Stories from Monday, January 4, 1993

No one is quite sure where the 1792 Ohio River low-water line is. Illinois claims it is about 100 feet into the river; Kentucky claims the entire Ohio River, bank-to-bank. In the past, complaints concerning river rights came from Illinois residents who fished the Ohio River. But the stakes are higher now, and a ruling could affect a multimillion dollar operation at Metropolis, Ill. Players International Inc.'s riverfront and casino project...

As of Friday, interstate truck drivers must contend with a new law in Illinois placing further restrictions on them, but perhaps making highways safer for motorists. On Jan. 1, radar detector units were made illegal in heavy trucks and can be seized by Illinois state law enforcement officers on the second infraction...

JACKSON - A rare mayoral race between 11-term Mayor Carlton Meyer and Ward 1 Alderman Paul Sander will likely highlight this spring's Jackson municipal election. Sander, who is completing his third term as alderman, will announce Tuesday whether he will seek the seat held by Meyer for 22 years...

Now that the new year is here, it's time to start thinking about income taxes. True, you still have until April 15 to file your returns, but thousands of Missourians will be sending their 1040 forms to the IRS a lot sooner. Nova Felton, public affairs officer for the IRS in St. Louis, said, "Believe it or not, we have quite a few people who file their income taxes in January."...

Many people's New Year's resolution is to become more physically active. With that in mind, The Southeast Missourian went to Universal Physique to ask what motivates some of their members to exercise routinely. Terry McDowell: "Every morning as soon as I get up I run and I do it before I ever completely wake up so I don't have to think about it. I just go. I come up and work out three nights a week. It's just part of my routine. If you stay in a routine it's no problem."...

The "straw vote" is in: When it comes to being creative with soda straws, Kenneth Corse is the winner. What started as an idle interest for Corse more than 12 years ago has turned into a fascinating hobby. Corse, 84, still doesn't know why he started collecting McDonald's Restaurant soda straws...

Three high-ranking officials of the Missouri Department of Social Services, including Director Gary Stangler, will meet in the next few days with U.S. District Judge Dean Whipple, who has just cited the three for contempt of court. The judge has accused top-echelon DSS officials with indifference and interference in keeping child welfare workers in Kansas City from complying with a court order to insure the safety of children being kept in foster homes...

Cape Girardeau County begins this new year on an upbeat budgetary note. The county has come through a tight economic year with improved finances. Overall revenue for the county increased 8.5 percent over 1991, which is one of the best growth years ever. It's a credit to our Cape Girardeau County officeholders, who continue to exercise good financial common sense...

JACKSON -- A two part course on basic pediatric life support will be offered at the St. Francis Information Center in Jackson Thursday and Jan. 14. The class will meet from 6:30-9:30 p.m. both days. The course includes infant/child CPR instruction, techniques for assisting a choking child and general child-care safety information...

A dinner theater company that planned to begin presenting musicals and plays to Cape Girardeau audiences by spring probably won't open a theater here at all in 1993. Dick McHargue, the Hannibal dinner theater owner who last April announced his plan to open the Mark Twain Dinner Theater in Cape Girardeau, said Friday the project is "in a hold position."...

Son to Mr. and Mrs. Mike Rockett of Charleston, Southeast Missouri Hospital, 8:53 p.m. Friday, Dec. 25, 1992. Name, Benjamin Wells. Weight, 6 pounds 6 ounces. Second child, first son. Mrs. Rockett is the former Ann Wells, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Tom Wells of Calico Rock, Ark. Rockett is the son of Maxine Laster of Bertrand...

ANNA -- Muriel Beggs Toler, 80, of Anna, died Jan. 2, 1993, at Union County Hospital in Anna. She is survived by a son, Jerry Toler of Anna; a brother, Ford Beggs of Buncomb, Ill.; and two grandchildren. Funeral services will be at 1 p.m. Tuesday at the Lutz and Rendleman Funeral Home in Anna. Interment will be at McGinnis Cemetery, east of Anna...

CAIRO, ILL. Zada B. Ronnebeck, 92, of Cairo and formerly of Miller City, Ill., died Jan 3, 1993, at Daystar Care Center in Cairo. She was born Feb. 17, 1900, in Miller City, the daughter of the late Henry and Ida Dillow Smithey. She married John Ronnebeck in 1943. He preceded her in death...

Dr. William Oehler, 85, of 1001 N. Henderson, died Sunday, Jan. 3, 1993, at Saint Francis Medical Center. Ford and Sons Funeral Homes is in charge of funeral arrangements, which are incomplete at this time.

Mary Wilson, 92, of 344 N. Ellis, died Sunday, Jan. 3, 1993, at her home. She was born Oct. 26, 1900, in Cape Girardeau, daughter of J. Maple and Grace Senne Wilson. She was a teacher for 48 years at the Washington School in Cape Girardeau. Survivors include a nephew, Robert Wilcox of St. Louis; a niece, Judith Cureton of Cape Girardeau; and other nieces and nephews...

Carolyn L. Modglin, 24, of Lenxa, Kan., died Friday, Jan. 1, 1993, at St. Luke's Hospital in Kansas City, Mo. She was born Sept. 14, 1968, in Cape Girardeau, daughter of A. J. and Betty Ernst Kluesner. She married Ed Modglin on May 16, 1992, in Cape Girardeau...

SIKESTON -- John Herbert Williamson, 88, formerly of Blodgett and a resident of the Sikeston Convalescent Center in Sikeston, died Jan. 3, 1993, at the Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston. He was born Feb. 7, 1904, in Alton, Mo., to the late Ulissia S. and Melissa Sue Garrison Williamson. He was a retired farm laborer, and had worked on the Vernon and Jim Shelton Farm near Blodgett for more than 50 years...

Myrtle Beeson, 54, of Sikeston, died Jan. 3, 1993, at her home. Arrangements are incomplete at Amick-Burnett Funeral Chapel in Sikeston.

CHAFFEE -- Leon A. Gosche, 84, of Chaffee died Jan. 3, 1993, at St. Francis Medical Center. He was born in New Hamburg Nov. 16, 1908, to the late Peter and Rosa Essner Gosche. He married Alvina Leible on April 19, 1932. She preceded him in death on Jan. 2, 1976. Then he married Cora Crader...

BLOOMFIELD -- Mayme Finn, 93, of Bloomfield died Jan. 2, 1993, at the Bloomfield Nursing Center. She was born Sept. 22, 1899, in Swinton, Mo., to the late Michael and Rebecca Powell Holland. She married Vader Finn in December 1915, at Advance. He preceded her in death on Feb. 1, 1984...

GREENSBURG, IND. Anne Turner, former educational coordinator for the Cottonwood Residential Treatment Center in Cape Girardeau and the wife of former Superintendent of Schools Arthur Turner, died Jan. 3, 1993 at her home. She was 54. She was born March 19, 1938, in McMinnville, Tenn., and married Arthur Turner on May 11, 1985...