Stories from Saturday, November 19, 1994

Bill Clinton, the most powerful man in the world, is in a predicament. If he moves politically to the right, as the country indicated in last week's elections that it strongly wants him to do, he is likely to find himself challenged by the core constituencies of his own party. ...

A lighting ceremony to kick off the eighth annual Holiday of Lights display at Cape Girardeau County North Park will be held Wednesday at 5:45 p.m. The ceremony will take place at Shelter No. 8, and will officially open the display for the holiday season...

MARBLE HILL -- Longtime Bollinger County Associate Circuit Judge Bill Hopkins, who lost a re-election bid Nov. 8 by 84 votes, said Friday he intends to seek appointment as Bollinger County prosecuting attorney. No one filed for the office. Democrat Paul Hahn, who has held the job the past eight years, is going into private practice with a law firm in Jackson, and did not seek re-election...

`Ask Your Docotr,' a special medical show with local doctors answering questions from local viewers calling in, will feature Mohammad Shakil, M.D., and will discuss headaches on Thursday, Nov. 24. It will be televised on access channedl 5 at 8 p.m.]...

The Missouri Department of Health says Missourians should clean, disinfect and chlorinate their hot tubs to prevent water-borne bacteria. The warning comes after three cases of legionellosis ("Legionnaires' Disease") in September were traced to Legionella bacteria in a jacuzzi (hot tub) in a St. Charles County country club...

In Indonesia this week President Clinton said he might support a constitutional amendment to put prayer back in public schools. Given his track record for veracity, I probably wasn't alone in my reaction: "So what?" After all, this is the president who said during his campaign that he wanted to make abortions "safe, legal and rare," then set out to make them free, legal and convenient. ...

ST. LOUIS -- The number of people waiting for vital organ transplants in the St. Louis area has reached an all-time high. According to Mid-America Transplant Services, 704 people are currently waiting for life-saving organ transplants at six local transplant centers, and more than 36,000 are waiting nationwide...

Bill Clinton, the most powerful man in the world, is in a predicament. If he moves politically to the right, as the country indicated in last week's elections that it strongly wants him to do, he is likely to find himself challenged by the core constituencies of his own party. ...

Administrators at Cape Girardeau Central High School have imposed stricter dress codes. The issue isn't simply a debate of personal freedom. The school board and administrators are responsible for an atmosphere and attitude for learning. And they have a right to prohibit gang-like attire...

It doesn't matter to Bev and Bernie Dirnberger that three of their children were born in a different country to a family that speaks another language. "It doesn't matter how they come," Mrs. Dirnberger said. "What does matter is that they're all our children. We don't love one more than another; we love them all because they're all wonderful in their own way."...

When talk turns to heated competition among schools, the topic is typically sports. But not always. The Cape Girardeau Central High School Marching Band proved this year that hard work can pay off in statewide recognition. The band gave the school and the region something to roar about in 1994...

Innovations in orthodontics are giving more people something to smile about. These days, smiles aren't saved for after treatment. Bright, often colorful, grins are creasing faces everywhere. For example, 11-year-old Jason Abner has reason to grin. His hometown high school football team -- the East Prairie Eagles -- is a winner. Last week he chose red and black ties for his braces in honor of their success...

Relatively new to the NAACP, President Dawn Evans has her own philosophy for the Cape Girardeau chapter: -- Work with other caring organizations. -- Get job training for the unemployed. -- Keep children of color in school. Elected at a Friday-night meeting attended by 20, Evans will take office in January. She succeeds longtime NAACP activist Michael Sterling, who was elected president in 1991 and has been involved with the organization for 17 years...

If you are thinking about cheating on your spouse, don't do it in Chaffee. It's against the law. There is an ordinance in Chaffee that says adultery, lewd and lascivious behavior are misdemeanors. They fall under the heading of "offenses involving morals."...

My boss, Mr. Sullivan, writes a weekly column, which runs in this space on Fridays. He often writes about Piedmont, his beloved home town. I lived there for almost two years, and the fact was reflected in my resume. He held it up on my job interview and said: "I see you worked in Piedmont. What made you go there?"...

Charles Stucker, Cape Girardeau's nuisance abatement officer, has been honored with the Humanitarian of the Year Award from the Southeast Missouri Humane Society. "I was caught by surprise," Stucker said. He wasn't paying much attention to the announcement of the winner when he suddenly realized, "that sounds a lot like the things I do," he said...

Son to Matt and Melissa Locke of Nixa, Cox South Medical Center in Springfield, 7:45 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 2, 1994. Name, Johnathon George. Weight, 9 pounds 1 ounce. First child. Mrs. Locke is the former Melissa Blattel, daughter of Jerry and Joyce Blattel of Gordonville. She is a behavior disorders teacher at Reed Springs Middle School. Locke is a behavior disorders teacher at Reed Springs High School. He is the son of John and Chris Locke of Blue Springs...

Lena Ward of 945 E. Rodney died Friday, Nov. 18, 1994, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. She was born in Hoxie, Ark., the daughter of George and Linda Rein Jackson. She married Lincoln Ward in Bloomfield. He survives of the home. She was raised in Charleston, graduating from high school there...

The 1994 Miss Christmas and Miss Jackson Scholarship Pageant will be held at 7:30 tonight at the Jackson High School Auditorium. Four pageants will be held in the auditorium starting at 2 p.m. today. They are Little Miss Snowflake, Little Miss Snowball, Miss Holly and Junior Miss Christmas...

ANNA, Ill. -- Walter E. Kelley, 87, of Anna, died Friday, Nov. 18, 1994, at Jonesboro Health Care Center. He was born Sept. 20, 1907, in Johnson County, son of Charles and Mary Mathis Kelley. He and his wife Louise were married June 1, 1945, in Jonesboro...

WASHINGTON -- Missouri's John Ashcroft will be one of three freshman Republicans on a Senate panel that will recommend GOP committee assignments for the next session of Congress. "These appointments are of particular importance this year since Republicans have gained control of Congress," Mississippi Sen. Thad Cochran said Wednesday in announcing his appointments to the Committee on Committees...

JONESBORO, Ill. -- Rudolph Smiddy, 87, Jonesboro Route 2, died Thursday, Nov. 17, 1994, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. He was born Nov. 16, 1907, in Union County, son of William and Nora Miller Smiddy. He and Mary Glidewell were married Aug. 20, 1932, in Jonesboro...

Dennis Milton Sr., 85, of Cape Girardeau, died Wednesday, Nov. 16, 1994, at his home. He was born April 10, 1909, in West Memphis, Ark., son of Joseph and Sylvia Grice Milton. He and Maple Green were married Sept. 15, 1949. Milton was formerly of Sikeston, and was a member of Travelers Rest Baptist Church there...

Rose Martha Harrison, 74, of Little Rock, Ark., formerly of Cape Girardeau, died Thursday, Nov. 17, 1994. She was born Jan. 22, 1920, in Broken Bow, Okla., daughter of Dr. William S. and Florence Rader. She married Fletcher H. "Scroochie" Harrison, who preceded her in death...

The Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce revised its agenda late in the year for its annual retreat. The discussion of a new headquarters for the chamber suddenly moved from nowhere to head a list of topics discussed at the annual meeting Friday at Lone Star Industries Natatorium...

CAIRO, Ill. -- The more than 1,000 students in the Cairo Public School District may have another unscheduled holiday Monday. After two straight days of negotiations, teachers and school representatives are no closer to an agreement than they were when the teachers struck Thursday, leaving 1,048 students idle...

Mail delivery is about to change in Cape Girardeau. The local post office has re-evaluated its routes. "We did a route evaluation of all city routes," said Michael Keefe, manager of the Cape Girardeau Post Office. The results of that evaluation started taking shape Thursday, he said...