Stories from Tuesday, April 11, 2000

The story so far: After Delia and Ben ride Flame to the beach, something floats toward them through the waves. It is the nameplate from a ship, the "South Sea," which had sunk the night before. They learn that Billy Haskell, Capt. Haskell's son, was on the ship, and that there likely were no survivors. Later, Delia's Grandpa tells her that there are ghosts on the island and they are trying to tell them something...

Egypt. I have always been fascinated by the pharaohs, the pyramids and mummies -- way before "The Prince of Egypt" hit the screens. I remember traveling to Memphis a number of years ago to see a fabulous exhibit on King Tutankhamen. Perhaps it the mystery that makes antique Egypt so fascinating. How could this ancient culture be so knowledgeable on astronomy and mathematics? How could they build such massive pyramids with such precision without pulleys or sophisticated tools?...

JACKSON -- Art classes can be wonderfully lively, creative, busy places, and teacher Janienne Moore works hard to ensure her students learn a little something along the way. Moore, who teaches art at R.O. Hawkins Junior High School in Jackson, has been an educator for 10 years. She said art classes must be a little less structured than others to provide students the creative atmosphere they need...

Dr. Steve del Vecchio, business manager of the Cape Girardeau School District for the past five years, will leave the district this summer. The Cape Girardeau Board of Education accepted del Vecchio's resignation during a special meeting Monday. His resignation is effective June 30, the last day of the district's fiscal year...

Parents and staff at Include Me Too are hoping for a miracle to keep open the child-development center that was born after the closing of the Easter Seals Development Center. But most realize the center will close on Friday. "We thought about trying to get together a community committee to try to save the center, but the time is just too tight," said Dan Seger, the father of a child enrolled at the center...

The Southeast Missouri State University Board of Regents won't hold a closed meeting Wednesday to decide whether to charter a middle school in St. Louis. School officials initially had planned to meet in closed session before going into open session on the matter. But school officials reconsidered after the Southeast Missourian questioned why the board needed to meet in closed session...

U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Emerson Monday called for a halt to what she called "a clandestine, orchestrated effort to turn back the clock on our way of life." Emerson expressed concern over a memorandum to be signed by President Clinton titled, "Enhanced Protection of Wetlands and Water Resources," which, she said, could curtail many important Mississippi River and tributaries flood-control programs...

BENTON -- A Sikeston man thought to be a major player in the Scott County narcotics market has been arrested, the Scott County Sheriff's Department said. Lee A. Backus, 39, has been charged with felony drug trafficking, Sheriff Bill Ferrell said. Backus was being held Monday in the Scott County Jail in lieu of $200,000 bond...

I'm living in traffic hell. Used to be, Broadway and Kingshighway were my biggest pains, traffic-wise. Navigating around Jackson at 8 a.m. or 5 p.m. was nightmarish. And the McDonald's on Broadway? I really had to want those McNuggets to attempt getting in and out of that drive-through. (Of course, I DID really want them. Plus a shake and fries.)...

The city council and school board met for the fourth time Monday to talk about schedules to complete the high school and Area Career and Technology Center and the city's road, water and sewer work. "One of the benefits of the open meeting is they recognize what our timelines need to be and can try to accommodate those needs within the lines of what they are able to do," said Dr. Ferrell Ervin, school board president...

The Cape Girardeau School District will lop three days off the school term this year because of the good weather. The school board adjusted the calendar during a special meeting Monday. The last day of classes will be May 26. "I thought this would be kind of a nice gesture for faculty and staff and students because we had three days built into the schedule," said Superintendent Dan Steska. ...

The state will spend $2.5 million to improve U.S. 61 and state Highway 177 near Fruitland. The Missouri Highway and Transportation Commission has awarded a construction contract to Penzel Construction Co. of Jackson. The improvements are being made in conjunction with the expansion of the Procter & Gamble plant in Cape Girardeau County...

Perry County School District 32 Board of Education Meeting Tuesday, April 11, 2000 at 7:30 p.m. Senior High Library Action Items:...

Speak Out callers have said it over and over again: What a shame this nation has been dragged to such moral depths by the leader of the free world, our president. Some callers have been much more vivid in their comments. The bad news is that the callers have reason to make such statements...

To the editor: I was very disappointed to see your recent editorial, "Consider consequences of billboard law." While the proposed measure would prohibit the construction of new billboards, existing billboards would be grandfathered. If grandfathered signs were not maintained properly and became completely depreciated, they would not be replaced. This does not represent a change from existing legislation...

Southeast Missouri is blessed with so many talented individuals, young and old, that we can all be proud of this corner of the state. One of the brightest stars in our shared crown is young Liesl Schoenberger, virtuoso violinist and champion fiddler...

I'M CALLING to comment about the article on whether God is male or female. The caller who said it says "he" in the Bible is right, but God also says, "I am the Alpha and Omega." He created us, so he has to be both. By the way it's worded, I'd say the caller is probably using the King James version, and a lot of people don't realize that if you get the Greek and Hebrew dictionaries, the translations were twisted from the beginning. ...

Southeast Missouri State University basketball fans who can't wait for Wednesday's start of the spring signing period should be advised not to get too excited. While he believes his program is in line to land some impressive talent, Southeast coach Gary Garner said the Indians don't plan to sign anybody Wednesday and it will probably be at least a week before any players officially commit to Southeast...

CHAFFEE -- In a fast-paced, well played game, the Chaffee Red Devils rode the arm of Tommy Stidham and solid defense to a 2-0 win over the Scott City Rams Monday at Harmon Field. Stidham (4-1) fanned 13, allowed three hits, and walked none. Featuring a tight curveball and excellent control, he kept the Rams hitters off stride all day. ...

POPLAR BLUFF -- Sikeston edged Jonesboro (Ark.) and host Poplar Bluff for the title in the Poplar Bluff Invitational, a 16-team high school golf tournament played over 18 holes at Westwood Hills Country Club Monday. Sikeston had a score of 308, just ahead of Jonesboro's 309 and Poplar Bluff's 311...

Struggling to stay alive in the OVC race, the Southeast Missouri State University softball team will play six straight league games on the road beginning with today's 3 p.m. doubleheader at Tennessee-Martin. The Otahkians, 12-17 overall and 4-3 in the OVC, will have a single game at Tennessee State Friday, a doubleheader at Middle Tennessee Saturday and a single game at Middle Tennessee Sunday...

Southeast Missouri State University baseball player Lanson Debrock has been named the co-pitcher of the week in the Ohio Valley Conference. Debrock, a senior out of Notre Dame High School, hurled a complete-game, four-hit shutout Saturday as the Indians beat Middle Tennessee 2-0. The right-hander struck out six in seven innings and retired the final 13 batters of the game...

The Cape Girardeau Country Club's Women's Golf Association held its season-opening event recently, a four-person 18-hole scramble. Winning the competition was the team of Ann Dombrowski, Priscilla Kirby, Linda Tewis and Laura Woldtvedt with a 69. A stroke behind was the foursome of Beth Mapes, Barb Stribling, Laura Raden and Mary Ellen Bean...

JONESBORO, Ill. -- Funeral for Brendn Avery Greenwood will be held at 11 a.m. today at Hileman and Parr Funeral Home in Jonesboro. Dr. Jerry Ford will officiate. Burial will be in Jonesboro Cemetery. The infant died Saturday, April 8, 2000, at St. Luke's Hospital in St. Louis, Mo...

KARNAK, Ill. -- Bonnie Kean Ward, 51, of Paducah, Ky., died Monday, April 10, 2000, at her home. She was formerly of Peoria and Karnak, Ill. Funeral arrangements are incomplete at Wilson Funeral Home in Karnak.

SCOTT CITY -- Rosa Caroline Koeberl, 87, of Scott City died Sunday, April 9, 2000, at Chaffee Nursing Center in Chaffee. She was born Dec. 29, 1912, at New Wells, daughter of Adolph Richard and Christiana Louise Yahn Thauwald. She and Alfred F. Koeberl were married April 17, 1938...

Son to David Ray and Mary Therese Ramsey of Scott City, Southeast Missouri Hospital, 10:51 p.m. Monday, April 3, 2000. Name, Jason Stuart. Weight, 8 pounds 6 ounces. Fifth child, third son. Mrs. Ramsey is the daughter of Joyce Lavender of Hannibal and Roy and Sharon King of Cairo, Mo. Ramsey is the son of Jean and Junior Honeycutt of Duncan, Okla., and Barbara and Charlie Neal of Quinlan, Texas. He is employed at Jimni Development in Jackson...

PERRYVILLE -- Ray M. Davis, 88, of Perryville died Sunday, April 9, 2000, at Perry County Nursing Home. He was born Sept. 10, 1911, at Shaw, son of Murry and Mary Leible Davis. He and Myrtle Heinbokel were married Sept. 23, 1933. She died Sept. 17, 1997...

SIKESTON -- Funeral for Jean Anne Eason of Sikeston will be held at 2 p.m. today at First Baptist Church. The Rev. Jerry Adams will officiate. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery. Ponder Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Eason, 57, died Sunday, April 9, 2000, at her home...

BERNIE -- Funeral for Vedia E. Clymer of Bernie was held Saturday at New Kutis South County Chapel in St. Louis. Burial was Sunday at Bernie Cemetery in Bernie. Clymer, 89, died Wednesday, April 5, 2000, at Compton Heights Hospital in St. Louis. She was born Jan. 24, 1911, at Bernie, daughter of Jasper and Nancy Bellach Parker. She married Olin Clymer, who preceded her in death...

SIKESTON -- Funeral for Martin Jewell "Chick" Ward Jr. of Sikeston will be held at 1 p.m. today at Blanchard Funeral Chapel. The Rev. Dennis Cebulak will officiate. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery. Friends may call at the chapel from 11 a.m. until service time...

ORAN -- Funeral Mass for Verneda M. Hahn of Oran will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday at Guardian Angel Catholic Church. The Revs. Lewis Hejna, Normand Varone and Amel Shibley will officiate. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Friends may call at Amick-Burnett Funeral Chapel in Oran after 4:30 p.m. today. Parish prayers will be at 7, followed by Knights of Columbus rosary at 7:30...

COMMERCE -- Dan J. Simms, 47, of Commerce died Monday, April 10, 2000, at his home. Friends may call at Ford and Sons Mt. Auburn Chapel in Cape Girardeau from 4-8 p.m. Wednesday. Funeral will be at noon Thursday at the chapel, with David Thompson officiating. Burial will be in Lorimier Cemetery in Cape Girardeau...

PERRYVILLE -- Sharon Kay Adams, 43, of Perryville died Saturday, April 8, 2000, at St. Mary's Hospital in St. Louis. She was born March 21, 1957, daughter of DeWayne E. and Geraldine Kribbs Harvey. Survivors include a son, Von Gross of Perryville; two brothers, Glen Harvey of Colorado, Bill Harvey of Oregon; and a granddaughter...