Stories from Monday, March 8, 1993

St. Francis Medical Center's children's health series continues this spring with seminars on first aid, Lyme disease, pediatric basic life support and health tips for those who care for children. The first program, "Taking Care of Children Means Taking Care of Yourself" is scheduled for 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 16 in the St. Francis Health & Education Centre. The free seminar will focus on health information for those who care for children...

Cape Girardeau Police Chief Howard "Butch" Boyd Jr. points a fully automatic submachine gun with a laser sight at the wall. The massive gun is longer than his arm and looks to weigh a good 30 pounds. "You see that red dot on the wall there?" Boyd asks. A single red dot rests on the chest of a cartoon figure on the wall...

THEBES, Ill. -- A river near flood stage, strong currents and brisk winds are believed to have caused two barge accidents that closed the Mississippi River channel for several hours both Saturday and Sunday. Two towboats, each pushing more than 20 barges, struck the Thebes railroad bridge in separate accidents, dislodging several barges and sinking two...

Cape Girardeau public schools will consider a resolution today that would establish drug-free and gun-free zones around city schools. The Board of Education meets Monday at 4:30 p.m. at the Board of Education office, 61 N. Clark. The meeting is open to the public...

At 3:20 p.m. Sunday, Burlington Northern officials watched a southbound train cautiously roll by the same site where another train derailed 24 hours earlier. Burlington Northern was back in business. Saturday afternoon's derailment at the southern entrance of Lone Star Industries at 2524 S. Sprigg St. resulted in only minor injuries to the two men aboard an outcome a railroad official termed "miraculous."...

The Southeast Missourian asked people if they thought the city's recycling program would be more successful with the addition of tin and metal can pick up added to the service. Levanon Wade said, "I feel like the program is good. Currently, I can stay under the three bag limit each week but if I couldn't, I would not mind paying the additional money for bags. I feel like everybody else should be willing to try the recycle program."...

Overall, the winter of 1992-93 turned out to be about average, when compared with the 48 year, long-term average. But it will probably best be remembered for the heavy snows and record-low temperatures that occurred during the final two weeks of winter...

Legislators hope to pay for a new health plan by raising the sales tax on tobacco products. And if funds run low, we may see politicians plugging cigarettes on TV. --- Lawmakers are adding safeguards to the new riverboat gambling law approved by voters last November. It's known as making bankruptcy as carefree as possible...

When a train derails, barges collide or a blizzard strikes, emergency personnel respond. Some responders attend to the injured; others focus immediately on assessing the dangers. Are toxic chemicals involved? Is the public at risk? We never know when an emergency will strike. ...

To the Editor: The religious cult known as the Branch Advidians in the news has no connection with the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Several splinter groups have broken away from Victor Houteff who formed the Shepherd's Rod group and was disfellowshipped from the Seventh-day Adventist Church in 1929...

Daughter to Mr. and Mrs. Robert D. Jackson, 3020 Boutin, Southeast Missouri Hospital, 12:37 a.m. Monday, March 1, 1993. Name, Carrie Lee Ann. Weight, 5 pounds 10 ounces. First child. Mrs. Jackson is the former Carla Newkirk, daughter of Jim L. Newkirk of Crystal City and Barbara Headrick of Cape Girardeau. Jackson is a cook at Mr. B's, and is the son of Dana J. Jackson of Brighton, Ill., and Beverly Lehnen of Moro, Ill...

JACKSON -- Paul E. Griffin Sr., 61, of Jackson died at the family home March 6, 1993. He was born in Cape Girardeau May 14, 1931, to the late William A. Griffin and Annie Russell Griffin. He was married Aug. 31, 1967, to Louise Mansker. She survives of Jackson...

PERRYVILLE -- Orval J. Favier of Perryville died March 7, 1993, at Perry County Memorial Hospital at age 82. He was born Nov. 18, 1910, in Perry County, the son of the late Vince and Florence Tucker Favier. He married Ruby Smith on July 25, 1931. She survives of Perryville...

SIKESTON -- Martin Eugene Swinney Sr., 56, of Sikeston died March 5, 1993 in the St. Louis University Hospital in St. Louis. He was born Nov. 12, 1936, in Sikeston to the late Martin Ashton Swinney and Florence Baehr Deckley. She survives of Mayer, Ariz...

CHAFFEE -- The Scott County Transit System, Inc., is having a dinner, dance and auction to raise money to purchase another van to add to its aging fleet. "We have six vans now we're replacing one all of them have well over 100,000 miles on them," said Marilyn Schlosser, project manager of the transit system...

ADVANCE -- Herman Bucher, 68, of Advance, died Sunday, March 7, 1993, at the family home in Advance. He was born Feb. 25, 1925, at New Hamburg, son of Cletus and Clara Gosche Bucher. He served with the U.S. Navy in World War II. He married Lena Compas on Feb. 11, 1947...

ADVANCE -- Hurman H. Stratman, 74, of Advance, died Sunday, March 7, 1993, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. He was born May 10, 1918, at Zalma, Mo., son of William and Venita Bess Stratman. He married Irene Hardesty on Dec. 23, 1960 in Advance...

ADVANCE - Eula Lee Williams, 83, of Advance, died Sunday, March 7, 1992, at Doctor's Hospital in Poplar Bluff. Funeral arrangements are incomplete and will be announced by Morgan Funeral Home of Advance.

DONGOLA, Ill. -- Ollie Keller, 82, of Dongola died March 6, 1993, at Southeast Missouri Hospital. She was born July 5, 1910, at Balcom, Ill., the daughter of Andrew J. and Lillie Young Nordmeyer. She was married to Doal F. Keller on Oct. 19, 1931. He preceded her in death on July 13, 1986...

BENTON -- August Joseph Klueppel Jr., a resident of Benton, died March 6, 1993, at age 89. He was born in Oran, the son of August and Mary Hercules Klueppel. He was a retired farmer, and a member of St. Denis Catholic Church in Benton. He is survived by four nephews and four nieces. He was preceded in death by one sister and three brothers...

SIKESTON -- Corda Stella Griffin, 101, of Sikeston, died Sunday, March 7, 1993, at the Sikeston Convalescent Center. She was born March 31, 1891, in Walker County, Ala., daughter of Thomas and Evelyn Johnson Atteberry. She was a resident of Vanduser and Sikeston for most of her life. She was member of the Free Will Baptist Church in Alabama...