Stories from Friday, December 17, 1993

Clyde Baxter Gillispie, 79, of 1922 Bloomfield Rd., died Thursday, Dec. 16, 1993, at the St. Francis Medical Center. He was born March 14, 1914, at Vienna, Mo., the son of Fred V. and Cora M. Curtis Gillispie. He married Rachel E. Rhodes, July 31, 1943, at Cape Girardeau...

To the Editor: On Saturday, December 11, Cape Girardeau lost a grassroots champion of democracy: Kathryn Braasch. She knew that individuals can make a difference. She was fascinated by how our government works and accepted responsibility for informing herself on issues before making her voice heard...

As we celebrate this holiday season, some of us may over do -- too much food, too much drink. When this "drink and be merry" attitude extends to the roadways, the result can be deadly. Across the nation, someone dies every half hour in a drunken driving accident -- and far too often those killed are but innocent victims...

We have a Christmas tradition at our house, one I've never much enjoyed. Every year, I string colored lights on the outside of my house, striving in the nippy air for some burst of creativity while usually settling for the course marked by old nail holes...

SCOTT CITY -- Jennifer Arnold, a music major and junior at Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, Okla. will perform on the Vince Gill television Christmas special. The program will airs on Nashville Network's TNN Dec. 22 and Dec. 24. She will perform as a member of The Oral Roberts University Chamber Singers, who will serve as back up singers to Vince Gill. Special featured guests for the show include Amy Grant, Chet Atkins, Michael McDonald and The Tulsa Philharmonic Orchestra...

Seth Benton, a student at Cape Girardeau Central High School, participated in the Congressional Youth Leadership Council's summer session in Washington, D.C. He met with U.S. Rep. Bill Emerson during his visit to the nation's capital. "I am always pleased to meet with young folks from our area and find out what's one their minds," said Emerson. "I was particularly pleased with the level of interest and awareness that was expressed about important issues facing congress and our nation."...

Sarah Semmler, 11, of Cape Girardeau has been selected to appear in the Missouri State Ballet production of the "Nutcracker" at the Fox Theatre in St. Louis this week. The show began Wednesday and continues through Sunday. This is the fifth year Semmler has been chosen to perform in the State Ballet's production of the holiday classic...

JACKSON -- Residents of Cape Girardeau County received more than $1 million in loans and grants from the Farmers Home Administration during fiscal year 1993. Farmers, ranchers and prospective homeowners who were unable to obtain credit elsewhere took advantage of the FmHA funds to buy, repair, expand and improve properties...

Luther L. Branch, 76, of Cape Girardeau died Thurdsay, Dec. 16, 1993, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. Funeral arrangements are incomplete at Ford and Sons Funeral Home in Cape Girardeau.

Nellie Buxton, 91, of Murphysboro, Ill., died Thursday, Dec. 16, 1993, at Jackson County Nursing Home there. She was born Oct. 27, 1902, in Goreville, Ill., daughter of John L. and Nancy Glenn Asbell. She and Raymond Buxton were married Dec. 12, 1959, in Murphysboro. He died Nov. 16, 1980...

CAIRO, Ill. -- Goldia Belle Sturman, 94, of Centralia, Ill., formerly of Cairo, died Thursday, Dec. 16, 1993, at the St. Marys Hospital in Centralia. She was the daughter of William C. and Ada Fischer Sneed. She married William M. Sturman. He died in 1964...

CHARLESTON -- Robert Ellis Groves, 57, of Ashland, died Thursday, Dec. 16, 1993, at University Hospital in Columbia. He was born Feb. 28, 1936, in Lexa, Ark., son of Earnest and Mary Agnes Bradley Groves. He and Connie Cook were married May 26, 1956...

CHARLESTON -- Celeste Robert Everhart, 77, of Charleston, died Tuesday, Dec. 14, 1993, at Bertrand Retirement Home. He was born July 19, 1916, in Champaign, Ill., son of Harvey and Zella Montjoy Everhart. Everhart was a member of Perry Chapel AME Church...

Brian Bernard Sheehan, 80, of Columbus, Ohio, died Friday, Dec. 10, 1993, at his home. He was born March 7, 1913, in St. Louis, son of Daniel J. and Frances Bernhardt Sheehan. Sheehan was retired district manager of Feed Products Division of CPC International Inc. He was a member of St. Andrew Catholic Church in Columbus, and former member of Columbus Feed Club. He was a volunteer at Riverside Methodist Hospital...

Son to Mr. and Mrs. Craig Gordon, 137 S. Spanish, Southeast Missouri Hospital, 5:22 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 11, 1993. Name, Justin Dake. Weight, 7 pounds 5 ounces. First child. Mrs. Gordon is the former Tanya Dake, daughter of Evelyn Dake of Jackson. She is a student at Southeast Missouri State University. Gordon is a welder with ACF Industries, and is the son of Sue and Charlie Miller and Shelby Gordon of Sikeston...

Funeral service for Edward C. Walker of Cape Girardeau will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday at Ford and Sons Mt. Auburn Chapel. The Rev. Steven MacDougall will officiate, with burial in Memorial Park. Friends may call at the funeral home from 3-8 p.m. today...

"Images of the Past in the City of Roses" traces the history of Cape Girardeau, from its inception as a small trading post in the 18th century through the great flood of 1993. The 240-page book, released this week, chronicles life in this Mississippi River town through nearly two centuries with page after page of photographs and informative articles...

Southeast Missouri State University's graduating students have one thing on their minds these days: Jobs. Angela Brown graduated last Saturday with a bachelor of science degree in psychology. Brown plans to move to Goldsboro, N.C., where she has family, and look for a counseling job. Ultimately, she wants to get a second degree in speech pathology...

JEFFERSON CITY -- When the town of Dutchtown became threatened by the rising Mississippi River backing into the Diversion Channel this summer, resident Clarence Carnell took charge. Carnell, 66, worked long hours and stayed up many nights to coordinate the efforts of the hundreds of volunteers -- including National Guardsman -- who filled sandbags and built the great wall to hold back the water...

Organizers for Toybox have issued an urgent plea for toys. The final tally of applications revealed 70 families more than expected and volunteers have exhausted the supply of toys already given. "In the past the community has always responded when we have explained the need," said Scott McClanahan, Toybox chairman for the Cape Girardeau Jaycees. "Toys are desperately needed Friday, Saturday and Sunday."...

Ten school districts raised their operating levies to $2 this year in violation of the Missouri Constitution, state Auditor Margaret Kelly said. But school administrators and the Missouri Department of Education say Missouri's new school-funding law not only allows the tax hike but requires it...

The Mississippi Queen and Delta Queen steamboats will make three port calls at Cape Girardeau during their 1994 cruise season. No stops are scheduled at Cairo, Ill., next year. Terry Westerfield, manager of public relations for the Delta Queen Steamboat Co. in New Orleans, said both boats will make their first port call at Cape Girardeau on July 3, during the Great Steamboat Race from New Orleans to St. Louis...