Stories from Thursday, December 8, 1994

CHAFFEE -- Betty Dumey, 67, of Chaffee died Wednesday, Dec. 7, 1994, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. Arrangements were incomplete at Amick-Burnett Funeral Chapel in Scott City.

Lt. Gov. Roger Wilson predicted Wednesday that state lawmakers next year will give voters more say in approving tax increases. Wilson and Gov. Mel Carnahan were among state officials who worked last month for defeat of Amendment 7, which was placed on the ballot by supporters of U.S. Rep. Mel Hancock...

While a kitten or puppy with a bright red bow looks like a good gift idea on television, it might not go over too well in real life. It could be the recipient isn't ready for the responsibility of an animal, or he wanted a dog instead of a cat. Whatever reason, sometimes animals given as gifts end up unloved and at the local pound...

The Salvation Army thus far has raised $38,000 for its Tree of Lights project. This is 31 percent of the Salvation Army's goal of $125,000. Donations are up slightly from last year; however, the Army has added $10,000 to last year's goal. Donations through the mail are slower than in previous years. The Tree of Lights campaign generates money for Salvation Army projects for the remainder of 1994 and all of 1995...

POPLAR BLUFF -- One of the stumbling blocks in getting the mule designated the state's official animal has been its confusion with a donkey, the symbol of the Democratic Party. Charles Woodford said that resemblance has been a problem in the past, and part of the process of winning approval in 1995 is convincing Republican legislators that the mule and donkey are different animals...

Charles Woodford and Doc Yallaly soon will take their quest to have the mule receive its just recognition in Missouri to the halls of the state capitol. If the two Cape Girardeau American Legion members have their way, before lawmakers adjourn next May, Gov. Mel Carnahan will have a bill on his desk designating the mule as Missouri's official state animal...

The annual St. Louis Farm Show will be held at the Cervantes Convention Center this weekend. The three-day show starts Saturday at 9 a.m. and continues through Monday. Show hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday. The show is sponsored by the Mississippi Valley Equipment Association. The show, which features a wide variety of farm equipment, supplies and services, attracts thousands of farmers each year...

On Sunday, the public will be invited into six local homes that probably are more familiar to tourists than to local people. The six bed-and-breakfast inns located in Cape Girardeau and Jackson are destinations in Sunday's first-ever Holiday Hot Chocolate Tour, a benefit for the Cape River Heritage Museum...

Bettine Clemen is a German-born flutist who has played on some of the great stages of the world, including Lincoln Center in New York and The Royal Albert Hall in London. Richard Patterson started out as a jazz guitarist, and studied classical guitar in Spain with some of the instrument's greats...

CHAFFEE -- The filing period for Chaffee's municipal election April 4 will open at 9 a.m. Jan. 3. A four-year term for mayor is on the ballot as are two-year terms for council members from each of the four wards. Mayor Ron Moyers has said he doesn't intend to run for re-election after serving eight years...

JACKSON -- The music department of Jackson High School will present its annual instrumental concert Monday at 7 p.m. in the high school gym. The program will feature traditional and contemporary Christmas songs, a sing-a-long and highlights from a popular movie...

JACKSON -- New Trends in Crop Production, a program presented by University of Missouri Extension, will be held Feb. 23. "Last year's program was a good one," said Gerald Bryan, agronomy specialist. "We're in the process now of developing plans for the 1995 event."...

SCOPUS -- The Scopus Rural Volunteer Fire Department will have its December breakfast Saturday at the firehouse on Highway M. Serving will be from 6-10 a.m. Cost for the all-you-can-eat meal is $4 for adults and $3 for children 6-12 years. It is free for children 5 and younger...

SCOTT CITY -- Gene Rhodes walks slowly when he conducts tours of his American Heritage Museum. He stops to pick up some items and operate others. The old coleslaw slicer still works and so does an early, manual version of today's washing machine. Most of the items are from the early-to-mid 1900s and include just about everything the American farm family needed, plus a few extra gadgets...

It is good news for downtown Cape Girardeau that the license bureau is moving, but not very far. It is moving from a small building on Main Street to larger quarters in the 100 block of South Spanish Street owned by Charles Hutson. Many residents will remember the new location as the former Monroe Glass building. ...

Horseshoe Lake across the Mississippi River and downstream a bit near Olive Branch, Ill. is a victim of the 1993 flooding. The high water killed vegetation in the 2,000-acre lake and caused considerable silting. Now a retired school administrator from Springfield, Ill., who grew up near the lake wants the Illinois Legislature to return the lake to its preflood condition...

SCOTT CITY -- Christmas giving and the importance of education were subjects Lt. Gov. Roger Wilson discussed with Scott City students Wednesday. Talking first with students in kindergarten through sixth grade, Wilson asked if they knew how much the state spends on their education...

Daughter to Rusty and Pam Brown of Jackson, Southeast Missouri Hospital, 8:01 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 1, 1994. Name, Paige Ciara. Weight, 6 pounds 10 ounces. First child. Mrs. Brown is the former Pam Pierce, daughter of Bill and Mildred Pierce of Dexter. She is a dental hygienist for Drs. Goodier and Williams. Brown is a painter with General Sign Co., and is the son of Carolyn Brown of Cape Girardeau, and the late Bill Brown...

Clyde August Bohnert, 80, 1208 Perry Avenue, died Wednesday, Dec. 7, 1994, at his home. He was born April 23, 1914, at Old Appleton, son of William I. and Rosalia Wucher Bohnert. He and Alfreda C. Miller were married Oct. 15, 1938, in Perryville. Bohnert was a driver and salesman with Pepsi Cola from 1936-52. From 1952-77 he was employed with Sheet Metal Local 36 at Golightly Heating and Air Conditioning and Cook Heating and Air Conditioning...

PERRYVILLE -- Funeral service for Elverda "Birdie" Allen of Perryville will be held at 1:30 p.m. Friday at Immanuel Lutheran Church. The Rev. Donald Loesch will officiate, with burial in the church cemetery. Friends may call at Young and Sons Funeral Home from 5-9 p.m. today, and 6:30-11 a.m. Friday...

CHARLESTON -- Jeanne Logan, 78, of Charleston, died Tuesday, Dec. 6, 1994, in Anaheim, Calif. She was born Sept. 20, 1916, in Blodgett, daughter of Emmett Taylor and Lena Burks Burke. She and Richard Logan Sr. were married Dec. 31, 1939. Logan had been a secretary with Burke Brothers Inc. She was a member of the United Methodist Church and its Susannah Wesley Sunday School Class...

CAIRO, Ill.-- The Cairo Association of Teachers has refused federal binding arbitration in their dispute with the Cairo Public School District. Superintendent Dr. Elaine Bonifield held a news conference Wednesday to say the district's offer of federal arbitration will stand until the regular board of education meeting Dec. 21...

Gilbert Winschel to Kenneth E. Campbell; Gerald E. and Catherine M. Stoverink to David F. and Linda Stoverink; Susan L. McCoy to Charles S. and Tina A. Brugger. Forrest Jeffrey Jackson to Lois Tucker; Robert L. and Shirley A. Mackenroth to Thelma B. Montgomery; Russell L. and Paula K. Little to John T. Horner II...

JACKSON -- Firefighters from Jackson and Cape Girardeau battled a blaze at the Jackson McDonald's Restaurant Wednesday night as the Southeast Missourian went to press. At about 8:30 p.m., the Jackson Fire Department responded to the report of a fire at the restaurant, at 2220 E. Highway 61. By 9 p.m., the building was engulfed in flames...

SCOTT CITY -- William Paul Gibbar, 57, of Scott City, died Wednesday, Dec. 7, 1994, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. Amick-Burnett Funeral Chapel at Scott City is in charge of arrangements.

Graveside service for Cody Ray Slaubaugh will be held at 2 p.m. today at Russell Heights Cemetery in Jackson. McCombs Funeral Home at Jackson is in charge of arrangements. The infant son of Duane Edward and Kimberly Ann Crites Slaubaugh, 1400 S. West End Boulevard, was stillborn Tuesday, Dec. 6, 1994, at Southeast Missouri Hospital...

JACKSON -- Merlin H. Bowers, 76, of Jackson, died Tuesday, Dec. 6, 1994, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. He was born Sept. 1, 1918, at Daisy, son of Leslie and Mabel Harris Bowers. He and Hazel Francis were married July 4, 1940. She died Nov. 18, 1989...

"Ask Your doctor," a special one on one medical show with local doctors answering questions from local viewers will air Thursday, Dec. 8 at 8 p.m. The speaker will be Dean A. Edwards, M.D. with the topic being ulcer disease. "Ask Your Doctor" is sponsored jointly by St. ...

Lynn "Mamie" Gregory, 72, of Chatsworth, Calif., died Sunday, Nov. 13, 1994, in Tarzana, Calif. She was born Sept. 27, 1922, in Cape Girardeau, daughter of Edward and Lillie Goss Pettit. She and Elmer L. Gregory were married in 1946. Gregory attended Cape Girardeau Public Schools, and served with the U.S. Navy WAVES during World War II. She had lived in California since 1954, and was a member of St. Stephen's United Presbyterian Church...

Funeral service for Johnny Lee Smith, 415 William, will be held at 1:30 p.m. today at Ford and Sons Sprigg Street Chapel. The Rev. William Bird will officiate, with burial in Fairmount Cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home after 10 a.m. Smith, 61, died Saturday, Dec. 3, 1994, at Heartland Care Rehabilitation Center...

Cape Girardeau Jaycee Santas and elves are going through an identity crisis: They need to see more Toybox donations to feel useful. Jaycees co-chairmen Karen Byrum and Jackie Ahrens said donations for Toybox are noticeably few and far between, an ominous sign just 13 days before the scheduled delivery date...

JACKSON - -- Henry Pratt joined the Army in January 1940 at the age of 17. Twenty-three months later, Pratt was looking forward to his 19th birthday and returning to Farmington with his discharge papers. "I had my 19th birthday, but I didn't return to the U.S. for more than three years," said Pratt, who was among the servicemen surprised by the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor more than a half-century ago...

The Area Wide United Way is $90,000 short of its campaign goal with just a week to go. This year's campaign is $50,000 behind the campaign last year, and the goal for 1994 is $20,000 higher. A blitz is being held today as a final push to raise the money to meet the goal. United Way chairman Ron Hopkins said the campaign should wrap up by Dec. 15...

Dec. 8, 1994 Miracles all over the town Dear Leslie, Cape Girardeau is all dolled up for the holidays. We drove through one of the county parks filled with Christmas displays on the night it opened and hit an L.A.-style traffic jam. A bus tour of the best house decorations in the city begins this weekend. Some are stupendous, a few ostentatious, but most simply touch you with their yearning to make Christmas magical...

Mrs. Q lost her husband a few years ago. Her mother moved into her small house shortly thereafter. Although she likes the company, Mrs. Q is finding that her Social Security checks are not enough to provide for anything other than basic necessities...

Bill Walker never sees the emotional reaction from needy Cape Girardeau children who benefit from his craft. But the Missouri Veterans Home resident is still moved by the fact that the wooden toys he helps make are going toward a good cause. Walker is one of two dozen veterans who help build toys throughout the year...

Country and western stars Brooks & Dunn will perform April 14 at the Show Me Center. Tickets for the show will go on sale Saturday. Also appearing with be the Tractors and David Ball. Brooks & Dun have had seven No. 1 singles, including the hit "Boot Scootin' Boogie."...