Stories from Wednesday, September 13, 2000

Larry Denny held the American Show Racer, a female red-checked hen pigeon, up to the light for a better look. Just minutes before, Denny had taken a longer look at the Chinese Owl-Round Head pigeon. "Nice birds," said Denny. After long deliberations, Denny motioned to the American Show Racer, which was declared grand champion of the long line of pigeons on display at the SEMO District Fair...

It took more than a sprinkling of rain to dampen the spirits of volunteers hawking newspapers for literacy in the annual YELL campaign Tuesday. "I started worrying about the weather, but I've got my emergency poncho in my pocket," said American Business Women's Association member Terri Tomlin, who sold newspapers newsboy-style at the corner of Main and Hope streets in Jackson Tuesday morning...

The signals at Independence and West End Boulevard are not functioning this morning. The signals at Broadway and Pacific will not function today and Thursday morning. Ongoing projects:...

JACKSON, Mo. -- The Jackson Board of Education approved a utility easement for city construction crews and health insurance for staff during a meeting Tuesday night. The school board unanimously approved a request from the city for an easement to install a new water distribution line near Jackson Middle School. ...

A Sikeston, Mo., man pleaded guilty Tuesday to federal charges of drug trafficking. Shone T. Yarber, 26, pled guilty in federal court to two felony counts of distribution of five grams or more of cocaine base. He appeared before U.S. District Judge Rodney W. Sippel...

A Pemiscot County, Mo., pled guilty Tuesday to one felony count of making false statements to a government agency. Laverne Moore, 43, of Hayti, Mo., plead guilty to the charge Tuesday in federal court in Cape Girardeau. She appeared before U.S. District Judge Rodney W. Sippel...

Several communities in Southeast Missouri can expect visits soon from a team making selections for the Missouri Community Betterment Awards. Judges and escorts will tour the cities next week, hoping to spend an hour in each city or neighborhood looking at the quality of its community betterment efforts in the past year. Awards will be announced during an annual meeting Oct. 29-31 in Columbia, Mo...

A labor dispute on a Southeast Missouri State University construction project has been resolved, a contractor and a school official said Tuesday. Operating Engineers Local 513 last week picketed at the construction site of the Otto and Della Seabaugh Polytechnic Building on the north side of the university campus...

A Butler County, Mo., man pled guilty Tuesday to three federal felony charges. He appeared in federal court in Cape Girardeau, Mo., before U.S. District Judge Rodney W. Sippel. Virgil M. Smith Jr., 48, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., pled guilty to one felony count of operating and maintaining a chop shot and two felony counts of trafficking in motor vehicles and parts...

The biggest challenge for many Caring Communities partnerships in Missouri often is generating interest among parents and community members, according to representatives of several of the partnerships throughout the state. Representatives of more than 20 Missouri agencies visited with coordinators to network and discuss Caring Communities Tuesday morning at Blanchard, Franklin and Jefferson schools. The three schools are Caring Communities sites...

Today n Grandstand: 7:30 p.m., Tractor-Truck Pull. n Astro Amusements, $14 bands, 5-11 p.m. n Special Event: 1 p.m., Senior Horse/Mules Hitch Challenge. n Judging: 8:30 a.m., 4-H/FFA barrow carcass judging contest, 4-H barrows, FFA barrows, open barrow carcass (on foot), breed and cross breed barrows; 9 a.m., 4-H/FFA steer carcass judging contest, open steer carcass (on foot), 4-H beef, FFA beef, junior Angus; 9 a.m., 4-H sheep, FFA sheep, R-H goats, sheep; 1 p.m., FFA steers, 4-H steers, all breed steers, 4-H swine, FFA swine.. ...

Jay Parmley believes young voters could help Vice President Al Gore win the White House. The 29-year-old Oklahoma man is taking that message to this year's battleground states as president of the Young Democrats of America. Parmley and Young Democrats of Missouri President Raegan D. Buatte visited Cape Girardeau Tuesday to meet with leaders of the Southeast Missouri State University Young Democrats group...

The Chateau Girardeau and a number of residents were recognized by the VFW Auxiliary Post 3838 Monday for having good, old-fashioned patriotism. The retirement complex and 18 households received Patriotic Citizen Award certificates for an American flag display that took place July 4...

Dmart Homes Megacenter could start a new trend in the sales of manufactured housing. The 85,000-square-foot structure, larger than a football field, will house 20 homes, some with decks, skirting and landscaping. The megastore will have a variety of mobile home products, ranging from single-wide homes to multi-section manufactured housing...

We had a great win on Saturday at Southern Illinois. Last week I talked about our players getting the light turned on. In the second half of the great come-from-behind win, the light came on and good things happened. A 31-0 first-half deficit ultimately turned into a 34-33 victory for us...

Cape Central's soccer team made it look easy Tuesday night. The Tigers dominated in every facet of the game and emerged with a 4-0 shutout of Sikeston at Southeast Missouri State's intramural field. Chris Cole scored two goals, the first two of the game for Cape Central...

JACKSON, Mo. -- Leading wire-to-wire, Murray State captured the 11-team Drury Invitational team championship with a 54-hole total of 908. The annual event is hosted by Southeast Missouri State University and held at Bent Creek Golf Course. Murray State's Jeremy Grantham overcame teammate and 36-hole leader Brandon Henson to garner individual medalist honors at 220. ...

Scott Wittenborn scored two goals, including a game-tying shot off an assist from Matt Pobst as Notre Dame remained unbeaten with a 2-2 tie with Poplar Bluff on Tuesday at Notre Dame High School. Notre Dame (6-0-1) got out to a 1-0 lead seven minutes into the game when Wittenborn scored an unassisted goal. But Poplar Bluff scored two goals on headers to take a 2-1 lead...

The Cape Girardeau County Rotary Club will hold its annual 4-person scramble Sept. 29 at Bent Creek Golf Course. The 1 p.m. start will be preceded by lunch. Entry fee is $260 per team. There will be numerous prizes, including a car for a hole-in-one...

Beginning with Saturday's 6 p.m. game against Illinois State, Southeast Missouri State University and Zimmer Radio Group will host a tailgate party at every Southeast home football contest this season. The event, which will start three hours before the game and last until kickoff, is free to the public and held south of Houck Stadium (Circle Drive)...

The Community Counseling Center Foundation will hold its Benefit Golf Tournament Oct. 16 at Cape Girardeau Country Club. The two-person scramble will have divisions for women, men and couples. The tournament, which will be preceded by lunch, will have a 1 p.m. shotgun start...

There will be a men's benefit slow-pitch softball tournament Sept. 16 in Jackson, Mo. Entry fee is $95 per team and teams will hit their own softball. Prizes will be awarded for first and second place. Proceeds will go to the SAS Softball National Tournament Fund...

The 20th annual City of Roses Half Marathon will be held at Arena Park on Sunday, Oct. 1. The 13.1-mile run will begin at 7 a.m. The event will also include a half-marathon walk beginning at 6:30 a.m., a 5K run/walk at 7:15 and a 1K run for youths 12 and under at 8...

The Soybean Festival in Portageville will hold 5K and 10K runs Sept. 30. The runs are scheduled to begin at 8 a.m. Registration is $12 in advance and $15 on race day. A T-shirt is guaranteed for all who pre-register. For more information, contact Dr. James Deere at 379-5407 or Jamie Frakes at 379-5407...

The Community Counseling Center will hold a Miniature Golf Tournament Sept. 23 at Arena Park Golf. Entry fee is $10. Anyone, youths to adults, is eligible to participate. There will be five age divisions. For more information, contact the Community Counseling Center at 334-1100...

The McDowell Capahas baseball team of Cape Girardeau will hold an old-timers game Sept. 23 beginning at noon at Capaha Field. Anybody who has played for the Capahas -- no matter how young or old -- is encouraged to participate. Interested players should call either Jess and Mary Bolen at 335-6644 or Mark Simmons at 332-1377 as soon as possible...

The Cape Girardeau Jaycees will hold their annual NFL Gatorade Punt, Pass, and Kick competition Sept. 23. The competition, which will be held from 1 to 3 p.m., is free and open to boys and girls ages 8-15. Location will be at the Cape Central High School football practice field...

The American Cancer Society will hold its second annual Capaha Bank and Outback Steakhouse Golf Shamble Sept. 22 at Bent Creek Golf Course. The four-person tournament will be a scramble off the tee, but each player plays their own ball from that point. The group's lowest individual score for the hole is recorded as the team's score...

The East Perry County Jaycees will host the 19th annual River Hills Run/Walk, to be held Sept. 23 in conjunction with the East Perry County Fair. The event is a 4.5 mile run or walk from Wittenberg to Altenberg. Participants should meet at the fairgrounds stage at 9 a.m. to get a ride to the starting point...

ANNA, Ill. -- Jerry Smith, 55, of Anna died Tuesday, Sept. 12, 2000, at his home. Hileman and Parr Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

JACKSON, Mo. -- Edith Kathryn Aufdenberg, 76, of Jackson died Tuesday, Sept. 12, 2000, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. She was born Aug. 15, 1924, at Oak Ridge, Mo., daughter of Pearl and Ollie Hawn Miller. She and Harold "Red" Aufdenberg were married April 18, 1954, at Tilsit, Mo...

ANNA, Ill. -- Grace Burd, 95, of Anna died Tuesday, Sept. 12, 2000, at Memorial Hospital in Carbondale, Ill. Funeral arrangements are incomplete at Crain Funeral Home in Anna.

CAIRO, Ill. -- Josephine M. Kaha, 82, of Cairo died Monday, Sept. 11, 2000, at Daystar Care Center. She was born Dec. 5, 1917, in Cairo, daughter of Frank and Edna Mayes Moreland. She married Arthur L. Kaha, who preceded her in death. Kaha had been a technician supervisor 27 years with Illinois State Hospital in Anna, East Moline and Galesburg. She was a member of the Church of the Redeemer Episcopal Church, and AFSCME State Union...

SIKESTON, Mo. -- Susan L. Johnson Berry, 57, of Memphis, Tenn., died Monday, Sept. 11, 2000, at her residence. She was born March 12, 1943, in Sikeston, daughter of Allen F. and Mergie Mae Nelson Johnson. Her mother preceded her in death. She was a 1961 graduate of Sikeston High School and a member and active volunteer at Calvary Episcopal Church in Memphis. She was art director at Cleo, Inc. in Memphis for 15 years...

CHAFFEE, Mo. -- Stella Andrews, 83, of Chaffee died Tuesday, Sept. 12, 2000, at Fountainbleau Lodge in Cape Girardeau. Arrangements are incomplete at Amick-Burnett Funeral Chapel in Chaffee.

SCOTT CITY, Mo. -- Funeral Mass for Alvina M. Haase of Jasper, Ind., was held Aug. 29, 2000, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Jasper. Burial was in Fairview Cemetery at Jasper. Becher and Kluesner Funeral Home in Jasper was in charge of arrangements...

WAPPAPELLO, Mo. -- Thelma L. Andres Doyle, 81, of Wappapello died Thursday, Sept. 12, 2000, at Three Rivers North Campus Hospital in Poplar Bluff, Mo. She was born Jan. 17, 1919, in Sikeston, daughter of William Marvin and Bessie Jane Siefert Ramsey...

ANNA, Ill. -- Christopher Shawn Watkins, 29, of Anna died Tuesday, Sept. 12, 2000, at Union County Hospital. He was born Nov. 10, 1970, in Cape Girardeau, son of Vernon E. and Glenna Mowery Watkins. Survivors include his parents; two sisters, Linda Harris of Jonesboro, Ill., Donna Watkins of Anna; three brothers, Mike and Mark Watkins of Anna, Randy Watkins of Dupo, Ill.; and maternal grandmother, Beulah Mowery of Anna...

ANNA, Ill. -- Ruth Aleen Ellis, 75, of Anna died Tuesday, Sept. 12, 2000, at her home. She was born Aug. 30, 1925, at Wolf Lake, Ill., daughter of Arvel M. and Wanda House Brothers. She and Merle D. "Joe Pete" Ellis were married Feb. 18, 1950, in Murphysboro, Ill. He died April 12, 1997...

Charles Henry Schwepker Sr., 63, of Cape Girardeau died Monday, Sept. 11, 2000, at his home. He was born Oct. 24, 1936, in Cape Girardeau, son of Fred M. and H. Lucille Fagan Schwepker. He and Mary R. Halter were married May 28, 1960, at St. Mary's Cathedral...

Daughter to Chris and Heather Burrow of Cape Girardeau, Southeast Missouri Hospital, 7:35 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 23, 2000. Name, Jenna Paige. Weight, 7 pounds. Second child, first daughter. Mrs. Burrow is the former Heather Ritchie, daughter of Anne Piemontese and Thomas Ritchie of New Jersey. Burrow is the son of Clark and Polly Burrow of Oak Ridge, Mo. He is employed at Procter & Gamble...

Ron Reimann, 57, of Cape Girardeau died Tuesday, Sept. 12, 2000, at his home. He was born Jan. 24, 1943, in Cape Girardeau, son of Frederick William and Anita Laura Popp Reimann. He and Janis Barks were married Aug. 2, 1963, in Cape Girardeau. Reimann was a lifelong resident of Cape Girardeau. He was a field mechanic with Missouri State Highway Department in Cape Girardeau and Jackson 31 years, retiring Aug. 1, 2000...

JONESBORO, Ill. -- Claude Mosby, 78, of Jonesboro died Monday, Sept. 11, 2000, at Union County Hospital. He was born Jan. 8, 1922, at McClure, Ill., son of Irvin and Eva Chism Mosby. He and Betty Spurlock were married in 1979 at Wolf Lake. He was employed at the Trojan Powder Plant. He was a World War II veteran and a member of the Carroll P. Foster Post 3455 Anna VFW. He attended the Pentecostal church...

CHAFFEE, Mo. -- Funeral for Ronald W. Alvey of O'Fallon, Ill., was held Tuesday at Wolfersberger Funeral Home in O'Fallon. Burial was in O'Fallon City Cemetery. Alvey, 58, died Saturday, Sept. 9, 2000, at his home. He was born Sept. 17, 1941, son of Earl and Mary Ann Malone Alvey. He married Shirley Elms...

JACKSON, Mo. -- Marie Miller Kinder, 100, of Jackson died Tuesday, Sept. 12, 2000, at the Advance Nursing Center. She was born Oct. 13, 1899, in Jackson, daughter of Linder and Bertha McLane Miller. She and L.A. Kinder were married June 8, 1935. He died Nov. 5, 1979...

To the editor: I feel compelled to respond to some recent letters and Speak Out comments regarding the Jackson school issues. I feel that when people are forming opinions, they should have all the facts in front of them. One fact that seems to be overlooked is that 55 percent of the voters in the last election voted for the bond issue, not against it. ...

To the editor: If you favor good schools, good education and the best facilities for your children, you need to get involved right now. The Jackson School District needs to keep trying until this bond issue is passed. There is nothing wrong with trying if you think you're right. ...

To the editor: Now that Al Gore has evened the poll score and George Bush, by his own admission, is on the defensive, what happened? After listening to the talking heads and hearing the extensive media discussion of what has taken place and what it portends for the November election, I think of something that happened almost 20 years ago...

To the editor: Capitalist: One who invests in business. Wouldn't you know it? I'm a capitalist. I have built a business from scratch, reinvested my hard-earned money and, after taxes, made very little. Still I'm quite happy with the fact that I don't have to work for someone else. ...

Most Missourians hard-liners concerning crime and punishment. They want prison inmates, particularly those who committed violent felonies, to serve their sentences. They expect prison to be punishment. In the early 1990s, crime was on the rise and a top concern of Missourians. The decade brought tougher legislation intended to put offenders behind bars and keep them there longer...

In the past 10 years, KRCU-90.9 FM has come a long way. Although it started in 1976 as a campus radio station for Southeast Missouri State University, KRCU as we now know it was born Nov. 15, 1990. That was the day the station began broadcasting National Public Radio programming...

I HOPE the people around Cape Girardeau's Arena Park will enjoy the trash that they will have for the next couple of weeks. Someone has taken up over a dozen of the trash barrels. They have taken all those that you could to drive up to and drop stuff from your car. I guess that is what we are going to see: lots of trash...

To the editor: On Sept. 6 I received a call from a long-distance provider telling of all the advantages I'd receive is I switched my long-distance calls from my current provider. They promised I could call anywhere anytime for 7 cents a minute. There would be no carrying charges, and I would receive a check for $100. They pointed out the carrying charge I am currently paying. Knowing that the carrying charge far exceeded the calls I make, I accepted the offer...

For nearly 150 years people have been drawn to the annual SEMO District Fair, which is under way this week. Some go for the tractor-truck pull or the crosscut saw contest. Others go to be entertained by the Oak Ridge Boys or the gospel sing. And still others are attracted by the poultry/rabbit dress-up or the barrow carcass judging...

We're right in the middle of the SEMO District Fair. One would have to ask just how many different foods can you serve on a stick? As we walked around there were corn dogs, cotton candy, steak on a stick, ice cream bars and a number of other foods. It seemed as though the possibilities were endless. But after all of the looking, we still had to go "home" to the Grace United Methodist church stand for the famous fish. It just can't be beat...