Stories from Sunday, April 16, 2000

The Jackson Police Department, in conjunction with area veterinarians, will be hosting a Rabies Clinic. The clinic will be held May 20, 1-5 p.m. and will be open to the public, cost will be $6 per animal. ALL animals should be on leashes or in kennels to prevent injuries...

Jackson residents will be urged to tidy up the town this week, during the annual Spring Clean Up Program. The Jackson Sanitation Department will pick up trash placed at the curb on the regular trash pick-up day. The refuse must be placed at the curbside by 8 a.m. ...

Betty J. Brooks has been elected to membership in Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing. Brooks was inducted as an undergraduate student through Lambda Theta Chapter at Southeast Missouri State University May. Sigma Theta Tau International is a prestigious organization of nurse leaders, scholars and researchers. ...

Students can print out their work at the end of the day or save it to disk. Jackson USA Signal/Mark Evans Ellen Lukens has graded Missouri Assessment Program (MAP) tests. The Jackson Middle School language arts teacher, therefore, knows what it takes for students to excel on the all-important test...

Coming to the city was inevitable for Randy Eggimann. The Gordonville native operated Kosmetic Kar Doctor on State Highway Z in Gordonville for 13 years, but finally had to come to Jackson as the business continued to grow. He opened shop in the old Jackson Auto Body building on Jackson Blvd., April 3...

Part of the "lineup" of Jackson Police Department cards. Jackson USA Signal/Mark Evans When prickly stand-up comedian Don Rickles made a guest appearance as a convict on a classic 1960s television comedy, he quipped that his neighborhood as a child had been so bad that when children played "cops and robbers," the cops were the bad guys...

"Tax take at post-World War II high" read the headline over an Associated Press dispatch we published last weekend. The total U.S. government haul in taxes -- income, corporate, capital-gains, gasoline, excise taxes, telecommunications, payroll at the federal, state and local levels -- amounts to about 20 percent of the nation's gross domestic product. This is the highest since 1944, a time when all Americans were sacrificing and straining to win a world war...

The Missouri Veterans Home recognized nine people as volunteers of the year. Those honored were Ginger Beaudean, Lillian Birkman, Naomi McClard, Fern Schlimme, Neal Edwards, James, "Rex" Haynes, Jim Harnes, Harry Humphrey and Jim Tindall. Edwards was recognized for the hundreds of hours a year he puts in as chairman of the Veterans Day Memorial Benefit Golf Tournament...

I guess life would be pretty boring without stupidity. Certainly we columnists would have little to write about. Still, sometimes the stupidity reaches such levels that one has to wonder. I had heard a radio comedian joking about PETA's most recent campaign recently. ...

The story is told of a minister who went to the hospital to visit one of his parishioners who was critically ill. The minister entered the room and saw the man lying in bed with a whole host of tubes and wires attached to his body. Without any delay the minister strode to his bedside and began to exhort him with a litany of scripture verses. ...

Chris Warren has coached the JHS Scholar Bowl team for eight years. Jackson USA Signal/Mark Evans While Michael Williams' and Brett Price's last minute heroics were not replayed on television or chronicled on area sports pages, the two helped a Jackson high school team pull out a district championship Saturday...

Goals and expectations for the 2000 MS Walk April 9 at Cape County Park were "way exceeded" in the words of Robin White, walk organizer. Well over $45,000 has been raised for Multiple Sclerosis and money is still coming in, White said. This year a regional walk was held, with more than 400 participants. In the past a local walk had been held in Jackson...

Jody Thompson was just one of many craft venders on hand for the 1999 Spring Fling. More are expected this year. What would an outdoor event be with out barbecue? First General Baptist Church ran this stand at last year's successful spring fling. The Jackson Merchants Association is sponsoring its second annual Spring Fling April 29, in conjunction with the Scenic Drive held that day...

American Legion Post 158 of Jackson, has selected the following students as Music Student of the Month for March. April, and May. This is a program of the Americanism Committee of the Legion Post and recognizes outstanding music students of Jackson High School...

A Missouri Senate committee has approved a House-passed bill requiring the two chambers to give the federal government permission to acquire Missouri land for parks, reforestation and American Indian casinos. Impetus for the bill came from concerns Missourians have regarding the federal government's land acquisitions, especially in the Ozark counties of southern Missouri, and for the unchecked spread of Indian gaming in other states...

25 years ago, 1975 Construction of 4 1/2-acre fishing lake in city's newly-acquired parkland adjacent to existing city park is awaiting approval of Missouri Highway Department, which is concerned about effect lake would have on portion of roadbed of Route D; Glenn F. Boyels, retired soil conservation service engineer who is in charge of Jackson Rotary Club lake project, says surveys and plans for lake have been submitted for approval to department's District 10 headquarters at Sikeston...

Warning: Reading this column may be hazardous to your peace of mind --or worse. By now even semiconscious citizens of Missouri know we have a major highway problem or, to be more exact, a problem in financing the construction of new roads to meet current and increasing traffic. To put it succinctly, the state doesn't have enough revenue -- on hand or anticipated -- to cover the promised projects of the 15-year plan enacted more than eight years ago...

Why is Janet Reno elevating the case of little Elian Gonzalez? Has the attorney general of the United States of America nothing better to do than to involve herself here, so personally, so completely, so ... daily? This precious little boy is a living, breathing example of Emma Lazarus' throat-catching words inscribed in the base of the Statue of Liberty: "Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free/the wretched refuse of your teeming shore/ ... ...

Music education is a wonderful thing, jazz trumpet legend Clark Terry says, but sometimes teachers fill their students' brains with so much theory that they "forget how to swing." "Some people teach you so many things they can impair your ability to express feelings," he said...

Our students are concerned about their safety. That's the results of a USA Weekend nationwide poll of teen-agers regarding school safety taken last fall. The results were released in today's insert in the Southeast Missourian to correspond with the anniversary of the shooting at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colo., that left 13 dead...

These businesses, organizations, individuals, schools and others have signed up for Random Acts of Kindness Week. They have agreed to do at least one kind thing during the week, May 14-21. There's still plenty of time to sign up. Fill out the form in today's newspaper on page 12 to sign up. You can also request free bookmarks, happy face stickers and participant signs...

DENVER -- With the nation marking a year anniversary since the deadly shooting at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colo., kindness takes on a new meaning. Just ask Barbara Gates, national coordinator with the Random Acts of Kindness Foundation in Denver, Colo...

Copyright 2000 Southeast Missourian Missouri's 6-cent gas tax increase was billed as a way to help fund highway construction. But much of the money didn't go to the highway department, but to other state agencies, a former state senator says. Only 21 percent of the 6-cent hike in the state fuel tax was projected to go for new highway construction under Missouri's 15-year road plan, said former state senator Emory Melton, a Republican from Cassville...

It's difficult for Cindy Kennedy to think of her late husband's heart still beating in someone else's body. But the Cape Girardeau woman finds solace in the fact that the donation of the heart after her husband, Robert, died Feb. 27 after a motorcycle accident was his final act of generosity...

JACKSON -- The Cape Girardeau Sheriff's Department is having trouble keeping its deputies. In the last 15 months, 14 new officers have been put into a 12-person division for road patrols, Sheriff John Jordan said. "Pay is constantly an issue," Jordan said...

There's nothing like a little homework any more. Homework has become a marathon event. At least, that's what the experts say. Recent studies show students are hauling home a massive amount of homework, fueled by the nation's desire for kids to learn something and meet all those educational goals that no one can name unless he or she has done his homework...

Southeast Missouri State University will focus on "The Big Picture: 21st Century Media Campaigns, Choices and Careers" at a mass communication conference April 28. The daylong conference at the University Center is geared for the university's mass communication students and media professionals, said Berrin Beasley, assistant professor of mass communication and one of the organizers of the event...

A group of Southeast Missouri State University students is forming an organization to address rental housing concerns. The group is called Students for Fair Housing Standards. It will hold its first meeting Tuesday at 7 p.m. in the University Center...

MARTIN, Tenn. -- A recent van crash may have sidelined eight Tennessee-Martin baseball players and their coach, but it did not effect the Skyhawks' heart. What appeared to possibly be an easy Ohio Valley Conference weekend series for second-place Southeast Missouri State University turned into a couple of nail-biters in a sweep of the host Skyhawks...

He doesn't know where the Indoor Football League will take him, but Britt Mirgaux is just happy to once again be playing the sport he loves. Less than two years ago, it looked like the career of the former Scott City High phenom -- he rushed for 2,357 yards as a Rams' senior -- was over when he tore up a knee for the second time while playing fullback for Southeast Missouri State University...

JACKSON -- Want to see Rashad West smile? Simply mention Southeast Missouri State University's new football offense under first-year head coach Tim Billings, who has the Indians playing what he calls "basketball on grass." "I like it a lot," said a grinning West Saturday night just moments after the Indians wrapped up spring practice by playing their annual spring intrasquad game at Jackson High School...

STEELE -- In a rematch of last year's Class 2A playoff baseball game that was won by Notre Dame in thrilling fashion in the final inning, this time South Pemiscot gained a measure of revenge with a 3-2, eight-inning victory Saturday. South Pemiscot remained undefeated at 8-0 while Notre Dame fell to 8-3...

CHAFFEE -- Chaffee High's softball squad had quite a day Saturday as the Lady Red Devils remained undefeated and won the championship of their own eight-team tournament. The Lady Red Devils, who are now 10-0, rolled past previously undefeated New Madrid County Central 14-3 in five innings in the semifinals, then crushed Oran 15-0 in three innings in the title contest...

BONNE TERRE -- Cape Central's baseball teams won a pair of games over the weekend, winning a high-scoring 14-8 affair with North County Friday night and a 3-2 squeaker over Potosi on Saturday. Josh McIntosh homered twice in the win over North County (5-6) and finished with six RBIs. Big games were also enjoyed by Justin Welker, who went 4-for-5 with two RBIs, and Zach Fidler, who tied a school record with two triples. Fidler also finished with three RBIs. The Tigers had 16 hits overall...

Oran baseball coach Mitch Wood will be the first to tell you that the Eagles haven't played the toughest competition so far this year. But what they have done offensively is nothing short of amazing. Heading into the Chaffee Tournament, Oran was batting a mind-boggling .419 as a team...

Josh Eftink: 15 RBIs, 3 HR, .457 avg., 4 doubles, 13 runs in 10 games. Southeast Missouri high school baseball leadersHome runs Batting average (Minimum 15 at-bats) John Heuring, Kelly .406 Runs batted in Triples Doubles Stolen bases Walks Runs PITCHING...

CHAFFEE -- When a tournament championship is on the line, Chaffee coach Brian Horrell would rather have Tommy Stidham on the mound than anybody else. For the second straight day, Stidham struck out the side in the bottom of the seventh as the Red Devils (12-9) won their own tournament, 3-1 over Shawnee (Ill.) in a well-played game...

A bugling elk shrouded in early morning fog is certainly a pleasing image to stir the imagination. However, it is not an image most folks associate with Missouri. Instead, we consider the Rocky Mountains or Canada as home to elk. That is where they live. Many of you may be surprised to find elk bugling used to break the frosty fall dawns of Missouri's past. That's right. Elk roamed Missouri for a long time!...

Reinhard B. Birk, 88, of Cape Girardeau died Saturday, April 15, 2000, at Southeast Missouri Hospital. He was born June 30, 1911, at Tilsit, the son of Albert and Caroline Loos Birk. He married Bessie Irene Thomas on March 8, 1946, at Cape Girardeau. She died on July 2, 1993...

DONGOLA, Ill. -- Letha M. Hartline, 85, of Dongola died Friday, April 14, 2000, at her home. She was born Jan. 28, 1915, in Martin, Tenn., the daughter of Granvil and Vera (Rabey) Metcalf. She married John Hartline on March 27, 1937. He died on Oct. 29, 1976...

A one-vehicle accident injured a 20-year-old Cape Girardeau man Saturday evening. James Anderson was taken by ambulance to St. Francis Medical Center after the pickup truck he was driving east on Route Y ran off the road and overturned. He was reported in good condition Saturday night in the hospital's emergency room...

MOUNDS, Ill. -- Dylan Hunter Foster, infant son of John and Jill Foster of Mounds, died Thursday, April 13, 2000, at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, Tenn. Besides his parents, he is survived by a sister, Olivia Foster of Mounds; a stepbrother, Trae Foster of Wetaug, Ill; his maternal grandparents, Michael and DeAnn Crown of Mounds; and his paternal grandparents, Joe and Marjorie Stout of Mounds and John and Carolyn Foster of Anna...

JONESBORO, Ill. -- Darrell R. Sims, 38, of Jonesboro died Saturday, April 15, 2000, at his home. Funeral arrangements are incomplete and will be announced by Hileman & Parr Funeral Services.

MOREHOUSE -- Jewel Katherine Christopher, 93, of Morehouse died Friday, April 14, 2000, at the Sikeston Convalescent Center. She was born Dec. 14, 1906, in Ridgely, Tenn., the daughter of Jefferson and Beatrice Reedy Fields. She married Arvid L. Christopher in New Madrid County on June 11, 1926. He died Jan. 22, 1977...

ANNA, Ill. -- Augusta Christine Skofic, 80, of Marion, formerly of Anna, died Thursday, April 13, 2000, at Parkway Manor Nursing Home in Marion. She was born Dec. 17, 1919, in Germany, the daughter of George and Charlotte Kirstein Bergman. She is survived by her husband, Dr. Dusan Skofic; and special friends Betty Sue Elkins and Dolly Hopkins...

Sammie David Bryant, 91, of Cape Girardeau died Friday, April 14, 2000, at The Lutheran Home. He was born on Oct. 21, 1908, at Mcdeau. He was a member of the First Assembly of God for over 58 years. He was a past treasurer, Sunday school superintendent and teacher, and president of the youth group...

Reading a book and discussing it with peers doesn't have to be limited to a classroom. Several book clubs around the area offer adults who enjoy being well-read options beyond hanging around high school English classes. Marylin Hutchings' group, which meets at the Cape Girardeau Public Library, owes its origin to poetry...

Jennifer Bertrand and Bob Haag exchanged vows Sept. 25, 1999, at Carondelet United Church of Christ. Dr. Herbert Brethauer performed the double ring ceremony. Music was provided by the Festive Muse Trio. Parents of the couple are Larry and Connie Bertrand of Cape Girardeau, and Bill and Donna Haag of St. Louis...

'Tis the season of seeds; sowing of them, that is. I stand before a tall, cylindrical, revolving seed stand and become enraptured, enchanted, entranced. My grocery shopping cart is stilled as I gaze at the hundreds of colorful little seed packages. The old affirmation that seeds are the stuff of new beginnings rises to the top of my mind. Hold a handful of the little brown things and you have the visual manifestation of hope and faith...

Vance and June Hunt Combs of Cape Girardeau will observe their 50th wedding anniversary April 23. They were married at the Baptist church in Wellsville. The Combs have resided in Cape Girardeau more than 30 years, and are members of Lynwood Baptist Church. Combs retired from the Federal Aviation Agency in 1987, and she retired from Zimmer Broadcasting Co. in 1990...

SIKESTON -- Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Johnes of Sikeston announce the engagement of their daughter, Tracy Marie Johnes, to Steven Ivan Foster. He is the son of Bob and Patricia Foster of Commerce. Johnes is a 1998 graduate of Thomas W. Kelly High School in Benton. She is employed at Rogers Limited in Cape Girardeau...

GORDONVILLE -- Amy Elizabeth Stevens and H. Norman Dudley announce their engagement. She is the daughter of Brenda Stevens Dodd of Gordonville, and the late Clarence Larry Stevens. Dudley is the son of Kevin Dudley of Chaffee. Stevens is a 1996 graduate of Chaffee High School. She is employed at Cape County Regional Dialysis Center in Cape Girardeau...

Ernie and Judy Nordman of Cape Girardeau announce the engagement of their daughter, Gretchen Renee Nordman, to Andy McMillen, both of St. Louis. He is the son of John and Jill McMillen of St. Louis. Nordman is a 1992 graduate of Central High School, and received a degree in health management from Southwest Missouri State University. She is a pharmaceutical sales representative with Glaxo Wellcome...

JACKSON -- Mr. and Mrs. Jack B. Hart of Jackson announce the engagement of their daughter, Elizabeth Louise Hart, to Rory Tyler Helms. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Craig Helms of Winchester, Ind. Hart is a family nurse practitioner with Randolph County Hospital Corp. of Indiana...

SCOTT CITY -- Wesley and Sharon Uhrhan of Scott City announce the engagement of their daughter, Lori Ann Uhrhan, to Wesley William Short. He is the son of Henry Short and John and Debbie Graff of Scott City. Uhrhan is a 1996 graduate of Scott City High School. She is employed at Thorngate Ltd. in Cape Girardeau...

The MS Walk held April 9 raised more than $45,000 for the Gateway Area Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. The money will be used for research and service programs for those living with multiple sclerosis, said walk chairman Robin White...

A tray ceiling with accent lighting adds a spacious feel to the living room of this house at 121 Sandstone in Twin Lakes. Situated at the corner of a dead end street and a cul-de-sac, this Twin Lakes home offers a great deal of privacy. Large trees line the rear of the property and now that summer is almost here, the neighboring houses will soon be out of view. A large concrete apron leads to the two-car attached garage. The kids will have plenty of space to ride bikes or shoot a few hoops...