Stories from Thursday, June 9, 1994

Businesses come and businesses go in Cape Girardeau, and downtown is no exception. A number of new signs can be observed as visitors crowd into the city this weekend for the annual Riverfest celebration -- The Bell Aire Bar and Grill, Papa Bear's Daiquiris and Grill, At Your Service, OFMCO, Ye Ole House, Something Special, Petals & Bows, Mollies Restaurant and The Body Shoppe ... to mention a few...

From Broadway to the floodwall, they stare down at you -- emblazoning Cape Girardeau with colorful artwork that seems as much a part of downtown as the Mississippi River. Cape Girardeau's murals do more than dress up the floodwall and building exteriors; they provide a colorful backdrop to the city's annual Riverfest celebration...

The emergence of Boyd Gaming Corp. and Lady Luck has turned into a windfall for the Cape Girardeau Riverfest. "Both groups have given us a real shot in the arm," said Peggy Barringer, Riverfest president. "With Boyd and Lady Lucky contributing to the cause, it helps us make this an even better celebration."...

The theme for the 1994 Riverfest, "Jammin' on the River," will come alive with an ambitious schedule of entertainment, all of which is free. "Martina McBride is the headliner, but we've got plenty of entertainment leading up to her Saturday night concert," said Tracy Childers, who is working with the entertainment phase of Riverfest...

SCOTT CITY -- Jeannine Schuenemeyer has always had an insatiable interest the history and lore of places and things. As president of the Scott City Historic Preservation Commission, she is able to share some of the richness and splendor of history of the Scott City area with other people...

In her spare time, Daina Rae Eyler likes to twist beads onto leather and mold silver "peace" signs into unique jewelry, 1960s style. This weekend she plans to sell the fruits of her hobby at Riverfest '94. "I thought it might be nice just to have something different for me and for the people at Riverfest," said Eyler, who owns a Victorian shop, Daina Rae's, 130 N. Main...

Whether it's fine dining, burgers and barbecue, Mexican, Jamaican or Cajun fare, or just beer and dancing, it's all available in downtown Cape Girardeau. The Royal N'Orleans Restaurant, 300 Broadway, Mollies Cafe & Bar, 11 S. Spanish, and Whitfields, 220 Independence, offer fine dining experiences with choices of a-la-carte menus that range from filet mignon, prime rib, lobster, barbecued shrimp and other seafoods to frog legs and you-name-it...

With brass bands and turtle races, pageants and crafts, big-name musicians and the best-ever fireworks, Riverfest '94 promises to have festival-goers "Jammin' on the River" this weekend. Riverfest, the annual two-day celebration of Cape Girardeau's downtown heritage, begins Friday afternoon. Activities are also scheduled all day Saturday...

Every festival needs a queen to reign over the activities, and Cape Girardeau's Riverfest is no exception. This year the Riverfest Queen contest will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, since a Friday venue conflicted with Cape Central High School's graduation ceremony...

Although Cape Girardeau's Riverfest is held near the Mississippi River, the unpredictability of Old Man River the past five years has made it impossible for Riverfest planners to schedule activities on the waterfront. For that reason, no Riverfest activities will be held on the river again this year...

To the Editor, On June 6, we paid special homage to all the beautiful young men who gave their lives on our behalf a half century ago. I would like to call attention to another remarkable sacrifice; only three men were involved, but their story is so unique I feel everyone should know about it...

In the hot winds of rhetoric that blow across Missouri every election year, just about everything is said and anything can be heard. But here in Missouri, you can't just tell 'em, you've got to show 'em. For the past two years, the Missouri General Assembly and governor have done just that by accomplishing careful, deliberate improvements that exemplify the difference between gridlocked statementcraft and cooperative statecraft...

Cape Girardeau Central High School athletic teams often startle their opposition from more urban areas. The school is away from the media centers of Missouri and, for the most part, attracts scant attention outside this part of the state. We relish that surprise, knowing the lack of statewide attention doesn't stem from lack of local talent. And we commend the Central baseball team for capturing the Class 4A state championship last weekend...

Charles Hutson remembers about a dozen years ago when downtown business owners started talking about forming a downtown redevelopment corporation so a tax could be imposed to improve the area. The idea was met with little enthusiasm outside the downtown faithfuls...

One of the nation's biggest and most respected manufacturers, Procter & Gamble, marks 25 years of operation in Cape Girardeau County this year. Its presence remains formidable as ever. Not only does the plant north of Cape Girardeau put 1,300 people to work, it stands as a model of corporate citizenship. We commend P&G's devotion to this community and region, and congratulate the company and its workers on a quarter-century of successful operation in the county...

A special shuttle bus system will take the hassle out of parking for Riverfest. Peter Robben, Riverfest transportation chairman, said shuttle buses will run throughout Riverfest. During peak times this weekend as many as five shuttles will run continuously from the two shuttle sites to downtown Cape Girardeau...

Riverfest T-shirt sales got off to a brisk start with about 100 businesses taking part in a pre-sale effort. "We sent out order forms with samples of the shirt to different companies around Cape, and they had a deadline of May 31 to have orders in," said Jeff Vandeven, who along with his partner Bruce Robert at RB Productions designed the 1994 shirt...

Riverfest '94 will kick off Friday evening with the 12th annual Kohlfeld Riverfest Run. The second annual Riverfest Midnight Bicycle Ramble begins shortly after midnight Saturday. Runners and walkers of all ages are welcome to enter the 5 1/4-mile run or milelong fitness walk and fun run, which start at 7:30 p.m. ...

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- In a joint letter to the Interagency Floodplain Management Review Committee, 8th District U.S. Rep. Bill Emerson and Missouri Sen. Christopher Bond have outlined concerns they have about the panel's draft report. The letter, dated Tuesday, will be filed as part of the public comment period on the report. It was sent to Brig. Gen. Gerald Galloway, executive director of the review committee in Washington...

A Cape Girardeau doctors' group is the driving force behind a planned medical office building on the St. Francis Medical Center campus, the group's administrator said Wednesday. "Basically, we are the driving force behind this because we don't have enough space; because we need a new building," said Steve Telford, administrator of the Internal Medicine Group...

City officials believe the search for a new and safer water-supply source could prove to be one of the better investments the city council has approved. The council on Monday approved the initial phases of two engineering projects. The first project is a study of an alluvial well, and the second is a project to design earthquake protection of the water system...

The SHARE Pregnancy and Infant Loss Support group will gather tonight at Southeast Missouri Hospital. The group is open to those parents and families who are coping with the death of a baby through miscarriage, stillbirth or newborn death. The group recently changed its starting time to 7:30 p.m. The meeting will be held in the second floor classroom of the regional cancer center, across from the main hospital...

June 9, 1994 Dear Scott, Happy birthday. Seems like only the day before yesterday we were turning our beds into trampolines while mom and dad were out for the evening. It's probably worth remembering that, as baby sitters go, grandmothers aren't quite the disciplinarians you might like them to be. ...

SCOTT CITY -- Mayor Larry Forhan says "a lot of garbage" is being spread following the firing of a police officer, which led to the resignations of two others. "This is something the police department should not have to endure," he said. Forhan said last week he can't comment on reasons for the firing of Lt. Bobby Wooten because the former officer has asked for an appeal before the police personnel board...

JACKSON -- A Gordonville contractor submitted the low bid Tuesday for renovation of the Jackson Rotary Lake in the main city park. The project is designed to revive the lake and improve fish habitat. The work will include removal of several feet of sediment on the lake bottom and installation of riprap along the banks to prevent soil erosion...

Members of Cape Girardeau American Legion Post 63 will conduct the annual American Flag Retirement and Disposal Ceremony on Flag Day Tuesday. Charles E. Woodford, chairman of the Flag Disposal Committee, said the ceremony will begin at 7 p.m. at the Cape Girardeau Veterans Home at North Kingshighway and Interstate 55...

MAKANDA, Ill. -- Makanda Fest '94, an art, craft and music festival, will be held here from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. June 18 and from noon to 7 p.m. June 19. The festival will include exhibits by local artists and crafts people. Blacksmiths, basket weavers, quilters and others will be on hand demonstrating their crafts and selling their products...

The compact school bus gradually pulls into the parking lot, then stops. A swarm of 3-, 4- and 5-year-olds pour forth from the bus door. Finally, an old man emerges from the little bus, and cheerfully waves to the children, calling them all by their names...

The Scopus Rural Volunteer Fire Department will host a barbecue Saturday at the firehouse on Highway M west of Scopus. The firefighters will be serving barbecue pork, green beans, baked beans, potato salad, coleslaw and dessert from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. A live band will perform at 3 p.m...

LEOPOLD -- Ron Naney of rural Leopold used to pack his van with sound system equipment almost every weekend on his way to play at a benefit dance for fire victims, children with muscular dystrophy or people needing money for transplants. But he can't anymore; several months ago someone broke into Naney's van and stole almost $30,000 worth of equipment, including irreplaceable old records...

WHITEWATER -- Only 125 of the eligible 550 voters went to the polls in Whitewater Tuesday to vote on formation of the Whitewater Fire Protection District. But it was more than enough to provide an overwhelming 84-to-41 win. "We're very pleased with the results, even though the turnout was light because it was a special election," said Joyce Horky, a member of the district's board of directors. "A lot of hard work went into this; we've worked a lot of months on the election."...

Before the carnival rides at Riverfest open on Friday and Saturday, there is another place where children can play. And this one won't cost their parents a dime. Denise Schneider, chairman of children's activities at this year's Riverfest, has quite a venue of activities for children under 12 to enjoy...

Riverfest visitors this weekend will get free tips about the harmful effects of smoking from Missouri ASSIST and the Southeast Missouri Cancer Control Coalition. ASSIST is distributing more than 60,000 "Smokefree Tip" coupons at a Riverfest booth Friday and Saturday...

JONESBORO, Ill. -- Ralph C. Brown, 87, of Jonesboro, died Tuesday, June 7, 1994, at City Care Center in Anna. He was born Dec. 10, 1906, in Jonesboro, son of John Watson and Mattie Miller Brown. He married Gladys Frick in 1935. She died in 1951. He then married Rosetta Anderson in 1953...

CHARLESTON -- Funeral service for Charlotte Rae Evans of Portales, N.M., will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at McMikle Funeral Chapel here. The Rev. Gerald Collier will officiate, with burial in IOOF Cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home after 5:30 p.m. Friday...

SIKESTON -- Funeral service for Henry Clifton Holland, Sikeston Route 1, will be held at 2 p.m. Friday at Amick-Burnett Funeral Chapel here. The Rev. Timmy Hall will officiate, with burial in New Morley Cemetery at Morley. Friends may call at the funeral home from 4-9 p.m. today...

TAMMS, Ill. -- Nell Kerr, 94, of Palmyra, Mo., formerly of Tamms and Cape Girardeau, Mo., died Wednesday, June 8, 1994, at Maple Lawn Nursing Home in Palmyra. She was born Oct. 24, 1899, in Oakdale, daughter of Herman and Maben Craig Todd. She married Robert Kerr, who died Sept. 25, 1992...

CHARLESTON -- T.H. Tanner, 76, of Charleston, died Tuesday, June 7, 1994, at East Prairie Nursing Center. He was born July 7, 1917, in Fulton County, Ky., son of Samuel B. and Aurora Kindell Tanner. He and Ann G. Byers were married in 1937. Survivors include his wife; a brother, Howard Tanner of Lexington, Texas; three sisters, Edith Bailey of East Prairie, Ola Stanfill and Juanita Halter of Charleston...

Harvey E. Cotner, 70, 2800 Pioneer Drive, died Wednesday, June 8, 1994, at his home. He was born Sept. 1, 1923, at Neelys Landing, son of James and Prudence McClard Cotner. He and Gertrude Exler were married April 6, 1947, at Egypt Mills. Cotner helped establish Cotner and Green Electric Co. in 1961, and in 1968 he bought out Green and changed the name to Cotner Electric. The business is operated today by his sons...

MOUNDS, Ill. -- Jeffery Scott Burton, 26, Mounds Route 1, died Tuesday, June 7, 1994, at Chester Hospital in Chester. He was born May 16, 1968, in Cairo, son of Robert and Lily Burton. Survivors include his mother and stepfather, Lily and Roy Modglin, Mounds Route 1; father and stepmother, Robert and Frances Burton of Tamms; four sisters, Mary Parker of Mound City, Sandra Pulley of Tulsa, Okla., Martha Smith of Brookport, Darlene Staten of Barnwell, S.C.; a brother, Timothy Burton of Metropolis; a stepbrother, Roy Modglin Jr. ...

Frieda Wanda Wagoner, 75, 2436 Albert Rasche, died Tuesday, June 7, 1994, at Ratliff Nursing Home. She was born Aug. 1, 1918, in McClure, Ill., daughter of Earl C. and Mary Henrietta Stephens Randol. She and Rosewell E. Wagoner were married Aug. 15, 1936, in Jonesboro, Ill. He died July 27, 1967...

ANNA, Ill. -- Funeral service for Jennie A. Sandlin of Anna will be held at 1 p.m. Friday at Lutz & Rendleman Funeral Home here. The Rev. Verlee Eaker will officiate, with burial in McGinnis Cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home after 10 a.m. Friday...

Lillian Burton, 92, died Wednesday at the Lutheran Home in Cape Girardeau. Funeral arrangements are incomplete at Ford and Sons Funeral Home.

Martina McBride takes her work seriously. Sometimes too seriously. Perhaps that is why the native of Sharon, Kan., decided she needed some balance to get back the self-assurance that enabled her to find a place in the highly competitive country music industry...

The stars of the hit serial "As The Tumble Weed Tumbles", heard on radio stadion CD Coungtry 106.1 FM will be at the 1994 Riverfest to sell tickets for the June 18 Red Cross benefit at Western Dance Days. Sheriff J.W. Coop, Miss Kathleen Bell, Deputy Bill, and Mr. E. Windstorm, also known as the leader of the El Nino gang, will be at Riverfest '94 to help sell tickets to the benefit at Stroder Dance Hall in Jackson. Tickets will be available at the Red Cross booth...

The Missouri Ambassadors of Music, under the direction of Southeast Missouri State professor Robert Gifford, will embark on a 16-day tour of seven European countries from June 16 to July 1. The Missouri Ambassadors, an elite concert band, choir, jazz and Dixieland Band, also toured Europe in 1990 and 1992. Students are selected on the basis of recommendations from their high school music teachers...

The Missouri Department of Natural Resources' division of state parks is sponsoring a free folk music concert Friday night. The concert will take place at the Trail of Tears Amphitheater at 7 p.m. There will also be a free concert at 4:30 p.m. Sunday, June 12, in the picnic area at the Bollinger Mill State Historic site...