Stories from Friday, December 31, 1999

T'was the night before the millennium and all through the house, not a light was on in the house. The computers had crashed along with the banks, and the Army was in the streets with shields and tanks. The people were worried, and some even cried. The Y2K had come even through some thought it was a lie. ...

If we were to look ahead 100, 500 or 1,000 years, what would change? Certainly technology supersedes work. Machines slave, not asking for pensions, vacations or holidays. They'll never ask for a promotion or a pay raise. Think about it. They don't support families either. ...

As I sit here thinking about millenniums, both current ones and the ones-yet-to-come, I reflect on the advances made in the past 1,000 years. Although the word "millennium" means to me "a new change," it is truly amazing the way that times have changed with all the inventions and innovations that have been made! Wow!...

Never before have we had the ability to determine our own fates as we will in the new millennium. Never before have the forces of technology, the economy, and peace come together as they can and will as the century changes. In the last decade alone, technology has changed the world in ways few could have imagined 1,000 or even 100 years ago. ...

I take comfort, even inspiration, in the fact that history is cyclical. It's because I am conservative by nature, don't like change and prefer a degree of predictability. I say phooey to those who see no pattern in history. There is a pattern, though some, like Karl Marx, didn't understand it, with tragic consequences. Thus it is the thesis of this essay that history moves in understandable, repetitive cycles or, if you will, circles...

I have a lot of worries about the millennium. Like the Y2K bug and scary stuff other people talk about. Some people don't believe any of it, but I am not one of them. I wonder if anyone knows the answers to my questions like what about Y2K bug bothering the banking and government computers and also just ones used at home and school. Is the world going to stop turning? Are more stars going to burn out? Now I think I will just have to wait to experience the millennium coming up!...

We heard the question, "Is your computer Y2K compatible?" With the dawn of the new millennium, the focus will shift from computers to more personal matters. This whole Y2K thing is not just about what is inside our computers. It is all about us! How compatible are we? How do we treat each other when it comes to push and shove? How quick are we to offer a helping hand to someone in need? How encouraging are we to others when we speak out? How good are we at what Jesus taught about in that "Love thy neighbor" stuff? It seems to me we can all become more compatible in Cape! We can become better neighbors and visitor friendly in the new millennium. ...

As I look ahead to the new millennium, I see many changes, but change is what life is all about. How we handle changes shapes us into the person we become. Each stage of life has its rewards and its obstacles, and as long as we live, we are on duty to handle life's situations. As we mature, our choices get more complicated. We learn that "rights" are not always right and that life isn't always fair. We strive for balance and become either an optimist or a pessimist...

How can one speak of our past nostalgically? The United States is still relatively a new nation. 1,000 years ago Native Americans were here. Never having done my genealogy and having merely a vague idea, I can only write of what I identify with or what I know for a surety...

We don't have time to look back over the last 1,000 years. That would take too long, so let's take a look at the last 100 years. The first automobile, an Oldsmobile, rolled off an assembly line in 1902. In 1903 the Wright brothers flew their airplane at Kitty Hawk, and 66 years later on July 20, 1969, Neil Armstrong stepped off a lunar module and said: "That's one small step for man and a giant leap for mankind."...

The year was 1936, and I was 9 years old. My parents had separated and were getting a divorce. My mother and two older brothers and I were staying at my grandparents house in Illinois. I was sitting in my grandmother's flower garden, thinking of all the things that had gone wrong in my parents' marriage. ...

When I was about the age of 10, it occurred to me that with a birthdate of June 15, 1950, I had been born almost smack dab in the middle of this century. If my parents had first conceived of me about two weeks later, I could have been right on the mark! Being born in 1950 made it easy for others to remember my birthday, and even easier for me to figure the passing years accurately as I grew older...

History is made up of more than just recorded names and dates. History and genealogy are inseparable, the same as politics and history are inseparable. Missouri has a unique place in American history because it played an important role in the expansion of a young nation. ...

As we move into a new century, let us not forget the tears we shed in the past. Let us not forget how we cried over the school shootings, the murders of other children and adults, the abuse of our elderly and the unconscionable acts toward those different from ourselves. We have seen humanity at its worst. We must remember we cried and remember our tears...

This is the editorial that gets written only every thousand years. So it ought to be profound, full of wit, pithy all the while providing a beacon to future generations. Frankly, though, if we hear "Y2K" one more time, it will be about a zillion times too many...

Jan. 1, 2000, will be a significant date. We passed from year 1998 to 1999 with a familiar ease. When we hang our year 2000 calendars on Jan. 1, we will probably step back and ponder what is happening. We are convinced that there is still some confusion about the new millennium when we hear comments such as: It is really difficult to understand, especially the Y2K thing. Most of us are surely beyond that point, but a new millennium can provoke some profound thoughts...

As a teen-ager of the 1900s, I find that I'm looking forward to the next millennium rather than looking back at the last one. One of the best things about the new millennium for me is being able to say I'm from both the 20th and the 21st centuries. It makes me sound somewhat older, which I might not like when I am older, but I guess I can't have it both ways. ...

What better time to celebrate God's gifts and blessings than at the start of a new year -- or a new millennium? Several members of St. Mary's Cathedral and other area Catholic parishes will ring in the new year with a midnight Mass celebrated by Bishop John J. Leibrecht of the Springfield-Cape Girardeau Diocese...

On Dec. 31, 1999, one tick of the clock at 11:59:59 p.m. will usher in the new millennium. Several experts predict we can look forward to unprecedented prosperity and unimaginable technological advances. But unless we make changes in our inability to relate to one another, Jan. ...

Holiday TV viewers have seen so many old movies they're uncertain whether Lincoln or FDR is president. Charles Schulz will stop drawing his beloved "Peanuts" comic strip. Now readers know how Charlie Brown feels when Lucy takes away the football. It's difficult to have confidence in technology when calling an 800 number to learn what steps to take to survive the Y2K fiasco and then spending the next hour on hold...

Preparing for a party worthy of ringing in a new millennium is difficult enough. Doing so for a crowd of about 800 in an arena that just hours before was the site of a basketball tournament presents even more challenges. But those at the Show Me Center say 20 hours should be plenty of time to transform the building from a sports venue into an elegant room for tonight's Y2K Eve Party, complete with stages for two bands, a dance floor with high-tech lighting and room for an indoor fireworks display.. ...

PERRYVILLE -- Voters in Perryville School District likely will be asked to approve a number of issues at the polls April 4 to fund a three-phase plan for new construction, building upgrades and maintenance, staff salaries and reinstatement of a driver education program...

The Missouri Housing Development Commission will hold public hearings at three locations in January to discuss developers' proposals for funding of affordable-housing developments in 2000. Included are two proposals for Cape Girardeau, one for Jackson and a number of others in Southeast Missouri. They are at Howardville, Kennett, Lilbourn, Malden, Marston, New Madrid, Perryville, Piedmont and Sikeston...

There's a little voice that tells me this column is for posterity. "Just imagine," the little voice says, "that someone is compiling a history of the universe a couple of hundred years from now." So where do I fit in? "Big role. As big as Charlton Heston playing God."...

Caisa Pope and her family are ready for Y2K. They have a couple of cases of Spaghetti O's in the basement. "You don't buy things that no one is going to eat," said Pope, who grew up canning and storing foodstuffs for hard times. "My kids eat Spaghetti O's, so we have Spaghetti O's."...

You've thrown out the empty boxes, crumpled wrapping paper and exchanged a few gifts. But what do you do with the Christmas tree after it's stripped of ornaments, lights and tinsel? Cape Girardeau residents can recycle their Christmas trees through Jan. 31 at a drop-off site in Arena Park. Directional signs are posted in the park showing residents where to place their trees...

JACKSON -- The Jackson Board of Aldermen is expected to decide Monday whether to allow the sale of vehicles from the lawns of residences. The amendments to the zoning and nuisance ordinances would allow a vehicle for sale to be parked on a lawn by the vehicle's owner. The vehicle would have to be licensed and operable. Only one vehicle could be for sale at a time...

The patient load at the two hospital emergency rooms in Cape Girardeau continued to run 30 percent to 40 percent above normal Thursday because of an influx of people with flu-like symptoms. "The numbers remain very high," said Pat Pennington, nurse manager of Southeast Missouri Hospital's emergency services department...

Since the 1995-96 season, Scott City had won 114 games. But one particular game had eluded the Rams, leaving a long, bitter taste with each of the Rams' six seniors who stepped on the floor of approximately 5,500 fans at the Show Me Center Thursday night...

After Advance upset top-seeded Charleston on Wednesday, the third-seeded Jackson Indians may have hoped to catch the Blue Jays while they were down. It was not to be, however, and Charleston outperformed Jackson in the fourth quarter to win 69-61 and claim third place in the University High Christmas Tournament Thursday night at the Show Me Center...

Many things could be said about Notre Dame this season, not the least of which is its inconsistency from game to game. But, according to Notre Dame coach Chris Neff, there's one thing you can't say: You can't say the Bulldogs aren't dedicated. After suffering a 15-point loss to fifth-seeded Advance in the second round of the University High Christmas Tournament, the Bulldogs responded with two wins, the second coming in the form of a 65-44 victory in the fifth-place game Thursday night at the Show Me Center.. ...

Kelly needed two overtimes to knock off Leopold 64-62 in the consolation championship game of the University High Christmas Tournament Thursday. The first overtime period ended in bizarre fashion. After Kelly's Michael Romas hit a 3-pointer with just 12.3 seconds left, Leopold had a chance to win the game...

JONESBORO, Ill. -- Mabel L. Norris of Jonesboro died Thursday, Dec. 30, 1999, at Carbondale Memorial Hospital. She was 95 years old. Funeral arrangements are pending at Hileman and Parr Funeral Services in Jonesboro.

MCCLURE -- Homer D. Miller, formerly of McClure, Ill., died Wednesday, Dec. 29, 1999, at Wheaton, Ill. Arrangements are incomplete at Ford and Sons Mount Auburn Chapel.

Mary Helen (Bernice) Hauptman Stock, 88, of Cape Girardeau, died Wednesday, Dec. 29, 1999, at Southeast Missouri Hospital. She was born Aug. 2, 1911 in Cape Girardeau, daughter of the late Edward and Willimina Hauptman. She had married Alphonse Stock, who preceded her in death...

ELCO, Ill. -- Margie Kunsman Johnson, 69, of Elco died Thursday at City Care Center in Cobden. Arrangements are under the direction of Crain Funeral Home in Tamms.

DEXTER -- Nettie Willis of near Puxico died Thursday, Dec. 29, 1999, at Lucy Lee Hospital in Poplar Bluff. Funeral arrangements are incomplete at Watkins and Sons Funeral Service of Puxico.

Daughter to Elias and Ana-Maria Padilla of Cape Girardeau, Delta Medical Center in Sikeston, 9:57 a.m., Friday, Dec. 17, 1999. Name, Luz Raquel. Weight, 6 pounds, 14 ounces. Second child, first daughter. Mrs. Padilla is the former Ana-Maria Perales, daughter of Raquel Pantoja Perales and the late Jose Perales of Mexico. Padilla is the son of Maria de la Luz Manrique Padilla and the late Ruben Padilla of Mexico. He is employed by NSC Warehouse...

BELLEVILLE, Ill. -- Isidore "Ick" L. Elfrink, 75, of Belleville, Ill., died Tuesday, Dec. 29, 1999. Survivors include his wife, Rosalia Tenholder Elfrink; nine children, 26 grandchildren and one great-grandchild. He was retired from Elfrink Trucklines...

COBDEN, Ill. -- Lawrence A. "Spike" DuBois of Cobden died Wednesday, Dec. 29, 1999, at Union County Hospital in Anna. He was born Feb. 27, 1924, at Cobden, the son of Howard and Florence Ihle DuBois. He married Judith M. Lamer on Jan. 25, 1958, at Cobden. She survives...

CHARLESTON -- George Powell, 79, of Charleston, died Wednesday, Dec. 29, 1999, at Southeast Missouri Hospital. He was born June 27, 1920, at Alfalfa Center in Mississippi County, son of George Franklin and Minnie Carman Powell. He married Lorene Manker on Jan. 27, 1947...

DEXTER -- Evelyn Jarrell, 95, of Dudley died Thursday, Dec. 29., 1999, at Doctors Regional Medical Center in Poplar Bluff. She was born June 6, 1904, in Carmi, Ill., the daughter of the late Noah Thomas and Laura Ellen Brown Hutchcraft. On May 31, 1924, she was married to James Herbert Jarrell at Dexter. He preceded her in death on Sept. 19, 1977...

SIKESTON -- Larry Ray Western Sr., 51, of Sikeston, died Wednesday, Dec. 29, 1999, at St. Louis University Hospital. He was born Oct. 29, 1948 in Charleston, son of Harbert R. Western and Ruth E. Shawn Western. He married Patricia Stout Jan. 22, 1966 at St. Louis. She survives...

VILLA RIDGE -- Valeria Dille, 86, of Memphis, Tenn., died Dec. 30, 1999, at the Bright Glade Convalescent Center. She was born Nov. 24, 1913, at Cairo, Ill., daughter of James and Dessie Bradley. She married Charles E. Dille Jr. Dille was a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Cairo and the Beta Sigma Phi sorority. She had been manager of the L.A. Tucker Truck Lines in Cairo, and a secretary for the Alexander County Housing Authority...

JONESBORO, Ill. -- Jenevie H. Sharknas of Burton, Mich., formerly of Jonesboro, died Thursday, Dec. 30, 1999, in Michigan. She was 75 years old. Funeral arrangements are pending at Hileman and Parr Funeral Services in Jonesboro.

TAMMS, Ill. -- Bonetta Abercrombie Moss, 84, of Lake of Egypt and formerly of Alexander County died Thursday, Dec. 30, 1999, at her home. Arraignments are incomplete at Crain Funeral Home in Tamms.

ANNA, Ill. -- Virginia G. Dalbey, 83, of Anna died Wednesday, Dec. 29, 1999, at Union County Hospital in Anna. She was born March 4, 1916, in Danville, the daughter of Walter and Helen Romine Bullock Rohling. She married James C. Dalbey Aug. 234, 1934, in Covington, Ind. He preceded her in death on Dec. 26, 1999...