Stories from Sunday, February 14, 1999

Dear Grandpa: I have a close friend whose father is dying from cancer. From what he tells me his dad has only a month or two to live. My friend says his mother is bringing him home so he can die in dignity in his owe home. I know his father well, we've gone on many outings together...

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...

Jackson fans will have one final chance to see the highly-successful Jackson Indians and Lady Indians at home this season. The boys and girls basketball teams will play a rare home double header Friday night against Park Hills Central at the old Jackson gymnasium...

Harold Dollefson (Jake Martin) and his neighbor/best friend Russ Westmore (Jackson's Joe Sherinski) plot how Harold can escape what they believe is his wife's plot to murder him in "Let Him Sleep 'till it's Time for His Funeral." Jackson USA Signal photo by Mark Evans...

In tribute to the nation's 3,000 hospice programs,~ the United States Postal Service (USPS) issued its newest commemorative first-class $.33 stamp last week, in recognition of the 25,000 professionals and more than 100,000 volunteers that have made hospice increasingly the quality end-of-life choice for Americans...

To the editor: In the next election I will be voting for the first time even though I'm well past 18. I have never voted because I felt that not voting was a way of protesting a system of government that is illogical, confusing and frustrating. I also felt that I had inadequate information to make a choice. ...

The Noon Optimist Club of Jackson has earned the Honor Club and Distinguished Club Award from Optimist International for its community and you~ service efforts. The Honor Club and Distinguished Club Awards recognize the club for achieving levels of excellence in youth service projects, membership growth, club administration, and community service involvement. ...

25 years ago: 1974 Cape Girardeau County school districts will get $721,427.47 in 1973 railroad, telephone, telegraph and utilities taxes, increase of $34,996.31 over 1972 amount, says County Clerk Rusby C. Crites; in addition, total of $26,047.54 in tax collections on local assessments of these businesses is being apportioned to four of the seven county school districts, representing increase of $1,691.75 over total local assessment taxes in 1972...

Getting settled in is never a simple experience. Since most moves accompany new jobs and vice versa, it often takes a while to get one's bearing. So far my move to the county has gone well. It has been enjoyable meeting people in and around Jackson. ...

I WOULD just like to mention that I had been in this area for seven areas and visited many churches. A few months ago, I went to little Wesleyan Methodist Church in Scott City. It was just full of love and kindness that I would tell anybody who feels like they aren't getting what they should out of church to come there to really know what Christianity is all about. And I would also like to remind everybody that the church is the people who go there...

A St. Louis lawmaker alleged recently that, over a period of years, the Missouri Department of Revenue has apparently misallocated $700 million in tax money. State Rep. Mike Reid, R-Hazelwood, said that, while researching ways to pay for MetroLink in 1994 when he was a member of the Senate, he stumbled across an apparent misreading of the Missouri Constitution. Reid lost his Senate seat in 1994 and was out of the Legislature for four years before winning a state representative race last year...

In every year since fiscal 1995, state government has taxed Missourians more than is permitted under the Hancock Amendment, which voters approved in 1980. Refunds of this excess tax money have become familiar. So have the tax cut efforts that have become an annual feature of each session of the General Assembly...

When the Cape Girardeau police chief testifies this week before the Missouri legislature, he will tell a story of a Cape Girardeau nightclub he says has become a threat to public safety. The chief, Rick Hetzel, will tell legislators that the club, Chances, was denied a liquor license by the City Council because of concerns for public safety. After being denied the city license, Chances owner Doug Armour applied for and received a resort license from the state to sell liquor...

Missourians may be surprised to learn their state is regularly judged one of the four best in the country for managing its funds and making tax dollars go as far as they can. The award, if it can properly be called that, usually generates little recognition, either nationally or statewide, but its significance lies in an assurance to taxpayers they are receiving something reasonably close to one dollar of services for every one dollar collected by Jefferson City...

Twenty-nine years after this writer was in the Sen. Stuart Symington class of Eagle Scouts, called up on the stage at Academic Hall, it was my high privilege yesterday, at the same place, to address such a Court of Honor. This is as high an honor as yours truly has ever received, ranking right up there with being elected twice to the Missouri Senate...

Elvin Eaker remembers the first time he met Elsie Loos. "It was at the old skating rink on Spanish Street in downtown Cape Girardeau." he said. "These two girls were standing outside, and I asked if they were going in." The girls said they would like to go skating but didn't have any money...

The Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce has released an updated report card on the quality of life in the community. The report, Qualities Of Life, shows community progress as well as problems that need attention, said John Mehner, chamber president...

Young Winter Tripp of Cape Girardeau dipped her fishing rod into the trout tank Saturday, angling for a bite. To her delight, the youngster pulled out her first catch ever, a Rainbow Trout. The trout tank is among features at this year's Sports Show at the Show Me Center in Cape Girardeau. The show continues today from noon to 5 p.m...

Cape Girardeau's police chief and a police captain will be at the Capitol Tuesday to testify before the Missouri General Assembly about what they say is a loophole in the state's liquor license laws. They say the laws allow businesses to bypass the local control of liquor sales...

CHARLESTON -- An art show celebrating regional African-American culture and talent begins today at the Claire Drinkwater Newnam Library in Charleston. Mississippi County Black History Month Art Show will be open to the public from 1 to 5 p.m. today, and will remain on display through the end of the month...

Keep Out. The words shout at you in big, black letters on a piece of paper taped to Becca's bedroom door. Those aren't the only words taped on her door. She has a ton of them, all part of her rules that have turned our 7-year-old's doorway into Checkpoint Charlie...

There are many reasons why I absolutely love this job and regard myself as one of the most fortunate people alive to be able to basically watch sporting events for a living. This past Tuesday night was definitely one of those reasons. When I arrived at the Scott City High School gymnasium almost an hour before the scheduled tipoff and saw the stands already packed, I sensed that something special was in the air...

MARTIN, Tenn. -- Southeast Missouri State University basketball coach Gary Garner sensed trouble in the early moments against host Tennessee-Martin Saturday afternoon. "We were flat," he said. "You look for little things and I could tell we weren't crisp; we weren't running the floor."...

MARTIN, Tenn. -- It's never a good idea to fall behind by a wide margin on the road. Southeast Missouri State University's basketball Otahkians did that Saturday and, despite a major comeback, it wound up costing them. The Otahkians staged a spirited rally that wiped out a 14-point first-half deficit and resulted in a three-point second-half lead...

After Cape Central's 47-36 loss to Jackson on Thursday night, Lady Tigers basketball coach Darrick Smith was bothered by the way his girls came out and played in the third quarter. Not so on Saturday. After trailing 29-22 at halftime, Central (16-6) opened the third quarter with an 8-0 run and, thanks to a brilliant performance by senior guard Kim Aslinger, posted a 52-47 win over visiting Perryville (13-9)...

SPRINGFIELD -- Notre Dame's senior girls retreated, but their underclassmen teammates held their ground. With its senior girls at a retreat elsewhere, Notre Dame emerged from Springfield Catholic Saturday evening with a 54-51 victory. Freshman Deana McCormick led the charge with a game-high 17 points and 10 rebounds. Junior Jill Edwards added 10 points as Notre Dame improved to 11-12...

ST. PETERS -- Cape Central's swimming team ended up taking eighth place with 109 points in the state swimming competition on Saturday. Jason Owen, Central's standout swimmer who had not been beaten during the regular season, came up just short of taking the state title in two events...

ST. LOUIS -- Jackson advanced five wrestlers and Cape Central advanced two out of Saturday night's sectional meet and into next weekend's Missouri State Wrestling Championships Jackson took eight wrestlers into Saturday's Class 4A sectional meet and advanced Brett Stroud (112, 3rd), Adam Wachter (125, 2nd), Kyle Huck (130, 4th), Lance Schlick (135, 2nd) and Kyle Watson (140, 3rd)...

Imagine an animal that is 2,000 pounds of powerful muscle and fur. Also imagine that it can withstand the coldest blizzards, toughest droughts, and is intimidating enough to ward off most predators. Now ask yourself why such an animal no longer resides in our state...

A table tennis tournament will be held today beginning at 1 p.m. at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Perryville. For more information, call 788-2208.

Sign-ups for the Jackson Girls Softball League will be held on three upcoming dates at Main Street Fitness in Jackson. Registration dates and times: Feb. 27, 9 a.m.-1 p.m.; March 5, 6-9 p.m.; and March 20, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Girls ages 6 to 12 are eligible to play...

A soccer coaches clinic for coaches and interested parents will be held Feb. 27 from 9 a.m. until noon at the Jackson City Hall Conference Room. Sponsored by the Jackson Parks and Recreation Department in conjunction with Southeast Missouri Hospital's Generations Center and Main Street Fitness Center, the free clinic will include information on growth and development, hydration, stretching, warmups, strengthening, cardiovascular conditioning, hyperthermia and more...

The Cape Girardeau Central High School Sports Hall of Fame is in the process of accepting nominations. Anybody wishing to nominate a former Central athlete for possible induction should send all pertinent information to Central athletic director Terry Kitchen at Central High School, 205 Caruthers Street, Cape Girardeau, Mo., 63701...

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

The Jackson Men's Softball League will hold an organizational meeting for the 1999 season at 7 p.m. Tuesday on the lower level of the Jackson Elks Lodge. There will be a $15 fee per player, with a $100 deposit due at the meeting. The league will start about the second week of April...

The 15th annual Steamboat Classic Triathlon will be hosted by the Cape Girardeau Parks and Recreation Department on April 25. The event will consist of a 500-yard swim, a 15.5-mile bike race and a 5-mile run. The event will begin and end at Central Pool...

Dessie M. Bollinger, 93, of the Lutheran Home in Cape Girardeau and formerly of Millersville, died Saturday, Feb. 13, 1999, at the Lutheran Home. Visitation will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. Monday at McCombs Funeral Chapel in Jackson. Funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at the funeral chapel...

SIKESTON -- Dollye Ester Blissett Baker, 41, died Thursday,. Feb. 11, 1999, at Hunter Acres Caring Center. She was born Aug. 1, 1957, in Earle, Ark., daughter of Johnnie and Maybelle Blissett. They survive at Oran. She was a member of Blissett Temple True Church of God...

Stacy Oran Gearing, 82, of Cape Girardeau, died Friday, Feb. 12, 1999, at Southeast Missouri Hospital. He was born April 29, 1916, at McClure, Ill., son of Joseph C. Gearing and Pearl Dover Gearing. He married Glendell Drum Oct. 1, 1938, at Illmo. She died Dec. 23, 1973. He married Gloria Strack on Dec. 14, 1974, at Blytheville, Ark. She survives...

CHARLESTON -- Bennie Lewis Rapert, 64, of Charleston died Friday, Feb. 12, 1999, at the Bertrand Retirement Facility. He was born Oct. 6, 1934, in Arkansas, son of Orvin Raymon and Lelia Jewell Johnston Rapert. He lived most of his life in Mississippi County. He was an officer with the Missouri State Highway Patrol for 30 years before his retiring in 1991. He also served with the Missouri National Guard several years. He was of Methodist faith...

PERRYVILLE -- Nelda L. Hennemann, 69, of Perryville died Saturday, Feb. 13, 1999, at Southeast Missouri Hospital. She was born Sept. 16, 1929, in Perry County, daughter of Edwin and Katherine Hoehn Lintner. She married Henry Hennemann June 2, 1956. He survives...

GLENNONVILLE -- Leo Joseph Kuper, 79, of Glennonville died Friday, Feb. 12, 1999, at Lucy Lee Healthcare System in Poplar Bluff. He was born Nov. 6, 1919, at Glennonville, son of Albert John Kuper and Otilda Teresa Eberhard Kuper. On Nov. 23, 1950, he married Marie Siebert Kuper, who survives...

CHARLESTON -- Lillian Winchester, 99, of Charleston died Saturday, Feb. 13, 1999, at her residence. She was born Nov. 11, 1899, in Charleston, daughter of Luke and Barbara Bastain Anderson. She lived most of her life in Charleston where she was employed as a bookkeeper with Winchester Chevrolet Co. until her retirement in 1958. She was a lifelong and the oldest member of the First Baptist Church...

JACKSON -- James Bernard Beussink, 37, of Jackson, died Friday, Feb. 12, 1999, at his home. He was born Feb. 22, 1962, in Cape Girardeau, son of Bernard and Clarice Elfrink Beussink, who survive of Jackson. On Dec. 27, 1986, he married Kim McCart at Jackson. She survives...

MARBLE HILL -- Anita F. Edwards, 67, of Whiting, Ind., formerly of Gordonville, died Thursday, Feb. 11, 1999, at her home. She was born Feb. 15, 1931, at Gordonville, daughter of Arl and Beulah Givens Kinder. She is survived by three sons, James and Steve Edwards, both of Whiting, and Ken Edwards of St. Louis; two daughters, Karen Dybel of Hobart, Ind., and Kimberly Csonka of Whiting; a sister, Shirley Call of Whiting; 13 grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren...

James C. Marshall, 80, of Cape Girardeau died Friday, Feb. 12, 1999, at Beverly Health and Rehabilitation Services. He was born June 28, 1918, at Murray, Ky., son of Clarence Tilden Marshall and Jewell Deason Marshall. He married Rosemary Barbara Guerrettaz on June 28, 1939, at East St. Louis, Ill. She survives...

"For this was sent on St. Valentine's day When every fowl comes there to choose his mate." -- Geoffrey Chaucer "Parliament of Fowls." Valentine. It is name associated with romance and love, with roses and boxes of chocolates, with starry-eyed lovers sending messages of their undying affection...