Stories from Wednesday, February 12, 1992

One doesn't have to look far to encounter the fruits of a burgeoning federal bureaucracy. The Public Works Committee of the U.S. House of Representatives at the request of U.S. Rep. Bill Emerson last week authorized the General Services Administration to conduct a study of space needs for all federal agencies based in Cape Girardeau...

It was 11 years ago that Missourians made their first payment on a bill that a federal court judge said several million men, women and children living elsewhere in the state owed the St. Louis School District for alleged crimes of segregation. It can be argued that many of these designated debtors had little or no culpability over what occurred in the City of St. ...

Mike Tyson is two of the kinds of people America loves most. As it happens, they are polar opposites. First, he is the rags-to-riches hero of storybooks, a street kid taken under the wing of a kindly old man who cultivated an enormous talent the world would not have otherwise known...

If you've seen Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck or Sylvester in town during the past two days, it's because Six Flags Over Mid America is in Cape Girardeau promoting the 1992 season. "We're looking forward to a great year," said Elizabeth Gotway, public relations supervisor for Six Flags...

EGYPT MILLS -- The East County Fire Protection District took delivery of its newest piece of firefighting equipment on Saturday, and used it the same day. The 1992 Pierce Suburban pumper made its first run Saturday to a vehicle fire. "We're very proud of the new fire truck," said Fire Chief Jim Hanks. "It's going to be a very important part of our firefighting equipment."...

In frontier villages books were found in homes; not many books, but those that were brought west with belongings of pioneers were precious and well read. There were no libraries on the frontier, but after libraries were established residents made use of them, and those who could not read were encouraged to learn...

Cape Girardeau City Councilman Hugh White, contemplating a race for the Missouri Senate, withdrew Tuesday as a candidate for re-election. White said he hasn't decided whether to seek the Democratic nomination for the Senate from the 27th district, however, Tuesday was the last day he could have his name removed from the ballot for the April 7 city council election...

Pre-schoolers and college students teamed up Tuesday to decorate Valentine's Day cookies. But organizers say a whole lot more was going on. The Greek system of sororities and fraternities at Southeast Missouri State University has adopted the Cape Girardeau Head Start pre-school program...

JEFFERSON CITY - All Southeast Missouri lawmakers Tuesday joined the legislature's overwhelming support of a 6-cent increase in the state's fuel tax over the next five years. "It's been a pretty dramatic day," said Rep. Mary Kasten, R-Cape Girardeau, in assessing the more than five hours of debate on the measure...

Crews are putting the finishing touches on a three-story, 198-space parking facility at Southeast Missouri Hospital. The structure opened for parking this week. Completion of the parking facility was the first step in Southeast's five-year building plan. The hospital plans a $30 million expansion that will increase the size of the facility by more than 40 percent...

EAST CAPE GIRARDEAU, Ill. -- Ted, at 7 feet tall and 500 pounds, has never been pinned in a wrestling match. Crowds gather at bars throughout Southern Illinois to watch him take on anyone foolish enough to try. But despite his success and popularity, he's been thrown out of a bar or two...

BARBARA KINSEY Occupation: Secretary, Sports Information/New Bureau, Southeast Missouri State University. The best part of my job is: "The people I work with, and my job duties, which are ever-changing." The best part of my life will be when: "I take my dream vacation to Alaska."...

JACKSON - The Jackson School District has decided to take an agricultural exemption and will begin the 1992-93 school year on Aug. 26. Under a state law passed several years ago, school districts must meet certain criteria if they want to begin school before Labor Day...

CHAFFEE - A traffic ticket written in November against former Police Chief Ivan McLain at the order of Mayor Ron Moyers has been dismissed. The ticket, which charged McLain with having no license plate on a vehicle he was driving, was formerly dismissed last Wednesday night, City Attorney David Summers said. Chaffee city court was held that night. The city's Municipal Judge is David Mann...

SCOTT CITY -- Two incum~bents and a third candidate will vie for two seats on the Scott City School Board. Running for the seats in the April election are incumbents Kevin Hillemann and Tom Anderson. The third candidate is Ray Smith. Other board members whose seats are not up for re-election are Jerry Pettit, Board President Mike Ruth, Gale Dale and Robert Wadlington...

BURFORDVILLE - The Bollinger Mill State Historic Site is helping to recognize Black History Month with an exhibit on 19th century black migration in the United States. Missouri Department of Natural Resources Director Tracy Mehan said the department is featuring special exhibits, handouts or activities at 19 state historic sites and two state parks in recognition of the month...

Marcia Mae Nordin, 68, 2525 Boutin Drive, died Monday, Feb. 10, 1992, at Cape LaCroix Manor. She was born March 22, 1923, at Chaffee, daughter of Harry Francis and Emma Laura Bolen Clark. Nordin had been a floor lady in the women's dress department at Weber Manufacturing Co. in St. Louis...

Son to Mr. and Mrs. Larry McClain of Poplar Bluff, 1:44 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 16, 1992. Name, Brent Thomas. Weight, 7 pounds 4 ounces. Second child, first son. Mrs. McClain is the former Nancy Horrell, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Edward Horrell of Marble Hill. McClain is a marketing associate with Hardin's Sysco Food Services Inc. of Memphis, Tenn., and is the son of Armella McClain of Kelso...

CAIRO, Ill. -- Wilhelma Spence, 87, of Cairo, died Monday, Feb. 10, 1992, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau, Mo. She was born Nov. 2, 1904, in Cairo, daughter of William and Anna Bader Spence. Spence received a degree in nursing from St. Mary's Hospital School of Nursing here. She was a registered nurse at the hospital until retiring in 1972. She was also a private duty nurse for many years. Spence was a member of St. Patrick's Catholic Church...

ADVANCE -- Funeral service for Capt. Warren J. Klingaman of Louisville, Ky., will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday at Morgan Funeral Chapel. The Rev. Joel Danner will officiate, with burial in Green Cox Cemetery near here. Friends may call at the funeral home from 7-9 tonight...

ELCO, Ill. -- Hardy Harper "Dunk" Johnson, 70, of Elco, died Monday, Feb. 10, 1992, at Massac Memorial Hospital in Metropolis. He was born March 8, 1921, in Sandusky, son of Gus Everett and Edna Mae Harper Johnson. Johnson worked 32 years at Hunter Packing Co. in St. Louis. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II...

Ethel Marie Bollinger Ratledge, 83, 1102 S. Sprigg, died Tuesday, Feb. 11, 1992, at Southeast Missouri Hospital. She was born Jan. 17, 1909, at Scopus, daughter of Thomas and Anna Craig Brown. She married Earl Bollinger Dec. 20, 1926, in Bollinger County. He died March 15, 1984. She later married Marvin Ratledge June 7, 1986, at Benton...

CHAFFEE - James A. Chronister, 87, of Chaffee, died Tuesday, Feb. 11, 1992 at the Chaffee Nursing Center. Arrangements were incomplete Tuesday evening at Amick-Burnett Funeral Chapel at Chaffee.

Robert Neff of Cape Girardeau has been selected by the Missouri Jaycees as one of the Ten Outstanding Young Missourians for 1992. Also named to this list is Alan D. Keenan of Sikeston. The 10 awards were presented Saturday at a ceremony at Tan-Tar-A Lodge on the Lake of the Ozarks...

Humor plays a part in Virginia Sander's classroom at St. Vincent de Paul School in Cape Girardeau. "I enjoy the humor that I see in students," Sander said, "and my personality seems to encourage the expression of that humor in them. "I jump at sudden noises, and students delight at the prospect of my reaction to an unexpected announcement or the ringing of the fire alarm."...