A former Bootheel resident who graduated from Southeast Missouri State University is one of seven American clergymen now in Tehran in hopes of opening up a dialogue in the name of God to bring an end to the hostage crisis; the Rev. John Tudor Walsh, a native of Risco, Mo., and a former Kennett, Mo., resident, expects to spend about two weeks in Iran.
MOUNDS, Ill. -- A father died in a futile attempt to save his 5-year-old stepson from their burning home here last night; dead is Lawrence Robinson and his stepson, Von Frazier; Robinson's wife, Earlene, suffered burns over 30 percent of her body and was taken to a St. Louis hospital for treatment.
A.R. Nanna, a student at Southwest Baptist College at Bolivar, Mo., delivers the message at the evening service at First Baptist Church; this is the annual student night, and his topic is "Almost There"; the choir is composed of students and young people.
Cape Girardeau and Southeast Missouri observed a pleasant Christmas Day and is followed today with spring-like weather, the temperature rising into the 50s to the delight of almost everybody but those children who received sleds as gifts.
Two men, playing the part of Santa Claus in Christmas celebrations in Cape Girardeau, were badly burned Tuesday night; Lon L. Bowerman was badly burned about the face, head, body and arms when his Santa Claus suit ignited from a match with which he was trying to light a lamp near a Christmas tree; likewise, Charles Fulbright was seriously burned when the beard of his Santa suit ignited from a cigarette he had lighted.
Mr. and Mrs. Howard Followell of Cape Girardeau are the parents of a baby daughter, the only child born on Christmas Day here.
Christmas Day was peacefully devoted to family gatherings and religious services, although there were a few hilariously inclined who found satisfaction in firecrackers and pistol shooting; since Christmas fell on a Sunday, today is the legal holiday; all banks and public houses are closed, and businesses shut their doors at 6 p.m.
Pursuant to the call of Otto Kochtitzky, a number of gentlemen interested in the formation of a Young Men's Christian Association brave the angry elements to meet at the courthouse to discuss launching the movement here.
-- Sharon K. Sanders
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