Stories from Thursday, March 2, 2000

Growing up in Kansas City, David Parsons was a golden boy. At age 12, the directors of the Missouri Dance Theatre invited him to join. At Southwest High School he was a gymnast and wrestler who dated the prettiest girl in school. Moving to New York at 16 on a scholarship with the Alvin Ailey school, Parsons' life became even more charmed. ...

Keyboardist Billy Powell and 19 others survived the Oct. 20, 1977, plane crash in Mississippi that decimated the rollicking Southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd. Among those killed were lead vocalist Ronnie VanZant, guitarist Steve Gaines, vocalist Cassie Gaines and road manager Dean Kilpatrick...

Affordable housing might be easier to find in Southeast Missouri following announcement by the Missouri Housing Development Commission of funding for 43 projects across the state, including $13.4 million in housing tax credits. A project that would result in a 48-unit apartment complex on the site of old St. ...

Plans were revealed Wednesday for a large mural to be painted on the inside of the Mississippi River floodwall. The North Water Street mural will extend from north of the Broadway floodgate south to Independence Street. "The 1,200-foot, 60-panel project will feature a historic theme," said Tim Blattner of the River Heritage Mural Association, which has headed up seven downtown mural projects. ...

Ben Lowrance heated up early in the Noon Optimist Club's Hot Chili Eating Contest Wednesday, later shedding his shirt before the chili finished him. Some smiles were seen around the table after round four of Wednesday night's Hot Chili Eating Contest. ...

March 2, 2000 Dear Julie, If a dog barks onscreen while we're home watching a movie, Hank and Lucy do not react. She continues staring at the wall. His usual state of low anxiety is undisturbed. That's because the noise in the movie is a virtual bark, a reproduction that to our ears sounds like a bark but doesn't fool those who know what makes a bark real...

Wanted: Low-income women expecting their first baby interested in improving their pregnancy outcome and child health and develop as well as setting and meeting life goals. Beginning this week, such woman can apply to enroll in the Building Blocks program. Building Blocks is a new prenatal and early childhood home visitation program operated by Southeast Missouri Hospital's Home Health Service through a $127,000 grant from the Missouri Department of Health...

For 35 years, East Missouri Action Agency's Head Start program has given Missouri preschoolers exactly what the name implies: a head start on school and life. Leola Twiggs said she has seen many Head Start success stories during her career. The program's mission has remained constant, and policies and procedures have evolved to meet changing needs of families, she said...

Sample voting booths and ballots will be available for residents who want to see the ballots or practice voting before the presidential primary or April general election. The Cape Girardeau Central High School library and Cape Girardeau Public Library will offer the voting booth displays. The booth set up at the school library will be available from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. today. Voter registration also will be available...

A Los Angeles man who police say has been trafficking drugs into Southeast Missouri for years was found guilty in federal court on Wednesday, the U.S. Attorney's office said. Willie L. Smith, 31, had been charged with conspiring to distribute and manufacture cocaine base and possession with the intent to distribute. It took a jury of six men and six women 50 minutes to find Smith guilty...

Sammy Hagar's was the only rock concert at the Show Me Center in 1997. The Christian alternative rock band Jars of Clay carried the rock 'n' roll flag alone in 1998. In 1999, the Goo Goo Dolls had the place to themselves. But in 2000, with the announcement Wednesday of a concert April 5 by Bush and Moby, the Show Me Center has booked three rock 'n' roll shows in less than three months...

If a new day care center were to open that offered services to special-needs children in Southeast Missouri, it could receive funding through the Area Wide United Way. Since the Easter Seals Childhood Center in Cape Girardeau is closing, funding for that agency will cease. ...

To the editor: Despite developments in Hawaii, Alaska and, more recently, Vermont and California, most Americans would be surprised to learn that our nation is moving ever closer to legalizing marriage between two people of the same sex. We will know more about trend this month when voters in California decide whether to preserve marriage in its traditional sense -- a union between a man and a woman -- of expand the meaning of marriage to include same-sex unions and other coupling arrangements. ...

Even though family concerns have kept Mary and Mel Kasten from their official duties as state representative and city councilman, they can take comfort in the support and kind words they have received from their constituents and their colleagues in the Missouri House of Representatives and Cape Girardeau City Council...

When the Cape Girardeau City Council meets next week, one proposal on the agenda will be changes in the property maintenance code that would allow more residents to file complaints about rundown property. Currently, only residents who live within 200 feet of such property are permitted to file formal complaints, and only occupants of rental units with problems inside the structure are allowed to file complaints...

To the editor: I left my jacket on one of the chairs near the cookie shop in the mall. I want to say a big thank you to the person who took it to the customer-service area. I appreciate your kindness. FLOYD SMELSER Ellsinore

To the editor: Dr. Jesse Ramsey's death is such a devastating loss to the medical profession. Dr. Ramsey was our pediatrician for eight years during the births and early years of our first two children until he closed his private practice. We were extremely saddened he would no longer be our doctor...

The evidence is growing that Sen. John McCain is trying to disembowel the Reagan coalition while masquerading as its standard bearer. The major media are his gleeful accomplices. How far will McCain go to win the GOP nomination? McCain is seeking to forge a new coalition, a McCain majority, consisting of renegade Democrats, Perotista malcontents, other Independents and hapless Republicans who have fallen for the ruse that he is still conservative. ...

To the editor: The liberals and the liberal agenda have not won the hearts and minds and souls of the public. The people in general do not want bigger government to care for them. Bigger in this case is not better. A woman does not have a right to have an abortion. ...

In recent Ohio Valley Conference softball circles, one thing has been a given. Southeast Missouri State University will win the championship. The Otahkians have won five consecutive OVC regular-season titles and they are favored to make it six straight during the 2000 campaign, which opens this weekend with a big home tournament...

It is an exciting time of the year as we prepare for another trip to Music City Madness in Nashville. We've achieved our first goal of the season by winning the OVC regular-season championship. It was a co-championship and we would have preferred an outright title, but it is a championship that our team deserved...

FREDERICKTOWN -- The St. Vincent Squaws, the second seed, advanced to the finals of the Class 1A, District 3 Tournament with a 61-45 win over No. 3 Valle-Ste. Genevieve Wednesday night. Jessica Lakenan poured in a game-high 20 points for St. Vincent, followed by Danielle Sutterer with 15 and Sara Cissell with 11...

CHARLESTON -- Naomi Inez Menzies, 64, of Charleston died Saturday, Feb. 26, 2000, at Peach Tree Hospice in Dunwoody, Ga. She was born Sept. 30, 1935, in Dorena, daughter of Monroe and Louise Coleman Sharp. Menzies was a graduate of Lincoln High School. She was a member of Mercy Seat Baptist Church and attended Opportunity Church of God in Christ...

CHAFFEE -- James "J.P." Senciboy, 71, of 2896 State Highway A, Chaffee, died at 9:32 a.m. Wednesday, March 1, 2000, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. He was born Feb. 6, 1929, in Bridgeton, N.J., son of George Franklin and Zelma Catherine Etherton Senciboy. He married Mildred L. Burton Feb. 11, 1950. She survives...

E. Nelson "Ned" Moore, 85, of Cape Girardeau died Tuesday, Feb. 29, 2000, at 9:45 p.m. at Chaffee Nursing Center. He was born July 20, 1914, at DeRay (Delta), son of James Alferd and Nora Bell DeWeese Moore. He and June A. Rhodes Mince were married Sept. 25, 1943, at Crump...

FARMINGTON -- Lee Hails, 76, died Tuesday, Feb. 29, 2000, at Camelot Nursing Home in Farmington. He was born Sept. 26, 1923, at Esther, son of Albert and Katheryn Stacey Hails. Hails taught and coached at Farmington, leading the Farmington Knights football team to a 1949 state championship, and coached a champion basketball team...

PERRYVILLE -- Alice P. Fischer, 81, of Perryville died Wednesday, March 1, 2000, at Perry County Nursing Home. She was born Oct. 5, 1918, in Guymon, Okla., daughter of William and Esther Noenning Vogel. She and Henry Fischer were married Sept. 14, 1939...

SIKESTON -- Graveside service for Leora McGee of Sikeston will be held at 11 a.m. today at Garden of Memories Cemetery. Friends may call at Watkins and Sons Funeral Home in Morehouse after 9 a.m. McGee, 88, died Tuesday, Feb. 29, 2000, at Missouri Delta Medical Center...

MOUND CITY, Ill. -- Charles E. Claxton, 81, of Newton, formerly of Mound City, died Wednesday, March 1, 2000, at the home of a daughter in St. Charles, Mo. He was born Sept. 28, 1918, in Centralia, son of Logan and Leona Claxton. Claxton was a boilermaker 32 years, retiring from Local 363 in Belleville...

GRAND CHAIN, Ill. -- Reba Irene Brown, 89, of Grand Chain died Tuesday, Feb. 29, 2000, at Massac Memorial Hospital in Metropolis. She was the daughter of Howard and Bertha Jones. She married Danny Brown, who died in 1958. Brown was treasurer for the village of Grand Chain 29 years. She was a store clerk 24 years, and had been a cook at Grand Chain High School...

SIKESTON -- Dorothy I. Ashbaugh, 91, of Sikeston died Tuesday, Feb. 29, 2000, at Missouri Delta Medical Center. She was born Aug. 13, 1908, at Lebanon, Mo., daughter of Rob and Rebecca Ellen O'Dell Dennis. She and Robert J. Ashbaugh were married Dec. 24, 1935, in Piggott, Ark. He died July 28, 1996...

BLOOMFIELD -- Bessie Marcelle Nichols, 82, of Bloomfield died Wednesday, March 1, 2000, at Beverly Healthcare Center. She was born Jan. 16, 1918, in Temple, Texas, daughter of Joe and Rose Mucha Chudej. She and Edgar Nichols were married June 22, 1951...