Stories from Wednesday, August 21, 1996

To the editor: Among other things, the recent Republican convention was supposed to be a reassertion of the new conservatism by Barry Goldwater and carried to its ultimate acceptance and implementation by Ronald Reagan. It was that, but it also showed itself for what it really is: populist conservatism. It is a set of concepts merchandised as a conservatism disguising the popular notions of a self-seeking segment of society...

The rodeo kicked off with a wild bull ride Tuesday night at the Union County Fair in Anna, Ill. Dave, Crystal and Tiffany Woodworth of Anna, Ill. went flying down the Union County Fair's great slide Tuesday night. ANNA, Ill. -- Under a cloudless sky Tuesday night, the Union County Fair took off with one of its best nights of the week-long event...

America must still fight the war on drugs despite its efforts at prevention and education. Southeast Missouri is prepared for the battle. A national report released by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services said that American teens increased drug use by 78 percent from 1992 to 1995...

I'D LIKE to thank the people at Southeast Missouri Hospital. I was recently in the hospital for a stroke. Thank you to the nurses who took care of me, and thank you to my doctor, Dr. Lee, who found out my problem that I've had since birth but didn't know I had. I owe my life to all of them. Thank you very much for your kind help and your caring...

There is good news from the U.S. military regarding the use of illegal drugs. A new survey shows that overall drug use has dropped about 90 percent since 1980. There are a number of reasons for the improved figures, analysts say. Among them are a tough enforcement policy, changes in attitudes by American society and significant shifts in military demographics...

The good news: Missouri has a well-developed road system. The bad news: The state's 23,000 bridges cost millions of dollars to maintain. And the latest report on safety inspections of Missouri's bridges show that 54 percent are deficient, either because they are functionally or structurally outdated...

To the editor: On Aug. 1 I was headed to Sturgis, S.D., with some friends when my motorcycle broke down. My bike is a 26-year-old ex-police bike, and a bad repair by a previous owner finally caught up with her. The damage was serious enough that I was "stuck" in Cape Girardeau for five days. However, if I have to be stuck anywhere in the future, I hope the people there will be half as friendly and helpful as the people I met in your town...

To the editor: We have just witnessed the ingathering of the Republican Party at its national convention. The Republicans paraded old voices, old faces and old themes. The silent but resounding old theme was "just say no" to women. An examination of some of the issues is as follows: Bob Dole wanted to eliminate the Violence Against Women Act. ...

The amount of litter on Cape Girardeau's streets led some to declare this summer the most trashy ever. Members of the Chamber of Commerce's Beautification Committee want to change people's attitudes about litter, making them care about their community's cleanliness...

The son of Polish immigrants, Ronald Yersak of Dexter believes in the American dream and the Democratic Party. The history of his parents and grandparents is a history of immigrant opportunity. The 60-year-old financial adviser is a delegate to the Democratic National Convention, which begins Monday in Chicago. It will be his first political convention...

It came as no surprise to Jim Davis, director of the Girardot Center for Youth and Family, that more Cape Girardeau County juveniles are doing drugs. A national survey released Tuesday shows that drug use among teen-agers has increased significantly...

Proposal Cape Girardeau voters will decide two related issues on the Nov. 5 general election ballot. First, they will decide whether the city should issue $26.5 million in water system improvement bonds. Second, they will decide whether to approve a 20-year, quarter-cent sales tax to pay the debt service on the bonds...

The scent of fresh, wide-ruled notebook paper and pencil graphite is in the air. Summer is over at my alma mater -- dear ol' Sikeston High -- and Cape Girardeau kids soon will follow their southern counterparts back to school. Of course, the Cape kids won't have air conditioning...

The city of Cape Girardeau recently received the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting for its comprehensive annual financial report. Presented by the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada, the award has gone to Cape Girardeau two years in a row. It is the highest form of recognition for governmental accounting and financial reporting...

State Sen. Peter Kinder has been named chairman of the education task force of the American Legislative Exchange Council. His appointment came at a board meeting he attended in Newport, R.I. The council is a Washington, D.C.-based association of state lawmakers founded on the principles of limited government, free markets and individual liberty...

CHAFFEE -- How many people does it take to run the Chaffee Police Department? It sounds like the beginning of a joke, but the Chaffee City Council, which is dealing with that question now, found out at Monday's meeting that it isn't a funny matter. The council members decided to table an ordinance that would do away with the existing four-member Police Commission and put the police department under the supervision of Chaffee's new city administrator, Ron Eskew. ...

The Southeast Missourian asked children about going back to school. Danielle Thiele: "I'm looking forward to school and sixth grade. I especially want to go to P.E. class. We'll get to go bowling. The new middle school has a nice, big library." Rika Friedrich: "I'm looking forward to seeing my friends at school. I'll be in fourth grade at West Lane. We're going to have a fair there with prizes. I like math best."...

JACKSON -- The city's tax rate will remain at $1.05 for 1996. A public hearing held Monday night on the rate, which has been unchanged since 1985, had only reporters in attendance. The rate will be $1.05 per $100 assessed valuation for people within the library district, and 92 cents for people outside the district...

JACKSON -- Enrollment in the Jackson School District could top 4,100 students this year. Dr. Howard Jones, superintendent of schools, said the district won't attempt an exact count until after Labor Day because some students will wait until then to start classes, but he expects an increase of 100 or more students this year...

JACKSON -- The Chamber of Commerce is taking orders for the new Jackson afghan, which features several points of interest around the city. Deadline to order is Sept. 30, and the afghans will be delivered in November. The afghans feature the Chamber of Commerce building, Bollinger Mill, the Cape Girardeau County Courthouse, the Oliver House, Old McKendree Chapel and Brookside Park veterans memorial...

JACKSON -- Winners of the 1996 Homecomers Talent Show were announced following competition last week. The talent show, which ended Friday, was sponsored by Jackson American Legion Post 158. Winners in the 13-21 age group were Alisha Walther, Jackson, first place; Shane Pashis, Dexter, second; Sara Whisler of Chaffee, Jill Landewee of Leopold, Christy Shaw of Scott City and Ashley Allmon of Marble Hill, third place; Carissa Selvidge, Jennifer Harris and Linsay Haas of Poplar Bluff, fourth; Krista Frazer of Essex, fifth; Nicki Klein and Alissa Driry of Ste. ...

SCOTT CITY -- Some ditches and creeks in Scott City are becoming a growing problem for the City Council. Monday at its regular meeting, the council fielded questions about the ditches that run alongside the railroad's property line on Main Street and a creek that stretches behind Perkins Street...

JACKSON -- Robert Clayton Crigger, 68, of Jackson died Tuesday, Aug. 20, 1996, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. He was born Sept. 27, 1927, in Millsboro, Ky., son of Robert and Della Nash Crigger. He married Lorine Adams, who died Aug. 13, 1991...

SCOTT CITY -- Emma Kathryn Bateman, 81, of Scott City died Tuesday, Aug. 20, 1996, at Heartland Care and Rehab Center in Cape Girardeau. She was born July 11, 1915, daughter of Harry and Lou Retta O'Quinn Rasberry. She and James E. Bateman were married Aug. 10, 1946. He died Sept. 21, 1978...

PERRYVILLE -- Bernice Besand, 83, of Perryville, died Tuesday, Aug. 20, 1996, at Perry County Nursing Home. She was born March 24, 1913, in St. Louis, daughter of Hermann and Daisy Tilkameyer. She and Francis Besand were married Feb. 14, 1929, in St. Louis. He died Nov. 7, 1994...

JONESBORO, Ill. -- Funeral service for Joshua Cain Williams of Jonesboro will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday at Lutz and Rendleman Funeral Home in Anna. The Revs. Clifford Heil and Nyle Forby will officiate, with burial in Casper Cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home after 6 p.m. today...

COBDEN, Ill. -- Funeral service for Eric L. Yancey of Cobden will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday at Lutz and Rendleman Funeral Home in Anna. The Revs. Clifford Heil and Nyle Forby will officiate. Burial will be in Cobden Cemetery, with military rites by Illinois National Guard...

CHARLESTON -- Evelyn Renee Porter, 18, of Charleston, died suddenly Monday, Aug. 19, 1996, at the home of her mother in Cairo. She was born May 26, 1978, in Charleston, daughter of George and Regina Porter. Porter was a 1996 graduate of Charleston High School and played on the basketball team...

Daughter to Jimmy Dean and Paula Jo Gray of Scott City, Southeast Missouri Hospital, 1:29 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 15, 1996. Name, Hanna Lee Ann. Weight, 6 pounds 12 ounces. Second daughter. Mrs. Gray is the former Paula Weber, daughter of Doris Weber of Scott City, and the late Leon P. Weber. Gray is the son of Raymond and Josephine Gray of Scott City. He is employed at Alliance Water Resources in Cape Girardeau...

BELL CITY -- Funeral service for Kenneth Thrower of Bell City was held Tuesday at Morgan Funeral Chapel in Advance. Kenneth Krippner officiated, with burial in Pleasant Grove Cemetery near Bell City. Thrower, 63, died Saturday, Aug. 17, 1996, at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston...

Natural Lifestyle Cooking, a seminar that goes a step beyond cooking to add joy and years to your life, is being offered at the Cape Girardeau Seventh-day Adventist Church, 820 S. West End Blvd. Classes begin Sunday at 5 p.m. and continue for five consecutive Sundays. All other classes begin at 6 p.m...

If the savory smells of backyard barbecues have seemed more predominate of late, there is a reason. Amateur barbecuers have been perfecting their recipes and cooking techniques in readiness for the fourth annual Cape BBQ Fest. Sponsored by the Agri-Business Committee of the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce, the fest begins Friday afternoon and continues through Saturday afternoon at Arena Park. There is no admission charge...