Stories from Saturday, March 20, 1999

The Bruntons read the words of Jesus in Matthew 22:36-40. Mary Helen Brunton made fastnachts and shared them with her neighbors. It was part of the Lenten study given to her and her husband, Del, by their pastor, the Rev. Philip Curran of the First Christian Church Disciples of Christ...

Since the Vatican II council of bishops met in the 1960s, the rules have been eased for Roman Catholics observing Lent, but among other Christian denominations the observance of Lent has been less formal, at best. Vatican II established two fasting days during the Lenten season, Ash Wednesday and Good Friday, and made the other Fridays during Lent as days of abstinence, meatless days...

U.S. Sen. Christopher "Kit" Bond Friday accused President Clinton of "highway robbery." During a visit to Cape Girardeau, Bond blasted Clinton for trying to divert surplus revenue in the federal highway trust fund to other uses besides highway and bridge improvements...

Educators attending the 123rd annual Missouri State Teachers Association Meeting Friday learned they could ease stress by adding laughter and a modified version of the Golden Rule to their daily routines. About 450 teachers and school administrators attended the general session, which featured a keynote address by Mark Mayfield, the "corporate comedian." The meeting is held annually to provide academic resources to educators regarding general and departmental professional development...

Southwestern Bell Telephone Co. will have to wait another few weeks for a decision from the Missouri Public Service Commission on a request to allow Bell to get into the long-distance business in Missouri. The PSC spent almost two weeks hearing testimony from Southwestern Bell, other interests and competing companies that oppose Bell's quest for long-distance service...

Gardening has become one of the most popular outdoor activities in America, says the U.S. Department of Agriculture. And because so many people have taken up gardening, not everyone knows exactly where to start. It's a good idea to arm yourself with knowledge about testing, soils, fertilizers, planting tables and a lot of other topics...

When people meet Edie Swihart and find out she was a veterinarian and quit, they often are incredulous. "They say, Oh no, I always wanted to be a veterinarian," she says. Swihart always wanted to be a veterinarian, too, but now that the Southeast Missouri native is a mystery writer her other childhood dream has come true...

There's nothing like a birthday celebration that involves your best girlfriends, a good fruit dip and some interesting underwear. Today is my birthday, and unfortunately, both I and my husband are scheduled to work. Even worse, we're working long, erratic shifts, which means we've seen each other only sporadically all week and won't get to spend any quality time together until after Monday...

MORLEY SWINGLE'S commentary in which he opposes Proposition B, the concealed-weapons proposal, is an absolute absurdity. He references an altercation between a Cape County dentist and a driver in which the driver got out and brandished a tire tool and attacked a man on a bicycle who was forced to use his bicycle to defend himself. ...

Southeast Missouri State University wants to increase tuition and general fees. The Board of Regents will consider the recommended increases in student fees Wednesday. The university walks a fine line between keeping prices reasonable and generating enough revenue to pay for quality programs and services. As it works to build its enrollment to a target of 10,000, the university must remain acutely aware of the role cost plays in student choice...

To the editor: I am tardy in expressing my thanks for the YELL grant, but I have an excellent reason. (Doesn't this sound like a junior high student?) I was waiting to make certain the three sets of 30 novels I ordered were available, had arrived and were anxiously being awaited by my students...

To the editor: A special thanks to the YELL Foundation. The grant money I received will provide letter manipulatives and magnetic boards for the eager young readers in my kindergarten classroom. The foundation's hard work and dedication are appreciated. My students are fortunate to be on the receiving end of YELL's continued generosity...

JACKSON -- Kirk Jahn, a 39-year-old farmer and owner of an excavating company, was killed Thursday afternoon in an accident at the family farm. The accident occurred about 5 p.m. at the farm on County Road 306 just east of Jackson. Cape Girardeau County Coroner John Carpenter said Jahn was painting a piece of heavy equipment when its bucket accidentally fell on him. He was killed instantly...

Julian Seeberman of St. Louis was named Friday to head the Missouri Gaming Commission following the resignation of Bob Wolfson of St. Louis. Gov. Mel Carnahan announced Seeberman's appointment. "Bob Wolfson made a profoundly significant contribution as first chairman of the Missouri Gaming Commission," said Carnahan. "He ensured that the commission, which oversees legalized gambling in the state, was organized and operated in an extremely effective manner."...

BATON ROUGE, La. -- Louisiana State University defeated Southeast Missouri State University 194.5-192.425 in a gymnastics dual meet Friday night. Southeast's Erin Chenier took second overal with a total score of 38.7. Chenier finished fourth in the vault competition with a 9.75 mark and fourth on the even bars also at 9.75...

COLUMBIA -- Kareem Rush scored 26 points and grabbed 17 rebounds to lead Pembroke Hill to a 58-51 win over Portageville in the 2A boys semifinal Friday. Shaun Dunson added 14 for the Raiders (29-1), who have won the state championship the last two years...

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- San Jose State used a sacrifice fly in the 10th inning Friday to down Southeast Missouri State's softball team 5-4 in pool play of the Sacramento State Capital Classic Tournament. Later Friday, the Otahkians suffered a 9-2 setback to Oregon...

Barring another snowfall or other inclement weather, defending Class 1A state champion St. Vincent and other Southeast Missouri golf teams will usher in the new season on Tuesday. While St. Vincent, which lost only one golfer to graduation, might contend for another state crown, the balance of Class 4A power seems to have shifted away from the area to Sikeston and Poplar Bluff...

LILBOURN -- A 21-year-old Sikeston woman was killed early Friday morning when her vehicle ran off a rural road. Sarah Forrester was fatally injured in the 4:30 a.m. accident on Route E about 4 miles northeast of Lilbourn in New Madrid County. A spokesman for the Missouri Highway Patrol said Forrester's northbound vehicle ran off the left side of the road and struck a large tree...

LEORA -- Mildred I. Wilfong, 77, of Leora died Friday, March 19, 1999, at her home. She was born Oct. 16, 1921, at Kinder, daughter of John and Mattie Kitchen Wright. She and Thurman "Whitey" Wilfong were married Nov. 8, 1942, at Puxico. Wilfong lived in the Leora area most of her life with the exception of several years in Cottage Hills, Ill. She moved back to the area in 1981. She was a member of First Baptist Church...

Ruby M. Foeste, 81, of Cape Girardeau died Thursday, March 18, 1999, at the Lutheran Home. She was born Oct. 27, 1917, in Cape Girardeau, daughter of Henry and Minnie Hengst. She and Elmer Foeste were married Sept. 5, 1942, at Benton. Foeste worked at Davis Electric many years, and was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church...

Mary Ellen Marion, 87, of Cape Girardeau died Thursday, March 18, 1999, at her home. She was born Nov. 11, 1911, at Charleston. She and Glenn Marion were married in 1950 in Jefferson City. He died July 8, 1977. Marion was a member of First Baptist Church...

SCOTT CITY -- Clem Antone Lindeman, 66, of Scott City died Friday, March 19, 1999, at his home. He was born Aug. 4, 1932, at Illmo, son of Linus and Nora Lena Etter Lindeman. He and Golda Ellen Hale were married Nov. 20, 1971. Lindeman was retired from Lone Star. He was a member of VFW Post 6407. Lindeman served with the U.S. Army in Germany...

Funeral for Carolyn Nimmo of Cape Girardeau will be held at 1 p.m. today at Crain Funeral Home in Anna, Ill. The Rev. Don Stephens will officiate. Burial will be in Friendship Cemetery at Dongola. Nimmo, 52, died Thursday, March 18, 1999, at Southeast Missouri Hospital...

DEXTER -- Alice Mae Alsup of Dexter died Friday, March 19, 1999, at Dexter Memorial Hospital. Watkins and Sons Funeral Home at Dexter is in charge of arrangements.

JACKSON - Mr. Kirk Jahn, age 39, a prominent farmer and excavating company proprietor was fatally injured at his home as a result of a heavy equipment accident, Thursday, March 18, 1999. Visitation will be Sunday from 4 to 8 p.m. at the McCombs Funeral Home in Jackson. Funeral services will be conducted at 10:30 a.m. at the St. Paul Lutheran Church in Jackson, Monday, March 22, 1999 with Rev. David Johnson officiating and burial in Russel Heights Cemetery...

Daughter to William and Jennifer Gerhardt of St. Louis, St. John's Mercy Medical Center, 7:57 a.m. Thursday, March 4, 1999. Name, Maddison Amelia. Weight, 7 pounds 6 ounces. Third daughter. Mrs. Gerhardt is the former Jennifer Shanks, daughter of Charles and Joan Shanks of St. Louis. Gerhardt is the son of Dolores Gerhardt of Cape Girardeau, and the late Reginald Gerhardt. He is a printer...

ADVANCE -- Funeral for Ruth Berry of Union City, Okla., will be held at 10 a.m. today at Huber-Benson Funeral Home in El Reno, Okla. A service will also be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday at Morgan Funeral Home, with the Rev. Brad Moore officiating. Burial will be in Morgan Memorial Park...