YEAR IN REVIEW: NOVEMBER ELECTIONS HELD; NO EARTHQUAKE DEC. 3

(The following "Year in Review" articles were compiled by Sharon Sanders, Southeast Missourian librarian. They are the last installments of the 1990 monthly reviews.)

November

"Quiet" describes traditionally prank-filled Halloween holiday in area; spokesmen for four of five area law enforcement agencies used word to describe holiday in their jurisdictions; walkways of West Park Mall became evening trick-or-treat routes for about 1,200 adults.

Search for site for regional mail-processing center has apparently been narrowed to two sites in area; one is DI Supply Inc. warehouse at northeast corner of Bloomfield Road and Interstate 55; other is Mid-America Distributors building on Highway 74 in Six-Thirty Industrial Park.

2. Sikeston attorney Robert A. Dempster has donated $1 million to Southeast Missouri State University to help pay local share for new business school.

Because of demands that have been placed on nation's military and civilian air transportation systems by Operation Desert Shield, Postal Service says it is even more important this year to mail overseas military and international Christmas parcels early.

Jackson Race for associate circuit judge has sparked most campaign spending of three countywide races; according to campaign finance disclosure reports, Democrat Edward Calvin has raised $13,318.02 and Republican Benjamin F. Lewis has raised $10,421.44.

4. More than $16.2 million has been raised so far in university's recent publicly announced $25-million capital fundraising campaign.

Amid academia's finest pageantry, Dr. Kala Stroup was formally inaugurated Friday as university's 14th president.

Frustrated by ads being run by 8th District U.S. Rep. Bill Emerson, congressman's Democratic opponent, Russ Carnahan, has lashed back by calling Emerson a "damned liar."

5. Voters across Missouri and nation will go to polls Tuesday for 1990 general election; state voters will be electing state auditor, nine members of Congress, 163 members of Missouri House, 17 state senators, and hundreds of county officials.

For first time since 1986, there will be Veterans Day parade in Cape; following parade down Broadway will be rededication of Veterans Memorial in park.

City Council defies neighborhood opposition and initially approves zoning request that would allow Southeast Missouri Hospital to build three-story parking garage along Sunset Court.

6. Contentious issue was revisited Monday by City Council when members of True Christian Pentecostal Witnesses Church objected to local businessman wanting to open tavern at 361 South Sprigg; matter was hotly debated last year.

Chaffee Chaffee General Hospital has shut down for two weeks, but hospital board members say closing is unrelated to facilities financial problems; instead, shutdown is for administrative restructuring.

Eighth District U.S. Rep. Bill Emerson piles up 57.3 percent of vote to claim sixth term by defeating Democrat Russ Carnahan.

7. Jackson Proposal to annex 450 acres of land into city of Jackson was approved by voters, but rejected by property owners in area to be annexed; that means second vote will be required in February 1991.

Three-year, quarter-cent sales tax proposal that would have funded construction of sports complex at Shawnee Park went down to defeat Tuesday as 58 percent of Cape voters rejected tax; but residents voted nearly two to one to approve sewer revenue bond issue that will enable city to issue $2.5 million in bonds to pay for construction of trunk sewer system extension in northwest part of city.

Jackson In Tuesday's county races, Circuit Clerk Charles P. Hutson and Recorder of Deeds Janet Robert survived election challenges, and Republican Benjamin F. Lewis won hotly contested race for Division III associate circuit judge in Cape County.

8. After three weeks of silence, Dr. David Stewart of university held news conference Wednesday in response to criticism he has received from other scientists for suggesting prediction by Dr. Iben Browning about December earthquake in this area may be accurate; Stewart said he had no idea his comments on Browning would be controversial and that he will make no further public comments about forecast; instead he will focus his efforts on earthquake preparedness in Southeast Missouri.

Cairo, Ill. Members of 1244th Transportation Company of Illinois National Guard, headquartered here, have shipped out to Saudi Arabia for Operation Desert Shield.

9. Missouri Department of Natural Resources is sponsoring two-year reforestation program called Operation Tree (Trees Renew Energy and the Environment); one of Tree projects is Paper to Trees, in which three-foot stack of newspapers is traded for four-to-six-foot, native Missouri tree.

According to John L. Oliver Jr., member of Missouri Highway and Transportation Commission, recently-passed budget-tax agreement wipes out chances of new roads and bridges in Missouri.

11. Mercantile Bank has acquired deposits and loans of Cape office of Colonial Federal Savings and Loan, which was declared insolvent by U.S. Office of Thrift Supervision late Friday.

Jefferson City Southeast Missouri legislators maintained their leadership positions in Missouri General Assembly last week as Republicans and Democrats held post election caucuses.

Cape and nation celebrate Veterans Day; large number of citizens line Broadway for large parade and afterward gather at Freedom Corner to rededicate memorial plaques on which are engraved names of 207 Cape County men who gave their lives in defense of this country in four American wars this century.

12. Jefferson City Gov. John Ashcroft will meet with his Cabinet this week in urgent attempt to cut $70 million from state budget.

Driving on Interstate 55 and other four-lane, divided highways in Southeast Missouri during bad weather or darkness will be little safer; more than 11,000 white reflective markers have been mounted on flexible poles located along right shoulders of Interstates 55 and 57, and divided four-lane areas along Highways 60, 67 and 25.

13. Southeast Missouri State is bracing for third round of state budget cuts, which could mean loss of several hundred thousand dollars for school.

Parents of students on Central High's girls softball team attended school board meeting Monday to protest school's softball program being reduced to one season in 1991-92 school year; traditionally, team has had fall and spring season.

Greg Macke has opened New Hanover and Arnsberg, replicas of 19th century German towns in Black Forest north of Cape, for special group visits, meetings, conferences, retreats, group picnics and bus-tour visits.

14. City Council has directed city Planning and Zoning Commission to prioritize new street plan that's been developed for council consideration; it is update on city's 1978 street plan.

Property along west side of North Sprigg could become "Greek Row" within next 10 years, with fraternities leasing land from university and building chapter houses.

Girardeans are enjoying surprisingly mild weather for November; weathermen say balmy, Indian summer temperatures will continue through Thursday, with only slight cool down for weekend.

15. Southeast Missouri State has been hit with 1 percent cut in state funding, which, coupled with earlier withholding of state funds, amounts to largest annual budget cut in institution's history.

Steve Bone, city's parks and recreation director, has resigned to take position as general manager of Lake St. Louis Community Association.

Planning and Zoning Commission heard public comments Wednesday on proposed major street plan and agreed to hold more hearings later before final approval of plan; street plan will be used by council in establishing city's five-year capital improvements plan.

16. St. Louis Dr. Iben Browning declined Thursday to criticize or speculate on motives of scientists who say there is no basis for his now famous forecast of major earthquake along New Madrid Fault next month; but he does make it clear that he firmly believes forecast is sound.

Chaffee Two North Scott County Ambulance District employees narrowly escaped death when fire broke out in ambulance garage in Chaffee City Hall Building, on Thursday; damage from fire will exceed $100,000.

Southeast Missouri District Fair Board members say combination of good weather, some "good buys" in entertainment and more volunteer work has contributed to organization ending up in black this year.

18. Craft fairs, held at Show Me Center, A.C. Brase Arena Building and Holiday Inn Convention Center in Cape, drew estimated 7,500 people Saturday and good crowds are expected again today; first day attendance totals were record breaking.

Nearly 200 Southeast Missouri police, fire, emergency rescue personnel participated in earthquake response conference held Saturday at Drury Lodge.

Walt Wildman and George Hathhorn have been appointed co-chairmen of recently formed Tri-County Coalition for Highway Development; they are charged with forming organizational structure for group.

19. Despite 1 percent cut in state funding and scientific criticism of climatologist's prediction of major earthquake occurring next month along New Madrid Fault, Southeast Missouri State is continuing its emergency preparations; it has already ordered some emergency supplies, such as flashlights and first-aid kits.

Price of traditional turkey dinner may gobble up more of family food budget this Thanksgiving, but it's still bargain; turkey prices range from as low as 19 cents a pound to high of 89 cents.

20. Once again Nell Holcomb R-4 School District must search for new superintendent; District Superintendent Wayne C. Pressley has submitted his resignation for personal reasons.

City's Convention and Visitors Advisory Monday presented City Council with $288,525 Convention and Visitors Bureau budget proposal for 1991.

21. Fire officials in area are hoping predictions of rain come true; rain would relieve growing threat of serious woods and grass fires here; firefighters in Cape area were kept busy Tuesday by series of fires in and outside city.

St. Mary Cathedral School joins growing list of schools which have canceled classes Dec. 3 and 4, dates of predicted earthquake; survey of parents revealed that 37 percent would not send their children to school on those days, thereby reversing earlier decision to hold classes.

Scott City Initial response to mailing from Southeast Missouri Regional Port Authority to assess interest of area businesses in international marketplace has been good; SEMO Port could become port of entry for foreign trade.

22. As people prepare for their Thanksgiving Day meal today, Missouri State Highway Patrol and Illinois State Police are patrolling highways and interstates to make sure holiday period is safe one.

Unseasonably mild air sent Wednesday's temperature soaring to record high 71 degrees at Municipal Airport; old record was 69, set in 1963.

Southeast Missouri State officials are voicing concern about higher education report that recommends redefining missions of state's colleges and universities; under plan, Southeast and Northwest Missouri State would be designated "regional" institutions, while Southwest and Central Missouri would be categorized as "comprehensive teaching" universities.

23. For first time in 30 years, Hutson Furniture's Christmas window does not depict new scene; instead, business reincarnated "Main Street, 1979."

Vera Wagner, known as "the gravy lady," is regular volunteer at Salvation Army's annual Thanksgiving dinner; Wagner is among about 90 volunteers who this year helped prepare and serve about 450 holiday dinners.

From West Park Mall to Town Shopping Center to downtown Cape, shoppers are out in force on what is traditionally busiest shopping day of year.

25. Terrence W. Risko, of Mount Clemens, Mich., is preparing to begin his new duties as director of Cape Public Library on Dec. 3; he is continuing library career of nearly 20 years.

Federal High Administration has announced that Interstate 66 feasibility will be conducted by highway department of one of states along route, not by private engineer.

26. Municipal Airport Manager Mark Seesing is waiting anxiously to see if Federal Aviation Administration will allow city to continue operation of airport traffic control tower; FAA last month refused to renew control tower traffic with city, requiring instead that bids on service be let.

Old Appleton No more progress can be made on restoring flood-damaged Old Appleton bridge until volunteer project receives donated hydraulic crane.

Jackson Cape County Commission has exercised its final option year on ambulance contract with Cape County Private Ambulance Service; but in exercising option, commission intends to bid contract next year.

27. St. Louis Proposal to revamp Missouri's higher education system could threaten institutional autonomy and limit ability of Southeast Missouri State University to meet regional needs, say university and economic development officials; plan could also lead to creation of new statewide coordinating board that would take "statewide" perspective toward higher education.

Former Cape WISER building will be auctioned off next month, but agency board members say sale won't bring enough money to pay final salaries to defunct agency's former workers.

Severe thunderstorms with damaging winds and at least one tornado lash parts of central and eastern Missouri; storms, which cause property damage and minor injuries, are part of system that brought record warmth to Southeast Missouri and taste of winter to northwest corner of state.

28. City plans to straighten jagged route of North Main near site of recently razed Florsheim shoe factory; North Main now makes two 90-degree turns just south of factory.

Farmington Judge has ruled against Oak Ridge R-6 School District in long-standing border dispute with Jackson R-2 School District.

Faculty Senate votes unanimously to recommend that Southeast Missouri State close on third Monday of January each year, in recognition of birthday of Martin Luther King Jr.

29. Group of Cape residents are working to revitalize southern section of city; SEA (Southeast Area) Cape Cleanup Committee are organizing in effort to make neighborhoods better place to live.

In contrast to mass closings by region's public and parochial schools Dec. 3-4, two Cape schools Notre Dame High and Trinity Lutheran and Southeast Missouri State have chosen to hold classes.

Jefferson City Lawsuit is filed by 75 school districts asking courts to declare state's formula for distributing money to public schools unconstitutional.

30. Nine-month undercover investigation into illegal drug trafficking in Southeast Missouri has resulted in arrests of 51 people; at least one Cape resident was included in arrests.

Jackson Chief juvenile officer of 32nd Judicial Circuit, Ruth Waldon, and several members of her staff told Cape County Commission Thursday that they should be included in new county pay classification system.