Stories from Tuesday, December 3, 1991

Drug Enforcement Administration agent Shirley Armstead spent six years undercover, busting people for using and selling drugs. This week she is in Cape Girardeau and Jackson, educating students and parents about drugs. Tonight she will speak with parents at Alma Schrader Elementary School. The program, "How to Drug Proof Your Child," begins at 7 p.m. and is open to anyone who would like to attend...

Many Cape Girardeau citizens irate over recent changes in the city's solid waste service evidently will be pleased they won't have to endure a $5 fee for collection of discarded Christmas trees after the holidays. The Cape Girardeau City Council Monday nixed a plan to charge $5 for collection of discarded Christmas trees. The council voted to provide the service free, provided residents call in tree-collection requests...

Alicia just moved to Cape Girardeau with her mother and older brother. The 6-year-old and her family are staying with Alicia's aunt as her mother searches for a job. When they moved here, Alicia could only pack a few belongings, just enough things to fit in her suitcase and a few toys...

Despite a federal appeals court ruling, Southeast Missouri lawmakers say Missouri's constitution won't allow the state to take out a loan to pay for Kansas City school desegregation costs. "We can't do that," said state Rep. Dennis Ziegenhorn, D-Sikeston. "The constitution says we cannot deficit spend and as far as I'm concerned, when you borrow money, that is deficit spending."...

The Cape Girardeau City Council Monday voted to forward proposals for use of the city's tourism fund revenue to the Convention and Visitors Bureau Advisory Board for recommendations. The council voted Oct. 21 to solicit proposals for use of the convention and tourism funds, which now are used almost exclusively to fund the city's Convention and Visitors Bureau and retire the debt on a $5 million bond issue used to help build the Show Me Center...

JACKSON -- Although the filing period doesn't open for another month, a Jackson alderman says he will file for re-election to a third term. Ward 3 Alderman Glenn Oldham made that announcement after Monday night's meeting of the Jackson Board of Aldermen. The other aldermen said they would make their intentions known next month...

JACKSON - Expanding transportation is the top priority of the Cape Girardeau County Senior Services Board's first budget, which has been approved by the county commission. The board recommended to the commission that $205,501 be allocated to 11 different agencies from the first-year receipts of the 5-cent property tax levy, approved by voters in April to provide programs for county residents age 60 and over...

SCOTT CITY - Edith Davidson, president of Scott City's Community Betterment Association, was appointed Monday as Ward 2 councilman to fill the seat of former councilman Jim Cauble. Davidson was appointed to the position by Mayor Shirley Young. Cauble informed city officials last week that he intended to resign. He said his job kept him out of town and unable to attend council meetings...

A one-word description of Mrs. E would be sweet; She takes time to ask about the welfare of her friends and neighbors and does little favors to help them. What her friends may not know is that Mrs. E is struggling to make ends meet. Following a financial crisis, Mrs. E's daughter and two granddaughters came to live in Mrs. E's small apartment...

The passing of Thanksgiving and with it our grateful recognition of the good things life brings us recalls at least one rather grim bit of recent history, a crime story that found an unwelcome place in local holiday lore. The Cape Girardeau County murder of Kenneth Wood on Thanksgiving Day 1983 kept law enforcement personnel busy on what is usually a quiet day for crime. ...

Open letter to Earvin "Magic" Johnson: Like many others, I was stunned by the news that you have the AIDS virus. Your basketball prowess has been televised around the world. Your interviews and charitable involvements portray you as a compassionate man. I have you, your wife and unborn child much on my mind and in my prayers. God be with you as you face the future...

Despite adverse weather, the four-day Thanksgiving holiday period passed without traffic fatalities in Southeast Missouri and Southern Illinois. Statewide, the Missouri Highway Patrol said 13 people were killed in traffic accidents during the period, three fewer than the 16 killed during the same period last year...

SIKESTON -- Funeral service for Tony W. Clodfelter Jr. of Sikeston will be held at 2 p.m. today at Nunnelee Funeral Chapel. The Rev. Charles Buck will officiate, with burial in Memorial Park Cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home from 9 a.m. until time of service...

CHAFFEE -- Filing will begin Jan. 7 for four Chaffee City Council seats, and city voters could be asked to approve a park tax increase in the April municipal election. The council approved an ordinance at its regular meeting Monday night establishing the city election and setting the filing period. The filing period will close Feb. 4. Municipal elections in Missouri will be held April 7, said the city's attorney, David Summers...

JACKSON -- Sherry Ruth Rose, 39, of Van, Turkey, formerly of Jackson, died unexpectedly Saturday, Nov. 30, 1991, in Van. McCombs Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

PERRYVILLE -- John W. "Sonny" Tucker, 51, of Manchester, died Sunday, Dec. 1, 1991, at Cedar Croft Nursing Home in Valley Park. He was formerly of Perryville. He was born Nov. 29, 1940, in St. Louis, son of John W. and Lillian M. Franklin Tucker. Tucker was a painter...

BERTRAND -- A.E. Belt, 86, of Bertrand, died Sunday, Dec. 1, 1991, at Bertrand Retirement Home. He was born April 3, 1905, at Carrsville, Ky., son of George L. and Pearl Stoops Belt. He and Elizabeth Thompson were married Feb. 28, 1938, at Carrsville. She died Aug. 23, 1989...

CHAFFEE -- Lynn Franklin Stubbs, 54, of Chaffee, died Sunday, Dec. 1, 1991, at his home. He was born Jan. 20, 1937, in Cape Girardeau, son of Clyde Moore and Ruth Adeline Wilson Stubbs. He and Elizabeth Jeanette Halter were married June 29, 1957. Stubbs was a conductor with Burlington Railway Co., and member of Chaffee Elks Lodge 1810...

Bill J. Davis, 62, 750 Perry Avenue, died Monday, Dec. 2, 1991, at Southeast Missouri Hospital. He was born July 14, 1929, in Whitehouse, Texas, son of Hayworth and Grace Davis. He and Jeanette Morse were married in 1959 in Austin, Texas. Davis attended Kilgore Junior College, and received bachelor and master degrees from the University of Texas. ...

CAIRO, Ill. -- Robert E. Deckard, 83, of Cairo, died Sunday, Dec. 1, 1991, at Deaconess Hospital in Evansville, Ind. He was born June 16, 1908, in Oscar, Ky. Deckard owned Deckard Radio and TV Sales and Service Co. here, retiring in 1977. He was a member of Cairo Baptist Church and the Elks Lodge here...

VANDUSER -- Norma Beatrice Bramlett, 85, of Vanduser died Monday, Dec. 2, 1991, at the Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston. She was born Nov. 15, 1906 in Clarksville, Ark., daughter of Lee and Ann Throop Neal. On Sept. 15, 1932, she married Ira Bramlett, who survives of the home...

Richard A. Martin, M.D., and Steven Brown, clinical audiologist, will discuss noise trauma and noise-induced hearing loss on this week's Ask Your Doctor program Thursday. The show airs every Thursday at 8 p.m. on cable channel 13. Martha Muench and Dr. Jean A. Chapman host the program...

TODAY WAS MY paper boy's last day. I will really miss him. Good luck, Josh. I WOULD LIKE to thank the owners of Mollie's restaurant on Good Hope for the very fine Thanksgiving Day buffet. It was one of the best that I have ever enjoyed. I think they are a wonderful, fine couple, and they did a very worthwhile job putting on this Thanksgiving buffet for everyone. ...