Stories from Friday, June 11, 1999

To the editor: I would just like to say that I agree with a lot of stuff in Senate Bill 335 (which revises numerous sentencing provisions). But there is a whole lot of other stuff that's not fair to a whole lot of inmates and their families. Some of the stuff that's not fair is that SB335 doesn't affect prisoners incarcerated in the Department of Corrections...

In a place where nearly every touch is probing or is followed by the prick of a needle, health care professionals at clinics and hospitals are learning that a touch can be both comforting and therapeutic. Touch therapy ranges from hugs to massage or even acupuncture. The idea is that it helps patients relax, control their breathing and even offers some reassurance and compassion...

A Junior Get Youth Moving camp will be held Tuesday and Thursday, June 15 through July 22, at St. Francis Universal Health and Fitness Center. It is a camp focusing on proper eating habits and healthy activity levels for children. It is designed to introduce children to a healthy lifestyle that they can carry into adulthood...

"Medicare in Review," a free seminar will be held at the Lutheran Home II, Tuesday, June 22, at 1 and 7 p.m. The Medicare program, including latest changes and new preventative services will be looked into and find out how you can help prevent Medicare fraud...

A woman-to-woman luncheon will be held at noon Thursday at St. Francis Medical Center. Diane Gammon will talk about potential problems associated with the millennium. Gammon has been the Director of Information Systems at St. Francis Medical Center for 22 years. She will also talk about what organizations are doing to prepare for potential problems...

A Burns Recovered Support Group has been formed in the southeast Missouri area as a group concerning itself with the difficult battle faced by the burn victim during recovery and the need for acceptance once the burn survivor is ready to return to society. The group will provide public education on the need for fire prevention...

It has happened to all of us walking along enjoying the feeling of fresh grass between your toes, when you suddenly feel the sharp, hot, painful sting by an insect by the order Hymenoptera. These are common throughout the United States and while it may take over 100 bee stings to inflict a lethal dose of venom in most adults, one sting can cause a fatal anaphylactic allergic reaction in a hypersensitive person. ...

Southeast Missouri Mental Health Center in Farmington will present a summer series of Education programs to provide families with information and skills in managing family member's severe mental illness. The family Family Education program is designed to focus on building collaborative relationships with families and SMMHC treatment staff so that families receive education and information that can assist them in managing the many needs of a severely mentally ill relative...

Southeast Missouri Hospital will offer an Asthma Education Program 6-9 p.m. Thursday, June 24, in the hospital's Generations Center. The program is designed for children and adults who deal with asthma, as well as their families. It will be taught the hospital's Respiratory Care staff...

Let's assume that the Kosovo peace accord is real. Where does that leave us? Already, pundits are proclaiming this a major victory for Clinton. As such, it will no doubt benefit those in his wake, namely: Al Gore and Hillary. But the political dividends to Bill, Al and Hillary should not divert our primary focus. The more important question is what will this mean for the United States and its future role in international affairs?...

For victims of sexual assault, one of the toughest decisions is whether or not to seek help. They fear the trauma of having to tell their story over and over again to doctors, police officers, prosecutors and therapists. To address this concern, a group of volunteers from professional fields involved in dealing with sexual-assault cases have been working to develop a center that would provide advocacy and eliminate some of the horror of reliving the assault...

It's Riverfest time again in Cape Girardeau, and organizers hope this year the thunderstorms stay away. There is something for everyone on the two-day schedule of events. The entertainment starts at 4 p.m. today on stages set up throughout the downtown area, and the fun will last until 11 p.m. today, continue all day Saturday and end with fireworks at 9 p.m. Saturday...

To the editor: Were you there? If not, you missed a wonderful evening of entertainment by the Jerry Ford orchestra a Rose Theater on June 3. The concert was a fund raiser for the Cape River Heritage Museum. Jerry and his orchestra of accomplished musicians donated their expertise for this event...

In May 1976, vandals tore the replica of the Statue of Liberty from its perch in Capaha Park's Freedom Corner and left it scarred and broken in a ditch on Bertling Street. The statue was restored at Otto Dingeldein Silversmith Shop in time for the Bicentennial Fourth of July...

Karen Diebold of Benton called a Cape Girardeau number Thursday morning. "It didn't cost me extra," said Diebold, who normally had to pay to call outside her immediate area. "I had to pay to call my doctor, my dentist and some friends," said Diebold, who headed a petition drive more than a year ago aimed at expansion of the local telephone calling service area...

BENTON -- The Scott County Commission may propose a capital improvement sales tax to fund a new county jail, courthouse repairs and road and bridge improvements. Presiding Commissioner Martin Priggel said the commission is exploring the idea but isn't close to making a decision...

School librarian Julia Jorgensen wants to share some once-in-a-lifetime memories with graduates of Central High School. Jorgensen, who is completing her first year as librarian, wants to make room on her shelves for books about regional history or by regional authors. To do so she is selling old copies of The Girardot, the high school's annual yearbook...

If this is spring in Cape Girardeau, it must be allergy season. It's no comfort that you're not suffering alone. Everybody I know is sniffling and wheezing. Allergies. Cape Girardeau's reputation for roses have earned it the title of City of Roses. Most folks would be more likely to call it the City of Post-Nasal Drip...

Three fatalities in three separate accidents in the Bootheel were reported by the state Highway Patrol this week. On Monday at 6:15 p.m. James Baker of Marion, Ill., was eastbound on U.S. 60 approximately 10 miles west of Poplar Bluff, Mo., when his car crossed the center line, according to the Highway Patrol. Baker, 41, hit John Randazzo, 36, of Grandin, Mo., who was driving west...

Construction has resumed on the Student Recreation Center project at Southeast Missouri State University. Workers returned to the New Madrid Street job site Thursday after university officials received assurances that painters on the job would be paid the state-mandated prevailing wage...

State Rep. David Schwab, R-Jackson, will speak at a legislative workshop in Cape Girardeau on Thursday. He will discuss the legislative process and give an overview of the recent legislative session. The SEMO Alliance for Disability Independence or SADI is hosting the workshop...

Southeast Missouri State University's baseball program has signed another player from California -- and he's a young man who Indian coach Mark Hogan can't help but get excited about. In Josue Lopez, Hogan believes the Indians might just have landed the most highly-touted freshman in school history...

Nothing seems to daunt the Kohlfield Riverfest Run. Not rain. Not ridiculous heat indices. Not floods. Not even the threat of the cancellation of the Riverfest. After all of those obstacles, race coordinators Ron and Vicky Keller still expect one of the largest assemblages in the race's 17-year history today...

JACKSON -- Sudden-death playoffs and dramatic comebacks figured into two championships in the final round of the Heartland Junior Championship golf tournament Thursday at Bent Creek Golf Course. Michael Craft of Paducah, Ky. shot a final-round score of 2-under-par 70 and came from four strokes behind to beat Tyson Mannering of Makansa, Ill. in sudden death in the boys 13-14-year-old division...

SIKESTON -- Ford & Sons Cape Legion split a district doubleheader with Sikeston Thursday night, dropping a squeaker before winning the nightcap in five innings. Sikeston scored the winning run in the bottom of the seventh to win the opener 9-8, but then incurred the wrath of Cape in an 11-1 beating...

WATERLOO, Ill. -- The McDowell Capahas dropped to 7-3 on the season Thursday night with a 2-1 loss in 10 innings to the Waterloo Buds. Waterloo's Jim Anderson provided the game-winning single with two outs. Matt Palmer pitched a gem for the Capahas. He went 9 2/3 innings and gave up no earned runs on five hits and a walk. He fanned four...

The Cape Girardeau Senior Babe Ruth White Sox improved to 3-3 overall and 3-1 in league play with a doubleheader sweep over Charleston at Capaha Field Thursday night. Cape won the first game 10-0 in five innings, then won the second game 8-4 in another five-inning affair...

Defending champion Jefferson City has decided not to return, but there still shouldn't be a shortage of talent when the second annual Capaha Classic Tournament is held this weekend. The Cape Girardeau Ford & Sons American Legion baseball squad is serving as host for the three-day, nine-team event to be held at all three of Cape's primary diamonds...

SCOTT CITY -- George Elmer Mungle, 85, formerly of Millersville, died Wednesday, June 9, 1999, at his home. He was born Sept. 22, 1913, in Cape Girardeau County, son of Clarence and Minnie Mungle. He married Birdie M. Smith July 15, 1936. She died July 1, 1974...

ANNA, Ill. -- Charles Paul Carhart, 59, of Gary, Ind., died Tuesday, June 8, 1999, at his home. He was born June 18, 1939, in Anna, son of Alfred and Amy Mays Young Carhart. Carhart was a graduate of Purdue University. He was a metallurgist, and was employed 20 years at Wisconsin Steel. He also had been a consultant with several other steel companies...

Funeral for Kathern "Kathy" Burton of Henderson, Tenn., was held May 11, 1999, at the United Pentecostal Church in Bethel Springs, Tenn. Jeff Young of-ficiated. Burial was in Rogers Cemetery in Henderson. Leon Johnson and Son Funeral Home in Henderson was in charge of arrangements...

Funeral for B. Jewell Bennett of Cape Girardeau will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday at Lorberg Memorial Funeral Chapel. The Rev. Glynn Robison will officiate. Burial will be in the Bennett Family Cemetery at Lodi. Friends may call at the chapel from 6-8 p.m. today...

SIKESTON -- Funeral for Harold Duff Sr. of Sikeston will be held at 2 p.m. today at Nunnelee Funeral Chapel. The Rev. Dolan Rogers will officiate. Burial will be in Garden of Memories Cemetery. Duff, 55, died Wednesday, June 9, 1999, at Fort Sanders Sevier Medical Center in Sevierville, Tenn...

NEW WELLS -- Funeral for Joseph J. Kridel of New Wells will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday at Immanuel Lutheran Church. The Rev. Walter Patzwitz will officiate. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Friends may call at McCombs Funeral Home in Jackson from 5-8 p.m. today...

EAST PRAIRIE -- Henry S. Miller, 52, of East Prairie died Wednesday, June 9, 1999, at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis. He was born Dec. 7, 1946, in East Prairie, the son of Henry S. Miller Sr. and Katherine Grigery Miller. He married Betty Jane Rynearson on May 8, 1971...