Stories from Wednesday, June 26, 1996

To the editor: Cal Thomas, in his June 19 column, does not approve of racial gerrymandering. It is at least as clear that he is perfectly content to allow the political will of large racial minorities to continue to be sublimated to the will of the Euro-American majority in which they are submerged. ...

CAIRO, Ill. -- Maud B. Cowsert, 92, of Cairo, died Tuesday, June 25, 1996, at Daystar Care Center. She was born Aug. 31, 1903, in Golconda. She married Lester Cowsert, who died in 1954. The Cowserts owned and operated Barger and Cowsert Wholesale Grocery in Cairo more than 20 years. She was a member of Cairo Baptist Church, Cairo Women's Club, Order of Eastern Star, and patron of Magnolia Manor...

Concerns over running the Scott City budget with an estimated $120,000 deficit prompted council members to meet last night and hack $56,500 out of the city's expenses for 1996-97. The council also set itself up for more cuts after information can be gathered on programs, dues and employees...

EDITOR'S NOTE: The following is an editorial by Hank Waters III in the Columbia Daily Tribune: If the governor and University of Missouri Board of Curators wanted to concoct a test for business management majors, they could have done no better than to present the high jinks surrounding the resignation/firing/reinstatement of MU chancellor Charles Kiesler with the question: How many things can you find wrong here?...

Supporters of a plan to develop a family resource center in Cape Girardeau said they haven't given up on the concept of one-stop social services despite the governor's veto of funding for a feasibility study. Gov. Mel Carnahan earlier this month vetoed a $27,500 line item in the budget that would have determined the feasibility of converting the vacant old St. Francis Hospital into a family resource center...

JACKSON -- Historical pictures of local interest will be on display July 7 at the Oliver House Museum, 224 E. Adams St. "They're pictures of the Cape Girardeau County area, usually from around the turn of the century," said Bernard Schaper, chairman of the Jackson Heritage Association's historical photo committee. "We have quite a collection of historical pictures, but we've just started displaying them in the hospitality room of the Oliver House."...

The American Red Cross will hold blood drives Wednesday and Thursday in Cape Girardeau to provide ample blood supply during the Fourth of July holiday. During the summer months, blood supplies are in demand but donations are often low. The blood collected this week will be ready for use within 72 hours...

Six years ago, Bob Harper and his wife saw an interesting ad. Touting a project called "55-Alive", the ad described a driving class for mature drivers. Harper and his wife signed up for the class and, after completing the program, were pleased with what they learned. By the end of his second session, Harper had volunteered his time as an instructor for the course...

I JUST saw where they're going to do away with the chain gangs in Alabama because it is cruel and unusual punishment. As a veteran of the Korean conflict, I would like to say that I was treated with cruel and unusual punishment each and every day. It's time to go back to the chain gangs instead of stopping them. ...

Missouri schools have become a battleground of sorts, especially in urban areas. Violence and drugs are far too commonplace. But a new Safe Schools Act may help transform school battle zones into places of peaceful learning. This package of bills is long overdue and should give administrators a step up to handle some of its most dangerous young offenders...

Notre Dame High School is embarking on a major fund-raising campaign to finance construction of a new building. Organizers are hoping the six-month effort will net as much as $5 million for the new school. Astounding growth necessitates the need for a new Catholic high school. Enrollment has increased by 47 percent since 1991. The new building will be able to accommodate 550 students, almost 200 students more than the existing facility...

To the editor: Over the years, Congressman Bill Emerson has been so helpful to me. Although I never met him personally, I felt I knew him well. When my father died in a nursing home which ordered supplies (on his name) nearly a month after he had died, Bill Emerson made them make it right. When I needed advice on my mother's passing, Bill was there...

To the editor: How could that be? It is said a fountain cannot give forth both sweet water and bitter. Yet, according to the news media, Clinton is going after the feminine vote but at the same time cutting their homemaker-mother retirement fund. Yes, the homemakers are discriminated against...

Audrey Gunter, 70, of Cape Girardeau, died Tuesday, June 25, 1996, at Southeast Missouri Hospital. Ford and Sons Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

SIKESTON -- Charlie Gilliland, 86, of Sikeston, died Tuesday, June 25, 1996, at Sikeston Health Resident Care. He was born Aug. 24, 1909, in Birmingham, Ala., son of James Wiley and Lucy Blaylock Gilliland. He and Opal M. Woods were married Jan. 21, 1931, in Scott County. She died Dec. 2, 1993...

JONESBORO, Ill. -- Stacey Marie Pruitt, 10, of Jonesboro, died Monday, June 24, 1996, at her home. She was born Feb. 15, 1986, in Springfield, daughter of Jimmy and Christina Massey Pruitt. Stacey attended Jonesboro Elementary School. Survivors include her father and stepmother, Jim and Yvonne Pruitt; her mother, Christina Pruitt of Litchfield; four brothers, Michael Neville of Litchfield, Larry Dunham, Jerry and Scott Hall, all of Jonesboro; maternal grandmother, Rita Massey of Winfield, Kan.; paternal grandparents, Dale and Pam Buchs of Bunker Hill, Manuel and Virginia Jones of Jonesboro, and paternal great-grandmother, Rosetta Pruitt of Alton.. ...

Dorothy Marie Volkerding, 79, of Cape Girardeau, died at her home Tuesday, June 25, 1996. Arrangements are incomplete at Ford and Sons Sprigg Street Chapel.

EAST PRAIRIE -- Funeral service for Bonnie Gail Boulton of East Prairie will be held at 4 p.m. today at Shelby Funeral Chapel in East Prairie. Keith Atchley will officiate, with burial in East Prairie Memorial Park Cemetery. Boulton, 51, died Monday, June 24, 1996, at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston, following an extended illness...

COBDEN, Ill. -- Graveside service for Augusta McCommons of Cobden will be held at 1 p.m. today at Jonesboro Cemetery, with the Rev. Phil Nelson officiating. Hileman and Parr Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. McCommons, 84, died Monday, June 24, 1996, at City Care Center in Cobden...

EAST PRAIRIE -- Funeral service for Wilbert Lee Brawner, East Prairie Route 1, will be held at 1:30 p.m. today at Shelby Funeral Chapel in East Prairie. Mike Johnson will officiate, with burial in Dogwood Cemetery. Brawner, 66, died Sunday, June 23, 1996, at his home...

PERRYVILLE -- Salvador Flores, 94, of Perryville, died Sunday, June 23, 1996, at Perry County Memorial Hospital. He was born Nov. 1, 1901, in Guadalajara, Mexico, son of Jose and Maria Condelari Famoso Flores. He and Maria Luisa Mendez were married in 1925. She died Feb. 15, 1994...

BLOOMFIELD -- Mayme E. Launius, 95, of Virginia City, Nev., died Monday, June 24, 1996, at St. Mary's Hospital in Reno, Nev. She was born Sept. 1, 1900, at Bloomfield, daughter of L.L. and Mary Waddle Boyles. She and Walter Launius were married May 11, 1927. He died Jan. 29, 1984...

MOUND CITY, Ill. -- Edith Shipman, 90, of Portland, Ore., died Monday, June 17, 1996, at Foster Care Home in Portland. She was born Jan. 15, 1906, in Powe, Mo., daughter of Sam and Pearl Jones McAllister. She married Andrew Shipman, who died July 11, 1972...

POPLAR BLUFF -- Frank Wilson, 91, of Poplar Bluff, died Monday, June 24, 1996, at Westwood Hills Health Center. He was born April 15, 1905, in Bertrand to Mary Jane Golightly and Hugh Wilson. He and Geraldine Snipes were married in 1929 at Charleston...

CHAFFEE -- Funeral service for Mable Grissom of Chaffee will be held at 2 p.m. today at Amick-Burnett Funeral Chapel in Chaffee. The Rev. Randon Grissom will officiate, with burial in Friend Cemetery at Oran. Grissom, 69, died Monday, June 24, 1996, at Heartland Care Rehab Center in Cape Girardeau...

EAST CAPE GIRARDEAU, Ill. -- Lonnie A. Adams, 23, of East Cape Girardeau, died Monday, June 24, 1996, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. He was born Dec. 30, 1972, in Cairo, son of Junior and Linda Bass Adams. Adams was a food vendor with Burch Food Service. He was a veteran of the U.S. Navy...

MARBLE HILL -- Jerry Lee Glasener, 58, of Marble Hill, died Monday, June 24, 1996, at his home. He was born May 12, 1938, at Zalma, son of Holmes and Leta McCollister Glasener. He and Sherian Faries were married Aug. 30, 1958, at McGee. Glasener was a retired machinist, and member of National Rifle Association...

ORAN -- Funeral service for Everett E. Wheeler, Oran Route 1, will be held at 2 p.m. today at Trinity United Methodist Church in Oran. The Rev. Bennie Wilsey will officiate, with burial in New Morley Cemetery at Morley. Amick-Burnett Funeral Chapel at Oran is in charge of arrangements...

FRIEDHEIM -- Dale D. Turner, 61, of Friedheim, died Tuesday, June 25, 1996, at his home. He was born Jan. 29, 1935, in Wolf Lake, Ill., son of Herbert and Nellie Zimmerman Turner. She married Artie M. Drum were married Nov. 16, 1979. Turner retired from Chester Mental Health Center in Chester, Ill. He was a member of the Masonic Lodge at Millersville, Shriners of East St. Louis, VFW of Chester, American Legion and Amvets of Perryville. He served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War...

Officers from five different police agencies and two military services have been coordinating the security effort that will surround the upcoming funeral services for U.S. Rep. Bill Emerson. Capt. Steve Strong, of the Cape Girardeau Police Department, said officers from the U.S. ...

The new Mississippi River bridge at Cape Girardeau will be named the Bill Emerson Memorial Bridge in honor of the eight-term Republican congressman who died Saturday. House and Senate colleagues passed the legislation Tuesday on unanimous voice votes and sent it to President Clinton for his expected signature...

One day after a fatal drowning at Lake Boutin in Trail of Tears State Park, children splashing in the water yelled, "Help me, I'm drowning!" But none of the 70 people scattered around the beach and in the waters of Lake Boutin Tuesday afternoon stopped to listen to the cries or search for lifesaving equipment...

The following is a shameless rip-off of columnist Sam Blackwell's "Letters from Home." Dear Mom and Dad: It's a sunny day here at Camp Sacajawea, so sunny that we're making s'mores without a fire. You think I'm kidding? The counselors spent 15 minutes trying to get melted marshmallows out of Zelda Weidenburger's hair. Nothing worked, so another girl found a pair of scissors and cut the marshmallows out...

CAIRO, Ill. -- Two veteran officers have been elevated to city chief positions. Jim Wright, who joined the Cairo Police Department 18 years ago and served as chief from 1986 to 1991, has been named police chief by Mayor James Wilson. He replaces Bobby Simmons, who retired...

JACKSON -- City officials will begin interviews "immediately" for a new police officer, thanks to federal grant funding under the COPS program, Mayor Paul Sander said. The city received funding to pay 75 percent of the officer's salary over a three-year period, Sander said...

The state is putting a lock on motorists convicted of driving drunk. A new vehicle ignition interlock system, triggered by a simple, portable breath alcohol analyzer, is being used in Missouri to deter drunken drivers from getting on the road. Courts can now order individuals convicted of DWI to install Breath Alcohol Ignition Interlock Devices (BAIIDS) in their vehicles...

With a prisoner escaping from the county jail last week, the Southeast Missourian asked people how they felt about their personal safety. Becky Slay: "It concerned me. Jackson is a small town and you never had to worry about that sort of thing. It's getting closer to home. They are making changes at the jail, so I feel as safe as I did before it happened."...

JACKSON -- The Jackson Senior Center menu for Thursday and Friday has changed. The correct menu is: Thursday -- Salmon pattie or hamburger, baked beans, potato wedges, slaw, cornbread and mixed fruit. Friday -- Roast beef or chicken pattie, mashed potatoes, California mixed vegetables, hot rolls and fruit cobbler...

JACKSON -- Ask Gene Penzel what he's proudest of, and his immediate answer is, "It's a long story." But the story had a happy ending when Highway 61 was finally widened and improved from Interstate 55 through Jackson. "At one time, it was two lanes," Penzel said...

JACKSON -- Staff at New McKendree United Methodist Church are busy getting used to their surroundings. Church staff began moving Monday into Cox Memorial Hall -- formerly Jackson City Hall and the Jackson library -- as part of New McKendree's expansion...

JACKSON -- New officers were sworn in for the Jackson Chamber of Commerce Monday night. Jeff Moore, vice president of Ross Furniture, will serve as president for the 1996-97 term. Brent Wills, Wills Insurance, and John N. Thompson, Boatmen's Bank, will serve as vice president and secretary-treasurer, respectively...

The Heartland Lace Guild, affiliated with International Old Lacers' Inc., is planning a pair of two-day beginners' workshops this summer. -- July 12 and 13 at Grace Episcopal Church in Paducah. -- Aug. 9 and 10 in Cape Girardeau. Contact Lise Thomsen at 335-7487 for the site of the Cape Girardeau workshop or for other information about the Heartland Lace Guild...

Lise Thomsen talked to visitors at Riverfest about different types of lace and where they came from. Beverly Schiwitz from Kelso used bobbins to created bobbin lace off of a pattern. Threads woven in intricate patterns appear delicate but are ties that bind not only a timeless art but also friendships...