Stories from Saturday, September 18, 1999

FRUITLAND -- The spiritual foundation is in place for Fruitland Community Church. The church saw the birth of a fledgling congregation Sunday at the church's first worship service in North Elementary School at the intersection of Route W and Highway 177. The group meets each Sunday at 9:30 a.m. for a coffee fellowship, with worship at 10 a.m...

More than a dozen of the 26 rides on the midway of the SEMO District Fair are designated solely for the enjoyment of people under 48 inches tall. But any adult who is game enough -- and perhaps just a bit childish at heart -- can find some enjoyment on even the most simple rides along the midway."They're family rides," said Tom Thebault, president of Astro Amusements, which operates the midway. ...

New gambling regulations in Missouri and Illinois have changed the gambling atmosphere in both states. Among developments: -- More people are boarding riverboat casinos. -- Illinois, led by a $30.3 million take by one casino in August, is raking in more revenue...

We're home. I don't think there's any sweeter phrase for my family right now than that. We moved back into our house this week after a four-month absence, and it was glorious to again have a kitchen and rooms that I could call my own. When our house caught fire back in May, many people thought our move into a prominent local hotel would be a fun change. ...

Congress could boost farm exports by lifting trade sanctions against Cuba and five other nations, U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Emerson said Friday. Emerson said trade sanctions should be lifted against Cuba, Libya, Sudan, Iran, Iraq and Vietnam. The United States also needs to promote greater trade with China...

Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee is scheduled to speak in Cape Girardeau Friday at a fund raiser for Missouri Republican gubernatorial candidate Jim Talent. Republican Huckabee, who has served as governor of Arkansas for three years, has assumed the chairmanship of the Southern Governors Association...

As many as 200 master gardeners will be in Cape Girardeau today and Sunday for the Missouri Master Gardeners Convention at Drury Lodge. Today's schedule is a busy one, featuring tours of Pickle Springs Nature Area, Penzel's Azalea and Rhododendron Farm, Southeast Missouri State University greenhouse and garden, Ceramo Pottery, Lorberg Farm and Cape Girardeau gardens...

Outbreaks of food poisoning involving E coli. Recall of food products that contain listeria bacteria. Warnings that chicken can be contaminated with salmonella. There seems to be an increase in such reports in the news of bacteria-contaminating food causing illness. Steve Sikes, environmental public health specialist with the Cape Girardeau County Public Health Center, said much of this increase is due to a better reporting system than in the past...

"Not every gift is a blessing," goes the tag for the creepy suspense thriller "The Sixth Sense." Maybe not, but Disney isn't complaining. Last weekend, the modestly priced "The Sixth Sense" overtook the big-ticket special effects extravaganza "Armageddon" as Disney's biggest-grossing live-action film ever. About the only other thing the two films have in common is star Bruce Willis...

Fortunately for the state of New York, Hillary Clinton's political instincts don't match her reputed intellect. If she continues to blunder, that state (and the nation) may be spared her elevation to the Senate. Hillary's repeated mistakes expose her as a brazen opportunist concerned not with New York but with finally building her own resume in the twilight of her productive years...

To the editor: Campaign finance reform: Is it a good idea or just another mouthing off by the two worn-out controlling parties? My guess would be the latter. Republicans don't want it because they would lose all that big corporation money. It seems to me it's nothing but an elaborate legal bribe. Why do we keep electing these bribe taking officials...

To the editor: I wish to give the Jackson Board of Education a public letter of thanks. Thank you for listening to us Tuesday night. Thank you for your patience as we cajoled and complained, griped and harangued. Thank you for taking a good, positive step toward bringing closure to this issue with your decision to suspend one of the students...

To the editor: As a 1989 graduate of Jackson High School and former athlete, I am having a hard time believing that this crucifixion prank has really happened at Jackson High School. Even though my husband and I do not currently live in Jackson, we have always held fond memories of our time spent there. ...

Prayer may have been banned from the nation's public schools, but that hasn't stopped prayerful young people. Area students gathered before classes early Wednesday morning for the annual See You at the Pole event. They held hands around school flagpoles and prayed for fellow students, teachers, administrators, church leaders and family. In Cape County, more than 200 students participated...

Today marks the final day of the 144th edition of the SEMO District Fair. In terms of weather, it has been one of the best in recent history. The days have been sunny, the humidity has been low and the nights have been cool. That has helped to boost attendance -- perhaps to record levels, depending on today's numbers...

I WAS so sorry to read that the student who was the victim of the prank in Jackson moved across the state to attend a different school. The young man should stay in Jackson because that is where his friends are. These people need to see him. He needs to be home. ...

SCOTT CITY -- Just about everybody expected Scott City High's football team to roll past East Prairie Friday night. And all those people were right on the money with their assessment of the SEMO South Conference mismatch, won by the Rams 56-0. Scott City, which led 49-0 at halftime and used mostly reserves in the second half, improved to 2-1 overall and in the conference...

BLYTHEVILLE -- For one half Cape Girardeau Central seemed to depart from its 1999 plight Friday night. The Tigers held their first lead of the season at halftime against Blytheville, but saw the Chickasaws explode for 25 points in the third quarter en route to a 39-17 victory...

Two non-league games to start the 1999 football season have not gone well at all for Southeast Missouri State University. Tonight, the Indians will be hoping that an Ohio Valley Conference opponent brings out the best in them. And the Indians' opponent, Murray State, is probably hoping the same thing because the Racers, like Southeast, are off to an 0-2 start...

PERRYVILLE -- Jackson was the complete package Friday night. The Indians had four running backs with at least 32 yards and a receiver with 69. But when tailback Chris Freeman was asked why he thought Jackson was able to beat a physical Perryville team 30-13 he replied: "... Pat McComas, Jason Jones, Caleb Daniel, Tim Spradlin, Kyle Perry and Nathan Brown."...

LEXINGTON, Ky. -- Southeast's women's volleyball team handed the University of Kentucky its first home loss of the 1999 season Friday night in the Kentucky Conference Challenge. Southeast, which opened the season with four straight losses, has now reeled off five straight victories...

FREDERICKTOWN -- Fredericktown High football coach Kent Gibbs realizes that Ste. Genevieve is not nearly as strong this year as the Dragons have been in seasons past. But that can't take away from the Black Cats' 15-12 victory over the Dragons Friday night that marked Fredericktown's first win over Ste. Genevieve since 1983...

Lucille M. Young, age 92, died Friday, Sept. 17, 1999, at the Clearview Nursing Home in Sikeston, Mo. She was born on April 2, 1907 in Cape Girardeau, the daughter of Beulah and Louise Johanson Craig. She married Earl Young on March 15, 1925 in Piggott, Ark. He preceded her in death on Sept. 23, 1990...

Mary Victoria "Tori" Landgraf of Cape Girardeau passed away on Thursday, September 16, 1999, at her home. She was born on October 29, 1929 in Cape Girardeau, daughter of Dr. Paul Williams and Gladys Roberts Williams and step-daughter of Lindsay Simmons. ...

JACKSON -- Hester Ada Borgfield, 80, of Jackson died Thursday, Sept. 16, 1999, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. She was born April 4, 1919, at Pocahontas, daughter of Rudolph and Eutha Childs Ruehling. She and Ervin Borgfield were married Sept. 26, 1937, at Pocahontas. He died May 7, 1994...

Funeral for Cleo Eakin Burton of Cape Girardeau will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday at McCombs Funeral Home in Cape Girardeau. The Rev. Raymond McAfee will officiate. Burial will be in Gravel Hill Cemetery near Bell City. Friends may call at the funeral home from 5-8 p.m. today...

CHAFFEE -- Funeral for Louis L. Schmitt Jr. of Chaffee will be held at 10 a.m. Monday at St. Lawrence Catholic Church in New Hamburg. The Rev. Ralph Duffner will officiate. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Friends may call at Amick-Burnett Funeral Chapel in Chaffee after 4 p.m. Sunday. Parish prayers will be at 7...

PERRYVILLE -- Ludwig W. Welker, 86, of Perryville died Thursday, Sept. 16, 1999, at Perry County Memorial Hospital. He was born Nov. 26, 1912, at Perryville, son of Frank J. and Barbara Ann Blechle Welker. He and Gertrude Mary Buchheit were married Nov. 19, 1935, at Apple Creek...

Alma M. Stone, 90, of Cape Girardeau died Thursday, Sept. 16, 1999, at Chateau Girardeau Health Center. Ford and Sons Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

BELKNAP, Ill. -- Wilma Huckelberry, 85, of Belknap died Friday, Sept. 17, 1999, at Massac Memorial Hospital in Metropolis. Wilson Funeral Home in Karnak is in charge of arrangements.

ELCO, Ill. -- Irvin M. "Frog" Carlton, 80, of Granbury, Texas, died Friday, Sept. 10, 1999, at Arlington Memorial Hospital in Texas. He was born Feb. 9, 1919, in Elco, son of Melvin and Carrie Carlton. Carlton retired from General Motors in 1985. Survivors include a sister, Ivan Graklanoff of Granite City...

James R. "Rudi" Johnson, 81, died Thursday, Sept. 16, 1999, at the Lutheran Home. He was born Dec. 28, 1917, at White Oak, son of James R. and Bertha Goldsmith Johnson. He married Dorris Meadows, who died March 9, 1993. Johnson was a graduate of the Kansas City Art Institute...

Son to Michael Brian Weakley and April Dawn Owens of Cape Girardeau, Southeast Missouri Hospital, 6:30 p.m. Monday, Aug. 9, 1999. Name, Brian Allen. Weight, 5 pounds 9 ounces. Second son. Ms. Owens is the former April Bailey, daughter of Shirley Evans of Sikeston and Ronnie Bailey of Anniston. Weakley is the son of Charles L. Weakley of Charleston...

Frances Wallis, 88, of Dellrose, Tenn., and formerly of Tamms, Ill., died Friday, Sept. 17, 1999, at home. Arrangements are incomplete and will be announced later at the Crain Funeral Home in Tamms.