Stories from Tuesday, October 19, 1993

For many Southeast Missouri State University students, drinking is a major pastime. That's a concern to Phyllis Schnell. As coordinator of substance abuse prevention and education at Southeast, Schnell wages a seemingly endless battle against alcohol abuse...

This weekend should be a colorful one in the hills of Southeast Missouri. In Southern Illinois, the fall colors will begin the following weekend and continue for about two to three weeks. Rick Kammler, assistant district forester with the Missouri Conservation Department's Perryville district office, said trees in the eastern foothills of the Ozarks are now approaching their peak fall colors...

TAMMS, Ill. -- The Alexander County village of Tamms, 18 miles north of Cairo and 20 miles west of Cape Girardeau, has been selected for a $60 million super-maximum prison. Gov. Jim Edgar said the prison site two miles northeast of Tamms was recommended by Corrections Department Director Howard Peters III following visits to five final sites last week...

The Cape Girardeau City Council voted unanimously Monday to step up a plan to hire more police officers in the city. Police Chief Howard "Butch" Boyd Jr. had asked the council to hire two "community service officers" in January, and four more patrolmen during the next three years...

When Donna Miller watches tonight's episode of "NYPD Blue" on KBSI-TV, she'll be logging each dirty word, each violent act, each sex scene. She did the same Saturday night when the Fox Television station aired the first installment of the new series that creator Steven Bochco bills as grittily realistic...

JACKSON -- Two men of the Jackson Police Department and a fireman became midwives late Saturday -- at least until the ambulance showed up to deliver a pregnant woman's baby. At about 11 p.m. Saturday, Judy Jordan, 25, of Marble Hill, knew she wasn't going to make it to Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau to have her baby...

SCOTT CITY -- A representative of a riverboat gambling company made a brief pitch to the Scott City Council prior to its regular Monday meeting. "This is a real opportunity for growth and economic development in this area," said Doug Whitehead, representing Minnestota-based Casino Magic. "You have to think about whether or not you can afford to let this kind of opportunity slip by."...

A local celebration of Missouri Day Wednesday marks the 80th anniversary of the adoption of the state flag. It's also a celebration of a great place to live, says event chairman Charles Woodford. The celebration will begin at 11 a.m. at the Oliver-Leming House, 740 North St., and is open to the public. American Legion Post 63 and its auxiliary, in conjunction with the Cape River Heritage Museum and the Cape Girardeau Convention and Visitor's Bureau, have planned the event...

It started with a blond college student running down the steps of Academic Hall, screaming at the sight of the purple Pontiac Bonneville smashed up against a tree, and the bodies slumped inside. "Somebody get help! Please, somebody help me," she pleaded, attracting the attention of college students on their way to or from midday classes Monday. She is standing the in the midst of several empty beer cans, strewn from the vehicle upon impact...

Ora Z. Hargens, 92, 926 Jefferson, died Monday, Oct. 18, 1993, at Southeast Missouri Hospital. She was born Sept. 20, 1901, at Delta, daughter of John Henry and Anna Josephine Felbinger Weissenborn. She married Edwin Hargens Nov. 30, 1924, at Gordonville...

GLEN ALLEN -- William N. Whitener, 66, of Nazareth, Pa., died Monday, Oct. 18, 1993, at St. Luke Hospital in Bethlehem, Pa. He was born Jan. 16, 1927, at Glen Allen, son of John and Ethel Underwood Whitener. He and Roselyn Martin were married Oct. 15, 1949...

SCOTT CITY -- Henry A. Fuemmeler, 78, of Scott City, died Monday, Oct. 18, 1993, at the John J. Pershing Veterans Hospital in Poplar Bluff. The Amick-Burnett Funeral Chapel in Scott City is in charge of funeral arrangements, which are incomplete at this time...

Thorwald Frederick Johnston, 68, of Pahrump, Nev., died Saturday, Oct. 16, 1993, at the St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. He was born Oct. 7, 1925, at Kansas City, son of Henry Abner and Thora Hansen Johnston. He married Althea Denny, Oct. 17, 1946, at Las Vegas, Nev...

Jo Frances Hamby, 62, 1630 Oak Hills, died Monday, Oct. 18, 1993, at St. Francis Medical Center. She was born Nov. 30, 1930, at Steele, daughter of Joseph R. and Beva L. Talkington Neeley. She and James H. Hamby were married June 9, 1953, at Caruthersville. He died Nov. 8, 1986...

JACKSON -- Edward L. Mungle, 50, of Jackson, died Sunday, Oct. 17, 1993, at his home. He was born Feb. 1, 1943, in Cape Girardeau, son of Gilbert nad Olga Loos Mungle. Mungle was a mechanic at Sam Tanksley Trucking in Cape Girardeau from 1977-85, and was self-employed at Ed's Auto Repair in Jackson from 1986-91. He was a member of American Legion here, and served with the U.S. Army in Italy from 1960-63...

Funeral service for Fred R. Smith of Cape Girardeau will be at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday at Ford and Sons Mt. Auburn Chapel. The Rev. William Burke will officiate, with burial in Memorial Park. Friends may call at the funeral home from 4-8 p.m. today. Smith, 88, of Cape Girardeau, died Saturday, Oct. 16, 1993, at the Lutheran Home...

In the obituary Monday of Carlton S. "Buck" Rodgers, the name of a son was listed incorrectly. It should have been Don Rodgers of Cape Girardeau, instead of John Rodgers. Rodgers, 70, of Cape Girardeau, died Sunday, Oct. 17, 1993, at his home. Funeral service is at 2 p.m. today at First Church of the Nazarene. The Rev. Bill Burke will officiate, with burial in Russell Heights Cemetery at Jackson...

Odell Ayers, 86, 517 S. Benton, died Monday, Oct. 18, 1993, at her home. Ford and Sons Sprigg Street Chapel is in charge of arrangements.

Trulla D. Farrow, 77, of Phoenix, Ariz., died Tuesday, Sept. 28, 1993, at her home. She was born May 3, 1916, in Cape Girardeau, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Ray McClard. McClard had lived in Phoenix since 1959. Survivors include her husband, Glenn; a son, Russ of Phoenix, a daughter, Margaret of Phoenix; two brothers, Eldred and Arlee McClard of Cape Girardeau...

SCOTT CITY -- Joe Thomas Bagwell Sr., 73, of Jackson, died Saturday, Oct. 16, 1993, at the St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. He was born Aug. 7, 1920, at Bardwell, Ky., son of John and Rebecca Harp Bagwell. He married Lorraine Bonenberger, June 27, 1959, at St. Louis...

JACKSON -- A three-member committee appointed Monday by Mayor Paul Sander will look into obtaining a state grant to make the city park and Rotary Lake more accessible to people with disabilities. The board of aldermen also approved rezoning of a tract of land between Goose Creek and Jefferson Avenue for construction of duplex housing...

To the Editor:It is gratifying to see that Anericans are convinced (for the most part) that the health care system needs constructive reform and that the Administration is seriously addressing the issue. However, the issue is so complex that a preponderance of discussion and work lie ahead until workable systems are developed.Among the various considerations is the mistaken, longstanding assumption that health care should be attached to employment. ...

To the Editor:As the discussion of riverboat gambling resurfaces, I continue to consider the pros and cons. However, I find that nothing I read can override the concerns I had at the time of the June vote. For me, the bottom line is that according to statistics taken from studies in eastern gambling states, 4.2% of the population become either problem or pathological gamblers. ...

To the Editor: I am writing regarding the gambling boat issue before the city of Cape. I will be unable to vote as I live a few miles beyond the city limits. I lived in Cape for 12 years before moving to the farm 23 years ago. Cape is still my home town...

Ill. Gov. Jim Edgar Monday gave an economic transfusion to Southern Illinois: he announced that the $60 million super maximum security prison would be built at Tamms. The prison will house up to 500 inmates. The selection of Tamms is a prize for the tiny town of 748, to be sure. But the economic rewards won't stop there; they will ripple throughout Southern Illinois and Southeast Missouri. Tamms is located 18 miles north of Cairo and 20 miles west of Cape Girardeau...

To the Editor: Your recent article about candidates for the vacancy on the Circuit Court named just three likely candidates. They were all Democrats.Everyone knows that the governor is a Democrat and the conventional wisdom is that he will pick a Democrat. ...

OAK RIDGE -- Three years ago Oak Ridge teacher Wayne Bock decided that teaching students to make birdhouses and bookshelves wasn't what they really needed to learn. So, with the help of a state grant, he transformed his traditional shop class into Modular Technology...

Fay Bruening says she looks for a little help from on high when teaching her third-graders at Trinity Lutheran School. Combining religion and academics makes teaching at a parochial school like Trinity rewarding, she said. Bruening has been teaching at Trinity for eight years...

"Straight Talk," a program for parents of teenagers is planned Friday from 7-11 p.m. at the Cape Girardeau Central Junior High School cafeteria. Speakers and topics for the lock-in include "Message in the Music," by Kevin Orr of the Cape Girardeau Police Department; "Inhalants," by Bill Askew, alcohol and substance abuse counselor for Cape Girardeau schools; "The Aftermath, a film presented by Jim Hicks of St. ...

MARBLE HILL -- Joseph V. Huskey of Marble Hill, has earned a doctoral degree in education from Southern Illinois University-Carbondale. Huskey is the College of Education Advising Coordinator at Southeast Missouri State University and also serves as an instructor in the department of elementary and special education at the university...

Applications are now being accepted for the Elks National Foundation 1994 Most Valuable Student contest. The two top awards are $5,000 scholarships. The awards include 500 scholarships awarded in nationwide competition and 1,818 scholarships allotted on a state-quota basis...

KELSO -- Chris Bucher, a senior at Notre Dame High School, has been named Exchange Club Student of the Month for October. He is a member of National Honor Society, Future Business Leaders of America and Scholar Bowl. He also participated in the annual spring musical, attended an international leadership conference and is listed in Who's Who Among American High School Students...

DELTA -- The Delta High School Future Farmers of America is hosting a breakfast Oct. 23 to raise money for a trip to the national FFA convention. The breakfast will be held from 6-11 a.m. at the high school's vocational-agriculture building. Tickets are $3.50 and available at the door...