Stories from Thursday, October 14, 1999

To the editor: What is independent living? How can I get around in my own community if I have a disability? What resources are out there to help me get on with life after experiencing a disability? I have a certain type of disability: What support groups are there to help me get on with life? I want to go back to school, but I have a disability: Who can help me? What work opportunities are out there for persons with disabilities? I have problems that limit my mobility in my home: What technology is out there to make living at home more productive? Can a support dog improve my independence? Most people only see my disability, but I want to show people that I have talents and more to offer the community.. ...

Oops! It was bad enough to lose a $125 million spacecraft that was supposed to go into orbit around Mars and send back important climate data. But then to find out the spacecraft was lost -- probably burned up in the Martian atmosphere -- because of confusion over metric and English measurements was unnerving, to say the least...

First, there's little doubt that 36 of the poorest nations in debt to the United States were never going to repay their obligations. These are destitute countries, nations so poor that people are dying from starvation and lack of medical care. In fact, some 40 million people a year die of hunger in these countries. So who wouldn't want to forgive their debts?...

IN RESPONSE to a Speak Out caller, you're the one who doesn't get it. Show us where in the U.S. Constitution it states there is to be a separation of church and state. This idea of separation came about when our nation's Supreme Court justices decided to add to our Constitution an ideal never intended by our Founding Fathers. ...

Life at Plimoth Plantation Illumination Stranded at Plimoth Plantation 1626 Stephen Black sees the world in terms of layers. That's one reason he is a printmaker, because of the transparency and opacity involved. "I see a connection with the idea of personal relationships," he says, "how people's personalities have different layers...

Estimated bills soon will become a thing of the past for AmerenUE customers. Devices being installed over the next three months will enable AmerenUE to read both gas and electric meters by remote control. "Work started this week on electric meters," said Doug Groesbeck, manager of AmerenUE's southeast district. "Gas-meter installation will start next month."...

PERRYVILLE -- Low salaries are the No. 1 reason teachers and other staff members leave the Perryville School District, the district's superintendent says. The superintendent, Dr. Stephen Doerr, said he has been collecting data for the Perryville Board of Education to explain why 80 employees left the district since last school year. The departures marked the largest turnover in a single year in the school district...

A record-high mold count is causing allergy problems for those with even a mild sensitivity to the allergen. "Those with extreme sensitivities are miserable," said Dr. Janna Tuck, a Cape Girardeau allergist. The mold count taken Monday and reported Wednesday by the National Allergy Bureau Reporting Station in Cape Girardeau was 112,878 spores per cubic meter of air. Tuck said a high count is 30,000 to 40,000, and at this time of year it isn't unusual for the count to peak at 60,000...

CAIRO, Ill. -- The death of a 65-year-old Kentucky man who was flying a homemade gyro copter is being investigated, but it may never be solved, said Bill McHughs of the Alexander County Sheriff's Department. David Spears of Kevil, Ky., died Monday when his one-seat gyro copter crashed three-fourths of a mile east of Cairo Municipal Airport near Highway 3...

Oct. 7, 1999 Dear Julie, Imagine DC's surprise to discover her in-laws are living under assumed names. They don't have aliases because they fought the law and they're not federally protected witnesses. They aren't former Reds still in hiding either. They have other names because their parents -- like my parents -- christened them with children's names. It makes sense if you don't think about it...

DEXTER -- Through the years it has been a voice that kept American military men and women informed of news and happenings. And, through the years, it has launched many careers in journalism. Now, the folks who have made the Stars and Stripes newspaper will be returning home to its birthplace...

In a three-hour period on a recent shift of emergency nurse Robert Grayhek, the St. Francis Medical Center emergency department handled eight trauma patients brought in by three helicopters and five ambulances, two heart attacks plus a nose bleed, a couple of colds and a belly ache...

MOREHOUSE -- Following a closed meeting by the Morehouse Board of Aldermen Monday, the city's marshal was placed on administrative leave. While Triplett is on administrative leave, the New Madrid County Sheriff's Department is providing law enforcement assistance to the community...

PATTON -- A man was killed on state Highway 72 when another driver attempted to pass him as he made a left turn, the Missouri Highway Patrol reported. Darrell Davis, 45, of Patton, died in Bollinger County at the scene of the accident, Trooper Aaron Harrison said...

Pam Sander is prepared to recycle as much of the hazardous wastes as possible that Cape Girardeau residents bring to Arena Park Saturday. For the second consecutive year, Cape Girardeau will offer a household hazardous waste collection for its residents. Residents can drop off the waste from 8 a.m. to noon at the 4-H Shelter at the park. The collection is offered for residential customers only...

Southeast Missouri State University has been awarded the 1999 Effective Retention Program Award for its First Year Learning Team program. The National Consortium for Student Retention Data Exchange presented the award. Representatives from more than 200 colleges and universities cast votes in the contest...

Agenda Planning and Zoning Commission Wednesday, Oct. 13 at 7 p.m. Council Chambers Applications -- Approved request of Glyn Ferrell, Steve Dirnberger and Paul Dirnberger, Rita Dirnberger, Charlette Dirnberger and Kim Ferrell for special-use permit for a manufactured unit for office space at 902 S. Kingshighway in heavy industrial district...

Southeast Missouri State University women's basketball coach Ed Arnzen is always excited about the start of practice for a new season. But this year, there is perhaps an extra sparkle in Arnzen's eyes. That's because the Otahkians are coming off their best-ever Division I season and have more high hopes for the coming campaign...

The Kelly Lady Hawk softball squad will be making its third appearance in four years at the Missouri Class 2A State Softball Championships this weekend in Columbia. The Lady Hawks are making their third appearance in four years and fourth of the decade. Overall, it's their fifth trip...

Chris Cole School: Cape Central Sport: Soccer Coach: Tom Doyle Week Report: Cole, a junior, scored eight goals and added two assists in five games last week. He scored four goals against Farmington, two against Belleville-Althoff and two against Sikeston...

Marissa Essner Sport: Softball School: Kelly Week Report: Essner, a junior, struck out a total of 14 batters and allowed a total of just two earned runs in the Lady Hawks' district championship game against Notre Dame and their sectional win over Twin Rivers. ...

Eastern Kentucky's football team slumped to a rare fourth-place finish in the Ohio Valley Conference last season, a year which saw the Colonels also have a subpar overall record. But if last Saturday's impressive performance is any indication, the Colonels just might be ready to return to OVC prominence -- or at least give heavily favored Tennessee State a major run for its money...

CHAFFEE -- Chaffee's volleyball team turned in a memorable performance Wednesday night, defeating visiting Notre Dame in three sets. After dropping the first set 12-15, Chaffee recovered to post 15-12, 15-5 victories. "It was a big win for us," said Chaffee coach Paulette Crouthers, who saw her team improve to 5-13-2. "We went as far back as we could go and we think this is the first time we've ever beaten them."...

BERNIE -- Vivian A. Davis, 88, of Bernie died Tuesday, Oct. 12, 1999, at Dexter Memorial Hospital in Dexter. She was born Oct. 24, 1910, near Malden, daughter of Thomas David and Minnie Parks Davis. She received a master's degree from the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor. She taught elementary school in Missouri before becoming a reading specialist and supervisor in the reading program for the Saginaw, Mich., area...

SIKESTON -- Katherine E. Mitchell, 87, of Sikeston and formerly of Streator, Ill., died Tuesday, Oct. 12, 1999, at Sikeston Convalescent Center. She was born Jan. 10, 1912, in Streator, daughter of Charles and Nellie Flanigan Bargreen. She and William R. Mitchell were married Feb. 10, 1932, in Streator. He died Oct. 9, 1972...

PARMA -- Sidney Thomas, 59, of Parma died Friday, Oct. 8, 1999, at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston. He was born Oct. 27, 1939, in Hughes, Ark., son of Charlie and Rosie Lee Landers Thomas. He and Katherlene Exson were married Nov. 17, 1957, in Mansfield, Ohio...

JONESBORO, Ill. -- Nadine Greenwood, 95, died Tuesday, Oct. 12, 1999, at Jonesboro Healthcare Center. She was born April 14, 1904, in Louisville, daughter of Errol and Pearl Bracket Woods. She and Everett Greenwood were married Aug. 23, 1924, in Flora. He died Jan. 10, 1979...

ADVANCE -- Funeral for Jimmy Beal of Advance will be held at 11 a.m. Friday at Morgan Funeral Home. The Revs. Keith Price, Watis Harrell and Brad Moore will officiate. Burial will be in Beatty Cemetery at Arab. Friends may call at the funeral home from 5-8 p.m. today. A Masonic service will be held at 7...

Corene Frentzel, 79, of Belleville, Ill., died Tuesday, Oct. 12, 1999, at St. Elizabeth Hospital in Belleville. She was born Dec. 16, 1919, in Iuka, Ky., daughter of Sam and Emma Sexton Tucker. She first married William Penny Moore, who preceded her in death. She and Herbert Frentzel were married in 1941. He died Nov. 28, 1969...

Gussie Gwen Hunter, 86, of Cape Girardeau died Tuesday, Oct. 12, 1999, at Beverly Health and Rehabilitation Services. She was born Feb. 5, 1913, at Fornfelt, daughter of Charles and Anna Drury Hunter. She moved to Cape Girardeau 14 years ago from Scott City...

PATTON -- Darrell Wayne Davis, 45, of Patton died Tuesday, Oct. 12, 1999, in an automobile accident at Patton. He was born Jan. 8, 1954, at Hayti, son of James Ralph and Madie Howard Davis. Davis was a welder. He served in the U.S. Navy. Survivors include a daughter, Rita Davis of Patton, his mother of Patton; three brothers, Gary Davis of Marquand, Joey Davis of Marble Hill, James Davis of DeSoto; and a grandson...

Funeral for Louvenia Williams of Cape Girardeau will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday at Ford and Sons Mt. Auburn Chapel. Friends may call at the chapel from 6-8 p.m. Friday. Williams, 75, died Tuesday, Oct. 12, 1999, at her home. She was born April 26, 1924, in Brown's Valley, Ky., daughter of William Harrison and Sadie Palmer Jackson. She and Early Williams were married Nov. 19, 1945, in St. Louis. He died Jan. 13, 1991...

Funeral for Edna Ruth Miller of Cape Girardeau will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday at Lorberg Memorial Funeral Chapel. Dr. Clayton L. Smith will officiate. Burial will be in IOOF Cemetery near Charleston. Friends may call at the chapel from 5:30-8 p.m. Friday...

KARNAK, Ill. -- Gladys McKinney, 81, of Waukegan, formerly of Karnak, died Wednesday, Oct. 13, 1999, at her home. Wilson Funeral Home in Karnak is in charge of arrangements.

CHARLESTON -- Jerry Morton, 58, of Charleston died Wednesday, Oct. 13, 1999, at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston. McMikle Funeral Home in Charleston is in charge of arrangements.

Son to Gabriel Paine and Rebecca Lynn Helton of Jackson, Southeast Missouri Hospital, 10:16 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 3, 1999. Name, Andrew Thomas. Weight, 9 pounds 3 ounces. First child. Mrs. Helton is the former Rebecca Zeilenga, daughter of Cassie Zeilenga of Jackson and Ralph and Patsy Zeilenga of Lynwood, Ill. ...

Jane Dae King Gravatt of Memphis, Tenn. and formerly of Chaffee, passed away on Oct. 13, 1999 at St. Francis Hospital in Memphis. She was born on Jan. 22, 1927 in Chaffee, the daughter of David Floyd and Pearl (Blocker) King. She was a homemaker. Survivors include two sons, David Gravatt of Como, Miss. ...