Stories from Thursday, May 25, 2000

Summer's here and it's time to bare those feet that have been cooped up in heavy shoes all winter. And if we're going to let them be seen, they might as well make a fashion statement all their own. Next time you walk around the mall, take time to notice the tootsies that are peeking out from those strappy sandals. ...

Wednesday, 3:37 AM: I am often asked, "Where do you find the time?" "Why do you make the effort to write this column on a weekly basis?" "Couldn't you just do it every other week or once a month?" The answer to the first question is that I have never been able to "find time". Since I began writing this column nearly three years ago I made the commitment to deliberately allocate some of my time to teaching, especially to health and science education. This is a primary role of a physician...

May 25, 2000 Dear Leslie, This is the time of year thunderstorms and tornadoes come calling in Southeast Missouri. They arrive like distant relatives from the West, bursting through the door, unsettling our lives awhile and then moving on. The television stations run beeping messages across the bottom of the picture updating the warnings and watches from the National Weather Service. ...

The thunderstorms and tornadoes that blustered through the region Tuesday night and Wednesday morning did little damage, but the National Weather Service predicts the atmosphere will remain volatile for a few more days. "Relief will come over the weekend," said David Humphrey, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Paducah, Ky...

The POW-MIA flag is flying again at the Cape Girardeau Area Mail Processing Center in Cape West Business Park. The flag, which fits in with a special veterans memorial in front of the flag pole, was ordered removed earlier this week by Rodney Bray, temporary officer in charge of the Cape Girardeau post office and processing center...

HILLSBORO -- A defense attorney Wednesday cross examined a police officer who claims a Cape Girardeau man assaulted him, questioning the injuries the officer said he suffered in the attack. During prosecution questioning on Tuesday at the trial for Kenneth Campbell, Cape Girardeau policeman Rollin Roberts said the defendant and his brother, Greg Campbell, had stomped on him while he was down approximately 30 times with most of the blows landing on his head...

Cape Girardeau's Cable Television Advisory Board wants the City Council to survey cable customers regarding service, programming and the public access channel. Under terms of the franchise agreement, cable operator Charter Communications would pay for the cost of the survey...

Work will begin at Central High School this summer to prepare the building for installation of air-conditioning units over the next two years. The Cape Girardeau Board of Education approved design and engineering work for the project during a meeting Wednesday. School officials estimate the project will cost $660,000 to complete...

Each week, somewhere between 900 and 1,000 trucks travel Nash Road (Route AB) where it meets Interstate 55 en route to the SEMO Port Authority. The trucks have to maneuver short acceleration lanes, a narrow bridge and harsh turns, which isn't easy on 18 wheels...

The ideal picture of motherhood is a woman who will do anything to protect her child. Unfortunately, when addictive drugs come into the picture, ideals go out the window, and many women continue using drugs, alcohol and tobacco during pregnancy. "If a pregnant woman who is truly addicted is given a choice between drugs and her baby, she'll pick drugs," said Dr. ...

If left to their own devices, a strategic planning committee would create a visitor and cultural center for Cape Girardeau near the Mississippi River, offer a river cruise between the city and Ste. Genevieve, strengthen neighborhoods and beautify the city, all while trying to bring new business, develop better infrastructure and provide more accessible transportation to residents...

Leopold High baseball coach Ted LeGrand is leaving nothing to chance as the Wildcats make their first-ever appearance in the Class 1A sectional round. On Saturday, LeGrand drove 120 miles one way to Winona -- even though the local squad did not have a game -- simply to check out the field where today's 4 p.m. sectional contest will be played...

Take a look at the record of St. Vincent High's baseball team and you might think the Indians aren't very strong. But looks can often be deceiving, which is certainly the case for the Indians, who will carry a 12-13 mark into today's 3 p.m. Class 1A sectional game against 12-5 Holcomb at the Perryville City Park...

Both Cape Central and Hillsboro know a thing or two about adversity. Cape Central (20-7) started the year off 3-3 before battling back to claim 17 of its next 21 games and win its district championship over state-ranked Sikeston, the top seed, in the 4A, District 1 championship...

Notre Dame's leadoff hitter has three home runs. It's No. 9 hitter has two. And somewhere in between there are 20. With the way the Bulldogs (20-4) have been crushing the ball lately, Senath-Hornersville pitcher Jonathan Binkard had better be on top of his game...

JACKSON -- The area Junior American Legion baseball season will get under way tonight as Jackson hosts an eight-team tournament that runs through Sunday. Competing along with Jackson will be fellow Southeast Missouri squads Cape Girardeau, Chaffee, Sikeston and Perryville. Rounding out the field for the double-elimination event are De Soto, Kirkwood and Florissant...

ALTO PASS, Ill. -- Funeral for Marjorie L. Miller of Alto Pass will be held at 10 a.m. Friday at First Baptist Church. The Rev. Charles Allen will officiate. Burial will be in Alto Pass Cemetery. Friends may call at the church from 5-9 p.m. today. Lutz and Rendleman Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements...

TAMMS, Ill. -- Horace Lucas, 90, of Glendale, Ariz., and formerly of Southern Illinois, died Wednesday, May 24, 2000, at Sun Health Hospice in Peoria, Ariz. Arrangements are incomplete at the Crain Funeral Home in Tamms.

Funeral for Shirley Ann Brock of Orlando, Fla., will be held at 2 p.m. Friday at Ford and Sons Sprigg Street Chapel. The Rev. Johnny Thomas will officiate. Burial will be in Lorimier Cemetery. There is no visitation. Brock, 36, died Saturday, May 13, 2000, at Orlando Regional Medical Center in Orlando...

MCCLURE, Ill. -- Jesse Callis, 91, of East Alton died Tuesday, May 23, 2000, at his home. He was born April 19,1909, in Grand Tower, son of Marion Jasper and Edith Todd Callis. He and Helen Lucille Colyer were married March 26, 1932, in Cairo. She died July 29, 1987...

RAYTOWN -- Ella Marie Fornkohl Tidwell, 70, of Raytown and a native of Cape Girardeau, died Tuesday, May 23, 2000, at her home. She was born Aug. 13, 1929, the youngest of nine children. She was Miss Cape Girardeau in 1952 and remained in Cape Girardeau until 1966...

BERNIE -- George Ovid Beacham, 90, of Bernie died Wednesday, May 24, 2000, at his home. He was born April 21, 1910, in Reagan, Tenn., son of John Wesley and Frances Ida Snider Beacham. He and Annie Lucille Wilson were married Nov. 24, 1934, at Kennett. She died Nov. 18, 1991...

Katy Hengst Thiele, 90, of Cape Girardeau died Tuesday, May 23, 2000, at the Lutheran Home. She was born May 24, 1909, in Ridgeway, N.C., daughter of Matthew and Elizabeth Schwemmel Sinn. She first married Jesse Hengst Nov. 4, 1933, in Cape Girardeau. She and Fred Thiele were married Oct. 5, 1958, in Cape Girardeau. He died Aug. 11, 1993...

Daughter to Mr. and Mrs. Brad Urhahn of Bentonville, Ark., Washington Regional Medical Center in Fayetteville, Ark., Friday, May 5, 2000. Name, Emilee Joy. Weight, 7 pounds 14 ounces. Second child, first daughter. Mrs. Urhahn is the former Leslee Blake, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Lee Blake of Kansas City. She is director of special projects at Arkansas Athletic Outreach. Urhahn is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Gib Urhahn of Jackson. He is director of engineers at Wal-Mart in Bentonville...

Who is discriminated against in flag flap? I'm sick and tired of the NAACP telling me the meaning of the Confederate flag. No one has the right to impose their attitudes on me because of their perception of this symbol of the South. In my heart, the Confederate flag symbolizes the traditions of the old South-chivalry, respect for women, pride. I do not think of slavery when I view the Confederate flag any more than I think of black supremacy when I see Malcolm X fashions...

Earlier this month, a St. Louis television camera man filed suit against Gov. Mel Carnahan alleging assault and battery, false imprisonment and defamation. The highly unusual move against a sitting governor arose out an April 12 incident at the Jefferson City airport...

So the cause of the most devastating fires in the Western United States since the massive Yellowstone Park fires of 1998 is -- the government! A blaze that began as a "controlled burn," planned and executed by federal government employees to clear brush, ended up destroying 4,500 homes, burning tens of thousands of acres and forcing the evacuation of Los Alamos, N.M...

To the editor: Cape Girardeau has many fine restaurants, which my wife and I enjoy. Recently, we have been observing an interesting phenomenon which occurs at two of our favorites. The St. Louis Bread Co. seems to attract many thin, healthy-looking people. The other restaurant, which has an all-you-can-eat buffet, generates an overweight clientele who attacks the food bar with grim determination at lunch time...

To the editor: VFW Post 3838 and their Ladies Auxiliary would like to thank all who participated in our recent Buddy Poppy campaign. The community recognized this symbolic flower and contributed generously. All proceeds from the Buddy Poppy campaign must be placed in our Relief Fund to be used only for hospitalized and needy veterans or their families, and local youth projects...

To the editor: I am writing with regard to the proposed Medicare bill that would eliminate the need for an anesthesiologist during any or all surgical procedures. The CRNA's have limited experience and education. I am a nurse and I know my limitations and am grateful for the education and years of training the doctors have. It is above and beyond my abilities to think that I do not need the supervision of a doctor...