Stories from Thursday, December 12, 1996

Meanwhile, congressional Republicans are in a somewhat better position to keep recent welfare reforms intact, despite pressure from Democrats to undo the changes. When he signed the Republican-engineered welfare overhaul bill last August, he promised to come back and changes the parts he considered too severe: food stamps cuts and benefits for legal immigrants...

BRANSON -- Back in the early '60s, Andy Williams' record company had first crack at a wistful song from the musical "Breakfast at Tiffany's." They passed. Williams himself rejected the future hits "Volare" and "More," but he finally did get around to recording "Moon River."...

BRANSON -- One highlight of Christmas in Branson is the Radio City Christmas Spectacular and its scene called "Christmas in New York." Now in its third season at Branson, Radio City Productions mounts a production at The Grand Palace that includes ice-skating snowmen, a New York City skyline and festive city street in additional to a production number by the Radio City Rockettes...

Mr. Q is a dependent man living independently. His vision is poor and his education is limited, and he is a non-insulin-dependent diabetic. All of these problems combine to make it difficult for Mr. Q to read labels and stick to a restricted diet. However, he manages for now to live alone in a rented home and to do his own cooking...

PERRYVILLE -- They call her the MS Society Guru of Southeast Missouri, and now they also call her Mother of the Year. Victoria Pingel is recognized as an expert on multiple sclerosis throughout Missouri and Illinois. Although diagnosed with the disease herself in 1991, Pingel has been a great contributor to educating fellow sufferers in the advances that have been made in treating and possibly curing the disease, which attacks the central nervous system...

Union Planters Bank of Southeast Missouri has applied to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation for permission to merge three recently acquired First Financial Bank operations into Union Planters Bank of Southeast Missouri, which is headquartered at Cape Girardeau...

First, I'm not a country music fan. The only way I'd know Shania Twain from Mark Twain is the mustache -- his of course. Up to this week I'd never heard Deana Carter's top country single "Strawberry Wine," and I didn't know what to expect from her "Did I Shave My Legs For This?" concert at Peppy's Tuesday night...

A stage full of seasoned and unseasoned singers/dancers/actors auditioned for "The Music Man" Tuesday night, each one hoping to imprint their names on the brain trust behind Southeast's upcoming production. A young woman named Nicole raided "Grease" for the lyric "Look at me I'm Sandra Dee, lousy with virginity." A young man named Ryan added customized arm movements to the dance sequence everyone learned. ...

IF ANYONE at TCI actually reads the newspaper, maybe you should listen to this for a second. There are a few reasons why VH-1 and the Comedy Channel don't have good viewership in this area. No. 1, they share the same satellite, and at a certain time of the day and the certain time of the night, VH-1 turns over to Comedy Central or Comedy Central turns over to VH-1. ...

Chairman Lybyer visits We were fortunate to have an important visitor in Southeast Missouri this week in the person of state Sen. Mike Lybyer, D-Huggins, chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee. Lybyer is a conservative Texas County Democrat of easygoing, friendly disposition, whose business outside the Legislature is raising cattle on his ranch. ...

A few weeks before the election, top Democratic fund raisers said there were no problems with illegal donations from foreigners. Just before the election, the same fund raisers admitted there was a problem -- but only a minor one. After the election, they said the problem was even more widespread...

Cape Girardeau is lighting up for the sixth annual Holiday of Lights tour and contest. Holiday of Lights is a combined effort of the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce Beautification Committee and the Convention and Visitors Bureau. The committee holds an annual decorating contest. The bureau plans the driving route and bus tours. Judging was completed last week and the tours begin Friday...

JACKSON -- The Cape Girardeau County Commission will unveil a new planning and zoning commission to develop a strategy for control of future construction growth. The 10-member board will be introduced Monday at 10 a.m. during a public meeting at the County Administration Building in Jackson...

Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus. He just didn't make it to our house this Christmas. Unless Toybox donations pick up in a hurry, that conversation and others like it will take place in many Cape Girardeau homes this Christmas. Toybox co-chairperson Kerry Reeves said that with only seven days left before the Dec. ...

Dec. 12, 1996 Dear Patty, When the phone rang just before 8 Sunday morning, DC's side of the bed was empty. Nothing unusual about that. She often rises with the sun, heads down to her office to do paperwork or goes walking with the dogs while I remain on the dark side of the moon. If typical, this would be an early morning phone call from a patient with an ache...

Just like most other state highways that cut through cities, the new section of Highway 74 will get a local name. It will be called Shawnee Parkway if the Cape Girardeau Planning and Zoning Commission has its way. Despite the lighthearted objections of a couple of members, the commission agreed to recommend the name for approval by the City Council. ...

Private charitable and faith-based organizations will assume much of what the federal welfare system does now, U.S. Sen. John Ashcroft said Wednesday night at the Salvation Army Community and Worship Center in Cape Girardeau. Ashcroft, R-Mo., is in the midst of a statewide tour of service organizations like the Salvation Army, explaining how the state will contract for welfare services as the welfare system begins a slow change...

MARBLE HILL -- Beulah Mae Fox, 83, of Marble Hill died Tuesday, Dec. 10, 1996, in Mt. Sterling, Ill. She was born May 22, 1913, near Marble Hill, daughter of Leonard and Rhoda Hartle Jacobs. She and Henry W. Fox were married July 9, 1932. Fox was a charter member of Lutesville General Baptist Church...

ARLINGTON, Ky. -- Linda K. Hart, 48, of Arlington, Ky., died Wednesday, Dec. 11, 1996, at her residence. She was born Nov. 20, 1948, in Charleston, daughter of Herman W. and Edna Lou Nichelson Hart. She married David Kenneth Hart Feb. 10, 1996, and he survives her. She worked at the Harper Ham Co...

OAK RIDGE -- Dellia L. Mangels, 88, of Oak Ridge died Tuesday Dec. 10, 1996 at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. Visitation will be 4 to 8 p.m. Friday at McCombs Funeral Home in Jackson. Services will be 10:30 Saturday at the funeral home. Burial will follow at Zion United Methodist Cemetery at Old Appleton...

TAMMS, Ill. -- Funeral service for Minnie Faye Poole of Tamms will be held at 1 p.m. today at Jones Funeral Home in Tamms. The Rev. Johnnie Gibson will officiate, with burial in St. John's Cemetery near Dongola. Poole, 71, died Tuesday, Dec. 10, 1996, at Union County Hospital in Anna...

PERRYVILLE -- Elmer Joseph Sutterer, 80, of Perryville died Tuesday, Dec. 10, 1996, in Cape Girardeau. He was born July 9, 1916, in Perry County, son of John and Mathilda Amberger Sutterer. He and Florence T. Sutterer were married Nov. 5, 1938. Sutterer was a farmer. He was a member of Our Lady of Victory Catholic Church at Sereno, Knights of Columbus Council 1263, and American Legion Booster Club Post 133...

Funeral service for E.E. "Betty" Stubbs, 1725 Broadway, will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday at Centenary United Methodist Church. The Rev. Neil Stein will officiate, with burial in Memorial Park. Friends may call at Ford and Sons Mt. Auburn Chapel from 4-6 p.m. Friday...

SCOTT CITY -- Treva M. Ruth, 68, of Scott City died Tuesday, Dec. 10, 1996, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. She was born Aug. 1, 1928, in St. Louis, daughter of the Rev. Andrew and Doshia Lullar Terry. She and Raymond T. Ruth were married Sept. 18, 1948, at Irondale...

JACKSON -- Harry Lee Headrick, 74, of Jackson died Tuesday, Dec. 10, 1996, at John Cochran VA Medical Center in St. Louis. He was born Oct. 10, 1922, at Jackson, son of Eldon and Hattie Scheper Headrick. He married Ellen Irene Friedhoff, who preceded him in death...

PERRYVILLE -- Funeral Mass for Flora T. Sauer of Perryville will be held at 10 a.m. today at St. Vincent's Catholic Church. The Rev. Kevin Fausz will officiate, with burial in Mt. Hope Cemetery. Friends may call at Young and Sons Funeral Home from 8:30-9:45 a.m...

JONESBORO, Ill. -- Ernest Tweedy, 95, of Jonesboro died Tuesday, Dec. 10, 1996, at Hillview Nursing Home in Vienna. He was born Nov. 25, 1901, in Union County, son of Charles Edgar and Mitilda Boyer Tweedy. He and Jewell Howe were married July 4, 1921, in Jonesboro...

JONESBORO, Ill. -- Roy L. Tellor, 80, of Jonesboro died Tuesday, Dec. 10, 1996, at Jonesboro Healthcare Center. He was born March 29, 1916, in Pomona, son of Elmer and Marilda Taylor Tellor. Tellor was a retired baker. He was a member of Union Local 4 in St. Louis...

Maud S. Obermiller, 95, of Cape Girardeau died Wednesday, Dec. 11, 1996, at St. Francis Medical Center. She was born Aug. 18, 1901, in Pomona, Ill., daughter of Walter William and Della Cripps Smith. She and Glen H. Obermiller were married July 15, 1938, in Evansville, Ind. He died June 2, 1983...

JACKSON -- Leo Roy Skelton, 68, of Caruthersville, formerly of Jackson, died Tuesday, Dec. 10, 1996, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. Friends may call at McCombs Funeral Home in Jackson from 4-8 p.m. Friday. Funeral service will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at Christ Lutheran Church in Gordonville. Burial will be in the church cemetery...

ST. LOUIS -- George Matzat, 89, of St. Louis died Monday, Dec. 9, 1996, at St. Luke's Hospital in Chesterfield. He was born in Elmore, Minn. He married Eleanore M. Hansen, who preceded him in death. He later married Violet T. Taylor. Matzat was a retired banker, working at Heitner Corp. ...