Stories from Tuesday, December 21, 1999

DELTA -- Betty Brockett has been in the teaching business a long time. In fact, she has so much experience -- 31 years in all -- that several of her students are now her bosses. "I've been doing this long enough that former students are on the Board of Education and one former student is now my principal," said the Delta High School math teacher. "It has worked out nicely."...

Do you have trouble with enough storage space on your computer? If so, the Internet may offer some alternatives. There are a growing number of sites that offer free storage space. It's a great way to share your data online without sending it via e-mail. If you e-mail large files, it's both time consuming and frustrating to users. Most people don't like to e-mail information larger than 2 megabytes of space...

When Lydia A. Seabaugh stopped baking and sewing, her family thought she was just losing interest because she was getting older. But when she stopped going to family and church activities, it became apparent something was wrong. The diagnosis: Alzheimer's disease...

The Cape Girardeau Board of Education Monday night received the second of three cost estimates for construction of a high school. Board members asked detailed questions of Tony Sebek of Regional Architects Coalition regarding the type of construction, building materials, durability and square-foot costs of Sebek's proposal to build a high school that would house grades nine through 12...

The new year is expected to bring round-the-clock cleanup of the Missouri Electric Works Superfund site in Cape Girardeau. All of the PCB-contaminated soil could be cleaned by April, said AmerenUE's Warren Mueller, project coordinator for the potential responsible parties, which are paying much of the cost to clean up the site at 824 S. Kingshighway...

Jackson State offensive coordinator John Shannon was the fourth and last finalist to interview for the vacant head football coach position at Southeast Missouri State University Monday. Shannon touted a no-huddle offense and a wide-open offensive approach...

Cape Girardeau architect John L. Boardman, who over a career of more than 40 years designed hundreds of buildings and supervised renovations of scores of other historic structures, died Monday, Dec. 20, 1999, at Southeast Missouri Hospital. Boardman, 73, had imprinted his distinctive architectural style in Cape Girardeau particularly in the downtown area since opening an architectural firm here a number of years ago...

The Board of Education approved renovations for Franklin Elementary School and the sale of May Greene Elementary School Monday night. The board gave preliminary approval for the sale of May Greene to First Assembly of God Church. Superintendent Dan Steska and board President Ferrell Ervin declined to release the sale amount until after the contract is finalized...

The final week before the holiday always seems to creep up slowly and then surprise me. This week is no different. I made a list of all the things I still had to do before Christmas and realized there aren't enough hours in the day. My list doesn't include any shopping since I'm finished I think. It's a good thing, too, because I have plenty of baking and cooking to do before the holiday. And that list doesn't even include the house-cleaning chores before guests arrive...

A former sergeant with the Sikeston police department was sentenced Monday to three concurrent three-year prison terms after pleading guilty to three felony counts of stealing. Douglas A. Brooks served as treasurer of the Sikeston Emergency Search and Rescue Squad beginning in 1995. ...

A 34-year-old Kennett man has been charged with tampering in the first degree and felony restraint after an early Monday incident. The Dunklin County Sheriff's office received a call at 1 a.m. of a man kidnapping his two children from his ex-wife's Frisbee community residence. The man took the children, ages 3 and 6, from their home and assaulted his ex-wife in the process...

A Dutchtown man was among three who were appeared Monday in federal court, the U.S. Attorney's office said. William Ray Geiser, 45, would have been sentenced to 60 months in prison, but in a special hearing on Monday he was given an extra 10 months for possession of a firearm, said U.S. Assistant Attorney Teresa Bright-Pearson...

A pet rattlesnake sent his owner to the hospital last week, so the owner sent his snake to St. Louis on Monday, Cape Girardeau police said. A man who lives in the 300 block of South Lorimier Street reported being bitten by a pet western diamondback rattlesnake on Friday, Cpl. Rick Schmidt said...

JACKSON -- The city of Jackson is proposing a record $18 million budget in the year 2000. The Jackson Board of Aldermen will hold a special meeting at 7:30 p.m. Monday to consider adopting the new budget. The proposed budget includes $3.6 million in State Revolving Funds to pay for water and sewer improvements, so the actual budget is about $14.6 million...

The Cape Girardeau City Council approved six separate projects for street improvements Monday as part of the Transportation Trust Fund. Revenue for the Transportation Trust Fund is generated by a half-cent sales tax approved by voters in 1995. The tax is set to expire in 2000...

Cape Girardeau police have an unsolved mystery of sorts within their department's communications system. A $20,000 study to be completed by a St. Louis firm should help them discover a solution to the problem. The Cape Girardeau City Council approved a resolution Monday authorizing a study of the police department's radio system, at an estimated cost of $20,000. Spectrum Resources Inc. should complete the study within six months...

PERRYVILLE -- Although Perryville schools Superintendent Stephen Doerr saw much to be proud of in his district's annual report card, he also saw some challenges. The report card, an annual report prepared by school administrators profiling specific information about their school district, was released Dec. 1. Booklets were prepared for distribution throughout the community. The report also can be accessed at the school district's Web site...

Suddenly there are a few Canada geese in Southern Illinois. With wintry weather conditions arriving in the northern areas of the Mississippi Flyway, the big honkers are starting the trek to their Southern Illinois winter vacation grounds. "I talked to waterfowl officials in Wisconsin this morning," said Kathy Thornburg, of the Union County Wildlife Refuge. "They are getting cold weather and snow there. With a few days of bitter cold and snow, the geese should start south."...

Cape Girardeau residents can visit city hall 24 hours a day online. The city's Web site offers online applications for business licenses and liquor licenses and information about Vision 2020. The address is www.showme.net/capecity. By using the Internet, residents can save a trip to city hall, said City Manager Michael Miler. Applications can be printed from the computer and then completed. The applications still need to be completed manually and signed to be official...

It is, we are sorry to say, a sad episode in recent American history. A great movement of grass-roots Americans is gathering force nationwide, seeking to give parents greater choices in the education of their children. These folks are looking for all manner of alternatives to the one-size-fits-all system of public education...

To the editor: For those who are worried government will come to a screeching halt because of Y2K, you can put your fears to rest. Our government will soon be monitoring everyone's daily activities. After all it wants to protect us. The FCC has mandated that all wireless providers be able to pinpoint the location of all wireless phone calls by 2001 in case you get lost and need to call home. Big Brother will be looking out for your welfare and will know exactly where you are at all times...

If John Shannon becomes Southeast Missouri State University's next head football coach, one thing is certain. The Indians' offense will be exciting and unusual at the same time. Shannon, Jackson State's offensive coordinator, was the fourth and last finalist for the vacant Southeast coaching position to visit the campus for a day-long series of interviews...

Like most coaches, Gary Garner is greedy. Sure, a 7-3 record for Southeast Missouri State University's basketball Indians when Ohio Valley Conference play resumes early next month would be mighty impressive. And the Indians, with two more tough non-league games looming, can be no worse than 7-3 when OVC play starts up again...

Holding an early lead, Perryville may have thought Cape Central's girls were going to give them an early Christmas present in the opening round of the HealthSouth Holiday Classic, but the Lady Tigers weren't in a giving mood and went on to a 58-35 victory Monday night...

Notre Dame started three sophomores, a senior and a freshman Monday night, but they looked anything but young. And they looked anything but a No. 5 seed in a seven-team tournament. Notre Dame's freshmen and sophomores combined for 46 points and the Lady Bulldogs dominated in every aspect of the game, knocking off fourth-seeded Massac County (Ill.) 63-44 in the first round of the HealthSouth Holiday Classic at the Show Me Center...

BROSELEY -- Kelly High's girls basketball team remained undefeated Monday, thanks in large part to freshman Dana Essner. Essner stole a pass and went the length of the court for a layup at the buzzer as the fifth-seeded Lady Hawks slipped past fourth-seeded Ellington 47-45 in the quarterfinals of the Twin Rivers Holiday Tournament...

EAST PRAIRIE -- Beulah Hall, 68, of East Prairie died Sunday, Dec. 19, 1999, at Miner Nursing Center in Miner. She was born Nov. 8, 1931, in East Prairie, daughter of Leslie and Laurie Chaney Wilson. She married Relna "Sap" Hall in 1953. He died April 7, 1987...

WHITEWATER -- Glenda R. Stroder, 65, of Whitewater died Monday, Dec. 20, 1999, at her home. She was born April 9, 1934, in Cape Girardeau, daughter of Raymond and Goldia Chapman Craft. She and William Dale "Dub" Stroder were married Dec. 15, 1951, in Piggott, Ark...

WAPPAPELLO -- Mildred Willis, 91, of Wappapello died Monday, Dec. 20, 1999, at Advance Nursing Center in Advance. She was born May 16, 1908, in Stoddard County, daughter of Harry and Ada Dixon McKinley. She and Joseph Schmidt were married in April 1934. He preceded her in death. She later married William Willis Sept. 29, 1948. He died July 29, 1995...

PARK HILLS -- Funeral for Virgil Crank of Park Hills will be held at 11 a.m. today at Horton-Wampler Funeral Home in Park Hills. The Rev. Rick Wadley will officiate. Burial will be in Arcadia Valley Memorial Cemetery. Crank, 61, died Saturday, Dec. 18, 1999, at Mineral Area Regional Hospital...

ADVANCE -- Helen M. Nall, 83, of Advance died Monday, Dec. 20, 1999, at Advance Nursing Center. She was born June 21, 1916, at Lutesville, daughter of Monroe and Vallie Shell Null. She and Clifford Nall were married June 23, 1934, at Lutesville. He died Nov. 3, 1995...

SIKESTON -- Funeral for Durwood White Sr. of Sikeston will be held at 1 p.m. today at Ponder Funeral Home. The Rev. Charles Jones will officiate. Burial will be in Essex Cemetery at Essex, with military graveside rites by VFW Honor Guard of Poplar Bluff...

OLMSTED, Ill. -- Marsha Lynn Rose, 56, of Olmsted died Sunday, Dec. 19, 1999, at Massac Memorial Hospital in Metropolis. She was born Oct. 26, 1943, in Pulaski County, daughter of Raymond and May Pope Mathis. She married Elmer Rose. Rose had worked at Crain Enterprises in Mound City for 25 years. She was a member of Olmsted United Methodist Church...

ANNA, Ill. -- William Franklin Toler, 74, of Anna died Sunday, Dec. 19, 1999, at City Care Center in Anna. He was born Oct. 29, 1925, in Carbondale, son of Samuel W. and Lillian Whiteside Toler. He and Evelyn June Milton were married April 23, 1953, in Anna. She died Sept. 23, 1998...

ADVANCE -- Wayne Haws, 41, of De Soto died Monday, Dec. 20, 1999, at Jefferson Memorial Hospital in Festus. Morgan Funeral Home in Advance is in charge of arrangements.

MINER -- Funeral for Thelma Mae Young of Miner will be held at 2 p.m. today at Nunnelee Funeral Chapel in Sikeston. The Rev. Kelley Grubbs will officiate. Burial will be in New Morley Cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home from 11 a.m. until service time...

SIKESTON -- Barbara Alice "Betty" Comstock Kennedy, 69, formerly of Sikeston, died Sunday, Dec. 19, 1999, at the home of a daughter in Desloge. She was born March 29, 1930, at Birds Corner, daughter of Walter and Ruby McDowell. She first married Leo Comstock June 2, 1946, at Birds Corner. He preceded her in death. She later married James Ernest Kennedy July 27, 1979, at Catron...

BLOOMFIELD -- Ernest Edwards Jr., 75, of Bloomfield died Sunday, Dec. 19, 1999, at Dexter Memorial Hospital in Dexter. He was born Nov. 15, 1924, at Dexter, son of Ernest and Mabel Jarrell Edwards. He and Betty Trammell were married March 18, 1950. Edwards spent most of his life in the Bloomfield community. He had worked for Missouri Highway Department and also farmed...

MURPHYSBORO, Ill. -- Funeral for Gerald Miller of Murphysboro will be held at 2 p.m. today at Crain Funeral Home in Anna. The Rev. Richard Sullins will officiate. Burial will be in Anna Cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home from noon until service time...