Stories from Thursday, November 3, 1994

DEXTER -- Myrtle M. Morice, 81, of Dexter, died Tuesday, Nov. 1, 1994, at Dexter Memorial Hospital. She was born Feb. 5, 1913, in Swinton, daughter of Grover C. and Sophia Knopp Bright. She and August J. Morice were married Jan. 26, 1946, in St. Louis. He died Oct. 3, 1987...

OSCEOLA, Ark. -- Parma native Benny Jackson drowned Sunday morning after falling into the Mississippi River near Osceoloa. Jackson, 20, who was also known as B.J. by his former co-workers and boss, Steve Glenn, at Luhr Brothers in Cape Girardeau, had just transferred to the barge a few weeks ago...

Max Stovall and Joe Gambill both agree on one thing as they campaign for an open 2nd District seat on the Cape Girardeau County Commission. They both agree the most important factor voters should consider when they go to the polls Tuesday is their background and experience...

BEVERLY HILLS -- Jeff Foxworthy comes from Atlanta but right now he shares the 90210 zip code with a lot of people who don't know they're rednecks. Foxworthy does know he's a redneck, a state of being he defines as "a glorious absence of sophistication." He himself says, "I consider a six-pack and a bug zapper fine entertainment."...

Marv Herzog and the Bavarian Band of Frankenmuth, Mich., will perform Friday night at the German Dance to benefit Notre Dame High School. The dance will be held at the Bavarian Halle in Jackson, with the doors opening at 7 and the music to begin at 8. Food will be available...

PADUCAH, Ky. -- Admission to the Museum of the American Quilter's Society will be free Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 1 to 4 p.m. for people with a free admission coupon. Coupons will be available in the Paducah Sun today and Friday, from local merchants or at the museum prior to those dates...

Works by Sarah Riley, new chairwoman of the Department of Art at Southeast Missouri State University, will be among those in the exhibit of faculty artwork on display at the University Museum through November. A reception for the 10 artists will be held tonight from 7 to 9 at the museum. The media on display will include painting, graphic design, printmaking, sculpture, fiber, photography, computer prints and ceramics...

Ten actors and actresses will make the most out of six doors when the Neil Simon farce "Rumors" opens Friday at the Forrest H. Rose Theatre. Ala "Noises Off," trip hammer-timed entrances and exits and broad humor are all the heart and soul to be found in this Simon play, which opened on Broadway to mixed reviews in 1988 and ran for just over a year...

As if the federal government didn't have enough to do, it is turning its attention to longer school days. A new federal law offers financial incentives to districts that increase their school year. Congress has allocated some $72 million for the first year of a five-year program. Of course, with 45 million elementary and high school students in the country, the carrot may not be large enough to go around...

The resignation of Division II Circuit Judge A.J. Seier last fall created opportunities for both John Grimm and Ben Lewis. For Grimm, a partner in the Limbaugh law firm, it created the opportunity to become a circuit judge. He applied for the vacancy and was appointed by Gov. Mel Carnahan to the remaining 13 months of Seier's term...

... We are being told that middle-class Missourians will finally be getting their fair share back from "big business." On the surface, this sounds good. Taxpayers could have more control over their taxes. Meanwhile, our state will be deteriorating before our very eyes...

GRAND CHAIN, Ill. -- Funeral service for Ward E. Walshon of Grand Chain will be held at 1 p.m. today at St. Luke Lutheran Church in Olmsted, with Pastor Steven Rasmussen officiating. Burial will be in Green Lawn Memorial Gardens at Villa Ridge. Barkett Funeral Home in Mounds is in charge of arrangements...

PERRYVILLE -- Thresa K. Berkbuegler, 93, of Perryville, died Wednesday, Nov. 2, 1994, at Perry Oaks nursing facility. She was born March 24, 1901, in Perry County, daughter of Louis and Katherine Fassold Ernst. She and Edward M. Berkbuegler were married Oct. 24, 1922. He died April 7, 1973...

EAST PRAIRIE -- Kenneth Ray "Kenny" Boyd, 49, of East Prairie, died Tuesday, Nov. 1, 1994, from injuries received in an automobile accident. He was born June 17, 1945, in New Madrid, son of William M. and Mary Alline Nunn Boyd. Boyd was manager of Auto Tire and Parts in Charleston. He was a member of First Baptist Church in East Prairie, Charleston Masonic Lodge 407 AF&AM, East Prairie Eagles Club, Big Prairie Jaycees, and American Legion...

BROWNWOOD -- Eleen Elladora Harrell, 73, of Brownwood, died Tuesday, Nov. 1, 1994, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. She was born Sept. 28, 1921, at Brownwood, daughter of Jessie C. Harrell and Cora Mae Allen Harrell. Harrell was a member of Brownwood General Baptist Church and its Women's Missionary Society...

OAK RIDGE -- Memorial service for Harry E. Land of Oak Ridge will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday at McCombs Funeral Chapel in Jackson. The Rev. Raymond Epps will officiate. Friends may call at the funeral home Saturday from noon to service time. Land, 57, died Sunday, Oct. 30, 1994, at Vencor Hospital in St. Louis...

John Franklin Edmundson, 83, of the Missouri Veterans Home, died there Wednesday, Nov. 2, 1994. He was born Feb. 22, 1911, in Stoddard County, son of Jesse Cleveland and Sattie Lea White Edmundson. He and Margaret Toler Sherman were married Aug. 6, 1953, at Bloomfield...

ULLIN, Ill. -- The Shawnee Community College Foundation will sponsor a Celebrity Auction Saturday at the main campus gym, six miles east of Ullin. The theme is "Christmas in November." Tickets to the auction and a prime rib dinner are $15 a person and $25 a couple...

Daughter to Dale and Dana Bookwalter, 1436 N. Spanish, Southeast Missouri Hospital, 12:18 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 27, 1994. Name, Shirley Kay. Weight, 7 pounds 4 ounces. Second child, first daughter. Mrs. Bookwalter is the former Dana Harmon, daughter of Don Spurlock of Scott City. Bookwalter is the son of Shirley Barber of Chaffee...

Southeast Missouri State University officials are taking a wait-and-see attitude toward a federal appeals court decision striking down race-based scholarships. The 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled last week that the University of Maryland violated the equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment by earmarking scholarships for black students...

Dear Julie, Sickness around the house lately. Is there any such thing as equine flu? DC and I were supposed to go to the homecoming parade with family a few days ago, but she woke up groaning. When I went out to the barn I discovered that one of the horses, a new bay mare named Hideaway, was rolling around in her stall and looking at her stomach. Margy, who owns the horse, looked worried...

Missouri House Minority Leader Pat Kelley believes Republicans have just the message voters are looking for in 1994. He is optimistic that the message, combined with quality candidates, might be enough to convince voters to give Republicans a chance as the majority party next year in the Missouri General Assembly...

Those who are willing to take temporary jobs and do internships before graduation have a distinct edge over the competition when the time comes to embark on a career. This advice comes from Keystone Partnership's Ken Amsinger and Southeast Missouri State Assistant Career and Planning Director Loretta Schneider. Keystone is a professional recruiting service...

Cancer specialists from St. Louis, Houston and Baltimore will be guest faculty at the Fall Cancer Symposium this weekend at the Show Me Center. Guest faculty are Dr. Elisa Birnbaum of the surgery department at Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, Dr. Peter McLaughlin, associate professor of medicine at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, and Dr. James Wade, professor of medicine and oncology at the University of Maryland Medical System in Baltimore...

Why are you running for the U.S. Senate this year? I am running to give voters a choice. The main problem I see with our political process is with a two-party system -- especially the way our campaigns finance a two-party system -- we can't seem to elect representatives who represent our beliefs and values. They go to Washington and they represent the beliefs and values of special-interest groups and the political action committees that gave them the money...

PERRYVILLE -- The Perryville United Methodist Women will hold its annual Christmas Bazaar and Bake Sale Nov. 12, beginning at 8 a.m. in the church basement. Hot coffee and cinnamon rolls will be available for shoppers. Items for sale will include crafts, dried flower arrangements, sweatshirts, toys, pillows, brooms and other items...

BENTON -- The Future Farmers of America and Future Homemakers of America chapters at Kelly High School recently conducted their first joint barn warming in the Vocational Agriculture Building. More than 200 FFA and FHA members attended. Crystal Russel, the freshman daughter of Mr. and Mrs. David Russel, was named FFA Sweetheart. Blake Burger, the senior son of Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Burger, was named 1994 Barn warming King...

It is a heavy drinker's nightmare. He had a few beers -- maybe more than a few -- but he is determined to drive himself home. Take it slow, the drinker tells himself, and you will do just fine. Looming in the distance is a sobriety checkpoint, where the Missouri Highway Patrol stops every driver to check for licenses and signs of intoxication. It is too late to take a different route; the game is over...