Stories from Friday, December 11, 1998

To the editor: It is hard to believe that Christmas is already approaching us. Christmas is a special time, and the true meaning should be recognized by everyone. It seems that most people nowadays have forgotten the true meaning of Christmas. Everyone likes to receive presents and gifts, but they forget about the less fortunate, the importance of the family and helping others...

This year's Area Wide United Way goal of $625,000 was the most ambitious ever set by the organization which serves 25 agencies in Cape Girardeau, Jackson and Scott City. The good news is that the goal has been exceeded. Even better news is that the goal was topped by a substantial amount which will be announced at a victory party Jan. 7...

A recent series of drive-by shootings in Cape Girardeau has added yet another wrinkle to the complex fabric of mindless criminal activity that occupies both law-enforcement agencies and newspaper headlines. Until last week, there had been no occasion here to file charges under a Missouri law passed in 1995 that gives prosecutors more clout when shots are fired from a vehicle at another vehicle, building or person...

To the editor: I agree wholeheartedly with Stan Crader's Dec. 6 letter that the Internet offers a great opportunity for those with an interest in global warming issues to seek more information. What Mr. Crader did not mention, however, is the importance of applying some judgment to the procees. There are many sources of information on the Internet on a vast diversity of topics. But not all are of equal reliability...

To the editor: Global warming has created a firestorm of debate that thrives on misinformation and faulty arguments by leftist environmental extemists. Their elitist attitudes surfaced in a Dec. 3 letter to the editor from Alan Journet. He stated that anyone who thinks contrary to the leftist estremists' viewpoint is either paid by petroeum companies, or has never passed Biology 101. I am happy to say that I received an A in biology and am not employed by nor influenced by petroleum companies...

ACCORDING TO press reports, John Ashcroft will run for the Republican presidential nomination as well as for re-election to the U.S. Senate in 2000. That has convinced me to run for my life. I WOULD like to suggest a new slogan for Cape Girardeau. It's kind of long, but I think it would be a good one. "Welcome to Cape Girardeau, land where global warming doesn't exist, PCBs aren't dangerous and the emperor still wears clothes."...

Some diabetics must take an injection of insulin as many as three times a day to regulate their blood sugar. Lisa McClure of Sedgewickville enjoyed a balanced dinner that included sugar-free pudding. McClure has been a diabetic for three years. Beverly Hoover, a registered nurse at St. Francis Medical Center, gathered information for an exercise prescription for diabetes patients from left, Troy Ford of Advance and Renea Taormina and Ken Wright, both of Jackson...

Washers, checkers, cleaners, hoarders, repeaters, orderers and pure obsessives -- these are generally accepted subdivisions of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). "Cleaners" feel that nearly everything is contaminated or dirty, and they spend inordinate amounts of time cleaning and recleaning their surroundings...

As you head out shopping this weekend, please add an elderly person to your Christmas list. For each elderly person featured in the newspaper, many more are in need this holiday season. Often the gifts needed are small but would mean a great deal to the recipients...

Tomi's parents recently separated, so the holidays will be difficult for the 11-year-old girl. She would like country music, art supplies and stuffed animals for Christmas. Providing the essentials is tough for 2-year-old Daniel's mother. She is single and doesn't get any child support from her children's father...

Cape Girardeau Community Caring Council today will sign partnership agreements with seven Missouri agencies, formalizing a working togetherness that has been in place for years. "It's not different. We've been partnering with the state for several years," said Shirley Ramsey, executive director of the council. "This is just the first time we have a formalized agreement."...

Dr. Gary Miller of Southeast Missouri State University was one of 62 faculty members from around the state who received the Governor's Award for Excellence in Teaching Thursday. Miller is a professor of music at Southeast. He was given a 1998 Faculty Merit Award by the university previously this year and will deliver Saturday's commencement address at the Show Me Center...

If you want to know why Missouri needs a real highway plan, try driving from here to Nevada on a rainy day. Today's lesson is called "Simple Map Reading." You will need a Missouri highway map, a watch and a calendar. Let's begin. First, find Cape Girardeau on the map. See it way over there on the right-hand side of the state next to that big river? Good. You're doing fine...

CAIRO, Ill. -- Mayor James E. Wilson and members of the Cairo City Council will join visitors for the 5th annual Christmas Stroll here this weekend. More than 1,500 people are expected to walk through the streets of Cairo Saturday, from 6 to 8 p.m.. The stroll route, lined with luminaries and Christmas decorations, will be closed to motorized traffic, but horse-drawn carriages will be circulating along the route and will be available for tours...

Southeast Missouri State University's Board of Regents is expected to move ahead today with a new financing plan for the River Campus project. The regents are scheduled to meet at 1:30 p.m. in the University Center Ballroom. Dr. Dale Nitzschke, Southeast's president, said the move would help the university in its effort to lobby Gov. Mel Carnahan and the Legislature for state funding...

Christmas decorations and animated displays at Cape Girardeau's Target store will be donated to needy families and community service agencies. This is the eighth year Target stores nationwide have donated their decorated display trees, animated holiday characters and electronic holiday products. Each of the retailer's 850 stores will make the donations Dec. 23 at 10 a.m...

SIKESTON -- To the chagrin of the Cape Central Tigers, the Chicks of Blytheville were in no mood for laying an egg Thursday night. The No. 2 seed Blytheville Chickasaws -- also known as the Chicks -- shot 48 percent from the field and forced Cape Girardeau Central into committing 20 turnovers in bowling over the No. 6 Tigers 57-43 in the semifinal game of the Sikeston Tournament...

Don't look now, but Southeast Missouri State University's basketball Indians have stepped into uncharted territory. The Indians' 78-58 win over Eastern Kentucky Thursday night improved their overall record to 6-2 and their Ohio Valley Conference mark to 3-0, putting them in sole possession of first place in the league, a half-game ahead of 2-0 Murray State...

CHAFFEE -- Last Thursday, Kelly High's girls basketball team had trouble dispensing with pesky Chaffee and won only by nine, 70-61. A week later in a semifinal game in the Chaffee Tournament, Kelly faced no such difficulties. The Lady Hawks led 19-3 after one quarter and sailed to a 59-21 victory...

Southeast Missouri State University volleyball player Angie Aschoff has been named to the American Volleyball Coaches Association All-District VI team. Aschoff, a junior middle blocker, was second on the Otahkians this season with 424 kills. She also recorded 363 digs, 126 blocks, 31 assists and 21 service aces...

Southeast Missouri State University will hold a press conference for 4:30 p.m. today at the University Center to announce the school's new athletic director. Southeast has conducted an extensive search since 1997 when former AD Dr. Richard McDuffie resigned from his duties. Caroll Williams has been serving as interim AD since that time...

ORAN -- Martha C. Waldo, 94, of Oran died Wednesday, Dec. 9, 1998, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. She was born Oct. 23, 1904, in Lamar, Ark., daughter of John and Senora Sanders Boley. She married Roy Waldo, who died in 1958. Waldo was a member of Trinity United Methodist Church...

JONESBORO, Ill. -- Truman E. Cerney, 80, of Jonesboro died Wednesday, Dec. 9, 1998, at City Care Center in Cobden. He was born March 13, 1918, at Saratoga, son of James and Dora Lence Cerney. He and Bernett Harvel were married Nov. 10, 1945, in Murphysboro...

Irene "Dixie" Davis, 80, of Cape Girardeau died Thursday, Dec. 10, 1998, at Southeast Missouri Hospital. She was born Aug. 15, 1918, in Burksville, Ky., daughter of John James and Delia Frances Capps Ferrell. She and Lawrence R. "Larry" Davis were married Jan. 14, 1979, in Cape Girardeau...

Funeral for Dixie L. Bertrand of Fort Riley, Kan., will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday at Hobbs Chapel United Methodist Church. The Rev. Tom Wall will officiate, with burial in the church cemetery. Friends may call at Hobbs Chapel Sunday from 1 p.m. until service time...

DONGOLA, Ill. -- Lorene F. Hileman, 86, of Dongola died Thursday, Dec. 10, 1998, at Union County Hospital in Anna. Hileman and Parr Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

OAK RIDGE -- Edgar A. Kayser Sr., 75, of Granite City, Ill., died Tuesday, Dec. 8, 1998, at St. Elizabeth Medical Center in Granite City. He was born Sept. 26, 1923, at Oak Ridge, son of Ben and Edna Moore Kayser. He married Rose Stoll. Kayser was a foreman 35 years in the casting department at Consolidated Aluminum in Madison, Ill., retiring in 1988...

JACKSON -- Hester Morton, 88, of Jackson died Thursday, Dec. 10, 1998, at the Cape Girardeau Lutheran Home. She was born March 6, 1910, near Leemon to Millard and Minerva Walker Medlock. She married Ed Morton Nov. 10, 1930. He died May 6, 1976. She was a lifelong member of the New Bethel Baptist Church...

ADVANCE -- Leon "Red" Richmond, 77, died Friday, Dec. 10, 1998, at the Cape Girardeau Veterans Home. Arrangements are incomplete at Morgan Funeral Home.

EAST PRAIRIE -- Bobbie Loretta Love of East Prairie died Wednesday, Dec. 9, 1998, at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston. She was 65. She was born May 11, 1933, in Leechville, Ark., daughter of Harold and Zada Barnett Reeves. She married Robert Howard Love in April 1951. He died Sept. 15, 1974...

CAIRO, Ill. -- Mary Alice Culp, 93, of Cairo died Thursday, Dec. 10, 1998, at the Lutheran Home in Cape Girardeau, Mo. She was born July 4, 1905, in Cairo, daughter of Michael and Mary Greaney O'Shea. She married Herbert Culp, who died in 1951. Culp had been a clerk at St. Mary's Hospital. She was a member of St. Patrick's Catholic Church, its Altar Guild and Daughters of Isabella...