Stories from Sunday, December 29, 1996

To the editor: Just what is the Department of Commerce? Did you know that you, the taxpayer, pay for McDonald's, Coca-Cola, drug companies and many more corporations to advertise and set up office in Europe and Far Eastern countries? And why is it that the front man finds his work rewarding beyond that of pride in achievement? Opening trade means exchange of dollars between governments. ...

To the editor: Make no mistake. God is good -- in spite of us. The latest manifestation in my life came through Southeast Missouri Hospital. In October I was referred to a Dr. Miller in oncology for radiation therapy. Dr. Miller received me with professionalism laced with tenderness, compassion and personal care. His staff followed his lead. My discomfort as a result of the treatment itself is minimized because of their kindness...

To the editor: I read your recent editorial concerning continued funding for the airport control tower with great interest. The city of Cape Girardeau is to be commended for its continued commitment to safety and the realization as to what an important factor our airport is in the economic development of our region. ...

To the editor: Recently when I was at the Arena Park antique market looking for some old goodies, I cam across a very smart young man from another country. I asked him what he did for a living. He said he taught mathematics at a community college in Southern Illinois. I asked him why he didn't work in the Cape Girardeau area. He told me an interesting story which confirmed my worst suspicions...

The Outstanding Schools Act, also known as Senate Bill 380, was passed in 1993 and is the most consequential piece of school funding legislation passed in many years. In two of the three years since its passage, there have been major cleanup bills. Most recently these included Senate Bill 795, passed just this year, which is forcing the closure of a New Madrid County school. ...

The Missouri Supreme Court has raised the bar for plaintiffs who seek punitive damages -- special awards seeking to deter injurious conduct, exacted over and above the award of damages that makes the injured party whole. Punitive damages are meant to punish actions knowingly taken with bad intent that result in injury...

The Oakland, Calif., school district's approval of Ebonics as a separate language amazes on several levels. Ebonics, we are told, is a name derived from ebony and phonics signifying a slang, street-level dialect spoken by young African-Americans. The Oakland educrats promptly became a laughingstock, but two mostly unremarked points stand out for me in the whole brouhaha...

Terry Byrd of Jackson has been power lifting for seven years and recently his wife Jennifer joined him in the sport. Terry squatted the state record of 523 pounds on Nov. 2 at the Universal Gym meet in Cape Girardeau. Jennifer's first meet on Nov. 2 she squatted 154 pounds, dead lifted 164 pounds and benched 77 pounds...

When Cape Girardeau countians wake up Wednesday, they will be starting the new year in a brand new first-class county. But hardly anyone will notice the difference. Members of the Cape Girardeau County Commission said changes resulting from the move from second- to first-class status will be largely administrative. However, shifts in responsibilities and increased powers will result...

The holiday season may offer plenty of good food, but pickin's are slim in terms of entertainment for Cape Girardeau teen-agers. Local teen-agers and business people said the city has activities geared toward students under 18, but no specific activities for older teen-agers...

A congressman died and voters elected his wife. A campaigning president stopped in Cape Girardeau. A rash of burglaries plagues the city's elderly. The death of 8th District U.S. Rep. Bill Emerson and the subsequent election of his widow, Jo Ann, was the biggest local story of the year, according to the Southeast Missourian news staff. President Bill Clinton's visit in August was ranked second. The death of longtime lawyer Rush Hudson Limbaugh came in third...

Moms and dads should come with batteries. That way we would have enough energy to keep up with our children. Elves would love our home. Toys are everywhere -- nestled beneath the Christmas tree, on top of the kitchen table and sprawled from one end of the house to the other...

JEFFERSON CITY -- Record fish were biting for many Missourians in 1996. The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) has certified 18 state fishing records this year. The MDC recognizes state-record catches in two categories -- "Pole Line and Lure" (PLL) and "Other."...

As the calendar year 1996 draws to a close, it might be an appropriate time for outdoor enthusiasts to stop and reflect on the past year. The end of one year also marks the beginning of a new one, 1997, so it is also appropriate that we take the time to look toward the future...

PERRYVILLE -- Nella Mae Erwin, 87, of Perryville died Friday, Dec. 27, 1996, at PerryOaks Healthcare. She was born May 11, 1909, at St. Mary, daughter of Jess and Marietta Barry Taylor. She and Anthony C. Erwin were married Aug. 8, 1928. He died May 31, 1981...

Ross Stiller Clark, 83, of Cape Girardeau died Wednesday, Dec. 25, 1996, at the Cape Girardeau Nursing Center. He was born Feb. 27, 1913, at Dresden, Tenn, son of Oscar and Lillian Barlow Clark. Clark was a retired farmer and a member of the Church of Christ in Jackson...

GALE, Ill. -- Ivan W. Reimann, 78, of Gale Route 1 died Friday, Dec. 27, 1996, at Southeast Missouri Hospital. He was born July 1, 1918, at Egypt Mills, son of Charles and Dorthea Gerlach Reimann. He was a custodian for the Cape Girardeau School District before retiring in July 1985. He was a veteran of World War II, serving in the Air Force in Europe. He was a member of VFW Post 3838 and Trinity Lutheran Church in Egypt Mills...

GODFREY, Ill. -- Kenneth F. Felden, 73, of Godfrey died Sunday, Dec. 15, 1996, at St. Anthony's Hospital in Godfrey after a lengthy illness. He was born March 13, 1923, at Chaffee, Mo., son of Joseph and Beulah Williford Felden. He and Irene Newman were married on Sept. 15, 1956, at Alton...

PERRYVILLE -- Lucille E. Busch, 83, of Perryville died Friday, Dec. 27, 1996, at her home. She was born Jan. 19, 1913, at Little Rock, Ark., daughter of William and Rosella Landeaster Mowry. She and John R. Busch were married. He later died. Busch was a housewife and a member of St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church...

COBDEN, Ill. -- Franklin Delano Trexler, 63, of Cobden, died Saturday, Dec. 28, 1996 at his home. He was born April 11, 1933, at Alto Pass, son of William and Bertha Fisher Trexler. He and Geneva Sims were married Aug. 24, 1953, in Murphysboro. Trexler was a retired truck driver and had served in the U.S. Armed Services during the Korean Conflict...

SCOTT CITY -- Funeral service for Douglas Paul Miller, 36, of Scott City Route 1 will be held at 9 a.m. Monday at St. Joseph's Catholic Church. Friends may call after 3 p.m. today at the church, with parish prayers recited at 6:30. He died Thursday, Dec. 26, 1996...

A well pump broke down Saturday afternoon, leaving residents of a rural Cape Girardeau subdivision without water. The Hillcrest Subdivision on Route K, west of Cape Girardeau, has about 160 homes and apartments. They are served by a private water and sewer system operated by Hillcrest Utilities Co...

SIKESTON -- Funeral service was held Saturday for Cora Mae Bradley Rainer, 77, of Sikeston. The service was held at the Williams-Farr and Purnell Funeral Chapel in Sikeston. The Rev. Flem E. Bronner Sr. officiated, with burial in the Sunset of Memories Cemetery...

CHARLESTON -- Virginia Dare Elmore Young, 82, of Charleston died Saturday, Dec. 28, 1996, at the Bertrand Nursing Facility. She was born Sept. 7, 1914, at Morley, daughter of Claude Rowe and Eva Bizzell Elmore. She and Ellis Young were married on June 14, 1936. He died March 12, 1985...

ADVANCE -- Betty M. Livers, 81, of Advance died Saturday, Dec. 28, 1996, at her home. She was born Dec. 23, 1915, at Caruthersville, daughter of John and Annie McCarey Glasscock. She and Tom Livers were married on Aug. 14, 1937, at Bloomfield. He died in July 5, 1988...

House of David By Aaron ben Justus Bethlehem, Judea, Chisleu, 5757 All kinds of strange occurrences took place last week in Bethlehem. Probably the most noticeable was the great influx of strangers. Down from Bethsaida, Nazareth, Capernaum they came. Over from Joppa and Ashkelon, up from Hebron and Beer-sheba...