Stories from Wednesday, January 17, 1996

To the editor: Some thoughts while shaving. In the name of progress and modernity: Can you remember back when gasoline service stations were anxious to sell you some gasoline? They even checked the oil and the air pressure in one's tires. At times the attendants even cleaned the windshield a little. ...

To the editor: St. Vincent Home in Freeport, Ill., will celebrate its 100th anniversary this year on July 21. Over 26,000 children were served by the orphanage we operated here between 1896 and 1973. We wish to locate as many of these former residents as possible so we can invited them to join our centennial festivities and be reunited with some of the Franciscan sisters who staffed the facility...

To the editor: An open letter to Newt Gingrich: Who gave you the authority to tell the people of America they would either accept your ideas or else? Just what do you mean by the "or else"? Mr. Gingrich, as I see it the only real power you have has been granted by the fact you have the backing of the international banking community. The cuts you want made in the budget are the very ones they have wanted for the last 40 years...

A useful study for this state's taxpayers would be how the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education masterminded its propaganda effort leading up to the expected adoption Thursday of new academic performance standards. Surely the department's methods in its intentional and unrelenting efforts to mislead the public, thwart dissent and fabricate support for its agenda is unprecedented in Missouri history...

A first order of business for a new national organization of general-education administrators that was launched last fall is to consider development of a proposal setting national guidelines for general education programs. The organization, the Council of Administrators for General and Liberal Studies, was formed during a national meeting in San Antonio, Texas, of the Association for General and Liberal Studies. At that time, the council ratified a constitution and elected officers...

In the current issue of U.S. News & World Report, Gerald Parshall presents 20 buzz words that will shape our language in 1996. First on his list is The Anxious Class, coined by Secretary of Labor Robert Reich. This expression refers to America's middle class as well as the Clinton Administration. In our opinion, the whole world is anxious, but our opinion has not been solicited. Fancy that!...

The 82-year-old mortar holding bricks together at L.J. Schultz School crumbles like sand, prompting the Cape Girardeau Board of Education to seek advice from a structural engineer. On Thursday, a 60-foot section of the brick parapet of the school at 101 S. Pacific collapsed onto the roof. No one was hurt. Principal John Eck blamed the collapse on the building's age...

It is a simple fact: Unless you are a country fan, you won't see many, if any, well-known musical acts in Cape Girardeau. Why? The Show Me Center people in the past have said that country is a proven seller; other genres, including rock 'n' roll, are not...

Saying the organization doesn't seem interested in working with the Cape Girardeau Board of Education, board member Terry Taylor wants the school foundation disbanded. Taylor said a foundation working to raise private funds for improvements to the school district is a good idea. But the current foundation, led primarily by former school board members...

Jackson Board of Aldermen Tuesday, Jan. 16 7:30 p.m. A. Approve the semi-annual financial statement ending Dec. 31, 1995, which will be published. B. Authorize semi-annual payment of $5,000 to Chamber of Commerce for services under tourism contract...

JACKSON -- Jill L. Lowes of Jackson was awarded a Missouri Leadership Award and a Girls' State Leadership Award to attend Southeast Missouri State University for the 1996-97 academic year. The Missouri Leadership Award is a $500 one-year award designed for Missouri students who have achieved an Enhanced ACT score of 22 and a 3.0 grade-point average...

The Southeast Missourian asked people if the purchase of a drug dog for the Jackson Police Department would be a good use of donations. The police department is soliciting $25,000 in donations for the dog. Bill Wallace: "I think it would be a good addition. With the problem of drugs in our society, any help the police can have in deterring criminal activity in that area would be to our benefit."...

The Jackson Chamber of Commerce will have its next general membership meeting Monday at the Jackson R-2 Middle School. The school will provide dinner at a cost of $5 a person with serving beginning at 5:30 p.m. Following dinner, a presentation will be given by the Jackson Facilities Review Committee. ...

JACKSON -- Ryan P. Harper of Jackson has been awarded a Regents' Scholarship to attend Southeast Missouri State University for the 1996-97 academic year. The Regents' Scholarship is awarded to high school seniors who have achieved an Enhanced ACT score of 27...

JACKSON -- Declaring that Jackson's city government is in need of a new outlook, first-time aldermanic candidate Donna Langford filed for office Tuesday. Langford, 41, will run against 14-year Alderman David Ludwig in Ward 1. The challenger works at Langford Service Co., co-owned by her husband, Ray, and holds a bachelor's degree in education from Southeast Missouri State University...

SCOTT CITY -- Scott City is on the road to improvement with passage of a transportation sales tax and infrastructure upgrades, Mayor Larry Forhan said. Forhan gave the State of the City address Tuesday night at the Chamber of Commerce meeting and officer installation. About 25 members attended the meeting at Henson's Cafe...

Like sex offenders, people convicted of making false bomb threats would have to register with local police under a bill being considered by a state Senate committee. The legislation, filed by Sen. Jerry T. Howard, D-Dexter, is intended to deter what he considers terrorist threats...

ZALMA -- Veda Pearl Inman, 88, of Edwardsville, Ill., died Sunday, Jan. 14, 1996, at Madison County Nursing Home in Edwardsville. She was born Aug. 21, 1907, in Zalma, daughter of Lemuel and Ida Ann Keer Speer. She and Joseph H. Inman were married Aug. 1, 1925. He died April 25, 1986...

ANNA, Ill. -- Laurel Bon Corzine, 82, of Harahan, La., died Sunday, Jan. 14, 1996, at his home. He was born Jan. 10, 1914, son of Ralph and Maude Sitter Corzine. He married the former Thelma Shepherd. Corzine was a retired dispatcher with Ryder Truck Co. He was a member of Hickory Knoll Church of Christ and the Masonic Lodge...

Funeral service for Ellis A. Masters of Cape Girardeau will be held at 1 p.m. today at Lorberg Memorial Funeral Chapel. The Rev. David Griesemer will officiate, with burial in New Salem Cemetery near Daisy. Masters, 89, died Sunday, Jan. 14, 1996, at Deal Nursing Home in Jackson...

CHAFFEE -- Maggie Josephine Westrich, 86, of Chaffee, died Tuesday, Jan. 16, 1996, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. She was born July 14, 1909, near Chaffee, daughter of William and Hanna Roch Glency. She and Gregory A. Westrich were married Aug. 23, 1927. He died July 17, 1977...

ANNA, Ill. -- Eunice T. Sensmeier, 84, of Anna, died Tuesday, Jan. 16, 1996, at City Care Center. She was born April 9, 1911, in Cambria, daughter of Claude and Alice Brandon Talley. She and Ernest C. Sensmeier were married Oct. 16, 1949, in Piggott, Ark. He died Jan. 19, 1981...

BUNCOMBE, Ill. -- Vern L. Gurley, 80, Buncombe Route 1, died Tuesday, Jan. 16, 1996, at his home. Lutz and Rendleman Funeral Home in Anna is in charge of arrangements.

JACKSON -- Treston "Tex" Werner, 84, of Jackson, died Tuesday, Jan. 16, 1996, at the Lutheran Home in Cape Girardeau. McCombs Funeral Home in Jackson is in charge of arrangements.

Son to Mike and Shari Smith of Scott City, Southeast Missouri Hospital, 7:32 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 9, 1996. Name, Adam David. Weight, 7 pounds 11 ounces. Second son. Mrs. Smith is the former Shari Tharp, daughter of Jim and Jeanne Pruitt of Cape Girardeau and Charles Tharp of Florissant. She is employed by Dr. Richard Swartz. Smith is the son of Robert and Mabel Smith of Scott City. He is employed at M&W Packaging...

POPLAR BLUFF -- An elderly woman died Tuesday following a two-car accident in Butler County. Emma Reed, 84, of Poplar Bluff was injured fatally in the crash. Robert Murdoch, 21, of Harville suffered moderate injuries. The accident occurred at 3:39 p.m. on U.S. 67, 1.6 miles south of Poplar Bluff. According to the Missouri Highway Patrol, Reed pulled into the path of Murdoch's pickup...

GRASSY -- Melvin E. Barks, 78, died Tuesday, Jan. 16, 1996, at his home. He was born Nov. 5, 1917, at Whitewater, son of William D. and Icy M. Brown Barks. He and Pauline Roberts were married Aug. 11, 1945. Barks was a member of the General Baptist Church...

After losing one candidate to the Cape Girardeau School District, Perry County School District board members are expected to name a new superintendent when it meets at 7:30 tonight at Perryville in the Junior High cafeteria. Board President Orville Schaefer said he was sorry to lose a good candidate but will select from the remaining two. ...

There will be something new on the agenda of the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce annual meeting this year -- special recognition for 50-year-plus members. "We'll honor 11 chamber members," said Linda L. Minner, marketing and special projects director of the chamber...

Parents Without Partners Cape chapter #519 will hold an orientation for prospective members at 7 p.m. thursday in the Harris Room of the Community Counseling Center at the corner of Silver Springs and Bloomfield roads. Parents who are divorced, widowed, legally separated or never been married are encouraged to attend...

Prolonged cold weather may not be good for the heating bill, for travel or for gardening, but it is good for vegetation. When the temperature fluctuates and there are cold days followed by warm sunny days, perennials, especially chrysanthemums, often heave from the ground...

Norma Waldron of Jackson took her cocker spaniel, Prince, outside for a walk with a Jackson Indians' coat. Cleaning a dog's paws is important for their well-being. When winter gusts strike her door, Lizzi snuggles deeper into her bed of cedar chips...