Stories from Tuesday, July 27, 1993

Interested individuals have launched a campaign to raise money to purchase a new floor for the Cape Girardeau Central High School gymnasium. The new floor, set to replace a synthetic surface installed before the building's opening in 1977, would be wooden, a more durable and safer material, say proponents. We commend these folks for the investment they want to make in a public facility; with school budgets the way they are, this is the only way improvements of this type can be made quickly...

Missouri's lack of many basic energy resources such as oil and natural gas is costing the state dearly, according to a study just released by a section in the state's Department of Natural Resources. The study, originated in 1991, was under the direction of the Environmental Improvement and Energy Resources Authority (EIERA), and it found that Missourians spend 10.8 percent of their total personal income for energy. ...

Bill Emerson is a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Missouri's 8th District. Cape Girardeau is his home in the district. The obstinate House leadership is at it again toying with Midwestern lawmakers and their constituents who immediately want to pass an emergency appropriations bill to help fund federal flood relief efforts...

PERRYVILLE -- Members of the Southeast Missouri Regional Planning and Economic Development Commission will discuss applying for disaster flood relief funds from the U.S. Economic Development Administration at their meeting today. The meeting will begin at 2 p.m. at 1 West St. Joseph Street in Perryville...

COLUMBIA -- In this college town of three campuses, city officials long ago realized the potential for depreciation of Columbia's large number of rental units. Equipped with a minimum property maintenance code, the city in 1978 went a step further with the adoption of a "rental conservation law," which mandates a three-year permit for every rental unit in the city...

State Sen. Peter Kinder says he is anxious to attend a meeting Saturday hosted by Gov. Mel Carnahan to see what kind of assistance will be available for area residents facing losses due to flooding. The damage stakes increased significantly in Kinder's 27th District early Sunday morning when a levee near McBride in Perry County gave way, allowing water to back into a 28,000-acre area...

DUTCHTOWN -- The failure of the Perry County levee south of McBride early Sunday morning was a disaster for residents who live in that area, but it is has proved to be a blessing to workers preparing to raise the sandbag levee protecting Dutchtown...

GORHAM, Ill. -- Mildred Dawson, 70, and her sister Rosetta Adams, 77, were among the first to arrive at Monday afternoon's town meeting at the Gorham United Methodist Church. They, like most everyone in the town of 400, already knew they were about to be asked to leave their homes...

Alice Irvine and Juanita Spicer have been appointed to the Cape Girardeau Public Library Board of Trustees. The appointments were announced recently by the City Council. The new members replace Don Sherwood, who served on the board 11 years, and B. Ray Owen, who served six years...

Several citizens are planning a meeting tonight to form a group they hope will be able to improve ambulance response times in Cape Girardeau County. "We are not trying to start a witch hunt with anybody. We are just looking at service for the people of Cape County," said Edward Frenzel of Jackson, one of the meeting organizers. "It all boils down to a concern about ambulance service in the county for us and our loved ones."...

The national president of the Junior Chamber of Commerce Monday encouraged Cape Girardeau Jaycees to continue their work with victims of the severe flooding in the area. "I heard about the tremendous things this chapter is doing for disaster relief in the area," Matt Shapiro said at a meeting of the organization. "You have made an impact with your efforts, and I came to congratulate you, and to encourage you to do more."...

At the core of the debate in Cape Girardeau over a property maintenance code is a classic philosophical conflict: Are free-market forces alone sufficient to ensure free and fair economic transactions, or does government play a role in doing what individuals can't or won't accomplish on their own?...

DURHAMTwin daughters to Mr. and Mrs. Bill F. Durham, 344 S. Ellis, Southeast Missouri Hospital, Saturday, July 17, 1993. Brittany Louise was born at 12:13 a.m. and weighed 6 pounds 4 ounces. Brooke Denise was born at 12:15 a.m. and weighed 6 pounds 1 ounce. The couple has another son and daughter. Mrs. Durham is the former Tracey Ford, daughter of Terry and Ivan Fornkohl of McClure, Ill. Durham is employed at Havco Wood Products, and is the son of Mary and James Baylor of Cape Girardeau...

Melvin L. Guemmer, 61, 2732 Oakshire, died unexpectedly Monday, July 26, 1993, at his home. He was born Feb. 6, 1932, in Perry County, son of Leonard and Alda Farrar Guemmer. He and Betty Wunderlich were married May 16, 1954, in Cape Girardeau. Survivors include his wife; his mother of Perryville; two sons, Steven Guemmer of Farmington, David Guemmer of DeSoto; two daughters, Corby Newsom of St. Louis, Leigh Rampley of Poplar Bluff, and 12 grandchildren...

Stephen G. Racher, 37, of Overland, died Sunday, July 25, 1993, at DePaul Hospital in Bridgeton. He was born June 5, 1956, in St. Louis, son of Joseph and Mary Ann Brant Racher. Racher was an auditor with the U.S. Government. Survivors include his parents; a brother, Joseph Racher; two sisters, Jacenta O'Halloran and Rose Donnelly; grandmothers, Clara Brant and Mary Racher, all of the Overland area...

ORAN -- Mickey Marie DeBrock, 55, Oran Route 1, died Sunday, July 25, 1993, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. She was born May 28, 1938, at Chaffee, daughter of John M. and Myrtle Lucille Mansell Spooler, Chaffee Route 1. She and Bernard DeBrock were married May 10, 1958...

SCOTT CITY -- Bernard R. Sanders, 74, of Clearwater, Fla., formerly of Scott City, died Monday, July 26, 1993, at his home. Funeral arrangements are incomplete at this time.