Stories from Wednesday, September 4, 1996

Last Wednesday was the day provided in state law for many newly passed bills to become effective after being signed by the governor. Among the most significant are measures toughening penalties for the worst sexual offenders and for teen-agers caught driving and drinking...

The Scott City Council voted Tuesday to increase the city's police personnel board five to six members and divided it equally by political party affiliation. The 5-3 vote followed a pattern that has been developing in the voting of the council members over controversial issues, with Brenda Moyers, Norman Brant and Fred Lange opposing the majority...

Missouri Farm Bureau representatives from four counties voted unanimously Tuesday night to endorse 27th District State Sen. Peter Kinder for re-election over Democratic challenger Rick Althaus. Farm Bureau chief administrative officer Lowell Mohler said Kinder was endorsed on the first ballot by members representing Perry, Bollinger, Scott and Cape Girardeau counties. ...

Some time has passed since literate writers and speakers ceased quoting G.B. Shaw's famous quip that Britain and America were two continents separated by the same language. A recent AP release covering the Olympic Games was a timely reminder of the long-gone playwright's bon mot, and the event in Atlanta renewed the centuries-old battle over British and American English...

Tickets to see Carrot Top, the comedian who wears floral vests and is as well known for his creative mind as for his red hair, will go on sale at 9 a.m. today. Carrot Top will perform at the Show Me Center Oct. 6. Carrot Top's daily show on the Cartoon Network, "Carrot Top's A.M. Mayhem," is the network's top-rated program...

The southbound lane of Interstate 55 will be closed from midnight to 6 a.m. Thursday for construction on the new Highway 74 interchange. Traffic will be detoured to Business Loop 55. The northbound lane was closed for 15-minute periods. Between 7:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Friday, the left traveling lanes on both the north- and southbound lanes of I-55 will be closed. The right lanes will be delayed for 15-minute time periods throughout the day...

School clubs and parent organizations hope to raise school spirit with special back-to-school events. They have scheduled rallies for both Cape Girardeau Central High School and Central Junior High School students this week. The Central High renaissance group will honor students with perfect attendance and honors at a rally Thursday. ...

SAMUEL Francis' column on concealed weapons is extremely flawed in its logic. It says that in states with these laws, in effect, have lowered their violent crime rates. However, he doesn't mention that violent crime rates have dropped dramatically in states without these laws. ...

The visit of the president and vice president of the United States last Friday didn't go unnoticed by those who believe the national interest demands his removal from office this November. What these Clinton administration opponents set in motion, however, is noteworthy on several fronts...

The U.S. Department of Justice has asked MedAmerica HealthNet for information, MedAmerica's executive director said. Wade C. Adams said Tuesday that federal investigators contacted him last week to try to determine how the physician-hospital organization, marketed locally in conjunction with Blue Cross Blue Shield as HealthNet Blue, has affected competition in Southeast Missouri...

When Jackie Clark thinks about Cape Girardeau Public Library she envisions a building full of books and a whole lot more. Clark is part of a new organization at the library that was established to raise money for the library. Money will be used to expand access to information -- a library's central goal...

Economic developers may have found a way to provide potable water for Nash Road and other Cape Girardeau County areas without water or sewers. They want to finance improvements through a Tax Increment Financing District. Such districts, found throughout the state, earmark specific taxes to pay for infrastructure improvements...

Pete Poe hopes people will make a connection between the successful baseball season of the St. Louis Cardinals, the team's former manager Whitey Herzog, and the Area Wide United Way campaign kickoff today. This has been a successful year for the Cardinals, and people still make the connection between Herzog and the team, said Poe, chairman of the board for the local United Way. Now he wants them to support the United Way...

I've never been carried over a threshold. Then again, my spouse hasn't had a hernia. It evens out. As I lingered over a cappuccino with Brianna, the conversation turned to romance and the lack of it in our lives. Brianna is extremely organized and has a "memory shoebox" for each former boyfriend. These shoeboxes, dating back to the teen years, are full of cards, letters, dried corsages, etc. When she moves, they move with her...

JACKSON -- Aldermen gave the go-ahead to improve Independence, Olive and Forest streets after several residents withdrew their protests of the project. An ordinance authorizing the project was originally tabled Tuesday night after city attorney Steve Wilson said there might be some problems with the language in the bill, but after some alterations, aldermen went ahead and approved it...

Tuesday, Sept. 3, 7:30 p.m. Public Hearings -- Hearing held to consider the rezoning of Lots 1 through 30 and Lots 38 through 96 on the preliminary plat of Rosewood Estates Third Subdivision from R-1 to R-2 as submitted by Gerald Stoverink. -- Hearing heldto consider the rezoning of Lots 31 through 37 on the preliminary plat of Rosewood Estates Third Subdivision from C-2 to R-2 as submitted by Gerald Stoverink...

Welcome back to school to all administrators, teachers and other employees and students in Jackson. I know it will be another exciting, successful year for all Jackson area schools. Jackson Homecomers was a booming success again this year. Over 10,000 were in attendance and were treated to great weather, great shows, our new mural dedication, the introduction of our K-9 drug unit dog, great food stands and of course, the midway rides, etc...

The Southeast Missourian asked students at St. Paul Lutheran School, "If your mother was a school cook, what favorite meal would you want her to serve?" Todd Limbaugh: "Chicken patties and hamburgers. Mashed potatoes, corn and green beans." Jeremy Miller: "I like pizza. Sausage pizza. Macaroni, garlic bread and spaghetti."...

MCBRIDE -- A 60-year-old Gilster-Mary Lee truck driver was killed Tuesday after his truck was struck by a train. According to a report from the Perry County Sheriff's Department, a Gilster-Mary Lee tractor-trailer tried to cross the Burlington-Northern-Santa Fe tracks in McBride. The truck was struck by a southbound train at the crossing...

Edna Caroline Hafner, 84, of Cape Girardeau died Monday, Sept. 2, 1996, at Southeast Missouri Hospital. She was born Sept. 5, 1911, at Egypt Mills, daughter of Charles G. and Amanda D. Schlimme Kassel. Hafner had worked at Roth Tobacco Factory in Cape Girardeau 15 years; at a small arms factory in St. Louis 21 years; had been a cook on a riverboat; and a waitress in St. Louis...

SIKESTON -- Ethel Mae Evans, 90, of Sikeston died Sunday, Sept. 1, 1996, at Clearview Nursing Center. She was born March 31, 1906, in Massac County, Ill., daughter of Coy and Rose Kelly Kyle Myrick. She and H.G. "Gordy" Evans were married July 25, 1935...

SCOTT CITY -- Mildred K. Porch, 80, of Scott City died Tuesday, Sept. 3, 1996, at her home. Fitch Funeral Home in Poplar Bluff is in charge of arrangements.

SIKESTON -- Virginia DeWeese, 84, of Sikeston died Monday, Sept. 2, 1996, at Missouri Delta Medical Center. She was born April 1, 1912, in Bertrand, daughter of Thomas L. and Minnie E. Golightly Lett. She and Richard O. "Dick" DeWeese were married Nov. 11, 1937, in Charleston. He died March 5, 1960...

PUXICO -- Jennie Ann McClure, 91, of Puxico died Monday, Sept. 2, 1996, at Puxico Nursing Center. She was born Oct. 5, 1904, at Puxico, daughter of E.L. and Samantha Looney Hawks. She and Reuben E. McClure were married Feb. 25, 1926, in Lepanto, Ark. He died Jan. 8, 1979...

JONESBORO, Ill. -- Goldia Roach, 81, died Tuesday, Sept. 3, 1996, at City Care Center in Cobden. She was born March 12, 1915, in Bernie, Mo., daughter of Frank and Emma Wright. She first married Orville Reese, who preceded her in death. She later married Harold Roach, who also preceded her in death...

Daughter to Rita Renee Todd and James Allen Wilkerson of Cape Girardeau, Southeast Missouri Hospital, 1:21 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 22, 1996. Name, Amanda Danielle. Weight, 7 pounds. Third child, second daughter. Ms. Todd is the daughter of Bill and Gearldine Todd of Cape Girardeau...

SIKESTON -- A hole-in-one during the Kenny Rogers CP Center benefit golf tournament could be worth a new Chevy Blazer. Prizes will be awarded to any golfers who make a hole-in-one at the second annual benefit tournament. Trophies will be awarded to first, second and third place winners in the mens and ladies divisions...

Tuesday, Sept. 3, 7:30 p.m. City Hall Consent Ordinances -- Established stop signs on Earleen Street at Kent Street. New Ordinances -- Changeed the zoning of a tract of land on Interstate 55 from C-1 to C-2. -- Changed the zoning of 1918 N. Kingshighway from C-2 and R-1 to C-3...

OLMSTED, Ill. -- Mildred Taake Holhubner, 94, of Olmsted died Monday, Sept. 2, 1996, at Daystar Care Center in Cairo, Ill. She was born April 21, 1902, in St. Louis County to George and Wilhelmina Luecke Taake. She was married to John Holhubner, and he preceded her in death...