Stories from Friday, September 6, 1996

To the editor: The right wing me-firsters of the Dole/Kemp/Gingrich campaign need some lessons to help them remedy the economic naivete that they profess, and are using to try to suck in what they hope is a gullible electorate. They are forgetting several economic realities that will control our destiny:Our economic wealth is based on the natural systems and natural resources that we use, mine, and harvest. ...

The sale of St. Vincent's Seminary was delayed Thursday, the day the buildings and grounds were supposed to be auctioned off on the courthouse steps. A small group gathered at the Common Pleas Courthouse in Cape Girardeau for the auction Thursday afternoon. Tom L. Meyer, trustee of the property for the Vincentian Fathers, said the foreclosure on the seminary was rescheduled for Sept. 12 at 3 p.m...

Cape Central Junior High School students will get to "Tie 'Em Up Tiger" during an event Saturday sponsored by the Parent Teacher Association and St. Francis Medical Center. The annual "Tie 'Em Up Tiger" day gives students the opportunity to win prizes, tie-dye T-shirts and enter a dance contest. It is designed to promote school spirit for the eighth- and ninth-grade students. The activities begin at 10 a.m. and end at 12:30 p.m. at the school...

An agriculture committee has been formed to advise Democratic congressional candidate Emily Firebaugh on the needs of 8th District farmers. The founding members of the advisory board are John Robertson of Kennett, Dr. Kinch Jones of Park Hills and K.R. "Ken" Lenox of Rolla...

The Cape Girardeau County Chapter of American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) will meet at 11:30 a.m. Monday at Shelter 20 at Cape County Park South. Everyone attending is asked to bring a dish of food. Table service and beverages will be provided...

JACKSON -- The county's fund balances continue to increase, auditors told Cape Girardeau County Commissioners Thursday. The commission heard a preliminary audit report from William Schott and Vicky Kerby of Schott and Van de Ven, CPAs of Cape Girardeau...

JACKSON -- Cape Girardeau County's Road and Bridge levy will be a penny higher when residents get their tax bills this fall. The county commission set the levy at 23 cents per $100 assessed valuation Thursday. The levy was set at 22 cents last year...

Thorny issues surrounding Missouri's gambling industry keep cropping up. The latest is raised in a lawsuit that questions the construction of land-based casinos that have only a slim thread of connection to the concept of cruising riverboats on the Missouri or Mississippi rivers -- which is what Missourians thought they were approving in 1994...

Another lawsuit currently in court challenges a new law that allows underage store clerks to sell liquor. While the plaintiffs' objective is to prevent this, their legal objection is based on how the law was enacted by the Missouri General Assembly...

Progress carries a price tag. For Southeast Missouri State University, the price tag is $9.8 million for new academic programs and projects over the next three years. They include a new focus on technical training and establishment of an education center in Sikeston...

Republican presidential nominee Bob Dole hasn't quit on Missouri and Illinois, campaign officials said Thursday. Dole sounded the tax-cut theme in a new 30-second television commercial that is airing in 15 states. "You shouldn't have to apologize for wanting to keep what you earn. It's your money," the TV ad states...

It only took one visit to the Easter Seals Early Learning Center for Marla Rhodes and Mary Brewer to know they wanted to return. Their visit was part of the Days of Caring sponsored by the Area Wide United Way. Most volunteer groups will begin work today...

Emily Firebaugh was chosen Thursday by 8th District Democrats to be their candidate in the congressional district special election Nov. 5. She will face Jo Ann Emerson, the Republicans' choice. A special election was called by Gov. Mel Carnahan to complete U.S. Rep. Bill Emerson's term in office after he died of lung cancer June 22. The special election will coincide with the Nov. 5 general election in which Firebaugh is the Democratic candidate...

A meeting in the Sunflower State offered plenty of opportunities to covet a few minutes in the La-Z-Boy. Notes from a trip to the land of Oz: Kansas still suffers from its geography, which is why it is best known to most outsiders as that long haul of interstate that must be traveled to reach Colorado. ...

The Cape Area Friends of the National Rifle Association's fund-raising banquet Thursday night at the Holiday Inn's convention center drew about 325 people and might have raised as much as $20,000. Doug Snider, chairman of the Cape Area Friends of the NRA, said this, the 3rd annual banquet, drew as many people as their first banquet but will probably bring in more money. ...

DEXTER -- The Missouri Farm Bureau has endorsed third-party candidate Ray Rowland of Dexter over incumbent Jerry Howard. Rowland is running on the U.S. Taxpayer's Party. No Republican is on the ballot. Howard, a Dexter Democrat, has served as senator of the state's 25th District since 1990...

CAIRO, Ill. -- Arnell Klapp, 83, of Cairo died Thursday, Sept. 5, 1996, at his home. He was born Aug. 29, 1913, in Clinton, Ky., the son of Algie and Fredia Nall Klapp. He married Nina E. Klapp. Klapp was a member of the First Methodist Church in Clinton. He was a retired Cairo Vocational School teacher and veteran of World War II...

Reman J. Birk, 86, of St. Charles died Wednesday, Sept. 4, 1996, at Barnes Jewish Hospital in St. Peters. He was born Nov. 7, 1909, at Tilsit, son of Albert E. and Caroline Loos Birk. He and Laura D. Bender were married Aug. 24, 1929, in Cape Girardeau...

SCOTT CITY -- Funeral service for Mildred K. Porch of Scott City will be held at 1 p.m. today at Fitch-Hillis Funeral Home in Poplar Bluff. The Rev. Bennie Hodge will officiate, with burial in Memorial Gardens. Porch, 80, died Tuesday, Sept. 3, 1996, at her home...

URBANA, Ill. -- Betty Boatright, 66, of Urbana, formerly of Anna, died Thursday, Sept. 5, 1996, at Americana Nursing Home in Urbana. She was born March 20, 1930, in Harrisburg, daughter of Ellis and Ethel Riegel Glascock. She and Dr. Jean R. Boatright were married Jan. 19, 1952...

PERRYVILLE -- Howard W. Clifton, 75, of Perryville died Wednesday, Sept. 4, 1996, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. He was born Oct. 24, 1920, in Perry County, son of Chalmer F. and Verda Dempster Clifton. He and Irene M. Winters were married Dec. 24, 1939...

OLMSTED, Ill. -- Funeral service for Lena Harner of Metropolis will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday at Crain Funeral Home in Ullin. The Revs. Gary Harner and Gene Edwards will officiate, with burial in Beechwood Cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home after 6 p.m. today...

MARBLE HILL -- Michael Wayne Henson, 53, of St. Louis died Wednesday, Sept. 4, 1996, at St. Mary's Hospital in St. Louis, of an apparent heart attack. He was born June 16, 1943, in St. Louis, son of Carroll and Hazel Sasser Henson. He and Lola Mae Sitze were married July 8, 1963...

JACKSON -- Christopher Lynn "Chris" Johnson, 21, of Oklahoma City, Okla., died Wednesday, Sept. 4, 1996, in Oklahoma City. He was a paraplegic and was struck by an automobile while crossing a street in his wheelchair. He was born Oct. 11, 1974, in Cape Girardeau, son of Richard Lynn and Judy Lynn Crites Johnson. He attended Jackson High School, recently received his GED, and was preparing to enter Oklahoma State University in January...

Son to Mark Anthony and Tara Shae Dry of Jackson, Southeast Missouri Hospital, 11:29 a.m. Monday, Sept. 2, 1996. Name, Darien Marcus. Weight, 5 pounds 12 ounces. Second son. Mrs. Dry is the former Tara Campbell, daughter of Tom and Sharron Campbell of Jackson. Dry is the son of Susan Dry of Jackson. He is maintenance supervisor at TG(USA) in Perryville...

SCOTT CITY -- Bridget O. "Biddie" Hopper, 103, of Scott City, died Thursday, Sept. 5, 1996, at her home. Arrangements are incomplete at Amick-Burnett Funeral Chapel in Scott City.