Stories from Friday, October 29, 1999

Crowe put braces on Kelsi Henderson Monday. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, especially when it comes to early childhood dentistry. Teeth begin forming in a baby even before birth. All 20 primary (baby) teeth are present in the jawbones at birth. ...

PERRYVILLE -- Bringing tigers to Perry County is as realistic an idea as residents want to make of it, a sponsor of the National Tiger Sanctuary said Thursday. DePaul University spokesman Michael Gibbs would like to have a clear response from residents before Thanksgiving regarding placement of the sanctuary in the county's southwest corner. ...

President Clinton's veto of a crime bill threatens efforts to relocate the Southeast Missouri Crime Lab. The vetoed bill included $500,000 to refurbish and remodel a building at Ellis and Merriwether that has been used as a warehouse by Southeast Missouri State University's facilities management department. The remodeled structure would serve as the new crime lab...

OAK RIDGE -- A full day of activities will be held to mark the sesquicentennial celebration of Oak Ridge School District next week. Superintendent Cheri Fuemmeler said the school district will mark 125 years of service to the community next Friday with a parade and school assembly. Alumni and community members are invited to the events...

There's no more room at the mall. West Park Mall's available space is 100 percent leased for the first time in its 18-year history, which means consumers will have access to a total of 106 retail outlets at the mall this holiday season."We're gearing up for what we believe will be our best holiday season yet," said Jim Govro, general manager of the Westfield Shoppingtown facility near Interstate 55 and Route K.Twenty-one special holiday tenants will join the 85 year-round stores in the mall for the holiday shopping season. ...

It's not easy living in the town with the worst highway access in the state. But a contest might help get the proper attention. A while back the state highway department announced that, after holding hearings and listening to folks, there would be no new highway between Scott City and Cape Girardeau to relieve congestion on I-55 and on the mess called a highway interchange that gets traffic into and out of Scott City...

Two St. Peters burglary suspects went a long way to get arrested. Alexander County Sheriff's deputies arrested two men Thursday morning after they had eluded police in St. Peters, St. Louis and along the road through Cape Girardeau, said Alexander County Detective Bill McHughs...

Declining student enrollment in Chaffee has prompted the school district to call for a special election, while Commerce voters will decide whether or not to build a sewer systemThe Scott County Clerk's office in Benton will be open from 8:30 a.m. to noon Saturday for voters who would like to cast an absentee ballot in Tuesday's special election. ...

Principal Sydney Herbst noticed more children riding the bus to Clippard Elementary School recently while Hopper Road has been under construction. But that could all change once the road reopens to traffic Friday morning."We are all very anxious," she said. Parents, teachers and bus drivers will be happy to travel across the new 120-foot three span bridge...

JACKSON -- An initiative petition that would increase the corporate franchise tax to finance election campaigns and a Sierra Club lawsuit that could cost the state federal highway funds are two issues that should concern business interests during the next state legislative session, says Brian Fawks, director of governmental affairs for Associated Industries of Missouri...

I ALSO have contacted Mr. Gateley in regard to a problem on Dumis Drive in the Red Star area. If you would, please drive by Dumis Drive off of Country Club and Cape Rock. You will see what I'm talking about. Also, drive down Main Street in Red Star and you will also see. I've written letters to the police, City Hall and to council members, but nothing seems to get done. Apparently we have to live with this mess...

When 1993's Outstanding Schools Act changed Missouri's funding formula for public schools, the goal was to make spending on students equitable around the state. Some districts with large tax bases or whopping taxes -- or both -- were able to spend lavishly on students under the previous formula. Now the state wanted to make sure any student in one area would have the same tax dollars spent on him as a student in another area...

How does a good fish story merit an editorial? Well, consider this. A local fellow catches an 82-pound blue catfish in the Mississippi River using a rod and reel. This fellow is pleased as punch, as well he should be. Can you imagine hauling in a fish as big as a well-fed 8-year-old farm boy with a rod and reel? But this fisherman tells the newspaper, which is taking a photo of the big fish, that he wants no credit. He doesn't want his name in the paper. Period...

To the editor: A review of the current list of possible candidates for the presidency in the next election clearly shows another accomplishment of President Bill Clinton. He has so lowered the standards for this office that now it seems anyone feels they should be considered for this high office. ...

JACKSON -- For Jackson, the only way tonight's game could have more meaning is if it was against its archrival Cape Central. When Poplar Bluff comes to town for a 7:30 kickoff there will be a lot on the line: a district title, a conference title and the bragging rights as the top large school in Southeast Missouri...

The boys soccer teams at Notre Dame and Jackson high schools are favored to repeat as district champions. But both coaches realize the road to potential titles will be difficult. Notre Dame is the top seed for the Class 1A-3A, District 1 Tournament that will be held at Lutheran South in St. Louis...

If Cape Central has proven anything this year, it's that they haven't given up. The 1-7 Tigers gave Poplar Bluff a scare last Friday night, trailing just 14-7 at halftime. And Poplar Bluff, which eventually won 42-13, didn't run away with the game until both of Central's starting running backs, Jamelle Austin (knee) and O.J. Turner (back), left the game with injury...

FREDERICKTOWN -- After the first couple of games of the season it seemed a foregone conclusion that Ricky Smith and his New Madrid Eagles would win the Class 3A, District 1 championship. And after disposing of a tough Kennett team 48-16 last week, the Eagles are still on course when they visit Fredericktown tonight...

BENTON -- H.R. Crumpecker Jr., 81, of Benton died Wednesday, Oct. 27, 1999, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. He was born March 7, 1918, in Fisher, La., son of Herman Roe and Elzada Martin Crumpecker Sr. He and Minnie Lee Treece were married Sept. 25, 1954, at Benton...

DEXTER -- William Earl Cryts, 56, of rural Dexter died Thursday, Oct. 28, 1999, at his home. He was born Jan. 25, 1943, at St. Louis, son of William H. Cryts and Geneva Etoil Blackman Cryts. He attended Liberty Hill Baptist Church at Aid and was a retired farmer and business owner. ...

EAST PRAIRIE -- Thelma Coyle Comer, 84, of East Prairie died Thursday, Oct. 28, 1999, at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston.She was born April 22, 1915, in Cullman, Ark., daughter of Louis Haskell and Ellen Sharpton McAfee. She and Paul D. Comer were married July 7, 1937. ...

Geneva Maxine Maevers, 73, of Egypt Mills, died at the Corinthian Skilled Nursing Center in West Lake, Ohio Wednesday, Oct. 27, 1999.The body will be returned to Ford & Sons Mt. Auburn Funeral Chapel, where arrangements are incomplete and will be announced later...

BELL CITY -- Ethel Limbaugh, 93, of Bell City died Thursday, Oct. 28, 1999, at Advance Nursing Center.She was born Sept. 9, 1906, in Raymond, Miss., daughter of Edwin and Anna Standafer O'Brien. She and Arthur "Isadore" Limbaugh were married in 1939. ...

FARRAR -- Erwin R. Fritsche, 88, of Farrar died Wednesday, Oct. 27, 1999, at the Lutheran Home in Cape Girardeau. He was born Sept. 4, 1911, in Perry County, son of Max and Gertrude Muench Fritsche. He and Elda L. Schuessler were married May 9, 1943...

SIKESTON -- Juanita Wiley Reddiex, 61, of Sikeston, died Wednesday, Oct. 27, 1999, at Missouri Delta Medical Center. She was born April 24, 1938, in Cotton Plant, Ark., daughter of Authur and Georgia Boatman Wiley. She and Johnny Reddiex were married...

VIENNA, Ill. -- Seth Mathis, 86, of Vienna, Ill., died Wednesday, Oct. 27, 1999, at his home.He was born May 8, 1913, in Cypress, Ill., son of John and Almeda Porter Mathis. He and Violet Cross were married. She died in 1994.He was a veteran of the U.S. ...

PATTON -- Graveside service for William B. "Bernie" Long of Archer, Fla., was held Thursday at Laurel Hill Cemetery in Archer. The Rev. Terry Fulton officiated. Milam Funeral Home in Gainesville, Fla., was in charge of arrangements. Long, 89, died Monday, Oct. 25, 1999, at his home...

SIKESTON -- Funeral for Bobby Gene "Bob" Hampton of Sikeston will be held at 2 p.m. today at Ponder Funeral Home. The Rev. Lee Fansler will officiate. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery. Hampton, 64, died Tuesday, Oct. 26, 1999, at Baptist Memorial Hospital in Forrest City, Ark...

JONESBORO, Ill. -- Jim Boner, 47, of Jonesboro died Wednesday, Oct. 27, 1999, at Barnes Hospital in St. Louis. He was born Aug. 5, 1952, in Anna, son of William and Wilda Rogers Boner. He and Jody Forrest were married Nov. 9, 1974. Boner was a 1970 graduate of Anna-Jonesboro High School. He served in the National Guard...

Funeral for Viola G. Kulish of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, will be held at 10:30 a.m. today at All Saints Catholic Church. The Very Rev. Charles Lang will officiate. Burial will be in St. John's Cemetery. Stewart Funeral Home in Cedar Rapids is in charge of arrangements...

PERRYVILLE -- Anna Marie Wood, 94, of Perryville died Thursday, Oct. 28, 1999, at Perryoaks Healthcare Center.She was born Nov. 16, 1904, in Perry County, daughter of Marcellus and Rosa Tucker Moore. She and Wallace E. Wood were married Nov. 25, 1925. ...

CAIRO, Ill. -- Mary E. Grant, 81, of Cairo died Thursday, Oct. 28, 1999, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau, Mo.She was born March 14, 1918, in Cairo, daughter of Lawrence and Elsie O'Loughlin Grant.Grant had been a bookkeeper at Nabisco and at Rex Liquor. ...

Charles Lee Wiles, 88, of Cape Girardeau died Thursday, Oct. 28, 1999, at Chateau Girardeau Health Center. He was born Aug. 23, 1911, in Jonesboro, Ark., son of Warner Lee and Stella Lamberson Wiles. He and Ina Marie Shell were married 66 years. Wiles worked at Jonesboro Grocery Co. from 1948-60, and was a sales representative with M.E. Carter Produce Co. from 1960-76. He was a member of First Baptist Church in Jonesboro...

PERRYVILLE -- Benny L. Werle, 69, of Perryville died Wednesday, Oct. 27, 1999, at Perry County Memorial Hospital. He was born Jan. 24, 1930, at East St. Louis, Ill., son of John Lewis and Irene Mead Werle. He and Virginia E. Robinson were married June 6, 1987, at Perryville. Werle was an assembly line worker. He was a member of the United Methodist Church in Perryville. He served in both the U.S. Army and Marine Corps during the Korean War...

EAST PRAIRIE -- Sherley Wayne "Fib" Morgan, 63, of East Prairie, died Thursday, Oct. 28, 1999, at his home. He was born June 25, 1936, at New Madrid, son of Martin Robert and Anna Francis Rankin Morgan. He and Bertha Lee Gregg were married Aug. 3, 1957. He had lived most of his life in East Prairie, but had formerly lived in Barlow, Ky., He was a farmer and paper maker. He was a member of First Christian Church in East Prairie...

JACKSON -- Funeral Mass for Mary Caroline Weisbrod of Jackson will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church. Msgr. Edward Eftink will officiate. Burial will be in St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery at Apple Creek. Friends may call at McCombs Funeral Home in Jackson from 4-8 p.m. today. Parish prayers will be at 7 p.m., followed by the rosary service conducted by the Jackson Knights of Columbus Auxiliary...