Stories from Friday, October 8, 1999

As the Indian summer sets, so does the onset of flu season that brings with it the fever, chills, cough, muscular achiness, extreme fatigue and nasal congestion that wreaks havoc on our bodies. The height of the flu season occurs in late December and early January so if you have been considering vaccination, the next two months is an optimal time since the vaccine begins to protect you after one to two weeks...

Diet soft drinks can help women concerned with their health cut down on calories. The three leading causes of death in women are heart disease, cancer and stroke. Diabetes is also increasing among women. The term "women's health" is usually associated with reproductive health or breast cancer. But there are many other health issues women should consider...

The marketers don't quite know what to do with Burlap to Cashmere. Their sound, which roils with Flamenco guitars and soars with harmonies worthy of Simon and Garfunkel, fits no niche. Christian radio likes the band's spiritual bent, and now mainstream radio is being challenged to make room for the Brooklyn band with the unusual sound and name...

Missouri's Coordinating Board for Higher Education wants the state to spend $1.23 billion next fiscal year to finance public colleges and education programs in the state. That's $131 million more than this year, a 13.2 percent increase, state education officials said Thursday...

Missouri has set as its goal some high standards in public school education, but how those goals are going to be realized is still up for debate. "We have to listen to a host of ideas in order to meet the challenges of education in the 21st century," said Missouri Commissioner of Education Robert E. Bartman, who was in Cape Girardeau for a conference Thursday to help gather ideas...

A rose by any other name would be called something else. Cape needs some Madison Avenue verve. Real bad. They had a party this week at the university to dedicate the new fountain in front of Kent Library. It was a dignified party. Dignified folks said dignified things, and there was ample dignified applause...

The Alzheimer's Association of St. Louis has opened an office in Cape Girardeau to serve families touched by Alzheimer's disease in Cape Girardeau, Scott, Stoddard and Butler counties. The office is housed with the Southeast Area Agency on Aging, 1219 N. Kingshighway, Suite 100 and is staffed full-time by social worker Cheryl L. Klueppel...

SIKESTON -- Cape Girardeau Central High's girls tennis team won its fourth straight district title Thursday -- but it certainly wasn't easy. The Lady Tigers received singles and doubles championships as they captured the Class 4A, District 1 Tournament. Central finished with 22 1/2 points to hold off Oakville (18 1/2) and Poplar Bluff (16)...

Downtown Cape Girardeau residents and employees will have an opportunity to experience life on the Nina Sunday. The Nina, a replica of one of three ships commanded by Christopher Columbus on his first voyage of discovery, is docked along the Mississippi River in downtown Cape Girardeau...

Missouri has more college students than money for its Advantage Missouri loan program, a state education official said Thursday. The official, Dan Peterson, said Missouri's Department of Higher Education plans to ask for more money from the Legislature next year...

Openings remain for the community Beginning Internet training scheduled next Thursday afternoon. The class is co-sponsored by the Southeast Missourian and Southeast Missouri State University, and are taught by members of the SEMissourian.com Web staff...

How better to raise money for a church building project than to invite guests over for a look at recent renovations? Maple United Methodist Church is sponsoring a home and garden tour of five homes in the city. The tour will benefit a church building project. The event is Sunday from 1 to 5 p.m. The church will be open for refreshments during that time as well...

To the editor: As a local artist, I feel I should say something about the elephant dung that is causing a stink at the Brooklyn Museum of Art in New York. I saw a fleeting glimpse of the thing on television. The elephant-poop breast was clearly visible and was clearly intended as an affront to Christians. The sick-art piece is a portrait of a woman with an exposed breast of elephant manure titled "The Holy Virgin Mary."...

There are hints already of city elections in Cape Girardeau next April when three council positions will be determined. For the first time, two councilmen are barred from running again because of term limits imposed by the city charter. And the election of council members by wards also deserves some review...

Since it began giving flu vaccinations last Friday, the Cape Girardeau County Health Department had given about 2,100 of the shots as of Thursday afternoon. "It's been a little slower than last year," said Charlotte Craig, director of the health department. She said that's at least partly due to confusion over whether the department would get shipments of the vaccine on time...

When looking at Althoff's season offensive statistics, there is no one player that has put up frightening numbers. That's what scares Jackson football coach Carl Gross. "They're a hard team to prepare for," Gross said of the Crusaders, who visit Jackson (4-1) tonight at 7:30. ...

Justin Robinson may not be quite the athlete that eventual NFL running back James Wilder -- a.k.a. The Sikeston Train -- was back in the 1970s. But to say the least, the 5-foot-10, 195-pound senior tailback is the Little Engine that Could. Robinson chugged his way to a school-record 318 yards on 26 carries Thursday night as Sikeston (4-2) steamrolled winless Cape Central 47-27...

PERRYVILLE -- A team of destiny? Perryville High softball coach Lynn O'Neal believes his Lady Pirates just might be. Despite losing a host of key players from last year's team that won the first district title in school history -- and despite getting off to a slow start this season -- Perryville is in the state quarterfinals for the first time...

BENTON -- The Kelly Lady Hawks return to the Missouri Class 2A softball quarterfinals for the 14th consecutive time, eliminating visiting Twin Rivers of Broseley 8-4 in a hard-fought sectional matchup Thursday. Kelly pounded out 11 hits to the Lady Royals' four, but that wasn't the story of this rematch from earlier in the season...

FESTUS -- Jackson High's softball team came up on the short end of a premier pitching duel Thursday night as the Lady Indians were eliminated from the Class 4A playoffs. Hillsboro pushed across a run in the fifth inning to beat Jackson 1-0 in a sectional game at Festus' West City Park...

After dropping three spots to No. 4 two weeks ago, St. Vincent moved back up to the No. 2 spot in the state's Class 1A media poll this week after posting a 31-0 win over Crystal City. But the Indians (4-1) will face a tough test tonight in St. Pius (4-1)...

Southeast Missouri State University's first-year women's soccer team will look to remain undefeated in Ohio Valley Conference play this weekend. Fresh off recording their first-ever victory, the Otahkians will host Tennessee Tech at 1 p.m. Sunday at Houck Stadium...

Barbara Jane Hoelscher, 84, of Cape Girardeau died Thursday, Oct. 7, 1999, at Chateau Girardeau Health Center. She was born Nov. 13, 1914, in Corning, Ark., daughter of John Curtis and Maude Oliver Black. She and Wilfred F. Hoelscher were married Aug. 23, 1938, in Granite City, Ill. He died Sept. 30, 1989...

ORAN -- Vera G. Patterson, 95, of Ballwin died Wednesday, Oct. 6, 1999, at St. Luke's Hospital in Chesterfield. She was born July 13, 1904, in Tuckerman, Ark., daughter of Alvin and Cora Coker Reeves. She and G.K. Patterson were married Nov. 11, 1919. He died June 12, 1974...

JACKSON -- John Lilbourn Jones, 84, of Franklin, Ky., died Thursday, Oct. 7, 1999, at the home of a daughter in Franklin. He was born July 1, 1915, in Cape Girardeau County, son of John Hubert and Hattie F. Ramsey Jones. He and Edna D. Mayfield were married June 17, 1933. She died Dec. 19, 1991...

PERRYVILLE -- Mary E. Preston, 73, of Perryville died Thursday, Oct. 7, 1999, at Perry County Nursing Home. She was born Oct. 22, 1925, in Dongola, Ill., daughter of Toney and Carrie Swink Gurley. She and Carl H. Preston were married April 28, 1945. He died March 22, 1984...

Graveside service for Michael J. Koontz of St. Louis will be held at 1:30 p.m. today at Cape County Memorial Park. The Rev. James Sanderson will officiate. There is no visitation. Ford and Sons Mt. Auburn Chapel is in charge of arrangements. Koontz, 47, died Wednesday, Oct. 6, 1999, in St. Louis...

Graveside service for Alberta M. "Bert" McClintick of Cape Girardeau will be held at 10 a.m. today at Lorimier Cemetery. There is no visitation. Ford and Sons Mt. Auburn Chapel is in charge of arrangements. McClintick, 89, died Wednesday, Oct. 6, 1999, at the Lutheran Home...

SIKESTON -- Shackrein Thomas, 20, of Caruthersville died Sunday, Oct. 3, 1999, at the Potosi Correctional Center. He was born Nov. 10, 1978, in Madison, Wis. Survivors include his mother and stepfather, Lorene and Coley Gray of Sikeston; two brothers, Ray Rodgers and Coley Gray of Sikeston; two sisters, Jacquelin Thomas and Vontesha Gray of Sikeston; and maternal grandmother, Alice Arnold of Madison...

DONGOLA, Ill. -- Irene Acuff, 86, of Dongola died Thursday, Oct. 7, 1999, at Jonesboro Healthcare Center. She was born June 18, 1913, in Dongola, daughter of William Arthur and Mary Arminda Lingle McIntosh. She and Lyndall Acuff were married Nov. 26, 1946. He died March 12, 1977...

Jean Golden, 79, of Cape Girardeau and previously of Jackson died Thursday, Oct. 7, 1999, at Southeast Missouri Hospital. Visitation will be from 6-8 p.m. today at Cracraft-Miller Funeral Chapel in Jackson. Parish prayers will be said at 7:30 p.m. Service will be at 9:30 a.m. Saturday at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Jackson...

DELTA -- Paul Leyoid Hefner, 57, of Delta died Thursday, Oct. 7, 1999, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. He was born Oct. 19, 1941, in Bell City, the son of Prentice and Caroline Brinkman Hefner. He and Shirley Fenimore were married July 28, 1962. She survives...

JACKSON: Betty Jo Walters, age 69 of Jackson, passed away Wednesday, October 6, 1999 at the St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. She was born December 27, 1929 in San Antonio, Texas, the daughter of Dora Wolfe Germain. On May 7, 1955, she married Ralph M. Walters and he survives...

The funeral for Curtis Andrew Allen of Clermont, Fla., formerly of Rockford, Ill., will be held at 3 p.m. Saturday at Lorberg Memorial Funeral Chapel. The Rev. Andy Pratt will officiate. Burial will be in Lorimier Cemetery with full military honors...

Son to Johnathan Robert and Deanna Renee Niederkorn of Scott City, Southeast Missouri Hospital, 7:43 p.m. Friday, Oct. 1, 1999. Name, Johnathan Seth. Weight, 8 pounds 2 ounces. Second son. Mrs. Niederkorn is the former Deanna Schuessler, daughter of Gene and Dorothy Schuessler of Cape Girardeau. ...

EAST PRAIRIE -- Funeral for Dorothy O. Williams of East Prairie will be held at 10 a.m. today at Shelby Funeral Home in East Prairie. Burl Britt and Mike Johnson will officiate. Burial will be in Dogwood Cemetery. Williams, 78, died Wednesday, Oct. 6, 1999, at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston...

Notre Dame Regional High School wants to thank some of its former teachers and principals who are members of the School Sisters of Notre Dame. A reception and dedication service will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday at the school. A grotto in the school's foyer will be dedicated to the nuns...