Stories from Saturday, June 12, 1999

We set aside a day in May to honor mothers, and a day in June for fathers, but they actually should be honored every day. I truly hope that those privileged to still have their parents will take advantage of that blessing. These two are special to me; you see, I was given two wonderful mothers and fathers. ...

Four panels from a stained glass window depict Christ and his disciples as mariners. The first shows Jesus with Peter and Andrew; the second depicts Jesus walking on water; the third panel shows him calming the storm and the last panel shows the disciples with a miraculous catch of fish. The panels are the bottom half of windows from the Church of the Holy Comforter for Sailors in New York...

Do you sing with the church choir, but don't think you've got the voice for a public performance? Why not join the Heartland Homecoming Choir June 19 for a special concert at the Show Me Center and try it out? Seats for the 200-voice choir and lesson slots from musician and choir director Ben Speer are still available...

DEXTER -- Major improvements to Dexter's parks and recreation program could be made if voters approve a half-cent sales tax in August, say supporters of the ballot issue. Members of the city's Parks and Recreation Board of Directors, Mayor Myra Pritchett and several members of the Board of Aldermen Thursday night started mapping out a campaign to inform city voters of the need for the sales tax...

Last year organizers of Riverfest marveled at how everything seemed to go according to plan. And then the rains came -- sending everyone packing the first night of the festival. This year, as the festival kicked off Friday afternoon, their only concern was that there be a Riverfest. A lack of funding put the annual event in jeopardy...

Nikki Hadley knows every bump and girder along the Mississippi River bridge at Cape Girardeau. She makes the drive every day. But if the bridge closes for repairs in July as scheduled, Hadley, who is manager of the Cape Girardeau Red Lobster, faces some tough choices for herself and her employees...

"Over my head I hear music in the air. There must be a God somewhere." The Negro spiritual "Over My Head" was one of my favorite songs as a little girl. Not only did I like the soulfulness of the song, I liked the idea of hearing a musical sound so wondrous that it made me think God was nearby...

DEXTER -- A once-in-a-million milestone was cause for celebration Thursday afternoon as Tyson employees and management observed an important landmark at the local poultry plant. The Dexter Tyson Processing Plant held a celebration to mark the achievement of one million manhours of work without a lost-time accident. On hand for the celebration were the local Tyson employees and management, as well as company Chairman John Tyson of Springdale, Ark...

The Kmart store in Cape Girardeau is taking on a new look. "We're converting to the Big K format," said store manager Bill Marra. Remodeling began at at the store, 11 S. Kingshighway earlier this week, and will continue through mid-August. "We're looking a grand re-opening in August," said Marra...

To the editor: Several weeks ago, our Missouri legislators passed Senate Bill 294, which repeals the motorcycle helmet law. This bill now sits on Gov. Mel Carnahan's desk. He has told his advisers that he is inclined to veto this dangerous bill if there is enough grass-roots support for him to do so. He needs Missouri voters to speak up so this unwise bill is not made into law...

We have the State of the State, the State of the Nation, the state of the American Stock Exchange, the state of the economy, the state of inflation and, even, the state of the latest Hollywood films. Each is intended to send its own particular ranking as a source of information for a huge array of constituencies...

Blood donations typically decline in the summer. People travel. They're outside more. Their thoughts may not be on giving the gift of life. But blood demand increases rather dramatically in the summer. Increased travel leads to more accidents. More outside activities spur injuries. This is the time more people should think about giving the gift of life...

Cape Girardeau's Alternative Education Center provides a second chance for students who must work outside the normal classroom setting. Last week, the Alternative School celebrated the graduation of two students. Lakita Johnson and Chris Welter both earned diplomas from Central High School through the Alternative Education Center...

To the editor: I was reading the article, "Prisons provide punishment, Jobs," in the June 5 Southeast Missourian, and I was saddened. The article was about the excitement and job opportunities that are associated with the new prisons being built to contain the increasing number of individuals who are being arrested because of the war on drugs...

The Chaffee American Legion baseball team staged a late rally Friday to win its opening game in the nine-team Capaha Classic Tournament being played in Cape Girardeau. Chaffee erased a five-run seventh-inning deficit with a seven-run rally to beat Ballwin 9-7 in its pool opener...

Art Waddle, Pam Campbell It took a while, but Art Waddle is on his way back. Waddle, a Poplar Bluff native, was a standout runner at Southeast Missouri State University from 1983-87. During that time, Waddle also earned his stripes as a star in the Kohlfeld Riverfest Run, winning in 1985 and 1987 and finishing second in 1992...

The Kohlfeld Scorpions Rugby Club will host its annual Riverfest 7's Tournament today at Arena Park. The tournament will feature both men's and women's teams from around the Midwest, including St. Louis, Columbia, Paducah (Ky.), Memphis (Tenn.) and Peoria (Ill.)...

POPLAR BLUFF -- The Three Rivers Community College Lady Raiders capped their record-setting softball season with two players being selected for All-America honors. Molly McKinney, a sophomore pitcher from Kelly High School in Benton, was a second-team selection on the National Junior College Athletic Association All-America team...

SIKESTON -- Ruth Howard, 76, of Sikeston died Thursday, June 10, 1999, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. She was born Jan. 6, 1923, at Lander's Ridge, daughter of William Polk and Mary Scoville Townsend. She and Gerald D. Howard were married Oct. 14, 1944...

ADVANCE -- Myrl "Mose" Fowler, 74, of Advance died Thursday, June 10, 1999, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. He was born June 25, 1924, at Goose Pond Hill, son of George and Bertie Pohlman Fowler. He and Ruth Hitt were married April 2, 1960. She died Nov. 5, 1995...

MARBLE HILL -- Henry Joseph Thele, 83, of Marble Hill died Thursday, June 10, 1999, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. He was born Sept. 14, 1915, near Leopold, son of Joseph and Willimenia Elfrink Thele. He and Hazel Mary Bullard were married Sept. 3, 1938, at Webster Groves...

JONESBORO, Ill. -- Bertha Young, 66, of Jonesboro died Thursday, June 10, 1999, at Union County Hospital in Anna. She was a member of Landmark Pentecostal Church. Survivors include her husband, Clifford Young; three sons, Chester and George Garvin of Paris, Ill., Darrell Garvin of Charleston; a daughter, Becky Etchison of Paris; six sisters, Martha Winsett, Mildred Hires and Annie Walsh of Metcalf, Freda Ashworth of Dover, Tenn., Mary Roberts of Loxie, Ruby Pannell of Decatur; three brothers, Artie Johnson of Hume, Duane Johnson of Oakland, Dennis Johnson of Marshall; 12 grandchildren; and a great-grandchild.. ...

KELSO -- Zita O. Hess, 87, of Kelso died Thursday, June 10, 1999, at the Lutheran Home in Cape Girardeau. She was born Feb. 10, 1912, in Scott County, daughter of Adam B. and Rufina Schlosser Schaefer. She and Joseph Marion Hess were married April 19, 1938. He died Sept. 9, 1976...

JONESBORO, Ill. -- Leora Bradley, 71, of Jonesboro died Wednesday, June 9, 1999, at her home. She was born Feb. 24, 1928, at Ware, daughter of Herman S. and Virgie Mae Edwards Tanner. She and Norman S. Bradley were married May 25, 1946, in Union County. He preceded her in death...

Lucene M. Worley, 83, of Cape Girardeau died Friday, June 11, 1999, at St. Francis Medical Center. Ford and Sons Mt. Auburn Chapel is in charge of arrangements.

McCLURE, Ill. -- Josephine Williams, 80, of McClure died Friday, June 11, 1999, at her home. She was born Jan. 10, 1919, at Fornfelt, daughter of Scott and Florence Edwards Miller. She married Harry Williams in 1937. Williams retired in 1990 from the dietary department at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau, Mo. She was a greeter at Kmart in Cape Girardeau several years. She currently was working at Parkwood Manor in Cape Girardeau. She was also a foster parent 20 years...

GORDONVILLE -- Dorothy E. Macke, 92, of Gordonville died Friday, June 11, 1999, at the Lutheran Home in Cape Girardeau. She was born Oct. 22, 1906, daughter of Robert and Louise Bartels Probst. She and Albert H. Macke were married Oct. 26, 1929. He died Dec. 23, 1957...

JACKSON -- Hughes "Ron" Medlock, 56, of Jackson died Friday, June 11, 1999, at the Missouri Veterans Home in Cape Girardeau. Arrangements are incomplete at McCombs Funeral Home in Jackson.

Daughter to Nathan Paul Petzoldt and Jenifer Denise Meyer of Jackson, Southeast Missouri Hospital, 4:47 a.m. Monday, May 24, 1999. Name, Jillian Ann. Weight, 9 pounds 1 ounce. Second child, first daughter. Ms. Meyer is the daughter of David L. Meyer and Denise A. Taylor of Perryville. Petzoldt is the son of Pearl C. Petzoldt and Delores A. Petzoldt of Perryville. He is an electrician with Ace Electric and Service Electric...

CAIRO, Ill. -- James J. "Blinky" Siegelman, 70, of Cairo died Friday, June 11, 1999, at his home. He was born Oct. 13, 1928, in Cairo, son of Joseph H. and Beverly Foster Siegelman. Siegelman had been a truck driver with Inman Freight Systems. Survivors include his wife, Dorothy; four daughters, Debra Siegelman of San Diego, Calif., Sharon Short of Paducah, Ky., Janet Ransom of Murphysboro, Brenda Sarten of Clinton, Ky.; and a son, Robert Siegelman of Ullin...