Stories from Wednesday, August 16, 1995

To the editor: In the Aug. 12 "Right of center" column by Jay Eastlick, I read statements which both amused and disturbed me. Prominently pull-quoted was the following statement: "If an idiot says the world is round, do we discard the empirical evidence and change science?" Although Mr. Eastlick might be justifiably termed old-fashioned in some respects, I found the preceding very surprising...

Is your grill ready? Do you have the secret ingredients that could make you the best barbecuer in the area? If so, then the Cape BBQ Fest is the place for you. The third annual BBQ Fest competition is scheduled for Friday and Saturday, Aug. 25-26, at Arena Park. The Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce Agri-Business committee is sponsoring the event...

The SEMO Master Gardener program is looking for people who want to share their gardening expertise with others. The group is holding three orientation sessions Aug. 29. The first will be at 10 a.m. at the Perry County Extension office in Perryville; Carolyn's Cafe near Patton will host the second meeting at 2 p.m.; and the last session will be at 6 p.m. in Jackson at the Cape Girardeau County Extension office...

The Missouri Farm Bureau is coordinating an effort to continue a state sales tax that expires in three years. Funding for protecting Missouri's parks, soil and water would be in jeopardy if the tax is allowed to expire in 1998, supporters say. It also would mean the potential loss of $55 million in revenue, they said...

Walter Lents and Whitney Werner model shoes from Children's Bazaar. As summer wanes, so do children's shoes, and even a cursory check of what's hanging in the closet typically supports what the calendar already proves. It's time to shop for school clothes...

The city of Cape Girardeau wants to buy and demolish houses in flood-prone areas. The price tag is $1.64 million. The concept of a buyout makes long-range financial sense. The Mississippi River has flooded in 15 of the last 20 years. In eight of those years, the river went over the 40-foot flood stage, flooding a number of the 65 homes in the Red Star, Smelterville, Meadowbrook and Highway 177 areas that have been targeted for a buyout...

To the editor: Our city is headed in a positive direction. The favorable vote Aug. 8 was a vote of confidence in our community and a commitment to its future. Thanks to the Southeast Missourian for a fair assessment of the transportation needs. Your positive position and editorial endorsements were key to the successful results of the election...

If Southeast Missouri State University were a motel, the no vacancy sign would be out for the fall semester. More than 2,000 students have signed up for campus housing, and the school plans to reopen a wing of the Dearmont building as temporary housing for 100 to 130 students...

Edna Rogers talks about the roses at First Presbyterian Church like many people discuss their children. It's no wonder she feels such affinity for the plants -- Rogers spends more time with them than many people do their closest friends. At least once every seven to 10 days, she picks up her spray bottle to carefully squirt fungicide one bed at a time...

Two parcels of property in Cape Girardeau County are among those that will cross the auction block in October as efforts continue toward final disposition of the First Exchange Corp. The defunct bank holding company owned banking operations in Cape Girardeau, Jackson, Fredericktown and St. Louis...

There is a St. Louis club band called the Finns which in its song "Goodbye Radio" laments the lack of variety in musical programming found on the airwaves. "Why don't you play some new songs? I'm so tired of your tired old songs. ..." The Finns don't realize how lucky they have it. St. Louis radio is a buffet at a five-star restaurant compared to the soggy peanut butter and jelly sandwich that is the Cape Girardeau market...

A LOT of times, what isn't said or written is a lot more important than what is. In the Aug. 10 "Another View" on the opinion page, the virtues of agribusiness were extolled by Brad Fahrmeier and Willie Harlow. There is no denying that American agricultural production is unparalleled. ...

Anyone out there ever hear of heteronyms? Wordmaster James Kilpatrick tossed this out-of-town concoction my way recently as if it were an everyday word. All other nyms have long been familiar to me, but "heteronym" was as foreign to me as a tune in what passes for music today...

The first day of class is always full of jitters for students. Surprisingly, educators get a little nervous, too. And several area teachers and principals will begin their first day of school in a new system. The boards of education in Scott City, Oran and Chaffee combined hired more than 20 new administrators and teachers...

WOLF LAKE, Ill. -- Ruth Modglin, 67, of Hazel Green, Ala., died Monday, Aug. 14, 1995, at her home. She was born Dec. 6, 1927, in Wolf Lake, daughter of Herbert and Gladys Kimmel Rendleman. She married James Modglin. Modglin was a member of the Lutheran Church in Dothan, Ala...

MATTHEWS -- Steffanie Jo Hammock, 26, of Matthews, died Tuesday, Aug. 15, 1995, at her home, following an extended illness. She was born Feb. 21, 1969, in Sikeston, daughter of Donald Eugene and Jane Evans Hammock Jr. Hammock was a 1987 graduate of New Madrid County Central High School, and had worked at 76 Truck Stop. She was a member of First Baptist Church in Canalou and Big Prairie Jaycees...

James Hugh Logan, a former mayor of Cape Girardeau who helped found the local United Way and worked on behalf of many charitable organizations, died Tuesday, Aug. 15, 1995, at Southeast Missouri Hospital. He was 95. "I think volunteers are an absolute necessity in this world," the retired business executive and civic leader said earlier this year after being honored with the Rush H. Limbaugh Sr. Award in recognition of his philanthropy...

TOWN AND COUNTRY -- Louise B. Smith, 81, of Town and Country, formerly of Sikeston, died Tuesday, Aug. 15, 1995, at the Clayton House Health Care Center in Town and Country. She was born April 27, 1914, at Dyersburg, Tenn., daughter of Charlie and Mattie Kendall Middleton. She married Meddie W. "Smitty" Smith on Nov. 22, 1929, at Blytheville, Ark. He preceded her in death June 26, 1988...

MARION, Ill. -- Betty Sue Reynolds Garner, 55, of Marion, and formerly of Mississippi County, died Tuesday, Aug. 15, 1995, at her home. Arrangements are incomplete at McMikle Funeral Home in Charleston.

BALTIMORE -- Raymond H. Popp, 55, formerly of Jackson, died Monday, Aug. 15, 1995, in Baltimore. He was born Sept. 27, 1939, to Raymond W. and Lela Kranawetter Popp in Cape Girardeau. Popp graduated from Jackson High School in 1957 and the former Rolla School of Mines in 1963...

PERRYVILLE -- Agnes F. Doretha Schuessler, 90, of Perryville died Tuesday, Aug. 15, 1995, at the Perry County Memorial Hospital. She was born June 3, 1905, at Farrar, daughter of Joachim and Engel Meier Myer. She and Paul C. Schuessler were married Sept. 14, 1932. He preceded her in death June 13, 1955...

HAYTI -- A Blytheville, Ark., man was killed in the crash of his crop-duster plane in Pemiscot County Tuesday morning. The Air Tractor 402 crop-duster was piloted by Louis L. Lester, 27, who was killed, the Missouri Highway Patrol said. Lester had been dusting fields about one-eighth of a mile from Cooter. It is unclear what caused the crash...

Daughter to Kevin and Elaine Lasher, 1958 David, Southeast Missouri Hospital, 12:44 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 8, 1995. Name, Jodi Elaine. Weight, 7 pounds 8 ounces. Second child, first daughter. Mrs. Lasher is the former Elaine Cain, daughter of Margaret Cain of Tamms, Ill. She is a teacher and coach at Egyptian High School. Lasher is an engineer at Golden Cat. He is the son of Sidney Lasher and Patsie Lasher of Hampton, Ky...

JACKSON -- The Jacob and Marguarita Friedrich family reunion will be held at Sunday at Shelter 4 in the Jackson City Park. A basket dinner will held at noon. Anyone having valuable family photographs may bring them to share with others. Bob Friedrich will give an update on progress of the Trail of Tears and Sharon King will update genealogy records...

The Cape County American Family Association will present Focus on the Family video series, "Life On The Edge": Preparing for the challenges of adulthood. The series will kick off tonight with "Finding God's Will For Your Life." All sessions are open to the public and free admission. They will be held 7-9 p.m. in the Community Room of the Cape Girardeau Public Library at 711 N. Clark Street...

Sunflowers are the "in" thing. Everywhere you look there are sunflowers. This versatile flower is the subject of many artists. They are woven into fabrics, made into perfume, pasted on mailboxes, used as trim for straw hats and used as the motif for all types of home decorating, including dishes...