Stories from Wednesday, May 10, 2000

To the editor: Missouri's economic success depends upon continued open export markets. China is a rapidly growing market for Missouri products such as fabricated metal products, machinery and equipment, chemical products, food products and agricultural commodities. ...

To the editor: I have been e-mailing a friend in Holland for some time. On May 5 he sent a message that I think would be good to publish. Harrie van Beek is a 75-year-old man in Holland, and he wishes to pass on the gratitude that the people of Holland have for the help in the liberation of their country in World War II. Harrie's message comes from the heart. Here is his message:...

To the editor: This is an open letter to high school seniors. Why this letter? Well, I thought since I have received quite a few letters from seniors on what is it like to leave high school and face the real world, why not share some of my reflections with you and also wish you all the very best in all your endeavors...

The annual John Blue Academic Excellence Banquet that recently honored the top 10 percent of graduating seniors at Cape Girardeau's Central High School and Notre Dame High School provided a perfect opportunity to focus on everything that is positive about young people today...

The landing at Normandy Beach lives forever in the memories of those veterans who survived it. In 1999, the award-winning movie "Saving Private Ryan" brought those graphic scenes to a whole new generation, many of whom were unfamiliar with World War II...

During several of my outdoor excursions, I have found unusual places; hidden off old two-lane roads or tucked away beyond the tree line of an overgrown path. However, it is rare I find unusual places directly off an interstate exit ramp. Mastodon is one of those rare occasions...

For the Relief of Unbearable Urges by Nathan Englander Reviewed by David M. Taylor From a writer in Stalinist Russia during World War II to a grief-stricken husband in present-day Israel, Nathan Englander lets us study the tortures and struggles that we all must endure in our lives. ...

"The only people for me are the mad ones. Those who are mad to talk, mad to breathe, and mad to be heard." - Jack Kerouac, On The Road What would I do if gravity reversed itself? If the Earth spun off its axis, would I know it? What was Captain Hook's name before he lost his hand?...

Stroke 9 is on their way to a gold album. Their first major release, Nasty Little Thoughts has climbed into Billboards Top 100, do in part to the top 5 smash hit "Little Black Backpack". Grabbing the attention of music junkies the country over with its catchy word play and to-die-for hooks, "Backpack" instantly puts the listener into a strangle hold (thanks Ted) and never lets go...

Each issue of OFF! highlights someone who has achieved success in his/her field. This issue's pick is Chad Armbruster of Cape Girardeau. Stats: Age - 24 Education - 4th grade reading level Home Town - Barnhart Mo., don't let the name fool you it's small...

Monet by David Taylor i sit on my porch, breathe the morning. dawn's light leaps like a ballerina across the air to form a rainbow that caresses my cheek like a warm autumn kiss. clouds roam the chilled sky, try to ignore all that pass beneath,...

American Psycho: A Movie About... Nothing? A Review by Nick Watts & Ben Foster "I saw a movie ripe with dark humor, violence, and odd cultural satire, yet as I left the film I felt as though I'd seen nothing, and learned nothing at all"(Ben Foster) ... and that's the beauty of the thing...

A Cape Girardeau couple received 15- and five-year prison sentences for distribution of $250,000 of cocaine, the U.S. attorney's office said. The sentences culminated one of the largest cocaine busts in the region, said Kevin Glaser, director of the Southeast Missouri Drug Task Force...

Grandmother Lorene O. Long Burns, left; mother Beverly K. Cutsinger, center; and her daughter Julia Cutsinger all have more than just being family members in common. When senior Julia graduates Friday from Woodland High School, she will join her mother and grandmother as a high school valedictorian...

Authorities believe a 16-year-old boy set fire to his family's home in rural Cape Girardeau County Monday afternoon to cover up the killing of his grandmother. A preliminary autopsy Tuesday identified the victim as Carolyn Lindley, 56, who died from a single gunshot wound to the head. A fire was then set to conceal the homicide, authorities said...

DELTA -- Wanted: A police officer. That's the message from the Delta Board of Aldermen. The board decided Monday night it would seek to hire a new police officer to replace Police Chief Marty Keys, who resigned last week after the aldermen initially had decided to eliminate his position...

Upscale auctions for worthy causes have their place. But for the past five years, the primary fund raiser for the SEMO Alliance for Disability Independence has been an event executive director Miki Gudermuth describes as an auction for the average person...

Southeast Missouri State University math professor Chengjie Xiong knew he faced long odds in his bid to win the $350 million Big Game lottery. Still, that didn't stop him and department colleagues from spending a few bucks for lottery tickets. Xiong said he did it for fun. "Of course, I would love to win," he said prior to Tuesday's drawing...

JACKSON -- More than three years after a committee was formed to study the feasibility of constructing a community center in the City of Jackson, officials say another year of planning is needed. After meeting with city administrators, the committee's executive committee has decided to gather more information before bringing a proposal to the Jackson Board of Aldermen...

Southeast Missouri State University's baseball team will close out the regular season this weekend with a huge Ohio Valley Conference home series against Eastern Kentucky. But before the Indians begin thinking about that, they'll shoot for a season sweep of the University of Missouri when the squads square off today in a 5 p.m. first pitch at Simmons Field in Columbia...

Southeast Missouri State University will hold camps in a variety of sports this summer. Southeast coaches in the various sports, along with some of their athletes, will be the instructors for their respective camps. Participants of the camps will receive a camp T-shirt and will be covered by basic camp insurance, along with other camp features...

Cape Central has announced its summer camp schedule. The school is holding 15 camps of different sorts, beginning June 5 and running through July 27. Participants of the camps will receive a camp T-shirt and will be covered by basic camp insurance. Questions should be directed to the athletic director's office at 335-8467...

Southeast Missouri State University's reclaiming of the Ohio Valley Conference outdoor track & field championship wasn't nearly as close as coach Joey Haines had predicted. The Otahkians basically cruised to the title last weekend in Murfreesboro, Tenn., scoring 136 points and winning by 25 points over host Middle Tennessee. Eastern Illinois was another point back in the 10-team field...

The National Junior College Athletic Association finally leveled its playing field as far as softball is concerned -- and Shawnee Community College has taken full advantage. SCC, located in Ullin, Ill., recently qualified for the NJCAA Division II national tournament that will be played May 17-20 in Phoenix...

PERRYVILLE -- Amanda Schumer scored on a penalty kick at the 60-minute mark as Perryville salvaged a 2-2 tie with Jackson in girls soccer action on Tuesday. Perryville (16-5-4) took a 1-0 lead into halftime on a goal by Stacy Baer, who scored off a pass from Schumer...

CHARLESTON -- Joyce Ann Howlett, 68, of Charleston, died Tuesday, May 9, 2000, at Sikeston Convalescent Center. She was born on April 27, 1932, in Martin, Tenn., daughter of John E. and Cornelia Childers McMinn. She married Roy Howlett in May 1974. He died Nov. 30, 1976...

Eddie D. Kistner, 73, of Cape Girardeau died Monday, May 8, 2000, at St. Francis Medical Center. Friends may call at McCombs Funeral Home in Jackson from 4-8 p.m. Thursday. Funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday at the funeral home.

Daughter to Michael and Tracy Louden of Cape Girardeau, Southeast Missouri Hospital, 8:53 a.m. Monday, May 1, 2000. Weight, 8 pounds. Daughter to Gregory E. Criddle and Christin Renee Beard of Cape Girardeau, Southeast Missouri Hospital, 7:52 a.m. Tuesday, May 2, 2000. ...

MOUNDS, Ill. -- Helen C. Smoot, 87, of Mounds died Tuesday, May 9, 2000, at Meridian Manor Nursing Home. She was born April 16, 1913, in Mounds, daughter of Aldophus and Catherine Tobin Laws. She married Russell Smoot, who died in 1969. Smoot had been a licensed practical nurse at the former St. Mary's Hospital in Cairo. She was a member of the Congregational Church in Mounds...

KARNAK, Ill. -- Graveside service for Talmadge "Dude" Little of Karnak will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday at Anderson Cemetery in Boaz. The Rev. Ken Sharp will officiate. There is no visitation. Wilson Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Little, 75, died Monday, May 8, 2000, at the home of his sister...

GIPSY -- Benny Conder, 55, of Gipsy died Monday, May 8, 2000, at Lucy Lee Hospital in Poplar Bluff. He was born Nov. 25, 1944, at Gipsy, son of Sampson Conder and Glenda Randolph Hood. Conder was a retired farmer and timber worker. Survivors include two brothers, Tom Conder of Hiram, Trennis Conder of Gipsy; and a sister, Evelyn Conder of Cape Girardeau...

JACKSON -- The Jackson Board of Education named Jackson native Jim Welker its new assistant superintendent for the coming school year. Welker is serving in his second year as the director of adult and community education for Sikeston School District. He is a 1974 graduate of Jackson High School...

High Honor Roll 12th Grade Shanna Barr, Justin Cox, Liz Dohogne, Heather Gresham, Christina Hagen, Jessica Hollis, Scott Johnston, Erin Raines, Lisa Sanders, Lucas Ward, Ryan Weatherspoon. 11th Grade Lindsey Baker, Ashley Bedwell, Sarah Cannon, Sara Kiplinger, Brandy Lindberg, Ashley Porch, Clay Sanders...

Cookbook sales are brisk, and it is an exciting time for Recipe Swap and it's readers. There is so much joy in this project for me because of all of the nice people and wonderful cooks I have had the pleasure to get acquainted with. It has been fun to hear where the books are being sent to. Some of the books that I have sold are being mailed to friends and family all across the country...

Pavlov's Beggin' Bones are made from whole wheat flour, quick oats, oil, water and peanut butter. Golden retriever puppies bred at Creekwood Kennells in Cape Girardeau. "The one absolutely unselfish friend that man can have in this selfish world, the one that never proves ungrateful or treacherous, is his dog." Thus argued Senator George G. Vest of Missouri in one of the most famous speeches in American history, delivered in a courtroom in Warrensburg in 1870...