Stories from Tuesday, March 14, 1995

Recently the Republican floor leader of the Missouri Senate called Missouri's governor "a liar." The governor's spokesperson called the senator "shrill and immature." And with that we enter another political season of name-calling and bitterness. Of course, campaigns have been nasty for a long time. ...

As the dizzying pace of congressional business continues, reform of the nation's bloated welfare system moves to the forefront in the House of Representatives this week. As a senior member of the Agriculture Committee, Rep. Bill Emerson, R-Cape Girardeau, is well-positioned to play a key role in this reform effort, especially regarding food stamps...

The 76th birthday of the American Legion and the 75th birthday of the American Legion Auxiliary will be celebrated Wednesday at the post home in Cape Girardeau. Post 63 invited mothers, wives and sisters of ex-servicemen to gather at the post on Jan. 23, 1920, and since that time, the mission of the American Legion Auxiliary hasn't changed: to serve the best interests of the country, side-by-side with the American Legion...

CAIMITO, Panama -- The Missouri National Guard has helped some Panamanian villages go from traveling on paths to 16-foot roads in recent weeks. The work, part of a six-month project, is being performed by Task Force Mule, a temporary unit created to let members of the Guard meet their two-week active training requirements for the year. Select members of the Guard participate in the project for the entire six months...

SANTA ROSA, Panama -- The landscape featured rolling hills similar to home, but two brothers from Glen Allen were a long way from Bollinger County last week. Charles and Sylvester Eaker both are members of the Missouri National Guard and are in Panama together for two weeks with the 1140th Combat Engineer Battalion...

Cape Girardeau's Board of Education voted to cancel its American Express credit card account, and stricter guidelines concerning travel expenses and reimbursements are in place. But Amy Randol said after Monday's school board meeting that school board members missed the most important point of her letter, a question of leadership...

Proposed federal budget cuts could eliminate a summer jobs program for low-income youth and slice away at the Southeast Missouri Private Industry Council. The council, based in Cape Girardeau, is anything but private. It is funded almost entirely with federal money. The rest comes from the state...

Cape Girardeau's Board of Education awarded a bid to Johnson Communication for two-way radios and pagers after repeating the bidding process. Johnson Communication, also known as JCS Tel-Link, entered the low bid of $6,633 for the 12 radios and four pagers for the first year...

There's nothing like appliances to make your life easier. It used to be you had to wash your dishes in a creek. Then along came the kitchen sink, followed millions of dish-pan hands later by the dishwasher. Now, one appliance manufacturer is touting the "world's first intelligent dishwasher."...

AMY RANDOL reported what she saw. I admire her courage. Ed Thompson and Dr. Clark are both fine, respectable people, but they should set good examples for our youth. They are contributing good things for our school, but the district and taxpayers should not have to tolerate this abuse...

BENTON -- Six Scott County residents have agreed to join an advisory committee to promote a new county jail and increased law enforcement services. The Scott County Commission and Sheriff Bill Ferell explained the reasons Monday for the two quarter-cent sales tax issues on the April 4 ballot...

SCOTT CITY -- Funeral service for Elmer Eugene Burton of Swedeborg was held March 9 at Swedeborg Baptist Church. Pryor Ray Prewett and the Rev. Larry Atkins officiated, with burial in Methodist Cemetery at Caledonia. Announcement courtesy of Amick-Burnett Funeral Home at Scott City...

CANALOU -- Cletus John Southard, 77, of Canalou, died Sunday, March 12, 1995, from injuries received in an automobile accident in New Madrid County. He was born June 10, 1917, in Blytheville, Ark., son of Mr. and Mrs. William Southard. He and Ollie Faye Martin were married Jan. 19, 1934. She died April 2, 1994...

CHARLESTON -- Funeral service for James E. Cates of Charleston will be held at 11 a.m. today at McMikle Funeral Chapel in Charleston. The Rev. Bill Meeks will officiate, with burial in Oak Grove Cemetery. Cates, 71, died Sunday, March 12, 1995, at his home...

HAYWOOD CITY -- Steven "Fat Man" McCray, 33, of Haywood City, died Friday, March 10, 1995, from injuries received in an automobile accident. He was born Oct. 4, 1961, in Vanduser, son of Q.T. and Lena Grayson McCray. McCray was a 1980 graduate of Scott County Central High School at Morley, and served in the U.S. Army...

OLIVE BRANCH, Ill. -- Helen L. Farris Emery, 66 of Wood River, formerly of Olive Branch, died Sunday, March 12, 1995, at Wood River Township Hospital. She was born Dec. 13, 1928, in Alexander County, daughter of Howard and Orpha Bedwell Warren. She married Harry Emery...

JONESBORO, Ill. -- Ruby L. Bright Dockum, 73, of Urbana, formerly of Union County, died Sunday, March 12, 1995, at Pekin Hospital in Pekin. She married Dorris Bright June 19, 1935, who died June 2, 1971. She later married Sherman Dockum March 10, 1976, who died in August 1987...

Action Monday, March 13 5 p.m., Board of Education Conference Room, 61 N. Clark. Action Items Approved employment of administrators and tenured teachers. Agreed to schedule a study session on A-Plus Schools program. Approved fixed asset appraisal and management system...

Daughter to Joe and Angela Coleman of Cairo, Ill., Southeast Missouri Hospital, 9:50 a.m. Saturday, March 4, 1995. Name, Jocelyn Anya. Weight, 8 pounds 11 ounces. Second child, first daughter. Mrs. Coleman is the former Angela Nelson, daughter of Delores Harris of Cairo and John Nelson of Milwaukee, Wis. She is a technician at Procter and Gamble. Coleman is an officer with SEMO Department of Public Safety, and is the son of Iola Henderson of Dallas, Texas, and Joe N. Coleman of Chester, Ill...

CHAFFEE -- James H. Miller, 62, of Chaffee, died Sunday, March 12, 1995, at his home. He was born Aug. 22, 1932, in Bowling Green, Ky., son of Euke and Birdie Logsdon Miller. He and Myrtle Flossie Hubbard were married Feb. 23, 1989. She died Dec. 30, 1991...

ANNA, Ill. -- Earl J. Dirden, 60, of Anna, died Sunday, March 12, 1995, at Union County Hospital. He was born June 11, 1934, in Cobden, son of Earl L. and Evelyn Guthrie Dirden. He and Jo Alice Murphy were married Aug. 28, 1952, in Clovis, N.M. She died May 15, 1983...

Twenty-one students from the Cape Girardeau Vocational Technical School earned 23 medals at the District VICA competition March 4 at Arcadia Valley. They will advance next month to state competition for the Vocational Industrial Clubs of America. Among the outstanding local performers was Brendan O'Grady, who won three gold medals during the competition...

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Alex Oren Short, son of Mr. and Mrs. Randy J. Short of 1623 Lexington in Cape Girardeau, was awarded the Samuel D. and Mary E. Holland York Memorial Scholarship at David Lipscomb University in Nashville. The university offers nearly 100 major programs of study leading to bachelor or arts, bachelor of science, master's degrees in Bible and a master's degree in education...

Twelve new members have been inducted into the National Honor Society at Notre Dame High School: Nicole Buehrle, Cathie Compas, Taylor Lumsden, Tracy Nenninger, Sarah Essner, Bethanie Gosche, Sara Jansen, Kristin Reinagel, Matt Rubel, Bryan Schaefer, Derek Fenwick and Danny Wittenborn...

ORAN -- Enrollment at Oran Kindergarten for the next school year will be Tuesday and Wednesday, March 28 and 29, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Preschool screening will be conducted at that time. Parents should call 262-3435 for enrollment and screening appointments...

The U.S. Army cinema van, a special outdoor traveling exhibit from Washington will visit Perryville High School today. Sgt. 1st Class Ricky Weppler of the U.S. Army Recruiting office in Cape Girardeau will be on hand to answer students' questions. Some of the shows available highlight communication, the American government system, people through America's history, and a look at why students in today's technological world need a strong math and science background...

The Masonic lodges of Alexander, Pulaski and Union counties in southern Illinois are offering a scholarship to a senior in their district. Seniors attending Anna-Jonesboro, Cairo, Century, Cobden, Dongola, Egyptian, Meridian and Shawnee public high schools are eligible to attend. ...

Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity at Southeast Missouri State University was recognized as one of the outstanding chapters in the region at the Great Plains Conclave in Grand Fork, N.D. The fraternity was alos chosen to host the 1996 Conclave in Cape Girardeau...

The Knights of Columbus Council 1111 recently sponsored an essay contest for students in grades five through 12 at Cape Girardeau's Catholic schools. The topic for grades five through eight was "The Importance of Respecting Yourself and Others." The topic for grades nine through 12 was "The Importance of Setting Goals."...

April Miller of Perryville has received a president's scholarship at Central Missouri State University. Miller, who intends to study veterinary medicine, will graduate from Perryville schools in the spring. She is the daughter of Janet and Douglas Miller...

Scott City High School hosted the Future Business Leaders of America district competition in February. Each spring, students from Southeast Missouri compete in business-related bouts. Ten schools competed in parliamentary procedure, accounting skills, economic skills, business law, mock job interview, computer concepts, speed writing and business math...

Andrew Carl Hodges of East Prairie has been nominated to the United State Military Academy in West Point as a cadet for the Class of 1999. Hodges, who is a senior at East Prairie High School, was accepted to West Point in December. His final admittance was contingent upon a congressional nomination. He received a principal nomination from U.S. Rep. Bill Emerson. Hodges also received a nomination to the United States Air Force Academy by U.S. Sen. Christopher Bond, which Hodges declined...

Nancy Leigh Thompson once pretended to faint from surprise when a chatterbox in her third-grade class at May Greene Elementary School was quiet. Thompson lay on the floor quiet and still for several minutes before she and the students began to giggle...

Two parents, Sherry Bellamy, left, and Sandra Lindley, center, talked with Tammy Sutherland, who works in accounting and administration at the Epworth Center. EAST PRAIRIE -- Sandra Lindley of East Prairie wants to become a paralegal. Through help from the Epworth Bootheel Family Learning Center in East Prairie, Lindley thinks she will make it...