Stories from Saturday, November 21, 1998

Have you read the Bible lately? Surveys show that nearly 90 percent of Americans own a Bible, but less than half of them actually read it. The American Bible Society thinks more people should be reading the Scriptures, so they have named 1999 the Year of the Bible...

Some Missouri drivers still don't buckle up with even the minimum liability insurance. State records show that 356,000 of Missouri's 3.9 million registered passenger vehicles weren't insured for liability in 1997. Of every 11 registered vehicles, one was uninsured...

Copyright 1998 Southeast Missourian When Community Sweat Equity Housing Corp. was begun in Cape Girardeau in 1993 as a response to a perceived housing shortage in the city, the primary goal was to provide low- and moderate-income families with a means to become homeowners...

As the Vision 2000 city improvement plan winds down, its successor, Vision 2020, will be gearing up. Cape Girardeau is seeking applications from community-minded residents to serve on the Vision 2020 Planning Committee. The committee's purpose is to develop some basic goals for the new group, which on Jan. 1, 2000, will replace Vision 2000...

PERRYVILLE -- The Vincentian Catholic order is nationally marketing for sale or development 611 acres of land surrounding its seminary in Perryville. In June 1997, the Vincentians announced a plan to develop a shopping mall, golf courses, subdivisions and other buildings on the land around St. Mary's of the Barrens Seminary. At that time, the mission's chief administrator, the Rev. William Hartenbach, said the aim was "to co-develop this land and to retain ownership and control."...

A percentage of sales from restaurants in Cape Girardeau, Jackson and Scott City on Dec. 1 will benefit the 1998 Area Wide United Way campaign during the first Restaurants Organized for Charity, ROC '98. "The money raised on Dec. 1 will be a perfect way to kick off the month of giving while keeping the benefits within our communities of Cape Girardeau, Jackson and Scott City," said Mark Dirnberger, president of the Southeast chapter of the Missouri Restaurant Association. ...

To the editor: Cape Girardeau...

I HAD to call and thank the person who called in defense of the humble pumpkin. I am very encouraged that there are people in the area who are willing to stand up and defend a creation of nature that is under-defended. I GOT four words for you. Give the Rams back...

When family violence strikes, many women have no place to turn. They need a helping hand, a friendly ear and a place to stay. The Safe House for Women in Cape Girardeau has been meeting the needs of women and children throughout the region since opening its doors in November 1991...

Vision 2000 doesn't plan to become outdated with the new millennium. Instead, the organization is looking to update its name to Vision 2020. This organization has served Cape Girardeau well as both cheerleader and activist. From hosting community information sessions to planting flowers along major thoroughfares, Vision 2000 has quietly and patiently worked behind the scenes to improve Cape Girardeau...

To the editor: We would like the people of Cape Girardeau and the surrounding area to know how fortunate they are to have in their community a doctor such as Benjamin Yuen. In our opinion, he has gone beyond the call of duty by taking it upon himself to call after hours to check on our conditions following our recent visits to the hospital. ...

Southwestern Bell Telephone Co. hopes to get into the long-distance business in Missouri. The telephone company filed an application Friday with the Missouri Public Service Commission to provide long-distance service to Missouri telecommunications consumers and urged competitors to "meet us in the marketplace now."...

Folk singers Paul and Win Grace played their final concert with their daughters, Leela and Ellie, last summer, marking an end to a performing relationship that had lasted all through the girls' childhoods and young adulthoods. Leela, 21, and Ellie, 20, and their parents made a mutual decision to go separate ways musically...

Southeast Missouri State University women's basketball coach Ed Arnzen believes he has an extremely improved team this season. But Arnzen figures to find out just how much better the Otahkians are today, when they face a strong Indiana State squad on the road. The tipoff in Terre Haute, Ind., is set for 4:30 p.m...

For the second straight season, the Central Methodist College basketball team gave Southeast Missouri State University plenty of problems early. But, for the second year in a row, the Indians were able to eventually take control and win going away. After trailing by as many seven points in the first half, the Indians bolted to a 40-29 halftime lead and then pulled away in the second half to post an 84-65 victory Friday night in front of 4,327 fans at the Show Me Center...

CHARLESTON, Ill. -- Southeast Missouri State University's volleyball team charged impressively into today's championship match of the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament with two sweeps on Friday. Southeast, seeded third, swept No. 6 seed Morehead State in the opening round before dispatching of No. 2 seed Tennessee Tech in straight games...

Its journey to the Class 1A state semifinal football game has taken St. Vincent High through parts unknown. Before this season, the Indians never had won a playoff game. But now they stand one step away from a state championship reservation. Looming in St. Vincent's path to the Trans World Dome in St. Louis, the site of the state championships, lies Adrian, ranked No. 2 in Class 1A and 12-0. The Indians are ranked No. 3 and also are 12-0...

Southeast Missouri State University announced the names and visiting dates of two finalists added for the athletic director position. Chris Gage, associate athletic director at Texas-San Antonio, and Donald Kaverman, athletic director at Missouri Western, will both visit the campus in the first week of December. Cage will tour the facilities and meet with administration and media on Dec. 1 while Kaverman will visit Dec. 3...

Joseph Ralph Mahy, 81, of Cape Girardeau died Friday, Nov. 20, 1998, at the Lutheran Home. He was born Oct. 12, 1917, in Cape Girardeau, son of J. Roy and Myrtle Hartle Mahy. He and June Elizabeth Farrow were married Feb. 21, 1944. Mahy owned and operated Mahy's Grocery Store 17 years, then formed Mahy's Construction Co., and after retiring farmed and raised livestock...

JACKSON -- Alvin G. "Al" Schlegel, 87, of Jackson died Thursday, Nov. 19, 1998, at the Lutheran Home in Cape Girardeau. He was born May 31, 1911, at Dutchtown, son of Henry A. and Meyhulda Geiser Schlegel. Schlegel worked at International Shoe Co. from 1934-58, and then moved to a farm north of Jackson and raised breeding cattle...

SIKESTON -- Robert E. Smith Jr., 27, of Sikeston died Wednesday, Nov. 18, 1998, at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis. He was born Jan. 19, 1971, at Sikeston, son of Robert E. and Alice Jane Russom Smith Sr. He and Jamie A. Lewis were married May 22, 1993, in Sikeston...

ANNA, Ill. -- Michael Davis, 49, of Anna died Thursday, Nov. 12, 1998, at St. Louis University Hospital in St. Louis, Mo. He was born May 18, 1949, in Oakdale, Calif., son of Homer and Faye Vandergriff Davis. Survivors include his mother, Faye Wilder of Patterson; and a half sister, Misty Turley of Patterson...

Richard T. Popp, 79, of Cape Girardeau died Friday, Nov. 20, 1998, at Missouri Veterans Home. Ford and Sons Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

ORAN -- Funeral Mass for Clara Schram of Oran will be held at 10 a.m. today at St. Denis Catholic Church in Benton, with the Rev. Normand Varone officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Ford and Sons Funeral Home at Benton is in charge of arrangements...

Margaret W. Spradling of 225 Keller Ave., Cape Girardeau, died Thursday, November 19, 1998, at her home. She was 78. She was born April 24, 1920 in Phoenix, Arizona, the daughter of Robert H. Whyman and Edith Whyman. She married Albert M. Spradling, Jr. on July 9, 1943, in Tyler, Texas. He survives along with two sons, Albert M. Spradling, III, of Cape Girardeau, and the Reverend Robert W. Spradling of Lee's Summit, Missouri. She is also survived by six grandchildren...

DEXTER -- Aymond William Duffey, 81, of Dexter died Friday, Nov. 20, 1998, at Dexter Memorial Hospital. He was born July 20, 1917, at Bloomfield to James William and Minnie Bell Morris Duffey. On July 5, 1944, he married Louise Cox, who survives. He was a retired carpenter and sales clerk for Busy Bee Lumber Co. at Dexter. He was a member of the Bloomfield Church of Christ...

ANNA, Ill. -- Gerald L. Palmer, 83, of Anna and formerly of Mounds, died Friday, Nov. 20, 1998, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. Arrangements are incomplete at Jones Funeral Home in Villa Ridge.

VILLA RIDGE, Ill. -- Arin Ray Harp, 51, of Villa Ridge and formerly of Mounds and Grand Chain, died Friday, Nov. 20, 1998, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. Arrangements are incomplete at Jones Funeral Home in Villa Ridge.

EAST PRAIRIE -- Goldie Keene, 76, of East Prairie died Friday, Nov. 20, 1998, at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston. She was born March 9, 1922, in the Barnes Ridge Community near East Prairie to Bert and Ada White Carnahan. On March 31, 1940, she married Eleria T. Keene, who died May 2, 1977...

Daughter to Brian and Shelly Menz of West Plains, Ozarks Medical Center in West Plains, 3:32 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 20, 1998. Name, Bailey Michelle. Weight, 8 pounds 9 ounces. Mrs. Menz is the daughter of Melba McCall and Eddie Wells of Jackson. Menz is the son of Sharon Menz and Jerry Menz of Summersville...

SCOTT CITY -- Funeral for Connie Lee Smith of Scott City will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday at Amick-Burnett Funeral Chapel in Scott City. The Rev. Randy Morse will officiate, with burial in Forest Hills Memorial Gardens at Morley. Friends may call at the chapel from 5-8 p.m. today...

If God loves a cheerful giver, are you having fun? Most of us find it hard to believe the idea that joy is found in giving, yet the message of the gospel is that we discover abundant life by giving of ourselves in every way. Most of our churches are in the midst of the annual stewardship drive. ...