Stories from Sunday, August 15, 1999

Jackson R-2 teachers Janet Koch, Rhonda Norman, Debra Hoffman and Janet Ludwig networked at the MBEA Fellowship Luncheon. Jackson High School business teacher Janet Ludwig presided over the Missouri Association for Career and Technical Education/Missouri Business Education Association's 30th annual Joint Summer Conference in Springfield, July 26-29...

There is a saying that you never truly understand someone else until you walk a mile in their shoes It is also said that the eyes are the windows of the soul. If someone shares their view, their unique way of seeing things, you save a lot of walking around in shoes that probably don't fit very well. ...

I was probably on my way to the new Wal-Mart (our biggest step away from small townhood) when I heard from the back seat, "what's that?" "what are they building?" Probably more homes I thought. Soon the road was closed and it occurred to me that this would be the new extension of Main Street...

John Wondel wants to see Jackson Bowling Lanes continue to be a pleasant place to bring a family or group of friends. The Cap Girardeau native took over as manager of the bowling alley on August 5. An honors graduate of Southeast Missouri State University, Wondel has made use of his business administration degree by selling insurance...

"911! Help! Police!" "This is 911. How may I help you?" "Someone or something has stolen, er, uh, is stealing my summer away from me. Hurry!" "Calm down, lady. This is the police. We'll be right there. Can you give me a description of the culprit. I'll look for him, her or it along the way out."...

A tradition that began during the Theodore Roosevelt administration will continue this week in downtown Jackson. The 91st Annual Homecomers will kick off Tuesday night, when mayor Paul Sander and the Jackson Municipal Band welcome visitors and locals to the gala...

The Heartland Writers Guild will hold its summer writers workshop August 28 at the University Center at Southeast Missouri State University. New York literary agent Evan Marshall will conduct the one-day workshop. Marshall, owner of the New York-based Evan Marshall Literary Agency, is author of the Writer's Digest Books best-seller, The Marshall Plan for Novel Writing. ...

Cape Girardeau County Presiding Commissioner Gerald Jones presented college scholarships to 1999 graduates of the five high schools in Cape County. Jones hosted a luncheon Tuesday for the recipients and their parents. This is the fifth year Jones has presented the commissioner's scholarships. Each scholarship is valued at $250. He has given a total of $7,500 over five years...

David H. Price, noted criminal consultant and speaker, will give a seminar tonight at 7 p.m. at the Jackson Middle School Cafeteria for parents of all age students. The objectives are to recognize symptoms of possible drug involvement, identify drug storage/hiding places, recognize indicators of gang affiliation and indicators of destructive occult involvement...

Oak Ridge R-6 Schools will be making do with a part-time principal this school year. Shirley Wright, high school principal, left the district this summer, accepting a position as Ste. Genevieve Middle School principal. Replacing her will be Bill Bacchus, a retired Charleston school administrator. Bacchus will work in a part-time capacity...

We in the media at large are always quick to jump on youth who go bad. Lurid headlines, shocking video images and unsettling sound bites are becoming more and more common place. Many troubled or unsound individuals have then turned "copycat," thus increasing the problem...

25 years ago: 1974 Two-member cast-up committee will be appointed by County Clerk Rusby C. Crites to review tally sheets for official totals in Tuesday's Cape Girardeau County primary election, which saw lowest voter turnout many can remember in off-year primary -- probably lowest in three or four decades; only 13 percent of more than 29,000 registered county voters went to polls Tuesday, and observers are asking themselves why; some are blaming apathy resulting from national Watergate scandal...

A showdown has long since developed over the tax-cut bills passed by both houses of Congress and a president who never misses an opportunity to trumpet his veto threat. At every stop, it seems, including his recent address to the nation's governors last week in St. Louis, President Clinton goes out of his way to argue against tax relief for the American people. Repetition doesn't improve the message. The Clinton arguments ring as hollow the 14th time as they did the first...

He wound his ancient gold clock -- an heirloom from his mother's side of the family. He knelt and said his brief prayers (What more did he have to pray for at this stage in his life?), then closed his shades and turned out the lights before slipping under the covers...

To the editor: The McClure street fair last weekend was a success, despite those negative people who did not want it to happen. The Boy Scout and Girl Scout troops of McClure and their families did a fantastic job of organizing this event for the community...

Several officials from the Missouri Department of Economic Development recently spent time in Jackson and the Cape County area. Included in these officials were project managers, marketing, training and finance staff. The purpose of their visit was to tour the area communities and to see available industrial sites and buildings. ...

Fifty years ago I would never have guessed that life occurring then would be fondly remembered by anyone, including myself. America had finished World War II and those of us who felt ourselves behind were making plans to get up to speed, finishing college, making plans for marriage and presumably carefully charting our careers, such as they might be...

Some folks no doubt wonder why a few of us state senators won't let the issue of the pending ripoff by the tobacco lawyers die. Responding to queries from a reporter from this newspaper, Attorney General Jay Nixon's press aide last week sputtered her exasperation: "You're the only newspaper that is calling us up to ask about this!" There followed from her the sticks-and-stones insults directed toward yours truly that are no doubt triggered by striking a key on her word processor...

The primary is seven months away in Missouri. But already the leading contender for the Republican nomination has made an appearance in Cape Girardeau. When Gov. George W. Bush made his stop, he told reporters that he would probably be back in Missouri before the campaign was over...

Piggy the robin rested on Shelly Penny's hand on the deck of her home in Cape Girardeau. When Shelly Penny of Cape Girardeau whistles and calls for Piggy, she's not expecting a four-legged creature to come running. She's actually calling a month-old robin to come home. Her son Steven, 16, rescued the bird from the water park in Jackson...

State Rep. Mary Kasten had a hug for everybody who stepped up to the podium Saturday night. One by one, friends and lawmakers stood to sing her praises. The event was U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Emerson's annual political picnic at the Arena Building in Cape Girardeau...

Larry Tidd, left, and Jim Dinkins, both of Cape Girardeau, examined various species of mushrooms at a show by the Missouri Mycological Society Saturday at the Holiday Inn. To a novice mushroom hunter, the item in the small box looked like a bump on log...

Say it isn't so. LifeSavers Company is tampering with tradition. It wants to roll right over the past, and replace its pineapple flavor Life Saver with either watermelon or strawberry. Sweet-toothed consumers will begin voting soon to determine whether worldly watermelon or state-of-the-art strawberry will replace the venerable pineapple candy ring in the Life Savers Five-Flavor roll...

CHARLESTON -- Because the Mississippi County airport is a non-certified airport, county commissioners decide where landings, takeoffs, and taxiing are allowed, according to Junior DeLay, county clerk. DeLay said during Thursday's county commission meeting that he had spoken with the senior airport inspector for the Division of Aviation of the Missouri Department of Transportation, Ron Deatherage...

SIKESTON -- As schools prepare to open their doors, local swimming pools are shutting down after a steamy summer. Saturday marked the last day of a season of swimming for the Sikeston and East Prairie public swimming pools. Matt Bandermann, pool manager at the Sikeston public pool, said he had an increase of swimmers this summer...

Missouri Department of Transportation area engineer Randy Hitt will be the guest on KRCU's "Going Public" radio show Sunday. Hitt will discuss the condition of Missouri's roads and highways, and construction of the Bill Emerson Memorial Bridge. The program airs at 3 p.m. on 90.9 FM, the region's National Public Radio station...

Mount Vernon lawyer Sam Jones wants to send Attorney General Jay Nixon packing. Jones, 54, currently is the only Republican candidate for attorney general. State Sen. Peter Kinder, R-Cape Girardeau, had considered throwing his hat in the ring. But Jones said Saturday that he has talked with state Republican Party officials who have indicated that no other Republican is likely to challenge the Democratic incumbent...

PULASKI, Ill. -- Two demolition derbies will be held here this week. The two derbies highlight grandstand events at the 40th annual Pulaski County Fair, which starts here Monday. Demolition derby action starts Monday, featuring drivers from Alexander and Pulaski counties only. The "Open" demolition derby, open to anyone, will be held Wednesday night...

WOLF LAKE, Ill. -- Illinois State Route 3 will be closed for one week between Wolf Lake and Grand Tower, starting at 7 a.m. Monday. The stretch of road will probably be closed until Monday, Aug. 23, said an Illinois Department of Transportation spokesperson...

The entire country got caught up in a women's soccer frenzy recently in following America's thrilling victory in the World Cup. Southeast Missouri State University hopes to capitalize at least partly on that enthusiasm when the school puts its first women's soccer team on the field in 1999...

To idealists, change is a good thing. Ask traditionalists and they prefer their furniture to stay in the same spot, so to speak. In terms of high school football, Cape Central coach Lawrence Brookins has had the whole house remodeled, while Jackson coach Carl Gross has been tinkering with the pictures on the wall...

Two Heartland All-Star fast-pitch softball teams opened to mixed results Saturday in their respective Babe Ruth World Series. Playing in Jamestown, N.Y., the Heartland All-Stars 12-and-under team won its round-robin opener 6-2 over Western New York. However, in North Carolina, the local 16-and-under squad suffered a 7-2 loss to Pitt County, N.C...

JEFFERSON CITY -- Add tick bite prevention measures to your "to do" list when preparing for outdoor activities. A few simple actions to discourage ticks from getting attached to you can help avoid contracting tick-borne diseases. While a feeding tick doesn't cause much discomfort and doesn't eat much, there are several reasons to be concerned if one of these small, crawly creatures gets attached to you. ...

Are you considering a purchase of a black powder rifle for this fall's deer season? Black powder is a fascinating leap back to the past. Perhaps you cannot truly appreciate what is was like to depend on the meat obtained by a black powder rifle until you try it for yourself. ...

The Cape Girardeau Parks and Recreation Department will hold its second Cardinals Trip Saturday, Sept. 11, when the St. Louis Cardinals play the Pittsburgh Pirates. Ticket and transportation will cost $21. For more information, call 335-5421.

The Cape Jaycees 11th annual 2-Man Scramble will be held Aug. 21-22 at Jaycee Municipal Golf Course in Cape Girardeau. Shotgun starts will be at 7:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. Entry fee is $95 per team plus cart fee. A truck will be among the hole-in-one prizes...

Anyone interested in helping to form an independent youth league in Scott City for the year 2000 is invited to attend a 7 p.m. meeting Sept. 9 at City Hall. The meeting is open to parents and volunteers who are willing to keep the quality of summer baseball/softball. For more information, contact Phyllis Spinks at 264-3411...

The Cape Girardeau Parks & Recreation Department is forming fall leagues for the fall co-ed and men's teams. League play is scheduled to start Sept. 6 at Shawnee Parks Sports Complex. The season will consist of five weeks and 10 games. Entry deadline is Aug. 27 at 5 p.m. Entry fee is $150 a team and $10 for a player card...

The Jackson Boys League will hold sign-ups for its fall baseball league Aug. 9 from 6-8 p.m. at the Jackson City Hall Community Room. Registration cost is $25 for ages 9-11 and $35 for 12-14. The league is open to all boys in Southeast Missouri. For additional information, contact Rich Gross at 243-2616 or 243-3337...

The 4th annual Autumn Open 4-Person Scramble will be held Sept. 18 at Cape Jaycee Municipal Golf Course. The tournament will begin with an 8 a.m. shotgun start. Cost is $120 (carts not included), which includes prizes, breakfast and lunch. For more information, call 334-2031 or 335-5421...

Beginning youth and adult golf classes will be held Sept. 7-16 at Cape Jaycee Municipal Golf Course. Instruction will be held on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Registration is being held at the A.C. Brase Arena. For more information, contact Sabrina Tate at 334-2031, or call 335-5421...

Signups for the 1999 Cape Girardeau Youth Tackle Football League season will be held Aug. 28 and Sept. 4 from 8 a.m.-noon in Capaha Park at the corner of Broadway and Perry. The league is for boys in grades 5-7. For more information, call Andy Dunaway at 335-1475...

The Cape Girardeau Parks and Recreation Department is forming a 6-on-6 co-ed indoor volleyball league for 1999-2000. Cost per team is $216. The league is scheduled to start on Sept. 28-29. Games will be played on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings at the Osage Community Centre...

A fall baseball league for area youths ages 9 to 18 is holding registration today at the JC Penney courtyard in Westfield Shopping Town. Registration will be held from 1-3 p.m. Registration cost is $25 for ages 9 to 11 and $35 for ages 12 and up. For more information, contact Jeff Glenn at 651-3061 or Rich Gross at 243-2616...

JONESBORO, Ill. -- Viola Reynolds, 99, of Jonesboro died Saturday, Aug. 14, 1999, at the Beverly Healthcare Nursing Home. She was born Jan. 27, 1900, to Henry A. and Sarah Jane Lindsey Meisenheimer. She was married to John Reynolds Nov. 19, 1920. Reynolds was a member of the Reynoldsville Baptist Church in Reynoldsville...

Hugh Potter, 87, of Jackson died Friday, Aug. 13, 1999, at the Perry Oaks Nursing Home in Perryville. Potter was born May 5, 1912, to Joseph and Mary Helen Holmes Potter. He was in the U.S. Army during World War II. He worked at Frisco Railroad for 20 years and later took a job with the U.S. Corps of Engineers. He was of the Methodist faith...

Pearl Irene Hill, 94, of Cape Girardeau died Saturday, Aug. 14, 1999, at Beverly Health Care. She was born June 27, 1905, to Charles and Nellie Gearing Wilson in Delta, Ill. She was married to Lawrence Hill Aug. 4, 1923, in Jonesboro, Ill. Hill was a member of the First Baptist Church of Thebes, Ill...

Harry W. Lingle, 86, of Anna died Friday, Aug. 13, 1999, at the Lutheran Home in Cape Girardeau. He was born Oct. 10, 1912, to Ira and Clara E. Meisenheimer Lingle near Mill Creek, Ill. He was married to Eula Baldwin May 6, 1933, in Anna. Lingle was a member of St. John's Lutheran Church. He worked as a truck driver most of his life...

William L. Fish, 74, of Huntingdon, Tenn., died Friday, Aug. 13, 1999, at Fountainbleau Lodge. Funeral arrangements are incomplete and are being handled by Ford and Sons Funeral Home.

Clola Nelson O'Mara, 92, of Cape Girardeau died Saturday, Aug. 14, 1999, at the home of her daughter in Burfordville. She was born Sept. 23, 1906, to William and Mary Elizabeth Busby Dewrock in Egypt Mills. She was married to Charles Roscoe Nelson in February 1925 in Cape Girardeau. He died in 1961. She married William O'Mara in 1965. He died in 1972...

Francis Ruth Shafer, 82 of Charleston died Saturday, Aug. 14, 1999, at the Charleston Manor Nursing Facility. She was born Aug. 29, 1916, in Reyno, Ark., to William and Estelle Looney Barnett. She married Jay Shafer Sept. 4, 1936. Shafer was of the Methodist faith. She worked in St. Louis as an accountant until she retired in 1970...

Robert M. Guemmer, 71, of Perryville died Saturday, Aug. 14, 1999, in Perryville. Guemmer was born Feb. 29, 1928, to Theodore and Rose Guemmer in Friedenburg. He was married to Viola Koenig Dec. 18, 1948. He was a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Perryville...

CHAFFEE -- Rebecca Imogene Morehead, 83, of Chaffee died Saturday, Aug. 14, 1999, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. Arrangements are incomplete and will be announced later by Amick-Burnett Funeral Home at Chaffee.

MOUNDS, Ill. -- Emma E. Dixon, 64, of Mounds died Saturday, Aug. 14, 1999, at Daystar Care Center in Cairo. She was born June 20, 1935, at Karnak, daughter of Lonzo and Katie Sowers Bough. She was married to Gene Dixon. She was a member of the First Baptist Church in Mounds, the Friendly Daughters Sunday School Class and the Mounds Women's Club. She worked for Illinois Department of Public Aid 31 years before retiring two years ago...

Kenneth G. Nicholson, 48, of Cape Girardeau died Saturday, Aug. 14, 1999. Service plans are incomplete and will be announced later by Lorberg Memorial Funeral Chapel.

Joe Brewer said he does a lot of fishing at the diversion channel and helps to clean up a bit. A makeshift fishing rod holder. Most days, Joe Brewer has nothing better to do than fish in the Diversion Channel. He'll wake up late in the morning, then drive his white truck full of gear to the only spot along the channel that offers a boat ramp. ...

Dr. Scott Gibbs will discuss "Aneurysm" on "Ask Your Doctor" at 8 p.m. Thursday on Channel 5. Gibbs will be interviewed by show hosts Martha Muench and Dr. Paul Thompson. The show, which airs each Thursday night, is sponsored by St. Francis Medical Center and Southeast Missouri Hospital in conjunction with the Cape Girardeau County Medical Society...