Stories from Sunday, February 7, 1999

Greetings and salutations! Punxsutawney Phil and Girardeau George were not the only ones to pop out of a hole on Groundhog's Day. Also poking his head out for the first time in Cape County is a new editor for the Jackson USA Signal. So far this creature likes what he sees...

There will be a community yard sale at the Delta Community Center in Delta Feb. 27, 7 a.m.-6 p.m., to raise money for the levee project for Highways 25 and 74 at Dutchtown. A chili dinner will be served from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and a 50-50 drawing will be held...

As of February 2, the Jackson USA Signal has a new editor. Mark Evans, a Bonne Terre native, is now editing the publication. Evans, who most recently served as sports editor and associate news editor of the Ste. Genevieve Herald, has been a journalist since 1985. He has worked in Dexter, Kennett, Farmington and Poplar Bluff, as well as Ste. Genevieve, and also founded, edited and published his own monthly magazine in Bonne Terre in 1994...

Several people have called my office lately to report an unidentified object in the sky. The object was seen rising in the east around 7 a.m., arching in the sky and then disappearing around 5:30 p.m. in the west. They described the object as a brilliant light, so bright it hurt the eyes to look at it...

Dear Grandpa: Why is it so important to succeed in school and later make lots of money. My minister said, "Money isn't everything." Julio, San Antonio Dear Julio Many people say money isn't everything, or money isn't important. Most of the people who say those things are comfortable financially. ...

The Louisiana Catahoula Leopard is a rare breed of dog that is gaining in popularity. Research claims the dogs were first brought to the Louisiana area by Spanish explorer DeSoto in the 1540s. The early breed was believed to be fierce war dogs that were used to fight against the Indians...

To the editor: Our granddaughter sent me the enclosed and asked that I forward it to you: Many of you knew my grandfather, Ivan Nothdurft, and many more of you read the numerous letters to the editor he wrote for this paper. In the last few years of his retirement, he used this forum to share his views on various issues as his way of continuing to minister to people. ...

25 years ago: 1974 Circuit Court ruling on city of Cape Girardeau's motion to intervene in Jackson's annexation suit will be postponed until after St. Louis Court of Appeals decides on petition filed Friday by Cape Girardeau City Attorney Thomas Utterback requesting writ of mandamus that would allow city of Cape Girardeau to enter case; request for writ followed Circuit Judge Stanley Grimm's announcement Jan. ...

So President Bill Clinton proposes to apply anticipated federal surpluses of $4.85 trillion over the next 15 years to "solving" Social Security's problems. We say anticipated surpluses because such forecasts, stretching out over years and ignoring likely recessions and other events, are notoriously unreliable. Recall that short years ago, we heard dreary forecasts of huge deficits "as far as the eye could see."...

The City of Jackson will be featured in the February edition of the Missouri Municipal League magazine. This publication is sent to thousands of people around the state who are involved in appointed or elected positions in Municipal Government. Jackson is very proud to be featured, as only cities that are incurring progress, growth and positive changes are selected for this publication. ...

If American industry and American government operated under the same set of rules, Ford Motor would still be turning out Edsel cars, with each year seeing the addition of a virtually indiscernible number of modifications, none of them resolving the lack of the model's appeal to the buying public...

A federal appeals court in St. Louis made news this week. Some background, from a column in this space published June 27, 1997: "Let me see if we have this straight. On Thursday afternoon, Gov. Mel Carnahan signed the bills that make up the state budget. ...

LILBOURN -- Bertha Bibb, 67, doesn't mind being a "project person." Bibb has lived the majority of her life in what is locally referred to as South Lilbourn. The small community of low-cost homes holds the headquarters of the Delmo Housing Corporation, an organization created in the mid-1940s to help impoverished farm families in Southeast Missouri become independent homeowners...

Gun dealers and collectors from Southeast Missouri say that adding yet another background check before permitting a purchase at a gun show isn't necessary. President Clinton requested legislation Saturday that could require background checks on all firearms buyers at gun shows. He said gun shows have become "cash-and-carry convenience stores" for people who buy and sell weapons...

Ten-year-old Samantha Roussel isn't sure what to tell her cross-town niece who wishes a Cape Girardeau Youth Flag flew atop her school. Roussel designed the winning youth flag in a citywide contest last year. An adult flag was also designed, but the flags are flown at just a few places...

JACKSON -- Weekdays at 8 a.m., 5 p.m. and when school lets out, the scene at Highway 61 and Main Street resembles a Southern California traffic jam. The intersection is one of the traffic trouble spots the growing city wants the Missouri Department of Transportation to clear up, but so far no one has been able to come up with a solution...

In the early 1800s, the New Madrid Earthquake caused the formation of 400,000-acres of swampland in Southeast Missouri. Nearly 100 years later, the Little River Drainage Project made the area agriculturally productive, and King Cotton displaced diversified farming only to be deposed after the stock market crash of 1929...

Wild Blue Country, presented by the U.S. Air Force Band of the Rockies, brings its brand of country music to Cape Girardeau for a free concert Feb. 20. Wild Blue Country performs country swing, bluegrass and country rock. The concert is sponsored by the Southeast Missourian, K103 and Cape Girardeau Central High School band and music departments...

There is no itinerary when it comes to parenting. In my mind, it's more of a seat-of-the-pants journey with a lot of stops and starts. At times we seem to be running in circles or stuck on a never-ending treadmill. As a parent, there's no time to nap on the job. After all, when you're not looking, that's when disaster strikes and your children paint the walls with cherry red lipstick...

There was bad news and good news for Southeast Missouri State University's basketball team Saturday night. First, the bad news: Southeast suffered a 68-62 loss to Tennessee Tech in front of 6,333 stunned fans at the Show Me Center. Now, the good news: Murray State suffered a stunning defeat of its own, falling 74-73 at Tennessee-Martin...

It's showdown time in the Ohio Valley Conference. And Southeast Missouri State University's Indians are involved. If you're a SEMO basketball fan who has been waiting for the Indians to finally make a breakthrough in the OVC, then you must be flying high these days...

MARTIN, Tenn. -- Jason Ohlsen capped a 19-point effort with a 12-foot, off-balance jumper with 4 seconds left Saturday night to lift Tennessee-Martin to a 74-73 victory over Murray State. The Skyhawks (6-15, 4-10 Ohio Valley Conference) got 22 points from freshman Andrae Betts as they defeated the Racers (21-3, 13-1) for the first time in 17 meetings...

If you're a Southeast Missouri State University women's basketball fan, you certainly got your money's worth over the past week. And you got to see the Otahkians close in on their first-ever Ohio Valley Conference championship. The Otahkians squeezed out their third consecutive narrow home victory in five days Saturday night as they knocked off Tennessee Tech 74-70 at the Show Me Center...

Three area volleyball players -- Leopold's Sarah Gowen, Bell City's Courtney Brockmeyer and Woodland's Sarah Booth -- were recently named by the Missouri High School Volleyball Coaches Association as all-state performers. Brockmeyer, a second team all-stater her junior year, was named to the Class 1A first team, while Gowen was named to the second team in Class 1A and Booth was named to the second team in Class 2A...

BELLEVILLE, Ill. -- When time stood still for the Tigers of Cape Central Saturday, it usually was not kind. With Belleville Althoff holding a 24-1 scoring advantage from the free throw line, the Crusaders posted a 70-54 victory over the Tigers. Foul problems compounded illnesses to starters Ross Conner and Donnie McClinton to prove too much for Cape Central, which fell to 9-11...

Southeast Missouri State University's gymnastics team will look to remain on a roll today when the Otahkians entertain Illinois-Chicago. The dual meet is scheduled for a 2 p.m. start at Houck Field House. Southeast, after opening the season with a loss to West Virginia in the Maui Classic in Hawaii, has bounced back with a pair of impressive performances...

The 19th annual Southeast Missouri Amateur Baseball Hall of Fame induction banquet will be held Saturday at the Sikeston High School cafeteria. A reception will begin at 6 p.m., followed by the banquet at 7 p.m. The guest speaker will be former St. Louis Cardinals' catcher Darrell Porter, the MVP of both the 1982 National League Championship Series 1982 World Series...

The Southeast Missouri State University Booster Club is sponsoring buses for Thursday's Southeast basketball games at Murray State. The buses will leave the Show Me Center parking lot at 2:30 p.m. Thursday and will stop at the Dutch Essenhaus Smorgasbord outside Murray. The buses will arrive at the Murray State Regional Events Center prior to the 5:30 p.m. tipoff of the women's game. The men's game will follow at 7:30...

Southeast Missouri State University will begin selling tickets Monday at the Houck Field House ticket office for the school's first-round games in the upcoming Ohio Valley Conference Tournament. The men are guaranteed a home game on Feb. 23 as they will finish at least in second place. The women are currently in first, but must finish in the top four to host a game that same night...

JEFFERSON CITY -- Once the last leaves are raked and the ground freezes, most landowners put their feet up and don't give another thought to the trees on their property. That's a mistake, according to the Missouri Forestkeepers Network. Forestkeepers coordinator Sue Burks says even those who don't belong to the statewide forest monitoring network can use winter to good advantage, ensuring the continued benefits of trees wherever they live...

FREDERICKTOWN -- Kayakers and canoeists can compete for ribbons and glory at the Missouri Whitewater Championships. The event, which tests boaters' ability to operate their craft for speed and precision, will take place March 20 and 21 on the St. Francis River at Millstream Gardens Conservation Area...

The Jackson Boys Baseball League has announced its registration dates. Registration, for ages 6 to 18, will be held at the following dates and times in the Jackson City Hall Community Room: Feb. 27 (9 a.m.-4 p.m.), Feb. 28 (1-4 p.m.) and March 4 (6-9 p.m.)...

The Jackson Boys Baseball League will hold its spring coaches meeting Feb. 18 at 7 p.m. at the Jackson City Hall Community Room.

The Shawnee Park Sports Complex is beginning to form its 1999 softball leagues and will hold its first managers meeting Feb. 9 at 6:30 p.m. at the Osage Community Centre. League games will tentatively begin on April 19 or 26. For more information, contact Brock or Kaed at 334-2523 or 335-5421...

Saint Francis Universal Health and Fitness Center will conduct a six week soccer conditioning camp for boys and girls. The camp is scheduled to begin Feb. 14 and will run consecutive Sundays for six weeks. Children ages 8 to 18 wanting to improve their speed, endurance, agility and balance are encouraged to participate...

An indoor triathlon featuring fitness activities for youth to senior citizens will be held Feb. 20 from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. at Southeast Missouri Hospital's Main Street Fitness Center in Jackson. Triathlon events are two miles on the treadmill, two miles on a stepper and a seven-mile ride on an airdyne bike. Age divisions range from 10 to 60-plus and start times are flexible...

The 1999 Spring Golf Clinic will be conducted in March at Arena Park Golf. Two separate clinics will be held for beginner and advanced golfers. the beginner class will meet on Tuesdays (March 2, 9, 16) and will be limited to 10 students. The advanced class will meet Thursdays (March 4, 11, 18) and will be limited to eight students...

The Scott City Parks and Recreation Department will hold a youth league meeting Feb. 11 at 7 p.m. at City Hall. The meeting is open to the public. Coaches applications will be available. For more information, call the Scott City Park Office at 264-3411...

Irene Gilliland, 93, of the Lutheran Home, 2825 Bloomfield Rd., died Friday, Feb. 5, 1999. She was born Oct. 26, 1905, in Gordonville, the daughter of Christian and Anna Brenneke Willa. She married Newton Gilliland on June 28, 1923, in Marble Hill. He died Sept. 11, 1962...

DONGOLA, Ill. -- Wayne Parr, 81, of Dongola died Friday, Feb. 5, 1999, at Union County Hospital in Anna. He was born Jan. 8, 1918, at Cypress, the son of Lionel and Muri Niblock Parr. He married Ruby George Nov. 29, 1941. He was a retired carpenter and farmer. ...

PERRYVILLE -- Ronald E. Hollinger, 54, of Perryville died Friday, Feb. 5, 1999, at Perry County Memorial Hospital. He was born April 9, 1944, at Knob Lick, son of Elmer and Wilma Murphy Hollinger. He and Georgia Graham were married. He was employed by St. Louis Refrigerated Car. He was a veteran, having served during the Vietnam War. He was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars post in Festus...

PERRYVILLE -- Ruth Ann Engert, 83, of Perryville died Friday, Feb. 5, 1999, at PerryOaks Healthcare. She was born March 3, 1915, at Chester, Ill., daughter of Fritz and Emma Bartels Moeller. She and Gilbert Engert were married Oct. 19, 1946. He died April 16, 1991...

JONESBORO, Ill. -- Beulah A. Hase, 96, of Jonesboro died Saturday, Feb. 6, 1999, at Union County Hospital in Anna. She was born near Mill Creek June 21, 1902, daughter of Jacob and Dora Brown Miller. She married Theodore Hase April 24, 1926, in Murphysboro...

JONESBORO, Ill. -- Edna Spurlock, 83, of Anna died Saturday, Feb. 6, 1999, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. Funeral arrangements were incomplete at Hileman and Parr Funeral Services.

MALDEN -- Alice Beatrice White, 48, of Malden died Friday, Feb. 5, 1999, at Dexter Memorial Hospital. She was born in Sikeston Sept. 16, 1950, daughter of Alonzo and Anna Mae Sherrod Harris. She married Thomas White April 2, 1964, in Malden. She had worked as a homemaker and attended House of Prayer in Malden...

COLUMBIA -- Lawrence "Wayne" Hill, 81, of Columbia, formerly of Cape Girardeau, died Saturday, Feb. 6, 1999, at Harry S. Truman Memorial V.A. Hospital in Columbia. He was born Dec. 10, 1917, in Chillicothe, son of Hugh Virgil and Lena Casel Waddle Hill. He and Lois Edna Ehman were married Aug. 8, 1943, in Kansas City...

Hilda M. Heise, 93, of 2001 N. Kingshighway died Saturday, Feb. 6, 1999, at Southeast Missouri Hospital. She was born Aug. 12, 1905, in Wittenberg, daughter of Martin and Emma Richter Grebing. On March 24, 1928, she married Wilson Heise in Hanover. He died Feb. 8, 1977...

CHAFFEE -- Elsie L. Willett, 88, died Saturday, Feb. 6, 1999, at a granddaughter's home in Flint, Mich. She was formerly of Chaffee. Funeral arrangements were incomplete at Amick-Burnett Funeral Home in Chaffee.

ANNA, Ill. -- Bryan A. Hopp, 28, of Anna, died Friday, Feb. 5, 1999, at Memorial Hospital In Carbondale. Funeral arrangements were incomplete at Lutz and Rendleman Funeral Home in Anna.

SIKESTON -- Edd H. Ergle, 78, of Matthews died Friday, Feb. 5, 1999, at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston. He was born in Winston County, Ala., on Oct. 10, 1920, son of Arthur and Savannah Horton Ergle. On Sept. 13, 1952, he married Essie Mae Johnson in Piggott, Ark. She died Jan. 4, 1991...

SIKESTON -- Ossie Mae Emerson, 81, of Oran died Friday, Feb. 5, 1999, at her home. She was born Oct. 8, 1917, in Walnut Ridge, Ark., to George and Maudie Mae Crenshaw Pratt. On Feb. 24, 1934, she married John Mac Emerson in Portageville. He died Jan. 12, 1983...

VIENNA, Ill. -- Bertha Mae Altenberger, 82, of Vienna, Ill., died Thursday, Feb. 4, 1999, at Lourdes Hospital in Paducah, Ky. She was born in West Eden on Aug. 19, 1916, the daughter of Pope and Agnes Henry Bost. She was of the Pentecostal faith. Survivors include her husband, Paul Altenberger of the home; one daughter, Bernetta Owen of Soda Springs, Ind.; two sons, Roger Altenberger of Karnak and Daniel Altenberger of Hillsboro; one brother, John Bost of Fort McCoy, Fla.; seven grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.. ...

Big shoes and bell bottoms are back in style. Remember when ... ... you couldn't possibly wear jeans that didn't completely cover your shoes and touch the floor. ... you deliberately frayed the bottoms of your blue jeans. ... your favorite shirt was a shiny, floral bodyshirt with a butterfly collar...