Stories from Wednesday, January 19, 1994

A regional food bank has earned national recognition for its efforts to combat hunger. The Bootheel Food Bank in Sikeston was one of only nine operations nationally to receive the Victory Against Hunger Award last week. The award includes a $1,000 private grant. The benefactor is the Congressional Hunger Center, an anti-hunger advocacy group based in Washington D.C...

A Cape Girardeau Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) training class will be conducted at the Cape Budget Inn Jan. 31-Feb. 4. "The VITA program uses volunteers to provide free tax assistance to taxpayers who cannot afford professional help," said Dorothy Ank, coordinator of the local program. "These volunteers frequently are college students, law students or members of professional business organizations."...

Cal Thomas is a familiar name to Cape Girardeau and Southeast Missourian newspaper readers. Thomas, who writes a national syndicated column distributed to more than 300 newspapers nationwide, will discuss his life before an expected capacity crowd for the seventh annual Mayor's Prayer Breakfast Feb. 17 at the Show Me Center...

JACKSON -- A controversial request to change the zoning of a tract of property in the 800 block of East Jackson Boulevard was overwhelmingly defeated Tuesday by the Jackson Board of Aldermen. The board also approved a contract with a private developer that also signals the start of the East Main Street Extension project...

For some time, readers have been requesting a re-run of earlier columns on grammar. One special fan keeps pointing out that our ministers often repeat their sermons, whether out of necessity or because parishioners have asked them to do so. Fortunately, the message of Jesus Christ as our personal savior never changes. ...

LOS ANGELES -- Former Cape Girardeau resident Bryan Walker received the jolt of his life Monday. "We were terrified. We panicked," said Bryan Walker, who -- along with his wife Monica, and 7-week-old son Ethan -- fled from their Glendale, Calif., home when the earthquake hit...

The Boyd Group no longer is the only game in town when it comes to which company will operate a riverboat casino in Cape Girardeau. Lady Luck Gaming Corp. of Las Vegas, which has incorporated as a Cape Girardeau company, Tuesday unveiled a $58.3 million riverboat casino and resort proposal to compete with the proposal offered last year by the Boyd Group...

Now that two offers are on the table, city officials said Tuesday they are anxious to proceed with the process to select a riverboat gambling operator for Cape Girardeau. And officials from the competing casino companies -- the Boyd Group and Lady Luck Gaming Corp. -- said they also look forward to the competition...

SCOTT CITY -- The Cape Girardeau and Scott County presiding commissioners have different views on whether annexation of the port authority by Scott City would first require approval by the county commissions. They also differ about whether Scott City should be allowed to even attempt the annexation...

JACKSON -- Southern California is far away from Southeast Missouri, yet Brian Miller is keeping tabs on the powerful earthquake that struck there earlier this week. "What's happening there is something that could happen here," said Millers, coordinator of emergency preparedness in Cape Girardeau County. "The crumbling of buildings, highway collapses, explosions and fires are all a very accurate representation of what we could experience."...

SCOTT CITY -- The Cape Girardeau and Scott County presiding commissioners have different views on whether annexation of the port authority by Scott City would first require approval by the county commissions. They also differ about whether Scott City should be allowed to even attempt the annexation...

KELSO -- The Kelso C-7 School district has scheduled an informational meeting at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, to explain the upcoming tax levy election. With the passage of Senate Bill 380 in May, school districts are now required to have a minimum tax levy of $2.75 for the 1994-1995 school year. The Kelso C-7 school district currently has a levy of $2...

JACKSON -- Herb Ackman, 71, Jackson Route 1, died Monday, Jan. 17, 1994, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. He was born Sept. 9, 1922, at Neelys Landing, son of Thomas and Effie Foster Ackman. He was a partner with a brother in Ackman Service Station at Fruitland from 1944-58. From 1960 to retiring in 1985 he was owner and manager of Crystal Motel at Crystal City. He was a member of Jackson Elks...

SCOTT CITY -- Funeral mass for Michael John Glastetter of Scott City will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday at St. Augustine Catholic Church in Kelso. The Rev. John Westhues will officiate, with burial in the church cemetery. Friends may call at Amick-Burnett Funeral Home in Scott City after 3 p.m. today. The rosary will be at 7, and Knights of Columbus service at 7:30...

Funeral service for Prudie Louise Lomax, 800 S. Ellis, will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday at Ford and Sons Sprigg Street Chapel. The Rev. John Owen will officiate, with burial in Lorimier Cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home from 4-8 p.m. today...

SIKESTON -- Ella Vernice Agy, 74, of Sikeston, died Sunday, Jan. 16, 1994, at Sikeston Convalescent Center. She was born Jan. 8, 1920, in Blytheville, Ark., daughter of Lon and Ada Rodgers Gilliland. She and Samuel T. Agy Sr. were married June 20, 1938. He died Feb. 27, 1986...

SIKESTON -- Lavetia M. Morgan, 64, of Oak Forest, Ill., died Sunday, Jan. 16, 1994, at Heartland Health Care Center in Homewood, Ill. She was born Oct. 26, 1929, in Brockett, Ark., daughter of Henry and Opal Johnston Phillips. She married Kenneth Morgan, who died March 25, 1993...

SIKESTON -- Funeral service for Hazel Allen of Sikeston will be held at 2 p.m. today at Ponder Funeral Chapel. The Revs. Dale McFarland and Randy Thomas will officiate, with burial in Garden of Memories Cemetery. Allen, 79, died Monday, Jan. 17, 1994, at Missouri Delta Medical Center...

Palma Lee Jackson, 70, of Roswell, N.M., died Monday, Jan. 17, 1994, in a Roswell hospital. She was born Dec. 24, 1924, in Cape Girardeau, daughter of Willis and Willie Nolan Wissman. She married Sidney Jackson, who preceded her in death. Jackson graduated from Notre Dame High School, and was a telephone operator here. She moved to New Mexico in 1962...

Funeral service for Wilma Lou Mainord, 802 County Road 651, will be held at 1:30 p.m. Friday at Ford and Sons Sprigg Street Chapel. Friends may call at the funeral home from 4-8 p.m. Thursday. Mainord, 67, died Monday, Jan. 17, 1994, at Southeast Missouri Hospital...

JACKSON -- Ruby Abbott, 73, of Jackson, died Tuesday, Jan. 18, 1994, at her home. She was born Dec. 11, 1920, at Frohna, daughter of Henry and Alma Koenig Mangels. She and Loren Abbott were married July 9, 1938, at Poplar Bluff. Abbott was a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church and American Legion Auxiliary...

SIKESTON -- Bettralean "Betty" Kirk, 84, of Sikeston, died Sunday, Jan. 16, 1994 at Missouri Delta Medical Center. William - Far and Purnell Funeral Home of Sikeston is in charge of arrangements.

MILLER CITY, Ill. -- Chester J. Plemons, 65, of Miller City, died Tuesday, Jan. 18, 1994, at the Union County Hospital in Anna, Ill. He was born April 3, 1928, at Athens, Tenn., son of Walter and Leatha Christian Plemons. He married Norma J. Tucker, Dec. 23, 1976...

SIKESTON -- William A. Suchman, 84, of Sikeston, died Tuesday, Jan. 18, 1994, at the Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston. He was born Aug. 29, 1909, at Jacob, Ill., son of Edward and Olga Murrow Suchman. He married Reda Vaughn, Jan. 21, 1931. Suchman was one of the founding members of the Tanner Street Church of God in Sikeston...

BELL CITY, Mo. -- Ersie Pearson, 79, of Bell City, died Tuesday, Jan. 18, 1994, at the Sikeston Health Care Center. She was born Jan. 6, 1915, at Hagarville, Ark., daughter of Marion and Ada Jones Puckett. She married Alfred Dee Pearson, Sept. 27, 1938...

JACKSON -- Edwin Hodge, 81, of Jackson, died Tuesday, Jan. 18, 1994, at his residence. He was born April 27, 1912, at Fruitland, son of John and Emma Garner Hodge. He married Irene McClard, June 19, 1943. Hodge moved to Jackson in 1962 from Leemon, Mo. He has worked at the former Jackson Handle Factory, and the City Service and Track Side service stations. He also worked at the Ceramo Plant. From 1980-1989, he worked at the Dollar Store. He retired in 1989...

JACKSON -- Frank Delph, 95, of Jackson, died Tuesday, Jan. 19, 1994, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. The McCombs Funeral Home in Jackson is in charge of funeral arrangements, which are incomplete at this time.

Fred A. Brinkopf, 86, 701 Perry, died Monday, Jan. 17, 1994, at his home. He was born July 17, 1907, in Cape Girardeau, son of Louis and Melinda Heuer Brinkopf. He and Edna Brinkman were married Jan. 23, 1942, at Sikeston. She died March 13, 1993. Brinkopf was a linotype operator at the Southeast Missourian Newspaper, retiring in 1971. He was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church, was active in area baseball programs, and served in the U.S. Air Force during World War II...

SCOTT CITY -- Four people, including two incumbents, have filed for open seats on the Scott City Council for the April 5 election. Rodney Holloway, owner of K&R Estates in Scott City, has filed for the Ward 1 seat held by Ladonna Phelps. After running an unsuccessful campaign for mayor two years ago, Holloway said he decided to try his hand at local politics once again...

In the television series "Lassie," little Timmy anxiously awaited his beloved collie's return from her latest adventure in several episodes. And at the end of each program -- just as Timmy was giving up hope -- Lassie would trot up the driveway, wagging her plumed tail behind...

National, state and local issues will be reviewed at Thursday night's meeting of the League of Women Voters of Cape Girardeau County, said local league president, Francis Harris. The meeting will be held at Mr. B's Waffles and Deli. Those who wish to share dinner will gather at 6; the business meeting will convene at 7...

A trip to Tanzania will be presented by Trish Volp at 7 p.m. Thursday in the Hirsch Community Room of the Cape Girardeau Public Library. Volp is assistant vice president for student development at Southeast Missouri State University. She received a bachelor's degree in photojournalism from the University of Minnesota and her doctorate from Indiana University. She joined the Southeast staff in 1985...

"What You Should Know About Mammography" is the topic of the January Woman to Woman luncheon Thursday. The meeting will be held at noon in conference rooms A and B at St. Francis Medical Center. Dr. Tommy Cupples, a local radiologist, will discuss the procedure and answer questions regarding the mammographic examination...

Terri Brown has a degree in international travel and tourism from the Sanford Brown Business College in St. Louis. She even worked in the industry for a few months. "I just couldn't sit still," said Brown. "Dressing up every day for work, wearing all that makeup -- that's just not me."...

Two columns ago some new varieties of flowers for 1994 were listed with a promise for continuation the following week of others, as well as vegetable introductions. Due to circumstances beyond our control, our week's holiday in Georgia was extended into three weeks...