Stories from Thursday, September 21, 2000

Mike Potillo knows how good it feels to lose weight and feel healthy. Potillo, 22, lost 12 pounds in two months using diet pills without exercise. He liked the results so much, he bought into an herbal dietary supplement company in Lexington, Ky. "In the past two years, I've seen people's lives drastically change because of natural products," said Potillo, who is from Cape Girardeau. "I don't need a written statement to know when I've seen somebody's life change."...

Early in the 20th century, the words "cancer" and "breast" weren't even mentioned in polite company. Great strides have been made since, and today, not only can we talk about breast cancer openly, we can find answers to our questions about prevention, detection, treatment and recovery. These answers give women the power to make appropriate decisions on the quality of their lives...

Two cars were buried in concrete blocks and three others dented when a 35-foot-high retaining wall collapsed across a Broadway parking lot Wednesday. No one was injured when the wall adjoining Semo Videos, 501 Broadway, fell at about 11:30 a.m., a freak occurrence that caused police to divert traffic from a block of Broadway...

Southeast Missouri State University has nearly 9,000 students enrolled for the fall semester, a benchmark the school hasn't hit in 15 years. Final fall enrollment stands at 8,951, up about 1 percent from a year ago and up 900 students since the first day of classes. The numbers include students enrolled in Southeast courses at outlying education centers...

Southeast Missouri State University is moving ahead with plans to install outdoor warning sirens, but the city isn't following suit. Cape Girardeau officials are looking at obtaining a radio transmitter from the National Weather Service so area residents can receive storm warnings on weather radios...

BENTON, Mo. -- A 24-year-old Sikeston, Mo., man who had been arrested for assaulting a child with a drill was taken back into custody after failing to return to jail from a drug program, the Scott County sheriff said. David Alan Jones had been released on his own recognizance to complete a 30-day drug rehabilitation program, Sheriff Bill Ferrell said. Jones was released on Saturday to go to the drug program but failed to report. He was arrested on Tuesday...

A Sedgewickville, Mo., man and a Sikeston, Mo., woman received moderate injuries in separate accidents in the region Tuesday night and Wednesday morning. Randy Jones, 40, of Sedgewickville was taken to St. Francis Medical Center after the 7 p.m. accident Tuesday on County Road 228, two miles east of Sedgewickville...

Sept. 21, 2000 Dear David, My invitation to join the American Association of Retired Persons arrived a few weeks ago. Christmas cards from undertakers are bound to follow. When the time comes, everyone must have the same experience of not quite believing you have lived 50 years, of clearly remembering when you thought people who were 30 or 40 or 50 were old. None of us can quite imagine ourselves being even five years older than we are. We are not built for time traveling...

Wind gusts of 30 to 40 mph Wednesday afternoon knocked out power to about 5,000 customers in the Cape Girardeau area. The outages were caused by tree limbs falling on power lines, wind damage and lightning strikes, said Tim Fox, a spokesman for AmerenUE...

SCOTT CITY, Mo. -- While hundreds of well-wishers stood in the receiving line, milled around the school's gymnasium or sat silently in the bleachers, hundreds more patiently lined the sidewalk and parking lot outside Scott City High School, waiting to pay their final respects to Jessica Arnzen...

Donald Pearson is not sure what he would have done if Burch Foods had not hired him after an accident left him with a head injury. "They brought me back to work during a time where I couldn't do much physically," said Pearson, who lives in Sikeston. "They brought me back for what I could mentally. I don't know where I'd be without this company."...

"Make High School Count," a free program for the parents of seventh and eighth graders interested in preparing their children for post-high school education, will be presented Oct. 5 at Southeast Missouri State University. The program is scheduled from 6-9 p.m. in Robert A. Dempster Hall...

A group that wants to paint a more beautiful picture of Cape Girardeau's river heritage might have to remove several dozen trees to do it. The River Heritage Mural Association has proposed painting a 1,500 foot section of the Mississippi River floodwall in downtown Cape Girardeau to commemorate the city's association with the river...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Incumbent state Rep. Pat Naeger had raised nearly four times more money than challenger John Wibbenmeyer, campaign finance disclosure reports show. Naeger, a Perryville, Mo., Republican, had raised $41,398.42 in his bid for a fourth term in the General Assembly from the 155th District, which covers Perry and Ste. Genevieve counties. It would be the last term Naeger is allowed under term limits...

Renovations made to Franklin Elementary School over the summer are giving the school's patrons something to talk about. Principal Julie Davenport said just about everyone who enters the school speaks positively about the changes that have been made. ...

Families can be expected to "monkey" around Southeast Missouri State University this weekend for the annual Family Weekend festivities, highlighted by a performance by Davy Jones, lead singer of The Monkees. Jones will perform at Houck Stadium following Saturday night's football game...

Hoping to get a better start to their day, hundreds of students gathered on school campuses throughout the country Wednesday for the annual See You at the Pole prayer rally. The day is important because "you know you don't have to stand completely alone," said Andrew Rehbein, a student at Central High School in Cape Girardeau...

The federal government has released a $1 million appropriation to Southeast Missouri State University for the Otto and Della Seabaugh Polytechnic Building, now under construction. After a 7 percent withholding by the government, the university will receive $930,000, school officials said...

Anyone interested in evangelizing and leading strayed members back to the Catholic Church can attend a weekend presentation Saturday at Notre Dame Regional High School. The Southern Missouri Annual Catholic Gathering is sponsored by the Springfield-Cape Girardeau Diocese and should draw about 300 area Catholics...

CARBONDALE, Ill. -- Arts in Celebration will offer two weekends of activities -- music, dance, art, drama and more -- in downtown Carbondale. "A September Night" and "October Days" will be observed as part of the biennial festival, scheduled Sept. 29 and Oct. 7-8...

The top student in his class, Poplar Bluff quarterback Stan Revelle is smart. Cape Central wants to make him smart in a different kind of way. The Tigers will look to put pressure on Revelle and Poplar Bluff's aerial attack tonight when the two 2-1 teams hook up in a 7 p.m. game at Houck Stadium...

A power outage knocked out the lights at Houck Field House, then Southeast Missouri State's women's volleyball team delivered a knockout to Eastern Illinois. Southeast (4-6, 3-0) romped to a straight set win over the team picked to be their most serious challenger for the Ohio Valley Conference title by scores of 15-4, 15-8 and 15-8. Eastern Illinois' record dropped to 6-4 and 2-1 in the conference...

Every fall Friday night at about 10:30 p.m., I zip my faded-red Ford Probe into the Southeast Missourian parking lot and whip it into one of the spots vacated by one of our eight-to-fivers. I quickly punch in my security code, rip the door open and scamper down the stairs to my computer...

The Gunco Rotterdam basketball team in the Netherlands Basketball Federation includes four former Southeast Missouri State University players. Squad members include Mike Branson and Brian Bunche from last year's NCAA Tournament team; Calvert White, who played at Southeast from 1996-98; and Eelco Derks, who played for the Indians from 1989-93...

Southeast Missouri State University golfer Bryan Johnson placed ninth during the Illinois State D.A. Weibring Invitational played Monday and Tuesday in Bloomington, Ill. Johnson, who had finished seventh during Southeast's opening fall tournament -- the Drury Invitational that the Indians hosted -- had a 54-hold total of 4-over-par 220 during the Illinois State meet...

Notre Dame rolled past St. Vincent in straight sets, winning 15-8, 15-12 in high school volleyball action Wednesday night at Notre Dame High School. Lynn Obermiller notched seven kills for the Lady Bulldogs, who improved to 9-4-4 on the season. Courtney Vickery and Jennifer VanGennip each added six kills while Ali Tyson collected five kills and 10 assists. Ashley Millham led all servers with 12 service points...

SIKESTON, Mo. -- Funeral for Agatha Josephine "Jo" Beardsley of Sikeston will be held at 10 a.m. Friday at Bethel Missionary Baptist Church. The Rev. John Beardsley will officiate. Burial will be in Garden of Memories Cemetery. Friends may call at Ponder Funeral Home from 5-8 p.m. today...

EAST PRAIRIE, Mo. -- Betty J. Johnson, 68, of East Prairie died Tuesday, Sept. 19, 2000 at Southeast Missouri Hospital. She was born May 26, 1932, in Risco, Mo., daughter of the late Sam and Frances Troutt Jones. She and Carey G. Johnson were married Oct. 31, 1950, at Piggott, Ark...

OLIVE BRANCH, Ill. -- Carol Marie Lacey, 62, of Olive Branch died Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2000, at her home. She was born June 4, 1938, in North Dakota, daughter of Bill and Doris Rock. She married Freddie Glenn Lacey Sr., who died May 12, 2000. Lacey was a care giver for the elderly...

MATTHEWS, Mo. -- Paul Cecil Gilless, 86, of Matthews died Tuesday, Sept. 19, 2000, at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston, Mo. He was born March 22, 1914, near Blytheville, Ark., son of Henry Clay and Mary Elizabeth Knotgrass Gilless. He and Thelma Heldenbrand were married Feb. 23, 1936, in Marion, Ark...

JACKSON, Mo. -- Alfred Meyer, 88, of Jackson died Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2000, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. He was born Sept. 2, 1912, at Neelys Landing, Mo., son of W.B. and Bertha Farrow Meyer. He and Vertie Marie Cotner were married Nov. 7, 1931...

Lucile Howard, 95, of Cape Girardeau died Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2000, at Ratliff Care Center. Ford and Sons Mt. Auburn Chapel is in charge of arrangements.

MILLERSVILLE, Mo. -- Chester Lynn Hopkins, 66, passed away Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2000, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. Friends may call Thursday, Sept. 21, 2000, from 4-8 p.m. at McCombs Funeral Home in Jackson, Mo. Funeral service will be Friday, Sept. 22, at 1:30 p.m. at McCombs Funeral Home. The Rev. Nick Perry will officiate. Interment will be in Cook Cemetery at Scopus, Mo...

JONESBORO, Ill. -- Funeral for Norma J. Cantrell of Jonesboro will be held at 1 p.m. Friday at Hileman and Parr Funeral Home. The Rev. Jim Stamp will officiate. Burial will be in Jonesboro Cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home from 5-8 p.m. today...

Daughter to Tim and Lisa Church of Sedalia, Mo., Bothwell Medical Center, Wednesday, Aug. 23, 2000. Name, Hannah Katharine. Weight, 3 pounds 13 ounces. Third child, first daughter. Mrs. Church is the daughter of Charles K. and Erma Grojean Sr. of New Hamburg, Mo. She is creative director of Callis and Associates. Church is the son of Thersie Church of Sikeston, Mo. He is a territory manager with County Distributing...

CHARLESTON, Mo. -- O.J. Leffler II, 73, of Charleston died Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2000, at his home. He was born Aug. 30, 1927, in Caddo Gap, Ark., son of Oliver J. and Elva T. West Leffler. He and Ruth Ann Wicker were married Sept. 7, 1962. Leffler lived in Mississippi County most of his life. He retired from Brown Shoe Co. in 1973. He was a member of New Covenant Pentecostal Holiness Church in Wyatt, Mo...

MOUNDS, Ill. -- Gladys E. Martin, 97, of Mounds died Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2000, at Jackson County Rehab Center in Murphysboro, Ill. Wilson Funeral Home in Karnak, Ill., is in charge of arrangements.

CHARLESTON, Mo. -- Lenora Hemphill, 80, of Charleston died Tuesday, Sept. 19, 2000, at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston, Mo. She was born March 12, 1920, in Charleston, daughter of Anderson and Lydia Miller Fulks. Hemphill was a member of Opportunity Church of God in Christ and served on the ushers board...

BLOOMFIELD, Mo. -- Lydia Lois Leirer, 87, died Tuesday, Sept. 19, 2000, at Puxico Nursing and Rehab Center in Puxico, Mo. She was born March 10, 1913, in Garland City, Ark., daughter of Walter and Lydia Crank. She and Clifton Sheridan Leirer were married Dec. 1, 1930, in Garland City. He died May 5, 1981...

Credit GOP Congress I AGREE with the Speak Out caller that we had a deficit under the Democratic Congress which held our government purse strings. Under our Republican-controlled Congress, we have a surplus, yet Mr. Pervert and Mr. Gore claimed to have worked a miracle. All we have gotten from Mr. Clinton is liberal appointments, liberal presidential decrees, sex scandals and disgrace. Mr. Gore's contribution is praising Mr. Clinton and outright lies of his own accomplishments...

There seems to have been more than little misunderstanding over the filing of charges against two suspected murderers in Scott County. A lot of people, including Sheriff Bill Ferrell, thought the two men accused of using a hatchet to kill a Scott City woman were being charged with first-degree murder, a capital offense...

Anyone who pays attention to murals in Cape Girardeau and there are some fine murals here and there has probably heard this: "Why can't we have murals as nice as Paducah's?" Indeed, Paducah's floodwall along the Ohio River is graced with some outstanding murals. The Kentucky town's murals are part of what attracts visitors to the reviving downtown area...

To the editor: Altenthal-Joerns Post No. 158 of the American Legion in Jackson, Mo., wishes to express its appreciation to the Southeast Missourian for printing American flags with the obituaries of deceased American servicemen and women. We hope you see fit to continue this policy...

To the editor: This is a letter I sent to Morley Swingle, Cape Girardeau County prosecuting attorney, in response to his recent letter regarding Daryl Duwe's press conference alleging criminal wrongdoing by state Sen. Jerry Howard: I am appalled at your backhanded slap at Daryl Duwe, one of the most courageous and respected foot soldiers for the Republican cause in Missouri. ...