Stories from Wednesday, May 20, 1992

At a time when public cynicism of politicians has reached record levels, it's refreshing to see good government in action. A national taxpayers watchdog organization lauded Cape Girardeau County government last week as an exemplary steward of our tax dollars...

Before Missourians get too angry over the too obvious failures of this year's session of the General Assembly, they should remind themselves that their legislative branch is a mirror of society in general. Regardless of the talent or lack of it in any state assembly, good legislation is not enacted in a vacuum, which is one way of saying that legislators are fairly accurate reflections of their constituents. ...

By the year 2020, a policy of rationing health care so that only the most affluent Missourians have access to high-tech medical procedures has been identified as one of two probable scenarios by a blue-ribbon panel of Missouri health professionals. Without substantial changes, the future of health care could be disastrous, said Toni Sullivan, dean of the University of Missouri School of Nursing and the panel's leader...

WASHINGTON -- Rep. Bill Emerson says he will be in line early today to sign a petition that will hasten a balanced budget amendment to a vote in the U.S. House. Emerson, R-Cape Girardeau, plans to include his name on a "discharge petition," which is a little-used procedural effort to force a vote on the House floor...

JACKSON - Cape Girardeau County officials say they look forward to campaigning this fall for a constitutional amendment that will increase counties' share of the state fuel tax. After several years of trying, lawmakers approved a resolution sending the amendment to voters this year...

ADVANCE -- A special salute to those who have served their country will be held Monday at Advance. A large crowd is expected to gather at Advance City Square to dedicate a veterans memorial. "The memorial will contain names of local people who have served in any component of the U.S. military," said James Harnes, chairman of a 17-person committee that is bringing the special "seven-tablet" memorial to reality...

Thunderstorms and rain showers in the area last weekend brought welcome relief for farmers in the path of the storms. But the widely scattered precipitation left many areas parched, and some crops already are beginning to reflect the impact of the dry spring weather, agriculture officials report...

Southeast Missouri State University is losing another top administrator. The assistant provost at Southeast will leave to become vice president for academic affairs at Eastern New Mexico University in Portales, N.M. University officials in New Mexico announced Dorothy Allen's acceptance of the position Tuesday. She will officially take over the post Aug. 1...

A lethal injection awaits most dogs and cats that end up at the animal shelter of the Humane Society of Southeast Missouri. In recent weeks there has been an increase in the number of unwanted animals brought in, which has meant more animals have had to be killed, said Nancy Richards, shelter administrator...

Serving as an altar boy in his younger days, David Dohogne dreamed of one day becoming a priest. On May 30, his dream will come true. Dohogne, a native of Oran, will be ordained a priest for the Catholic Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau by Bishop John J. Leibrecht at 5 p.m. in Guardian Angel Church in Oran...

Some loan customers of the former Exchange Bank of Cape Girardeau are receiving letters from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), informing them that future mortgage payments should be made to ITT Bowest in San Diego, Calif. "This transfer of servicing does not affect any terms or conditions of the note and mortgage/deed of trust," notes the letter, which was signed by Jeffrey A. ...

JONELL MCNEELY Occupation: Environmental sanitation, Cape Girardeau County Public Health Center. Pet Peeve: "I try not to concentrate on things that bother me." The best part of my job is: "Being able to help solve mysterious problems for people." The book I'd recommend is: "Whatever I've just finisued usually. Righ now that is `The Shell Seekers.'"...

MILLERSVILLE -- The Millersville Post Office on Tuesday will open in a new modular unit next door to its present office in a portion of Nelson's Store, announced Postmaster Melbern Baker. Baker said the portable facility will be one of 22 in use by post offices in rural areas of Missouri. Space in the store was being leased, he said...

Our bicentennial year reminds us of many important events that have made our history exceptional. One story occurred on this day, May 20, 1927, when Charles Augustus Lindbergh flew non-stop from New York to Paris alone in a monoplane he designed and had built by Ryan Aeronautical Co. of San Diego with funds borrowed from eight St. Louis businessmen...

The University Museum at Southeast Missouri State University will present a touring exhibition of metal and fiber art work by contemporary Korean artists and craftsmakers. The opening reception will be held from 4-6 p.m. today in the University Museum at Memorial Hall. The public is invited to attend. There is no charge. The exhibit will be on view from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday until June 22...

With summer just around the corner, the American Red Cross encourages people to donate blood at a time when donations are usually lower than normal. Area residents can help local hospital patients by donating at one of two upcoming American Red Cross blood drives...

JACKSON - Maxine Seabaugh Hartle of 615 West Washington died Tuesday, May 19, 1992 at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. She was 73. Hartle was born May 30, 1918 in Cape Girardeau to the late John O. and Sally Caroline Green Seabaugh. On July 30, 1942, she married John Fred Hartle, who preceded her in death Jan. 12, 1992...

THEBES, Ill. -- Bessie Bennett Brown of Thebes died at 2:16 p.m. Tuesday, May 19, 1992, upon arrival at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. Survivors are sons, Thomas, Marvin and Edward Bennett; a daughter, Louise Hopper; six grandchildren; four step-grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren...

ORAN -- Ethel Mattingly of Oran died Tuesday, May 19, 1992, at Sells Nursing Home in Matthews. Funeral arrangements are incomplete at the Amick-Burnett Funeral Chapel in Oran.

WYATT -- Julia Padgett, 98, died Tuesday, May 19, 1992, at the Bertrand Nursing Facility. She was born July 9, 1893, at Mt. Carmel, Ill., daughter of George and Laura Belle Wilcox. She married Anthony Padgett, who preceded her in death. Padgett was a member of Wyatt Baptist Church...

EAST PRAIRIE -- Funeral service for Alberta Burgess of East Prairie will be held at 3:30 p.m. today at Shelby Funeral Chapel. The Rev. George White will officiate, with burial in Oak Grove Cemetery. Burgess, 74, died Monday, May 18, 1992, at Missouri Delta Medical Center, following an extended illness...

CHARLESTON -- Ivy Pettigrew, 81, of Charleston, died suddenly Monday, May 18, 1992, in a doctor's office here. She was born June 30, 1910, in Marianna, Ark., daughter of Will and Ida Rogers Hutson. She first married Ernest Rateliff, who died in 1949. She later married Clarence Pettigrew, who died in 1986...

CHARLESTON -- Juanita "Scooter" Brown, 56, of Charleston, died Saturday, May 16, 1992, at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston, following a brief illness. She was born May 8, 1936, in Osceola, Ark., daughter of Leon and Mary Hunt Bradley. She married James Brown in January 1955...

JONESBORO, Ill. -- Mary Ericson, 73, of Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., died recently in Florida. She was born July 4, 1912, at Jonesboro, daughter of Joseph and Mary Lingle McDonell. Graveside service will be held later at Jonesboro Cemetery, with Crain Funeral Home of Anna in charge of arrangements...

CHARLESTON -- Amarilla Glenn, 85, of Charleston, died Monday, May 18, 1992, at East Prairie Nursing Center. She was born Dec. 27, 1906, in Mississippi County, daughter of Steve and May Harris Hargan. She married Robert Glenn Sr. March 31, 1928. He died Sept. 26, 1965...

Son to Mr. and Mrs. Kevin Whitfield of San Antonio, Texas, Southwest Texas Methodist Hospital, 7:40 p.m. Monday, April 27, 1992. Name, Stuart Gerard. Weight, 7 pounds 14 ounces. Second child, first son. Mrs. Whitfield is the former Pamela Hamm, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Gilbert Hamm of Oran. Whitfield is branch manager of Drury Southwest Inc., and is the son of Carolyn Whitfield of Chaffee and the late Henry Whitfield...

CAIRO, Ill. -- Frona Ferna Thomas, 94, of Cairo, died Tuesday, Mat 19, 1992 at Southeast Missouri Hospital. She was born in Olney, Ill. on Nov. 30, 1897, the daughter of Cyrus and Nettie Voke McKee. She married Sidney B. Thomas in 1973. He preceded her in death. She was a member of the Assembly of God Church...

Cheryl Viessman feels like a child at heart, and teaching young children helps her stay that way. Viessman is the kindergarten and first-grade transition teacher at May Greene Elementary School. "I grew up very familiar with the profession," she said. "My mother and grandmother are both teachers. I can't remember wanting to be anything else."...

The Cape Girardeau Convention and Tourism Bureau is looking for recipies for the second edition of the Escape to Cape recipie booklet. Judges will pick the best recipe submitted, and the winner will receive a $50 savings bond. Just 15 recipies will be chosen for the booklet, and deadline for entry is June 1. The first booklet was printed about two years ago. Ten thousand copies have been distributed across the nation. It is used to promote tourism in Cape Girardeau...