Stories from Thursday, September 10, 1992

The river remains Cape Girardeau's greatest tourist attraction. Majestic and steeped in our history, it lures visitors from across the nation and globe to our doorstep. That's why a plan to improve Cape Girardeau's only Mississippi River boat ramp and dock makes sense...

SIKESTON - The chairman of Missouri Veterans for Bush has called on Arkansas Gov. Bill Clinton to tell the truth about his draft record and charged that Clinton manipulated the system to avoid being drafted. "It is clear to me and to many veterans that Bill Clinton has been less than candid about his military draft record," said the chairman, Blair Moran, a Sikeston insurance agent and Vietnam veteran...

When a major disaster or catastrophe occurs in Missouri, people must be prepared to "be on their own" for at least two to three days before state and federal assistance arrives, says the Missouri State Emergency Management Agency director. "This is not a new policy for emergency response; it is one the state has had for many years," said the director, Richard Ross...

A flea market will be held Saturday at the Cape River Heritage Museum starting at 8 a.m. The museum, at 538 Independence, is currently involved in promoting Cape Girardeau as the home of the Missouri State Flag. T-shirts with an original design featuring the flag are on sale at the museum...

Travelers approaching the Mississippi River bridge from the Illinois side at Chester are greeted by a giant statue that towers some eight to 10 feet high, Chester's homage to the popular cartoon character Popeye. Popeye, who has been described as a one-eyed, potato-nosed, pipe-smoking, spinach-eating sailor, was created more than six decades ago by Chester native Elzie Chrisler Segar and has been widely featured in comic strips, comic books and movies...

Parents Without Partners Cape SEMO Chapter 519 will host a dance Sept. 19 at the Budget Inn in Cape Girardeau. The dance, from 8:30 p.m. to 1:30 a.m., is open to the public. Music is by Brice's Variety Sound System. Admission is $5 per person. Prizes and dance mixers are offered...

A youth horseshoe tournament will be held at the Jackson Knights of Columbus Hall on Sept. 19. The tournament, open to boys and girls ages 10-17, will be held rain or shine under the shelter. There will be a drawing for partners. Trophies will be awarded and refreshments will be available...

EAST PRAIRIE -- Big Oak Tree State Park in Mississippi County will celebrate Living History Day Sept. 19 focusing on the lifestyles and skills of the early Missouri settlers. Sponsored by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, activities will be held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and admission is free...

Counties are generally a layer of government overlooked by Jefferson City and even by voters at large until they run out of money to provide services and pay their bills. In recent years, these neglected cousins of governance have received a bit more notice from state officials and the legislature if only because so many have approached the border of bankruptcy. A report released the other day by State Auditor Margaret Kelly shows just how close to that border some county units have come...

Six area mental-health professionals will travel to South Florida later this month to assist hurricane victims. "It may be that we will be assigned to a crisis response team or work at South Florida State Hospital," said Mati Stone, director of clinical services for the Community Counseling Center in Cape Girardeau...

Barbara Popp spent the long Labor Day weekend laboring in Louisiana in the wake of Hurricane Andrew. So did her husband, John, along with another couple, Rocky and Becky Tallent of Millersville, and Delmar Eggimann of Gordonville. All are members of the First Baptist Church in Jackson...

JACKSON -- The Jackson Board of Education has taken the first step toward construction of a middle school by accepting in principle a recommendation of a citizens facility advisory committee. The committee, appointed this year by the school board, presented its final report to the board in late August. ...

Councilman David Limbaugh questioned Wednesday why some entities in a regional economic development organization are opposed to the group working out of the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce building. The group first met in May to develop efforts for regional economic development. But at a recent meeting, Scott City Mayor Larry Forhan said he was opposed to having the organization's executive director's office situated in the Cape chamber...

WASHINGTON - U.S. Rep. Bill Emerson was among at least 70 lawmakers cleared Wednesday of criminal wrongdoing by the Justice Department in an investigation of the House bank. The Justice Department promised more lawmakers would be exonerated in its investigation...

When Sharon Spence, 26, was in ninth grade, she took a Red Cross cardiopulmonary recusitation training course. In July she put that CPR training to good use when she helped save the life of a customer stricken with a heart attack at the fast-food restaurant where she worked in Fenton...

Boatmen's National Bank of Cape Girardeau has donated a computer network system valued at $12,600 to the Southeast Missouri University Foundation capital campaign. "We are very pleased with this most generous donation by Boatmen's Bank," said Donald K. Ford, director of University Development, "The computer system includes nine computer terminals and associated hardware, a fax, a modem, network software, and communication and accounting software."...

"Dementia" will be the topic of tonight's "Ask The Doctor" show on Channel 13 of Cable TV. Dr. Randall L. Stahly will present the program. Local viewers can call in questions to the show, which is hosted by Martha Muench and Dr. Jean Chapman. It begins at 8 p.m...

An oven-fried chicken and beef dinner will be held Sunday at St. Mark's Masonic Lodge, 2307 Broadway. Serving will be 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Cost is $5 for adults, $2.50 for children 6-12 years, and free for those under 6. The dinner is sponsored by Past Matrons and Past Patrons of St. Mark OES Chapter 167...

A small business blitz day for the Area Wide United Way will be held today. Fifty-six volunteers representing 26 United Way agencies will call on small businesses in Cape Girardeau and Jackson. The blitz begins at 8 a.m. in the Hirsch Room of the Cape Girardeau Public Library and concludes at 4 p.m. when the volunteers will tally the total funds raised...

Illinois authorities say the number of persons killed in vehicle accidents has dropped dramatically this year and increased seat-belt use is a major reason. In Missouri, safety officials also attributed a lower highway death toll so far this year to more use of seat belts and stricter enforcement of the seat-belt law...

GORDONVILLE - Three members of a statewide agricultural steering committee for U.S. Sen. Christopher Bond praised the senator for his work on behalf of Missouri farmers the last six years and said they felt Bond has earned another term. "He has supported us and it is our turn to support him," said Sheri Spader, a cattle farmer from Rosendale in northwest Missouri...

Kellie Phillips would probably not wish her first year of teaching science at L.J. Schultz School to be quite as exciting as one experience she had while teaching at Steelville. "A 10-foot black king snake got loose in my classroom full of 45 sixth-grade boys," Phillips said...

The Adoptive Family Group will meet from 4-6 p.m. Saturday at Hanover Lutheran Church, 2949 Perryville Road. Topic for the meeting will focus on birth parents. A video, Birth Parents Speak Out About Adoption, will be viewed. Two birth parents will be guest speakers and share their adoption stories...

Pauline Stamp, 56, of Fredericktown, formerly of Cape Girardeau, died Tuesday, Sept. 8, 1992, at her home. She was born April 20, 1936, in Arcadia, daughter of Henry Clark and Charity King Mitchell. She and David Lane Stamp were married Nov. 14, 1959...

Hannah L. Smith, 85, of Cape Girardeau, died Wednesday, Sept. 9, 1992, at the Lutheran Home. Ford and Sons Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

O'FALLON Vickey Gibbs Murphy, 42, of O'Fallon, died Tuesday, Sept. 8, 1992, at St. Joseph Hospital in St. Charles. She was born July 17, 1950, in Cape Girardeau County, daughter of John and Mamie Gibbs. She was a graduate of Jackson High School. She worked at Beta Raven Electronics Plant in Earth City...

MENGWASSERTwin daughters to Mr. and Mrs. Tony Mengwasser of Frohna, Southeast Missouri Hospital, Tuesday, Sept. 1, 1992. Kelsey Paige was born at 1:23 p.m. and weighed 4 pounds 15 ounces. Kayla Marie was born at 1:25 p.m. and weighed 5 pounds 8 ounces. ...

JACKSON -- Warranty Deeds issued at the office of Janet Robert, Cape Girardeau County Recorder of Deeds: William J. and Sandra E. Minter to Bradley D. and Mary K. Burger; Billie Jean and Martin Haupt Jr. to Henry Brown Jr. and Ruth A. Brown; Jonathan and Jeanne Doyel to William J. and Joan L. Donnelly...

Riley T. Bray, 84, of Cape Girardeau died Wednesday, Sept. 9, 1992, at the Missouri Veterans Home in Cape Girardeau. Funeral arrangements are incomplete at Ford and Sons Funeral Home in Cape Girardeau.

The Little River Drainage District has gathered information on its history and work and compiled the data into a booklet, "Little River Drainage District of Southeast Missouri 1907-Present." Copies were presented recently to Riverside Regional Library by the district...