Stories from Tuesday, November 16, 1993

What was first described as a "small" tornado which struck the Delta, Chaffee and Blomeyer areas Sunday morning may have been two small tornadoes or one "large" one which skipped and jumped. This is the latest word from the Cape Girardeau County Office of Emergency Preparedness at Jackson Monday...

Several area labor union officials say they are concerned about the impact passage of the North America Free Trade Agreement would have on jobs, and fear the low wages in Mexico will be too big of an incentive for some factories to leave the United States...

Following a quiet open forum Monday at Central Junior High School, Cape Girardeau Board of Education President John Campbell said he is in no hurry to make any decisions about the district's future. About 70 people turned out for the third public forum scheduled by the school board to gather comments about how the district should proceed in the wake of twice failing to increase its tax levy...

The Cape Girardeau City Council voted Monday to move forward with a plan for soliciting proposals and selecting an excursion gambling boat operator by March 7. The council also agreed to conduct public meetings each month as part of the city council agenda to update citizens and seek their comments regarding the riverboat selection process...

About 50 people from at least eight states are expected to gather at the St. Louis Airport Drury Inn Wednesday for the second national meeting to discuss a proposed Interstate 66. "We have had a lot of calls, even from cities who cannot attend the meeting, and feel like this will be a good event," said Walt Wildman, executive director of the Cape Girardeau RCGA and co-director of I-66 Project, Inc...

JACKSON -- The Jackson Board of Aldermen welcomed back their senior board member, Ward 1 Alderman David Ludwig, Monday. Ludwig has been absent from the board since he suffered a heart attack in late September. "Thanks for all the cards, flowers and support while I was hospitalized. I very much appreciate them and want to publicly thank everyone," said Ludwig...

CAIRO, Ill. -- George S. Elias, 80, of Cairo, died Sunday, Nov. 14, 1993, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau, Mo. He was born in Mounds, son of Sam and Nora Saliba Elias. He was a retired salesman with Elias True Value in Cairo. He was a lifetime member and deacon at Cairo Baptist Church, and member of Cairo Senior Citizens...

Daughter to Kim Duckett and Susan Smith of Jackson, Southeast Missouri Hospital, 8:48 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 10, 1993. Name, Alissa Maxine. Weight, 5 pounds 15 ounces. Seventh child, fifth daughter. Smith is the daughter of Tom Smith of Fallon, Nev., and Yvonne Smith of Piedmont. Duckett is an installer with TCI Cablevision, and is the son of Maxine Duckett of Mill Spring...

ALLENVILLE -- Lenore Bertuce Hitt, 81, a retired teacher, died Sunday, Nov. 14, 1993, at Missouri Baptist Hospital in St. Louis. She was born Oct. 9, 1912, at Allenville, daughter of Albert J. and Louise Delapp Hitt. Hitt received a bachelor of science degree from Southeast Missouri State University in Cape Girardeau, and master of science from the University of Missouri-Columbia...

CHAFFEE -- A memorial service for E.C. "Eddie" Reeve of Springfield was held Nov. 8 at Brentwood Christian Church. Burial was in Springfield National Cemetery, with Gorman-Scharpf Brentwood Chapel in charge of arrangements. Reeve, 63, died Thursday, Nov. 4, 1993, at Cox Medical Center South in Springfield...

Julia M. Masters, 85, 127 S. Frederick, died Saturday, Nov. 13, 1993, at St. Francis Medical Center. She was born April 6, 1908, at Fornfelt, daughter of Harry and Carrie Campbell Mifflin. Masters had been a presser at Marquette Laundry. Survivors include a daughter, Cathy Allgood of Marietta, Ga.; three grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren...

JACKSON -- Harold L. Wills, 67, of Jackson, died Monday, Nov. 15, 1993, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. He was born Sept. 14, 1926, at Jackson, son of Harlan and Stella Hartle Wills. He and Marjorie M. Starzinger were married July 5, 1949, in Piggott, Ark...

CHARLESTON -- Dorothy Marie Cross, 77, of Charleston, died Sunday, Nov. 14, 1993, at Sikeston Health Care. She was born Feb. 25, 1916, in Mississippi County, daughter of James Arthur and Berdie Mary Fox Brown. She and Dillon Cross were married July 11, 1931. He died May 26, 1984...

CHARLESTON -- Funeral service for Morgan Breanne Penix of Tallahassee, Fla., formerly of Charleston, will be held at 2 p.m. today at McMikle Funeral Chapel. The Rev. Paul Faris will officiate, with burial in Oak Grove Cemetery. Penix, 9, died Saturday, Nov. 13, 1993, at Tallahassee Memorial Hospital...

SCOTT CITY -- Oma Beal, 80, of Scott City, died Monday, Nov. 15, 1993, at Southeast Missouri Hospital. She was born May 20, 1913, in Oak Ridge, daughter of Harry and Maude Drum Thompson. She and Emory Beal were married Dec. 9, 1931, in Jonesboro, Ark. He died March 27, 1972...

MARBLE HILL -- Della Goldie Fish, 86, of Las Vegas, Nev., died Wednesday, Nov. 10, 1993, at Sunset Hospital in Las Vegas. She was born Nov. 2, 1907, at Lutesville, daughter of David Monroe and Loucretia Eaker Liley. She married Lowell Fish, who preceded her in death...

EAST PRAIRIE -- Martha Jean Browning, 48, of East Prairie, died Monday, Nov. 15, 1993, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau, following an extended illness. She was born July 20, 1945, at Charleston, daughter of Robert and Minnie Spinks Rodgers...

WITTENBERG -- Marcella A. Braeuner, 63, of Wittenberg, died Sunday, Nov. 14, 1993, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. She was born May 18, 1930, at Gideon, daughter of Charles Richard and Mary Caroline Kinsey. She and Martin Braeuner were married Aug. 25, 1961...

WITTENBERG -- Heavy rains that collapsed a culvert under the tracks are blamed for the derailment of Burlington Northern freight train in east Perry County late Sunday morning. Because of the remote location and inaccessibility, railroad officials said it will be some time today before the mainline track between St. Louis and Memphis is reopened...

To the Editor: If decisions were easy, they wouldn't be decisions. In weighing the environmental pros and cons of the NAFTA and the side agreements we don't find a clear black and white picture; we find shades of gray. The Sierra Club, one of the leading environmental organizations of the country (of which I am a member), has led the fight against the NAFTA...

For Missouri citizens, there's trouble in the air. And most who contribute portions of their hard-won paychecks and business profits to public treasuries aren't even aware of the risk. Regulations relating to air-quality standards place a significant burden on the state, especially with the gun-to-the-head approach employed by federal authorities whose leverage against sluggish compliance is the withholding of funds. ...

To the Editor: I am urging your involvement in this vital issue to expedite needed changes in workers' compensation, both in rates and in coming legislation of the 1994 session. On Dec. 2, 1993, in Jefferson City, the Department of Insurance will hold its only rate hearing for workers' compensation projected increases for 1994. ...

Housing assistance needs and availability will be the focus of Thursday night's meeting of the League of Women Voters of Cape Girardeau County. According to Martha Hamilton, coordinator of the program speakers will be: Steve Williams, housing assistance coordinator for the city of Cape Girardeau, whose position in the planning and zoning office entails such duties as coordinating housing programs, including block grants, rental rehabilitation grants, and other programs with financial aid for improved housing; he is the city's liaison with the Housing Assistance Task Force.. ...

Did you know that there is a new country in Africa? Can you name the warring factions of Yugoslavia? Can you list the states through which the Colorado River runs? Do you cringe when it comes time to get the blue pie piece in Trivial Pursuit? If you don't, you can't or you do -- you're not alone. ...

The following are a few of the questions from the 1992-93 National Geography Bee. The questions were supplied courtesy of the National Geographic Society. QUESTIONS: The Chesapeake Bay is a major inlet of which ocean? -- Atlantic Which is Canada's most populous province?...

What's cooking in Linda Sandlin's second-grade classroom? Well, it depends on what day you visit. Students at the Millersville Attendance Center of Jackson Public Schools have cooked cherry tarts, apple butter, lettuce roll-ups, dirt pudding and an assortment of other snacks...

Vicki Marie Eller of Cape Girardeau was among 152 Texas Christian University freshmen named to the Honors Program. Admission to the Honors Program is by invitation only, based on SAT or ACT scores and high school transcripts. Honors curriculum offers the chance for in-depth study and research in the student's major as well as a variety of interdisciplinary programs...

Since the October school levy election an inundation of ideas, opinions, and suggested strategies has been submitted to the Board of Education. A few have come as intense and harsh condemnation of the schools for having presented such proposals in the first place. ...

Southeast Missouri State University students Regina Clark of Glen Allen and Christine Gunnin of Cape Girardeau have been awarded scholarships from the Southeast Missouri Restaurant Association. The scholarships are for the 1993-94 academic year. Both students are majoring in human environmental studies and specializing in food nutrition...

Two members of the Southeast Missouri State University debate squad combined to finish fifth in the junior division of the Gateway Invitational Debate Tournament. The tournament was held at the University of Missouri-St. Louis, Nov. 5-7. The fifth place winners for Southeast were Lesli Pace, a junior from Arnold, and Kim Sides, a junior from Jackson...

Two Cape Girardeau Central High School Students have been named Advanced Placement Scholars by the College Board in recognition of their achievements on college-level Advanced Placement exams. Takara Stanley qualified for the AP Scholar with Honor Award by earning grades of 4 or above on four or more AP examinations, with an average exam grade of at least 3.25...