Stories from Tuesday, November 30, 1999

What are the hottest toys of the season? Let's check out the big toy sites to find out what will or won't be in Santa's sack this year. In my opinion, these sites are great places to get ideas, but they still shouldn't replace the local merchants. Issues to consider when shopping online include shipping charges and return policies. ...

JACKSON -- School officials are planning two expansions to help alleviate overcrowding caused by growth in enrollment and programs. Voters would have to approve funding for any construction or major renovations in the Jackson School District, and the superintendent, Dr. Ron Anderson, said planners haven't looked that far ahead yet."There hasn't been any determination of when or what the scope would be at this time," he said...

Southeast Missouri State University will receive $2.1 million in federal money for three projects, including $1 million to help equip a new polytechnic building that soon will be under construction. The funding is part of the massive $390 billion budget approved by Congress and the president...

A $20,000 contribution from M&W Packaging pushed the Area Wide United Way's 1999 campaign over its $750,000 goal. On Monday afternoon representatives from M&W and Procter & Gamble Co., which minutes earlier announced its donation of $252,015, filled in the red on a United Way thermometer sign to signify reaching 100 percent of this year's goal."We're very exited about reaching the goal," said Craig Wells of Crain Enterprises and this year's campaign chairman. ...

It was one of those events you think happens to someone else, somewhere else because it would be too strange to happen to you. It's the kind of thing you hear about on the news and even see in the newspaper. How many people do you know who can say they've been inside a building while a car drove through? Now, I know several...

A Cape Girardeau man who spent Thanksgiving Day in the hospital will have even less to be thankful for when he is released, the Missouri Highway Patrol said. Wetzell Burkett, 39, was flown by helicopter to Southeast Missouri Hospital after a head-on collision on Wednesday evening. Alcohol was thought to be a factor in the accident, in which Burkett's 1988 Pontiac struck a 1989 Plymouth driven by Joleen F. Warren, 19, of Cape Girarsaid...

JONESBORO, Ill. -- Dancer, Prancer and Rudy are gone, but Tito and Bud can be found daily at Holiday Farms in Southern Illinois. Tito and Bud are giant Clydesdales -- they weigh about a ton each that were obtained by Larry and Pam Miles to pull a covered wagon over their Christmas Entertainment Tree Farm, a short distance Illinois 146 near Jonesboro. ...

To his patients, he's a dentist. For Cape Girardeau Public Schools, he's a board member. To dentists across the state, he's an active member of the Missouri Dental Association. For those efforts, Dr. Robert Fox of Cape Girardeau has been named the MDA's Dentist of the Year."I was very surprised," Fox said of the award. ...

To the editor: All men and women who have served honorably in our military in the past, those who are serving now and those who will serve in the future have my full respect. Richard Nixon gave us the voluntary military. I have read many articles on some of the results of the change from draft to voluntary, but only one covered the real reason for the change...

A SPEAK Out reader says that basic health care is a right. What about the rights of responsible people? I guess this socialist Democrat forgot what John Kennedy, a decent Democrat, said: "Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country." He didn't say let someone else take care of you. ...

Getting in the mood for Christmas shouldn't be difficult for those who attend tonight's concert by the Choral Union. Nearly 200 voices backed by the Southeast Missouri State University Orchestra will sing traditional Christmas songs as part of the groups' annual fall concert...

Seven homes and a church decorated for the holidays will be featured on the 12th annual Lutheran Family and Children's Services Home Tour, which will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. In addition to the tour, a chicken and dumplings lunch will be served at the church on the tour, Hobbs Chapel Methodist Church, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. At the same time, there will be a silent auction of gifts and services...

Southeast Missouri State University's basketball Indians, riding high with their best-ever start under coach Gary Garner, face a pair of challenging firsts this week. Not only will the Indians hit the road for the first time, Thursday night's game against Tennessee Tech will also mark the start of Ohio Valley Conference play for Garner's squad...

SIKESTON -- Funeral for Mildred Atlanta Bennett of Sikeston will be held at 11 a.m. today at Nunnelee Funeral Chapel. The Rev. Rufus McLean will officiate. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery. Bennett, 86, died Sunday, Nov. 28, 1999, at Missouri Delta Medical Center...

JACKSON -- Lydia Sievers, 93, of Jackson died Monday, Nov. 29, 1999, at the Lutheran Home in Cape Girardeau. Arrangements are incomplete at McCombs Funeral Home in Jackson.

SIKESTON -- Robert David Tankersley, 60, of Sikeston died Monday, Nov. 29, 1999, at his home. He was born Nov. 26, 1939, in Charlotte, N.C., son of William Emmett and Corra Lee Thomas Tankersley Sr. Tankersley was an engineer with American Commercial Barge Lines. He served in the U.S. Navy...

ANNA, Ill. -- D.G. "Duffy" Sanders, 67, of Anna died Monday, Nov. 29, 1999, at Memorial Hospital in Carbondale. He was born Jan. 21, 1932, in Wolf Lake, son of Thomas and Hallie Davis Sanders. He and Mary Joann Frick were married Nov. 24, 1955, in Jonesboro...