Stories from Thursday, April 13, 2000

To the editor: April 9-15 is National Volunteer Week. It's a week set aside every year since 1974 to recognize and celebrate the efforts of the thousands of men and women in this country who volunteer their time and energies to help others. Nationwide more than 150,000 volunteers provide over 16 million hours of service annually to Americans with terminal illness and to their families. I am proud to be counted as one of these individuals and want to join in saluting my fellow volunteers...

PADUCAH -- They live among us. You can often spot them by the quality of their clothes. Primarily female, they wear hand-embroidered blouses, patchwork vests and carry canvas bags full of patterned swatches. Each year a massive cult of fabric worshipers invades Paducah. But then, they don't call it "Quilt City, USA" for nothing...

Beautiful princesses have come from across the land in hope of marrying Prince Dauntless, but his domineering mother the Queen has devised tests so severe that the court is in a tizzy. The law of the kingdom prevents anyone from marrying until the has wed, and the Queen is making sure that's to be a long, long time off...

I'M A senior citizen and have been around for quite a while. I remember when the program for the retarded individuals was first started, when there was just hardworking people with no money. A few hardworking enthusiasts who perhaps had children were interested in the welfare of the handicapped people. ...

What a delightful, inspiring evening to attend the TEEN CHALLENGE banquet last week when the organization celebrated its 30th anniversary in the Cape area. Director JACK SMART was the master of ceremonies and moved the evening along with dignity, taste and Christian respect for the over 600 people who attended...

So, you're thinking about who will get your vote for president in November. It's never too early to make your wish list. No, this isn't Christmas. It's better than Christmas. It's that magical time of year when you can ask for anything you want -- anything at all under the sun -- and one of the top contenders, Al Gore or George W. Bush -- or both, will promise to get it for you...

Let's start by saying the census is important. If you haven't filled out your census forms yet, please do it. It's important. It's the law. But don't take part in the census because you think it will get more money for your state, county or city. There are some fast-food contests going on right now that will get you more extra spending money than the census...

Jerry E. Bridges Jr. just couldn't wait to get away from Cape Girardeau police Wednesday. But after less than an hour of wearing nothing except a wet, jail uniform in the cold, he couldn't wait to get back to police. Bridges, 17, of Thebes, Ill., had been arrested Tuesday afternoon for contempt of court, police Cpl. Kevin Orr said. The contempt charge stemmed from unpaid fines related to an original charge of stealing...

JACKSON -- In a hollow just north of the new extension of East Main Street, near some of the city's sparkling new subdivisions, is one man's eyesore and another man's business. The eyesore is a large collection of truck refrigeration units that easily can be seen from East Main Street or from the nearby subdivisions. ...

JACKSON -- Public school officials will join others across the state in a scramble to replace retiring teachers in time for next school year. The Jackson Community Teachers Association will hold a dinner, reception and recognition ceremony for 15 retiring staff members tonight. The reception, which is open to the public, begins at 7 at the Upper KC Hall. The recognition ceremony follows at 7:30...

Southeast Missouri State University's Board of Regents Wednesday chartered a proposed middle school for at-risk sixth, seventh and eighth graders in St. Louis. Board President Don Dickerson said the regents individually have varying views about the philosophy of charter schools, but state law allows for charter schools in St. Louis and Kansas City, and the board wouldn't "stonewall" the application of Lift for Life Gym...

April 13, 2000 Dear Julie, Recently, DC and I were offered the senior discount when we went to see a movie. I asked the young man how you old you have to be to qualify. He was so embarrassed when we told him we have a number of years to go that he charged us senior rates anyway...

The Planning and Zoning Commission gave its approval Wednesday night to two significant projects, each of which have been controversial at times. The commission approved requests that will pave the way for new apartment construction on the old St. Francis hospital site and for construction of a new juvenile justice center in Cape Girardeau...

Gina Hagerty, left, a member of the beautification committee of the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce, presented the Yard of the Month Award for April to Kathy Mattes, who lives with her husband, Wayne, at 2137 Abbey Drive. Janet Esicar, left, and Gina Hagerty presented the Yard of the Month Award for April to the Dr. Michael Trueblood residence, 9 Bienville...

War crimes tribunals are now being conducted for atrocities committed by officials in the former Yugoslavia and Rwanda. But the roots of prosecuting individuals who commit crimes against humanity under the cover of war goes back to the Nuremberg tribunal in 1945...

ST. LOUIS -- The Southeast Missouri State Indians left a runner on third in the top of the ninth and suffered a heartbreaking 5-4 loss to Saint Louis University Wednesday. Saint Louis (14-19) scored what would be the winning run in the bottom of the eighth on an run-scoring single by Jim Bredenkoetter...

When Tim Billings took over as Southeast Missouri State University's new football coach a few months ago, he indicated he would likely be moving some players around in order to get as much speed on the field as possible. Well, Billings has followed through on his promise. As the Indians go through their final week of spring practice leading up to Saturday night's spring game in Jackson, Billings has shifted eight players into new spots, including six on the defensive side of the ball...

Lanson Debrock took some lumps during his first three years pitching for Southeast Missouri State University's baseball team. But so far, Debrock's senior season has been something of a revenge tour for the right-hander from Notre Dame High School. A combined 7-12 with a 5.92 earned-run average in his first three collegiate seasons, Debrock has turned those numbers around in a big way. Prior to Wednesday's game at St. Louis, he was 6-3 with a rock-solid 2.60 ERA as the Indians' No. 2 starter...

PERRYVILLE -- Seven consecutive base hits with two outs in the top of the seventh inning propelled Kelly to an 8-3 victory over St. Vincent Wednesday. Kelly scored three runs in the top of the fifth inning to take a 3-0 lead. St. Vincent knotted the score with three of its own in the bottom of the sixth. Then with two outs in its half of the seventh inning the Kelly bats came alive...

The Southeast Missouri State University women's basketball team has announced the signing of Veronica Benson, a 5-foot-7 transfer from Bevil State-Fayette Junior College in Fayette, Ala. Benson, who plays both the one- and two-guard positions, was named the Alabama Junior and Community College Conference Division II women's player of the year after averaging 24.1 points, 6.7 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game in the 1999-2000 season...

POPLAR BLUFF -- Cape Girardeau Central High's baseball team broke open a close game with 12 runs in the top of the fourth inning to hand the Poplar Bluff Mules a 16-5 defeat Wednesday afternoon. Leading by only a 1-0 score up to that point, the Tigers used a combination of hits, walks, and defensive lapses to put the game out of reach...

MOUNDS, Ill. -- Helen M. Crain, 87, of Mounds died Tuesday, April 11, 2000, at Southgate Nursing Home in Metropolis. She was born Dec. 15, 1912, in Grand Chain, daughter of Oscar and Cobie E. Meisenheimer Shaffer. She and John L. Crain were married Nov. 26, 1940. He died in 1986...

SIKESTON -- Bryan McCord, 89, of Sikeston died Tuesday, April 11, 2000, at his home. He was born Nov. 3, 1910, at Ponder, son of William Calvin and Lula Zerviah Beakley McCord. He and Melba Ruth Jenkins were married March 9, 1934, in Corning, Ark. A funeral director and embalmer, he formerly owned and operated a funeral home in Naylor. He had also owned the Cream Castle in Sikeston...

PATTON -- Grace B. Dolle, 88, of Jackson and formerly of Patton, died Tuesday, April 11, 2000, at the Lutheran Home in Cape Girardeau. She was born Feb. 22, 1912, in Cape Girardeau, daughter of Harvey A. and Irene Hill Seabaugh. On May 6, 1927, she married Tony "Ted" Dolle. He died Sept. 5, 1997...

JONESBORO, Ill. -- Elmer C. Kelley, 74, of Jonesboro died Tuesday, April 11, 2000, at Marion VA Medical Center. He was born July 24, 1925, in Anna, son of Francis and Clydie Lingle Kelley. Kelley had been a truck driver, and was a life member of Carroll P. Foster VFW Post 3455...

Daughter to Clarence Lee Mayabb and Tina Dawn Hendrix of Bloomfield, Southeast Missouri Hospital, 1:17 a.m. Thursday, April 6, 2000. Name, Kaitlee Jade. Weight, 9 pounds 6 ounces. Ms. Hendrix is the daughter of Gary and Brenda Ross of Bloomfield. She is employed at Wallace and Owens Country Mart. Mayabb is the son of Clarence and Margie Mayabb of Murphysboro, Ill. He is employed at Wallace and Owens Country Mart...

ANNA, Ill. -- Elvin T. "Al" Karraker Jr., 73, of Anna died Tuesday, April 11, 2000, at Marion VA Medical Center. He was born Feb. 15, 1927, in Marion, son of Elvin and Bertha Leona Goodman Karraker. He and Mellie Manus Morgan were married July 22, 1983, in Goreville, Ill...

KARNAK, Ill. -- Louetta Racey Klauka, 76, of Palm Bay, Fla., and formerly of Cypress, Ill., died Tuesday, April 11, 2000, at Beverly Health Center in Palm Bay. Arrangements are incomplete at Wilson Funeral Home in Karnak.

BERNIE -- Delmer Lee Becker, 76, of Bernie died Tuesday, April 11, 2000, at Dexter Memorial Hospital in Dexter. He was born Jan. 15, 1924, at Senath, son of Ora Fredrick and Bertha Eliza Jane Craft Becker. He and Syble Louise Malugen were married June 8, 1946, in Piggott, Ark. She died March 30, 1993...

Sherman R. Watson, 56, of Mansfield, Texas, died Monday, April 10, 2000, at North East Baptist Hospital in San Antonio, Texas. He was born June 5, 1943, in Iowa City, Iowa, son of Dr. Sherman B. and Lucille Davison Watson. He and Tamara "Tammy" Buttry of Cape Girardeau were married Dec. 24, 1997...

JACKSON -- Evelyn C. Turnbough, 79, of Jackson died Wednesday, April 12, 2000, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. She was born July 31, 1921, at Crosstown, daughter of John and Dora Kistner Eichorn. She and Arthur "Art" Turnbough were married Oct. 8, 1940. He died Dec. 26, 1980...

SIKESTON -- Randy L. Jones, 52, of Sikeston died Wednesday, April 12, 2000, at his home. Blanchard Funeral Chapel is in charge of arrangements.

Norman Ray Flowers, 59, of Marshall, Texas, died Monday, April 10, 2000, at his home. He was born June 7, 1940, in Arbor, son of Arthur B. and Hattie Mae Lowe Flowers. He and Thelma Seabaugh were married April 7, 1998, in Waskom, Texas. Flowers was a graduate of Central High School. He retired as a fireman with Central Power and Light. He was a member of New Hebron Baptist Church...

COBDEN, Ill. -- Emma C. Henderson, 81, of Cobden died Tuesday, April 11, 2000, at Jonesboro Health Care Center. She was born May 14, 1918, at Makanda, daughter of William E. "Buck" and Fannie Grammer Toler. She married Lawrence George, who died Sept. 8, 1975. She and Clay Henderson were married May 1, 1981, at Cobden...