Stories from Thursday, April 22, 1993

SIKESTON -- Evia Hannah Calhoun, 79, of Sikeston, died Tuesday, April 20, 1993, at Baptist Central Hospital in Memphis, Tenn. She was born Sept. 26, 1913, at Hiram, daughter of George Edward and Lottie Sumpter McKenzie. She and James E. Calhoun were married Jan. 29, 1934, at Matthews...

The Cape Girardeau Area Zonta Club will host its "Neiman Marcus of Flea Markets" on May 1 from 7-11 a.m. at First Christian Church, 829 North West End Boulevard. The annual fund-raiser features bargains on clothing, housewares, lawn and garden supplies, toys and games, furniture and more. Home-baked goods will be sold in the flea market concession stand...

The Cape Girardeau Convention and Visitors Bureau Advisory Committee did not endorse riverboat gambling, but the consensus of its members attending a monthly meeting Wednesday was that it would benefit tourism. "I'm not asking for an endorsement at this time," said member Dennis "Doc" Cain. "But I think the members of this group should give some serious thought to the benefits that could be derived from riverboat gambling."...

The Southeast Missouri Area Agency on Aging has set the election for the Silver Haired Legislature for May 5. Election sites in the 18-county area will be the Senior Nutrition Centers in each county. Silver Haired Legislature delegates participate in a mock legislature that is held in October in Jefferson City at the State Capitol. Delegates write, discuss and debate bills and resolutions on issues of concern to older Missourians...

When the $978 purchase request for gunpowder came through the business office at Southeast Missouri State University, "we had a lot of questions to answer," admits Frank Nickell. Nickell is the director of the Center for Regional History, and all that gunpowder, of course, was meant for the 250 Civil War re-enactors who will trade salvos Saturday and Sunday near Burfordville...

Most of the towns and sites along the Mississippi River Valley Scenic Drive have donated 14-by-14-inch pieces of themselves to the community event. Those pieces of fabric, many of them depicting landmarks in the communities, have been joined together into a green- and mauve-colored queen-size quilt...

The Bill French Orchestra will provide the entertainment May 7 at a benefit dance sponsored by Cape Girardeau Rotary Club 448. The dance, the club's primary fund-raising effort, will be held from 8-midnight at the A.C. Brase Arena Building. The French Orchestra plays dance band music from six decades of popular music...

The predominantly liberal press in America decides what is and what is not a scandal. That ought to be a non-controversial statement, yet journalists hotly deny that political or ideological bias plays any role in their judgment. Well, that proposition is about to be tested anew...

Less than two months ago, most Americans were blissfully ignorant of the life and beliefs of David Koresh. This week he gained a grim infamy, turning a cult following to ash. Many who died were too young to comprehend his twisted values. The nation mourns the loss of so many lives and collects itself slowly, wondering what went so wrong and whether such a debacle can again occur...

To the Editor: I thoroughly agree with Patrick Buchanan in the April 16 edition, "Justice brings return of vigilante." Though I abhor violence and teach my 12-year-old daughter there are ways to deal with disagreements other than physical violence, there is a time when enough is enough...

To the Editor: The column in Sunday's newspaper brought up several pertinent issues regarding the Yellow Pages bill now in the Missouri legislature. I appreciate the opportunity to respond to these issues with my customers. It is a mistake to think the Public Service Commission's view is unbiased...

Daughter to Marty Fluegge and Cindy Schultz of Jackson, Southeast Missouri Hospital, 11:26 p.m. Tuesday, April 6, 1993. Name, Deltheta Marie. Weight, 5 pounds 14 ounces. First child. Miss Schultz is the daughter of Merlin and Marylin Schultz of Jackson. She is a dietary worker at the Lutheran Home. Fluegge is the son of Leon and Robbie Hennecke of Jackson...

ADVANCE -- Funeral service for Elinor D. Russell of St. Peters will be held at 11:30 a.m. today at Baue Chapel in St. Charles. Burial will be in Bellefontaine Cemetery in St. Louis. Friends may call at the funeral home from 10 a.m. to service time. Russell, 77, died Monday, April 19, 1993, at Jewish Hospital...

CHAFFEE -- Mildred Marie Roberts, 76, of Peoria, Ill., died Monday, April 19, 1993, at Methodist Medical Center in Peoria. She was born March 20, 1917, in Hickman, Ky., daughter of Curtis B. and Mary Ollie McKenzie Young. She and Oshil E. Roberts were married Oct. 19, 1935. He died April 17, 1980...

J. Russ Henry, 41, 1420 Wayne, died suddenly Wednesday, April 21, 1993, at his home. He was born Nov. 16, 1951, in St. Louis, son of Denzo and Thelma Waltrip Henry. He and Robyn Leonard were married Oct. 21, 1978, at Farmington. Henry was a fireman with Cape Girardeau Fire Department. He was a member of Cape Girardeau Firemen's Fund and Firefighter Local 1084...

Charlotte C. Schiess, 83, of Cape Girardeau died Wednesday, April 21, 1993, at the Lutheran Home. She was born Sept. 1, 1909, at St. Louis, the daughter of F.W. and Jeanette Weingartner Arnold. She was married to Benjamin Schiess at St. Louis in 1956. He preceded her in death in 1978...

Gov. Mel Carnahan will address members of the Missouri National Guard Association Inc. during its annual conference at the Holiday Inn Convention Center in Cape Girardeau this weekend. Theme of the conference is observance of the 50th anniversary of World War II. Local veterans of WW-II will post the colors for the opening ceremonies of the conference Saturday morning. Carnahan will speak at 10 a.m. Saturday...

Members of the Missouri Senate were haggling over a proposed change in the school foundation formula during a rare night session Wednesday. But some Southeast Missouri senators said they expect the issue will ultimately be resolved in a special session...

Felix VII's home is 48 inches long and 13 inches wide. The floor is covered with water, and loud rock 'n' roll and blues plays until all hours of the night. But Felix is implacable. Strangers are forever pecking at his window and wondering, "Is he real or is he stuffed?"...

There will be an Allenville Cemetery cleaning held on May 8 at 10 a.m. Underbrush at the cemetery needs to be cleaned and some trees need to be cut down and removed. Interested persons should bring work clothes, gloves and tools to work with. Also, bring a sack lunch...

The attendance for Wednesday night's' President's Concert by the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra at the Show Me Center was 1,513. The total seats available were 2,908. The orchestra drew 1,712 persons in its previous appearance in 1990. The Nashville Symphony drew an audience of 1,737 in December 1990...

Cape Girardeau Central High School's Scholar Bowl team captured first place in the large-school division of Southeast Missouri district competition. The regional competition was held Saturday at Cape Central. Eight high schools competed. Those competing besides Cape Central were Jackson, Poplar Bluff, Salem, Potosi, New Madrid, Perryville and North St. Francois County...

CHAFFEE -- A Chaffee native has been honored for meritorious service with the Armed Forces of the United States. Lt. Commander Benjamin B.C. Capshaw, USN, recently received the Joint Service Commendation Medal and Citation authorized by the U.S. Secretary of Defense...

Central High School inducted students into the National Honor Society (NHS) this week. Seventeen senior members and 19 junior members were inducted. Students who receive invitations to membership in the NHS are juniors or seniors who uphold standards of scholarship, leadership, service and character as determined by the faculty council. A student must maintain a cumulative B plus average and must be active in three approved school organizations and activities...

Three new elevators in Southeast Missouri State University buildings were put into operation Wednesday following a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the Grauel Building. The three elevators were installed in Grauel, the social sciences building and the art building over the past six months by Penzel Construction Co. of Jackson...

"The children used to play king of the mountain in the rolling hills of the park. Now they play king of the trash heap. "Their laughter and teasing shouts could be heard throughout the neighborhood. Now the only sounds that can be heard are the swarming of flies that have turned our nightmare into their paradise, and the steady hum of the oxygen suits, their only protection from the toxic fumes of the outside world."...