Stories from Thursday, May 19, 1994

SCOTT CITY -- John William Hockersmith, 85, of Scott City, died Tuesday, May 17, 1994, at his home. He was born Feb. 22, 1909, in Lynchburg, Tenn., son of Thomas Jefferson and Mary Alice Edgman Hockersmith. He and Esther Lorentz were married Nov. 5, 1938, at Charleston...

The Neelyville High School Chapter of Future Homemakers of America will sponsor a professional photographer from Heritage Portraits for two programs during June 2, 3, 4, and 5. The first program is "Klassic Kids" Photo Contest. Every entry receives a Certificate of Participation, a 5x7 color portrait of entry pose, a free family portrait session and other offerings, plus a public display of the entry selection. ...

MARBLE HILL -- The descendants of John F. and Lucinda Robbins Miller will hold their third annual family reunion at noon Saturday at Pellegrino Park in Marble Hill. Those attending should bring a potluck meal, tableware, beverages and lawn chairs. Family members with old photographs and information on family lines are urged to bring them...

The Depressive and Manic Depressive Association will meet Monday at St. Francis Medical Center. The meeting will be held from 7-9 p.m. in conference room B of the educational department. Dr. Robert McCool will speak about the update on newer medications for insomnia and depression...

A Franklin Time Management seminar will be presented at the Drury Lodge here Wednesday from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Cost of the half-day session, sponsored by the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce, is $150 for chamber members and $165 for non-members. It includes a Franklin Classic Day Planner...

BIEHLE -- To many people the town of Biehle is little more than an exit sign on Interstate 55 between the Perryville and Old Appleton exits. But a short drive west on Route B reveals a community with roots to before the Civil War; a Catholic church built 125 years ago by the town's German immigrants, who wanted their own parish; and a sprawling retail center operated by the same man who started it 60 years ago with $200 borrowed money...

A number of Missouri legislators, in reciting the achievements of the recently ended session of the General Assembly, provided telling commentary by enumerating with equal pride those measures aborted and those measures advanced. We are not far detached from this sentiment. ...

In Wednesday's edition Sen. Kinder looked at how many past "crime bills," which were often hailed by politicians and media alike, had little effect on worsening crime in the state. Meanwhile, concealed weapon legislation had become law in 38 other states, with positive results. ...

Dear Editor, Last week as I watched the proceedings of Richard Nixon's funeral, I remembered when he was in Cape Girardeau campaigning for the vice-presidency in 1952. As I watched I remembered that Mr. Albert Feldhoff, journalism instructor, Illmo-Fornfelt High School, arranged for several of us students to meet and interview Mr. and Mrs. Nixon at Cape Airport...

Dear Editor, I want to thank you for the excellent coverage the Southeast Missourian provided for the local events that took place during National Historic Preservation Week. Mark Bliss' April 26 article set the stage for the week. The Calendar in the May 1 edition provided the dates, times and places. The photographs which ran throughout the week added welcome emphases...

Dear Editor, Recently I read in my hometown newspaper, The Independence Examiner, a May editorial in your newspaper issued in regards to the concealed guns issue in Missouri. As a firm believer in the Second Amendment, I respect and greatly appreciate your public endorsement of this bill, especially at a time when newspapers and the media in general are largely anti-gun. Thank you for standing up for my and and all Missourians' rights. Keep up the great work...

EAST PRAIRIE -- Roy S. Piper, 82, of East Prairie, died Tuesday, May 17, 1994, at his home. He was born Sept. 22, 1911, in Owensboro, Ky., son of Wylie and Amanda Biggers Piper. He and the former Mary L. Ivie were married Oct. 26, 1948, in Piggott, Ark...

Norman B. Seib, 71, 2809 Valley Creek Road, died Tuesday, May 17, 1994, at St. Francis Medical Center. He was born Aug. 3, 1922, in Cape Girardeau, son of Norman and Geraldine Stubenrauch Seib. He and Shirley Ann Lunsford were married May 21, 1942, in Cape Girardeau...

GLEN ALLEN -- Funeral service for Lena "Maxine" Johnson of Glen Allen will be held at 2 p.m. today at Liley Funeral Chapel in Marble Hill. The Rev. Fred Shrum will officiate, with burial in Glen Allen Cemetery. Johnson, 75, died Tuesday, May 17, 1994, at Auventine Retirement and Nursing Care in Fenton...

Raymond Penturf, 62, of St. Charles, died Sunday, May 8, 1994, at the VA Hospital in Columbia. Penturf grew up in Cape Girardeau, and received a bachelor's degree in education from Southeast Missouri State University. He taught history and social studies 12 years at Normandy Junior High School, and in 1978 became manager of the Dip and Strip Co. in St. Charles...

SIKESTON -- Pearl Robinson, 72, of Compton, Calif., formerly of Sikeston, died Sunday, May 15, 1994, at a convalescent center in West Covina, Calif. She was born Aug. 3, 1921, in Round Pond, Ark., daughter of J.W. and Annie Williams. Robinson moved to California in 1983...

Son to Curt Bivens and Darenda Shannon of Dexter, Southeast Missouri Hospital, 5:37 p.m. Sunday, May 1, 1994. Name, James Reid. Weight, 6 pounds 15 ounces. Second child, first son. Miss Shannon is the daughter of Bill and Nancy Shannon of Wartburg, Tenn., and is a veterinarian. Bivens is a salesman with Zeneca Ag Products, and is the son of Jim and Lillie Bivens of West Helena, Ark...

Carl Lee Amsden, 64, 2211 Hillbrook, died Wednesday, May 18, 1994, at St. Francis Medical Center. He was born Sept. 25, 1929, at Elvins, son of Cressie M. and Hazel Amsden. He and Pat Herzog were married Sept. 6, 1957, at Farmington. Amsden served 20 years in the U.S. Marines, Army and Air Force, retiring from the latter. He also worked 15 years with Dravo Mechling Barge Line...

It all started about a year ago with the arrest of a mother and son who harbored 21 pieces of crack cocaine in their Cape Girardeau home. In announcing their arrest, Cape Girardeau Police Chief Howard Boyd Jr. plugged the county's newest weapon in the constant war against drug trade: The Narcotics Enforcement Unit...

Citing concerns with the timing of payments and overall safety standards, the city of Cape Girardeau has elected to send Cape Central Airways Inc. an eviction notice. "We have taken action to terminate their lease," said City Attorney Warren Wells Wednesday. "We are aware that there is an ongoing investigation by the (Federal Aviation Administration) regarding some areas of safety, but we have other concerns as well...

It's strawberry picking time again, and area growers say this strawberry season should be one of the best in several years. It should last through mid-June if the weather continues to cooperate. Growers said if the weather is good this weekend, they expect a large turnout of berry pickers in their strawberry patches...

Vote totals on the riverboat gambling issue changed slightly Wednesday following a recount of ballots in Cape Girardeau County, but pro-casino forces were still dealt a losing hand. The gambling amendment was defeated in Cape County by a vote of 8,383 against to 6,468 for, said County Clerk Rodney Miller...

Academic Hall was powerless most of the day Wednesday after an electrical cable shorted out after midnight. Power wasn't restored until after 4 p.m., after offices had already closed for the day. The power outage initially caused the main breaker to open at Southeast Missouri State University's electrical substation, triggering a campuswide blackout...

May 19, 1994 Dear Leslie, As if Bosnian children, rising interest rates, becoming a mother, not becoming a mother, establishing a new practice and leaving California after 20 years weren't enough, now DC is worried about bears. As in Smokey The's evil twins...

A case of mistaken identity sets the stage, alerting the audience that something mischievous is afoot. But what puts "See How They Run" on a nonstop laugh track is timing and consistency. The St. Vincent de Paul Parish's production of "See How They Run" operates with razor-sharp precision. ...

The music and lyrics of Jerry Herman will resound through the Forrest H. Rose Theater May 28-29 at 8 p.m. In its seventh season, Southeast Missouri State University's summer touring theatre will present its rendition of Jerry's Girls, a musical revue...