Stories from Sunday, May 9, 1993

We inherited the First 100 Days yardstick from Franklin Roosevelt and awkwardly apply it to other presidents in a different time. Who wouldn't like to be another Roosevelt? Kennedy, on occasion, thought he might be. Johnson was certain he had attained that level only to be politically decapitated by Vietnam. Clinton muses about it. Nothing wrong with having the political ambition to succeed by the ultimate standard of history...

The Cape Girardeau branch of the NAACP will be holding its second annual Scholastic/Athletic Awards ceremony Thursday at Southeast Missouri State University. The event, in the University Center Party Room, will begin at 7 p.m. Kala Stroup, president of Southeast Missouri State University, will present the GPA award, and Coach Rod Garmon of Cape Girardeau Central High School will present the Athletic award. Also, Southeast head basketball coach Ron Shumate will speak...

The Chamber of Commerce university relations committee serves as a liaison between Southeast Missouri State University and Cape Girardeau's business community. The committee tries to enhance relations between the university and business community, specifically the College of Business Administration, says Keith Russell, committee chair...

A career Air Force flight officer and pilot from Southeast Missouri is the new Cape Girardeau airport manager. Randy Holdman, 46, a native of Bonne Terre, takes over operation of the airport on June 1, according to Doug Leslie, director of public works. Holdman is currently living in Texas...

A summer class in driver education will be taught on the campus of Cape Girardeau Central High School starting June 7, provided there is sufficient enrollment. The first meeting will be held in the driver training building located on Whitener Street just south of the gymnasium, starting at 8 a.m. The course will be conducted June 7-25 and will not carry high school credit. However, it will meet the requirements for reduced car insurance rates...

JACKSON -- Trustees of the Jackson Memorial to Veterans of All Wars have rescheduled a dedication of the first phase of the veterans memorial for Saturday, Armed Forces Day. The dedication was scheduled last weekend but was rained out Saturday and again on Sunday...

There was a time when persons who were convicted of crimes went to prison and paid their "debt to society." That was what most Americans accepted ... it was a civilized thing to believe. This way of thinking hasn't aged well. Americans remain frustrated today that criminals are only paying part of their debt for crimes committed, in addition to not learning a lesson from their incarceration. ...

Health care is a concern of the Chamber of Commerce's health and human services committee. "The committee has been around for the past couple of years, but we've never wrestled with anything substantive," says Jeff Krantz, chairman of the health sub-committee. "Now we have active people on the committee, and we're trying to make some impact."...

After 21 years as president and chief executive officer of the Chamber of Commerce, Bob Hendrix has decided it's time for retirement. Hendrix in December announced his retirement, which becomes effective at the end of this year. During the months leading up to his final day on the job, he will be working with whomever is selected the chamber's next president to help ensure a smooth transition...

With the retirement of Bob Hendrix as president and chief executive officer of the Chamber of Commerce comes the search for a new president. After 21 years with the chamber, Hendrix announced his retirement in December, effective at the end of this year...

Energetic tourism efforts bring people and dollars to town. That's the aim of Cape Girardeau's Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB). The CVB is the primary organization that represents the city and solicits travelers, says Director Lyn Muzzy. "We encourage all travelers to come enjoy what we have to offer in this area."...

Who's the barbecue king of the hill? The winner may emerge during a barbecue cookout scheduled Aug. 20-21 at Arena Park. "The reason for the barbecue cookout is to promote beef and pork to the surrounding area and how these meats are good for you," says Russ Mothershead, committee chair. "We are trying to promote a very positive image for these types of meat, along with the Missouri Cattlemen Association and the Missouri Pork Producers."...

The newest Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce committee targets minority relations in the business community. The committee was established at the end of 1992, and began functioning this year with the approval of the chamber's board of directors. "We're a brand new committee so we haven't really done much yet," says John Mehner, committee member and a past chairman of the chamber's board of directors. "We only have two meetings under our belt, so we're really still in the infancy stage."...

Sixty new members is this year's goal in the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce's membership drive. The current membership is around 1,050. Kathy Bertrand, membership drive co-chairman, says, "We would like to be sitting at 1,100 members after the drive."...

As I was growing up, my parents taught me that if I felt strongly about an issue I should have the determination to stand up and speak my mind. I also learned that I needed to be willing to have my name associated with my opinions; they called it the courage of conviction, and said that everything from a letter to the editor to the Declaration of Independence was given meaning by names at the bottom. Well, here's my letter...

THOMASTwin son and daughter to Mr. and Mrs. Tony Thomas, 1540 Independence, Southeast Missouri Hospital, Thursday, April 22, 1993. Robert Logan was born at 7:44 p.m. and weighed 6 pounds 4 ounces. Ilah Elizabeth was born at 7:45 p.m. and weighed 6 pounds 9 ounces. ...

MARBLE HILL -- Rosey Letgrate, 90, of Glen Allen, died Thursday, May 6, 1993, at Bond Nursing Care Center in Marble Hill. She was born at Lake City, Ark., Aug. 2, 1902, daughter of Joe and Fanny Cato Farmer. Her husband, Dave Letgrate, died May 24, 1974...

Prudence Cotner McMullin, 95, of Cape Girardeau, died Friday, May 7, 1993, at Fountainbleau Lodge. She was born July 13, 1897, at Neely's Landing, daughter of Francis M. and Margaret J. Medlock McClard. She and James E. Cotner were married April 4, 1912, at Jackson. He died July 15, 1967. She later married Amos McMullin Oct. 6, 1974, in Cape Girardeau. He died May 25, 1988...

Funeral service for Hershel Kenneth Roussel of Flovilla, Ga., was held May 5 at Haisten Funeral Chapel in Jackson, Ga. The Rev. Gary Jakes officiated, with burial in Juliette United Methodist Church Cemetery in Juliette, Ga. Roussel, 76, died Monday, May 3, 1993, at his home...

SIKESTON -- Lectoria Wren Hony, 76, of Norwood, Ohio, formerly of Sikeston, died Saturday, May 8, 1993, at the Christ Hospital in Cincinnati, Ohio. The Nunley Funeral Home in Sikeston is in charge of funeral arrangements, which are incomplete at this time...

Clara E. Lawrence, 86, formerly of Cape Girardeau, died Saturday May 8, 1993 at the Ramona Villa Nursing Home in Kansas City. She was born Jan. 30, 1907 in Burfordville, the daughter of Columbus C. and Rosine Schwab Smith. In 1930 she married James F. Lawrence in Arkansas, and he preceded her in death on Jan. 10, 1969...

SIKESTON -- Bertha V. Burns Rofkahr, 64, of Sikeston died Friday, May 7, 1993, at Missouri Delta Medical Center. She was born May 10, 1928 in Johnson County, Ark., daughter of John and Joyce Yates Murphy. She was a sewing machine operator for International Shoe Co. for more than 30 years. She was a member of the Emmanuel Baptist Church and the Sikeston Eagles Aerie No. 3319...

Frank T. "Springie" Springmeyer, 84, of 105 N. Clark died Friday, May 7, 1993, at Southeast Missouri Hospital. He was born March 30, 1909 in Elvins, son of Conrad Henry and Alice Pratt Springmeyer. He was employed as a truck driver for Cauble & Field for more than 25 years...

Bobbie T. Smith of Creve Coeur, formerly of Cape Girardeau, died Friday, May 7, 1993, at the Bridgeton Nursing Center in Bridgeton. The body is being returned to Ford and Sons Mt. Auburn Chapel. Funeral arrangements are pending.

BERTRAND, Mo. - John Lee Morgan, 63, of Bertrand, died Saturday, May 8, 1993, at the Charleston Manor in Charleston. He was born Nov. 7, 1929, in St. Louis, to Harry and Le Mae Stoefiel Morgan. On July 9, 1954, he married Marian Adele Pilgrim, who preceded him in death on Dec. 17, 1992...

Brenda McGuffie Hartmann, 60, of Venice, Fla., formerly of Cape Girardeau, died Saturday, May 8, 1993, at her residence. Hartmann was born Feb. 3, 1933, in Bolton, England, and moved to Venice in 1984 from Cape Girardeau. She is survived by her husband, Helmut Hartmann; two sons, Stephen Parks of Chino, Calif., and Jonathan Parks of Jefferson City; one daughter, Kimberly Schlosser of Chaffee; one sister, Mary Barlow of Bolton, England, along with five grandchildren...

JACKSON - Robert K. Grant, 80, formerly of Jackson, died Friday May 7, 1993 at a hospital in Hot Springs Village, Ark. Local arrangements are pending at McCombs Funeral Home in Jackson.

CHAFFEE - Lawrence Edward Scheffer, 73, of Chaffee, died Saturday May 8, 1993 at Southeast Missouri Hospital. He was born Feb. 19, 1920 in Charleston, the son of Clem and Emma Gibbear Scheffer. On Sept. 28, 1940 he married Adella Heisserer, who survives. He was a retired milk truck driver for Pevely Dairy...

PERRYVILLE -- Funeral service for Delma M. Frentzel of Perryville was held Saturday at Young and Sons Funeral Chapel. The Rev. Paul Winningham officiated, with burial in Grace Lutheran Cemetery at Uniontown. Frentzel, 79, died Thursday, May 6, 1993, at Perry County Memorial Hospital...

CHARLESTON -- Funeral service for L.C. Cathron of Charleston was held Saturday at St. Mark Baptist Church. The Rev. Wiley Reed officiated, with burial in Oak Grove Cemetery. Sparks Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements. Cathron, 72, died Wednesday, May 5, 1993, at John J. Pershing VA Medical Center in Poplar Bluff...

Funeral service for the Rev. Arnold Earl Thomure of Cape Girardeau will be held at 1 p.m. today at Ford and Sons Mt. Auburn Chapel. The Rev. Bobby Mouser will officiate, with burial in New Lorimier Cemetery. Thomure, 77, died Thursday, May 6, 1993, at the Lutheran Home...

ORAN -- Funeral service for Steven Darrell Shoemaker of Oran was held Saturday at Amick-Burnett Funeral Chapel in Chaffee. The Rev. Brian Gill officiated, with burial in Williams Cemetery at Perkins. Shoemaker, 21, died Thursday, May 6, 1993, at Southeast Missouri Hospital...

CHARLESTON -- Funeral service for Carl "Dickie" Harrison of Charleston will be held at noon today at Sparks Funeral Chapel. The Rev. Laverne Frazier will officiate, with burial in Oak Grove Cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home from 10 a.m. to service time...

State Rep. Larry Thomason opted to remain in Jefferson City rather than spend more than 10 hours of this weekend on the road traveling to and from his home in Kennett. Rep. Marilyn Williams also gave serious consideration to bypassing the long road trip to her Stoddard County home near Dudley; she thought of using the weekend to unwind in the state capital. ...

ORAN -- When entering Oran from the southeast, one notices the Guardian Angel Catholic Church rising majestically against the backdrop of wooded hills. Next Saturday, many of the 432 families of the church's congregation will gather at a special mass and picnic to celebrate the centennial anniversary of their church...

Like most good sons this weekend, U.S. Rep. Bill Emerson set aside time to be with his mother. But when he's not spending time with his mother in Cape Girardeau, the seventh-term Republican congressman will be traveling outside the 8th District to continue assessing his chances of running for the U.S. Senate next year...

The Business section that has in recent years been a fixture in Sunday editions has now moved to the Monday edition. The move to Monday will get the business pages out of the heavier flow of news sections in the Sunday edition. The Southeast Missourian hopes the move to Monday will provide the Business section with better exposure...

U.S. District Judge Stephen N. Limbaugh Sr. advised Southeast Missouri State University graduates Saturday not to cheat in their future endeavors. "When you cheat, somebody else suffers," Limbaugh said in his commencement address to the university's 1993 graduating class...

Students in first grade through high school enrolled in the Music Preparatory Program at Southeast Missouri State University will present two spring recitals. The first will be held at 7 p.m. Monday in the University Center Ballroom. Both instrumentalists and vocalists will perform...

East Missouri Action Agency is accepting applications for the Summer Youth Employment Program. It is funded through the Southeast Missouri Private Industry Council. Youth will begin working through the program on June 7. The purpose of the program is to provide eligible youth with training to assist them in developing occupational and career goals. The primary component of the program is work experience. Enrollees may work at public-not-for-profit agencies for a total of 240 hours...

The Southeast Missouri Business Group on Health consists of 78 companies. As categorized by city, they are: Cape Girardeau Bill's Family Pharmacy, Biokyowa Inc., Bluff City Beer Co., Cape Computer Service, Cape County Private Ambulance Service, Cape Girardeau Surgical Clinic, Cape Radiology Group, Community Counseling Center, Concord Publishing, Dana Corp., Defender Services, Drury Industries Inc.; Earley, Janssen, Begley & Co.; Erlbacher Gear & Machine, Family Mental Health, Family Physicians Group, Family Practice Specialty, Genesis Transportation Co., Girardeau Park Family Medicine, HealthSouth Rehabilitation Center, Internal Medicine Group, I.V. ...

Faced with spiraling health care costs, a group of Southeast Missouri businesses is embarking on a new program to rein in such expenses while maintaining quality care. The program will be implemented July 1 by a partnership involving the Southeast Missouri Business Group on Health, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Missouri, and the region's medical community...

The American Red Cross will hold two blood drives at area businesses on May 18 and 20. On May 18, the Commerce Bank blood drive will be held from 10 a.m.-3 p.m., in the bank's community room, 160 S. Broadview, in Cape Girardeau. On May 20, Lone Star Industries will hold a blood drive from noon-4 p.m., in the company natatorium in Cape Girardeau...

The annual washing of the Mississippi River bridge at Cape Girardeau is among several area highway projects that will cause travel delays this week, said the Missouri Highway and Transportation Department at Sikeston. Meanwhile, department officials said the Route M bridge renovation project under way west of Scott City was completed last week...

Will some mutant gene get into the female DNA some day that will alter the mother instinct? Has it already? With lesbians marrying lesbians and gays marrying gays, where goes motherhood? Strange form of genocide, isn't it? Let's not think on those things today. Instead, let's wallow in some memory of our mothers during a less bizarre and bewildering time. Spin the reel of your mental images, zoom in, and stop the camera wherever you want...

Dave Sander has a lot of time on his hands. For two decades, he has put the ticktock back into clocks. Broken-down, pendulum clocks that had been silent come to life in his hands, ticking and chiming like new. Crammed into the clock repair shop in the basement of his Cape Girardeau home at 1310 Broadway are the gearwheels, keys and other items that comprise a timepiece. A number of repaired clocks hang on walls or sit on a large shelf in the tiny, two-room shop...

Everything that has bloomed this year has been outstanding, tree peonies are no exception. Although called "tree" peonies to denote their woody nature, they are not trees in the usual sense. Actually, they are small shrubs, with finely cut foliage and huge papery flowers of incredible coloring...

ULLIN, Ill. -- Tamms Little Egypt Chapter 3927 AARP will meet Thursday at Smiles II Senior Citizens Nutrition Center. The meeting is at 10:30 a.m., with a program by the Lions Club. AARP will also sponsor "55 Alive Mature Driving Course" at the center Thursday and Friday. The classroom driver improvement course for drivers 50 and older will be held from 12:30-4 p.m. each day...

Perry County Memorial Hospital will sponsor a Future Nurse Camp June 8-11 from 8 a.m.-noon at the hospital. The camp will give 15- and 16-years-olds an opportunity to observe the duties and responsibilities of a registered nurse. Mary Comte, a staff registered nurse at the hospital, is coordinating the class, which will include lecture time, tour of the hospital and services, and some hands-on practice of some of the procedures performed by nurses...