Stories from Friday, March 9, 2001

Keyboardist Steve Hornbeak and a guitarist used to play as a duo at the now-defunct Griffin's in downtown Cape Girardeau. Many years earlier he was a member of the long-running Cape Girardeau band Mike Smith and the Runaways. But for the past six years the Tamms, Ill., native has been playing keyboards behind Faith Hill, one of country music's biggest stars...

Angelina Tomasini (Kymberly Shipman), the drama teacher at St. Jude Middle School, has returned from her honeymoon determined to stage a production of "Romeo and Juliet" the way Shakespeare did -- with males playing all the parts. Unhappy about being relegated to working behind the scenes, the girls in the class enlist their teacher's new husband, Jim (David Koeller) to direct them in an all-girl production of the same play...

How many professional wrestlers does it take to equal the weight of the concrete in the new Bill Emerson Memorial Bridge? The answer is 902,550 wrestlers, according to the calculations of the expert staff at the Missouri Department of Transportation regional office in Sikeston, Mo...

There is no cure for the schoolyard bully, but local educators are working to lessen the effects of his or her abuses by increasing the presence of adults around students and teaching tolerance in classrooms. Bullying -- the act of deliberately harming another child by taunting, assaulting or otherwise hurtful behavior -- is not new. ...

Last week at the chamber's First Friday Coffee, Hizzoner the mayor (and lord admiral of Girardot's Navy) and I exchanged a few words about that morning's column regarding the magnificent and glorious roundabout. As I've told you before, anything the mayor wants I'm in favor of. That's how I became such a big booster of hot tub-sized traffic circles...

JACKSON, Mo. -- Stories about perjuries and the formation of the Cape Girardeau County Major Case Squad just don't captivate crowds like the case of the spiked milkshake, prosecutor Morley Swingle said. "If I give a group a choice, they would always rather hear the funny speech," Swingle said...

APPLE CREEK, Mo. -- At this time of year, a relative large percentage of the population of Apple Creek is cracking corny jokes and rehearsing songs in preparation for the debut of the 21st annual "Hee Haw Show Apple Creek Style!" The show has become part of the fabric of life in Apple Creek. ...

STILLWATER, Okla. -- Southeast Missouri State University's baseball team had too much for Central Oklahoma and not quite enough for nationally ranked Oklahoma State as the Indians split a pair of games here Thursday. The Indians began the day with a 7-0 victory over Division II Central Oklahoma as Todd Pennington turned in a masterful pitching performance...

Look out for No. 1. Jackson's quest to claim its first state in girls basketball title won't come easy as the Lady Indians will take on the state's top-ranked team, Parkway West, in the semifinals tonight at 7:55 at the Hearnes Center in Columbia, Mo...

JACKSON, Mo. -- Jenna Leet is a 5-foot-11 sophomore, a bright young player who still has much to learn and accomplish in the game of basketball. She carries herself with an undeniable swagger on the court. She's confident and talented. She's capable of taking over a game, capable of carrying her team to a district championship. But despite her ability, her potential and her determination to win, she sometimes tries to do too much. She is a work in progress...

The Southeast Missouri State University athletic department, in conjunction with the FANSonly Network and the Southeast bookstore, is launching its first-ever merchandise and apparel store through the school's athletic website at www.gosoutheast.com...

Former Southeast Missouri State University football star Kelvin Earthquake' Anderson, who has established himself as one of the top running backs in the Canadian Football League, is now also playing for another professional league. Anderson, who will continue to play for the Calgary Stampeders when the CFL is in season, recently joined the San Francisco Demons of the XFL. He could see action Sunday when the Demons play the New York/New Jersey Hitmen...

WARDELL, Mo. -- Janet H. Gault, 53, of Memphis, Tenn., died Tuesday, March 6, 2001, in Memphis. She was born Nov. 6, 1947, in Memphis, daughter of George and Maxine Patterson Sisler, formerly of Parma, Mo. Gault was a captain with Memphis Police Department, and one of the first women officers to be commissioned in the department...

JACKSON, Mo. -- Ralph Lowes, 73, of Jackson died Thursday, March 8, 2001, at Drake Rehab Center in Cincinnati, Ohio. McCombs Funeral Home in Jackson is in charge of arrangements.

FOREMAN, Ill. -- Grace L. Porter, 98, of the Foreman community in Johnson County died Thursday, March 8, 2001, at the Hillview Care Center in Vienna, Ill. Arrangements are incomplete at the Wilson Funeral Home in Karnak, Ill.

SCOTT CITY, Mo. -- Memorial service for Hazel Smith Bucher of Fort Myers, Fla., will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday at Illmo United Methodist Church. The Rev. James Woeltje will officiate. Private burial will be in Lightner Memorial Cemetery. There is no visitation...

CYPRESS, Ill. -- Funeral for Donna Penrod of Cypress will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at Crain Funeral Home in Dongola, Ill. Mason Montgomery will officiate. Burial will be in Friendship Cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home from 5-8 p.m. today...

ANNA, Ill. -- Freda M. Edwards, 82, of Anna died Thursday, March 8, 2001, at Rest Haven Central in Palos Heights, Ill. Friends may call at Lutz and Rendleman Funeral Home in Anna from 6-8 p.m. Saturday. Funeral will be at 1 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home...

Richard Cecil Shivley, 88, of Webb City, Mo., died Wednesday, March 7, 2001, at Missouri Veterans Home in Cape Girardeau. He was born Jan. 28, 1913, in Kansas City, son of Louis Franklin and Minnie Elizabeth Flougher Shivley. He and Ora Imogene Goswick were married Feb. 13, 1932, at Joplin, Mo. She died in 1990...

JACKSON, Mo. -- Betty J. Cook Johnson, 67, passed away Wednesday, March 7, 2001, at her home in Jackson, after an 18-month struggle with cancer. Friends may call today be-tween 4-8 p.m. at Mc-Combs Fun-eral Home in Jackson. Funeral will be Saturday, March 10, at 2 p.m. at the funeral home, with interment in Russell Heights Cemetery in Jackson. The Revs. Thomas Bray and Bob Cheney will officiate...

MAKANDA, Ill. -- James I. Thorn, 80, of Makanda died Wednesday, March 7, 2001, at Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Marion, Ill. He was born Dec. 5, 1920, in Hooker, Ark., son of Ira and Clema Penny Thorn. He and Georgia Helen Livers were married May 29, 1942...

BLOOMFIELD, Mo. -- Darrell Gene McCoy, 46, of Bloomfield died Thursday, March 8, 2001, at Dexter Memorial Hospital. He was born Oct. 9, 1954, at Dexter, the son of Leon and Mildred Pursell McCoy. His father preceded him in death. He married Anna Munaco on June 12, 1975, at Dexter. She survives...

SIKESTON, Mo. -- Alda L. Roberts, 81, of Sikeston died Wednesday, March 7, 2001, at Missouri Delta Medical Center. She was born July 11, 1919, in Warm Springs, Ark., daughter of Syrus Nale and Grace Carnes Bailey. She and R.W. Roberts were married June 18, 1944. He died July 24, 1981...

KARNAK, Ill. -- Funeral for Roy "Tony" Miller of Karnak will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday at Wilson Funeral Home. The Revs. Gary McClellan and Ken Sharp will officiate. Burial will be in Massac Memorial Gardens at Metropolis, Ill. Friends may call at the funeral home from 6-8 p.m. today...

BERNIE, Mo. -- Alissa Pauline Passley, 2 months, died Wednesday, March 7, 2001, at Dexter Memorial Hospital in Dexter, Mo. She was born Dec. 31, 2000, in Columbia, Mo., daughter of Donald Enderton and Crystal Gail Passley of Bernie. Survivors include her parents; three sisters, Misty and Brandi Enderton and Aubrie Passley of Bernie; maternal grandparents, Thomas Passley Sr. ...

NEW HAMBURG, Mo. -- Mary Frances Hawley-Parks, 53, of Escondido, Calif., died Thursday, March 8, 2001, at her home. Amick-Burnett Funeral Chapel at Benton, Mo., is in charge of arrangements.

ANNA, Ill. -- Rufus D. Williams, 92, of Anna died Thursday, March 8, 2001, at his home. He was born July 11, 1908, in Union County, Ill., son of Charlie and Grace Menees Williams. He and Erline Brown were married Nov. 1, 1936. Williams was produce manager at Goddard's in Anna more than 50 years. He was a member of Odd Fellows Southern Lodge 241, Jonesboro Lodge 111 AF&AM, and Union County Foxhunters Association...

SIKESTON, Mo. -- Gwen Burggrabe, 88, of Sikeston died Wednesday, March 7, 2001, at Sikeston Convalescent Center. She was born Aug. 5, 1912, in St. Louis, daughter of William and Elizabeth Graham Shortland. She and Franklin Burggrabe were married Aug. 3, 1935. He died in 1969...

CHARLESTON, Mo. -- Ethel Lee Gray, 88, of Charleston died Tuesday, March 6, 2001, at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston, Mo. She was born Oct. 9, 1912, in LaFort, Mo., daughter of Walter and Maude Treadwell Jordan. She and Willie Gray were married Nov. 24, 1928. He died in 1982...

Exactly how Missouri government got itself into a budget hole continues to be something of a mystery in Jefferson City, but there are contributing factors that are pretty plain. For one thing, the refund checks issued to elderly Missourians for prescription expenses cost far more ($80 million instead of $20 million) than anticipated. ...

When Missouri passed a tough anti-child abuse law removing the privilege of confidentiality except in client-attorney communications, the intention was to give prosecutors an upper hand. At the same time, the law set up a serious conflict with the First Amendment guarantee of freedom of religion...

GOD FORBID, but if something serious should happen to Dick Cheney, who would run the country? I AM calling to commend the Cape Girardeau school board for not renewing Randie Fidler's contract. I think that is a step in the right direction. We need to consider a strong academic person. I am one to criticize when the board does bad. I am here to commend them for doing good...

I was shocked and appalled by the Cape Girardeau Board of Education's decision not to renew Randie Fidler's contract as principal of Central High School. My first encounter with Mr. Fidler did not begin as a pleasant one. It was a confrontation concerning the high school's finals policy. ...

Son to Matthew Dwayne and Ginger Renea England of Chaffee, Mo., Southeast Missouri Hospital, 3:05 p.m. Thursday, March 1, 2001. Name, Jonathan Michael. Weight, 6 pounds 3 ounces. First child. Mrs. England is the former Ginger Daniel, daughter of David and Diana Daniel of Scott City, Mo. She is a secretary at JCS/Tel-Link. England is the son of Greg and Christie England of Park City, Ky. He is a phlebotomist at Southeast Hospital...