Stories from Thursday, April 7, 1994

Raymond M. Jones Jr., 70, of Cape Girardeau, died Wednesday, April 6, 1994, at Southeast Missouri Hospital. Ford and Sons Mt. Auburn Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements, which are incomplete at this time.

Inspired by the Ross Perot-generated protest movement of 1992, and motivated by a concern that most politicians spend too much time raising money that requires them to serve special interests once elected, Gerald Ortbals is offering a new approach in 1994...

Missouri Gov. Mel Carnahan, legislative leadership for the most part in tow, is working toward passage of a health-care reform measure that threatens to out-Clinton the First Family's federal proposals. It is being heralded in Jefferson City this week to lukewarm backing even among partisans, though don't be surprised to see the issue still alive and kicking as the legislative session winds down next month. ...

Twin daughter and son to Mr. and Mrs. Neil Whistler of Chaffee, St. Mary's Hospital in St. Louis, Saturday, March 19, 1994. Katelyn Danielle-Alyssa was born at 10:58 a.m. and weighed 4 pounds 15 ounces. Seth Zachary-Michael was born at 10:59 a.m. and weighed 5 pounds 6 ounces. ...

JACKSON -- John V. Horrell, 84, of Jackson, died Wednesday, April 6, 1994, at Jackson Manor. He was born April 24, 1909, at Glennon, son of John and Anna Radin Horrell. He and Lorene Koehler were married Feb. 6, 1934. Horrell was a retired carpenter and farmer, and had lived in the Jackson area all his life. He was a member of Immaculate Conception Church, Holy Name Society, and Knights of Columbus Council 6405...

CHARLESTON -- Iola Franklin, 76, of St. Louis, formerly of Charleston, died Thursday, March 31, 1994, at St. Louis University Hospital. She was born March 15, 1918, in Shuqualak, Miss., daughter of James and Alziance Lockett Brooks. Franklin was a member of Opportunity Church of God in Christ...

SCOTT CITY -- Verlon Edward Parker, 77, of Scott City, died Wednesday, April 6, 1994, at home. He was born Sept. 8, 1916, in Hot Springs, Ark., son of Edward and Jessie Phillips Parker. He and Alberta Wright were married July 5, 1937, in Charleston. She died Oct. 25, 1988...

Former Cape Girardeau County assessor, John Linn Wescoat, 88, 3120 Independence, died Tuesday, April 5, 1994, at St. Francis Medical Center. He was born Sept. 1, 1905, in Oran, son of Dr. William Henry and Laura Haw Wescoat. He was a graduate of Oran High School and Southeast Missouri State University...

Funeral mass for Leonard Henry Webb Sr., 1860 Marietta, will be held at 10 a.m. Friday at St. Vincent's Catholic Church. The Rev. Ron Hoye will officiate. Burial will be in St. Mary's Cemetery, with graveside rites by VFW Post 3838. Friends may call at Ford and Sons Mt. Auburn Chapel from 4-8 p.m. today. Parish prayers will be at 7...

CHAFFEE -- Funeral service for George W. Sanders of Chaffee will be held at 2 p.m. Friday at First Baptist Church. The Rev. Kenneth Roberts will officiate, with burial in Oakdale Cemetery at Commerce. Friends may call at Amick-Burnett Funeral Home here after 4 p.m. today...

JACKSON -- Funeral service for David L. Bainter of Jackson will be held at 1 p.m. today at Morrison Funeral Chapel in Piedmont. Burial will be in Bainter Family Cemetery in Wayne County. Friends may call at the funeral home from 9 a.m. to service time...

Gregory Hartle Nunnelee, 45, 760 Perry, died Tuesday, April 5, 1994, at St. Louis University Hospital in St. Louis. He was born July 22, 1948, in Cape Girardeau, son of Joseph and Janice L. Hartle Nunnelee. Nunnelee was a graduate of Central High School. He attended Boston University and graduated from Southeast Missouri State University with a bachelor's degree in history. He was a member of Black Mask and National History Fraternity at Southeast...

Virgil L. Brown, 79, 231 Mill, died Wednesday, April 6, 1994, at Southeast Missouri Hospital. He was born Oct. 5, 1914, at Tallapoosa, son of John and Jenny Moore Brown. He married Ethel Childers in 1938 at Cape Girardeau. She died June 22, 1969. Brown had worked at Federal Materials, and retired from the city of Cape Girardeau Street Department...

SCOTT CITY -- An air of uncertainty swept not only the state's capital after Tuesday's statewide gambling vote failed, but abounded in places like Scott City and Cape Girardeau, where voters had approved local gambling initiatives. Scott City residents on Tuesday voted in favor of the local gambling option, 728-652. But the vote might be moot with the failure of Amendment 3 statewide...

In the aftermath of a stunning defeat of a constitutional amendment that jeopardizes the viability of riverboat gambling in Missouri, state officials were going back to the drawing board Wednesday trying to decide the next step. Local officials in cities and counties where local options for riverboat gambling had been approved, and developers poised to invest millions of dollars in floating casinos in those locations, were also in disarray...

Troop E of the Missouri Highway Patrol will hold another in a series of town hall meetings on Thursday at 7 p.m. in the Madison County Courthouse at Fredericktown. Patrol spokesman, Sgt. Brent Davis, said, "The meeting will be an opportunity for the people of Madison County to meet with the Troop E commanding officer, Capt. Morris Patrick, and his staff, and troopers assigned to the Madison County zone...

April 7, 1994 Dear Scott, Mom and Dad and the Betheas just left for San Francisco after spending four fun-filled nights and three days here in Garberville. The kids lost their senses of humor at times, this being their first trip across three time zones, but everyone of all ages did the best they could...

Patrick Biri is concerned about shortages of primary care physicians. Ruth Meyer Hollenback says if you're sick, the best place to be today is the United States. Biri, administrator at Perry County Memorial Hospital, and Hollenback, regional vice president of Blue Cross/Blue Shield, were among members of a panel of local and state health care leaders who discussed the topic at the 1994 Business Conference Wednesday at the Show Me Center...

It's back to the planning board for many riverboat gambling casino operations interested in locating in Missouri, following a narrow defeat Tuesday of a riverboat gambling amendment in the state. "The vote came as a surprise to us," said Maunty C. Collins, senior vice president and director of operations for the central region for Boyd Gaming, headquartered in Las Vegas. "We will be taking a look at our options."...

STE. GENEVIEVE -- A new effort is under way to preserve Ste. Genevieve's historic buildings, some of which were damaged by last year's Mississippi River flood, and to encourage tourism here. A French Heritage Relief Committee has been appointed by Yves Gaudeul, the French consul general in Chicago, to conduct fund-raising efforts to assist the town. The committee, comprised of Missouri and Illinois residents, is chaired by Homer E. Sayad of St. Louis...

PERRYVILLE -- Most people in Southeast Missouri know something about the Southeast Missouri Regional Planning and Economic Development Commission, most likely through the news media. But with the exception of its members and the agencies it serves, the general public is not aware of the enormous role this quasi-governmental agency headquartered in Perryville plays in their lives...

Norwegian composer Geir Knutson, who is rapidly gaining the reputation as "Norway's John Philip Sousa", will be the featured conductor to present several of his marches April 28 at an "Olde-Tyme" band concert. The concert, scheduled for 7:30 p.m. at the University Center Ballroom, will be presented by the Southeast Symphonic Wind Ensemble...

The Southeast Missouri Concert Association is beginning to look like a miniature Muny on a mission. "We're actually patterning ourselves after the Muny Opera of St. Louis," said Southeast Missouri Concert Association President Ed Kaiser. "The difference is that we're more like a little Muny, smaller in scale and cheaper in price," said Kaiser...

PADUCAH, KY. -- The American Quilter's Society will hold its 10th annual Quilt Show and Contest April 21-24. Over 400 prize-winning quilts will be displayed at the Executive Inn in Paducah, Ky. Quilts from 49 states and 10 foreign countries are entered in the competition with over $70,000 in cash awards going to the quilters in 12 categories...

Quartet Seraphin will present a Free Family Concert at Old St. Vincent's Religious and Cultural Center at 7 p.m. on Monday, April 11. The concert is sponsored by JCPenney and the Southeast Missouri Council on the Arts, with financial assistance provided by the Missouri Arts Council...