Stories from Monday, September 20, 1993

To the Editor: I was extremely pleased to see so many students participating Tuesday in YELL Day (Youth, Education, Literacy and Learning). The low level of adult literacy and educational attainment in the Southeast Missouri region makes it essential that all of us become involved in efforts to empower people through education...

To the Editor: Aileen Lorberg brought up the word "chambers" in her last column. This word is a singular, not plural, noun which happens to end in an "s". Black's Law Dictionary defines the word, "The private room or office of a judge; any place in which a judge hears motions, signs papers, or does other business pertaining to his office, when he is not holding a session of court. Business so transacted is said to be done `in chambers'." (Emphasis added)...

To the Editor: "Here we go again..." indeed! As Mark Twain once humorously observed, "The truth is a precious thing, use it sparingly." Such is the case of riverboat opponent Dr. Richard Martin and his recent letter to the editor. Unfortunately, this is no laughing matter. The economic future of our city is at stake. To allow these continued distortions of the facts to go unchallenged is unthinkable...

Last year, more than 2,200 people died in American farm accidents, a statistic that represents more than 14 percent of on-the-job fatalities in the United States. These numbers indicate a couple of things. One, not very surprising, is that farming is a dangerous occupation. Another, perhaps surprising, is that these dismal numbers actually show a positive trend. Fatal accidents on the farm are being reduced, though there is still much work to be done...

A group of downtown home owners has asked to appear before the Cape Girardeau City Council tonight to discuss a proposed property maintenance code. The council apparently isn't yet ready to act on the proposed "Cape Girardeau Property Maintenance Code," a pared down version of the national Building Officials and Code Administrators (BOCA) minimum property maintenance code...

BURFORDVILLE -- When Bob Dyer sings his songs about wild boys who live in cages and dogs that can predict the outcome of elections, he figures he's teaching Missourians something they might not know about their own history. Not that Dyer minds if fiction mingles with fact in a good story. He admits he made up most of "The Wild Child of Gooch's Mill," although the Miller really was murdered and the mill was burned down one Halloween night long ago in Cooper County...

An honest mistake can be costly under the new federal Clean Air Act, which went into effect July 1. "Mistakes or misunderstandings have already been costly to some Southeast Missouri industries and businesses," said Robert Hendrix, president of the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce. He said all industries and business should familiarize themselves with the new environmental regulations...

The Southeast Missourian asked people what they think about Vice President Al Gore's plan to "reinvent Government" by streamlining bureaucracy and cutting waste? Allan Horsman of Westmont, Ill.: "It's obvious that many people want this. We overspend. But it's got to be done with intelligence, not by hacking programs. The administration needs an image enhancement. We'll see what happens."...

CHAFFEE -- The old brick high school building has stood vacant for the past five years, a deteriorating monument of memories. Having outlived its usefulness, the more-than-70-year-old structure is scheduled to be torn down this fall. The Chaffee Board of Education last week accepted the $29,000 bid submitted by J.W. Strack Construction of Cape Girardeau for demolition of the building. School officials are now in the process of executing the contract...

EAST PRAIRIE -- Debra J. Grogan Dumbacher, 35, of Virginia Beach, Va., and formerly of East Prairie died Friday, Sept. 17, 1993, at her home. She was born Aug. 27, 1958, at East Prairie, the daughter of the late James W. and Shirley C. Powell Grogan. On Sept. 8, 1988, she married Jim Dumbacher, who survives of the home...

Daughter to Mr. and Mrs. Randy C. Young of Scott City, Southeast Missouri Hospital, 8:08 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 7, 1993. Name, Sara Gayle. Weight, 7 pounds 11 ounces. Third daughter. Mrs. Young is the former Karen Westrich, daughter of Eugene and Norma Seyer, Chaffee Route 1, and the late Clyde Westrich. Young is the son of Ruth Young of Scott City, and the late Charles Young Jr...

At 5:59 p.m. Saturday, Cape Girardeau firefighters responded to a kitchen fire at 215 Mason, Apt. #2. At 10:49 p.m. Saturday, firefighters responded to a call for emergency medical service at the SEMO District Fair at Arena Park. At 12:15 a.m. Sunday, firefighters responded to a call for emergency medical service at 940 S. Pacific...

PERRYVILLE -- Matilda L. Statler, 95, of Lafayette, Ind., and formerly of Perryville died Friday, Sept. 18, 1993, at her home. She was born July 16, 1898, near Perryville, the daughter of Henry and Katherine Ruessler Wilke. On Dec. 4, 1916, she married Oda R. Statler, who preceded her in death Feb. 10, 1968...

CHAFFEE -- Melissa "Missy" Lancaster, 26, of Chaffee died Sunday, Sept. 19, 1993, in an automobile accident new Rockview. She was born June 12, 1967, at Cape Girardeau, the daughter of Roy L. and Charlotte A. Lauck Surface. Both parents survive of Chaffee. On Oct. 3, 1987, she married Gary Lancaster, who also survives of Randles...

Betty McAuley, 76, a resident of the Lutheran Home, died Sunday, Sept. 19, 1993, at the Lutheran Home. Arrangements were incomplete at Ford and Sons Funeral Home.

The recently-formed Cape Girardeau Arson Task force has gained a new ally that should make bringing potential arsonists to justice that much easier. Cape County Assistant Prosecutor Ian Sutherland recently attended a weeklong "Arson for Prosecutors" school in Olathe, Kan., and will work with the local task force, which consists of members of the Cape Girardeau fire and police departments...

James Seifert is coming out of retirement. The 65-year-old co-founder of the women's specialty store chain that was purchased by Grafton Group Ltd. in 1979 is taking over 38 store leases from the defunct Seifert's chain, which was placed in Chapter 11 bankruptcy last month...

The United States started as a nation of people who made things by hand, by necessity. Today, people are still making things by hand, although not by necessity but for pleasure, and hopefully profit. The business is arts and crafts. It's hard to drive far without coming across shops and galleries selling a variety of hand-made products such as ceramics, jewelry, embroidery and needlework, wood carvings and art...

Cheryl Ziegler of Jackson has been promoted to vice president in the real estate loan department at Boatmen's Bank of Cape Girardeau. Ziegler joined the bank in 1981 as a real estate loan associate. In 1986 she was promoted to real estate loan officer and two years later was promoted to assistant vice president...

The Small Business Development Center will conduct counseling sessions in three areas this month. The counselor, Gil Degenhardt, will be available Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce office. The counseling sessions (about one hour) are free. Call 335-3312 for an appointment...