Stories from Thursday, August 27, 1992

Since he was first elected to Congress in 1980, Bill Emerson has sung a hymn of reform concerning the way that institution does its business. As Emerson alerted his constituents and others about the failing nature of the federal legislative enterprise, Congress continued under haphazard management and fell into broad, national disrepute. ...

The 8th congressional district Democratic committee will hold its organizational meeting Friday at 7:30 p.m. in Poplar Bluff. Originally, the meeting had been planned Saturday in Dexter; however, schedule conflicts for some committee members forced the change to Friday, said Todd McBride, the party's district chairman...

The Salvation Army is helping needy families by giving school supplies to children. The program began this week and continues through Friday, Sept. 25. Persons needing school supplies for their children should come by the office at 701 Good Hope between 1 and 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Supplies will not be distributed during any other hours...

Retinal disease will be the topic of Thursday's "Ask Your Doctor" TV show on cable Channel 13. Dr. David Westrich will present the program, which begins at 8 p.m. Local viewers can call in questions. The program is sponsored jointly by St. Francis Medical Center, Southeast Missouri Hospital and the Cape Girardeau County Medical Society...

The Broadway Community Theater will open its second season in October and will hold auditions next week for the first production. The theater board president, Susie Felker, said the second season marks a major accomplishment for the group, which started last year as a family-oriented group of thespians who just want to have a good time...

The MDA Jerry Lewis Telethon, scheduled for Labor Day Weekend, needs volunteers, said Darlene Allen, president of the Muscular Dystrophy Association's Twin Rivers Chapter. The telethon begins at 10:30 a.m. Sept. 6 and will run uninterrupted until 6 p.m. Sept. 7. It can be seen locally on KFVS-12 and will be broadcast locally from West Park Mall...

The 33rd Annual Missouri State Square 'N Round Dance will be held at the Show Me Center Oct. 16-18. The event is hosted by the Southeast and Mineral Districts Square and Round Dance Clubs. On Oct. 16, the dancing begins at 7 p.m. and will continue at 9 a.m. on the morning of Oct. 17 and then pick up again on the morning of Oct. 18...

BENTON -- The 24th annual Benton Neighbor Day celebration will be held Sept. 4 and 5. Highlights include a skydiver show. The fun begins at 5 p.m. on Sept. 4 with the opening of the midway and registration for prizes at the Chamber of Commerce booth...

page 1a jackson READ j.r. Jackson welcomes 150 additional students on the first day of school Wednesday JACKSON Jackson public schools welcomed about 150 more students on the first day of classes Wednesday than it did on the first day of school last year...

After nearly 40 years, the auditorium at Cape Girardeau Central High School is slated for a facelift. The project calls for replacement of approximately 900 seats in the auditorium. In addition to replacing the seats, the project includes replacing stage curtains and adding carpet in the aisles and the front and back of the auditorium...

FARRAR -- A minor earthquake rattled windows and houses and awoke some people in parts of Southeast Missouri Thursday morning. No damage or injuries were reported. The quake registered 3.5 on the Richter scale at St. Louis University's seismograph. At Southeast Missouri State University, the quake measured between 3.3 and 3.5 on the seismograph at Magill Hall of Science. The National Earthquake Information Center at Golden, Colo., registered it at 3.2...

Mild, dry weather this summer has enabled the Cape LaCroix Creek-Walker Branch flood control project to proceed ahead of schedule, says Ken Eftink, Cape Girardeau's planning services coordinator. The first segment of the project a joint effort by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the city of Cape Girardeau involves construction of concrete and rip rap creek channel along Cape LaCroix Creek from just south of Bloomfield Road to Arena Park...

Strip away SueAnn Strom's professional veneer and what you find is a woman who genuinely likes students. It may not be in the job description, but Strom the new vice president of student affairs at Southeast Missouri State University says it's at the core of her career...

The Cape Girardeau Board of Education will meet today at noon to discuss hiring an architectural firm to begin the planning process for construction of new school buildings. Also on the agenda is approval of non-resident tuition rates. A representative of architectural firm The Christner Partnership, Inc., of St. Louis, was in town Tuesday to talk with Superintendent Neyland Clark. The architect also spoke to teachers at the opening of a school ceremony held Tuesday...

JACKSON -- Funeral service for Thelka E. Bruening of Jackson will be held at 10 a.m. today at St. Paul Lutheran Church. The Rev. Lawrence Eatherton will officiate, with burial in Jackson City Cemetery. McCombs Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements...

CAIRO, Ill. -- Funeral service for Arthur Fields of Cairo will be held at 1 p.m. today at Algee Memorial Chapel. The Rev. A.M. Brooks will officiate, with burial in Spencer Heights Memorial Park at Mounds. Friends may call at the funeral home from 11 a.m. until service time...

SIKESTON -- Funeral service for Ronald Lee Northern of Sikeston will be held at 2 p.m. today at Nunnelee Funeral Chapel. The Rev. Dan Stoffel will officiate, with burial in Armer Cemetery at Bertrand. Friends may call at the funeral home from 9 a.m. until service time...

ELCO, Ill. -- Mary Rachel James Sowers, 93, of West Frankfort, died Tuesday, Aug. 25, 1992, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. She was born April 7, 1899, in Elco, daughter of John Ellsworth and Mary Ella Lentz Newell. She married Darrell James, who died July 31, 1954...

ANNA, Ill. -- Harry H. "Sonny" Boyer, 68, of Miami, Fla., formerly of Anna, died at his Miami home Tuesday, Aug. 25, 1992, as a result of Hurricane Andrew. Funeral arrangements are incomplete and will be announced later by the Crain Funeral Home of Anna...

Luther Eugene "Gene" Thornton, 72, of St. Louis, died Monday, Aug. 24, 1992 at his home in St. Louis. He was born April 14, 1920 in St. Louis, the son of Bert and Sarah Brooks Thornton. He is survived by two sons, Richard Thornton, Kingwood Texas, Barry Thornton, Cape Girardeau; two daughters, Debbie Crenshaw, Walls, Miss., Cindy Halupnik, Memphis, Tenn.; one brother, Ralph Thornton, St. Louis; six grandchildren and one great-grandchild...

CLARKTwin daughters to Tammy Lynn Clark, New Madrid Route 1, Southeast Missouri Hospital, Sunday, Aug. 16, 1992. Corey Marissa was born at 5:10 a.m. and weighed 5 pounds 11 ounces. Courtney Miraha was born at 5:12 a.m. and weighed 6 pounds. Miss Clark is the daughter of Eddie and Karen Clark of New Madrid...

PERRYVILLE -- Roy J. Manche, 81, of Perryville, died Tuesday, Aug. 25, 1992, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. He was born April 13, 1911, in Perry County, son of Frank and Georgia Tucker Manche. He and Olive Beinlien were married Nov. 11, 1939...