Stories from Friday, February 18, 2000

Menopause is a natural process and women should not feel embarrassed to talk with others about their condition. Some women, however, go into a period of denial. They are reluctant to admit that their child-bearing years are over. Instead of seeing it as the next phase of their lives, some view it only as the end of their youth...

When it comes to neck and back pain and its referred pain into the arms and hands or the buttocks, legs and feet, I suspect that our savage ancestors of Sterkfontein are at least partly responsible for rising up on two feet 2-8 million years ago. Bipedal locomotion, and the associated weight bearing gravity effects have had an enormous impact on the human spine. ...

COLUMBIA -- Rick Hetzel will remain chief of the Cape Girardeau Police Department after removing himself from consideration for an identical post closer to his hometown. Hetzel said Tuesday that he told Columbia city officials earlier this month to remove his name from the list of candidates to become that city's new police chief...

It started as a simple suggestion and blossomed into a project that creates disaster-preparedness buckets for every school classroom in Cape Girardeau, Jackson and Scott City. Project Impact is coordinating the project to benefit Cape Girardeau schools, and the Area Wide United Way hopes to join in with the Jackson and Scott City schools with its Days of Caring efforts. It is one of the many projects for Project Impact, which is marking its first anniversary this month...

The FBI's 165-page investigative report of a police conflict with a crowd of about 150 people blends together sometimes conflicting views of more than 50 people on what happened in the 400 block of Good Hope Street last June. But the combination of interviews, medical reports, police reports and witness lists gives no final opinion from the FBI on possible violations. This is left up to the U.S. Department of Justice, said FBI Agent Mike McComas...

The FBI's report about a conflict with police last June on Good Hope Street has been read by area attorneys, their clients and friends but no one in Cape Girardeau city government other than a police detective. "There are probably copies of it spread all along Good Hope," said Morley Swingle, Cape Girardeau County prosecuting attorney, who gave copies of the report to lawyers representing defendants in keeping with disclosure practices...

When newspapers publish stories from far-off places, editors wonder if anyone reads them or if they mean anything to anybody in Southeast Missouri. As the editor of this newspaper, I probably shouldn't tell you this. But, as most of you already know, that won't stop me...

First-grader Lauren Goehring loves strawberries, so she was excited about "becoming" this red fruit on Thursday to see how it goes through her body. Lauren and the 480 other students at Alma Schrader Elementary School got an insider look at how their bodies operate through Body Walk, a project of the Governor's Council on Physical Fitness and Health and brought to the school through funding by its parent teacher association...

SIKESTON -- The Sikeston Board of Education has begun an immediate search for a new superintendent after accepting Dr. Arnold Bell's resignation last week. Bell, who became superintendent in 1997, submitted his resignation effective immediately during a special board meeting Feb. 10. Bell and Board of Education president Dan Jennings were unavailable for comment Thursday afternoon...

Missouri's list of Main Street Communities could grow to 13 today. An announcement of the two newest communities is expected by Gov. Mel Carnahan's office today, said Randy Gray, coordinator of the state's Main Street program. Cape Girardeau is one of a number of applicants to requesting Main Street status...

Dr. Terrel Rhodes believes in striking a balance between teaching and scholarly research while Dr. Gordon Nelson wants to give students an opportunity to prepare for the global economy. Both men are among the five finalists for provost at Southeast Missouri State University. Rhodes visited the campus earlier in the week; Nelson concluded his visit Thursday...

BENTON -- Two men were arrested and charged after a suspected methamphetamine lab exploded Tuesday. Dean S. Robinson, 34 of Sikeston and James D. Cook, 29, of Brosley were both charged with manufacturing controlled substances, possession of chemicals and possession of methamphetamine...

The nation needs a patients' bill of rights, U.S. Sen. John Ashcroft said Thursday during a visit with senior citizens at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. Ashcroft predicted Congress will pass a patients' bill of rights this year. He said such a bill should be enacted to help people get care when they need it and to put decision-making in the hands of doctors and patients...

I'D LIKE to inform the person who called in the comment "That's not in the Bible," about the daily prayer on the Opinion page of the Missourian. The prayer isn't titled "Today's Bible Verse." It's "Today's Prayer," which comes from us, not the Bible...

Did you know that sometimes the cheapest way to make your business accessible is just to ask someone with experience and wisdom on the subject: the person with a disability. Not satisfied yet? Get a second opinion from a disability advocacy group. It's that easy. But so is asking for directions, but most men wouldn't think of doing that. Now that I've got your attention ... ...

Whenever Americans voice their exasperation with government, there is usually a good reason. Several readers of the Southeast Missourian have expressed what might charitably be called taxpayer outrage at the notion that the Census Bureau would hire illegal immigrants to help count noses during the U.S. census this year...

To the editor: Having spent the most of 58 years in Chaffee and having paid taxes during this period of time and having been on a fixed income for the past 20 years, I have had some experience with a budget. There have been many times during the past 20 years that we have found that we had more expenses coming in than we had cash coming in to take care of those expenses. ...

Most people who enjoyed "Peanuts" for nearly 50 years probably couldn't have told you who the comic strip's creator was. But Charles Schulz was a giant of a man in so many ways and continues to have a remarkable influence on our lives even after his death last weekend...

COLUMBIA -- Four of Jackson High School's seven wrestlers won their first-round matches Thursday night at the Class 4A Missouri State Wrestling Championships held at the Hearnes Center. Brett Stroud (35-3), one of two sectional champions for Jackson, decisioned Tony Gunsaulis of Fort Osage 12-6 in their 125-pound match...

As far as Matt Rubel is concerned, he's been able to get the best of both worlds out of his college experience. Rubel, a senior at Maryville University in St. Louis, has not only excelled in the classroom in the demanding field of physical therapy, he's also had an impressive four-year basketball career that is fast winding to a close...

For Kelly's girls, getting off shots was hard enough. Making them was nearly impossible. Notre Dame's defense totally shut down Kelly Thursday night as the eighth-ranked Lady Bulldogs (17-5) demolished the visiting 10th-ranked Lady Hawks 55-29 in a battle of the area's top Class 2A squads...

Adam Wachter School: Jackson Sport: Wrestling Coach: Steve Wachter Week Report: Wachter, a 140-pound senior, won a sectional title last Saturday and advanced to the state meet which began Thursday in Columbia. Season Report: Wachter has been one of Jackson's most consistent wrestlers this season, going 32-4. ...

Audrey Burford School: Kelly Sport: Basketball Coach: Curtis Finley Week Report: Burford, a 5-9 senior forward, had a remarkable week last week, scoring 27 against Charleston, 23 against New Madrid and 19 points against East Carter County in three victories. Against Charleston, she had a stunning performance. Burford nearly recorded a quadruple-double, grabbing 12 rebounds, dishing out nine assists and picking off nine steals. Her 27 points was also a career high...

JACKSON -- Jackson's girls used balanced scoring to overcome 31 points by Tara Emily as it extended a season-high win streak to four games with an 81-53 victory over North County Thursday night. Jackson, which improved to 13-9, received 24 points from Andrea Koeper, 18 from Cherish Tillman and 12 from Jenna Leet...

CYPRESS, Ill. -- Hubert Hobson, 91, of Cypress died Tuesday, Feb. 15, 2000, at Hillview Care Center in Vienna. He was born Jan. 9, 1909, in Alba, Mo., son of George and Elizabeth Grankey Hobson. He was first married to Opal Walk Watson. She preceded him in death. He then married Martha Henry...

SCOTT CITY -- Funeral Mass for Charlotte Marie Chaney of Scott City will be held at 11 a.m. today at St. Joseph Catholic Church. The Rev. David Coon will officiate. Burial will be in Lightner Cemetery. Amick-Burnett Funeral Chapel at Scott City is in charge of arrangements...

TAMMS, Ill. -- Funeral for Edna M. Mowery of Tallassee, Ala., will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday at Crossroad United Methodist Church in Ullin. Burial will be in St. John's Cemetery. Friends may call at Crain Funeral Home in Ullin from 6-8 p.m. today...

MOREHOUSE -- Naomi Ruth Vaughn, 78 of Morehouse, died Tuesday, Feb. 15, 2000, at Rockford Memorial Hospital at Rockford, Ill. She was born May 14, 1921, in Senath, daughter of Zelmer Clarence and Callie Ann Williams Butler. She and Johnie Dallas Vaughn were married Oct. 23, 1937, at Kewanee. He died Oct. 5, 1997...

Daughter to Jerry and Christa Borgfield of Porter, Texas, Kingwood Medical Center in Kingwood, Texas, 3:09 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 6, 2000. Name, Cassandra Grace. Weight, 7 pounds. Third child, second daughter. Mrs. Borgfield is the former Christa Gilder, daughter of Herbie Gilder of Victoria, Texas, and the late Brenda Gilder of Jackson. Borgfield is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Cletus Borgfield of Jackson. He is a machinist with Packard International...

DEXTER -- Tori Lee Green, 7 months, of Dexter died Thursday, Feb. 17, 2000, at her home. She was born June 21, 1999, at Poplar Bluff, daughter of Jason Lee and Debbie Lynn Bonee Green. Survivors include her parents; maternal grandparents, Ray and Mary Jones of Dexter; paternal grandfather, Kevin Green of St. Louis; maternal great-grandmother, Mamie Gamble of Clarkton; and paternal great-grandparents, Troy and Loretta Green of Dexter...

A service of remembrance for Jan A. Chick of Cape Girardeau will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday at Ford and Sons Sprigg Street Chapel. Msgr. Richard Rolwing will conduct the service. Chick, 76, died Wednesday, Dec. 22, 1999, at Southeast Missouri Hospital...

PERRYVILLE -- Helen M. Weber, 87, of Perryville died Wednesday, Feb. 16, 2000, at her home. She was born Oct. 4, 1912, at Pocahontas, daughter of August R. and Minnie Fisher Schoen. She and Werner T. Weber were married Dec. 31, 1938. He died July 29, 1977...

EAST PRAIRIE -- Funeral for Elberta Culp of Arnold will be held at 1 p.m. Sunday at Shelby Funeral Home in East Prairie. Aubrey Wilson will officiate. Burial will be in Dogwood Cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home after 5 p.m. Saturday. Culp, 85, died Thursday, Feb. 10, 2000, at Woodland Manor Nursing Center in Arnold...

WYATT -- Wilford Orval Brown, 75, of Samburg, Tenn., died Thursday, Feb. 17, 2000, at the Methodist Hospital in Dyersburg, Tenn. He was born Oct. 1, 1924, at Wyatt, son of John Joseph and Maggie Belle Goode Brown. He married Loleta Blanche Lee. Brown lived in the Samburg area a number of years, where he was employed with Tipton Gin Co. He was a member of the United Methodist Church at Wyatt, and Charleston VFW Post 4294...

SIKESTON -- Dr. Alden Pack Sargent, 88, of Sikeston died Tuesday, Feb. 15, 2000, at Missouri Baptist Hospital in St. Louis. He was born Jan. 17, 1912, at Kamas, Utah, son of Lorenzo and Mercy Pack Sargent. He married Evelyn Virginia Smith June 19, 1942, at Evanston, Wyo. She died Aug. 9, 1995...

DONGOLA, Ill. -- Norman Miller, 53, of O'Fallon, Mo., and formerly of Dongola, died Thursday, Feb. 17, 2000, in O'Fallon. Funeral arrangements are incomplete at Crain Funeral Home in Dongola.

PATTON -- Jewel E. Martin, 76, of Patton died Thursday, Feb. 17, 2000, at Stockhoff Nursing Home in Fredericktown. He was born Sept. 15, 1923, at Flat River, son of Leona and Effie Henson Martin. He and Mary Louise Yount were married June 24, 1949. She survives...

CHARLESTON -- Nadine Byrne, 76, of Charleston died Thursday, Feb. 17, 2000, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. McMikle Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.