Stories from Thursday, June 24, 1993

New laws enacted this year at the state and federal levels will make it easier for people to register to vote. These changes should bring many more new voters on board. But simply registering is only the first responsibility of new voters. These decision makers should take their task seriously and stay informed on election issues. Only then can they proceed past the flash and fluff that plague too many elections to make educated choices...

Recently America observed a 24-hour time period known as Father's Day, an ersatz counterpart to the month-earlier and more meaningful Mother's Day. In an age when more than 40 percent of all children are brought into the world by single mothers, it would seem our society will soon view any day set aside for fathers as being something of an anachronism. ...

Recent commentary on President Bill Clinton has been remarkably dismissive, even contemptuous. Here's columnist Joe Sobran on our President, quoting Clinton: "`This isn't about the political center,' he (Clinton) said, explaining his decision to withdraw the Lani Guinier nomination. `This is about my center.'" Oh...

Thousands of youngsters descend on Southeast Missouri State University each summer to attend camps offering everything from volleyball to music. In the past, the camps drew about 4,000 youngsters in all. But attendance has declined over the past two years...

The University of Missouri Extension has planned a luncheon workshop for working women dealing with role overload and quick, one-dish meals. The meeting will be held June 30 at the Extension Center in Jackson. At 10:30 a.m., Mary Gosche, human development specialist, will discuss strategies to deal with role overload...

Serious negotiations over the sale of St. Vincent's Seminary to the Colonial Cape Girardeau Foundation are under way, Realtor Thomas L. Meyer said Wednesday. Meyer, who is handling the sale for the Provincial Administration of Vincentian Fathers in St. Louis, said the owners rejected the offer the foundation made last week but said "see what you can do."...

Whether the Cape Girardeau City Council will consider public housing here will depend primarily on the work of a new citizens advisory board. Members of the Housing Assistance Task Force met for the first time Wednesday and didn't take long to begin framing the scope of their coming debate...

Drivers who speed or don't wear seat belts, and motorcyclists who leave their helmets at home have a better chance of getting caught on Thursday and Friday afternoons in Cape Girardeau. On those afternoons, at least one additional Cape Girardeau police officer is patrolling the streets looking specifically for people who are breaking those laws...

The meal line stretched almost halfway around the long, rectangular front room at the Salvation Army building Wednesday afternoon. They were serving barbecued pork and macaroni salad. "We came here quite often last year," said Mary Gorham, who brought 4 of her 12 grandchildren to Wednesday's meal. "I didn't realize until yesterday that they were doing this again...

Folake Solanke, the president-elect for Zonta International, Wednesday urged local Zontians to educate themselves about international social and political issues. And although opportunities to affect change in world hot spots such as Bosnia and Somalia might be limited, she said it's important to try to make a difference...

If you're driving down Mt. Auburn Road by Boatman's Bank Saturday afternoon, expect about a short delay. But if you're wearing your seat belt, it should be worth your while. The Cape Girardeau Police Department along with the Community Traffic Safety Program will hold a Safety Check and Awareness Fair to kick off its "Buckle Up Avoid the Summertime Blues" campaign...

ST. LOUIS Central Hardware moved forward with plans to downsize its 39-store chain Wednesday, by closing its stores in Cape Girardeau, Nashville, Tenn., and a discontinued merchandise store in Indianapolis, Ind. Within the next two weeks, the hardware stores in Nashville and Cape Girardeau will have "going out of business" sales to clear its inventory...

Earl P. Robert, 83, of 709 Morgan Oak died Wednesday, June 23, 1993, at St. Francis Medical Center. He was born Dec. 5, 1909 in Cape Girardeau, the son of John and Emma Stiemle Robert. On June 2, 1936, he married Marie M. Dohogne in Cape Girardeau. She survives...

Frieda Ruff, died June 21, 1993, in Jacksonville, Ark., at the age of 104. She was born Aug. 22, 1888, in Cape Girardeau, the daughter of Herman and Julia Amelunke. She married William P. Ruff in 1908. He died in 1956. Survivors include four grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren and seven great-great-grandchildren...

Funeral service for Thea Jo Herron of Springfield, formerly of Cape Girardeau, was held June 14 at First and Calvary Presbyterian Church in Springfield. Herron, 17, died Thursday, June 10, 1993, in Springfield, as a result of injuries received in an automobile accident...

Anna A. Ussery, 75, of Cape Girardeau, died Tuesday, June 22, 1993, at Cape Girardeau Nursing Center. She was born Sept. 15, 1917, daughter of Robert and Maude Beckette Diamond. She married Charles Ussery in 1934, in Cape Girardeau. He died in 1946. She then married Cecil Ussery in 1948 in Cape Girardeau. He died in 1978...

WASHINGTON, D.C. The U.S. government needs to boost depressed commodity prices specifically wheat to help struggling farmers, U.S. Rep. Bill Emerson, R-Cape Girardeau, says. Emerson renewed his call for higher prices in a letter to U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Mike Espy...

William J. Schroeder, 92, of Perryville, died Wednesday, June 23, 1993, at Perry County Nursing Home in Perryville. He was born Jan. 27, 1901, at Crosstown, son of John and Mary Petot Schroeder. He married Anna Kirn April 19, 1927. She died Feb. 16, 1992...

Civic leader and retired insurance agent Roy Oscar "Jack" Slaughter, 74, of Cape Girardeau, died Wednesday, June 23, 1993, at St. Francis Medical Center. He was born Feb. 24, 1919, at Burfordville, son of Fred and Emma Eakins Slaughter. He and Esther Willa were married June 5, 1942, in Cape Girardeau...

POCAHONTAS -- Irma G. Gray, 58, of Pocahontas, died Tuesday, June 22, 1993, at Pocahontas. She was born March 15, 1935, in Perry County, daughter of Paul and Louise Hellwege. Survivors are a daughter, Linda Thick, Granite City, Ill.; brothers, Herbert Hellwege, Howell, Mich., Paul Hellwege, Hinceville, Ala., and Wilbert Hellwege, Lemay; a sister, Gladys Hughs, Frohna; three grandchildren...

Daughter to Mr. and Mrs. Andy Millard, 1502 Scott, Southeast Missouri Hospital, 8:28 a.m. Tuesday, June 15, 1993. Name, Courtney Ann. Weight, 7 pounds 14 ounces. Third daughter. Mrs. Millard is the former Tonia McHugh, daughter of Martha and Willard McHugh of Benton. Millard is employed at the Lutheran Home, and is the son of Nadine Millard of Wichita Falls, Texas, and Wayne Millard of Springfield...

ADVANCE -- Mary Helen Nothdurft, 78, Advance Route 1, died Wednesday, June 23, 1993, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. She was born July 4, 1914, at Zalma, daughter of John and Anne Deck Dunning. She and Robie Nothdurft were married July 25, 1929...

MARBLE HILL -- Thomas U. Clark, 73, of Herrick, Ill., died Tuesday, June 22, 1993, in Pana, Ill. She was born Feb. 16, 1920, at Wyatt, daughter of Lowry and Rose Marie Murphy Clark. He married the former Connie Moore. Clark was an electrical engineer, and had owned and operated Transformers Unlimited in Denver, Colo...

CHARLESTON -- Funeral mass for Emma Heim of Largo, Fla., was held Wednesday at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Largo. Burial was in a Largo cemetery. Heim, 77, died Sunday, June 20, 1993. She was born Sept. 30, 1915, in Mississippi County, daughter of Jesse N. and Dora Baker Farmer...

Geraldine E. Harmon, 79, of 539 S. Spring, died Wednesday, June 23, 1993, at Southeast Missouri Hospital. Ford and Sons Mt. Auburn Chapel is in charge of funeral arrangements, which are incomplete at this time.

Americans will celebrate the 217th birthday of the United States with traditional holiday activities. Cape Girardeau Pops Cape Girardeau will celebrate the Fourth of July with a Bicentennial "Pops Concert" at 7 p.m. July 4 in the A.C. Brase Arena Building. ...

The circus train is on its way to Cape Girardeau. The 49-car Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey circus train extra is scheduled to arrive in Cape Girardeau tonight from Springfield, Ill. A spokesman for the Burlington Northern Railroad at Cape Girardeau said the train will pass through St. Louis en route to Cape Girardeau...

Martha Vandivort, a director of the League of Women Voters of Cape Girardeau County, has been elected a director of LWV/Missouri. The election was held at the state biannual convention in Kansas City. Linda McDaniel, Florissant, is the new president of LWV/MO. Other officers are: Carol Portman, University City, first vice president; Alice Slagle Barnard, St. Joseph, second vice president; Elise Joerger, University City, secretary; and Mary Merritt, Sedalia, treasurer...