Stories from Wednesday, April 3, 1996

Illinois Gov. Jim Edgar took a political gamble recently in an attempt to raise school spending. Tax increases can be dynamite, even more so during an election year. Legislators -- even those in the governor's own party -- oppose Edgar's plan, and time is running out...

THERE WAS a big, brick building at the southeast corner of 106 South Frederick Street which was called the Ross Tobacco Co. 65 years ago. It was about 58 feet wide and 165 feet deep east. The part of Happy Hollow that has been suggested for the federal building is not on any fill-in ground. Also, there are now a couple of large brick buildings and a large concrete parking lot half way on the east side of the 100 block of South Frederick...

Problems with computer and telephone equipment have delayed the start-up of a Youth Activities Line sponsored by the Community Caring Council Children's Issues Committee. Elizabeth Schmucker, chairwoman of the committee, said Long Distance Discount, Inc., the service provider, is installing new equipment for the line, which was scheduled to become operational Monday...

Southeast Missouri State University's Center for Regional History has been awarded an $18,823 contract by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources Division of State Parks. The contract, made possible by a grant from the American Battlefield Protection Program, is for developing a battlefield protection plan for the Fort Davidson State Historic Site in Pilot Knob...

International students at Southeast Missouri State University will hold an International Festival April 12. The festival is scheduled for 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. in the University Center. Displays from various countries will be on exhibit from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Samples of ethnic food will be available from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Entertainment from around the world -- including a fashion show, international folk dance and music -- will be provided from 6 to 8 p.m...

Orscheln Farm and Home Supplies, 338 Christine, has taken on a new line of animal feeds -- Manna Pro Feeds. Dal Walters, a representative of Manna Pro Feeds, will be at the store Thursday to discuss feeding and nutrition questions. Manna Pro Corp., the successor to the Carnation Co. Milling Division, is headquartered in St. Louis, with manufacturing facilities in eight states throughout the nation...

Kelly Wills doesn't like to complain about America's problems. As national president for the Jaycees organization, he'd rather find solutions to those problems. "When Jaycees go to work, there's no limit to the possibilities," he said, explaining that Jaycees are known for behind-the-scenes community projects...

The Teen Pregnancy and Responsibility Network recently celebrated a decade of service to Cape Girardeau County. The notion was controversial 10 years ago. But the group forged ahead, and it thinks the last 10 years have brought real progress in building teen responsibility...

About 13 percent of Cape Girardeau County's registered voters headed to the polls Tuesday for municipal and school elections. Cape County Clerk Rodney Miller attributed the low percentage to new voter registration laws. While more people have registered to vote, he said, the same number actually cast ballots, which pushes the percentage down...

Funeral service for Erma Colleen "Connie" Kitchen of Spring, Texas, will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday at Lorberg Memorial Funeral Chapel. The Rev. Robert Daniel will officiate, with burial in Fairmount Cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home from 6-8 p.m. today...

DEXTER -- Funeral service for Joseph Ruller Moore of Dexter will be held at 2 p.m. today at Watkins and Sons Funeral Chapel in Dexter. The Revs. Dale Rickman and Jimmy Kirby will officiate, with burial in Dexter Cemetery. Moore, 74, died Monday, April 1, 1996, at his home...

SIKESTON -- Pauline Elizabeth Northcutt, 86, of St. Charles, died Tuesday, April 2, 1996, at Claywest Nursing Home in St. Charles. She was born April 3, 1909, in Savannah, Tenn., daughter of George Milton and Martha Jane Whitlow Duckworth. She and Marshall F. Northcutt were married Sept. 2, 1930, in Corinth, Miss. He died Dec. 13, 1974...

JACKSON -- Minnie Schloss, 85, of Jackson, died Sunday, March 31, 1996, at the Lutheran Home in Cape Girardeau. She was born April 10, 1910, near Jackson, daughter of August and Wilhelmina Ristig Bock. She and Albert L. Schloss were married Feb. 13, 1934. He died Jan. 22, 1991...

Funeral service for Betty A. Wichert, 1968 Perryville Road, will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday at Ford and Sons Mt. Auburn Chapel. The Rev. Milton Ryan will officiate, with burial in St. Mary's Cemetery. A memorial mass will be held at 10 a.m. Monday at St. Vincent's Catholic Church...

EAST PRAIRIE -- Hershel L. Jackson, 69, of East Prairie, died Tuesday, April 2, 1996, at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston, following an extended illness. He was born May 28, 1926, in New Madrid County, son of Dan and Jessie French Jackson. He married Louannia Bright, who died Jan. 13, 1982. He later married Cora Ann Wilson Feb. 19, 1985...

COMMERCE -- Margie Mona Wilkinson, 72, Commerce Route 1, died Monday, April 1, 1996, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. She was born Oct. 17, 1923, in Stephens, Ark., daughter of John and Nanny Riley. She and Bennie Lee Wilkinson were married Dec. 24, 1941, at Illmo...

Cape Girardeau voters Tuesday overwhelmingly approved a dozen amendments to the city charter that supporters said will bring more accountability to city government. Voters said yes to council term limits, creation of an ethics commission, tax and fee limitations, and a number of measures dealing with city finances...

The frustrating thing for Sen. Christopher "Kit" Bond isn't that the Clinton administration has thwarted Republican efforts at government reform. It's that the president continues to claim as his own the same GOP issues he consistently foils, Bond says...

The makeup of the Cape Girardeau City Council won't change as voters Tuesday re-elected councilmen Melvin Gateley, Jack Rickard and Melvin Kasten. Gateley won re-election to a second, four-year term in Ward 5, defeating challenger Lawrence Godfrey, 427 to 137...

JEFFERSON CITY -- A state constitutional amendment giving Missourians more influence over large tax increases was passed with broad voter approval Tuesday. "The people have a voice in major future tax decisions. I think that's what they want and that's what we've given them," declared Gov. Mel Carnahan, Amendment 4's highest-profile backer...

No country on this or any other planet puts more emphasis on consumer satisfaction than does ours. If people want goods or services ranging from "Star Trek" commemorative colostomy bags to sex education classes for their pet iguanas, and are willing to pay for it, someone will happily provide...

Bollinger County reflected the percentages seen throughout the state Tuesday evening as county clerks tallied the votes for and against Amendment 4, the proposal touted as a way to give voters a say in state tax increases. According to the Bollinger County clerk's office, 69 percent of voters cast yes ballots for Amendment 4. By a vote of 1,322 to 580, voters supported the amendment which was put on Tuesday's ballot thanks to action from the governor and state legislature last year...

JACKSON -- A close race for Ward 3 alderman in Jackson has the losing candidate considering a recount. Challenger Larry Cunningham received 217 votes Tuesday compared to incumbent Glenn Oldham's 212 votes. Absentee ballots made the difference -- Oldham received 10 to Cunningham's 16...

JACKSON -- Three Jackson Board of Education incumbents retained their seats in Tuesday's voting, one of them only by a hair. Dr. T. Wayne Lewis received 1,468 votes, Vicky McDowell received 1,388 votes and Darrell Hanschen received 1,148 votes. Challenger Tom Ludwig came closest to winning a spot on the board, bringing in 1,121 votes Tuesday and another 14 in absentees. He only lost by one in regular voting...

Voters in Chaffee Tuesday faced the unusual prospect of voting for council members in two wards that had no candidates. That left the door open for Brad Bader to win a two-year term in Ward 4 with a single, absentee write-in vote. No votes were cast in Ward 2...

ALTENBURG -- Superintendent Rick Hoffman and Altenburg school board president Albert Boettcher Jr. were both surprised by the results of a tax levy question Tuesday. By a 167-margin, voters approved a tax levy change in the Altenburg district that will give the board more control over its finances and additional state funding dollars...

With only two contested races on the ballot -- one for the Perry County School District, and one in the city of Perryville's third ward -- most Perry County voters stayed home Tuesday. Perry County Clerk Randy Taylor called voter turnout "terrible," adding that 1,680 voters, or 17.28 percent of the county's registered voters, headed to the polls...

A proposal that would've given the board of directors of the Sedgewickville Fire Protection District the power to raise the tax levy to 30 cents per $100 assessed valuation failed election day. By 30 votes, 128 to 158, voters in the fire protection district said they didn't want to give that power to the board of directors...

A $750,000 bond issue that would have improved the buildings in the Meadow Heights School District failed in Tuesday's election. The president of the Meadow Heights Board of Education, Roy Allen, said he was disappointed that the measure failed. "By my calculation, we lost by two votes," he said. "You hate to see something so many people worked so hard for be defeated."...

Harry Rediger won a one-year seat on the Cape Girardeau Board of Education, joining Bob Blank, Steve Wright and the Rev. William Bird, who were unopposed in seeking three-year terms on the school board. Rediger beat Jacqueline Sproat, 1,770 votes to 599...

SCOTT CITY -- Two incumbents and two newcomers were elected to the Scott City Board of Education Tuesday. Incumbents Gale Peetz Dale and Cathy Raines and challenger William Wilthong each were re-elected to three-year terms on the Scott City Board of Education...

The Jacksonian Charter Chapter of the American Business Women's Association will sponsor a Children's Spring Funfest April 13 at R.O. Hawkins Junior High School gymnasium. The Funfest will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and will feature booths, themes and prizes. Lunch and refreshments will be available...

A budget billing option is now available to all our residential electric customers in good standing. Budget billing allows the customer to pay nearly the same electric bill for 11 out of 12 months a year. The monthly amount will be based on previous history. The 12th month will either be a catch-up or refund month...

The Southeast Missourian asked people what they thought about the new "budget billing" option being offered by Jackson Utilities for its residential electricity customers. Karalyn Maevers: "I think it's a good idea. We had it where I lived in Montana. In the winter months, it would help people who are on a budget by letting them know in advance what they would have to pay."...

The public has a chance to meet Dr. William Merwin, the first of three finalists for president of Southeast Missouri State University, this afternoon. Today 7:30 a.m. -- Breakfast meeting with Dr. Bill Atchley, interim president. 8:30 a.m. -- Introductory meeting with executive staff...

David W. Kemper likes the banking climate in the Midwest market. "Nationally, banking had a good year in 1995," said Kemper, chairman, president and chief executive officer of St. Louis-based Commerce Bancshares Inc. "In our own market area we've been blessed with a diversified economy and I see a moderate growth for the future."...

SCOTT CITY -- Jerry Cummins, a three-time councilman, was elected Scott City mayor Tuesday. He defeated Rodney Holloway by a 104-vote margin. Mayor Larry Forhan did not seek re-election. Cummins, who received 508 votes, currently serves on the city council. He will forfeit the remaining year of his current term to be sworn in as mayor April 15...

The three incumbents won out in the race for three seats on the Advance School District Board of Education. Gary Georger, John W. "Bill" White and Mark H. Richmond won re-election to the school board. Dirk Eggimann, making his first run for the school board, finished fourth...

Scott County voters decided several city and school board races Tuesday night, but few were as close as those in Oran. Mayor Pro-tem Tom Urhahn barely outpaced Bob Dennis 186 votes to 181 to win the mayor's seat. Incumbent Mayor Louis Hirschowitz didn't seek re-election so that he can run in August for Scott County public administrator...

It's now 15 games into the season and the Southeast Missouri State women's softball team has yet to taste defeat. The Otahkians turned their nose up towards the possibility again on Tuesday, sweeping visiting Austin Peay 3-0 and 5-2. The two wins build on the Otahkians' best start in school history, now at 15-0. Austin Peay fell to 4-27...

The AAL Branch 7776 will sponsor its fourth annual sausage and waffle supper on Sunday, April 14 from 4-6:30 p.m. The supper will benefit Lois Fritzler. The all-you-can-eat meal will be held at St. Mark Lutheran Church, 1900 Cape La Croix Road. Tickets are available at the door. The price is $5 per adults, and 43 for children, ages 5-10...

JACKSON -- The Jackson R-2 schools will sponsor a districtwide art exhibit at the new Middle School gymnasium Saturday, April 13 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The exhibit will feature hundreds of drawings, paintings, sculptures, prints, and fibers from Jackson R-2 kindergarten through 12th grade students...

Kyle and Debbie Eudy's windows use Roman fold shades under a pleated cornice. Jane Curl, owner of Witness Designs, 31 N. Main St., removed a window shade to check the look of light lemon sheers covered with a striped swags and cascades. Cracraft-Miller Furniture & Decorating in Jackson displayed side panel drapes on a decorative black iron rod...