Stories from Thursday, February 10, 1994

To the Editor: If we learned anything from the defeat of Prop# 174 this past November, it is that public education will respond to free market competition. Unfortunately for the people of California they responded by investing their time and money in preventing the free market from infiltrating their domain. ...

Cape Girardeau, long feeling victimized by the U.S. Census Bureau, has reason to embrace recent findings by that body. Numbers released by the census authority Monday showed the city's population growing by nearly 2 percent between 1990 and 1992; the number of Cape Girardeau residents, as recognized by the federal government, is 35,047. We see the census report as good news, not to mention affirmation of our belief that Cape Girardeau is very much a blossoming community...

Southeast Missouri State University will eliminate summer commencement for undergraduates beginning in 1995. University officials plan to implement a scaled-down ceremony for graduate students. "We are planning to make that change," Art Wallhausen, assistant to the president at Southeast, said Wednesday. "There is a financial consideration, which is a part of it." But it's more a matter of convenience than anything else, he said...

The questions were different but the topic was the same Wednesday as the Cape Girardeau Planning and Zoning Commission met with representatives of two gaming companies competing to operate a riverboat casino here. As city planners, the commissioners dealt little with economic impact aspects of the two proposals and focused instead on traffic congestion, long-term development and river safety...

The Area Wide United Way and CyberTel Cellular Inc. are planning a volunteer recognition program to be held in April during National Volunteer Week. Nomination forms have been mailed to service clubs, organizations, churches and various charitable and not-for-profit agencies in the area. The nominations must be completed and returned to the United Way office by March 28...

Since Abraham Lincoln's birthday falls on Saturday, state and county offices in Missouri will be closed Friday. Federal and municipal offices and most area schools will not observe the holiday. Banks, financial institutions and post offices will be open and mail will be delivered...

PERRYVILLE -- Estella A. Huber, 86, of Perryville, died Tuesday, Feb. 8, 1994, at Perry County Memorial Hospital. She was born Feb. 11, 1907, in Ste. Genevieve County, daughter of Anton and Mary Giesler Roth. She first married Robert Leonard Otte April 9, 1928. He died Feb. 21, 1948. She and Leo F. Difani were married July 21, 1949. He died Feb. 24, 1970. She later married Harvey Huber in July 1972. He died Aug. 8, 1992...

ST. LOUIS -- Mary E. Marshal, 49, of St. Louis, died Tuesday, Feb. 8, 1994, at Deaconess Hospital in St. Louis. She was born Aug. 23, 1944, at Scott City, daughter of John and Pauline Leissing Schmitt. She married Donald L. Marshal. Marshal was a school teacher in the Hazelwood School District for 28 years...

PULASKI, Ill. -- Fred McClellan, 91, of Pulaski, Ill., died Wednesday, Feb. 9, 1994, at Lifecare Nursing Home in Jonesboro. He was born April 5, 1902, at Pulaski, son of Wesley and Bathsheba Milford McClellan. Survivors include two brothers, Gus McClellan of Pulaski, and Everett McClellan of Jonesboro...

James L. McLain, 72, of Wellsville, died unexpectedly Monday, Feb. 7, 1994, at his home. He was born Feb. 28, 1921, in Scott County, son of Paul and Mae McLain. McLain served 30 years in the military. He joined the U.S. Navy in 1937, and retired as a chief master sergeant with the U.S. Air Force. He was a member of VFW Post 3838 in Cape Girardeau, and the Pearl Harbor Survivors Association...

Daughter to Mr. and Mrs. Danny Seabaugh of Sturgis, Ky., St. Mary's Medical Center in Evansville, Ind., 11:50 p.m. Friday, Jan. 14, 1994. Name, Melissa Lynn. Weight, 6 pounds 15 ounces. Second daughter. Mrs. Seabaugh is the former Marilyn Hotop, daughter of Mr. ...

MARBLE HILL -- Thomas Charles Lukefahr, 58, of Marble Hill, died Wednesday, Feb. 9, 1994, at his home. He was born July 29, 1935, at Daisy, son of Pervis L. and Beulah Haupt Lukefahr. He and Phyllis Young were married Feb. 18, 1956. Lukefahr was a farmer. He was a member of Harmony Congregational Methodist Church, Bollinger County Co-Op, and Labor Union 282...

SIKESTON -- Lena Dodds, 62, of Sikeston, died Wednesday, Feb. 9, 1994, at Missouri Delta Medical Center. Amick-Burnett Funeral Home at Sikeston is in charge of arrangements.

PERRYVILLE -- Funeral service for Walter B. Bock of Perryville will be held at 10:30 a.m. today at Young and Sons Funeral Chapel. The Rev. Jeffrey Lloyd will officiate, with burial in Immanuel Lutheran Cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home from 6:30-10:30 a.m. today...

TAMMS, Ill. -- Ruth May Phillips, 89, Tamms Route 1, died Tuesday, Feb. 8, 1994, at the home of a daughter. She was born March 1, 1904, near McClure, daughter of Charles and Mollie Kaufman Benefield. She and Everett Phillips were married Dec. 19, 1922. He died Nov. 20, 1986...

ANNA, Ill. -- Inez Smith, 89, of Anna, died Tuesday, Feb. 8, 1994, at Union County Hospital. She was born Feb. 28, 1904, in Union County, daughter of Homer and Sarah Harlan Johnson. She married Hollie Smith, who died March 23, 1961. Smith was a member of First Baptist Church in Anna...

JONESBORO, Ill. -- Veva Craft, 84, of Jonesboro, died Tuesday, Feb. 7, 1994, at her home. She was born April 20, 1909, in McClure, daughter of Elmer and Ethel Smith Walker. She and J.G. Craft were married Aug. 17, 1927. He died Jan. 3, 1968. She owned and operated Craft's Market a number of years. She was a member of Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary and the Pentecostal Church...

CAIRO, Ill. -- Margaret "Peggy" Duncan, of Cairo, Ill., died Wednesday, Feb. 9, 1994, at her residence. The Barkett Funeral Home in Cairo is in charge of arrangements, which are incomplete at this time.

CHAFFEE -- Joseph Edward Barnes, 64, of Dania, Fla., died Wednesday, Feb. 9, 1994, at the Veterans Medical Center in Miami, Fla. He was born Dec. 15, 1929, in Perry County, son of James Artie and Alice Barbara Schneier Barnes. Barnes was a salesman with Monsanto in St. Louis, retiring five years ago. He served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War...

JACKSON - Cape Girardeau County Prosecuting Attorney Morley Swingle announced Wednesday that he will seek re-election to a third term this year. "The job of prosecuting attorney is an exciting and challenging roller coaster ride through life, and I eagerly look forward to another four years," said Swingle, who has been prosecutor for eight years and served four years as assistant to former Prosecutor Larry Ferrell...

The Cape Senior Center will hold its annual benefit card party Feb. 21 from 2-4 p.m. The party is being held on President's Day at the senior center, 921 N. Clark. Regular programs at the center will not be held. Those who attend will be served refreshments. Attendance and door prized will be awarded...

Dan Akre thrust his arms into the air and let his fingers flutter for no apparent reason. He began cavorting about the stage at Southeast Missouri State's Rose Theater as if he had suddenly taken leave of his senses. It was just 15 days until the curtain was scheduled to rise on an adult comedy titled "Zara Spook And Other Lures," but nobody was laughing...

SIKESTON - The first annual Make-A-Wish Foundation Invitational Martial Arts Tournament will be held Saturday at Sikeston. The event, to be held in the Sikeston Field House, is sponsored by the Southeast Missouri Chapter of Make-A-Wish Foundation, Moo Sul Kwan Martial Arts and the Sikeston Area Chamber of Commerce...

Feb. 10, 1994 Dear Diane, Seven months ago I went to my 25th high school reunion to write a story about it for the hometown newspaper. As I walked in the Knights of Columbus Hall, a small group of people was at the entrance talking. Among them was a pretty, sweet girl -- now a woman -- I'd loved since the ninth grade. ...

McBRIDE -- When the Bois Brule levee broke the early morning of Sunday, July 25, life changed forever for the people who called the valley behind the wall of earth home. The tiny community of McBride, situated about six miles north of Perryville, laid beneath as much as 25 feet of water for several days afterward. Some farm buildings were swept away by floodwaters of the Mississippi...

JACKSON -- Riverside Regional Library will present a special Valentine's Day Storytime at 9:30 a.m. Monday and 9:30 a.m. Tuesday. Valentine's books, movies and filmstrips will be presented. Lynn Farrow, children's reference librarians, invited children and parents to join in the events at the library...

POPLAR BLUFF -- A variety of activities will take place at John J. Pershing VA Medical Center at Poplar Bluff in conjunction with National Salute to Hospitalized Veterans the week of Feb. 13-19. On Wednesday, Community Day, people are encouraged to visit hospitalized veterans and learn more about volunteer opportunities at the hospital, said Hugh Doran, hospital director...

DEXTER -- The Dexter City Council has taken steps toward paying for part of a $2.5 million upgrade to the city's water system to meet demands of expansion at Hudson Foods. The council this week voted to apply for federal and state grants totaling almost $1.5 million to go toward the city's cost to expand the system...