Stories from Friday, March 8, 1996

To the editor: Thank you for the your article on student Lindsay Siebert. She is an excellent role model for young and old alike. I read the article to my two sons ages 13 and 11. They were impressed. REGINA SANDERS Scott City

To the editor: I am a neurosurgeon practicing in Cape Girardeau. I read with interest your Feb. 25 front-page article, "Brain injury frustrates couple." In the story a physician opined that "a helmet wouldn't have offered any protection in that situation and probably would have made things worse."...

To the editor: Maybe, since he is one of our most distinguished Missourians, we should give Mark Twain the final word on the spelling controversy: "I don't give a damn for a man that can spell a word only one way." As quoted by Jennifer Weston in "A speller's manifesto," Newsweek, March 4...

To the editor: With all the media coverage of the Republican primaries, one would be led to believe that once one candidate gets enough delegates to win the nomination he will also have the November election in his hands. That is simply not so. Only one of the candidates has a chance to win in November. ...

Truly a highway success story, the Missouri Highway and Transportation Department's Adopt-A-Highway program is now in its 10th year. Through the program, more than 5,600 groups with an estimated 35,000 to 55,000 volunteers pick up trash, mow and provide landscaping along more than 10,000 miles of highways...

The news about a new bridge across the Mississippi River at Cape Girardeau last week was tentative at best, but at least it indicated the project is still very much alive. State highway officials said the bridge project has been put on the bidding schedule for May, even though it is likely to be removed for lack of funding...

By the time this is published, the New York primary will have been held and the frontrunner, all-but-inevitable-nominee status of Sen. Bob Dole will be still more evident. Regardless of what any current poll shows, reports that the Kansan is certain to be November road kill for a Clinton-Gore juggernaut are wildly exaggerated. ...

MALDEN -- Dr. Ray Vandiver's job is child's play -- literally. Vandiver, executive director of a new children's museum in Malden, studied creative play so he could design and build many of the displays and exhibits at the museum. A degree in experimental physics probably helped too...

JACKSON -- Only one name was nominated for President Tuesday night at the Cape Girardeau County Democratic Caucus. About 55 people packed a courtroom at the Cape Girardeau County Courthouse to unanimously select President Bill Clinton as the official candidate for the 1996 presidential elections...

Southeast Missouri State University hopes its survey efforts will help it tailor evening and weekend classes to the needs of the region's residents. The university wants to offer a whole program of weekend and night classes, beginning next fall. The program is being called Southeast PM...

Many voters have a perception that politicians don't listen to their constituents. However, former U.S. Sen. John Danforth said politicians survive by listening. "The question isn't, do they listen?" Danforth said. "The question is, what do they hear when they listen? What they hear is, don't touch me. ... Gimmee. I'm entitled."...

Each new year brings another birthday, but we're not over the hill by a very long shot. Today is my bride's birthday. I would be happy to tell you how old she is, but such revelations do not a happy home life make. I would also be happy to tell you how old I am, but some of you with mathematical leanings would immediately strive to calculate my wife's age as well, based on social norms and other considerations. ...

JACKSON -- Funeral service for Carol LaRue of Jackson will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at Zion United Methodist Church in Gordonville. The Rev. Conway Briscoe will officiate, with burial in the church cemetery. Friends may call at McCombs Funeral Home in Jackson from 4-8 p.m. today, and after 10 a.m. Saturday at the church...

Irma Evelyn Lewis, 83, of O'Fallon, formerly of Cape Girardeau, died Thursday, March 7, 1996, at Garden View Care Center in O'Fallon. She was born Nov. 8, 1912, in Belleville, Ill., daughter of John Henry and Viola Phillips Nagel. She and Charles W. Lewis were married Aug. 24, 1935, in Chester, Ill. He died Jan. 8, 1979...

SIKESTON -- Charlotte Baker, 82, of Sikeston, died Wednesday, March 6, 1996, at Missouri Delta Medical Center. She was born Oct. 3, 1913, in Prichard, W.Va., daughter of Charley Clarence and Sue Weddington Van Hoose. Survivors include a son, Jimmy Copley of Sikeston, and a sister, Roberta Lane of Michigan...

DONGOLA, Ill. -- Van "Hap" Holshouser, 80, of Dongola, died Wednesday, March 6, 1996, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. He was born Aug. 12, 1915, in Dongola, son of Guy and Ina Dillow Holshouser. He and Jean Treece were married April 12, 1946. She died Nov. 28, 1972. He later married Anita Brown Helm, who died Oct. 16, 1987...

MARBLE HILL -- Nola E. Huskey, 108, of Marble Hill, died Wednesday, March 6, 1996, at Rest Haven Christian Home in Palos Heights, Ill. She was born Nov. 29, 1887, near Marquand, daughter of the Rev. E.A. and Jane Mouser Murry. She and Thomas H. Huskey Sr. were married in April 1914. He died Dec. 4, 1963...

DEXTER -- Funeral service for Eva Frank of Dexter will be held at 2 p.m. today at Watkins and Sons Funeral Chapel in Dexter. The Rev. Gerald King will officiate, with burial in Caroline Dowdy Cemetery near here. Frank, 77, died Wednesday, March 6, 1996, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau...

ANNA, Ill. -- Evay May Harris, 97, of Anna, died Thursday, March 7, 1996, at City Care Center in Cobden. She was born Sept. 19, 1898, in Cobden, daughter of James and Laura Adams. She and Albert S. Harris were married March 27, 1926, in Herrin. He died Dec. 30, 1978...

ADVANCE -- Lacy W. Ladd, 86, of Advance, died Thursday, March 7, 1996, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. He was born Sept. 25, 1909, in Bollinger County, son of Edward and Cora Kinder Ladd. He and Freeda Hindman were married Dec. 24, 1941...

ANNONDALE, Va. -- Beatrice Ramsey Rydstrom, 85, formerly of Cape Girardeau, died Monday, March 4, 1996, in Annondale, Va. She was born Sept. 27, 1911, in Osceola, Ark., daughter of Rufus and Floy Ramsey. She was the retired supervisor of the school cafeteria in Falls Church, Va., and had worked with Hospice. She was a member of the John Calvin Presbyterian Church in Annondale...

ANNA, Ill. -- Jimmie Rhymer Sr., 72, of Anna, died Wednesday, March 6, 1996, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. He was born Aug. 10, 1923, in Delta County, son of Jesse and Ora Allen Rhymer. Rhymer was retired from the body shop at Pearl Motor Co. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II...

Son to Curtis O'Bannon and Kelly Yvonne Poore of Jackson, Southeast Missouri Hospital, 2:09 p.m. Monday, Feb. 19, 1996. Name, James Curtis. Weight, 7 pounds 1 ounce. Second child, first son. Mrs. Poore is the former Kelly Taylor, daughter of James and Gloria Taylor of Lilbourn. She is a registered nurse. Poore is the son of Cloyce Poore of New Madrid and Cookie Ferrenburg of Morley. He is an assistant U.S. attorney with the U.S. Attorney's Office...

Bob Hill Jr., who was a candidate for Cape Girardeau's Board of Education, has moved out of the district and had his name removed from the ballot. Hill now lives in Scott City. On Wednesday afternoon, Circuit Judge William Syler signed a court order to have Hill's name removed from the ballot. The court order was required because the date to withdraw from the election had passed...

The two state legislators from Southeast Missouri who had not filed for re-election did so Thursday while another legislator picked up an opponent. Rep. Mary Kasten of Cape Girardeau and Rep. David Schwab of Jackson, both Republicans, filed for re-election with the secretary of state's office. All other Southeast Missouri lawmakers filed for re-election when filing opened Feb. 27...

The 1996 For Love of Life and Family Conference will be held March 29-30 at Bavarian Halle in Fruitland. The conference hopes to place emphasis on the importance of the traditional family in God's plan. "Our main goal is to bring the focus of daily life back to family values," said Krista Keesee, advertising director for the conference. ...