Stories from Friday, November 26, 1999

WHILE I find it saddening that students were not only injured but killed in the annual bonfire that they have down in Texas concerning a football game, my problem is this: We as adults who are concerned about a few things in this world need to stop and think. ...

Throughout the holidays, shoppers will hear the ringing of bells just about everywhere they go. These are the Salvation Army's bell ringers who draw attention to kettles where passers-by can make contributions. And a large, light-laden evergreen at West Park Mall is a reminder for the entire community of the Salvation Army's annual Tree of Lights campaign, which raises about half of the organization's annual budget...

Acute bronchitis, inflammation of the passageways for air moving to and from the lungs, may occur in people of any age. If you have ever experienced coughing fits or feel as if you need to breath shallow so as to prevent a nearly uncontrollable coughing spell, you may have had bronchitis...

Got Siberian ginseng?Even though the majority of people will still have milk at home before they own a bottle of herbal vitamins, more and more are expanding their nutritional horizons. It wouldn't be so necessary if the rules of the basic four food groups were followed, said Amy Thompson, pharmacist at the Healing Arts Pharmacy in Cape Girardeau."Most people do okay with vitamin requirements if they're eating their meats and veggies," Thompson said. ...

The deaths of 12 students and injuries to many more at Texas A&M University was a tragedy whose pain was magnified by circumstances. For one thing, the 40-foot-high pyramid of logs for a football-game bonfire is a 90-year-old tradition -- nearly a century during which no one has ever before been hurt. And the collapse of the bonfire pyramid came just the week before Thanksgiving, which is a time for happiness, not sorrow...

I believe, generally speaking, that government has the very best of intentions. There is ample evidence to the contrary, but I still believe the purpose of government is to achieve the best results for the most people. And that is obviously no easy task...

Training is everything. The peach was once a bitter almond and cauliflower is nothing but cabbage with a college education. Mark TwainThere is a growing public use of institutional graduation rates as a measure of accountability and a tendency to blame colleges for student failure to complete degrees in a timely fashion. Because college graduates earn more than those with a high school diploma, higher graduation rates suggest higher tax revenue and a more resilient economy...

Thanksgiving was a little brighter for several hundred area residents thanks to the Salvation Army. The Salvation Army in Cape Girardeau served about 600 Thanksgiving meals Thursday. About half were delivered to homebound residents in Cape Girardeau, Scott City and Jackson. The rest of the noon-time meals were dished out at the Salvation Army building at 701 Good Hope...

Area residents on Thanksgiving weren't only gobbling up turkey and the trimmings, but were snatching up bargains as a number of Cape Girardeau major retailers kicked off the holiday shopping season a day early. Rather than waiting for today's "official" start of the holiday buying frenzy, some stores opened on Thanksgiving Day with sales and specials they hoped would lure shoppers away from feasts and football...

For Eric "Cool Breeze" Sledge, Thanksgiving was a day to be truly thankful that his life had turned around. The 33-year-old Sledge admits he was once a bum, living on alcohol and drugs in the streets of Chattanooga, Tenn. Sledge's life centered on drugs, dating back to high school. He regularly used drugs from ages 14 to 28. He was in and out of jail...

I don't know if it was Governor Bradford or President Washington or FDR or who, but putting a holiday with the biggest meal of the year on a Thursday wasn't a great idea. As you know, I'm a big fan of highly scientific surveys. I think the right question asked at the right time always gives you the right answer...

State Sen. Peter Kinder, R-Cape Girardeau, has been named the 8th Congressional District chairman for Republican George W. Bush's presidential campaign.Kinder also serves as state Senate coordinator for the Bush campaign.U.S. Sen. Christopher "Kit" Bond, state chairman for the Bush campaign in Missouri, and state finance Chairman William H.T. "Bucky" Bush announced the campaign chairmen this week...

JEFFERSON CITY -- Findings of a recent state audit show that Perry County did not prepare budgets for some county operating funds during the 1997 and 1998 budget years. However, Perry County Clerk Randy Taylor said those funds identified by the auditors have been included in the county's 1999 budget...

MARSTON -- When the New Madrid Tourist Information and Welcome Center marked its open house recently, Jan Farrenburg, supervisor, didn't have much to celebrate. While she had state and local officials to greet, tourists and other visitors traveling Interstate 55 have been scarce recently. ...

SIKESTON -- If you want to make a difference in someone's life and you're 60 or older, the Foster Grandparent Program may be what you're looking for. They need you now more than ever. For the first time in its 25 years in Sikeston, the program is experiencing a shortage of volunteers and Jolene Walker is hoping the situation won't last long...

John A. Schneider, formerly of Cape Girardeau, was among the nearly 1,500 competing in the Ironman Triathlon in Kailua-Kona Kona, Hawaii in late October. He finished 42nd in his age division. He is the son of John and Loretta Schneider of Cape Girardeau...

Paul J. "Jerry" Abbott, 67, died Tuesday, Nov. 23, 1999, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. He was born Dec. 30, 1931, in Cape Girardeau, son of Harry and Elsdena Scherer Abbott. He and Glenda Bullard were married April 19, 1952. She survives...

ADVANCE -- Betty VanGennip, 66, of Advance died Thursday, Nov. 25, 1999.Funeral arrangements are incomplete and will be announced later by Morgan Funeral Home of Advance.

Elizabeth "Betty" Statler, 66, of Cape Girardeau died Thursday, Nov. 25, 1999. She was the wife of the Rev. Jerry Statler.Arrangements are incomplete and will be announced by McCombs Funeral Home of Cape Girardeau.

COBDEN, Ill. -- Eliza Margaret "Duck" Sitter, 94, of Clarksville, Tenn., formerly of Cobden, died Wednesday, Nov. 24, 1999, at Gateway Medical Center in Clarksville. She was born March 1, 1905, at Cobden, daughter of Frank Ross and Minnie Rendleman Condon...

CAIRO, Ill. -- Clara V. Showalter, 90, of Cairo, died Thursday, Nov. 25, 1999, at Daystar Care Center in Cairo. She was born Nov. 15, 1909, in Ballard County, Ky., daughter of John and Ella Fissinger Stigall. She is survived by five sons, Lewis Morris of Cairo, Jack Morris of Negaunee, Mich., Charles Showalter of Clarksville, Tenn., Harley Showalter of Cairo, Kenneth Don Showalter, Dallas, Texas; a daughter, Carolyn Conder of Dallas; a brother, Charles Stigall of Bardwell, Ky.; several grandchildren; great-grandchildren; and great-great-grandchildren.. ...

CHAFFEE -- Clarence E. "Bud" Pennington, 85, of Chaffee, died Thursday, Nov. 25, 1999. He was born March 13, 1914, in Rombauer, son of William T. Pennington and Leona Hoffman Pennington. He married Bernice Scott on May 14, 1940, in St. Louis. She survives...

ADVANCE -- Hardy O. Jacobs, 87, of Advance died Wednesday, Nov. 24, 1999, at the Advance Nursing Center.He was born Jan. 18, 1912, in Clinton, Ark., son of Lonnie and Fannie Hardy Jacobs.He was a retired farmer and member of the National Rifle Association. ...

SIKESTON -- Evelyn Carr, 79, died Thursday, Nov. 25, 1999, at Sikeston. She was born Sept.. 7, 1920, daughter of Oscar and Ethel Foust Crosno. She was a homemaker and a member of the First Baptist Church in Sikeston. She married Walter Carr Nov. . 28, 1936. He died Feb. 12, 1991...

James Patrick McCarty, 71, of Cape Girardeau, died Thursday, Nov. 25, 1999.Arrangements are incomplete and will be announced by McCombs Funeral Home of Cape Girardeau.

MARBLE HILL -- Cloye Warner of Marble Hill, died Thursday, Nov. 25, 1999, at Elder Care in Marble Hill.Arrangements are incomplete and will be announced by Hutchings Funeral Chapel.