Stories from Saturday, June 19, 1999

Something new is growing in Southern Illinois this year -- rice. "We have a lot of water over here," said Blake Gerard, who farms more than 1,300 acres in an area between Cape Girardeau and McClure. "I decided to take advantage of it." Gerard's 40-acre field of rice is alongside Highway 3, just north of the Highway 146 intersection...

Taxi coupons will be easier to get with a new program that allows the coupons to be delivered to users. Kelley Transportation Co. plans to deliver the coupons to customers the first three days of each month to help reduce the waiting time for taxis on those days...

Citing legal concerns, Southeast Missouri State University has abandoned the idea of using state tax credits in developing its River Campus. Dr. Ken Dobbins, Southeast's executive vice president and soon-to-be president, said Friday the university won't pursue the financing proposal...

Tomorrow is June 20. That's Father's Day for many men, and to them I say congratulations. But for those who didn't know, June 20 is also the first day of summer. That's the day many people can feel justified in turning down their air conditioners another notch to lessen the effects of the high temperatures...

To the editor: According to White House drug czar Gen. Barry McCaffrey, "underage drinking is the single biggest drug problem among adolescents and is intimately linked to the use of illegal drugs." In fact, alcohol kills six times more young people in this country than all other drugs combined, and is the primary gateway to illicit drug use...

It's hard to stop talking about the events that transpired on Good Hope a little more than a week ago. Much of the town remains in disbelief that such a thing could happen here: residents and police fighting in the streets, cinder blocks and bottles thrown at police officers, heated racial tensions, allegations of police brutality, six police officers and two suspects hurt...

Parents should be more considerate TO THE parents taking their children to Jackson's summer school program: Please use a little consideration and common sense if you're going to park your car and take your children inside. Use the parking spaces, not the lane designated for dropping students off...

Former Kelly High School star runner Amy Arteme will compete tonight in the USA Track and Field Junior National Championships in Denton, Texas. Arteme, who will be a sophomore at Southeast Missouri State University, will run the 5,000-meters in the prestigious meet for athletes 19 years old and under...

Cape Junior Legion won both its pool games Friday as play opened in its own Wood & Huston Cape Junior Legion Invitational Tournament. Cape Junior Legion, competing in the National Division, disposed of Perryville 10-0 in five innings and defeated Kirkwood 10-5...

Daughter to Glenn and Tammy Woeltje of Jackson, Tenn., Jackson Madison County Memorial Hospital in Jackson, 12:58 a.m. Saturday, June 12, 1999. Name, Rachel Victoria. Weight, 8 pounds 12 ounces. Second child, first daughter. Mrs. Woeltje is the former Tammy Joy Peters, daughter of Charles and Doris Peters of Burfordville. Woeltje is the son of Dale and Louise Woeltje of Jackson. He is an ISO process engineer with Wis-Con Total Power in Dyer, Tenn...

ORAN -- Raymond "R.J." Tomlinson Jr., 66, of Oran died Thursday, June 17, 1999, at Barnes Jewish Hospital in St. Louis. Morgan Funeral Home in Advance is in charge of arrangements.

JACKSON -- Funeral for James Pack of Jackson, formerly of Bonne Terre, will be held at noon Monday at Sonrise Baptist Church in Bonne Terre. The Rev. Paul Pope will officiate. Burial will be in Moutray Family Cemetery at Steelville. Friends may call at C.Z. Boyer and Son Funeral Home in Bonne Terre after 6 p.m. Sunday...

MARBLE HILL -- Charley Samuel Ladd, 83, of Marble Hill died Thursday, June 17, 1999, at his home. He was born Oct. 20, 1915, at Greenbrier, son of James N. and Nellie Umpfleet Ladd. He and Myrel Hindman were married June 15, 1933. Ladd was a retired farmer. He was a charter member of Ladd Chapel Church and was ordained as a deacon in 1945...

CHAFFEE -- Graveside service for Lena Gisi, formerly of Chaffee, will be held at 2 p.m. today at Memorial Park in Cape Girardeau. The Rev. Watis Harrell will officiate. There is no visitation. Amick-Burnett Funeral Chapel at Chaffee is in charge of arrangements...

BLOOMFIELD -- William Virgil Lewis, 69, of Bloomfield died Thursday, June 17, 1999, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. He was born Sept. 16, 1929, in Ste. Genevieve, son of Homer and Irene Hammers Lewis. He and Versie M. Blocker were married May 5, 1952...

Ulysses D. Stacy of Cape Girardeau died Friday, June 18, 1999, in an automobile accident south of Delta. Arrangements are incomplete at Ford and Sons Funeral Home.