Stories from Saturday, June 2, 2001

Joselid Lozano didn't have any trouble finding native Spanish speakers in Southeast Missouri once he started looking for them. By eating meals at area Mexican restaurants, talking to other Spanish speakers and searching through the telephone listings, Lozano found more Hispanics in Cape Girardeau County than one might expect...

JACKSON, Mo. -- Cape Girardeau County's presiding commissioner says he won't "admit guilt" to end a lawsuit brought by planning and zoning opponents but might agree to have the judge investigate the allegations as requested in the lawsuit. Gerald Jones testified Friday at a hearing in circuit court in Jackson in a lawsuit that accuses the county commission of illegally spending money to develop planning and zoning regulations...

In a horror film, this monster would entice people with its beauty and fruity scent. They would invite it into their yards, celebrate its usefulness and even give it cute nicknames. Only after realizing that it can spread as much as a foot a day in warm climes, roots itself 12 feet underground and overwhelms everything in its path would people realize that this legume's intentions are not necessarily friendly...

Ryan Valliant still can't understand why he and his family weren't seriously hurt when their rental car ran off the road in Southern Illinois and landed in a water-filled ditch. But the 20-year-old Cape Girardeau man is being called a hero for saving his three children...

Jerry announced to me with much authority Friday that he was attending his last day of school. This was, of course, news to me, considering there is no summer vacation from preschool. After some probing, I learned that Jerry was happily anticipating his birthday tomorrow and mistakenly thought that he would begin kindergarten on Monday...

BENTON, Mo. -- Larry Baker was calm in the face of his girlfriend's anger about a misplaced coat on Feb. 9, but within hours of the argument, he killed her and set fire to the mobile home they shared in rural Scott County to try and cover up the crime...

The recent legislation session was a busy one, state Rep. Patrick Naeger said Friday. "We failed to pass my bill -- prescription drugs for seniors -- but it was a good session," said the Perryville Republican from the 155th District. "It was successful for the bills it didn't pass."...

The high school sports year is officially over and it would be a perfect time to reflect on some of the more memorable moments. Of course the most memorable memory is also the most recent. Unfortunately. Ryan Brown's game-deciding bad throw to the pitcher in the Class 1A state championship game Thursday was something I wish would not have happened. But it did and it was the most unusual, heart-breaking finish to a baseball game I have ever seen...

Craftsman Union Capahas manager Jess Bolen said earlier this week that he questioned whether his team's offense would be particularly potent this year. But if Friday night's season opener against Valmeyer, Ill., is any indication, the Capahas will be just fine with the bats...

SENATH, Mo. -- The Cape Girardeau Ford & Sons American Legion baseball team suffered a 4-2 loss to host Dunklin County in the opener of a doubleheader Friday night that served as Cape's season debut. The second game was tied 3-3 in the top of the eighth inning when the Southeast Missourian went to press...

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- Sikeston is one win away from a state title. The Bulldogs (22-4) crushed Branson (24-9) 14-4 in five innings Friday in the Class 3A semifinals at Simmons Field. Sikeston banged out 10 hits -- six of them doubles -- and used a seven-run second inning and a five-run fourth to pull out the victory...

EUGENE, Ore. -- Cape Girardeau Central High School graduate Jay Meystedt placed 10th in the high jump at the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships Thursday night. Meystedt, a University of Missouri senior, cleared 7 feet 1 1/2 inches, an inch lower than his career best...

Southeast Missouri State University's string of winning six consecutive Ohio Valley Conference women's all-sports trophies has come to an end. The OVC announced earlier this week that Tennessee Tech's women and Eastern Illinois' men have captured the league's all-sports trophies symbolizing overall athletic excellence in conference-sponsored championships...

Son to Jay and Stephanie Stencel of Hermitage, Tenn., Summitt Medical Center in Hermitage, 12:54 p.m. Sunday, May 13, 2001. Name, William Joel "Will". Weight, 8 pounds 4 ounces. First child. Mrs. Stencel is the former Stephanie Bell, daughter of Bill and Marilyn Bell of Cape Girardeau. She is an occupational therapist at Tennessee Christian Medical Center. Stencel is the son of Jerry and Kathy Stencel of Waseca, Minn. He is an environmental engineer with Consolidated Technologies Inc...

MOUNDS, Ill. -- Delphia Ford, 79, of Mounds died Friday, June 1, 2001, at Lourdes Hospital in Paducah, Ky. She was born Aug. 27, 1921, at Pilot Knob, Mo., daughter of Marshall and Bertha Hall Raines. She and Albert Ford were married in 1970. He died July 1, 1980...

BERNIE, Mo. -- Mabel M. Johnson, 81, of Bernie died Friday, June 1, 2001, at the Beverly Health Rehabilitation Center at Dexter, Mo. She was born July 25, 1919, in Parma, Mo., daughter of Jenkins Elliot and Gertie Belle Dallas Ross. She and Haywood Edwards were married Oct. 14, 1939, at Parma. He died Sept. 5, 2000. She and J.D. Johnson were married Nov. 21, 1961. He died March 9, 1999...

Kathy Kinder, 43, of Cape Girardeau and formerly of Olive Branch, Ill., died suddenly Thursday, May 31, 2001, on arrival at Southeast Missouri Hospital. She was born Aug. 26, 1957, at Cairo, Ill., daughter of John D. Sissom Jr. and Marcella Pearman Sissom...

BENTON, Mo. -- Ida M. Crellin, 83, of Oceanside, Calif., died Saturday, May 26, 2001, at her home. She was born March 23, 1918, at Benton, daughter of William Joseph and Ida M. Wise Hunter. She and Myron E. Crellin were married Aug. 25, 1946, in Cape Girardeau...

AID, Mo. -- Betty Wilson, 80, of Huntsville, Ala., died Thursday, May 31, 2001, in Huntsville. She was born Jan. 10, 1921, in Caro, Mich., daughter of Bert and Beatrice Vermilya. She and Freeman "Red" Wilson were married June 25, 1962. He died June 24, 1988...

MATTHEWS, Mo. -- Thelma Fern Gilless, 85, of Matthews died Friday, June 1, 2001, at Sells Rest Home. She was born Aug. 17, 1915, in East Prairie, Mo., daughter of Oscar S. and Annie Gertrude Martin Heldenbrand. She and Paul Cecil Gilless were married Feb. 23, 1936, in Marion, Ark. He died Sept. 19, 2000...

Viola I. Halter, 76, of Cape Girardeau passed away Thursday, May 31, 2001, at Heartland Care Rehab Center. Friends may call from 4-8 p.m. Sunday, June 3, at McCombs Funeral Home in Cape Girardeau. Parish prayers will be said at 7. Funeral Mass will be at 10 a.m. Monday, June 4, at St. Mary's Cathedral, with interment in the church cemetery. The Rev. Geff Lamprea will officiate...

DEXTER, Mo. -- Kathleen Cooper, 92, died Thursday, May 31, 2001, at Dexter Memorial Hospital. She was born Dec. 17, 1908, in the Rock Point community, daughter of Fred and Nora Goodman Shelden. She and Vader Cooper were married May 7, 1929, at Swinton, Mo. He died July 20, 1987...

Henry W. Loos, 87, of Cape Girardeau died Thursday, May 31, 2001, at the Lutheran Home. He was born Sept. 3, 1913, in Jackson, Mo., son of Conrad and Anne Bock Loos. He and Mary Ruth Kirkendoll were married June 2, 1942, in St. Charles, Mo. At the age of 9 Mr. Loos began working at the Sugar Creek Creamery in Cape Girardeau. After attending Southeast Missouri State University one year, he transferred to Iowa State University in Ames. There he received a degree in dairy industry...

PATTON, Mo. -- Funeral for Ray D. Wilfong of Patton will be held at 1 p.m. today at Liley Funeral Home in Patton. The Rev. Kirby Grindstaff will officiate. Burial will be in Post Oak Cemetery near Patton, with full military honors. Wilfong, 81, died Wednesday, May 30, 2001, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau...

I THOUGHT the newspaper story about the roundabout was helpful, especially the chart about possible solutions. I want to know, though, who the people are who are driving over the center apron. Are these people driving too fast at night? I haven't had any trouble, and I haven't seen anyone else drive over the middle. ...

Two recent news stories provide valuable insight into the contrasting worldviews of liberals and conservatives, and how those views affect public policy. Let's take a look. The New York Post reported that the Bush administration has canceled an $860,000 federal program launched by Bill Clinton's housing secretary, Andrew Cuomo, to teach "creative wellness" in public-housing centers in 26 American cities. ...

Cape Girardeau School District administrators should be applauded for creating a most sensible plan for utilization of the old vocational-technical center on North Clark Street. Most classes formerly conducted there are moving to a new, state-of-the-art Career and Technology Center that proudly overlooks Interstate 55 near Cape Girardeau's western edge...

By the end of summer, this newspaper will have run literally hundreds of pieces of good news about area students, and that's not counting names on honor rolls and the annual list of valedictorians and salutatorians. So far, our editors have devoted nearly two full pages this week, plus the weekly Learning section news briefs, to announcements of these students' accomplishments...