Stories from Sunday, September 13, 1992

Yes, it's good for the Republicans that Jim Baker is back in control of the White House. He's worked his political magic in previous presidential campaigns. But it's also good for the Democrats. Baker's return is appropriate in a curious way. More than any one other individual, he was the political architect of the '80s. ...

The newspaper is in all literalness the bible of democracy, the book out of which a people determines its conduct. It is the only serious book most people read. It is the only book they read everyday. Walter Lippmann Liberty and the News As the Pittsburgh daily newspaper strike stretches into weeks it's become a nightmare where many used to take the benefits of a newspaper for granted...

It's hard to imagine going through life without the ability to read a road sign or a good book, or the ability to sign a birthday card or endorse a check. But that's just the daily heartache of millions of Americans. These people aren't just limited to metropolitan areas. They live among us. About 365,000 Missourians are considered "functionally illiterate," including an estimated 3,400 in Cape Girardeau alone, according to U.S. census data...

The volunteer spirit a spirit which during the past year alone produced nearly 30,000 hours of service was saluted Thursday at Southeast Missouri Hospital's Auxiliary and Volunteer Recognition Dinner. More than 200 people attended the dinner held at the Drury Lodge. Program highlights included musical entertainment by Mary Frances Kinder, Millie Limbaugh and Alene Yantis, and the presentation of awards to 89 volunteers who have reached service plateaus...

John Belushi would feel out of place among Southeast Missouri State University's social fraternities and sororities. The late actor starred in the movie, "Animal House," in which he portrayed a booze-loving, boorish "frat rat." But fraternity and sorority leaders at Southeast say the "Animal House" image of Greeks is far from reality these days...

On Tuesday morning hundreds of volunteers will be hawking newspapers to motorists, raising money to fight illiteracy and having a lot of fun during YELL for Newspapers. Money raised goes to the Southeast Missourian's Newspapers in Education (NIE) program and to the Area Wide United Way's special literacy fund...

Apple-picking time started earlier than normal this year, thanks to good growing weather, say area growers. "We started picking about two weeks ago," said Stan Beggs of Pioneer Orchards, Highway 72 West in Jackson. "We've had ideal growing conditions this year adequate rainfall and plenty of cool weather, so the quality and variety of the crop is very exceptional this fall."...

Pete Poe thinks this week's SEMO District Fair has one attraction that's hard to top an expected visit Wednesday afternoon from First Lady Barbara Bush. "This will be a first," said Poe, president of the fair board. Poe said Saturday this will mark the first time in the history of the fair that the wife of a sitting president has visited the annual event...

PERRYVILLE -- Perryville city officials will discuss the area's potential for a proposed women's maximum/medium correctional facility during a special town meeting to be held Thursday. "The state is seeking proposals for a site within a 75-mile radius of downtown St. Louis," said Perryville Mayor Robert Miget. "The new facility, which would house from 300 to 500 inmates, would create 200 to 250 new jobs in the community."...

The Southeast Missourian received seven awards from the Missouri Press Association Saturday. The newspaper received a second place award in the daily newspaper competition for "Best Family Living Coverage" for its Life Section, which featured a story about Pearl Harbor Day...

The family of the late Russell J. Michel recently announced the establishment of a $10,000 challenge grant as part of the Southeast Missouri University Foundation's capital campaign. Mrs. Elnora B. Michel and her sons, John and Mark, have made a $10,000 pledge to a mathematics scholarship bearing her name and that of her husband, who was chairman of the mathematics department at Southeast for many years...

Special scouting nights will be held at Cape Girardeau and Jackson schools this week. "School Night to Join Scouting" will provide opportunities for boys to join Tiger Cubs, Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts, said Tony Smee, Shawnee District executive. Smee explained the programs available...

KENNETT -- A Southeast Missouri woman suffered fatal injuries in a one-vehicle accident early Saturday near Kennett. The Missouri Highway Patrol at Poplar Bluff said Tamla L. Tingle, 26, of Kennett, died in the accident. Officers said she was thrown from the truck she was driving when it veered off Missouri Highway 84 about three miles west of Kennett and overturned at 12:45 a.m...

METROPOLIS, Ill. -- The Ohio River shoreline here is taking on a new look. "A slack-water harbor area has been cut out to allow us to come in from the main stream," said Jay R. Boyd, vice president of marketing for Players Riverboat Casino, which will start operations in this small Southern Illinois city of 8,000 in April of next year...

PERRYVILLE -- Funeral service for Byron B. Lorenz of Perryville will be held at 2 p.m. today at Cedar Fork Church. The Rev. Chuck Lewis will officiate, with burial in the church cemetery. Friends may call at Young and Sons Funeral Home from 6:30 a.m. to noon...

A Cape Girardeau motorcyclist suffered injuries when the vehicle he was driving hit loose gravel and overturned. Christopher Hopper, 20, of Cape Girardeau, was treated and released at Southeast Missouri Hospital Saturday, a hospital spokesperson said...

Jared L. Schippers, 1922 Rampart Drive, suffered injuries when the bicycle he was riding was struck by a car driven by Kerrye L. Foley, 2132 Wood Hollow Court, Cape Girardeau. Schippers was taken to St. Francis Medical Center where he was reported in satisfactory condition Saturday night...

Graveside service for Riley T. Bray, 84, 3006 Wisteria, will be held at 2:15 p.m. Monday at Jefferson Barracks in St. Louis. The Rev. Van Williams will officiate. Friends may call at Ford and Sons Mt. Auburn Chapel from 9-11 a.m. Monday. Bray died Wednesday, Sept. 9, 1992, at Missouri Veterans Home...

PERRYVILLE -- Funeral service for Myrtle M. Hotop of Perryville was held Saturday at St. Vincent's Catholic Church. The Rev. Henry Grodecki officiated, with burial in Mt. Hope Cemetery. Young and Sons Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements. Hotop, 94, died Thursday, Sept. 10, 1992, at Perry County Nursing Home...

PERRYVILLE -- Emma Bertha Peterson, 76, of Perryville, died Thursday, Sept. 10, 1992, at her home. She was born March 6, 1916, in St. Louis, daughter of Ferdinand and Julia Nitsch. She first married Hubert J. Ponder, who preceded her in death. She later married Dusty Peterson July 28, 1984...

BENTON -- Funeral service for Rex Lambert, Benton Route 1, will be held t 2 p.m. today at First Baptist Church in Charleston. The Rev. Gerald Collier will officiate, with burial in Garden of Memories Cemetery at Sikeston. McMikle Funeral Home in Charleston is in charge of arrangements...

Edwin "Jack" Krokroskia, 69, of Viburnum, died Friday, Sept. 11, 1992, at Southeast Missouri Hospital. He was born June 8, 1923, in Vizincville, Okla., son of Debrow and Irene Betz Krokroskia. He and Louise Nelums were married in 1945 in Columbus, Kan...

DELTA -- Funeral service for Willard Wayne Smith of Delta will be held at 2 p.m. today at First Baptist Church. The Revs. Kenny Martin and Glen Golden will officiate, with burial in Memorial Park in Cape Girardeau. Amick-Burnett Funeral Home at Chaffee is in charge of arrangements...

BENTON -- Funeral service for Lewis Ward Hunter of Benton will be held at 2 p.m. today at Amick-Burnett Funeral Chapel here. The Rev. John Gregory will officiate, with burial in Old Morley Cemetery. Hunter, 86, died Friday, Sept. 11, 1992, at Missouri Veterans Home in Cape Girardeau...

SCOTT CITY -- Lem S. Bollinger, 90, of Scott City, died Saturday, Sept. 12, 1992, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. Arrangements are incomplete and will be announced later by Amick-Burnett Funeral Home in Scott City.

SIKESTON -- Funeral service for Ila M. Williams, 72, of Sikeston, was held Saturday at Crews-Welsh and Ponder Funeral Home. The Rev. Lee Fansler officiated, with burial in Memorial Park Cemetery. Williams died Friday, Sept. 11, 1992, at Missouri Delta Medical Center...

SCOTT CITY -- Ella Theresa Schlosser, 49, Scott City Route 1, died Thursday, Sept. 10, 1992, at St. Louis University Hospital. She was born Sept. 14, 1942, at Scott City, daughter of Theon John and Ella Irene LeDure Schlosser Sr. Schlosser worked five years at Cookies and Cream at West Park Mall in Cape Girardeau. ...

Daughter to 1st Lt. and Mrs. Matthew Kiefner of Dana Point, Calif., Saddleback Hospital in Laguna Hills, Calif., 10:28 a.m. Monday, Aug. 24, 1992. Name, Paige Marie. Weight, 7 pounds 4 ounces. First child. Mrs. Kiefner is the former Karla Wischern daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Orville Wischern, formerly of Perryville. Kiefner is a marine aviator, stationed at El Toro Marine Base, and is the son of Ed and Pat Kiefner of Perryville...

BELL CITY -- The American Red Cross will be holding a blood drive Thursday from 2-6 p.m. at the Bell City High School, Highway 91 and School St. "During the summer months, our blood supplies are used very rapidly. Donors are needed in the fall to help bring the supplies back up to save levels," said Dana Garner, director of donor recruitment...

It's been said that getting to the top is easier than staying there. But don't tell that to Cape Girardeau native Rush Limbaugh III, the undisputed king of talk radio. With more than 12 million listeners each week, his daily, three-hour radio talk show has broken all radio broadcasting records for audience size. At 520 stations nationwide and counting, it's difficult to guess when the show's popularity will peak...

With the purple martins gone and the neighborhood children back in school a relative silence has fallen across the immediate countryside. The fiddling crickets have been there fiddling all along, but now you really hear them. Not only because heretofore louder noises have somewhat overwhelmed them, but they do get louder as the season wears on...

Briskness in the air tells us that soon it will be autumn, and also tells us that it is time to plan and start planting flowering bulbs for a colorful spring garden. Hardy spring flowering bulbs deserve a place in every garden, whether it is large or small. Those of you who have read this columns these 28 years know that it is repeated year after year "spring flowering bulbs, especially daffodils, are the best investment a gardener can make."...

There's good news and bad news in the 1993 report of the Missouri Manufacturers Register. The good news is that the state gained 663 new plants during the past year. The bad news is that Missouri lost 485 manufacturing firms to mergers, movement out of state and closings...

Gaymarie Tomlinson has received the American Dance Achievement Award for 1992. "I've been involved in dancing for 20 years," said Tomlinson, owner and instructor of the Royale Ballet and School of Performing Arts in downtown Cape Girardeau. "This award means a lot. It is presented each year to an outstanding instructor."...

JACKSON -- En-Vision Design Engineering, a new custom-electronic-design company, has opened at Jackson. Gordon Varney, who has an engineering degree and more than eight years of experience in the electronics field, opened the business at 326 West Main...

SCOTT CITY -- McBride Small Engines has opened in Scott City. Danny and Wanda McBride, who also own McBride Tire Service here, said they will provide repair service on two- and four-cycle engines such as lawn mowers, riding mowers, tillers, trimmers and chain saws...

Specialized Office Services Inc. is observing its 10th anniversary this month. The firm, which sells and services printing equipment, business machines and equipment and graphic arts supplies, has grown from a small operation of three people in the 600 block of South Sprigg to 10 employees in an office at 299 N. Kingshighway...

Auto Tire & Parts, headquartered in Cape Girardeau, recently opened a new facility in Poplar Bluff. The new store in Valley Plaza Shopping Center contains more than 9,000 square feet. Larry Keating has been named manager of the store. "We're proud to be a part of the Poplar Bluff community," said John Tlapek, president of the firm. ...

The Kirby Co. of Southeast Missouri is under new ownership. Tim Costello, who operated a Kirby office in Clinton, Iowa, for three years, has purchased the local office at 255 S. Plaza Way. "I've been in the Kirby business for more than five years," said Costello. "Before operating the Clinton business, I was a Kirby salesman. I'm looking forward to the Cape Girardeau area."...

Johnny Ray Conklin of Cape Girardeau has been named executive secretary of the Missouri State Council of Carpenters. Conklin was named at the state convention recently held at Jefferson City. He succeeds H. Keith Humphrey, who retired last month after 19 years as executive secretary...

The Small Business Development Center at Southeast Missouri State University will conduct sessions for owners of small businesses and those planning business ventures. Sessions will be held at Cape Girardeau, Sikeston and Perryville. Gil Degenhardt will conduct the counseling sessions, scheduled for about one hour each. There is no fee...

Ron Hill, director of store development, and Ben Stafford, a warehouse worker, have been named Spirit of the Creed award winners for 1992 at Wetterau Food Distribution Group, Scott City Division. Hill has been with Wetterau 18 years. Hill and his wife, Paula, reside in Cape Girardeau...

Procter & Gamble Paper Products Co. has sent 60 truck-trailer loads of products into the hurricane-torn areas of Florida. "Six truck loads of disposable diapers Pampers and Luvs were sent from the Cape Girardeau plant," said Larry Stahlman of the local plant's information office...

The Hansel and Gretel Shoppe, a children's-wear and gift boutique, has returned to the Town Plaza area. The business, which has been at West Park Mall for 11 years, has moved to 2116 Town Plaza. It was previously in the Kroger Plaza now the Plaza Galleria area prior to moving to the mall in 1981...

Former employees of Lowenbaum Manufacturing Co. will have a picnic Saturday at Cape County Park Shelter No. 3. All former employees are invited to attend the 11 a.m. event. Lowenbaum was on Minnesota Street and employed about 125 persons before closing in the mid-1970s. It manufactured women's clothing...