Stories from Wednesday, July 5, 1995

Walter Crites, 65, of Jackson died Tuesday at his home. Arrangements are incomplete at McCombs Funeral Home in Jackson.

Some time has passed since we had a column on nouns that end in the sound of "s," and readers are still concerned about the confusion over "politics" and the distinction between "incidence" and "incidents." For those who feel the need, the word "politics" denotes a system of government, and is properly construed as singular unless applied to more than one nation. Our own system is far from perfect, but it remains singular in essence as well as construction...

Missouri Sen. Kit Bond, on most matters a mainstream Republican loyalist, has declared independence from one among many GOP plans for reining in a bloated and expensive federal government. He is resisting those in his party who have declared their intention to abolish the Commerce Department. ...

SIKESTON -- Margaret Victoria Lackey, 84, of Sikeston, died Tuesday, July 4, 1995, at Sikeston Convalescent Center. She was born July 25, 1910, in Black Oak, Ark., daughter of Gus and Ottie Brookman King. She and Forrest Lackey were married in Piggott, Ark. He preceded her in death...

Ruby Aria Barks, 92, of Cape Girardeau died July 3, 1995, at the Cape Girardeau Nursing Center. She was born Feb. 22, 1903, at Alliance, Mo., daughter of Ben and Alvenia Kuhlman Johnson. She and John L. Barks were married April 13, 1922, at Perryville. He preceded her in death on Jan. 7, 1976...

Helen Louise Spurlock, 88, of Dowling Park, Fla., formerly of Cape Girardeau, died Monday, July 3, 1995, at the Good Samaritan Center. Arrangements are incomplete at Ford and Sons Funeral Home.

Bodine Jackson Balasco His persona is as colorful, compelling and mythical as a paddlewheel steamboat churning a wide path down the Mississippi River on a lazy Fourth of July weekend. He cuts cards and deftly works the English language with the speed and precision of a veteran stage performer. He spices it all with just a tincture or two of Southern charm and wit. Little wonder, then, that Bodine Jackson Balasco bills himself as the last of the Riverboat gamblers...

JACKSON -- After only four weeks as Jackson's director of public works, Thomas Morris' signature has replaced interim city engineer Rich Bowen's on new plats for subdivisions. For the six years previous to Morris' employment, Bowen approved or disapproved plats submitted to the city. Some developers, engineers and surveyors had problems with that because Bowen owns his own engineering firm, Bowen & Lawson Professional Engineers & Surveyors...

Cape Girardeau has few takers for an adult business license. So far, a Cape Girardeau video store is the only business to apply for an adult license under a new city law. A strip-tease bar, Regina's House of Dolls, didn't apply by the July 1 deadline...

JACKSON -- Thousands of people flocked to the Jackson Jaycees Fourth of July Celebration in the City Park Tuesday, the seventh annual event for food, folks and fun. Forty-eight teams competed for about 12 hours Tuesday to determine the champion seven-man mud volleyball team. And the games proved entertaining whether you were a participant in the ankle-deep mud or a spectator. About 100 people lined the bleachers and surrounded the mud courts during the games...

The crewman, who leads a subterranean existence in the bowels of the Mississippi Queen, seemed friendly enough until I asked for his name. He looked at me as if I'd asked for his shirt. "You don't need to put that in the article, do you?" he said, his brows pinched close enough to knit a column idea. I was in the presence of drop-dead fear. "If my ex-wife finds out where I am, this could be a real bad deal."...

The first three days of the Independence Day weekend yielded 37 accidents with 24 injuries and one fatality on Southeast Missouri roads, according to the Missouri Highway Patrol. The fatal accident in Southeast Missouri occurred Sunday and took the life of motorcyclist Michael Garner, 27, of Jackson...

The Cape Girardeau Municipal Band will perform tonight at 8 p.m. at the band shell in Capaha Park. The program will feature "The Chicago Tribune March," "The Ozark Overture," "The St. Louis Blues," "Sounds of Kenny Rogers," "The Honor March," "American Folk Rhapsody No. 1," and "Richard Rodgers: A Symphonic Portrait."...

Cape Girardeau city government salaries are on the low side for a community this size, City Manager J. Ronald Fischer says. "Historically, Cape has been in that position," he added. Proposed salary hikes won't change the situation. Cape Girardeau's $55 million budget includes merit pay raises of 2.5 to 3 percent for city employees...

Roger Wilson, Missouri's lieutenant governor, will meet Thursday with the Regional Commerce and Growth Association for a conference on economic development. The meeting will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday at Port Cape Girardeau, 19 N. Water St., in Cape Girardeau...

Birthdays aren't explosive unless you were born on the Fourth of July like Laura St. Ann Keller. Keller turned 101 years old Tuesday. About 15 friends gathered at the Chateau Girardeau to celebrate the occasion with her Monday evening. "She's a great sport," said her friend and attendant Hattie Bohnert. "Last year we had an open house but this year it's a little calmer."...

A benefit quilt show will be held July 15 and 16 at St. Andrew Lutheran Church, 804 N. Cape Rock Dr. Proceeds benefit the Lutheran Family and Children's Services. The quilt show will be held July 15 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and July 16 from 1 to 5 p.m. Admission is $2...

Cape Girardeau City Engineer J. Kensey Russell couldn't be happier he was wrong. Russell had estimated it would cost more than $861,000 to extend North Sprigg Street from Bertling to a soon-to-be-constructed Lexington, along the north edge of Melody Lane...

Dennis Kluesner's mother remembers a boy always looking for ways to help. Starting this month, her son is helping the people of El Salvador build better water systems through the Peace Corps. Kluesner, 31, signed up for a two-year hitch with the Peace Corps. He completed the initial training in May in Guatemala and has been assigned to a small community near San Salvador, El Salvador...

QULIN -- Andrew A. Winingnear, 63, of Qulin, died Saturday, July 1, 1995, at St. Mary's Hospital in Jefferson City. He was born Feb. 24, 1932, in Pollard, Ark., son of Otis D. and Tula Rae Holcomb Winingnear. He and Rachel L. Mansker were married May 24, 1958...

SIKESTON -- Thomas W. Ayers Jr., 80, of Sikeston, died Monday, July 3, 1995, at Missouri Delta Medical Center. He was born May 18, 1915, in New Madrid County, son of Thomas W. and Susan Morrow Ayers Sr. He and Violet Lee Wilburn were married Jan. 31, 1936, in New Madrid...

MOUNDS, Ill. -- Funeral service for Mary J. Frans of Mounds will be held at 1:30 p.m. today at Crain Funeral Home in Ullin. The Rev. Herman Painter will officiate, with burial in Beechwood Cemetery. Frans, 79, died Sunday, July 2, 1995, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau, Mo...

CAIRO, Ill. -- Graveside service for Norman Remington Halliday of Cairo will be held at 2 p.m. today at Beechwood Cemetery in Mounds. The Rev. Raymond L. Holly will officiate. Barkett Funeral Home at Cairo is in charge of arrangements. Halliday, 72, died Monday, July 3, 1995, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau, Mo...

Dortha Jean Dumas, 62, of Cape Girardeau, died Monday, July 3, 1995, at Ratliff Nursing Home. She was born April 14, 1933, in Arlington, Ky., daughter of William and Ruby C. Berry Jordan. She and Doyle Dumas were married Aug. 1, 1953, in Paducah, Ky...

SIKESTON -- Funeral service for Ronald Paul "Ronnie" Seiler of Sikeston will be held at 11 a.m. today at Nunnelee Funeral Chapel, with the Rev. Ted Wimberly officiating. Burial will be in Garden of Memories Cemetery. Seiler, 34, drowned Sunday, July 2, 1995, as a result of a boat accident at Kentucky Lake near Aurora, Ky...

MOUNDS, Ill. -- Funeral mass for Ruth Miller Davis of Mounds will be held at 11 a.m. today at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Mound City. The Rev. Bill McGhee will officiate, with burial in Beechwood Cemetery at Mounds. Barkett Funeral Home at Mounds is in charge of arrangements...

SIKESTON -- Lois Ellen Hunt, 73, of Jennings, died Monday, July 3, 1995, at her home. She was born Oct. 21, 1921, in Blodgett, daughter of John David and Renna E. Huffstutler Gage. She and Carl L. Hunt were married June 30, 1946, in Victoria, Texas...

PERRYVILLE -- Lorene "Bobbie" Barnard, 67, of Perryville, died Monday, July 3, 1995, at Perry County Hospital. She was born Nov. 27, 1927, at Scopus, daughter of Robert Henry and Tora Avis Seabaugh Tallent. She and Buford "Bill" Barnard were married Sept. 28, 1945...

Funeral mass for Michael G. Garner, 1402 Dunklin, will be held at 10 a.m. today at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Jackson. Msgr. Edward Eftink will officiate, with burial in Memorial Park. McCombs Funeral Home at Jackson is in charge of arrangements...

ESSEX -- Beatrice Davis, 63, of Essex, died Sunday, July 2, 1995, at Dexter Memorial Hospital. She was born Nov. 3, 1931, in Aromell, Ark., daughter of Willie B. and Grace Minnifield Hester. She and John Henry Davis were married in 1946, at Charleston...

Lawrence Albert Russell, 53, of Cape Girardeau, died Tuesday, July 4, 1995, at Southeast Missouri Hospital. He was born Nov. 30, 1941, son of Pearl and Mildred Duty Russell. Russell was owner/operator of Cape Towing and Cape Security Patrol. He was a veteran of the U.S. Navy...

CHAFFEE -- Funeral service for Leona Story of Chaffee will be held at 2 p.m. today at Calvary Baptist Church. The Rev. R.L. Robinson will officiate. Burial will be in Union Park Cemetery. Story, 79, died Sunday, July 2, 1995, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau...

International Order of Job's Daughters Bethel 51 of Cape Girardeau recently attended their annual grand session in Jefferson City. In addition to election of officers, committee meetings and other activities, the group competed in ritualistic work, arts and crafts...

This year has been as if Mother Nature could not make up her mind. Following a mild winter, there was an early and beautiful spring, then cool and wet weather and for the month of June there were storms and more wet weather. None of these latter conditions were conducive to good plant growth...

July was designated National Ice Cream Month more than 10 years ago, but in many homes a freezer without ice cream on any day of the year is a freezer minus an important ingredient. "People just eat ice cream all year around anymore," observed Virginia Wiedefeld, co-owner of Videos 'N' Creme in Town Plaza. The shop has been successfully serving up delicious delicacies and fun for nearly 10 years...