Stories from Thursday, March 10, 1994

To the Editor: I have never written a letter to a newspaper before. I feel, however, that it is my responsibility to do so in this case. Hopefully it won't sound too dramatic, but if it does, no written word could express how dramatic the experience actually was...

The Cape Girardeau City Council recently tabled a proposal to appoint a five-member authority to proceed with public housing. We're encouraged to see the council is in no hurry to jump on this creaking bandwagon. The city has had a housing authority ordinance on the books for 52 years, but no government-controlled public housing. Cape Girardeau voters have three times defeated referendums on the issue -- in 1970, 1968 and 1962...

East Missouri Action Agency Inc. has received a special supplemental grant to the Community Services Block Grant for assisting with the unmet needs of families affected by last year's flooding. Families still experiencing difficulties recovering from the effects of the floods may be eligible to receive direct assistance through the program...

CHARLESTON -- The 26th annual Dogwood-Azalea Festival will be hosted by Charleston April 16-17. Known as "The City of Beautiful Homes," Charelston displays a profusion of white and pink dogwood blooms and yards filled with many colorful azaleas. In addition to the daytime tour, a Luminaria Tour will be held the night of April 16. ...

Congress will soon begin holding hearings on a proposed National Highway System, which includes many of the projects outlined in a 15-year plan developed by the Missouri Highway and Transportation Department. In Missouri, the proposed system includes Highways 34, 72, 25, 63, 67, and 60, which are earmarked for upgrading to four-lane status in the 15-year plan...

CARTERVILLE, Ill. -- The second regional Festival and Special Events Workshop will be held March 26 from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at John A. Logan College. The workshop is geared to newcomers in festival and special-management roles. It will provide people new to festival and special-events planning necessary information and resources to assure a successful first-time experience...

ULLIN, Ill. -- The Ullin Fire Department will hold its 11th annual chili supper Saturday from 11 a.m. until 7 p.m. at the fire headquarters. Chili, hot dogs, barbecue, pies and cakes will be served. A raffle will be held. Proceeds go the fire department. For information call Terrell Adkins at 618-845-3372...

March 10, 1994 Dear Melina, We are looking forward to the opening of Garberville's newest restaurant, Cadillac Wok, which is located between a takeout burrito stand named Nacho Mama and Terra Nova, a used books-tattoo emporium. Seems an old luxury car body will be sitting on the roof of Cadillac Wok by opening day, by which time I'm sure the East meets West gestalt will coalesce...

Equipped with hip waders, warm clothing and the sharp eye of an entrepreneur, Lee Phillips casts an appreciative glance at a sea of snow. To the casual observer, the snow looked white. To Phillips, however, it looked green. Tender snow flakes meant easy access to all the legal tender Phillips could literally plow his way into Wednesday afternoon...

A trade war between the United States and Japan would hurt consumers, two Southeast Missouri State University economists say. President Clinton may be gunning for Japan with talk of imposing punitive tariffs on the Asian nation if it doesn't open up its markets to American goods. While that may win him some points politically, it's a bad move economically, the university professors said...

With the closure of school on Wednesday, Jackson public school students had missed eight days this school year due to the weather. In Cape Girardeau, public schools had been closed four days. But for both districts, the prospect of another day or more of canceled classes means problems in the school calendar...

JEFFERSON CITY -- One Southeast Missouri legislator has announced plans to retire, and another has not yet announced his plans, but all others have filed for re-election to new terms in 1994. And of those who have filed, just three have opposition already. Filing began two weeks ago and will continue until March 29. Generally, most candidates either file early or late; there is very little filing activity during the rest of the period...

A late-winter storm blanketed southern Missouri Tuesday night and early Wednesday with as much as 18 inches of snow, closing roads, schools and businesses. More than a foot of snow fell on the Cape Girardeau area during a 15-hour period from 6 p.m. Tuesday to 9 a.m. Wednesday...

Station officials at KFVS-TV were vocal in their objections to an expletive aired during the March 1 broadcast of the Grammy Awards presentations. As a result of those objections and others received from network affiliates around the country, CBS has changed its procedures for broadcasting such live presentations...

The Center for Child Studies at Southeast Missouri State University is among the growing number of preschool programs in the United States to be accredited by the National Academy of Early Childhood Programs. The academy recognizes outstanding early childhood programs that meet national standards of quality, said Susan Haugland, director of the Center for Child Studies, which serves 150 children, ages 6 weeks to 5 years...

Hayden L. Schuetts, 59, of Cape Girardeau, died Tuesday, March 8, 1994, at St. Francis Medical Center. He was born Nov. 19, 1934, in Kewanee, Ill., son of Lawrence and Edna Martin Schuetts. He married Betty Sievers, Aug. 11, 1967. Schuetts was a veteran of the Korean War, having served in the U.S. Army...

MOREHOUSE -- Funeral service for Mavis Bryant of Morehouse was held Wednesday at Watkins and Sons Funeral Chapel here. The Rev. Dolan Rogers officiated, with burial in Memorial Park Cemetery at Sikeston. Bryant, 76, died Monday, March 7, 1994, at Sells Rest Home in Matthews...

JACKSON -- Fred A. Naeger, 76, of Jackson, died Tuesday, March 8, 1994, at his home. He was born Dec. 21, 1917, at Farmington, son of Albert and Agnes LaRose Naeger. He and Dorothy Bollinger were married May 11, 1938, at Farmington. She died Dec. 5, 1980...

BENTON -- Thurman Lee Skaggs Sr., 68, of Benton, died Tuesday, March 8, 1994, at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston. He was born March 6, 1926, at Fredericktown, son of Robert and Jessie Chapman Skaggs. Skaggs was an auto mechanic. Survivors include three sons, Thurman Skaggs Jr., address unknown, Ronnie Skaggs of Chaffee, Mike Skaggs of Florence, Iowa; a daughter, Linda Marsh of Creston, Neb.; a brother, Andrew Chapman of Benton; a sister, Helen Johnson of Jackson, Tenn.; 10 grandchildren, and 13 great-grandchildren.. ...

SIKESTON -- Jessie Didama Grant, 99, Sikeston Route 1, died Wednesday, March 9, 1994, at her home. She was born April 3, 1894, at Burfordville, daughter of Dr. William and Revie Rosetta Hartle Smith. She and Jasper Ernest Grant were married Oct. 22, 1919. He died Dec. 9, 1946...

JACKSON -- Private service for John Angus Aldredge of Jackson was held Wednesday at St. John's Church near Fruitland. Msgr. Edward Eftink officiated, with burial in the church cemetery. Cracraft-Miller Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements. Aldredge, 80, died Friday, March 4, 1994, at the Lutheran Home in Cape Girardeau...

DONGOLA, Ill. -- Gilbert Carl Eddleman, 71, of Dongola, died Tuesday, March 8, 1994, at Union County Hospital in Anna. He was born March 15, 1922, in Dongola, son of Grover Cleveland and Fannie Emma Brown Eddleman. He and Violet Mowery were married July 1, 1957...

Daughter to Mr. and Mrs. Clint Weiss of Commerce, Southeast Missouri Hospital, 4:32 p.m. Wednesday, March 2, 1994. Name, Kara Lynn. Weight, 8 pounds. Second daughter. Mrs. Weiss is the former Lanna LeDure, daughter of Ray and Pam LeDure of Commerce. She is employed at Internal Medicine Group. Weiss is employed at TJ's Truck Exchange, and is the son of Tom and Delma Weiss of Gordonville...

MARBLE HILL -- When St. Louisian Larma A. Wisely died in 1976, she left the city of Marble Hill $650,000 in her will to build a municipal swimming pool. More than nine years later, her wishes will be fulfilled. After years of debate and lawsuits, the Marble Hill Park Board is moving ahead with plans to finish the pool complex...

If ballad, blues, bossa and bop appeal to your music palate, Carol Comer can deliver all in the same evening. Southeast Missouri State University's Cultural Programs Committee will play host to Comer March 17 at 8 p.m. in Academic Auditorium. Recipient of the annual "Jazz Woman of the Year" award, Comer blends her wealth of experience and talent as a pianist, singer, composer, teacher and writer to offer an entertaining package...

Jeff Batts isn't afraid to test his comedy material on an unfamiliar, sometimes hostile crowd. In fact, winning tough crowds over to his brand of humor has become Batts's specialty. "I told the booking agent, Bubba Sonders, I'd be good for this club because it's just getting started and might take some proven material to win the people over," said Batts, who did just that on one of Rutherford's Comedy Club On Tour nights recently...

The Southeast Missouri All-District Band, comprised of 100 high school musicians representing 21 area high schools, will perform in Rose Theater on Friday evening, March 11. The concert will begin at 7 p.m. The public is welcome to attend. The All-District Band is comprised of musicians who were selected from an audition...

Arts programs for children and their parents will be held during March at local schools. The programs will focus on celebrating festivals of several countries. The Saturday afternoon programs, for children 5-13, should provide an art and education experience...

The Missouri Folk Arts Program has received grant funding from the National Endowment for the Arts and the Missouri Arts Council to document underserved arts communities in the Bootheel region of Missouri. The Folk Arts Program is co-sponsoring the endeavor with the State Historical Society of Missouri...