Stories from Tuesday, March 17, 1992

Dear Editor: As members of the majority of the Budget Review Committee who voted to cut Southeast's athletic budget by $250,000, we feel that it is necessary for us to present the compelling arguments for this move. Despite misleading statements by the athletic director and others, intercollegiate athletics costs the taxpayer and the students a great deal of money. ...

The Salvation Army has kicked off a million-dollar, capital campaign for a new building, which will be constructed near the South Sprigg-Good Hope intersection in Cape Girardeau. Fred R. "Rock" and Judy Wilferth have been named as co-chairpersons for the campaign by Salvation Army Capt. Elmer N. Trapp...

JACKSON - Although it is too early to note any trends, Cape Girardeau County officials are generally pleased with the first three sales tax checks received for 1992. After several years of good growth, the county's half-cent sales tax was flat in 1991, with a growth rate of just .28 percent. In 1990, the county's sales tax growth was 4.46 percent...

Cape Girardeau's proposed five-year Capital Improvements Plan came under fire at Monday's city council meeting. Councilman David Barklage said he thought the council should be responsible for cutting projects in the plan, rather than abdicating the burden to the city administrative staff...

JACKSON - Orval Thorne, the owner of Sands Pancake House, entered the political arena Monday by filing as a Democratic candidate for Cape Girardeau County treasurer. "I just started getting interested in politics the last two to three years and decided what the heck, I've got nothing to lose and everything to gain," said Thorne...

SCOTT CITY -- Candidates for the Scott City Council, school board and mayor will speak tonight at an open forum sponsored by the Scott City Chamber of Commerce. The forum will follow a chamber meeting and will begin at about 7:40 p.m. at Henson's Cafe, 1302 Main Street. At least 10 candidates will participate, said Cherie Hillman, chamber president...

Eighty women, including 28 from Cape Girardeau, who have made substantial contributions to Girl s couting were honored Sunday at an 80th anniversary celebration of the Girl Scouts of America. The Otahki Girl Scout Council covers an 11-county area that includes Southeast Missouri and Southern Illinois. More than 1,500 girls and adult volunteers attended the celebration at Cape Girardeau Central High School...

JACKSON -- The Board of Aldermen on a 5-4 vote Monday night rejected a 2 percent pay hike for city employees, with Mayor Carlton Meyer casting the tie-breaking vote. The motion submitted by Alderman Phil Johnston would have instructed the city attorney to draw up an ordinance spelling out the pay hike...

To the casual observer, the Task Force on Critical Choices for Higher Education may seem like just another in a long line of seemingly futile efforts to improve education. But this task force, set up by the Missouri Coordinating Board for Higher Education, offers high hopes for real improvements...

Son to Mr. and Mrs. Lee R. Bollinger, Advance Route 2, Southeast Missouri Hospital, 11:54 p.m. Friday, March 6, 1992. Name, Brian Lee. Weight, 10 pounds 2 ounces. First child. Mrs. Bollinger is the former Laura Stotts, daughter of Larry and Rose Stotts of Zalma. Bollinger is employed by Robertson Contractors Inc., and is the son of Ross and Georgia Bollinger of Advance...

The Missouri State Water Patrol today plans to retrieve a vehicle found last week in the Mississippi River downstream from the Union Electric water plant pump station at Cape Girardeau. Sgt. Carl Kinnison of the Cape Girardeau Police Department said Monday that the city was waiting for the water patrol to bring the equipment and personnel needed to retrieve the vehicle...

NEW MADRID -- H. Riley Bock of New Madrid has been appointed to the Trial of Tears National Historic Trail Advisory Council, U.S. Rep. Bill Emerson announced Monday. The purpose of the council is to consult with the U.S. Department of the Interior on development of a comprehensive plan and other matters relating to the trail...

SCOTT CITY -- The conduct of Scott City reserve police officers was scrutinized Monday at a Scott City Council meeting, mostly by a citizen who called the officers "little monsters." "You give them a gun and a badge and they turn into little monsters," said Randy Newell, referring to the six-member reserve force. The force is made up mostly of college students qualified to act as police officers, but who work on a volunteer basis to gain experience in the field...

CHAFFEE -- Chaffee Councilman Brad Bader proposed Monday that the city start a Saturday morning compost operation at the city's former sewage treatment plant. The councilman made the suggestion at the regular Chaffee City Council meeting. No action was taken, but other city council members seemed receptive to the proposal. Mayor Ron Moyers said the city would get the matter worked out...

CHARLESTON -- Viola F. Miller, 87, of Charleston, died Sunday, March 15, 1992, at Charleston Manor, following an extended illness. She was born Dec. 15, 1904, in the state of Louisiana. She married Oscar Miller March 16, 1925, who died Aug. 2, 1978...

JACKSON -- Ralph William Wooldridge, 70, of Taft, Calif., died Saturday, March 14, 1992, at his home. He was born Aug. 20, 1921, in Mayfield. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II. Wooldridge was a bus driver and custodian with McKittrick Schools six and a half years. He later owned and operated Westside Janitorial four years. He moved to Jackson in 1984, and returned to Taft in April 1991...

ANNA, Ill. -- Hazel Halterman, 78, of Anna, died Sunday, March 15, 1992, at Union County Hospital. She was born May 12, 1913, at Cypress, daughter of Charles Samuel and Ollie Day Casper Peeler. She married Austin O. Halterman Nov. 2, 1936, in Marion...

SIKESTON -- Elmo Wilson, 69, of Sikeston, died Monday, March 16, 1992, at Missouri Delta Medical Center. Shelby Funeral Home at East Prairie is in charge of arrangements.

JACKSON -- Private graveside service for Sarah Ann Sander will be held today at Russell Heights Cemetery. The Rev. Jim Sanderson will officiate. The infant, 9 months old, died Saturday, March 14, 1992, at her home in Bristol, Vt. She was born June 5, 1991, in Portland, Maine, daughter of Michael and Cindy Rounds Sander...

Ora B. Withers, 84, 811 N. Spanish, died Monday, March 16, 1992, at the Lutheran Home in Cape Girardeau. Funeral arrangements will be announced later by Ford and Sons Mount Auburn Chapel.

"Eating of the Greens" is this year's theme for the Great American Food Fight sponsored by the Cape Girardeau County unit of the American Cancer Society. This week's food fight week coincides with the St. Patrick's Day holiday. The annual event is a lighthearted attempt to deliver a serious message: eating the right foods may lower the risks of certain cancers...