Stories from Monday, January 4, 1999

City of Cape Girardeau employees were recognized for 20 years of service. From left, seated: Janet L. Maevers, finance; Charles T. Brawley, Charles A. Johnson, Ronald E. Kistner, James D. Moyers, fire; standing: Stephen O. Niswonger, fire; Randall E. Roddy, police; James W. Baylor Jr., Harlin L. Griffith, James C. Lincoln, public works; not present: Arthur L. Hammonds, police...

The first annual Team Excellence Award was presented recently by Cape Girardeau City Manager Michael G. Miller to the Personnel Manual Team. The Personnel Manual Team spent more than two years developing a new manual for all city employees. Receiving the award were Regina Hunt, human resources; Max Jauch, fire department; Dianna Barnes, inspections; Steve Cook, public works; Carol Peters, airport; Tamara Walker, finance; Gayle Conrad, city manager's office; Terrell Weaver, parks and recreation; Janet Maevers, finance; and, Randy Roddy, police.. ...

This "Financial Focus" column is prepared by Edward Jones Investments, headquartered in St. Louis. Jones includes branches throughout the nation, including Cape Girardeau and Jackson. Municipal bonds finance public projects, such as building or improving schools and hospitals and updating sewer and water systems. Municipal bonds are issued by cities, counties, states and state agencies, and special districts, including school, water and sewer districts...

Robert A. Walz, distribution supervisor of the Southeast Missourian newspaper, was named first vice president-elect of the Missouri Circulation Manager's Association during the group's annual meeting at Lake of the Ozarks. Walz, who has been with the Southeast Missouri since 1994, oversees home delivery and single-copy distribution. He will serve a one-year term as first vice president before being named president of the organization in 2000...

The law firm of Thomasson, Gilbert, Cook and Maguire, L.S., scored a "Plaintiff's Hat Trick" recently, a first for a law firm in Missouri. On Dec. 17: -- At 10:30 a.m. a jury in Federal Court in St. Louis returned a verdict in the case of Katie and Esau Bonner vs. ...

The Missouri Association of Legal Secretaries will hold is winter seminar and board meeting Jan. 23 and 24 at the Ramada Inn at Six Flags near St. Louis. A number of topics will be discussed. Representatives are expected from the 11 chapter associations, which include the Cape Girardeau County chapter...

Westfield America Inc. (WEA:NYSE) has announced it will issue $75 million in convertible preferred stock in a private placement. The preferred stock will be convertible into common stock at the equivalent of $18 a share and will have a coupon equal to Westfield America's common stock dividends or 8.65 percent whichever is higher...

The 1999 MO-AG Dealers Convention and Trade Show will be held Jan. 19 and 20 at the Hearnes Center in Columbia. The show will feature aboaut 100 exhibitors. Grain, feed, seed, crop production and plant nutrient product dealers will display their latest products, services and equipment...

Well, Microsoft is the Christmas Grinch if you sent Christmas cards by EMAIL and did not use a Microsoft Christmas card. Blue Mountain Arts (BOLD)www.bluemountain.com(UNBOLD), a producer of electronic greeting cards over the Internet, claims to have had their cards diverted to junk mail trash after Microsoft started competing on the Internet with a greeting card site of its own. At first it was though that only Outlook express was doing the junk mail deed of trashing EMAIL that you never saw...

Chris McGowan scraped the ice covering his quarter-mile long driveway Sunday afternoon on Lakewood Drive in Cape Girardeau. The worst of the season's first round of ice and snow passed through the region on Saturday, followed on Sunday by blustery winds and bitterly cold temperatures that dipped at times into the single digits. It left no doubt in people's minds: winter is here...

Good help is getting even harder to find. The high level of employment demand, which has prevailed for two years running, is expected to continue in Southeast Missouri and the nation. More than 550,000 pink slips were passed out by U.S. companies during the year, but new hires far surpassed that number. New jobs have been increasing in the nation at an 11 percent rate during the past decade. Latest statistics reveal more than 265,000 jobs in November alone...

In the year-and-a-half since it formed, the Cape Girardeau Ethics Commission hasn't had much to do. To be precise, it hasn't had anything to do. Since the City Council appointed the seven-member panel in June 1997, the commission has met only a couple of times to establish by-laws and elect officers...

A position on the Cape Girardeau Ethics Commission has remained vacant since June. City Attorney Eric Cunningham said no qualified applicants have sought the post. The seven-member panel, which receives no compensation, was established in June 1997...

"Regrets, I've had a few, But, then again, too few to mention." -- Paul Anka "My Way" Once upon a time several years back, shortly after I became a pompous and pretentious English grad student, my mother wrote me a letter. Nothing spectacular, really. Just her usual fare of hometown news, tidbits about my siblings and complaints about Dad...

The results of a survey taken by Cape Girardeau County's prosecuting attorney regarding how best to deal with drug offenders produced few surprises. Basically, respondents in the survey said they favor efforts to rehabilitate misdemeanor drug offenders, but they strongly support stiffer -- and more traditional -- penalties for felony drug offenders...

For 10 years, Rozier's Mercantile of Perryville has embodied the best of the holiday spirit with absolutely no fanfare. Each year, the store has given young residents of Cape Girardeau's Cottonwood Residential Treatment Center name-brand athletic shoes...

To the editor: Several of TV's political talk shows, pundits, and opinion polls are making me considerably ill. They attempt to portray what is going on in Washington as a coup d'etat. According to Webster's dictionar, a doup d'etat is "a violent overthrow or alteration of an existing government by a small group." How can the Republicans over throw the government if Al Gore would be the one replacing Clinton? The office would still remain under Democratic control. ...

The Southeast Missourian asked people about changes they plan to make in 1999. Gordon Brookman, Cape Girardeau: "I am going to try to exercise more, eat wisely and be kinder and more considerate to everyone." Diana Palmer, Cape Girardeau: "I am going to get more involved with my church this year. Also, I'm going to exercise more."...

7:30 p.m. Monday, Jan. 4 City Hall Action items Power and Light Committee -- Consider a bill proposing an ordinance authorizing the mayor to sign depository agreements with NationsBank, Peoples Bank and Bank of Missouri. -- Consider a motion to set a special joint council meeting with the Cape Girardeau City Council for 7:30 p.m. Monday, Jan. 11, at Jackson City Hall...

Monday, Jan. 4 City Hall, 7:30 p.m. Public hearings -- A public hearing regarding the necessity to improve that part of Delwin Street from Leroy Drive to Janet Drive, approximately 345 feet. -- A public hearing regarding a petition for annexation from David E. Howard, James and Christina Green and Mark and Kellie Phillips for a 9.4 acre tract adjoining the northern city limits...

Coming off a scintillating victory over Eastern Kentucky, Southeast Missouri State University's women's basketball team will look to avoid a letdown tonight. The Otahkians, riding high after Saturday's 101-93 double-overtime triumph, will take on Morehead State in a 5:30 p.m. Ohio Valley Conference tipoff at the Show Me Center...

As far as Southeast Missouri State University basketball coach Gary Garner is concerned, tonight's game against Morehead State looms as an extremely dangerous one for the Indians. Sure, most Southeast fans might snicker and wonder why Garner is worrying about Morehead State...

ALTENBURG -- Flora Marie Seibel Gerler, 86, of Altenburg died Friday, Jan. 1, 1999, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. She was born Jan. 21, 1912, at Frohna, daughter of Friedrich and Marie Oberndorfer Seibel. She and Arnold M. Gerler were married on July 2, 1943...

MILL CREEK, Ill. -- Nettie Reed, 84, of Mill Creek died Thursday, Dec. 31, 1998, at her home. She was born May 13, 1914, at Butteridge, daughter of Henry Clay and Bertha Vera Lacer Briner. She was married to Arthur Scott, who preceded her in death. She later married Harry Reed, who also preceded her in death...

JONESBORO, Ill. -- Robert Mayberry, 77, of Jonesboro died Monday, Dec. 28, 1998, at his home. He was born April 1, 1921, at Jonesboro, son of William J. and Bertha Hinkle Mayberry. He and Vida Lucille Creecy were married on July 6, 1940. She died Oct. 11, 1986. He and Gracie Curtis were married on Sept. 24, 1987, at Logan...

MATTHEWS -- Lucy Alma Yancy, 78, of Matthews died Saturday, Jan. 2, 1999 at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston. She was born Feb. 29, 1920, at Elaine, Ark., daughter of Robert Steven and Harriet Ann Guthrie Walker. She and Roy Delbert Yancy were married on March 25, 1948, at Helena, Ark. He died Nov. 27, 1973...

MOUNDS, Ill. -- John J. Powers, 91, of West Palm Beach, Fla., formerly of Mounds, died Saturday, Jan. 2, 1999, in West Palm Beach. Arrangements are incomplete at Barkett Funeral Home in Mounds.

CAIRO, Ill. -- Gertrude Raeth, 91, of Cairo died Sunday, Jan. 3, 1999, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. Arrangements are incomplete at Barkett Funeral Home in Cairo.

CHARLESTON -- Frances Louise Harris Evans, 70, of Charleston died Sunday, Jan. 3, 1999, at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston. She was born Jan. 25, 1928, at Lusk Chapel, near Charleston, daughter of Estel M. and Florence K. Haley Harris. She and Frank Evans Jr. were married on April 21, 1948...

Maurine Bode Northcutt, 89, of Cape Girardeau died Sunday, Jan. 3, 1999, at Southeast Missouri Hospital. Arrangements are incomplete at Ford and Sons Funeral Home.

ADVANCE -- Glen Thomas, 92, of Advance died Sunday, Jan. 3, 1999, at the Advance Nursing Center. He was born March 23, 1906, at Grassy, son of Daniel J. and Ida Whitner Thomas. He and Ruby Slinkard were married on Oct. 16, 1927. She died June 6, 1997...