Stories from Wednesday, August 7, 1996

To the editor: I beg leave to straighten out Cal Thomas, who speculated in his July 31 column that the nation is suffering through an era of terroristic attacks not because our methods of preventing them are not effective enough, but rather because our nation needs to get right with God. ...

JACKSON -- All in all, Tuesday's primary was a "typical election," Cape Girardeau County Clerk Rodney Miller said. Only a handful of people turned out to watch election workers post returns, including several reporters and Fred Jones, the assistant superintendent of the Jackson R-2 Public Schools...

A 4-percent tourism tax that is estimated to bring in between $225,000 to $300,000 to the economies of Sikeston and Miner passed in both cities in Tuesday's election. Miner voters accepted the tax, which will increase the cost of renting a hotel room by 4 cents on the dollar and should have little impact on local taxpayers. Ninety-five of 147 votes cast, 64.62 percent, supported the measure...

Dewaine Shaffer took an early lead and never looked back Tuesday night in the primary race for the Democratic ticket to November's general election for Scott County Commission 2nd District. Capitalizing on an overwhelming 67 percent, 518 out of 769, of Chaffee's Democratic voters Shaffer, went on to hold off appointed incumbent Wayne Petitt by a slim 899 to 873 votes. He took the primary by a mere .62 percent over Petitt, 21.22 percent to 20.60, of the total 4,236 votes cast...

PERRYVILLE -- A one-vote difference in the Republican primary election for Perry County Eastern District commissioner will lead to a recount. Incumbent Dennis Lohmann narrowly edged out challenger Gary Lauck 573 votes to 572. The win followed a breakdown in the ballot tallying equipment and a subsequent delay in the count...

MARBLE HILL -- Jerry Woodfin can pack away his campaign signs and get back to work as a commissioner for Bollinger County. Woodfin defeated opponent Adrian Shell Tuesday in the Republican primary. Woodfin earned 434 votes; Shell received 246. All results include absentee votes...

BLOOMFIELD -- After Tuesday's primary election, two Stoddard County Democratic winners face no competition in the general election and three others will go on to face Republicans in the November race. Incumbent Frank Sifford of Bloomfield will retain his associate county commissioner seat after Tuesday's election. Sifford beat Sonny Newsome of Puxico for Division I commissioner with 1,230 votes to Newsome's 835 votes...

The Cato Institute is a leading free-market think tank in Washington, D.C. For the last three years, Cato scholar Stephen Moore has assessed the nation's governors, judging them on their stewardship of the fiscal affairs of their respective states. Included in the Cato review are all aspects relating to taxing, spending and debt levels in each state. Governors are assigned a grade ranging from A to F...

The National Conference of State Legislatures recently held its annual conference in St. Louis. One report that came out of this meeting of lawmakers from every state was that state treasuries are healthy from coast to coast. No state is currently in deficit, and 23 states ended the year with surpluses of greater than 5 percent of state revenue. "The states are in a generally fine fiscal condition," said NCSL president James Lack, a state senator from New York...

To the editor: With presidential campaigns under way, much time and energy is spent by President Clinton and Bob Dole debating issues on which they disagree. It is, however, refreshing to note they both believe in one program: Job Corps. During the past 32 years, Job Corps has enjoyed strong bipartisan support. ...

PERRYVILLE -- Despite disproved allegations of wrongdoing just before Tuesday's primary, Perry County Sheriff Gary Schaaf beat his only Republican challenger. The race pitted Schaaf, elected to his position in 1992, against Tom Burger. Burger recently retired from the Missouri State Highway Patrol after 30 years of service...

JACKSON -- Overflowing classrooms won't be a problem in Jackson R-2 Schools much longer. Voters Tuesday approved a $7.8 million bond issue that will fund construction of an elementary school, an addition to North Elementary School and a math and science addition at the high school...

Use tax proposals were narrowly defeated in Cape Girardeau, Jackson and Cape Girardeau County Tuesday. Presiding Commissioner Gerald Jones was puzzled by the defeat of the county's 0.5 percent proposal, which failed, 3,348 votes to 3,127, or 51.7 percent to 48.29 percent...

Emily Firebaugh of Farmington handily won the Democratic primary Tuesday for the 8th District congressional seat in her first run for public office. On the Republican side, the race was too close to call late Tuesday night with Richard Kline of Gipsy holding a 335-vote lead over Cabool cattle farmer Earl Durnell...

What ever happened to the word "nice?" Once upon a time, being nice was a good thing. If you were selling a blind date to a friend, you'd tell her he had a "nice personality." If you were trying to break up with someone gently, you'd tell him he was nice, but really not your type...

The Scott City Council voted over the objections of the audience, and those of three council members, to amend an ordinance it had just put into place in January. The ordinance, which prohibits two members of the same immediate family working for the city under the same direct supervisor, was passed Jan. 15 and came under scrutiny by the council after it hired John Rogers, at the time a member of the City Council, to head the public works department, a salaried city job...

Next Tuesday, our annual Homecomers celebration will begin in uptown Jackson. The Jackson American Legion Post will once again host this year's event. The will be a chance for everyone to see our new historical mural which beautifies our uptown area. Also, our new K-9 drug unit dog will be there a night or two with handler Shawn Davis and trainer Mike Ervin. They will be able to answer your questions and you can see firsthand the latest addition to our police force...

Jackson cheerleaders were selected the Herkie TEAM Award Winners at the National Cheerleaders Association summer camp recently held at Southeast Missouri State University. The award goes to squads exemplifying leadership, values and teamwork. The award mean Jacksons is now eligible to travel nationally with the association and will be featured in the Adolphus Children's Christmas Parade in Dallas and the Brach's Holiday Parade in Chicago...

JACKSON -- The Jackson Municipal Band will hold its final weekly concert at 8 p.m. Thursday at the gazebo on the Cape Girardeau County Courthouse lawn uptown. Special guest will be Ruth Illers, one of the first special guests to appear with the band nearly 25 years ago. Illers and ragtime piano playing have become synonymous in Southeast Missouri, and she has been paying for church and community activities throughout the area for nearly 40 years...

Graveside service for Wanda Lee Rosenberger of Cape Girardeau was held July 24 in Lockhart Cemetery at Sullivan. Eaton Funeral Home in Sullivan was in charge of arrangements. Rosenberger, 73, died Saturday, July 20, 1996, at St. Francis Medical Center...

LICK CREEK, Ill. -- Ethel M. Thomas, 108, of Lick Creek, died Monday, Aug. 5, 1996, at Union County Hospital in Anna. She was born June 1, 1888, at Buncombe, daughter of Amos G. and Mary M. Manus. She and Willie Treece were married in 1905. He died in 1914. She later married James E. Thomas Dec. 23, 1915, in Vienna. He died March 23, 1975...

CHARLESTON -- Mabel Robbins, 89, of Charleston, died Tuesday, Aug. 6, 1996, at Charleston Manor. She was born Sept. 18, 1906, in Bay, Ark., daughter of Henry and Phoebe Hall Wright. She and Floyd L. Robbins were married June 26, 1926. He died Feb. 16, 1958...

Son to Rodney Lee and Cheri May Proffer, 100 W. Forester, Southeast Missouri Hospital, 11:43 p.m. Thursday, June 27, 1996. Name, Colten Levi. Weight, 8 pounds 12 ounces. Third son. Mrs. Proffer is the former Cheri Grindstaff, daughter of Wayne and Helen Grindstaff, Millersville Route 1. She is self-employed. Proffer is the son of Bob and Nora Proffer of Fruitland. He is a line operator at Dana Corp...

ADVANCE -- Glenna L. Anschultz, 68, of Memphis, Tenn., died Monday, Aug. 5, 1996, at St. Francis Hospital in Memphis. She was born Dec. 20, 1927, in Tuckerman, Ark., daughter of G.W. "Bill" and Virgie Alexander Anschultz. Anschultz was a retired bookkeeper, and a member of the Church of Christ...

Louis M. Jauch, 84, of Cape Girardeau, died Monday, Aug. 5, 1996, at his home. He was born Feb. 5, 1912, in Fagus, son of Louis C. and Louella Proffer Jauch. He and Ocela "Sue" Tucker were married May 3, 1947, in Marble Hill. Jauch had been a carpenter with Lincoln and McBride Co. in Jackson. He was a member of VFW Post 3838. He served in the U.S. Army from January 1941 to September 1945...

Longtown -- Graveside service and burial of cremains of Barbara Hawley Harlan of San Mateo, Calif., formerly of Perry County, will be held Wednesday at 2 p.m. at York Chapel Cemetery near Longtown. She died May 21, 1996, at San Mateo at the age of 77...

BURFORDVILLE -- Norma M. Bowers, 81, of Burfordville, died Monday, Aug. 5, 1996, at Deal Nursing Home in Jackson. She was born June 16, 1915, at Fruitland, daughter of Samuel Price and Lulu Gordan Sides. After the death of her mother, she was reared by her father and stepmother, Nancy Hargraves Sides. She and Theodore "Ted" Bowers were married Feb. 25, 1933...

Delbert C. Kingsbury, 90, of Cape Girardeau, died Tuesday, Aug. 6, 1996, at his home. Ford and Sons Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

BENTON -- Funeral service for John Richard Smith of Imperial will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday at Heiligtag Funeral Home in Arnold. Friends may call at the funeral home from 4-8 p.m. Friday. Smith, 55, was found Monday afternoon, Aug. 5, 1996, near Charleston. He disappeared in a boating accident May 16 in St. Louis Harbor...

ANNA, Ill. -- Myrtle Imogene Massey, 58, of Centralia, formerly of Anna, died Tuesday, Aug. 6, 1996, at her home. Lutz and Rendleman Funeral Home in Anna is in charge of arrangements.

The United States didn't become known as a melting pot by chance. People of all races, genders and ages live and work together every day. That's not to say they understand each other. For every person who embraces other cultures, another refuses to learn...

The battle between Cape Girardeau's doctors and lawyers will hit the ball field Aug. 24 during the third annual Doctor/Lawyer Softball Game. The game, sponsored by the Area Wide United Way, will be held at 7 p.m. at Capaha Park. Children activities begin at 6 p.m...

ULLIN, Ill. -- Students entering Century Junior or Senior High Schools this year must pick up schedules and class assignments before classes begin Aug. 23. All students can receive class schedules from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. Juniors and seniors can pick up schedules Aug. 15 and 16; freshmen and sophomores on Aug. 19 and 20; and seventh and eighth graders Aug. 21...

Grilled Tuna Steak with Citrus Onion Sauce -- Tim Philipps, Jeremiah's Grill the fresh tuna filet. Saute green and yellow onions in a skillet until soft. Remove from heat and add 1/4 cup of brandy. Carefully light and burn the alcohol off. Add 2 cups of orange juice, on high heat, let the mixture reduce, add a pinch of pepper. When thickened, ladle over tuna. Serves two to four people...

August means different things to different people but for cooks looking to break away from mealtime ho-hums the month can mean solutions. For example, this month is a great time to focus on seasonal vegetables and fruits, suggested John Wyman, owner of Mollie's Cafe and Bar and The Royal N'Orleans Restaurant, both in downtown Cape Girardeau. "There's so much available in August," he explained...