Stories from Friday, January 22, 1993

"Home Alone." This madcap movie title took on a sinister meaning last month. A Chicago couple left two young children alone nine days over Christmas while vacationing in Mexico. The children, ages nine and four, sought refuge from a neighbor when a smoke alarm sounded...

A "teleparty" campaign will be held Sunday to raise money for the American Heart Association. The telephone solicitation effort is the first of five monthly fund-raising campaigns by the heart association's Cape Girardeau County affiliate. Joe Low, president of the local affiliate, said the goal of the fund-raising projects combined is to raise $50,000...

JACKSON -- The number of candidates filing for the three seats on the Jackson school board is now up to seven. The latest to file are two-term board member Dr. T. Wayne Lewis and newcomer Wendy Hayes. Lewis has had a dental practice in Jackson for over 25 years. He is a veteran of the U.S. Navy...

Matthew Jackson decided when he was in eighth grade he'd like to attend the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. He then methodically set out to gain acceptance to the highly selective university. Jackson, a Cape Girardeau Central High School senior, is one of just over a thousand applicants admitted to West Point's Class of 1997. Over 13,000 students apply each year...

CAPE GIRARDEAU -- The Cape Girardeau Convention & Visitors Bureau endorsed proposed Missouri Tourism funding legislation, House Bill 188, but tabled any action on riverboat gambling during its monthly meeting, held at city hall at Wednesday. The Missouri Division of Tourism is urging the legislature to take some of the tax money generated by tourism and reinvest it to yield even more revenue...

Old politicians never die. They just join a think tank, write a book, form a PAC, and wait until the next election comes around. --- Dead men tell no tales -- and neither do deprogrammed computers in the attorney general's office. --- Former St. Louis circuit attorney George Peach provides an important example for aspiring criminals. If you're going to steal thousands and stay out of prison, become a prosecutor...

Although I watch few TV sitcoms, I've looked in on one because the main female character reminds me of an old friend. Maybe you've seen the show. It's called "Hearts Afire, " and is on CBS on Monday nights. The female star is called Georgie Anne Lahti. She is blond, wears bangs and is a newspaper journalist...

BENTON Thomas Kelly School officials plan to ask voters to approve a $1.2 million bond issue in April for construction of five classrooms, addition of a new elementary library and expansion of the high school gymnasium. Ernie Lawson, high school principal, explained that if the measure is approved the district plans no increase in the tax levy. ...

The 400 and 500 blocks of Good Hope Street should look considerably brighter within the next two weeks. Union Electric will replace the existing lights in the two-block area with brighter high-pressure sodium lights, members of the Haarig Area Development Association were told Thursday night. Twelve people attended the meeting...

A statewide effort to improve higher education through such things as tougher admission requirements and incentive funding will carry a price tag, Southeast Missouri State University President Kala Stroup said Thursday. The price tag, however, has yet to be calculated...

School begins Aug. 26 for students in Cape Girardeau public schools and ends June 9, 1994. The Cape Girardeau Board of Education approved the coming year's school calendar along with a list of summer maintenance projects at its meeting Thursday. The approved school calendar requires the district to invoke an agricultural exemption to state law, allowing classes to begin before Labor Day...

ADVANCE -- "The Best of Branson," a show featuring the Norris Twins of "Hee Haw," will be presented Saturday at the Advance High School Gymnasium. The Norris twins perform at the Roy Clark Celebrity Theater and formerly appeared with the Baldknobbers for six years...

JACKSON -- Camille F. Chappius, 29, of Qunicy, Ill., formerly of Jackson, died Wednesday, Jan. 20, 1993, as a result of a train collision in Aurora, Ill. He was born July 13, 1963, at Chester, Ill., son of Clyde and Josette Fieschi Chappius. He is survived by his mother...

SIKESTON -- Funeral service for Thomas Hart of Sikeston will be held at 2 p.m. today at Ponder Funeral Chapel. The Rev. Timmy Estes will officiate, with burial in Oak Grove Cemetery at Charleston. Hart, 75, died Wednesday, Jan. 20, 1993, at John J. Pershing VA Medical Center in Poplar Bluff...

ARAB -- Elvis L. Walker, 89, Arab Route 2, died Thursday, Jan. 21, 1993, at Cape Girardeau Nursing Center. Morgan Funeral Home in Advance is in charge of arrangements.

Southeast M sourian BENTON Coletta Barbara Hebenstreit, 90, of Benton, died Thursday, Jan. 21, 1993, at her home. Amick-Burnett Funeral Home here is in charge of arrangements.

NEW MADRID -- Florence Lee Masterson, 90, of New Madrid, died Wednesday, Jan. 20, 1993, at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston. She was born Sept. 13, 1902, in New Madrid County, daughter of Oscar and Florence Bizzard Mast. She and Jack Masterson were married Sept. 29, 1920. He died March 15, 1990...

PATTON -- Funeral service for Dennis K. McClanahan of St. Charles will be held at 1 p.m. today at Liley Funeral Chapel here. The Rev. Donnie Cook will officiate, with burial in Cook Cemetery at Scopus. Friends may call at the funeral home after 10 a.m...

Funeral service for Cora Mae Looney of Anna, Ill., formerly of Cape Girardeau, will be held at 10 a.m. today at Ford and Sons Sprigg Street Chapel. The Rev. S.S. Borum will officiate, with burial in Pleasant Grove Cemetery near Advance. Friends may call at the funeral home after 8 a.m...

Mary Marguerite Horton, 76, of Osprey, Fla., formerly of Cape Girardeau, died Thursday, Jan. 21, 1993, at her home in Florida. She is survived by her husband, Frank Horton, of Osprey, Fla. Horton operated Horton Sales Company in Cape Girardeau until she and her husband retired to Florida...

The local lodge of the Fraternal Order of Police will hold a luncheon for area law enforcement officers Saturday to provide information about the organization. The event is being held in conjunction with the quarterly meeting of the state board and will feature remarks by Missouri Attorney General Jay Nixon...

New Missouri Attorney General Jay Nixon plans to keep a satellite office in Jackson, a spokesman confirmed Wednesday. "The office will remain open," said Bill Chiang, an aide to Nixon. "There are plans to hire at least one assistant attorney general for the office at this time."...

Leon Monroe, 70, 1105 Linden, died Thursday, Jan. 21, 1993, at his home. He was born Nov. 26, 1922, in the state of Mississippi, son of Levi and Cora Virginia Bogan Monroe. Monroe was retired from Stovall Construction Co. Survivors include a sister, Willie Upton of Gloster, Miss...

Walker G. Childs, 86, of Cape Girardeau, long-time supermarket owner, died Thursday, Jan. 21, 1993, at Southeast Missouri Hospital. He was born June 16, 1906, in Cape Girardeau, son of Curtis L. and Fanny Jane Walker Childs. He and Lona Jones were married Oct. 5, 1967...

The Super Cities Walk for Multiple Sclerosis will begin at noon on March 28 at Capaha Park. The event is sponsored by the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. Participants will stroll through town to benefit multiple sclerosis. Funds raised benefit multiple sclerosis and help those who are affected via research, services and educational programs...

The Southeast Missouri Effort for AIDS organization will meet Jan. 28. The meeting will be held at 7:30 p.m. in the Indian Room of the University Center at Southeast Missouri State University. The focus of the meeting will be on planning and implementing projects scheduled for the upcoming months. Also on the agenda is the election of a treasurer...

The Cape Girardeau Adult Learning Center, in conjunction with the Jackson School District, has opened an adult basic education class at the Jackson Junior High School. The class meets Monday and Thursday nights from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. The class is free to any adult, 16 years or older, who needs to improve basic skills in reading or math and. or, study to take their GED tests. New students are accepted at any class session...

PIEDMONT, Mo. Now is the time plan for warm weather gatherings at Clearwater Lake. Reservations for use of seven group shelters around the lake are now available. "These shelters are popular for family reunions, birthdays, and holiday celebrations," said Joe Corbin of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. "They're usually booked well in advance."...

Prom '93 takes center stage in a fashion show at the Holiday Inn Holidome on Jan. 31 at 2 p.m. Proceeds go to area high school chapters of Students Against Driving Drunk. "We have asked area high schools to help us with the fashion show," said Sherry James, president and owner of House of Brides. "We're asking them to do the modeling of the dresses and the tuxedos...