Stories from Wednesday, May 3, 2000

I'm sure that you are thinking that my calendar is out of whack because I am writing about Easter lilies. After all, Easter has already passed us by for this year. I am writing about them because the first phone call on the day after Easter begins with the following questions:"What do I do with the Easter lily that I received as a gift? Can I plant it outside? Will it survive our winters? Will it bloom at Easter next year?"...

To the editor: Two years ago my neighbor behind me advised me to stay home with my then-4-year-old son instead of putting him in preschool. You see, I was worried he would not be as smart as the other children when he started kindergarten if he did not attend preschool. ...

To the editor: This is in regard to the raid made in Sikeston on Saturday. I feel that this was unfair and unjust. The news media claimed that consumers were being ripped off. The only ripping off going on is by the clothing manufacturers that price clothing too high for the average minimum-wage worker. ...

Cape Girardeau County Sheriff John Jordan has been chosen to coordinate the distribution of $2.4 million in federal funds to Missouri law enforcement agencies to combat methamphetamine. This is certainly an honor to our sheriff. It's also an indication that Southeast Missouri has so much experience with meth that Sheriff Jordan is considered an expert on the highly addictive drug...

The highest court in the land is considering Nebraska's partial-birth abortion ban. Back in 1973, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled women have a constitutional right to end their pregnancies. Nebraska is one of 30 states that ban partial-birth abortions, and it is seeking reinstatement of a law that would make it a crime for doctors to perform the surgical procedure...

To the editor: It is time to stop the finger pointing and speculating about what the motives of Time magazine are and start praying for God to bring a healing to the situation that took place on Good Hope Street. To fan the flames that already exist is perhaps more damaging than the very thing that started the fire. ...

DELTA -- The Delta Board of Aldermen voted unanimously Monday to fire Police Chief Marty Keys and disband the police department. The 4-0 vote came over the objections of Mayor Gary Anderson, who doesn't vote except in the case of a tie. The board's action is scheduled to take effect in 10 days...

Reacting to a "sweetheart deal" for former Central Missouri State University president Ed Elliott, the Missouri Senate Tuesday approved an amendment to require that future college contracts be applied "uniformly, consistently and fairly" to all. Under the amendment, compensation, retirement and severance policies of public colleges and universities must be applied uniformly to all officials and employees...

The Make-A-Wish Foundation and two Southeast Missouri State University student groups will be collect coins and other contributions today at the Kala M. Stroup Fountain on campus. The fund raiser in front of Kent Library is designed to help make a dream come true for a terminally ill 3-year-old girl from Cape Girardeau County...

Parents will find a wealth of information about feeding and nurturing their children at Saturday's Supermarket Fest. The event from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Save-A-Lot, at Sprigg and William streets, will feature nutrition education and giveaways from the Healthy Children Nutrition Education Initiative and the debut of Parenting Corner, a display that provides information on raising children...

The following students attended the 41st annual John Blue Academic Excellence Banquet sponsored by the Cape Girardeau Rotary Club Tuesday. Each year, the Rotary Club recognizes the top 10 percent of each graduating class at Cape Girardeau Central High School and Notre Dame Regional High School...

Old Town Cape will sponsor a special "Vision Session," next Tuesday and Wednesday at the First Presbyterian Church. Sheri Stuart and Stephanie Redman of the National Trust's Main Street Center in Washington will be in Cape Girardeau to conduct the session...

A Cape Girardeau businessman has bought five downtown parcels, including the former Job Service building at 231 N. Main, from Boyd Gaming Corp. of Las Vegas. The sale to Jim Riley of Red Letter Communications also included structures at 201 and 203 North Spanish...

JACKSON -- A small group of concerned residents told the Jackson Board of Education additional classrooms to address space needs at the junior high school and increased operating funds to end deficit spending are two priorities that should be addressed by voters at the polls Aug. 8...

Simple Latin prayers seeking deliverance in death melded with sumptuous melodies Tuesday night in the Choral Union's performance of Gabriel Faure's mesmerizingly beautiful "Requiem." Faure's alternately doleful and joyous work is perhaps not as musically challenging as some recent Choral Union projects but its simplicity is to be recommended. ...

Southeast Missouri State University's baseball team will look to avoid a season sweep at the hands of St. Louis University when the Indians play their final non-conference home game tonight. The Indians (30-12 overall, 13-4 Ohio Valley Conference) and Billikens (17-29, 5-16 Conference USA) will square off in a 6 p.m. first pitch at Capaha Field...

Kelly set the table, but it couldn't find the plate. The Hawks left 11 runners on base and lost a runner trying to score as they fell to the Cape Girardeau Central Tigers 8-2 at Tiger Field Tuesday. "Each inning we were one hit away from opening things up and that comes with consistency and we just don't have that," said Kelly coach Mike Scott, who saw his first four batters go 6-for-15 but score just one run...

No, Becky Shull admits, she didn't enter Southeast Missouri State University four years ago with a goal of attaining perfection in the classroom. It's simply worked out that way. Shull, a Southeast senior, has never received anything less than an A in a college course. She's carrying a perfect 4.0 grade-point average and, barring an unexpected slip-up, will graduate that way on May 13...

Southeast Missouri State University women's basketball coach Ed Arnzen has announced the signing of Kim Brown, a 5-foot-11 power forward from Wallace (Ala.) Junior College. Brown, who will join the Otahkians for the 2000-2001 academic year, averaged 13 points and 11 rebounds per game last season at Wallace...

The first annual 'Dog Day' will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday at the Southeast Missouri State University Softball Complex, located at the corner of Bertling and Sprigg. The festivities will go along with the Southeast softball doubleheader against Tennessee State...

MARTIN, Tenn. -- Southeast Missouri State University's softball team continued its late-season surge by sweeping a doubleheader from host Tennessee-Martin Tuesday. The Otahkians romped in the opener 8-2 and then squeezed out a 1-0, nine-inning victory in the nightcap. Only the first game counted in the Ohio Valley Conference standings...

STEELE -- Chaffee High's baseball team accomplished something Tuesday that no other Missouri squad has been able to do this season -- beat South Pemiscot. The Red Devils scored five runs in the top of the first inning and held on for a huge 7-6 road victory over a team ranked among the state's best in Class 2A...

MOREHOUSE -- Shirley Ann Geary, 58, of Morehouse died Tuesday, May 2, 2000, at her home. She was born Aug. 23, 1941, at Morehouse, daughter of Sam and Stella Rogers Davis. Geary lived in Morehouse most of her life. She was a member of Morehouse General Baptist Church...

CAIRO, Ill. -- Christine Collins, 81, of Murray, Ky., died Tuesday, May 2, 2000, at Murray-Calloway County Hospital. She was formerly of Cairo. Barkett Funeral Home in Cairo is in charge of arrangements.

Carl Goodman, 79, of Dongola, Ill., died Tuesday, May 2, 2000, at his home. Arrangements are incomplete at Crain Funeral Home in Dongola.

CHAFFEE -- Quentin Stephen Westrich, 65, of rural Chaffee passed away at his home Monday, May 1, 2000. He was born Dec. 9, 1934, in Cape Girardeau, son of Fridolin and Agatha Glueck Westrich. He married Barbara Jean Spies May 11, 1957, in Scott City. She preceded him in death Aug. 31, 1979. He later married Barbara Andrews Welter Oct. 17, 1989, at Benton...

PERRYVILLE -- Joseph W. "Bud" Welker, 74, of Perryville died Monday, May 1, 2000, at Perry County Memorial Hospital. He was born July 23, 1925, in Perry County, son of Glenton O. and Birdie Mary Dunker Welker. He and Dolly Mae Feltz were married Oct. 15, 1949, at Sereno...

ANNA, Ill. -- Russell McClure, 89, of Anna died Monday, May 1, 2000, at City Care Center in Cobden. He was born Nov. 2, 1910, in Sparta, son of James and Maggie Groce McClure. He and Bertha Walls were married Aug. 9, 1930. She died Dec. 28, 1998. McClure was a retired general contractor. He was supervisor and general foreman during construction of the atomic energy plant in Kevil, Ky. He was a member of Carpenters Local 638...

Son to Sgt. Jerry L. and Gina R. Elder of Cape Girardeau, Southeast Missouri Hospital, 1:45 a.m. Tuesday, April 25, 2000. Name, Logan Wayne. Weight, 7 pounds 1 1/2 ounces. Mrs. Elder is the former Gina Summers, daughter of Bill and Virginia Summers of Dexter. Elder is the son of Jerry and Pam Elder of Bloomfield and Camille and Dick Howell of Huntington Beach, Calif. He is a federal technician in the Organizational Maintenance Shop No. 3 of the National Guard...

JONESBORO, Ill. -- Glenna M. Sauerbrunn, 78, of Jonesboro died Tuesday, May 2, 2000, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. She was born June 1, 1921, at Cypress, daughter of Guy and Agnes Birch Worel. She and Cleo Sauerbrunn were married Feb. 1, 1940, in Jackson, Mo...

WOLF ISLAND -- Funeral for J.D. Woods of Wolf Island will be held at 2 p.m. today at Nunnelee Funeral Chapel in Sikeston. The Rev. LeRoy Thornton will officiate. Burial will be in East Prairie Memorial Park Cemetery. Woods, 56, died Monday, May 1, 2000, at his home...

WOLF ISLAND -- Funeral for J.D. Woods of Wolf Island will be held at 2 p.m. today at Nunnelee Funeral Chapel in Sikeston. The Rev. LeRoy Thornton will officiate. Burial will be in East Prairie Memorial Park Cemetery. Woods, 56, died Monday, May 1, 2000, at his home...

CHAFFEE -- Quentin Stephen Westrich, 65, of rural Chaffee passed away at his home Monday, May 1, 2000. He was born Dec. 9, 1934, in Cape Girardeau, son of Fridolin and Agatha Glueck Westrich. He married Barbara Jean Spies May 11, 1957, in Scott City. She preceded him in death Aug. 31, 1979. He later married Barbara Andrews Welter Oct. 17, 1989, at Benton...

PERRYVILLE -- Joseph W. "Bud" Welker, 74, of Perryville died Monday, May 1, 2000, at Perry County Memorial Hospital. He was born July 23, 1925, in Perry County, son of Glenton O. and Birdie Mary Dunker Welker. He and Dolly Mae Feltz were married Oct. 15, 1949, at Sereno...

CHARLESTON -- Myretta L. Sinks, 83, of Charleston died Monday, May 1, 2000, at Charleston Manor. She was born Sept. 11, 1916, at Wolf Island, daughter of Henry and Odessa Lee Clark. She married James Sinks, who preceded her in death. Survivors include a son, James Sinks Jr. ...

Funeral Mass for Thomas L. Sapienza of Mesa, Ariz., will be held today at Christ the King Catholic Church in Mesa. Burial will be in Queen of Heaven Cemetery in Mesa. Bunker's University Chapel in Mesa is in charge of arrangements. Sapienza, 83, died Sunday, April 30, 2000, in Mesa...

MARBLE HILL -- Lester D. Rea, 83, of Marble Hill died Monday, May 1, 2000, at St. Joseph West Hospital in Lake St. Louis. He was born Jan. 28, 1917, at Zalma, son of William Jasper and Mattie Whittenberg Rea. He and Velda M. Sitze were married Aug. 14, 1940. She died July 26, 1999...

COBDEN, Ill. -- Funeral for William Edward Patrick O'Meara Jr. of Cobden will be held at 1 p.m. today at Lutz and Rendleman Funeral Home in Anna. The Rev. Jim Peterson will officiate. Friends may call at the funeral home from 11 a.m. until service time...

The Southern Living Cooking School is just a memory now, and all that remains are the smile lines from smiling all day and sore, tired feet. It was a great day of visiting with so many of you. To answer about 100 of your questions all at once, I don't know if there will be a Recipe Swap cookbook next year to take in this year of Recipe Swap. I guess the best way to determine this is to let Joe Sullivan know that you want it, then he can decide. Sorry Joe, that's why you make the big bucks...