Stories from Friday, December 20, 1991

PERRYVILLE -- Christina L. Geringer, 89, of Perryville died Thursday, Dec. 19, 1991. She was born Nov. 15, 1902, in Perry County, the daughter of Frank and Anna Berkbigler Schwein. On Feb. 27, 1922, she married Sylvester Geringer in Perryville, who preceded her in death Sept. 1, 1980...

For years, Cape Girardeau and surrounding counties have experienced healthy growth in sales tax revenue. But now that growth has slowed and in some cases declined. This trend has caused a natural concern to local governments that in many cases depend greatly on sales tax revenue to operate...

Finally I just had to see it, so I drove out to North County Park in my small Chevrolet tin can, braced for the jolt that awaited me. I drove through the park feeling as if I was preparing to gaze upon the cursed form of Medusa or the condemned ground of a witch burning. What else should I have thought? People had spoken so horribly of the little Christmas display that just didn't belong in the county park with the rest...

They're out there ... sniffing. They don't like what's in the air. What can we call them? Perfume police? Cologne cops? Fragrance fascists? They are armed for Armani, obsessed with Obsession, scandalized by Scandal. They are itching to do away with scratch 'n' sniffs. Calvin Klein graces their wanted posters...

SCOTT CITY -- Scott City firemen will deliver food baskets to 52 needy families this weekend. Other Scott City organizations are also giving the needy a helping hand this Christmas. "It makes us feel good that we're able to do something for these people," said Les Crump, Scott City fire chief. "There's nothing like going into a house with a box of food and the children hug you."...

BENTON -- Sixty-five Scott County students will graduate today from the DARE program conducted by the Scott County Sheriff's Department in cooperation with county schools. DARE stands for Drug Abuse Resistance Education. Scott County Sheriff Bill Ferrell and Deputy Sheriff Bob Knight, the DARE instructor, are scheduled to present graduation certificates to students at three schools...

BENTON -- Lois E. Fenimore, 76, of Benton Route 1, died at 1:55 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 19, 1991, at her home following an extended illness. She was born May 28, 1915, at Sikeston Route 1, daughter of Benjamin F. and Anna J. Brown Hahn. On Dec. 18, 1937, she married Ira "Rip" Fenimore in Cape Girardeau. He died Feb. 4, 1991...

Alene Abernathy, 82, 1505 Bessie, died Thursday, Dec. 19, 1991, at her home. She was born Sept. 18, 1909, in Cape Girardeau, daughter of Robert and Tunie Duncan Tooke. She married Elmer Abernathy Nov. 22, 1927, in Mounds, Ill. Abernathy worked at Sally Ann Shop on Main Street 10 years, and at Mr. C's 10 years. She was a member of Grace United Methodist Church...

William F. Stehr, 86, of Cape Girardeau, died Wednesday, Dec. 18, 1991, at St. Francis Medical Center. He was born March 12, 1905, in Cape Girardeau, son of Rudolph W. and Barbara Franz Stehr. He and Gertrude L. Schwartz were married Oct. 25, 1928, in Cape Girardeau. She died Sept. 21, 1988...

MARBLE HILL -- Roxanne D. Irvin, 2 months, of Hannibal, died Wednesday, Dec. 18, 1991, in a Hannibal hospital. She was born Oct. 10, 1991, at Hannibal, daughter of Jack and Juanita Irvin. Survivors include her parents; paternal grandparents, P.R. and Anna Irvin of Marble Hill; maternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Guerra of State of Texas, and paternal great-grandmother, Hattie Irvin of Marble Hill...

VANDUSER - Ruby A. Gregory, 77, of Woodlawn, Calif., formerly of Vanduser, died Tuesday, Dec. 17, 1991, at her home. She was born May 28, 1914 at Parma, to Albert M. and Addie M. Valliant Phegley. On June 18, 1934, she married Don Gregory, who survives...

EAST PRAIRIE -- Funeral service for Randy Sims, East Prairie Star Route, will be held at 2 p.m. today at First Christian Church. The Rev. Dave Bowden will officiate, with burial in Anniston Cemetery near Anniston. Friends may call at the church after 10 a.m...

MCCLURE, Ill. -- Funeral service for Marie Burchyett of McClure will be held at 3 p.m. Saturday at Ford and Sons Sprigg Street Chapel in Cape Girardeau, Mo. The Rev. F.M. Speakman will officiate, with burial in Lindsey Cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home after 5 p.m. today...

Dear Editor: Although not a resident of Cape Girardeau, I am in full accord with The Public Mind letter signed last week by four men which in effect says: "Do not mess up the Show Me Center." In my opinion, this beautiful structure is, in architect's terminology, a closed unit. Adding to it would give the impression of a "lean-to." Would anyone ever think of concocting an addition to the Jackson courthouse?...

Funeral service for Creasie M. Moore, 412 Koch, has been changed to 1 p.m. Saturday at True Christian Pentecostal Witnesses Church. The Rev. Rick Dotson will officiate, with burial in Fairmount Cemetery. Friends may call at the church from 5-9 p.m. today...

BELL CITY -- Queen Eva Dogan, 79, Bell City Route 1, died Tuesday, Dec. 17, 1991, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. She was born May 19, 1912, in Como, Miss., daughter of Silas and Evelina Weakley. She married Lee Andrew Dogan Feb. 16, 1930, who preceded her in death...

Funeral service for Earl Wagoner of Odessa was held recently at First United Methodist Church there. Burial was in McKendree Cemetery near Odessa. Wagoner, 102, died Friday, Dec. 13, 1991, at Western Missouri Medical Clinic in Warrensburg, after a brief illness...

LEOPOLD -- James Edward Revell, 38, Leopold Route 1, died Wednesday, Dec. 18, 1991, at his home. He was born Jan. 31, 1952, in Sacramento, Calif., son of Loren A. and Dorothy L. Huffman Revell. Revell was a carpenter, and had lived in Bollinger County eight years...

Cape Girardeau County's Child Fatality Review Team is ready to go. "We're ready if we're called upon, but hopefully situations will never present themselves in Cape Girardeau County where we'll have to use it," said county Coroner and team member John Carpenter. "Those chances are probably pretty slim."...

If Southeast Missouri is to get its fair share of $2.6 billion in federal highway money the state will get over the next six years, officials need to identify and unite behind priority projects, members of the Tri County Coalition were advised Thursday...

Evelyn Leigh Beussink of Jackson has been named the Breakfast Exchange Club Youth of the Month for December. Beussink, 18, is a student at Notre Dame High School. She is the daughter of Bob and Nan Beussink. She is a member of the Future Business Leaders of America, the Liturgy Committee, SADD, French Club, and is senior class president. She has been on the honor roll for four years...

JEFFERSON CITY--The Show-Me State is playing host to a handful of potentially dangerous insurgents who could wreak havoc on native Missourians. Even more frightening, there are tens of thousands more of these unwanted emigrants waiting outside our borders. Any one of them could throw our system into chaos and cause serious economic losses...

"Missouri Fishing Regulations" and "Missouri Hunting & Trapping Regulations," 32-page publications created by the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC), are now available for Missouri sportsmen. "The two publications have been distributed in quantity to all vendors of Missouri hunting and fishing licenses," said Jerry J. Presley, MDC director. "These are summaries of the `Wildlife Code of Missouri,' which is still available."...