Stories from Sunday, April 6, 1997

To the editor: Recent letters concerning the Environmental Protection Agency have been quite interesting. The tale about the DuPont patent running out is not new. It has been around for years, and it is true. It's hard to believe someone hasn't really done something about it. ...

The Jackson Rotary Club and numerous local businesses are putting on Hoopfest '97. The three-on-three double-elimination basketball tournament will be held on May 3 on the outdoor courts of the new Jackson Middle School located on Hwy. D in Jackson...

Chad and Mary Meyer go over plans for the walk in their home. Mary Meyer is once again preparing to put on a walk for multiple sclerosis in Jackson for Sunday, April 13. This will be the eighth year for the walk that is made possible by donations. She has a few helpers in her son Chad Meyer, Dan Wessel and Brenda and Tim Bender...

25 years ago, 1972 Community Youth Easter Sunrise Celebration was held at Jackson City Park Sunday morning; service was planned by committee of young people from various Jackson churches along with the Rev. Donald L. Slover, pastor of McKendree United Methodist Church, and the Rev. Fred L. Brandenburg, pastor of Emanuel United Church of Christ; service was sponsored by Jackson Ministerial Alliance...

Over the last five years, conservatives have written and spoken of a "culture war." That is to say, not a war over whether we prefer classical to country music, or modern to pre-modern art. Rather, when we use the term, we mean what the Germans call kulturkampf , or a war over the meaning and nature of the culture in which we live...

Warning: The following information may be detrimental to your health. America has long taken great pride in the accomplishments of what we choose to call "medical science." Researchers, surgeons, family physicians and just about every one connected with health services have been viewed as a team that provided millions of citizens with modern, up-to-date and caring medical services that have over the years saved lives, made living easier and more comfortable and gradually reduced the danger of serious, communicable diseases.. ...

THANK YOU very much to the members of Vision 2000 for the flowers planted all over Cape Girardeau. It makes my day. THERE ARE people who have families with elderly folks, and I happen to be one. Sometimes it gets on my nerves a little bit to have to take care of a person 57 years older than I am. ...

The Jackson High School Speech and Debate Team has just completed its most successful year yet. There are 22 active members who participated in 11 tournaments this year. The team won more than 60 trophies and medals during the season. The team had six of nine individual events qualify for the state meet on April 24-26...

The new University of Missouri president, Dr. Manuel Pacheco, outlines some of his goals for the four-campus school. One is to be paid as much as Mizzou coaches. Give the No. 1 ranking of Pacheco's former school, Arizona, economy-minded Missourians are suggesting he serve as president AND basketball coach...

Deadlines, they come and go everyday. Homework, research papers, bills to pay, appointments and April 15th. Some tax (no pun intended) our strength, our physical well-being, emotions and spiritual lives. Yet, of all the deadlines man faces, none is more demanding, nor has more eternal importance than the decision to accept Christ as their personal Savior and Lord...

A massive bill regulating managed health care has won overwhelming approval in the Missouri House and is in the Senate awaiting further action. The 117-page measure is the fruit of a special interim committee that spent much of last year taking testimony around the state. ...

To the editor: We applaud Michael Wells' March 3 article, "Living in her best years," on Idell Dockins and stuttering and your efforts to shed some light on this complex disorder affecting over 3 million Americans. However, your readers should also know how to contact an excellent not-for-profit source of help, the 50-year-old Stuttering Foundation of America...

To the editor: Initiations, in my opinion, strip the sorority or fraternity of its dignity and defeats it real purpose. When my twin sister and I attended Southeast Teachers College in 1926, we were initiated into a literary society. I always opposed initiations as well as feared them. At that early date, they were not as strenuous. However, there was nothing elevating about swallowing a raw egg or crawling under chairs that we were asked to do...

The inauguration of Dr. Dale Nitzschke as Southeast Missouri State University's 16th president has little to do with him and a lot to do with showcasing the school. "I am nothing more than a tool for them to do that," said the 59-year-old Nitzschke. He has served as the school's president since last July...

Kindness can be contagious. That's what the region learned during the first Random Acts of Kindness observance in May 1996. More than 350 participants signed up, including businesses, churches and schools. It translated to more than 20,000 people in six Southeast Missouri counties and one county in Southern Illinois...

BylineDAVID ANGIER: DELTA -- Emergency response personnel from 15 area agencies learned at least one thing Saturday morning in Delta -- even in a simulation, nothing happens exactly according to plan. John Sachen, a fire instructor for Missouri and Cape Girardeau County, was one of the organizers of a hazardous waste spill simulation behind Delta High School. ...

SPRINGFIELD -- The telephones and fax machines of Marilyn Vydra's office haven't stopped ringing since early March, but her answers remain the same. "It's all a rumor. We haven't heard anything. I'll send you his vitae." Her answers are now pat responses to questions from reporters trying to beat the Vatican in naming the next archbishop of the Chicago archdiocese. ...

Worried about being abducted by an alien or turning into a vampire? Don't worry. Buy insurance. For some people, insurance is out of this world. A London insurance company has provided coverage against alien abductions. It's not your basic property and casualty insurance...

The Missouri Jaycees have honored a Cape Girardeau police officer as one of their 1997 10 outstanding young Missourians. Cpl. Charles Herbst was nominated by the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce for the state award after winning the local award. The Missouri Jaycee's 24th annual Congress of 10 Outstanding Young Missourians is sponsored by Missouri Public Service...

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Southeast Missouri State University's hopes of earning its first-ever berth in the NCAA Division I national women's gymnastics meet was shot down here Saturday night. The Otahkians, who entered the Central Regional meet as the fourth seed, scored 193.45 to finish last among the seven teams entered...

Trailing 8-2 to Eastern Illinois after the first three innings Saturday night at Capaha Field, it appeared the Southeast Indian baseball team was on their way to another OVC series-opening loss. But the Indian bats awoke for seven runs in the fourth to take the lead and Lamonte Collier's solo home run in the fifth -- the fourth homer of the game for the Indians -- proved to be the winning run as Southeast prevailed 11-10...

Southeast's 4x400 anchor Yvonne Hente received the baton from teammate Tammy Wenkel during Saturday's ALL SPORT Relays. Southeast won the race and the Otahkians went on to win the women's competition. Southeast Missouri State University's track program fell just short of its overall goal but still had a successful weekend during the ALL SPORT Relays that concluded Saturday afternoon...

With heavy rain and big-time winds, it was some of the worst weather ever in the 16-year history of Southeast Missouri State University's annual track and field meet now known as the ALL SPORT Relays. But you couldn't tell how bad things were based on the competition Friday and Saturday at the Abe Stuber Track and Field Complex...

Southeast Missouri State University's softball team swept a doubleheader against Ohio Valley Conference foe Middle Tennessee State Saturday at Parker Field. Southeast won the opener 10-3 and the nightcap 3-2. The Otahkians improved to 8-3 in the OVC and 15-12 overall...

ST. LOUIS -- Despite playing without top scorer Nichole Thiele, Cape Central's girls shut out Ursuline Academy 3-0 on the road Saturday. Central improved to 6-0. In Thiele's place, the Lady Tigers' Lori Bittle scored two goals. Bittle's first score came eight minutes into the game on an assist by Emily Atchley. After Ashley Skinner scored 21 minutes later on an assist by Kim Aslinger, Aslinger set up Bittle for another goal seconds before halftime...

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Southeast Missouri State University's women's tennis team moved to 4-2 in the Ohio Valley Conference and 10-5 overall with an 8-1 win over Eastern Kentucky Saturday. The Otahkians dropped only two sets. The singles winners were Izabela Slowikowska (6-2, 7-5), Vicky Wood (6-2, 6-3), Melinda Thomas (6-4, 7-6), Brigitte Stotter (6-2, 6-1) and Michelle Gruber (6-3, 6-3). Thais Olive lost 6-4, 3-6, 5-7...

Scott County Land Transactions J.W., Shirley, Donald and Betty Holmes, et al. to J.W. and Shirley Holmes; Danny and Tammy Rains to Tammy Marshall; Thomas and Sharon Brashear to Terence Kinder; James and Elizabeth Brewer to Donna Wages; George and Joann Rand to James and Edna Piepenbrok; R.C. ...

ANNA, Ill. -- Michael Lynn Beasley, 44, of Anna, Ill, died Friday, April 4, 1997, at his home. He was born Nov. 18, 1952, at Marion, the son of Carl V. and Dorothy Hayes Beasley. Beasley was an avid musician and had worked as a cowboy. He was the lead singer in the musical group Double Action...

ANNA, Ill. -- Betty Wells, 85, of Jonesboro died Friday, April 4, 1997, at the City Care Center in Anna. She was born April 18, 1911, at Petros, Tenn., daughter of Thomas and Lillie Mason Edmonds. Wells was a member of the First Baptist Church of Anna...

BROWNWOOD -- Beverly Joyce Pittman, 52, of Brownwood died Saturday, April 5, 1997, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. She was born June 1, 1944, in Midland County, Mich., daughter of Sherman and Kathleen Revoir Rogers. She married Douglas Pittman on Sept. 4, 1965 in Lowndes, and he survives her...

Two Millersville boys were treated at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau Friday and released after they were injured in an automobile accident five miles west of Jackson on Highway 72. Jason B. Jaco, 16, was driving east in his 1961 GMC pickup with a passenger, Phillip J. Howard, 15, when he attempted to pass another vehicle at about 6:15 p.m...

A Cape Girardeau couple and their young daughter were in serious condition Saturday after a two-truck accident Friday at Big Bend Road and Bertling. Michael Bartlett, 27, and his 2 1/2-year-old daughter, Alexia, were both at Southeast Missouri Hospital. Bartlett's 7 1/2-month pregnant wife, Cathy, was flown to Barnes Hospital in St. Louis Friday night after she began premature labor. On Saturday night, doctors were trying to keep Mrs. Bartlett, 26, from having the baby premature...

Two Scott City residents were hurt in a one-vehicle accident on County Road 206 near Cape Girardeau Friday evening. Mary Schwartz, 38, was treated at St. Francis Medical Center and released Friday, and William Schwartz, 28, who remained hospitalized Friday, was released Saturday...

The interpretive theater performance at Southeast Missouri State University will be held Monday in Lynn Dempster Auditorium at Crisp Hall. The performance earlier had been scheduled for the Lab Theatre in the Grauel Building. Theater students will present a group interpretive theater performance as part of a week of activities celebrating the inauguration of Dr. Dale Nitzschke as Southeast's 16th president...

Mabel Decker Fager, 100, of Colorado Springs, Colo., formerly of Anna, Ill., died Thursday, April 3, 1997, at Memorial Hospital in Colorado Springs. She was born May 1, 1896, in Murphysboro, Ill., daughter of Clinton and Harriet Gault Decker. She married George Fager on Aug. 21, 1919, in Murphysboro. He died Jan. 2, 1983...

Leopold and Laflin are gone, finished, disappeared, kaput. R.I.P. No! I do not speak of the villages to the southwest. May they flourish forever. Pleasant moments have been mine while either there or just passing through. At Leopold, Thomza and I have sat alone, quietly, reverently in the beautiful church. ...

Kathleen McGill painted a door for her new house that she is helping build with Habitat for Humanity. Above, Dustin McGill, left, assisted Bill Cheeseman with checking a level before installing a permanent support for the front porch. The McGill family is helping Habitat for Humanity build their house with "sweat equity."...

KRCU will feature a special edition of Going Public today to tie into the premiere of "Will the Circle be Unbroken?" The series tells the personal history of the Civil Rights Movement in five southern communities between 1940 and 1970. Going Public will examine the local impact of the Civil Rights Movement in Southeast Missouri. Guest are Don Sherwood and Martha Wilson, long-time residents of the area...