Stories from Wednesday, August 24, 1994

To the editor: As I sat watching the noon news recently the zombie of the Clinton administration, Al Gore, suddenly appeared on my screen. As I watched and listened, I became more convinced than ever that the only thing more empty than his rhetoric on gun control and the ban on so-called assault weapons is the empty space between his ears that his brain is supposed to occupy! Al said that the ban on assault weapons must remain as an essential part of the crime bill, even though studies show that crime committed with assault weapons is negligible. ...

To the editor: This letter is being sent in regards to a story that the Southeast Missourian carried Aug. 19 concerning the local post office. With all the recent attention focused upon the Postal Service, it is understandable that certain concerns might arise about the local office. One might wonder if local postal workers care about the customers they serve...

In a move that generated dismay among many rank-and-file members of the American Association of Retired Persons, the national organization's board of directors endorsed Democratic health-care reform bills introduced in Congress. The endorsement came as major business groups sought to form a united front against Senate Majority Leader George Mitchell's bill. ...

After a peach crop that fruit growers admit was the pits, some Southern Illinois and Southeast Missouri orchard owners are worried that a poor apple crop may peel away further at an already disappointing fruit season. The summer peach-picking season will close this week with the picking of Rio Losa gems. Apple picking already has started in some areas and will be in full swing by early next week...

JACKSON -- The Jackson school board on Tuesday raised the district's 1994 property tax rate 12 cents to $2.97 per $100 of assessed valuation. The increase is in compliance with the Proposition C rollback that Missouri voters approved, said Howard Alexander, the school district's financial manager. The district will have a $2.75 tax rate for its operating funds...

Southeast Missouri State University had 205 fewer students enrolled on the first day of classes Monday than on the first day of classes a year ago. It continued a downward trend that dates back several years. The combined undergraduate and graduate headcount Monday was 7,673, down 2.6 percent from last year's 7,878...

After years of frustration and millions of dollars in damages, efforts to deal with flash flooding along Cape LaCroix and Walker creeks in Cape Girardeau are moving forward. Work along Cape LaCroix Creek is almost finished and the first phase of work on Walker is scheduled for completion in October 1995. Work on the second phase will start early next year, and a third phase will begin the following year...

Prestige Air Services, a newly-formed company owned by Duane Beussink, will petition the Cape Girardeau City Council for the right to become a fixed-base operator at Cape Girardeau Municipal Airport. Beussink, who owns MDI Corp., said at a press conference Tuesday that hopes to get the council to review his proposal at its next meeting Sept. 6. Prestige is also seeking approval from the Federal Aviation Administration...

Sue Vaughn of Capital Bank says her YELL for Newspapers team will be hard to top this year. The four members of her team are among hundreds of volunteers who will hit the streets Sept. 13 to hawk a special issue of the Southeast Missourian that benefits local literacy programs...

Finally working a normal day shift after so many years on nights makes me think of someone who would have appreciated the transition. Fireball was a self-proclaimed lifer at Hussman Refrigeration in St. Louis and proud of it. He also was one of the more interesting characters I met while working to help pay for my college tuition many summers ago...

The entire Cape LaCroix/Walker Creek flood control project includes one phase for the Cape LaCroix portion, three phases of the work along Walker Creek, construction of a 157-acre dry retention area north of the city, and completion of a recreation trail that will run along the project...

December, 1969: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers releases a study requested by the Cape Girardeau City Council on flood problems and land use policies for property along tributaries of the Mississippi River and Cape LaCroix Creek that is subject to flooding...

JACKSON -- A women's support group will meet Thursday at New McKendree United Methodist Church, 209 S. High in Jackson. The meeting will be at 7 p.m. in room 202. All women are invited to attend. The Rev. O. Otto Steinhaus, church pastor, said the group is being formed to allow women to come together and share some of the problems they experience. ...

Dr. Charles H. Pancoast will discuss snake bites and poisonous snakes on Thursday's "Ask Your Doctor" television program. The show airs at 8 p.m. on Cape Girardeau cable channel 5. "Ask Your Doctor" features local doctors answering questions from viewers. Martha Muench and Dr. Jean A. Chapman host the program. It is sponsored by St. Francis Medical Center, Southeast Missouri Hospital, the Cape Girardeau County Medical Center and channel 5...

When the Jackson landfill closed in April, the Cape Girardeau solid-waste transfer station saw a dramatic increase in trash. The extra load reached record tonnage recently, giving Cape Girardeau city officials reason to be concerned. "We had 170 tons on a Monday two weeks ago, which is about 70 tons more than we're used to," said Assistant City Attorney Doug Leslie. ...

PARMA -- Funeral service for Geneva W. South of Parma will be held at 2 p.m. today at Lotta Union General Baptist Church here. The Revs. Billy Hamlett and Terry Williams will officiate, with burial in Stanfield Cemetery near Clarkton. Watkins and Sons Funeral Home in Parma is in charge of arrangements...

Ray W. Clark, 79, 386 Country Club Drive, died Tuesday, Aug. 23, 1994, at the Lutheran Home. Ford and Sons Sprigg Street Chapel is in charge of arrangements.

TAMMS, Ill. -- Sheila Ann Bridges, 57, of Granite City, died Monday, Aug. 22, 1994, at St. Elizabeth Medical Center in Granite City. She was born Sept. 19, 1936, in Tamms, daughter of Leonard and Mae Smithey Huffman. Survivors include her husband, Charles G. Bridges; a son, Kenny Bridges of Granite City; two brothers, Joe Huffman of Granite City, J.D. Huffman of Tamms; two sisters, Charlotte Mize of Tamms, and Imogene Johnson of Salem...

EAST PRAIRIE -- Funeral service for A.D. Woods of Mound City, Ill., will be held at 4 p.m. today at Shelby Funeral Chapel in East Prairie. Danny Tackett will officiate, with burial in East Prairie Memorial Park. Woods, 80, died Sunday, Aug. 21, 1994, at his home...

DELTA -- Ernest C. Jaco, 68, of Lompoc, Calif., died Monday, Aug. 22, 1994, at his home. He was born Dec. 28, 1925, in Jackson, son of Curtis and Jane Biri Jaco. Jaco served in the U.S. Navy 22 years. Survivors include his wife, Joan; three sons, Gary and Mark Jaco of San Francisco, Calif., Chris Jaco of Oklahoma City, Okla.; three sisters, Hettie McClard of Whitewater, Blanche Foster of Imperial Beach, Calif., Stella Brown of Delta; two brothers, Paul Jaco of Delta, John Jaco of Galva, Ill., and several grandchildren.. ...

FARMINGTON -- Funeral service for Elba Martin of Farmington was held Tuesday at St. Joseph Catholic Church here. The Rev. John Ghio and Deacon Bill Greif officiated, with burial in Shoemaker Family Cemetery at Jewett. Martin, 48, died Saturday, Aug. 20, 1994, at her home...

Funeral service for Margaret L. Revelle of St. Louis will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday at Ford and Sons Mt. Auburn Chapel. The Rev. Jeffrey Sippy will officiate, with burial in Memorial Park. Friends may call at the funeral home Thursday from 10 a.m. to service time...

MARBLE HILL -- Funeral service for James Edward Howell of Marble Hill will be held at 1 p.m. today at Liley Funeral Chapel in Marble Hill. The Rev. Scott Cook will officiate, with burial in Crossroads Cemetery at McGee. Howell, 64, died Monday, Aug. 22, 1994, at Jefferson Barracks Veterans Hospital...

JONESBORO, Ill. -- Francis E. Tellor, 54, of Lake Zurich, died Monday, Aug. 22, 1994, at Good Shepherd Hospital in Barrington. He was born May 22, 1940, in Jonesboro, son of Elmer H. and Flossie Orick Tellor. He and Lula Belle Ramage were married June 16, 1962...

Bill Pratt's sunroom blooms with color in the late afternoon. Unusual underwater creatures and plant life typically found in a mysterious, faraway world come into their own in his Scott City home as afternoon shadows lengthen. Around 3 o'clock, nature's brilliance truly shines...

Days are definitely shorter at this time of year. Summer gardening is winding down and gardeners must be thinking of the coming seasons. August has had some rainfall and cooler weather, which is most unusual for this area. Many plants, mostly roses, will soon be putting on their very best shows...