Stories from Sunday, July 2, 1995

Boyd Gaming Corp. has submitted a draft of its development agreement to the city of Cape Girardeau. The document is in a preliminary form, and it still appears that a boat would not be operational here until at least 1997. For months, all had been silent with the Boyd Gaming Corp. Many area residents had began to wonder if a riverboat would ever come to Cape Girardeau at all...

Dr. Alan Naslund's eight-month book drive, conducted through a Cape Girardeau church while Naslund taught English classes in Japan, has culminated in the gathering of 5,500 pounds of books. The professor became interested in collecting books after listening to two Cambodian teachers who were visiting Japan. At a meeting of the Japanese Association of Language Teachers, they explained how the Pol Pot regime heavily damaged education in Cambodia...

News of the Trace has spread to the Midwest! In the 1995 January/February edition of The Midwest Motorist, a publication of AAA, is an article on the Natchez Trace."The 'devil's backbone' leads to heavenly homes and Southern history," the story is headed...

At right are the new Chamber officers: Larry Hall, president, left; Jeff Moore, vice president, and Brent Willis, secretary. Bottom right, the guest speaker was Peter Myers, president of Adopt-A-Farm Family of America Inc. Myers does professional speaking in the agricultural, natural resource, environmental and rural development areas...

Rosine Sandvoss of Jackson celebrated her 99th birthday on June 25. Thirty-five relatives attended the celebration that was held in Capaha Park in Cape Girardeau. Among the attendees were Sandvoss's children; Mildred Hartle, Minnie Compas, Alleen Boswell, George Sandvoss and Bob Sandvoss...

Sid and Vicki Allen of Neosho demonstrate a double swizzle at Stroder Country in Jackson last week. The Allens were among four dance instructors of the Missouri Professional Country Dance Association that gave a workshop on country-western dances. The elaborate belt buckles were won in a dance competition in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Lou Peukert)...

The Unistar Corp., founded on July 4, 1992, is planning an open house and anniversary party beginning at 1 p.m., Tuesday, July 4. The plant will be open to the public from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. with the celebration beginning at 4 p.m. Unistar, a multi-disciplined plastics processor, employs a customer-focused marketing strategy unique in the plastics industry...

One of several of the spinning wheels that Cathy Wissehr owns. This is the first one she bought 21 years ago. This is one of the shawls that Wissehr has made from start to finish. Remember the story of Rumpelstiltskin? In it, the mean old Rumpelstiltskin holds a pretty young damsel captive. She's not your basic dime-a-dozen damsel, though...

"I made two big mistakes as president," Dwight Eisenhower is said to have remarked, "and they're both sitting on the Supreme Court." Ike was referring to his appointments of the late Chief Justice Earl Warren and former Justice William Brennan. He was ruefully voicing a sentiment common, not just to presidents, but to all court-watchers. For once those nominees are confirmed, they are there for life, and no one can really be sure how they will decide even one case, much less a series of cases...

As Missouri state government begins the start of a new fiscal year, one in which record sums will be spent for public schools, new prisons and day-to-day operations, it seems fitting to examine the State of the State and what might be ahead for 5.1 million persons who call themselves Missourians. Granted, most observations for the next 12 months occur at the start of a calendar year, but state governments are different and for many their years begin in July and end the next June...

Gangs are no longer limited to metropolitan areas. They are operating in Cape Girardeau and other communities in Southeast Missouri. Most gang members carry weapons, and they typically bring an increase in crime. The first step in combating a problem is recognizing it. ...

The Procter and Gamble Paper Products Co. was pleased to contribute $1,500 to the Jackson Park Foundation and the Jackson Heritage Association. The $1,000 that went to the Park Foundation will be used to purchase playground equipment designed for use by handicapped children which will located at Brookside Park and to purchase trees for planting in the spectator areas of the Women's and Girl's Softball Fields 3 and 4 which are located to the south of the municipal swimming pool...

Harriett Smith, resplendent in a white muslin dress once worn by her great-great-great-grandmother, promised to have a story even Scarlett O'Hara would have trouble topping. Smith offered plenty of evidence to lend credence to such a statement while portraying Sarah Bollinger Frizel Dougherty during the 38th Vandivort family reunion at the Cape Girardeau Country Club Saturday...

ESSEX -- James E. Rodgers, 63, of Essex died Saturday, July 1, 1995, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. He was born May 28, 1932, in Essex, the son of James Clifford and Iris Winnie Nichols Rodgers. On Sept. 12, 1953, he married Shirley Annette Burnett in Bloomfield...

Daughter to Alvin and Carol Stoverink, 1756 Cecelia, Southeast Missouri Hospital, 9:44 p.m. Friday, June 23, 1995. Name, Jadie Catherine. Weight, 10 pounds 14 ounces. Sixth child, fourth daughter. Mrs. Stoverink is the former Carol Flori, daughter of Julia Flori and Ralph Flori of Cape Girardeau. Stoverink is director of facility management at Southeast Missouri State University. He is the son of Alphonse Stoverink and Irene Stoverink of Jackson...

ANNA, Ill. -- Gladys Spire Lentz, 101, of Anna died Saturday, July 1, 1995, at the City Care Center. She was born Oct. 9, 1893, to George L. and Nell Kroh Spire. She married J.F. Lentz of Dongola. Lentz was educated at Union Academy and also studied piano and voice. She worked in several cities in the 1920s and was in Los Angeles when World War II began. Later, she worked until retirement at the International Shoe Co...

The Cape Girardeau Convention and Visitors Bureau has developed a knack for promoting Southeast Missouri when it helps coordinate sizable family reunions. "Family reunions are a great way of telling people who have come from outside the state what there is to do here," Kim Groves, who is a tour planner for the Convention and Visitors Bureau, said...

MARBLE HILL -- Edward Moore, 73, of Marble Hill died Saturday, July 1, 1995, at Southeast Missouri Hospital. He was born Oct. 16, 1921, in Cape Girardeau County, the son of Bert and Dora Baker Moore. He married Alma Cox on Nov. 1, 1949, in Piggott, Ark...

DEXTER -- Fannie I. Karnes, 75, of Dexter, formerly of Vanduser, died Saturday, July 1, 1995, at her home. She was born Dec. 11, 1919, in Lamar, Ark., to Benjamin and Martha Turner. On April 16, 1938, in Lamar, she married Lester Karnes. Karnes was a member of the Dexter Church of Christ...

EAST PRAIRIE -- Freda Ellen Keener Yeager, 85, of East Prairie died Wednesday, June 28, 1995, in Shreveport, La. She was born June 26, 1910, in the Grape Ridge Community near Portageville, the daughter of Fred Robert and Ellen Dowdy Keener. She married Billy W. Yeager July 7, 1953. She and her husband owned and operated Yeagers Package Store. She was a member of the First General Baptist Church in East Prairie...

SIKESTON -- Bertie Mae Massey, 80, of Sikeston died Friday, June 30, 1995, at the Miner Nursing Home. She was born April 7, 1915, in Sycamore to Milo and Mellie Warren Carter. On Sept. 13, 1936, she married Thomas "Edd" Massey. Massey had worked for the International Shoe Co. and attended Bethel Baptist Church...

LEOPOLD -- Raymond George Elfrink, 65, died Saturday, July 1, 1995 at Puxico. He was born in Laflin May 9, 1930, the son of Fred W. and Louise A. Anger Elfrink. He married Dorothy Landewee Oct. 19, 1952. Elfrink worked 20 years at the Jackson Lumber Co., retiring from the Kasten Lumber Co...

COMMERCE -- Mayor Roy Jones can see some irony in the consequences that befell the town of Commerce in the wake of the 1995 flood. The new board of trustees was making plans to give the third oldest town west of the Mississippi River, established in 1790, a face lift a few months before the third flood in as many years nullified that decision...

Boyd Gaming Corp. plans to make street, water and sewer improvements to accommodate its riverboat gambling venture in Cape Girardeau. Under a tentative development plan, Boyd would: Build a northbound connector road from William to Water Street. Make Water Street one-way northbound, between Independence and Broadway...

Cape Girardeau would cash in on riverboat gambling under a Boyd Gaming Corp. development plan. In its first year of operation, Boyd would pay out nearly $1.7 million combined to Cape Girardeau city, the local school district and two civic groups if the gambling venture attracts 860,000 customers as envisioned...

Americans first HOORAY FOR the person who called in and said politicians were elected to help the American people first. If they don't want to do that, then move to the other countries. We don't want you in the United States. Flood wall suggestion CAN YOU tell me who I could contact about some suggestions for the mural on the flood wall? Since Rush is the only controversial one who has been mentioned, I think it would be best to leave him off, otherwise, I'm afraid somebody will deface the mural.. ...

Officials from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, State Emergency Management Agency and the Small Business Administration will be in Cape Girardeau Thursday and Friday. The Mobile Disaster Recovery Assistance Center will be at Arena Park Thursday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Friday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m...

Divorce will be tonight's topic of "Perspective on the Law: with Judge Marrybelle Mueller," which airs at 6:30 on Channel 5. Guests are John Heiserer of Dickerson, Rice, Spaeth, Heiserer and Summers, and Paul Hahn of Lichtenegger, Payne, Weiss, Hahn and Fetterhoff...

Cable television subscribers in Cape Girardeau and Jackson will pay $1.38 more a month for basic service under a rate increase formula allowed by federal law. As a result, TCI Cablevision's 15,000 subscribers in this area will pay $10.55 a month for the 16-channel basic service. The rate hike will take effect by August, although some customers may see the increase on their July bill...

The Jackson Municipal Band will be performing a concert on July 4th which will begin at 8 p.m. in the Jackson City Park. Special guest at this concert will be the lovely and talented Robyn Hosp. Robyn has been singing professionally for the past 15 years. ...

Fourth of July celebrations will be held in a number of Southern Illinois communities Tuesday, including Cairo, Tamms, McClure, Grand Chain, Anna and Vienna. Activities get under way during the morning at each of the sites, with fireworks displays ranging from dusk to 9:30 p.m...

SCOTT CITY -- Within the next few weeks, Police Chief Danny Clubb hopes to hire another patrol officer. Scott City's Police Department qualified and was approved for the COPS FAST program, which allows the city to hire an additional police officer with grant funds...

JACKSON -- Julie Walker will be the special guest perform at Thursday's Jackson Municipal Band concert at 8 p.m. at the band shell in the Jackson City Park. Walker, originally from Webster Groves, is a 1980 graduate of Southeast Missouri State University. She performed with the university choir and starred in several musicals, including "Godspell."...

JACKSON -- The 1995 sale of land for taxes will be conducted at 10 a.m. Monday, Aug. 28, on the south steps of the Cape Girardeau County Courthouse here. The law requires land having a third-year prior tax unpaid be offered for sale to pay all delinquent taxes, interest, penalties and other costs caused by the taxes being delinquent. Delinquent notices on real estate taxes and other taxes were mailed in April, and the bill indicated the year's delinquent land taxes...

Jack Dragoni's interest in the Civil War began six years ago when his children gave him "The Killer Angels," a paperback about the Battle of Gettysburg. He began doing research, discovering that Cape Girardeau's history was rich with Civil War-related events. There were forts, an engineering regiment and families with members fighting on both sides here...

SAN ANTONIO, Texas -- Former Jackson resident Dee Dee Drury, now of San Antonio, has been appointed to the position of shooting promotions representative for Winchester Ammunition. Drury started her career with Winchester in 1990 as a marketing representative and in 1993 was promoted to a sales representative...

The weekly fishing report from the Missouri Department of Conservation: RIVERS: Black (above Clearwater): Dingy, 9' above normal; smallmouth bass good on crayfish and crayfish colored shadrap; goggle-eye fair on crayfish; all other fishing slow. Castor (above Zalma): Clear, normal; bass fair on live bait and topwater lures; sunfish good on small minnows, crickets and worms; all other fishing slow...

CARUTHERSVILLE -- Two professional fishermen will be at Casino Aztar July 9 to draw Casino Aztar's "Summer Sizzler" sweepstakes grand prize winner. Tommy Martin and Penny Berryman will draw the winner of a 15-foot Jon Boat, trailer, 20 horsepower motor and four-wheeler...

There's good sense in recycling such commodities as aluminum, cans, newspapers...and fish. In a time of growing angler numbers and increasing pressure on wild resources, fishing remains as good as it is at least in part because of the practice of catch and release. Put them back; give fish more opportunity to grow and reproduce their own kind; catch them again...

When I turned the page of my Mary Engelbreit calendar to July, there was the message, "Just living is not enough. One must have sunshine, freedom and a little flower." Mary always has a message or maybe only a single word for each month. She attributed the July quotation to Hans Christian Andersen, which prompted me to revisit Hans. ...

Flags will fly high Tuesday as American citizens celebrate the 219th birthday of their nation. Independence Day has been celebrated since 1776, although it didn't become a national holiday until 1941. According to the World Book Encyclopedia, Founding Father John Adams said the holiday should be celebrated as an anniversary festival...

"The Advantages of Breastfeeding" will be the topic at the Thursday meeting of the La Leche League. The meeting will be held at 10 a.m. at 737 N. Ranney in Sikeston. Nursing babies are always welcome. This is the first in a series of four discussion meetings that offer both encouragement and breastfeeding information to interested mothers...