Stories from Thursday, January 9, 1992

Dear Editor: Another year has passed and with the end of the Christmas season, we would like to thank the individuals and businesses involved with Operation Toybox. The past year was an interesting one for this project. With a shortened Christmas season and an economy in recession, the Jaycees were frankly quite worried about the course of Toybox as we began in November. ...

Cape Girardeau's Planning and Zoning Commission Wednesday unanimously approved a plan by Southeast Missouri Hospital to move its helicopter landing pad to the east side of the hospital. According to a letter to the commission from Steve Strom, the hospital's lawyer, the helicopter pad will be moved from atop the multi-story parking garage west of the main building to the new site as part of a major addition to the hospital...

SCOTT CITY -- Residents of Scott City who look for the town's property tax rate to decrease might have to wait until after the turn of the century before they realize any tax relief. City officials estimate the property tax rate will continue to increase at least until the city's bond indebtedness is paid off in 2003...

"I didn't think I was emotionally up to it," says Melody Hutson when she talks of winning the title of Mrs. Missouri one year ago in Cape Girardeau. Her husband had been sent to Saudi Arabia just days before the pageant, and she knew her daughter might also be leaving to serve in Desert Storm...

It's time again to choose the next Mrs. Missouri, and once again the pageant will be held in Cape Girardeau. "This pageant is a very exciting and glamorous event just for married women," said Deborah McConnell of Cape Girardeau, state pageant director...

The Southeast Missouri State University Choral Union will begin its spring rehearsal schedule Tuesday, Jan. 14. The Choral Union is open to community and church choir singers, as well as all university students, faculty and staff. John B. Egbert, coordinator of choral and vocal studies at the university, is director of the group...

PERRYVILLE -- A 50s and 60s dance featuring King and the Jukebox Jammers will be held from 8 p.m. to midnight Jan. 25 at the American Legion Hall in Perryville. The dance is a fund-raiser for the Perry County Memorial Hospital to pay for three flag poles and a plaque that will honor area veterans. The flags will be placed in front of the hospital...

ST. LOUIS A family workshop, "Friends in the Rainforest," will be offered Jan. 19, 25, and 26 and Feb. 1 and 2 at the St. Louis Science Center. The workshop features a tour of the special traveling exhibit, "Tropical Rainforests: A Disappearing Treasure," and hands-on activities to learn more about the fauna of the rainforest ecosystem. Participants will also make a creature, have a snack and hear stories of the tropical forests...

Photographs of Main Street during the flood of 1951, children picking cotton in Missouri's Bootheel and river boats docked along Cape Girardeau's riverfront are all included in an exhibit that opens Friday at the Cape Girardeau Public Library. The "Garland D. ...

JACKSON -- A student from Jackson is among nine University of Missouri-Rolla students who have been named national outstanding leaders in the 1992 edition of "Who's Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges." Dwight Douglas Haney, a senior in geological engineering, was selected for the annual directory. Students are selected based on their academic achievement, service to the community, leadership in co-curricular activities and potential for continued success...

The television program, "Live with Regis and Kathie Lee," is looking for a couple to marry on its Valentine's Day wedding show. To be considered for a chance to tie the knot in from of daytime viewers of the program, send a short letter, one page or less, stating why you and your fiance should be chosen. Enclose a recent photo of you and your fiance, with your names, addresses, and daytime and evening phone numbers...

The Missouri General Assembly returned to Jefferson City yesterday for a regular session that will continue well into the month of May. Was there ever a session that did not begin with legislators bemoaning the "tight state budget situation" that made budgetary decisions difficult?...

The news item that caught our attention was small. Perhaps that's because it was so routine, or perhaps because we accept some tax dollar payouts as a matter of course. That's our blunder. This story on yet another asbestos removal project points out something larger. Science and government aren't often thrifty in their relationship, and widespread complacency in understanding what drains the public coffers costs us dearly...

To whom it may concern or may NOT concern: Let me tell you a thing or two. On national TV news the other day, I saw such a completely disgusting display of class hatred that I became enraged myself, and wished I had the wherewithal to go personally to BEAT some of the fine, upstanding citizens of this fair land on account of the opinions expressed!...

To whom it may concern: I am a native of Cape Girardeau who recently returned home for the holidays. I spent the better portion of an afternoon driving through Cape viewing the progress of new homes and businesses that seem to be popping up overnight. I was even more amazed to see the number of homes, businesses, and offices that proudly display the American flag. It feels good to have roots in a community which boldly flies the colors and would never stand to see Old Glory burned in disgrace...

Missouri Secretary of State Roy Blunt will formally announce his candidacy for governor in a series of news conferences around the state today and Friday. Blunt will kickoff his first day of announcements at his home town in Strafford. He will also make stops today in Kansas City, Jefferson City and St. Louis, before winding up in Cape Girardeau...

Several area funeral homes have reported an inordinately high number of deaths over the past month or so. While no one knows what has caused the high number of deaths, funeral directors speculated that holiday stress and changing weather patterns might play a role...

The Missouri Highway and Transportation Department is touting a 6-cent increase in the state's gasoline tax that would be used to match additional federal funds available from a new highway bill. Approval of the increase would enable Missouri to embark on a major highway construction effort over the next 15 years...

BENTON -- Southeast Missouri State University student Shaina Schiwitz is sitting down on the job. Since Jan. 2, the 20-year-old sophomore has been spending her weekdays camped out in a reclining chair outside the Scott County clerk's office in the courthouse at Benton from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m...

The Convention and Visitors Bureau will continue operations in Cape Girardeau if the bureau's advisory board has its way. The board voted unanimously Wednesday to continue the bureau's operations as it trimmed a list of more than 30 funding proposals to eight during a special session held at the city manager's office in City Hall...

The death of any person is a cause for sadness, but if a child dies as a result of a criminal act or accident it is a particularly tragic event. For several years Missouri authorities have believed too many children who die are being buried without the cause of death ever being determined...

SCOTT CITY -- Glenn Alwyn Elliott, 84, of Scott City, died Wednesday, Jan. 8, 1992, at St. Francis Medical Center. He was born Nov. 29, 1907, in Jonesboro, Ark., son of Bedford and Mary Smith Elliott. He and Martha Jean Oliver were married Nov. 9, 1942, in Clayton...

Loy L. Hampton, 85, of Cape Girardeau, died Wednesday, Jan. 8, 1992, at Southeast Missouri Hospital. He was born May 21, 1906, at Whitewater, son of Martin and Cora Lape Hampton. He and Delores Ford were married July 7, 1930, at Jackson. Hampton moved to Atlanta, Ga., in 1929 where he was an inspector with Greyhound Bus Co. He returned to Cape Girardeau in the early 1930s and helped establish L.A. Tucker Truck Lines...

BENTON -- In the obituary of Cleta G. Pattengill in Wednesday's Southeast Missourian, the last names of her brothers were printed incorrectly. It should have read Claude Kirby of St. Louis and Cliff Kirby of the state of Pennsylvania. Pattengill, 76, of Benton, died Monday, Jan. 6, 1992...

CHAFFEE -- Tommy Lee Thomas, 72, of Chaffee, died Wednesday, Jan. 8, 1992, at the Missouri Veterans Home. He was born Jan. 21, 1919, in Cape Girardeau, son of Charles Rufus Thomas and Susie Brandenburg Thomas. He married Peggy Kittle of Cape Girardeau on Nov. 14, 1940. She survives...

CAIRO, Ill. -- Richard D. Cantrell, 84, of Cairo, died Tuesday, Jan. 7, 1992, on arrival at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. He was born Jan. 10, 1907, at Benton, son of Beth and Della Mae Donovan Cantrell. Cantrell was a merchant marine 50 years, and member of Tigert Methodist Church here...

EAST PRAIRIE -- Cecil William Taylor, 81, of East Prairie, died Tuesday, Jan. 7, 1992, at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston. He was born Jan. 17, 1910, in Clinton, Ky., son of John William and Robbie Jefferson Jackson Taylor. He and Rosie E. Burnes were married June 15, 1929...

PERRYVILLE -- Estella Ann Slater, 81, of Perryville, died Tuesday, Jan. 7, 1992, at Perry County Hospital. She was born Feb. 26, 1910, at Ste. Genevieve, daughter of Joseph and Josephine Trautman Kohm. She married Walter F. Slater Sept. 27, 1952, who died in 1961...

GORDONVILLE -- A state and the name of a sister was incorrectly provided to the Southeast Missouri in the obituary of Lorene Ulrich Hood that appeared in Wednesday's newspaper. Among the survivors are a son, Charles Hood of Marion, Ark., and a sister, Marjorie Medlin of St. Charles...

ULLIN, Ill. -- Doris Gaskill, 79, of Ullin, died Tuesday, Jan. 7, 1992, at his home. He was born Feb. 8, 1912, at Mattoon, son of Holdie Leroy and Emma Brewer Gaskill. He and Linnie Sullinger were married Feb. 22, 1930. Survivors include his wife; a son, Paul Gaskill of Manito; a daughter, Angel Henneberg of Kansas City, Mo.; five brothers, Harland Gaskill of Ullin, Morton Gaskill of O'Fallon, James Gaskill of Hot Springs Village, Ark., Don Gaskill of Anna, Von Gaskill of Molalla, Ore.; six sisters, Sylvia Kee of Anna, Mary Gibbs of Las Vegas, Nev., Jewell Price of Central Point, Ore., Naomi Severs of Sullivan, Ind., Patsy Britt of Ullin, Ruby Brust of Brooksville, Fla.; three grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren.. ...

Daughter to Mr. and Mrs. Shelton Hempstead, 623 Jefferson, Southeast Missouri Hospital, 2:13 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 2, 1992. Name, Kayla Denise. Weight, 6 pounds 7 ounces. Mrs. Hempstead is the former Barbara Long, daughter of Taft Rice of Charleston and Sonya Long of Cape Girardeau. Hempstead is the son of Shelton Hempstead Sr. and Mata Hempstead of Cape Girardeau...

CHAFFEE -- Three of four Chaffee City Council members have filed for re-election. Filing opened Tuesday, and closes Feb. 4. Jerry Wolsey of Ward 1, Ron Eskew of Ward 3 and Brad Bader of Ward 4 have all filed for re-election. Ward 2 Councilwoman Irmgard Chronister has not yet filed, but said she plans to do so...