Stories from Friday, January 5, 1996

A report issued in August by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention listed Missouri tied dead last in 49th place in immunization of young children. It is an unacceptable but easily remedied situation, says the Partnership for Children, a policy group based in Kansas City that focuses on children's issues...

The first antiques and collectibles market of the year will be held Sunday at A.C. Brase Arena Building. The martket will run from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Early admission will be allowed at 8:30 a.m. for an additional charge. Exhibitors from a four-state area will sell antique jewelry, glassware, pottery, tools, books, toys, sports cards and coins...

The Cape Girardeau Area chapter of the American Association of Retired Persons will meet Monday at 1:30 p.m. at Grace United Methodist Church. Maggie Friend will speak about breast cancer awareness, prevention and the "Buddy Check 12" program. Friend works in public relations at Southeast Missouri Hospital...

Southeast Missouri State University will offer two entrance tests next week: the "Asset" test Tuesday and ACT exam Thursday. The "Asset" exam evaluates the educational background of students who are at least 21, have been out of school at least three years, haven't take the ACT, and have no previous college education. The exam will assess English, reading and math skills...

After two days in which the Missouri House of Representatives spent less than 15 minutes in session, area Republicans headed home for the weekend angry at the lack of progress in selecting a new speaker. Rep. Mary Kasten, R-Cape Girardeau, said House GOP members are incensed at the actions of outgoing Speaker Bob Griffin, D-Cameron...

Southeast Missouri State University and Cape Girardeau will honor slain civil-rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The nation celebrates Dr. Martin Luther King Day Jan. 15. The university will hold the 11th annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Breakfast at 8 a.m. Jan. 15...

JACKSON -- This year's Cape Girardeau County budget includes upgraded salaries and promotions for law enforcement officers, an additional county prosecutor and a bit more money for road improvements. County commissioners Thursday discussed the 1996 budget at a public hearing attended only by county officials and the media. The total allotted for general operations is $7.79 million, up considerably over last year's $6.7 million operating budget...

Unfortunately, science practitioners don't always agree, so you have to make your own assumptions from time to time. How else can you explain Tupperware and Madonna in the same breath? Sometimes you read news that makes you stop and think. Take the report on global warming that came out this week. Oh, you were still under the impression that the planet is headed for another ice age as reported by scientists a few years ago?...

WE JUST read the Sports page for Sunday and the local year in review, it seems like every year the Capaha baseball team seems to be forgotten. You all have a very newsworthy team that is highly thought of, and they were state champions in a row. They're looked up to all over the country, it seems like, a lot more than they're recognized even here. Let's give some support to the Capahas. Come on, I think they're one of the top 10 stories for the city this year...

Marshall "Sam" Egson, 74, of Cape Girardeau, died Monday, Jan. 1, 1996, at Southeast Missouri Hospital. He was born Jan. 30, 1921, in Mississippi, son of John and Ruby Avanct Egson. He and Yvonne Cardwell were married in Cape Girardeau. Egson was a journeyman commercial roofer, and member of St. James AME Church...

Son to Shannon and Michelle Seabaugh of Jackson, Southeast Missouri Hospital, 4:37 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 28, 1995. Name, Trisden Ridge. Weight, 8 pounds 14 ounces. First child. Mrs. Seabaugh is the former Michelle Niswonger, daughter of Colleen Niswonger and Richard Hale of Marble Hill and James and Susan Niswonger of Cape Girardeau. She is a secretary at Niswonger Auto Body. Seabaugh is the son of Paul and Roxie Seabaugh of Jackson. He is a machinist at Dana Corp...

JACKSON -- Bennie C. Walton, 80, of Jackson died Thursday, Jan. 4, 1996, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. He was born March 1, 1915, at Flat River, the son of B. and Laura Bell Ross Walton. He married Bernice Mouser on Oct. 17, 1951, at Blytheville, Ark. She survives...

SIKESTON -- Garland Copley Jr., 72, of Sikeston died Thursday, Jan. 4, 1996, at Crowley Ridge Care Center in Dexter. Arrangements were incomplete at Nunley Funeral Home in Sikeston.

PUXICO -- Funeral service for Monroe D. Wilkison of Puxico will be held at 1 p.m. today at Watkins and Sons Funeral Chapel in Puxico. The Revs. Steve Smith and Vernon Kneir will officiate, with burial in Puxico Cemetery. Wilkison, 70, died Wednesday, Jan. 3, 1996, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau...

MARBLE HILL -- Funeral service for Trilla M. Zimmerman of Sikeston will be held at 10 a.m. today at First United Methodist Church in Marble Hill. The Rev. Michael Wood will officiate, with burial in Bollinger County Memorial Park Cemetery. Baker Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements...

VILLA RIDGE, Ill. -- Iva Lee Webb, 77, of Wayne City, formerly of Villa Ridge, died Wednesday, Jan. 3, 1996, at the home of a niece in Wayne City. She was born Oct. 5, 1918, in Ballard County, Ky., daughter of B.W. and Bera Webb. Webb was a member of Villa Ridge Union Church. She moved to Wayne City in April 1995 from Villa Ridge...

SIKESTON -- Marion E. Brents, 57, of Sikeston, died Wednesday, Jan. 3, 1996, at his home. He was born May 11, 1938, in Cleveland, Ark., son of William Thomas and Zella May Bryant Brents. He and Mary Diane Davis were married Aug. 14, 1981, in Rock Island, Ill...

BLOOMFIELD -- Funeral service for Eva M. Edwards of Bloomfield will be held at 2 p.m. today at Chiles-Cooper Funeral Home. The Rev. Bob Holland will officiate, with burial in Bloomfield Cemetery. Edwards, 86, died Wednesday, Jan. 3, 1996, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau...

ANNA, Ill. -- Edith I. Trulove, 95, of Anna, died Wednesday, Jan. 3, 1996, at Union County Hospital. She was born Nov. 24, 1900, in Union County, daughter of Benjamin and Fannie Elizabeth McCoy Cox. She and Fred Trulove were married May 12, 1928. He died March 9, 1979...

Funeral service for Muriel L. Frueh of Rolla was held Thursday at Kordes Funeral Home in Rolla. Frueh, 76, died Monday, Jan. 1, 1996, while visiting a daughter here. She was the daughter of Thomas and Ethel Copeland Hankey. She married Murrell J. Frueh, who preceded her in death...

SIKESTON -- Judith Smith, 51, of Sikeston, died Thursday, Jan. 4, 1996, at Clearview Nursing Center. She was born June 24, 1944, in Middleton, Mass., daughter of Earl Frederick and Evelyn Philbrick Jones. Smith had been a respiratory therapist and nurse assistant. She was a member of First Baptist Church...

Leo F. Bruening Jr., 81, of Cape Girardeau died Wednesday, Jan. 3, 1996, at Barnes Hospital in St. Louis. He was born Aug. 30, 1914, in Cape Girardeau, the son of Leo F. and Clara Friese Bruening Sr. He and Daphna N. Sanford were married Aug. 16, 1937...

MALDEN -- Fred Guffey, 91, of Malden died Thursday, Jan. 4, 1996, at Dexter Memorial Hospital. He was born Nov. 22, 1904, at Shirley, Ark., to John Thomas and Mary Elizabeth Fortner Guffey. He married Lorene Barnes Nov. 14, 1942. He was a member of the First Southern Baptist Church in Malden and was active in the Boy Scouts. He was employed as a salesmen...

To the editor: On Dec. 29 I watched a television program about victims' rights. I think the public needs to be taught about victims' rights. My firstborn son was murdered at work 13 1/2 years ago. His murderer has come up for parole twice. I went to Frankfort, Ky., to protest his release...

For weeks, the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education has been touting a series of seven meetings held around the state yesterday afternoon at the rather arbitrary time of 4:30-to-6:30 p.m. (The only one held in Southeast Missouri was in Poplar Bluff.) Stated purpose of the meetings: To gather comments from citizens concerning the department's so-called Academic Performance Standards...

Missourians were left scratching their heads this week when legislators battled a snowstorm to convene in Jefferson City for this year's session of the General Assembly. The confusion sprang from the House of Representatives, where the Democratic majority was unable to produce enough votes on the first go-around to elect a new speaker to replace soon-to-retire Bob Griffin...

To the editor: I would like to extend a thank you to the Southeast Missourian and the steamboat company for allowing me the opportunity of winning a cruise (as part of the YELL campaign). Unfortunately I don't have any photos to send. I did, however, have a lovely cruise with many wonderful, peaceful, giving people aboard. I hope your work in giving to the people of this town continues in a positive way. Thanks again...

JACKSON -- Jackson Board of Education member Vicky McDowell filed Wednesday for re-election along with Ron Lowes. McDowell has served on the board for three years, working on several projects, including completion of the new middle school. She serves on the high school science and math facility committee and the teachers' salaries committee...

JACKSON -- Sales tax figures for Cape Girardeau County in 1995 were up a generous 9.2 percent over 1994, County Auditor H. Weldon Macke reported. The figures have been up between 4 and 10 percent each year since 1990. The only exception was 1991, when a recession resulted in less than a 1 percent increase in sales tax over the previous year...

Regulations slowing boats on the Headwaters Diversion Channel may not be popular with sportsmen but may be necessary to keep the channel open for recreational use. The Little River Drainage District, which owns and manages the channel, raised concerns about erosion stemming from wakes caused by boats on the channel. In response, the Missouri Department of Conservation, which leases a public boat ramp on the channel, approved a rule mandating that boats travel at no-wake speeds...

Sixty-nine members of the Missouri National Guard's 1137th Military Police Company will leave Missouri today for future deployment in Germany. Forty-eight of the guardsmen are members of detachments from Kennett and Caruthersville. "We'll meet a detachment of 21 from Jefferson Barracks (St. Louis) at Fort Benning, Ga.," said Sgt. Danny Silman, supply sergeant at Kennett...