Stories from Wednesday, May 25, 1994

CHAFFEE -- Eunice Evans, 88, of Chaffee, died at 4 p.m. Tuesday at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. Arragnements were incomplete at the Amick Burnett Funeral Chapel in Chaffee.

To The Editor: After reading the May 8 letter to the editor complimenting the fine music department/faculty at Southeast Missouri State University, we were very shocked at the glaring oversight in the letter. While we couldn't agree more that the people of Cape Girardeau are very lucky to have such fine musicians in our home town university, we cannot fairly acknowledge them without recognizing one individual who has given one hundred and ten percent of her effort to the music department, and who was quite unfortunately overlooked in the letter to the editor; Ms. ...

The Kinder family reunion will be held June 5 under Shelter No. 20 at Cape Girardeau County Park South. The event will begin at 10 a.m. Group pictures will be taken before the basket dinner at noon. Those attending should bring table service, and also any old family photographs or information to share with others...

DUTCHTOWN - A 50-year-old Jackson man was in stable condition at a Cape Girardeau hospital Tuesday following the head-on collision of two cars on Highway 25 north of Dutchtown. The accident occurred at 7:52 a.m. The Missouri Highway Patrol said Stephen C. Logan was traveling north when his car collided with a southbound car driven by Robert P. Graviett, 34, of Oran. Graviett was not injured. Authorities said both men were wearing seat belts...

Adults can learn the secret of playing the piano without reading music through a No-Pain Pop Piano Workshop planned June 4 from 1-4 p.m. Don and Janet Presson of Keyboards & Kindermusik Conservatory will teach the workshop. While the course is not for those preparing for international piano competitions, the shortcuts and tips taught through the program are suitable for playing pop, gospel, country and blues music...

Entries are being accepted for the seventh annual Miss Riverfest Queen competition to be held in Cape Girardeau June 11 as part of Riverfest activities. Scheduled for June 10-11 in downtown Cape Girardeau, Riverfest features entertainment and activities for the entire family. Corporate sponsors are Capital Bank, KBSI Fox 23, St. Francis Medical Center and Southwestern Bell Telephone...

Arkansas State University honors SEMO agriculture department chairman Danny Terry The chairman of Southeast Missouri State University's agriculture department has been named Outstanding Young Alumnus by the College of Agriculture at Arkansas State University...

The College of Health and Human Services at Southeast Missouri State University recently honored several faculty members. Georganne Syler, instructor of human environmental studies, and Brian Toy, assistant professor of health and leisure, both received outstanding teaching awards...

M. Diane Pettypool, associate professor of management at Southeast Missouri State University, has received the first Students' Choice Award for Sustained Excellence in Teaching. The award was presented at the Harrison College of Business honors assembly...

More than 70 students from 35 schools participated in junior division competitions at the 60th annual meeting of the Missouri Academy of Science. The meeting was held at Southeast Missouri State University April 29-30. Practicing scientists, college students, teachers, and junior-high and high-school students from across the state attended...

When things seem at their worst, people are often at their very best. Such seems the case with Cape Girardeau Police Officer Dan Niswonger. Since his injuries and subsequent surgeries, there has been a great outpouring from the community -- especially from fellow policemen and firefighters. This genuine concern for Dan and his family has been reassuring...

For a second time in less than a year, the federal government has attempted to lower cable television rates nationally. The rates charged by 90 percent of the nation's cable systems were supposed to drop an average of 7 percent this month. But because of other Federal Communication Commission (FCC) rule changes, some bills won't drop that much, and some rates will actually go up...

It's not unusual to see workers in bright orange suits hard at work in the Cape Girardeau County Parks. This county prisoner work program has saved taxpayers thousands of dollars, and allowed inmates of non-violent crimes to give something back to the community...

To the Editor: About two weeks ago, a friend of mine was awakened in her bed by a former neighbor man who had broken into her home and was holding her down. Through her quick thought and action, she was able to escape out the door and avoid serious physical trauma. There remains a feeling of invasion, of not being safe in her home and thoughts of "why am I the victim?"...

JACKSON -- The Jackson School Board will meet in special session May 31 to study and discuss long-term facility and curriculum needs for the school district. The board voted to hold the special meeting at its regular meeting Tuesday. The board also heard an update from school nurses on major changes in Missouri's school immunization law that becomes effective when school begins in late August...

CAIRO, Ill. -- Magnolia Manor, a historic mansion in Cairo, will be host a luncheon June 7. The luncheon, sponsored by the Cairo Historical Association, will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Reservations are available by calling (618)-734-0201. Funds from the luncheon will help support the four-story mansion at 2700 Washington Avenue...

JACKSON -- Toney Lunsford, 44, of Jackson died Tuesday, May 24, 1994, at his home in Jackson. He was born Dec. 28, 1949 in Cape Girardeau, the son of Ernest Lunsford and Geraldine King. He is survived by his mother, Geraldine Lunsford Laramore, Jackson; one son, Danny Lunsford, Jackson; three brothers, Nelson King, Jerry Lunsford and Ricky Lunsford, all of Jackson; two step-brothers, David Edward Laramore, Red Bud, Ill., Michael Laramore, Belleville, Ill.; four sisters, Brenda Sides, Sue Stinson, June Ruppel, Debbie McCain, all of Jackson; two stepsisters, Dixie Lee Clayton, St. ...

Graveside service for Junior Lawson Allison of Lake Sinclair, Ga., will be held at 11 a.m. today at Baldwin Memorial Gardens in Milledgeville, Ga. Williams Funeral Home in Milledgeville is in charge of arrangements. Allison, 70, died Sunday, May 22, 1994, at his home...

JACKSON -- Marian Maxine Beauchamp, 70, of Jackson, died Tuesday, May 24, 1994, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. She was born Nov. 11, 1923, at Cameltown, Ind., daughter of Scott and Audie Richardson Powers. She and Jewell Beauchamp were married Aug. 18, 1949...

SIKESTON -- Rosie L. Smith, 90, of Sikeston, died Tuesday, May 24, 1994, at Missouri Delta Medical Center. She was born Dec. 16, 1903, in Whiting, daughter of George Washington and Sara Frances Underwood Ward. She and Luther B. Smith were married May 18, 1927...

BLOOMFIELD -- Luther Jack Harper, 82, of Bloomfield, died Tuesday, May 24, 1994, at Vintage Villa Nursing Center in Dexter. He was born Jan. 10, 1912, at Avert, son of Pryor and Francis Bess Harper. Harper lived in Kansas City several years, and was retired from Central Gulf Railroad Co. He was a member of Bloomfield Masonic Lodge 153...

Funeral service for Lutrell M. Gray of San Antonio, Texas, will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday at Ford and Sons Mt. Auburn 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...

Funeral service for Richard G. Claar, 419 Louis, will be held at 1:30 p.m. Thursday at Ford and Sons Mt. Auburn Chapel. The Rev. John Vorce will officiate, with burial in Memorial Park. Friends may call at the funeral home from 4-8 p.m. today. Claar, 16, died Monday, May 23, 1994, at Southeast Missouri Hospital...

John Anthony Hulshof Sr., 54, of Independence, died Sunday, May 22, 1994, at Menorah Medical Center. He was a native of Portageville. Hulshof had owned Vonhul Construction Co. 25 years. He also worked for Vendo Co. 13 years. He was a veteran of the U.S. Air Force...

PERRYVILLE -- Herman William Lappe, 80, Perryville Route 2, died Monday, May 23, 1994, at his home. He was born Aug. 14, 1913, at Biehle, son of Frank W. and Louisa M. Schwein Lappe. He and Hilda C. Wibbenmeyer were married April 21, 1942. She died Nov. 13, 1974...

Everyone talks about how important it is to have a sense of humor, but who knows what a sense of humor really is? What is funny to one person may draw a perfect blank from another. My father referred to the newspaper comics as "funny papers" or "educational section" depending on his mood. ...

More than 35 years ago Virgil Chirnside faced a big decision -- whether to remain with the Missouri Public Service Commission or transfer his attention to the private sector of utilities. He chose the latter. "I was with the PSC three years," said Chirnside. "I opted to go with Missouri Utilities."...

As Cape Girardeau police officer Dan Niswonger recovers from a seemingly endless series of operations in a St. Louis hospital, co-workers, friends, relatives and area residents maintain a constant vigil for the officer and his family. Niswonger was listed in fair but stable condition Tuesday at Saint Louis University Hospital. He is recovering from an operation performed Friday, where doctors removed his right leg and part of his pelvic bone...

Old Man River has rolled through Leslie Goeldner's mind in years past. Now he's learning about the Mississippi River up close at a weeklong Elderhostel at Southeast Missouri State University. Mark Twain's novels intrigued him. "When I was a kid we read Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn and "Life on the Mississippi," recalled Goeldner, 90...

I look forward to Memorial Day weekend the way a pizza delivery person would probably appreciate a fast car and an unlimited supply of green lights. Oh what tips, what sumptuous rewards would await us then! Eventually we'd be good enough drivers to compete in the Indy 500. You see, just the thought of it is making me feel better about myself...

SIKESTON -- A benefit dinner to raise money for a scholarship honoring long-time Charleston basketball coach Lennies McFerren will be held here Friday. The dinner is being sponsored by Women of the '90s and will begin at 6:30 p.m. at Brick House Productions, 800 W. North St., in Sikeston...

Daughter to Mr. and Mrs. Michael Crowell, Patton Route 1, Southeast Missouri Hospital, 8:54 p.m. Sunday, May 15, 1994. Name, Megan Sue. Weight, 7 pounds 6 ounces. Third child, second daughter. Mrs. Crowell is the former Debra Smith, daughter of Lee Ann Smith of Patton, and the late Lloyd Smith. Crowell is employed at Gilster-Mary Lee, and is the son of Lonnie Crowell of Patton...

BENTON -- Thomas Kelly High School Principal Ernie Lawson has been hired as the high school principal at Chaffee schools for the 1994-95 school year. The high school boys' basketball coach, Greg Dunigan, is also leaving. He will be a teacher and head boys' basketball coach at Union High School in Union, Mo...

Marti Sturm chooses eyeglasses in much the same fashion some shoppers choose clothing, with attention to detail and an eye for the unique. "I have casual glasses and I have glasses that I think are sophisticated," explained Sturm, chuckling, "and I have glasses that are fun."...

Have you ever driven through the countryside and seen a field of wildflowers and wished you could have the same natural beauty in your yard? Well, you can. You do not need a lot of garden space. Even a small corner is enough for a wildflower garden spot...