and society. These ads make claims of 10,000 jobs and millions of dollars going into state coffers as a result of the gaming industry...

To the editor: If I were to live a thousand years, I would still be amazed by the Creator's artistic ability which is beheld in autumn. Against the background of the deep blue sky, peppered with soft white cloud puff being moved by the wind, a transformation gives new expression to the trees once so green...

To the editor: Recently there appeared in the Southeast Missourian news of Leland "Freck" Shivelbine's receiving the prestigious Otto Dingledine Award for his contribution to the arts. How well deserved, I dare say, and how long overdue. Freck Shivelbine is not the kind of person who would ever expect recognition for any of his accomplishments. ...

Despite small budgets, church leaders in Missouri are spreading the word about an impending vote that could change the gambling industry's operations in the state. For the most part, their voices have been quiet and still until now. But as Election Day draws near, the message becomes clearer. Denominations across the state are united in their opposition to gambling and boats in moats...

East Missouri Action Agency is conducting a survey to make sure it is adequately meeting the needs of low-income residents in the region. The agency provides funds and services to low-income residents in 19 Missouri counties, including Bollinger, Cape Girardeau and Perry. Individual county agencies conduct a needs-assessment survey annually to help prepare budgets for the next fiscal year...

Many parish priests in Cape Girardeau remember Cardinal Bernard Law from his days as bishop of the Springfield-Cape Girardeau Diocese. Now they will help celebrate Law's 25th anniversary as bishop during his visit to the area Sunday. Law, archbishop of Boston, will celebrate Mass Sunday at 2:30 p.m. at the new Notre Dame High School. A reception will follow the Mass, being held on All Saint's Day...

JACKSON -- The Jackson High School football coach was drafted to fight in the war just as the Indians were preparing to play archrival Cape Central on Thanksgiving Day in 1942. Billy Joe Thompson, the Jackson quarterback that year, recalls the superintendent bailed someone out of jail to coach the game...

U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Emerson hopes to win re-election Tuesday to a second term as congresswoman for Southeast Missouri's 8th District. To do that, the Cape Girardeau Republican must defeat Democratic challenger Tony Heckemeyer and Libertarian candidate John Hendricks...

I'm wearing the Mood of the Damned, and it has nothing to do with today being Halloween. It's here. No I'm not talking about the baby. I'm referring to that ugly mood that shows up at some point during the last month of pregnancy. I can't accurately describe what I'm feeling right now. I've been on the giving and receiving side of this mood before, and I know it's a flighty, funky feeling that can be detrimental to the health of anyone too slow to see it coming and take cover...

The race for Cape Girardeau County collector is a battle of differing experience. Judy Beussink, the Democratic candidate, has 33 years of experience working in Cape County government. For 20 years she has been chief deputy county clerk. Diane Diebold, the Republican candidate, has 26 years of experience in business administration, accounting and computer technology, working in the private sector...

The Sikeston Senior Fall Expo will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. today at Sikeston High School Fieldhouse. The morning includes health screenings at 9, a magic show at 9:30, and bingo sponsored by the Sikeston Elks Lodge at 10:30. The afternoon events include the All-Stars Band at 12:30 and Cousin Carl at 2...

CHARLESTON -- Two Charleston residents will compete Tuesday for the 161st state representative seat. Since 1960, Rep. Gene Copeland, D-New Madrid, has spoken for the 161st District, which includes most of New Madrid and Mississippi counties, the Scott County cities of Diehlstadt and Commerce, and two precincts in Scott City...

CAIRO, Ill. -- Louis Maze of Olive Branch, who has been serving as interim county clerk in Alexander County since July 9, is a candidate for the regular term when Illinois voters go to the polls Tuesday. "I was sort of reluctant to accept the interim appointment because I knew I was a candidate," said Maze, a Democrat. "But I've been working hard to get familiar with the office."...

BELLEVILLE, Ill. -- Jerry F. Costello is seeking his sixth term as congressman in the 12th Congressional District, which includes parts of Union, Alexander and Pulaski counties in extreme Southern Illinois. Costello, a Democrat of Belleville, will face Republican William Melvin Price in Tuesday's election...

JACKSON -- Cape Girardeau Central Highs football Tigers had grown pretty tired of hearing the same old question from their classmates at school. When are you going to finally beat Jackson. The Tigers won't have to worry about hearing it any longer. Friday night, Central broke a four-year losing streak to their arch-rivals with a 22-6 victory -- on the Indians' home field no less."That was definitely the big topic around school," said a grinning Craig Knoth, Central's 6-foot-2, 275-pound senior two-way linemen. ...

Friday's Results Cape Central 22, Jackson 6 Farmington 14, Sikeston 13 Poplar Bluff 22, Vianney 7 Scott City 69, Crystal City 13 Chaffee 32, Hayti 14 Portageville 14, East Prairie 7 Malden 22, Caruthersville 7 New Madrid 28, Fredericktown 22 Charleston 36, Grandview 6...

Cape Central's Mitch Ogles (19) and Jason Roddy celebrated Ogle's 3-yard touchdown reception just prior to halftime Friday night. Maligned for much of the season, the Cape Central defense came up big when it really mattered. The Tigers forced four turnovers and held Jackson to 124 rushing yards Friday in a 22-6 win at Jackson...

It's likely that Middle Tennessee State's football team will not be in a good mood today when the Blue Raiders serve as Southeast Missouri State University's homecoming foe. The Raiders were right in the thick of the Ohio Valley Conference race -- until they suffered a stunning 35-32 home loss to Eastern Illinois last Saturday...

As far as Southeast Missouri State University football coach John Mumford is concerned, you couldn't find a more deserving player than Andy Dunaway to receive the first Donald "Diz" Anderson Endowed Scholarship. Dunaway, who has worked himself up from a local walkon to a productive member of the Indians' squad, will have that walkon status removed with this scholarship...

1912 - Jackson 6-0 1913 - Central 6-0 1914 - Central 6-0 1914 - Jackson 13-0 1914 - Jackson 7-0 1919 - Jackson 34-0 1919 - Jackson 25-0 1920 - Jackson 14-0 1920 - Jackson 1-0 (forfeit) 1921 - Central 14-0 1921 - Central 47-0 1923 - Central 13-0 1923 - Central 13-0...

Will this finally be the year that somebody dethrones Eastern Kentucky as the Ohio Valley Conference women's cross country champion? Southeast Missouri State University's Otahkians believe it just might be. The 1998 OVC Championships will be held today at Tennessee Tech in Cookeville. The women's 5,000-meter race is slated to start at 10 a.m., followed by the men's 8,000-meter competition at 10:45...

The Jackson and Woodland high school volleyball teams will attempt to take the final step to the state tournament when sectional competition is held today. Jackson will compete in the Class 4A, Sectional 1 at Jefferson College in Hillsboro while Woodland will take part in the Class 2A, Sectional 1 at Notre Dame High School in Cape Girardeau...

SCOTT CITY -- Scott City High football coach Terry Flannigan said his team has sought to hand out "some messages to some folks and say that we are for real." Well, these Rams are for real -- it's just the outcomes of their games that leave onlookers in disbelief. Scott City was held scoreless in the second half in its Class 2A, District 2 game Friday night ... but shattered Crystal City nonetheless, 69-13...

DEXTER -- Glenda Willine Leek, 64, of Dexter died Friday, Oct. 30, 1998, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. She was born Feb. 14, 1934, in Essex, daughter of Norvil and Annie Christian Thorn. She and Murel Leek were married July 3, 1953, in Flint, Mich...

PUXICO -- Mary Ellen Davis, 79, of Puxico died Friday, Oct. 30, 1998, at Lucy Lee Hospital in Poplar Bluff. She was born June 17, 1919, in Greenbriar, daughter of Edd and Rose Summers Buttry. She and Carmen "Arch" Davis were married Dec. 16, 1939, at Bloomfield. He died April 22, 1991...

JACKSON -- Wilbur "Wib" Bangert, 74, of Jackson died Friday, Oct. 30, 1998, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. He was born Sept. 20, 1924, at Lixville, son of William and Myrtle Blaylock Bangert. He and Lavern Meyer were married July 5, 1946, in Osceola, Ark...

Richard P. Klasing, 66, of Indianapolis, Ind., died Thursday, Oct. 29, 1998. He was born Feb. 18, 1932, in St. Louis, son of Harry and Janet Mackenzie Klasing. Klasing was a 1959 graduate of Southeast Missouri State University. He worked 29 years at Chrysler Corp., retiring in 1991. He was a member of Faith Presbyterian Church, Indiana Organ Procurement Organization, and National Kidney Foundation of Indiana. He was president of Sharing Hearts Support Group...

Jesse Winslow Williams of Cape Girardeau passed away on Wednesday, Oct. 28, 1998 at St. Francis Medical Center. He was 83. He was born July 17, 1915 at New Madrid, Mo., the son of James Winslow and Minnie Pearl (Wilson) Williams. He married Anna Anita Vaughn on July 25, 1936, at Madison, Ill...

OLMSTED, Ill. -- George Maxwell, 83, of Bradenton, Fla., formerly of Olmsted, died Friday, Oct. 30, 1998, at Integrated Health System in Bradenton. Funeral arrangement are incomplete at Wilson Funeral Home in Karnak.

Daughter to Randy Dale and Mary Ann Sample of Scott City, Southeast Missouri Hospital, 6:50 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 24, 1998. Name, Chelsie Marie. Weight, 5 pounds 13 ounces. Second child, first daughter. Mrs. Sample is the former Mary Ann Allen, daughter of Delmas and Mary Allen of Eldorado, Ill. She is employed at Gastroenterology Associates of Southeast Missouri. Sample is the son of Larry and Darlene Sample of Scott City. He is employed at Sterling Diagnostic Imaging...

COBDEN, Ill. -- Roy Glenn "Jack" Williams, 87, of Cobden died Thursday, Oct. 29, 1998, at the home of a daughter. He was born Oct. 16, 1911, in Cobden, son of Oscar D. and Sophia M. Bates Williams. He and Martha Agnes Whelpley were married Nov. 15, 1936, at Cobden. She died Jan. 28, 1994...