Stories from Friday, July 27, 2001

Why did the cinnamon role? Because he saw the apple turn over. "I know it's a joke you hear in second grade," the woman said, but she told it anyway. "You've got to start somewhere," said Matt Sullivan, assistant manager at Willy Jak's Beach Club, as he scanned the crowd for another comic...

It used to protect Cape Girardeau's largest industrial area, but the primary function of the North Main Street Levee District in recent years has been to safeguard nearby residents from the Mississippi River's occasional outbursts. That's why the city of Cape Girardeau -- not AmerenUE -- ought to be responsible for its operation, says at least one levee board member and Mark Baranovic, the utility's transportation supervisor who also oversees the district's Mill Street Pumping Station...

SCOTT CITY, Mo. -- The Missouri Department of Natural Resources received permission this week to storm the gates of a Scott City business to ensure it poses no danger to the environment. Scott County Circuit Judge David Dolan approved a preliminary injunction to close the Millennium Environmental Services Inc. facility at 3100 Industrial Fuels Drive and revoke its state permit to store hazardous wastes...

SCOTT CITY, Mo. -- Pay at the Scott City Police Department has never been better, but a few officers are concerned that it still might not be enough. The Scott City Council voted last week to raise starting police salaries to $8.75 an hour, an increase from the $7.10 set three years ago, said Erika Glock, city administrator. It marked the second increase in three years, she said...

(Just so you know up front, this is my annual whining column asking for free tomatoes. If you didn't plant any tomatoes this year, please move on to the next page.) Let's just say the tomato gods are fickle again this year. I'm not talking about this year's crop. From what I can tell, tomato vines this summer are as laden with red, ripe fruit as ever. This may well be a bumper-crop year...

More than 50 Marines have been inducted into the Corporal Mason O. Yarbrough Detachment of the U.S. Marine Corps League of Cape Girardeau. The Marine Corps League, founded in 1923 and chartered by an Act of Congress in 1937, is open to honorably discharged, active duty and reserve Marines who have more than 90 days of active service...

Three Cape Girardeau men were sentenced in federal court on Wednesday for unrelated crimes involving guns and drugs, an assistant U.S. attorney said. The stiffest sentence was given to 27-year-old William Anthony Jackson, who received more than 10 years in prison for selling crack cocaine. He and the others were sentenced by U.S. District Judge Richard Webber...

Tyler Elfrink has already established himself as one of the top young horseshoe pitchers in the state. In just a few days, he'll have the chance to stamp himself as one of the best in the world. The 14-year-old Elfrink, who lives in Leopold, Mo., will compete beginning Thursday in the World Horseshoe Pitching Tournament in Hibbing, Minn. He will be the only entrant from Missouri in the Junior Class, which includes participants up to age 18...

The Cape County Bandits, a 12-and-under baseball team, advanced to the winner's bracket quarterfinal Thursday at the USSSA World Series. On Thursday, the Bandits, 6-0 in tournament play, defeated Springfield, Mo., 13-1 and El Paso, Texas, 12-4. Logan Lawson picked up the win against Springfield and also had three doubles. Joe Lincoln recorded the win against El Paso as Luke Crader provided three hits...

Experience has helped Alex Shanks narrow what once was a wide emotional gap between winning and losing. The wins remain thrilling, just not as crucial. The losses have become easier to take. The focus has turned to consistency and fun, two areas where Shanks has excelled in his 11th season in a sprint car...

Twin son and daughter to Celeste Michelle Thomas and Orlando Lumas of Cape Girardeau, Southeast Missouri Hospital, Thursday, July 19, 2001. Armon Orlando was born at 8:32 a.m. and weighed 6 pounds 7 ounces. Argyon Seleste was born at 8:33 a.m. and weighed 6 pounds 14 ounces. Ms. Thomas is the daughter of Lynn Williams of Cape Girardeau and Billy Williams of Poplar Bluff, Mo. Lumas is the son of Orena Johnson and Booker Lumas of Cape Girardeau...

KARNAK, Ill. -- Mary Anne Goins Ulrich, 68, of Brewster, Wash., formerly of Karnak, died Friday, July 20, 2001, at Harmony House in Brewster. Ulrich was born Nov. 2, 1932, at Karnak. She and her husband, the late Greg "Bob" Ulrich, owned and operated the Ulrich Apple Orchard on Brewster Flats and in Malott until their retirement. Ulrich also owned a "hang-up" dress shop...

BLOOMFIELD, Mo. -- Charles Evans Tucker, 78, of Bloomfield died Wednesday, July 25, 2001, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. He was born Jan. 18, 1923, at Avert, Mo., son of Charles Cole and Amy Evans Tucker. He and Mary Bacon were married Aug. 2, 1940...

BENTON, Mo. -- Catherine Ann Penrose, 59, of Benton died Thursday, July 26, 2001, at her home. Amick-Burnett Funeral Chapel at Benton is in charge of arrangements.

Melvin Haertling, 83, of Cape Girardeau died Thursday, July 26, 2001, at the Lutheran Home. Arrangements are incomplete at the McCombs Funeral Home in Cape Girardeau.

Eula "Tang" Robinson, 88, of Cape Girardeau died Tuesday, July 24, 2001, at Ratliff Care Center. She was born June 1, 1913, in Neshoba, Miss., daughter of James Arthur and Sally Bedenfield Amos. She and Henry Lee "Doc" Robinson were married in 1932 in Neshoba. He died in 1970...

DELTA, Mo. -- Funeral for Anna Lee Ratliff of St. Louis, formerly of Delta, will be held today at Lang-Fendler Funeral Home in Arnold, Mo. Burial will be in St. Matthew Cemetery. Ratliff died Tuesday, July 24, 2001. She was the daughter of Ed and Nettie Gunn Stoffregen. She married William R. Ratliff, who preceded her in death...

DEXTER, Mo. -- Mary Tippen Brower, 80, of Dexter died Thursday, July 26, 2001, at Southern Healthcare. Watkins and Sons Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Virginia Swilley, 90, of Cape Girardeau died Thursday, July 26, 2001, at the Lutheran Home. She was born April 21, 1911, in Memphis, Tenn., daughter of P.B. and Alma Juden Barnes. She and A.A. Swilley were married in October 1947. He preceded her in death...

MOUNDS, Ill. -- Funeral for Rufus McClung of Mounds will be held at noon Saturday at St. John Praise and Worship Center in Pulaski, Ill. The Revs. Ronnie Mack and Larry Barnett will officiate. Burial will be in West Side Cemetery at Ullin, Ill. Friends may call at the church Saturday from 11 a.m. until service time...

CHARLESTON, Mo. -- Lorine "Lo" Clark, 64, of Charleston died Tuesday, July 24, 2001, at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston, Mo. She was born March 1, 1937, at Henson, Mo., daughter of Johnny and Drewcella Smith Clark. She married Delmo Dean, who preceded her in death...

IN RESPONSE to the "Second-class citizens" comment, I have two simple questions: Where do you get the audacity to ask for more of a percentage refund than you paid in? "Rich folks" paid a lot more in, and are still limited to only $600 a couple. That is not fair. I'm sorry this person only gets $11.75 back, but exactly who owes anyone anything for a bottle of medicine? This is one more example of gimme, gimme, gimme...

Four university students are spending their summer vacation being missionaries -- to Southeast Missouri. Julie Asher, Melanie Beeson, Haley Durall and Julia Metelski are helping with summer camps and vacation Bible school under the auspices of the Missouri Baptist Convention...

In its draft report, the latest presidential commission has taken a look at the future of the Social Security system and has come up with little that we didn't already know. As previous commissions have reported, there won't be enough money at some future point to pay Social Security benefits we have grown to expect. ...

To the editor: I would support legislation mandating that any high school student who wishes to drop out be allowed to do so only after passing a high school diploma equivalence exam. I dropped out at 16 due to the unexpected pregnancy of my high school girlfriend. ...

To the editor: Time is fast approaching for Jackson School District's vote on a tax increase. I have yet to see any results to correct the desperate needs of the bond issue which was defeated twice before it barely passed last year. I am very concerned about our children's education, but I cannot understand why Jackson schools have to be the biggest and best in this area. ...