Stories from Saturday, July 10, 1999

Pastors and evangelists agree that faithful giving by believers is necessary for churches and other ministries to flourish and do God's work. They also believe that God rewards a cheerful giver. What the place of tithing is, compared with giving and whether tithers may be rewarded financially as well as spiritually, however, are matters of contention...

JACKSON -- Cimarron Boardman quit playing football after his freshman year, an astonishing decision for a student at pigskin-loving Jackson High School. He just didn't want to risk an injury that could end his ride on the rodeo way of life. Boardman was good enough at other sports but he recognized that his event, calf roping, held a promise the others didn't...

"Countdown to Census 2000" is under way. "We're halfway through the process," says Henry Palacios, Regional Census Director, U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census-Kansas City. Palacios was guest speaker at the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce's Friday Coffee...

Barrel rolls, nose dives and loopty-loos were only a few of the aerobatic feats being performed at the 1999 Cape Girardeau Regional Air Festival Friday. Pilots practiced stunts and set up displays in preparation air show activities, which begin today at Cape Regional Airport...

I loved the outdoors as a little girl. That was the case even when I wasn't ripping and running with the other banshees in my neighborhood. Sometimes, I'd just spread me a quilt under the shade tree in our backyard, grab a good book and an ice-cold glass of homemade lemonade, and just lay there all day...

Missouri Attorney General Jay Nixon praised Thursday's decision by U.S. Justice Department to require Continental Grain to divest its grain-buying facility near Caruthersville before the company is acquired by a competitor. Nixon said Cargill Inc.'s plan to buy Continental Grain would have reduced competition and hurt grain farmers in Southeast Missouri...

The Humane Society of Southeast Missouri is counting on sumptuous desserts to help meet summer expenses at the shelter. The Humane Society Ice Cream Social and Gourmet Dessert Auction will be held at Mollie's Cafe & Bar on Sunday, July 18. Susan McClanahan, author of the Southeast Missourian's weekly Recipe Swap, will serve as guest hostess of the event, greeting people at the door. ...

The Lutheran Family and Children Services has an award, "The Walter," for someone who exhibits Rev. Walter Keisker's same humble service. The recipient at the dinner was C.A. Bohnsack, of Cape Girardeau. Bohnsack is the founder of Craftsman Office Supply and his offices were the first home of the family services organization...

The millennium bug and what it means to both businesses and individuals will be the topic for "Y2K Community Conversation: Are We Ready?" to be presented 6-8 p.m. Wednesday by Southeast Missouri Hospital's Generations Family Resource Center. The free program will be held in the hospital's Harrison Room...

The American Queen of the Delta Queen Steamboat Company will dock at Riverfront Park at noon Monday. The boat is the largest in the Delta Queen line. It is 418 feet long and has a 436-passenger capacity. Passengers on the boat will spend the day in Cape Girardeau, with the boat scheduled to leave at 5 p.m...

He's lived through two World Wars, survived the Great Depression, seen Babe Ruth hit 60 home runs, watched television when it was brand new and watched man walk on the moon. But for the hundreds who have known him and call him friend, they are just glad the Rev. Walter Keisker has had the courtesy to be around for a century...

The Area Wide United Way will hold its third annual Care Fair from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. today at West Park Mall. Non-profit agencies funded by the United Way will be available to explain services they offer in the community. For example, First Call for Help, the...

CHARLESTON -- The Mississippi County Commission spent their time discussing alternatives after rejecting last week's shipment of limestone delivered to the county by Architectural Stone Sales of Bedford, Ill. Jim Blumenberg, presiding commissioner, explained during Thursday's commission meeting that the shipment was received as promised, but that at least half of the stone blocks were "top cap" pieces that would still not allow the county to continue exterior construction, as the top cap pieces could not be used until lower rows were completed.. ...

To the editor: On July 3 your paper ran a letter that reflected the views of state Rep. Jim Kreider of Nixa, speaker pro tem of the Missouri House of Representatives. Kreider started by pointing out that he would like to hear a fair and honest debate about the differences between Missouri's current state budget and that of 10 years ago. ...

The Cape Girardeau School District is in the midst of a major building and renovation project. But the actual costs are coming in considerably higher than the estimates. The difference is about $5 million for the projects that have been contracted so far, and bids haven't been sought for some of the planned projects...

To the editor: Speech is the "power of expressing and communicating thoughts by speaking." Funny, but I don't find anything about burning a flag in there anywhere. Not that I think we need another idiotic law passed by Congress, but burning a flag is not speech even by a stretch of the imagination. However, if somebody wants to waste his money by burning a flag he paid for, then what's the problem...

If you improve it, they will come. That, in a nutshell, is what Southeast Missouri State Director of Athletics Donald Kaverman believes when it comes to the proposed improvements of Houck Stadium and the ability to draw better football recruits. "I think the improvements are absolutely necessary if we have any chance to be successful in the long term," Kaverman said. "We're not up to OVC standards. I was very glad to see the Board of Regents endorse this proposal."...

In an age where there is the Worldwide Web, drive-through windows and Sandra Bulloch movies, it seems speed is prevalent. But the Ste. Genevieve Yanks proved Friday night that more velocity is not necessarily an improvement when facing the McDowell Capahas...

SIKESTON -- Matt Stroup was solid on mound and at the plate as Chaffee's Junior American Legion team knocked off Cape 7-2 Friday night. Stroup picked up the complete-game win and limited Cape to just six hits and struck out six, while providing three hits -- including a solo home run -- as Chaffee advanced to the District 14 finals. ...

Bessie Viola Ruebel, 78, of Cape Girardeau died Wednesday, July 7, 1999, at the Lutheran Home. She was born April 28, 1921, at Oak Ridge, daughter of Dallis Edward and Eula Mae Lape Moore. She and Melvin Edwin Ruebel were married Aug. 27, 1941. He died Nov. 27, 1994...

LONGTOWN -- Erwin Grass, 73, of Longtown died Thursday, July 8, 1999, at Perry County Memorial Hospital in Perryville. He was born July 27, 1925, at Friedheim, son of Henry C. and Martha Schubert Grass. He and LaVerne Hacker were married July 8, 1948. She died Oct. 31, 1997...

SIKESTON -- Glenn A. Matthews Jr., 83, of Sikeston died Thursday, July 8, 1999, at Bertrand Nursing Facility. He was born Sept. 3, 1915, in Sikeston, son of Glenn A. and Clara Cox Matthews Sr. He and Charlotte Marie Dover were married Jan. 1, 1937, in Jonesboro, Ill. She died Dec. 9, 1994...

SIKESTON -- Funeral for Mitchell Alan Johnson of Sikeston will be held at 2 p.m. today at Nunnelee Funeral Chapel. The Rev. Kelley Grubbs will officiate. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery. Friends may call at the chapel from noon until service time...

PIEDMONT -- Funeral for Lee Tooke of Piedmont was held Friday at Morrison-Worley Funeral Home in Piedmont. The Revs. Allen Calkins and Dan Ross officiated. Private burial was in Duncan Cemetery in Reynolds County. Tooke, 85, died Tuesday, July 6, 1999, at Clark's Mountain Nursing Center...

DEXTER -- Harry B. Jennings, 90, of Dexter died Friday, July 9, 1999, at Sikeston Convalescent Manor in Sikeston. He was born March 14, 1909, at Purdy, son of Blythe and Lydia Graber Jennings. He first married Emma Lou McQuarry, who preceded him in death. He and Wilma Boone King were married Jan. 18, 1983...

JACKSON -- Funeral Mass for Violet R. Elfrink of Jackson will be held at 10 a.m. Monday at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church. The Rev. Robert Landewe will officiate. Burial will be in St. John's Catholic Cemetery at Leopold. Friends may call at McCombs Funeral Home in Jackson from 4-8 p.m. Sunday. Parish prayers will be at 7:30...

PATTON -- Norma G. Ramey, 70, of Patton died Friday, July 9, 1999, at Madison Memorial Hospital in Fredericktown. She was born July 3, 1929, in Rollan, Tenn., daughter of Jesse and Victoria Ervin Hall. She and G.F. Edward Ramey were married April 16, 1948. He died Feb. 11, 1999...

OAK RIDGE -- Funeral for Hubert W. Slinkard of Oak Ridge will be held at 10 a.m. today at Amick-Burnett Funeral Chapel in Chaffee. The Revs. Grant F.C. Gillard and Ronnie Brown will officiate. Burial will be in Friend Cemetery at Oran. Slinkard, 86, died Thursday, July 8, 1999, at Jackson Manor in Jackson...

BELL CITY -- Harold Wayne Hazel, 36, of Bell City died Friday, July 9, 1999, at his home. Morgan Funeral Home in Advance is in charge of arrangements.

CHAFFEE -- Stella Pearl Hubbard, 92, of Chaffee died Friday, July 9, 1999, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. Ford and Sons Funeral Home in Cape Girardeau is in charge of arrangements.

ANNA, Ill. -- Carl F. Wiedlocher Jr., 82, of Anna died Friday, July 9, 1999, at Memorial Hospital in Carbondale. He was born Jan. 22, 1917, at Springfield, son of Carl F. and Evelyn Solomon Wiedlocher Sr. He was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Anna and the Knights of Columbus. He was a veteran of World War II...

Son to Tim M. and Jennifer A. Coad of Cape Girardeau, Southeast Missouri Hospital, 9:51 a.m. Friday, July 2, 1999. Name, Hogan Joseph. Weight, 6 pounds 15 ounces. First child. Mrs. Coad is the former Jennifer Pautler, daughter of Paul and Hallie Pautler of Perryville. She is a teacher at Perry County Middle School. Coad is the son of Joe and Nell Coad of Cape Girardeau. He is owner of Coad Chevrolet...

Mr. Ernest F. Schuette, age 93 of Jackson passed away Wednesday, July 7, 1999 at the Lutheran Home in Cape Girardeau where he has resided since January. Mr. Schuette and his wife, Minnie resided at the Lutheran Home for a short time prior to her death on February 7, 1999...