Stories from Saturday, May 15, 1999

I'd like to recognize the kindnesses of Pat Timmerman. One day each week, she picks up an old family friend at The Lutheran Home and takes her to the Veteran's Home to visit another friend. She buys the friend dinner before she takes her home. Regency Management's Human Resource Development Center, a day program for developmentally disabled adults, participated in Random Acts of Kindness by planting and will be caring for flowers for the residents of Monticello House in Jackson...

SEDGEWICKVILLE -- When Pam Roche heads to church, she brings her Bible and her blood pressure cuff. She never knows when a member of the Sedgewickville United Methodist Church might need a blood pressure check. Roche, a registered nurse who works at St. Francis Medical Center, also practices parish nursing for the Bollinger County congregation...

There are dozens of families in Cape Girardeau who wouldn't have enough food to eat each month if it weren't for the kindness of members from Vineyard Christian Church. The church operates a food bank ministry that even offers delivery service each Saturday. It distributes nearly 5,000 pounds of food each month...

The summer session of the Friendship Bible Coffees will begin June 16 at Cape County Park South, Shelter No. 21. The groups will meet from 9-10 a.m. on Wednesdays. The series is sponsored by the Cape County Christian Women's Clubs and are part of Stonecroft Ministries...

When the Rev. Justin Rigali, the archbishop of St. Louis Diocese, recently visited St. Joseph's and St. Maurus Catholic churches in Perry County, he brought with him special blessings for the two historic congregations. The archbishop's visit commemorated a weekend of special services and Masses for the fifth week of Easter and marked a remodeling project at St. Joseph's Church...

The berry crops are in at Teen Challenge International of Mid-America and fresh for picking. The center will hold its ninth annual Strawberry Festival May 29 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the center along County Road 621 north of Cape Girardeau. Events include guided tours of the center and strawberry fields, puppet shows for children and mini concerts by the New Creations Choir. ...

Southeast Missouri State University named Dr. Dennis Holt its interim provost Friday. The Board of Regents approved the appointment following a closed-door meeting at the University Center. Holt is senior associate provost at the school. He will serve as Southeast's chief academic officer while the university searches for a permanent replacement for Dr. Charles Kupchella...

McCLURE, Ill. -- Youngsters were all smiles Friday at Shawnee South Elementary School in McClure, where a week of kindness ended with a pledge to continue doing good deeds throughout the year. Three weeks ago, first-graders put their heads together to think of kind things they could do for each other, their teachers and their community during Random Acts of Kindness Week, which concludes Sunday...

Southeast Missouri State University's Board of Regents isn't ready to decide the future of Wildwood. The regents met behind closed doors Friday afternoon to discuss a proposal from the university's fund-raising foundation and alumni association to buy an off-campus house for the school's president and turn Wildwood, the current campus home, into an alumni center...

Brother, can you spare a penny? That was the sentiment Friday at Schnucks and Mercantile Bank in Cape Girardeau where pennies were in short supply. The Federal Reserve in St. Louis won't be distributing any more pennies to banks in eastern Missouri until June, said a Federal Reserve Bank spokesman. That is when the federal bank expects to receive a new shipment of pennies from the U.S. Mint...

I've been working and reworking my Random Acts of Kindness column for about a week now. For the Southeast Missourian, this event is special, much like Toy Box or Christmas for the Elderly. It's a major sponsorship on our part, and all employees must participate, whether they feel like being kind or not...

JACKSON -- After 28 months of weighing alternative routes and tussling with public officials over how to ease traffic congestion between Jackson and Cape Girardeau, the Missouri Department of Transportation is getting ready to design its solution: the widening of Highway 34-72 from two to five lanes...

Children want to be around positive, adult influences and need a safe place to learn and grow. That was the reason behind a visit to Cape Girardeau Friday by Fred Paulke, regional director of the Boys and Girls Club of America/Midwest. Paulke spoke with a small group of representatives from Caring Communities, the Community Caring Council, the Area Wide United Way and the Cape Girardeau Civic Center in an informational meeting about his organization...

Southeast Missouri State University's wish list is a long one. The Board of Regents voted Friday to request $54 million from the state for fiscal 2001-2002. The university doesn't expect to get all of that money. But the board's action will bring proposed projects to the attention of the Missouri Coordinating Board for Higher Education...

It isn't often that a student or teacher from the area places in international competition, but one of each did so in The International Science and Engineering Fair at Philadelphia this month. Amanda Jeanne Busby, 16, of Kennett, was one of nine winners of $500 in fourth awards from Intel in the engineering category. The Kennett High School student's winning entry addressed spectral changes in glass...

In less than a year the count will begin for the official 2000 census, and it is important that everyone be included. The census may seem insignificant -- just a bunch of population figures in the end -- but it is so much more than that. The region stands a lot to gain from an accurate count. ...

To the editor: On March 13, J.O. Green, a science teacher at Campbell High School from 1972 to 1989 died in an automobile accident. Mr. Green touched the lives of many students at CHS, and we thought it only appropriate that we continue helping students in honor of Mr. Green's dedication to our school...

SINCE I'VE had cancer, my next-door neighbor puts away my trash can every Monday morning. When I get home the cans are already put away. It's one less thing that I need to do. I HAVE some of the best neighbors Lloyd and Jill Pinkley. They are always doing something for me. They put my newspaper in my garage, clean my gutters and so many other things. Lloyd is always fixing something for me. They have done so much for me, I just wanted to say thank you very much...

To the editor: The United States is again involved in war, a war that was none of our business, a conflict that can only be solved by the individuals living in that country. When you take it upon yourself to solve a problem for someone else, as our government has done with everything from education, smoking cigarettes, having children out of wedlock to drug abuse, the problem is never solved, and many more different problems erupt. ...

The 14-team, Class 2A, District 1 track meet will be held today at the Abe Stuber Track and Field Complex in Cape Girardeau. Field events will get underway at 11 a.m., with the sprint preliminaries to start at 11:30. The teams in the district include Brentwood, Cardinal Ritter, Caruthersville, Chaffee, Crystal City, East Prairie, Grandview, Kelly, Lutheran North, Malden, Maplewood-Richmond Heights, Metro, Portageville and Scott City...

Two of the area's best high school baseball teams will not make it out of districts. That's the reality facing Kelly, Notre Dame and host Chaffee -- the Class 2A, District 2 Tournament's top three seeds -- as they enter postseason play which starts Monday...

Last year, Oran took second in state. This year, they're seeded second in their district. But according to Chuck Powers, the coach of top-seeded Advance, Oran is still the team to beat. "We have the No. 1 seed because we beat them the other day," Powers said. "But I think the odds have to go with Oran. They're the defending state runners-up. They're still the top dog in our district."...

Southeast Missouri State University's baseball Indians appear to have everything going their way as they try to secure the host spot for the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament. But Southeast coach Mark Hogan knows the Indians still have their work cut out for them entering the final weekend of the regular season...

Cape Girardeau Central High's girls soccer team has lost just three games over the past three seasons combined -- but Lady Tigers' coach Tom Doyle knows there are no guarantees come district time. That's why Doyle knows that the Lady Tigers -- despite a glittering, school-best 22-1-2 record -- won't have a cakewalk when the Class 4A, District 1 Tournament is held in Jackson next week...

HILLSBORO -- Cape Central's girls soccer team added to its record-breaking season with another blowout, defeating Hillsboro 10-0 Friday. Central -- after establishing a new record with their 21st win of the season on Thursday -- finished its regular season with a 22-1-2 record...

Mollie Louise Garavaglia, 89, of Cape Girardeau died Friday, May 14, 1999, at Southeast Missouri Hospital. She was born April 18, 1910, in Cape Girardeau, daughter of Harry A. and Ella A. Schrader Rogers. She and John L. Garavaglia were married March 21, 1932, in Ste. Genevieve. He died Oct. 16, 1982...

Charles L. Hill, 74, of Cape Girardeau died Friday, May 14, 1999, at St. Francis Medical Center. He was born Jan. 17, 1925, in Benton, Ill., son of Clyde Ray and Erma Shaffer Hill. He and Helen L. Pilson were married Nov. 6, 1943, in Oshkosh, Wis. Hill was a coal miner at Orient No. ...

OLMSTED, Ill. -- Clyde J. Burd, 85 of Olmsted died Friday, May 14, 1999, at the Lutheran Home in Cape Girardeau. Born Nov. 13, 1913, in Olmsted, he was the son of Edward and Josie Knupp Burd. A Methodist by faith, Burd was a truck driver for Bishop Burd Construction Co., Martin Oil Co. and Absorbent Clay Products...

CHAFFEE -- Brenda Dumey, 44, of Chaffee died at her home Friday, May 14, 1999. Arrangements are incomplete at Amick-Burnett Funeral Home in Chaffee.

Flossie Woolridge, 96, of Memphis, Tenn., and formerly of Jonesboro, Ill., died Friday, May 14, 1999. Funeral arrangements are pending at Lutz & Rendleman Funeral Home in Anna, Ill.

Clyde Doughty, 58, of Jonesboro, Ill., died Friday, May 14, 1999, at Union County Hospital in Anna, Ill. Funeral arrangements are incomplete at Lutz & Rendleman Funeral Home in Anna.

Daughter to Johnny Wayne and Sheila Gail Wells of Morley, Southeast Missouri Hospital, 2:40 p.m. Wednesday, May 5, 1999. Name, Julia Gail. Weight, 7 pounds 12 ounces. Third daughter. Mrs. Wells is the former Sheila Dollins, daughter of Joe and Louise Dollins of Morley. Wells is the son of Gloria Kearby of Morley, and the late Harold Wells...

JACKSON -- Funeral for Carolyn Lynette Wade of Jackson will be held at 1 p.m. today at McCombs Funeral Home in Jackson. The Rev. Johnny Thomas will officiate. Burial will be in Russell Heights Cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home from noon until service time...