Stories from Thursday, February 11, 1999

To the editor: I was so surprised when I was called to the podium to receive the Rush H. Limbaugh, Sr. award Friday night that I didn't know what to say. I was simply overwhelmed. Now that I have had time to reflect, I would like to make a few additional comments...

KARNAK, Ill. -- Three Southern Illinois men were killed Tuesday night in a two-vehicle accident near Karnak. The bodies of Nicholas W. Maki, 38, of Karnak; Jason Treat, 18, of Grand Chain; and Robert Rentfro, 19, of Karnak were discovered about 5 a.m. Wednesday at the scene of the accident...

Bad to the bone, a 24-hour fund raiser designed to bring attention to osteoporosis, will be held Feb. 26 and 27 at Universal Health and Fitness. It is sponsored by St. Francis Medical Center. Events are planned around the clock from 3 p.m. Feb. 26 to 3 p.m. Feb. 27. Golf, tennis, aerobics and a variety of tournaments and workshops are set...

The Southeast Missourian and Southeast Missouri State University will co-sponsor a beginning and intermediate Internet class in March. Nine openings remain in the beginning Internet class, which will be held March 2 from 1 to 3 p.m. in Dempster Hall on the Southeast campus. Each class is limited to 38 people, since each person will have a computer...

A $50,000 contribution to the Center for Regional History has paved the way for a regional history lecture series at Southeast Missouri State University and an interpretive area at a farm near Oran. Lynn S. Bollinger and his daughter, Nancy Friend Bollinger Adams, both of Godfrey, Ill., made the gift to the University Foundation. The gift boosts an endowment they provided a year ago to further the center's mission...

A midlife crisis is not typically a pretty thing to behold, especially for those who pass through it. But in the play "Let Him Sleep 'Till It's Time for His Funeral," playwright Pat Kehret proves that a midlife crisis can be an amusing thing to sit and watch...

Tony Spinner has spent most of his career fronting his band in small clubs like Broussard's in Cape Girardeau, one of his favorite stops and not just because Cape Girardeau is his home town. But venues a trifle larger in more exotic locales await the guitarist later this month...

Looking back on his start in the music business, guitarist Todd Olsen knows he's learned some lessons the hard way: by experience. But those experiences -- both good and bad -- have helped The Waiting mature and grow as a Christian band. The Waiting will perform at 7 p.m. Friday at Notre Dame High School with Mancy A'lan Kane. Tickets are available at the door and at Living Water and Gospeland bookstores...

There are many ways to view the fact that federal income-tax revenue has risen 76 percent since 1992, the first full fiscal year after this nation's last recession ended in 1991. First the good news: The increase is the result of a booming economy, not higher taxes...

What is troubling about Gov. Mel Carnahan's handling of what he and certain environmentalists see as the "problem" with wood-chip mills is that the "solution" amounts to little more than executive-branch fiat. Wood-chip mills grind up low-value trees -- including the limbs left behind in logging operations -- to be used in a number of wood-based products. ...

To the editor: In 1919, when Honey Fitz Kennedy was booted from Congress for voter fraud, his comment was: "Well, McKinley was unseated by Congress and became a candidate and was elected president." Honey Fitz remained exuberant as ever, emerging once again like a duck from water...

To the editor: On Feb. 4 the Southeast Missourian printed a letter, "Intended tribute was condescending," regarding David Tlapek's poem about Betty Simms. Truly, Viola Stafford proved to me Hamlet's line, "There is nothing either good or bad but thinking makes it so." Stafford called the poem a "crude group of words" and pointed out lines she found offensive. ...

Players International Inc., a small casino company that first opened a riverboat operation at Metropolis, Ill., Feb. 24, 1993, will be sold to Jackpot Enterprises Inc., an even smaller company in Las Vegas, Nev. Players, based in Atlantic City, N.J., now also has casinos at Riverport in Maryland Heights in the St. Louis area and at Lake Charles, La...

Although an initial survey showed strong support for creation of a Lutheran high school in Southeast Missouri, a second, more detailed survey will be conducted including preliminary cost estimates. During a meeting Wednesday night at Trinity Lutheran Church in Cape Girardeau, the steering committee studying the proposed school appointed a sub-committee to estimate operational costs...

Most men who admit to being unromantic do not understand how imperiled their relationships are, says Michael Webb, a North Carolina writer bent on turning Rambos into Romeos. "For women it's just a fundamental need," Webb says. "If they do not get romance they cannot love back."...

JACKSON -- St. Paul Lutheran School is preparing for enrollment growth by building a multipurpose educational building. Construction began on the building in November and is scheduled for completion before the end of the year. The building will include 10 classrooms, a music room, office area, cafeteria and a number of meeting rooms...

Demolition of old St. Francis Hospital remains on track for this summer despite a developer's announced intention to renovate the property. Trent Condellone, a Springfield businessman who bought the building in March, said renovation of the property also is on track for the summer...

Feb. 11, 1999 Dear Leslie, An old friend sent along some funny lines she thinks deserve to be enshrined on buttons. Ever since, we've been engaged in an e-mail debate over the virtues of male-bashing. I'm against it. For the purpose of stating my case, here are some examples:...

Southeast Missouri State University's president says the school would be willing to assist state Rep. David Schwab in his effort to establish a state commission on Indian affairs. The president, Dr. Dale Nitzschke, who was in Jefferson City on university business Wednesday, hand delivered a letter to the Jackson lawmaker's capitol office that voiced support for the idea...

Southeast Missouri State University's women's basketball team holds its destiny in its own hands. If the Otahkians win their last three regular-season games, they will be crowned Ohio Valley Conference champions. Otahkian coach Ed Arnzen likes that kind of scenario. But he also realizes it will be difficult to accomplish...

If tonight's Ohio Valley Conference basketball showdown between Southeast Missouri State University and Murray State is anything like the last time the teams met, then fans are in for quite a treat. When Southeast and Murray State squared off on Jan. 14 in Cape Girardeau, the Indians erased a 15-point halftime deficit, took a late lead and then saw Aubrey Reese hit a shot with less than a second left for a spine-tingling 71-70 Racers' victory...

Eric Yount, a senior swimmer at Cape Central High School, takes in some air while practicing on Monday. Yount, who is undefeated in the 50 and 100 freestyle events this season, wants to make a splash at the state meet which begins Friday. Cape Central senior swimmers Jason Owen and Eric Yount did what the Denver Broncos couldn't -- go undefeated during the regular season...

Tonight's Ohio Valley Conference first-place battle between Southeast Missouri State and Murray State will be televised live Thursday night on KFVS 12 in Cape Girardeau. The matchup between the Racers who are 13-1 in the OVC and the Indians, who are 12-2, will tipoff at 8:05 p.m. at the Regional Special Events Center in Murray, Ky...

Alicia Rogers School: Charleston High School Sport: Basketball Coach: Bev Wright Week report: Rogers, a 5-foot-5 off-guard, averaged 24 points in two games in the Charleston Tournament. She scored 18 in a opening round loss to New Madrid and 30 in a 70-60 win over Scott County Central in the consolation final...

Eric Yount School: Cape Girardeau Central Sport: Swimming Coach: Dayna Powell Season Report: Yount finished the season undefeated in both the 50 and 100-yard freestyle events. He also posted a state-qualifying time in the 200 freestyle. He will participate in the 50 and the 100 in the state meet on Friday, as well as the 200 medley relay and the 400 free relay. ...

Southeast Missouri State University's volleyball team recently signed three high school seniors to letters of intent for the 1999 season. Emily Johnson, a 5-foot-11 middle blocker/outside hitter, earned St. Louis All-Metro and team MVP honors at Mater Dei High School in Breese, Ill. She had 220 kills, 248 digs and 197 blocks as a senior...

SCOTT CITY -- Graveside service for Ricky Lewallen of Scott City will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at Lightner Cemetery. The Rev. Neil Franks will officiate. Friends may call at Amick-Burnett Funeral Chapel in Scott City after 10 a.m. Saturday. Lewallen, 46, died Tuesday, Feb. 9, 1999, at his home...

SIKESTON -- Funeral for Bill Manley of Hickman, Ky., will be held at 2 p.m. today at Nunnelee Funeral Chapel. The Rev. Dennis Cebulak will officiate, with burial in New Morley Cemetery. Manley, 68, died Tuesday, Feb. 9, 1999, at Reelfoot Manor in Tiptonville, Tenn...

MINER -- Claude John Kennedy, 66, of Miner died Tuesday, Feb. 9, 1999, at his home. He was born May 15, 1932, at Millington, son of Clyde and Gladys Logan Kennedy. Kennedy was a bookkeeper many years, and most recently was an electrician with Kelley Electric Co. He was a member of VFW Post 3174 and Eagles Aerie 3319...

MOREHOUSE -- Graveside service for Jerry Williams of Morehouse will be held at 2 p.m. today at Hagy Cemetery in Dexter. The Rev. Frank Breeden will officiate. Watkins and Sons Funeral Home at Morehouse is in charge of arrangements. Williams, 69, died Wednesday, Feb. 10, 1999, at Sikeston Health Care...

PARMA -- Funeral for A.B. Parker of Parma will be held at 2 p.m. today at Watkins and Sons Funeral Home in Parma. The Rev. Ken Yates will officiate, with burial in Parma Cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home from 11 a.m. until service time...

MARBLE HILL -- Harley Dock Sitze, 65, of Marble Hill died Wednesday, Feb. 10, 1999, at Bond Nursing Care Center. He was born April 23, 1933, near Bessville, son of Luke W. and Beulah Butler Sitze. Sitze retired as a machinist from McDonnell Douglas. He was a member of New Salem Baptist Church. Sitze served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War...

ULLIN, Ill. -- Jerry "Sonny" Holderfield, 56, of Ullin died Wednesday, Feb. 10, 1999, at his home. He was born May 27, 1942, in Ullin, son of Charles Lincoln and Beulah Geneva Jameson Holderfield. He and Terri McHarry were married Dec. 28, 1982. Holderfield had been a truck driver and coached girls softball. He was a member of First Baptist Church...

KARNAK, Ill. -- Robert Rentfro, 19, of Karnak died Wednesday, Feb. 10, 1999, in an automobile accident on Hillcrest Road near Karnak. Wilson Funeral Home in Karnak is in charge of arrangements.

GRAND CHAIN, Ill. -- Jason Treat, 18, of Grand Chain died Wednesday, Feb. 10, 1999, in an automobile accident on Hillcrest Road near Karnak. Wilson Funeral Home in Karnak is in charge of arrangements.

KARNAK, Ill. -- Nicholas Maki, 38, of Karnak died Wednesday, Feb. 10, 1999, in an automobile accident on Hillcrest Road near Karnak. Wilson Funeral Home in Karnak is in charge of arrangements.

COBDEN, Ill. -- Clarence Eugene Bachmann, 78, of Cobden died Wednesday, Feb. 10, 1999, at his home. He was born Nov. 27, 1920, in Detroit, Mich. He was adopted by Ida Bachmann. He and Virginia Blaga were married May 25, 1943, in Detroit. Bachmann was a life member of the VFW Post in Detroit, and member of Cobden American Legion Post 259. He was a veteran of World War II...

Hazel Virginia Ross, 79, of Cape Girardeau died Tuesday, Feb. 9, 1999, at the Lutheran Home. She was born Nov. 10, 1919, in Cape Girardeau, daughter of Charles P. and Ethel McGee Miller. She married George Ross in May 1970. He died in June 1981. Ross was a 1938 graduate of John S. Cobb School. She was a florist many years at Knaup Floral Co., retiring in 1984...

PUXICO -- Melvin Leo Smith of Puxico died Tuesday, Feb. 9, 1999, at Christian Northeast Hospital in St. Louis. Watkins and Sons Funeral Home in Puxico is in charge of arrangements.

James W. Riley, Sr. died Tuesday, Feb. 9, 1999 at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. Mr. Riley was born July 30, 1927 in St. Louis, Mo. to John and Katherine Riley. A graduate of Roosevelt High School in St. Louis, he attended the University of Missouri at Columbia where he was a member of the Alpha Sigma Phi fraternity. ...