Stories from Friday, November 5, 1999

To the editor: In October, the HealthSouth "Go for It!" road show sponsored by Coca-Cola made a stop in Cape Girardeau. The show encouraged children to think positively and live healthy lifestyles. The shows were a huge success, bringing in nearly 20,000 children...

Tigers in Perry County. Camels in Cape Girardeau. Is this what you expect to find in our area. Once upon a time, exotic animals were found in picture books and in zoos. Nowadays, local farmers are raising emus and llamas. Now there is a proposal for a tiger refuge in Perry County. And camel owners and fanciers from all over the world have come to Cape Girardeau to learn more about the care and training of their useful and funny-looking animals...

Most of us don't know what it's like to be hungry. Sure, some of us have hearty appetites and look forward to our next meal with gusto. But most of us know where our next meal is coming from. If national statistics are to be believed, most of us eat far more than we need to at most meals...

When most people think of diabetes they think of a disease wherein the body has difficulty maintaining the proper level of blood sugar because of the absence or ineffectiveness of circulating insulin. They may even know that it is a serious disease that can cause problems including heart disease, kidney disease and other circulatory problems that may even at times result in amputations...

An increasing number of people are getting pneumonia vaccines and Dr. Patrick Downey hopes that will mean a decreasing number getting this contagious disease. The pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine being offered at doctors offices and health departments now covers the 23 most common forms of the strain of bacteria that causes pneumonia, said Downey, a primary care physician at Regional Primary Care in Cape Girardeau."These strains are responsible for 30 to 50 percent of all commonly acquired pneumonia," he said.Pneumococcal disease can lead to serious infections of the lungs (pneumonia), the blood (bacteremia) and the covering of the brain (meningitis), according to the Centers for Disease Control.The vaccine has for several years been recommended for those 65 and older and those with chronic health problems or compromised immune systems. ...

Water quality and navigation haven't been adversely affected by the relatively low stage of the Mississippi River in this drought year. In fact, the quality of water Cape Girardeau is taking from the river is better than usual. The river is running clearer than normal because the absence of rain has reduced runoff, silt and turbidity, says Kevin Priester, manager of the water system. ...

The Missouri Department of Transportation isn't completely at fault for the negligent care of the state's highways, the department director says. The director, Henry Hungerbeeler, said voters also are to blame for not passing proposals that would increase funding for state highways. They expect the 32,000 miles in the state's roadway system will be maintained as before but have a record of defeating ballot measures that produce more revenue, he said...

The eight confirmed cases of hepatitis A in Bollinger County are the result of person-to-person transmission and aren't associated with a restaurant or single event, a state health official said."These are linked cases with the virus being passed from person to person," said Sue Tippon, communicable-disease coordinator for the Missouri Department of Health's Southeast District headquartered in Poplar Bluff...

Once upon a time in Kelo Valley, which is in the Ozark hills west of here a ways, very little time was spent worrying about highway interchanges. For the most part, the families living on Kelo Valley were happy if the county road grader came by at least once a year. The best time for the grader to make its annual appearance was just after the spring rains when deep gullies would be washed in the rocky road as thunderstorms formed little creeks that carved their own ditches across the ruts...

Few live the hobo life full time any more, but there are those trying to keep alive the romantic tradition of these railway wanderers. Many of those are gathering in Jackson for this week's Hobo Days at the St. Louis Iron Mountain and Southern Railway station."Hoboes are part of American life that we don't want to be forgotten," said Liberty Justice, who was elected King of the Hoboes at the annual hobo convention in Britt, Iowa, in 1996...

A 15-year-old girl who had been missing for a month was found Thursday, Cape Girardeau Police said. Amanda Kridelbaugh was brought home from Memphis, Tenn., where she had been with another teen-ager, Cpl. Kevin Orr said. Details about why Kridelbaugh was missing were not made available...

With three local games occuring Thursday night, the final Friday night of the season will be more quiet than the previous nine weeks. Jackson hooked up with rival Cape Central; Perryville played De Soto and Sikeston clashed with Potosi, leaving Poplar Bluff as the only regional large school playing tonight...

Cape Central hung in there.But in the fourth quarter, Jackson kicked out the stool.The Indians hung Central with its ninth loss of the season 36-10 in front of a huge crowd at Houck Stadium Thursday night.The Tigers, who have not won a game at Houck in the last two seasons, held a 10-9 lead at halftime.But Jackson finally captured the lead late in the third quarter and pulled away in the fourth to improve to 9-1.While Jackson got a few big plays from its big-play duo Tory Meyr and Mario Whitney, a new Indian has emerged in the clutch over the past three weeks.Matt Holloway, a cornerback, came up with two key interceptions Thursday night, making it four in the last three weeks. ...

PUXICO -- Bernice Pauline Harty, 78, of Puxico died Wednesday, Nov. 3, 1999, at Doctors Regional Medical Center in Poplar Bluff.She was born March 20, 1921, at Puxico, daughter of Jack and Doris Nancy Jane Shelby Smith. She and Fred Alexander Harty were married Oct. ...

Irene Janet Mammon, 85, of Cape Girardeau died Thursday, Nov. 4, 1999, at the Lutheran Home. She was born July 20, 1914, at Egypt Mills, daughter of John Henry and Matilda Gerschwyler Mammon Jr. Mammon was a 1932 graduate of Central High School, and a 1937 graduate of St. Luke's School of Nursing in St. Louis...

McCLURE, Ill. -- Dixie H. McCord, 91, of McClure died Thursday, Nov. 4, 1999, at Beverly Health and Rehabilitation Services in Cape Girardeau, Mo. She was born Nov. 21, 1907, in Ellsinore, Mo., daughter of William B. and Elizabeth Renfrow Hill. She married Robert McCord, who died in 1964...

Memorial service for Julia Marie Fisher of Chesterfield will be held at 11:30 a.m. Saturday at Webster Groves Presbyterian Church in Webster Groves. The Rev. Thom Hunter will officiate. Burial will be in Lake Charles Memorial Park in Olivette. Gerber Chapel in Webster Groves is in charge of arrangements...

ST. PETERS -- Ollie M. Cossarini, 77, of St. Peters died Thursday, Nov. 4, 1999, at her home. She was the aunt of Linda Abernathy McCulley of Cape Girardeau. She was born May 3, 1922, in Menfro, daughter of John and Julie Abernathy. She married Victor P. Cossarini, who preceded her in death...

ANNA, Ill. -- Jewell Marie Watkins, 93, of Anna died Thursday, Nov. 4, 1999, at City Care Center in Anna. She was born April 1, 1906, in Union County, daughter of Willis M. and Narola Iona Yates Treece. She married Raymond Watkins in 1930. He died in 1952...

JONESBORO, Ill. -- Leo A. Smith, 69, died Wednesday, Nov. 3, 1999, at John Cochran VA Hospital in St. Louis. He was born March 19, 1930, in Alto Pass, son of Walter and Annie Coryell Smith. He and Betty Jean Turner were married June 18, 1958, in Jonesboro. She died Oct. 10, 1996...

ADVANCE -- M. Elizabeth Riegert, 90, of Advance died Thursday, Nov. 4, 1999, at Elder Care Nursing Center in Marble Hill. She was born Sept. 17, 1909, in Charleston, daughter of James and Anna Ruth Hider Hardin. She and Willie Riegert were married Feb. 11, 1929, in Walnut Ridge, Ark. He died Feb. 16, 1988...

OLIVE BRANCH, Ill. -- Funeral for Franklin "Frank" Vaughn of Olive Branch will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Crain Funeral Home in Tamms. The Rev. Carl Hester will officiate. Burial will be in Olive Branch Cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home from 4-7 p.m. today. Masonic service will be at 6:30...

Betty Sue Simms, 88, of Cape Girardeau died Sunday, Oct. 31,1999, at Beverly Health and Rehabilitation Services. She was born May 7, 1911, at Mt. Pleasant, Tenn., daughter of Walter and Osborn Sharp Wilson. She first married Darotha Macon in 1935. He died in 1952. She later married Louis Simms in 1955. He died in 1973...

ORAN -- Lorena A. Pobst, 95, of Oran died Thursday, Nov. 4, 1999, at Chaffee Nursing Center in Chaffee. She was born Jan. 17, 1904, at Oran, daughter of Frank and Sophia Goetz Heisserer. She and Toney Pobst were married Nov. 18, 1924. He died Aug. 9, 1991...

Howard Gene Russell, 74, formerly of Cape Girardeau, died in Missouri City, Texas, Thursday, Nov. 4, 1999.Arrangements are pending at Lorberg Funeral Chapel.

SCOTT CITY -- Peter McCllen Rudy, 93, of Scott City died Wednesday, Nov. 3, 1999, at his home. He was born Nov. 11, 1905, at Steele, son of George and Eldora Reynolds Rudy. He and Ruby Sanford were married July 19, 1926, in St. Louis. She died April 17, 1994...

Mary Ellen Bridges, 89, of Sikeston passed away Thursday, November 4, 1999 at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston. She was born on January 23, 1910 in Lamar, Ark., daughter of Baxter Lane Bridges and Bertha A. Matthews Bridges. Ms. Bridges began teaching in 1937 at schools in Arkansas and Southeast Missouri, including Crowder, Essex, Gray Ridge, Salcedo, Tanner, Airport School and Southeast Elementary in Sikeston where she retired in 1970. ...