Stories from Wednesday, February 17, 1999

Our criminal justice system is built on a series of checks and balances. The idea is to prevent even a single innocent man from going to prison. But even the system sometimes breaks down. Enter the public and the media to help publicize and scrutinize questionable cases...

Need a plan? Call a consultant. That's the way most government entities and businesses seem to work these days. Outside experts are thought to bring a stamp of credibility to projects. That can be the case sometimes. But consultants also allow a shift the burden of blame. You know the drill. If it's a good idea, everyone takes credit. If it's a bad idea, the finger can more easily point to an outsider, such as an out-of-town consultant...

Every so often in this busy life I find I need to back off and put a perspective to life, to think about what is really important. In the following remarks from a business executive, I think you'll find some guidelines that might be helpful. (I'm also reading Proverbs, which is a fun, interesting and informative read)...

Councilman Richard Eggiman proposed a measure to exempt existing electrical contractors from taking a required license examination. The Cape Girardeau City Council discussed the proposal during a study session prior to Tuesday's meeting. The ordinance likely will be voted on at the March 1 council meeting...

JACKSON -- The city formally committed Tuesday night to an intergovernmental agreement that would accelerate improvements at the Highway 61-Interstate 55 interchange called Center Junction. The improvements would be financed and carried out by a not-for-profit corporation composed of the Jackson, Cape Girardeau, Cape Girardeau County and developer Jim Drury...

JACKSON -- U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Emerson says more needs to be done to relieve cattlemen and pork producers from burdensome Environmental Protection Agency regulations. Emerson, R-Cape Girardeau, addressed more than 100 farmers at a meeting Monday night of the SEMO Cattlemen and Pork Producers in Jackson...

Cleanup of PCB-contaminated soil at the Missouri Electric Works site could begin next month and be completed by the end of the year, EPA officials said Tuesday. It will involve excavation of an estimated 20,000 to 30,000 tons of soil at the site of the former motor and transformer repair business at 824 S. Kingshighway and neighboring commercial properties. Those properties include Cape Carpet and Morrill Construction...

Geneva Felty stands firm on refusing to sell cigarettes to anyone under the age of 18. "I don't hesitate to ask for age identification, even If I think a person may be over 18," said Felty, who works at Country Mart in Jackson. Laws in every state and the District of Columbia prohibit retailers from selling cigarettes and other tobacco products to anyone under 18. ...

The Community Relations Council of Vision 2000 will hold its 10th annual Awards of Distinction breakfast at 7 a.m. Feb. 25 in the Harrison Room at Southeast Missouri Hospital. Guest speaker will be Carol Sue Reimann, Missouri Teacher of the Year. Reimann teaches first grade at Clippard Elementary School...

U.S. Sen. Christopher S. Bond walked through the hallways of Cape Girardeau County Health Department Tuesday trying to learn firsthand what health-care needs for children are unmet. The senator is introducing "Healthy Kids 2000" legislation aimed at improving health care for pregnant women and newborns. Cape Girardeau was one stop on his trip around Missouri to gather suggestions to improve health care for children and pregnant women...

I feed and water them. He provides body heat. For our kitties, the choice between us is clear. It's Monday night, and the same scene is going down as every Monday night. The Other Half is lying on the couch watching the news. Romy is on his stomach. Bosco is at his feet. I'm writing this so that I can afford cat food for those last two, but they have no interest in keeping me company...

A supposed vampire cult discovered Monday by several parents may actually be a group of youngsters with too much free time, said school and police officials. Gerald Richards, principal at Central Junior High School, said he was contacted by the parents of two students Monday regarding some correspondence found at their homes. The letters, which were discovered over the weekend, made references to occult practices and used special names for the writers...

Students, faculty and members of the business community will celebrate American Vocational Week through Saturday at the Cape Girardeau Area Vocational-Technical School. The national logo this year is "Connecting Education and Career." A series of special activities is planned at the vo-tech school...

The annual Eagle Scout Court of Honor held Saturday honored 62 Boy Scouts from 19 Southeast Missouri and 10 Southern Illinois counties who earned Eagle rank during 1998. Missouri Sen. Peter D. Kinder was the class sponsor and main speaker at the Court of Honor held at Academic Hall on the Southeast Missouri State University campus...

Sherry and Shauna Cook won't go down as two of the best women's basketball players in Southeast Missouri State University history. Their names can't be found in the Otahkians' record books. But Southeast coach Ed Arnzen says -- and you can tell he really means it -- that he wouldn't trade the identical twin sisters for anything...

RICHMOND, Ky. -- Southeast Missouri State University's basketball team exorcised a demon Tuesday night -- and reached a Division I milestone in the process. The Indians won for the first time ever at Eastern Kentucky's McBrayer Arena, posting a 77-61 victory to break an 0-7 skid on the Colonels' home court...

Before the basketball season began, few people gave Cape Central a chance at winning the SEMO Conference Championship. And before the fourth quarter started Tuesday night, few would've suspected that the Tigers would end up beating Charleston. Cape Central proved all their doubters wrong in one amazing eight-minute stretch against the visiting Blue Jays...

PERRYVILLE -- Notre Dame High guard Zach Miller scored 12 of his game-high 22 points in the first quarter as the Bulldogs rode a quick start to a 58-49 victory over Perryville on Tuesday. Miller, who had 10 points in the fourth quarter, made 4 of 5 3-point attempts as Notre Dame improved to 9-12, dropping Perryville to 9-13...

HERMANN -- Daisy Frieda Steimel, 96, formerly of Jackson, died Monday, Feb. 15, 1999, at Frene Valley Health Center in Hermann. She was born Dec. 10, 1902, near Millersville, daughter of Frank and Corinthia Summers McClard. On June 19, 1921, she married Fred Steimel. He preceded her in death...

JACKSON -- Judy A. Becker, 52, of Jackson died Tuesday, Feb. 16, 1999, at her home. Funeral arrangements are incomplete at McCombs Funeral Home.

DEXTER -- Edith Edwards, 86, of Rolla died Monday, Feb. 15, 1999, at Rolla. She was born Dec. 18, 1912, at Dexter, daughter of Samuel and Lucy Skelton McClard. She married Paul Edwards, who preceded her in death. Edwards lived at Dexter most of her life, and had worked at Elder Manufacturing Co. She retired in 1975 and moved to Rolla...

BERNIE -- Mitchell Beane, 72, of Bernie died Sunday, Feb. 14, 1999, at Dexter Memorial Hospital in Dexter. He was born Feb. 22, 1926, in Tupelo, Miss., son of Sardis and Beatrice Clark Beane. He and Ophelia Johnson were married Oct. 4, 1952, in Piggott, Ark...

James "Jim" Haskett, 56, of Boise, Idaho, died Wednesday, Feb. 10, 1999, in Boise. He was born March 2, 1942, in Kokomo, Ind., son of John and Helen Buscher Haskett. He and Martha Brooks Vandivort were married April 4, 1970, in Cape Girardeau. Haskett attended Indiana University, and received a doctorate degree in physics...

Edward M. Sehle, 71, of Cape Girardeau died Monday, Feb. 15, 1999, at Parkland Health Center in Farmington. He was born Jan. 22, 1928, in St. Louis, son of Edward W. and Charlotte Haaser Sehle. He and Nancy Quentin were married June 17, 1950, in St. Louis...

BELKNAP, Ill. -- Flossie Higgins, 77, of Belknap died Tuesday, Feb. 16, 1999, at her home. Wilson Funeral Home in Karnak is in charge of arrangements.

Son to Dale Wayne and Theresa Ann Yount of McGee, Southeast Missouri Hospital, 2:04 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 6, 1999. Name, David Glenn. Weight, 9 pounds ounce. Mrs. Yount is the former Theresa Payne, daughter of George and Beverly Payne of McGee. She is a clerk typist with Missouri Department of Health. Yount is the son of George and Glenda Yount of McGee. He is a shipper with Golden Cat Corp./Ralston Purina...

Lydia Mueller, 89, of Cape Girardeau died Tuesday, Feb. 16, 1999, at Southeast Missouri Hospital. McCombs Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Sunday dinner is an old Southern tradition born from the love of good food and cherished relationships. Seated at the Sunday dinner table was everyone from cousins to the preacher, and there was always room for one more! If I close my eyes, I can still hear the laughter of the women floating from my Grandmother's kitchen, as overflowing platters were made ready for the dinner table. ...

In his monumental work, Ulysses, James Joyce suggested that God made food and the Devil made seasoning. But even the Bible speaks admiringly of mustard seed, the basis for one of the world's most popular condiments. "The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed," Matthew tell us, "which indeed is the least of all seeds: but when it is grown, it is the greatest among herbs. ..."...

Again this week I greet you from my home. Yes, our daughter now has chicken pox, so as everyone told us, the inevitable has arrived. Being only two, she is not quite as understanding of the itch as our son was. My only saving grace is that we have all had them now so we can move on...