Stories from Thursday, September 16, 1999

To the editor: U.S. Sen. Christopher Bond has introduced a bill that would override Missouri Attorney General Jay Nixon. Nixon has asked Interior Secretary Bruce Babbitt to prohibit lead mining in Mark Twain National Forest because it would contaminate beautiful rivers and springs. Current River, Big Spring, Eleven Point River, Greer Spring, Jacks Fork River, Alley Spring and Round Spring would be polluted by lead...

In the definitive history of country music, Waylon Jennings' name will be written right beside Willie's, Johnny's, Loretta's and George's. He was an outlaw when outlaws weren't cool. He is a craggy-faced sinner/saint with the soul of Buddy Holly, Hank Williams and B.B. King rolled into one...

WALK A mile in your own shoes. For those who are dismayed about Florsheim's closing, if you look at your own shoes, they're probably already made in India. Or worse yet, China. Think about it. LET'S TALK a little bit more about the Jackson School District's insurance and annuity problems. ...

CAPE BIBLE CHAPEL'S new 1,600-seat auditorium is a beautiful, functional addition to this growing church and our community. I toured the facility during last Sunday's open house. LYNWOOD BAPTIST is hosting an improve-your-life seminar to a large attendance this week, and numerous other churches are continuing to grow and become more active. These are all good signs for our community...

OK. You've heard it everywhere else -- home, work, school, church, mall, movie theater, ballfield, golf course, farm. So you might as well hear it here: Man, we sure need a good rain. Cape Girardeau, in particular, has been hit hard by this summer's drought. ...

Abundant limestone along the Mississippi River has been the backbone of cement-making operations in Cape Girardeau since 1909. Today, Lone Star Industries Inc. is a well-known landmark. It's towering plant on South Sprigg Street is visible for miles in every direction. And, with plenty of limestone left, the company has a bright future...

Missouri Voters For Fair Elections has received state approval to start a petition drive aimed at funding political campaigns with tax money in the amount of $13 million a year. The St. Louis-based coalition's goal is to get an initiative proposal on the state election ballot in 2000 that would require Missouri employers to foot the bill...

JACKSON -- The Jackson Board of Education voted in a closed meeting Tuesday night to suspend one of seven students involved in a prank gone bad. In a written statement released Wednesday, the board announced it had taken "additional action to discipline a student involved in the incident referred to by Mr. Stuart Venable based on new facts that first became available to the board on Monday, Sept. 13, 1999."...

JEFFERSON CITY -- A midweek visit to the Missouri Capitol was a lesson in politics for 46 seniors at Notre Dame High School. On Wednesday the students attended the opening day of a veto override session in the Missouri General Assembly. They arrived with small cards and a big message...

JEFFERSON CITY -- State representatives from Southeast Missouri offered no surprises Wednesday during the General Assembly's annual veto session, unanimously voting to override the governor's veto of a bill creating a crime of infanticide. The eight Republicans, two Democrats and one Independent representing the region were all expected to join the House of Representatives' override effort...

Sept. 16, 1999 Dear Patty, A friend sent along a note listing some of the things dogs can teach human beings. Things like: -- When loved ones come home, always run to greet them. -- Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joy ride. -- Allow the experience of fresh air and the wind in your face to be pure ecstasy...

U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Emerson says she hopes the Missouri Legislature recognizes that the value of life has "no political bounds." Emerson discussed the abortion issue in a letter to state lawmakers in advance of the Legislature's veto session and efforts to override Gov. Mel Carnahan's veto of an anti-abortion bill...

JACKSON -- As more than 70 students held hands and prayed around the high school flagpole early Wednesday, the anger expressed by students' parents the night before wasn't visable. Seventeen-year-old Andy Conklin was just glad to see how each year more students continue to come to See You at the Pole...

J.P. Limbaugh, a high school student in Cape Girardeau, was asked to represent his generation at the YELL Foundation Time Capsule burial ceremony. He will be honorary chairman at the opening ceremony on Sept 14. 2049. Here are his remarks from Tuesday's ceremony:...

State Rep. Patrick Naeger, R-Perryville, will serve on a legislative committee studying how drug money seized by law enforcement agencies is distributed. Rep. Naeger is one of five House members named to the 10-member Joint Interim Committee on Asset Forfeitures. The other five members are state senators...

Junior Gaited Halter 1st: General Kody, C.J. and Marge Morrill, Jackson; 2nd: Senators Sundrop, Jeff Heuer, Cape Girardeau. Junior Wester Halter 1st: Mr. Zan Parr Skipper, Gary Pobst, Oran; 2nd: Torinos Last Kite, Gary and Trish Brother, Patton. Senior Gaited Halter...

This is Joe Kirchdorfer's 50th consecutive year to enter cows in the SEMO District Fair. It's 5-year-old Danielle Marie Daume's first time. But both are putting a lot of work into making their animals look their best for judging. This year's fair boasts more than 1,200 entries of cows, horses, pigs, sheep, poultry, mules, goats, rabbits, pigeons and guinea pigs in the fair's livestock contests, said Marilyn Schott, who with Patty Turner, keeps track of the fair's livestock entries. ...

Attendance at the SEMO District Fair is on track to top that of last year. This year's fair has drawn larger crowds in each of its first three days than in 1998. Attendance was 21,601 on Sunday, 7,880 on Monday and 10,057 on Tuesday. That compares with 1998 figures of 19,613 on the first night of the fair, 7,516 on the second and 8,631 on the third...

Cape Girardeau could be steps closer to preserving its historic buildings and commercial districts with a new historic-preservation plan. During a meeting Wednesday night, the city's Historic Preservation Commission adopted a plan written by Phillip Thomason. Fewer than 30 people attended the 115-minute meeting at City Hall...

JACKSON -- The Jackson Board of Education approved a one-year contract with insurance consulting firm Robert O'Bryne and Associates during a meeting Tuesday night. Dr. Terry Gibbons, assistant superintendent of Jackson schools recommended the contract with the consulting firm to help the district shop for other insurance options...

It was a record-setting day in Ohio Valley Conference football last Saturday. Heading up the list of new OVC record-holders is Murray State quarterback Justin Fuente, who set single-game individual marks for passing yards (553) and total offense (532) during the Racers' wild 58-51 loss at Southern Illinois...

For the past two weeks, Cape Central's opponents have trumped the Tigers 75-14. Though Central will never fold, first-year Central football coach Lawrence Brookins has lost a few of his aces -- at least in terms of talent -- from the hand he has been dealt...

The annual Cape Invitational cross country meet, hosted by Cape Girardeau Central High School, will be held Saturday at Cape Country Park North. Ten teams will compete, with a junior high race scheduled to start at 10:30 a.m., followed by the varsity action at 11 a.m...

JACKSON -- The ninth annual Jackson Invitational, featuring some of the state's top softball programs, will be hosted by Jackson High School Saturday at the Jackson City Park. Sixteen teams are entered, with games to be played on the three fields by the city swimming pool and the two Brookside fields. Admission donation is $2 for adults and $1 for students 6 and over...

The Kelly Lady Hawks (9-1) extended their winning streak to seven games Wednesday night with a 7-2 win over Cape Central. Marissa Essner picked up the win, allowing nine hits and five walks, while striking out five. Bridgett Riley pitched the seventh inning...

DEXTER -- Funeral for Mitchel Edwards of Dexter will be held at 11:30 a.m. today at Watkins and Sons Chapel in Dexter. Mike Yates and Dale Grissom will officiate. Burial will be in Chalk Bluff Cemetery near Dexter. Edwards, 78, died Tuesday, Sept. 14, 1999, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau...

Elvin W. Blumenberg, 68, of Cape Girardeau died Wednesday, Sept. 15, 1999, at St. Louis University Hospital. Ford and Sons Mt. Auburn Chapel is in charge of arrangements.

ADVANCE -- Lee Simmons, 84, of Advance died Tuesday, Sept. 14, 1999, at Hardin Hospital in Elizabethtown, Ky. She was born April 4, 1915, in Dover, Ark., daughter of William and Lillie Ford. Simmons worked 23 years at Inland Shoe Co. Survivors include a daughter, Sue Powell of Radcliff, Ky.; a sister, Faye Cato of Advance; four grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren...

BENTON -- Funeral for Franklin E. Nall of Benton was held Tuesday at Shelby Funeral Chapel in East Prairie. The Rev. Dale Huff officiated. Burial was in Dogwood Cemetery near Charleston. Nall, 65, died Saturday, Sept. 11, 1999, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau...

Floyd Monroe Vavak, 87, of Cape Girardeau died Wednesday, Sept. 15, 1999, at Fountainbleau Lodge. He was born Feb. 24, 1912, at Grassy, son of Wilson Joseph and Dora Mae Cooper Vavak. He and Emma Ann Williams were married Feb. 18, 1932, at Greenville. She died in May 1979...

PUXICO -- Calvert W. Little, 81, died Wednesday, Sept. 15, 1999, at John J. Pershing VA Medical Center in Poplar Bluff. He was born April 16, 1918, in Mountain View, Ark., son of Claude and Lucy Woods Little. He and Christine Lawrence were married in 1939 at Bloomfield. She died Jan. 22, 1985...

Daughter to Scott A. and Lena R. Stovall of Cape Girardeau, Southeast Missouri Hospital, 5:14 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 31, 1999. Name, Rachel Marie. Weight, 7 pounds 2 ounces. Second child, first daughter. Mrs. Stovall is the former Lena Spinner, daughter of George and Carolyn Spinner of Cape Girardeau. ...

SIKESTON -- Natha Lee Harden, 76, of Sikeston died Monday, Sept. 13, 1999, at her home. She was born March 5, 1923, in Grenada, Miss., the daughter of Fred and Estella Jones. She married Walter Harden in 1939. He died in 1986. She was a member of the Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church in Canalou, where she was a Sunday school teacher, church secretary, usher and member of the choir...