Stories from Monday, November 27, 1995

The Dow Jones industrial average topped 4,900 more than 10 days ago, prompting thoughts by stock brokers that the Dow just could hit 5,000 for the first time in history. A week ago today, the Dow flirted with the 5,000 mark, actually topping it at 5,003 before settling back to close at 4,983.09...

The Budweiser Clydesdales dalmation mascot "Mickey" curled up for a nap by the draft horse "Deacon" Sunday at Arena Park before they participated in the 3rd annual Christmas Parade of Lights in downtown Cape Girardeau. When Alan Schneckcloth travels on business, he doesn't pack business suits and ties. Instead he remembers to bring hay and grain for a team of hungry horses...

Officials argue that senseless drinking and driving accounts for too many deaths across the nation. But on average, the number of drinking-related fatal accidents has declined in the past decade. Sgt. Brent Davis with Troop E of the highway patrol said drinking and driving now has more of a negative stigma than in previous years. ...

Therapists call it the Cycle of Violence. It starts with the "honeymoon period," the part of an abusive relationship when the abuser is calm, full of love for his victim, promising nothing bad will ever happen to her. Then comes "tension build-up," when the abuser gets upset about something going on in his life -- his job, his family, his car, anything -- and readies for the next stop in the cycle: the violent act...

Mrs. A has spent her life caring for her children, including a child with a disability who still lives at home. But Mrs. A isn't sure how long she will be able to care for her grown baby. In fact, Mrs. A isn't sure how long she will be able to care for herself. She is diabetic and in advanced stages of kidney failure. She requires dialysis treatments three times a week to keep her alive. Her eyesight is failing and she has high blood pressure...

The first 100 applications are in for the 1995 Toybox toy drive, and the requests are simple. Many of the applicants say any gift will make their children happy. "God bless you," a mother of four wrote on her application. The mother of a 9-year-old girl says the child would like anything, including games, and adds her daughter "likes to dance and sing and listen to tapes."...

A former flame called me the other day. Based upon the above description, you may surmise the relationship did not end well, although it did most assuredly end. Sort of. When Paul called the other day, he said the three words every woman who's ever been publicly humiliated by a two-timing snake disguised as a hominid longs to hear: "I miss you."...

OLIVE BRANCH, Ill. -- Irene Brewer, 78, of Olive Branch died Sunday, Nov. 26, 1995, at St. Francis Medical Center. She was born Nov. 5, 1917, in Alexander County, Ill., daughter of Jasper Elijah and Mary Lee Plylar Dunn. She and Al Brewer were married July 13, 1944. He preceded her in death June 17, 1985...

John Tippett, 72, of Advance, remains in Southeast Missouri Hospital following the Saturday-night accident that killed his grandson. Johnathan Hannah, 16, of Germantown, Tenn., was fatally injured when the car his grandfather was driving hit the back of a tractor on Highway 25, three miles south of Delta, at about 5:15 p.m. Saturday...

DEXTER -- Jonas W. Sitz, 90, of Dexter died Saturday, Nov. 25, 1995, at the Vintage Villa Nursing Center. He was born June 2, 1905, at Leora, son of Marcus G. and Mary Francis Carter Sitz. He and Varnell Doan were married July 13, 1951, at Piggott, Ark. She preceded him in death March 18, 1983...

DONGOLA, Ill. -- Ina Stone, 85, of Dongola died Saturday, Nov. 25, 1995, at the Jonesboro Health Care Center. She was born Aug. 21, 1910, at Mill Creek, Ill., daughter of Harrison and Cora Knupp Davis. She and William C. "Bill" Stone were married July 6, 1925, at Murphysboro, Ill. He preceded her in death March 4, 1991...

SCOTT CITY -- Sandra "Dianne" Raines, 47, of Scott City died Saturday, Nov. 25, 1995, at her home. She was born July 2, 1948, at Cape Girardeau, daughter of John George and Eleanor Rufina Wiedefeld Heuring. She and Ben Charles Raines were married Jan. 4, 1969, at Scott City...

PERRYVILLE -- Terry A.J. Cora, 58, formerly of Cape Girardeau, died Sunday, Nov. 26, 1995, at PerryOaks Healthcare Center. He was born Oct. 13, 1937, at Cape Girardeau, son of A.J. and Ruby Marlin Cora. He and Jill A. Abernathy were married Jan. 27, 1956, at Cape Girardeau...

UNITY, Ill. -- Vivian May Hagler, 89, of Unity died Sunday, Nov. 26, 1996, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. She was born May 25, 1906, at Browntown, Ill., daughter of Floyd and Stella Daugherty Switer Dycus. She and Dean Dan Hagler were married. He preceded her in death Sept. 26...

EAST CAPE GIRARDEAU, Ill. -- Leon Ruffin, 63, of East Cape Girardeau, formerly of Olive Branch, died Saturday, Nov. 25, 1995, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. He was born March 31, 1932, in Trumann, Ark. On June 10, 1958, he married Patsy Weir...

What started out as a request for $75,000 in city funds to help the Colonial Cape Foundation meeting its financial needs has now turned into a $310,000 plea with the likelihood of continued reliance on tax money well into the future. At stake is Colonial Cape's effort to turn the former St. ...

Does anyone know what's going on in today's economic world? What is happening on Wall Street and why has the Dow Jones reached such heights with so few paying attention? Has the U.S. succumbed to Merger Mania and if so, should somebody be worrying about it?...

We have been hearing conflicting reports about the budget debate between Congress and the president. Both sides are pointing fingers and claiming the opponent is distorting the truth. After pondering the facts of the situation, one major and glaring fact appears to override all others...

This week the Southeast Missourian asked, "What do you think of the proposal to raise the speed limit on Missouri's highways?" Jean Mitchell, Cape Girardeau "I don't think they should do it because people already drive fast enough. They already drive over the speed limit. If the speed limit is raised, they're really going to drive over the speed limit."...

When Gwendolyn Kelley met her future husband in 1991, the spark wasn't there. They saw each other only a few weeks before Kelley, 27, told him things weren't working out. But the two met again in April, and this time, sparks flew. He was gentle, affectionate, kind, and she fell in love. They married after a monthlong, whirlwind courtship...

The federal budget crisis came and went, shutting down non-essential government offices for six days then re-opening them last week for business as usual. But both Democrats and Republicans warned that the government could shut down again Dec. 15 -- the day terms of a temporary agreement run out -- if the two sides don't agree on a long-term budget...

An FFA Pilot Safety Seminar will be held at the Cape Girardeau Regional Airport Dec. 12. The 7 to 9 p.m. session, sponsored by the airport and the Cape Girardeau Pilots's Club, will be presented by Fred Harms of FFA Flight Standards Office. The meeting is open to anyone interested in the aviation industry and flight safety...

Westvaco Corp., a major manufacturer of paper, packaging and chemicals, has reported record sales for fiscal 1995, which ended Oct. 31. The company reported a strong fourth quarter this year, a record $872 million in sales and $89 million in earnings, or 88 cents a share...

Union Electric has made a $3,500 investment in the Southeast Missouri State University Small Business Development Center (SBDC). UE recently presented a $3,500 check to Buz Sutherland, SBDC director, to help the SBDC provide small business assistance in Southeast Missouri...

Aid Association for Lutherans (AAL) has joined CompuServe. Called AALnet, the private online forum offers AAL members instance access to information of financial security, health, fitness and family issues. AAL, based in Appleton, Wis., is the nation's largest fraternal benefit society, with branches throughout the United States, including the Cape Girardeau County area...

Hewlett-Packard Co., The fastest-growing major computer firm, reported a 42 percent jump in profits for its fourth quarter, but its stock fell 5 percent from investor resentment over the price for such growth -- a lower profit margin. The company's profit of $678 million exceeded consensus forecasts on Wall Street, but much of its growth came from personal computers, which have a lower profit margin than other computers...

Smith & Baer, certified public accountants, recently opened a second office at 502C W. Main St. in Jackson. The firm, which has an office in Cape Girardeau, provides audit, accounting and tax service for businesses and individuals. Office hours at Jackson are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday...

McDonald's will open restaurant in West Park Mall next month. Additional details will be announced soon for the new restaurant, which is expected to open about Dec. 18. The mall McDonald's will be the fourth in Cape Girardeau and fifth in Cape Girardeau County. Others are inside Wal-Mart, 3439 William, and individual locations at 1925 Broadway and 3419 William. The fifth McDonald's is located at 2220 E. Highway 61 at Jackson...

St. Francis Medical Center's Marketing Department received two awards from the Missouri Association for Healthcare Public Relations and Marketing at the Missouri Hospital Association Convention in Osage Beach. A second-place award was given for the "Feel Good" advertising campaign, an overall wellness program emphasizing developing healthy habits...

Show-Me/Beaver Janitorial Supply has taken on Puritan/Churchill Chemical Co. products. Puritan/Churchill is a major manufacturer of housekeeping chemicals. Show-Me/Beaver is a 22-year-old company with warehouses in Cape Girardeau and Sikeston. Tim Benton is manager of the Cape Girardeau warehouse at 1914 Independence, and Carolyn Stokes is manager of the Sikeston warehouse at 101 N. Ranney...

The Southeast Missouri Hospital Marketing and Communications Department was recently recognized for excellence at the annual Missouri Hospital Association Convention in Osage Beach. Two entries receiving top awards were for projects in partnership with West Park Mall...

"There is No Place Like Home," a home style craft store with more than 50 crafters displaying their products, has opened at 820 W. Main in Jackson. Renee Barks and Donna Henshaw are owners of the new business which is open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon to 6 Sunday...