Stories from Wednesday, January 8, 1997

Missouri is blessed with many scenic highways and byways. The state's Department of Transportation wants to mark these routes as a way to promote increased travel and tourism. It is likely that several of this region's historic landmarks and routes featuring the state's natural beauty will be included in this program...

TCI and KFVS-TV have declared a truce -- at least for two months. Cape Girardeau's CBS affiliate will remain on TCI's cable systems in Southeast Missouri and Southern Illinois. The agreement works to the favor of both companies. The dispute dates back to a 1992 federal law, which says cable companies must receive permission to carry over-the-air channels. ...

RISK: Without the element of uncertainty, the bringing off of even the greatest business triumph would be a dull, routine, and eminently unsatisfying affair. -- J. Paul Getty. I mentioned recently that I would be reflecting on long-range plans at the start of this New Year. I've done just that and returned today with renewed vigor and focused goals for the future...

AFTER HAVING a couple of days to review the new channels that TCI has put on in favor of WGN, I just can't believe that's what they picked over WGN, two channels that nobody will ever watch. A useless cable TV here in Cape Girardeau. We need to get WGN back on our cable system...

It's cookie time, and the businesswomen of tomorrow are preparing to knock on doors everywhere. Girls Scouts from the local Otahki Council will begin door-to-door sales of their cookies at 3 p.m. Friday. Sales will continue through Jan. 27, and cookie deliveries will begin Feb. 27. The cost per box is $2.50...

Snack time is over. Local stores that had any Cabbage Patch Snacktime Kids left went to work removing the popular dolls from shelves Tuesday afternoon. News of the recall was released by Mattel Inc., the toy's manufacturer, to media early Tuesday morning...

James "Jumbo" Bacon spins the red, white and blue basketball on the tip of his finger over and over again as a newspaper photographer clicks away. A member of the famed Harlem Globetrotters, Bacon stopped off at the Show Me Center Tuesday as part of a publicity swing promoting the group's upcoming performance in Cape Girardeau...

Officials of Tele-Communications Inc. and the city of Cape Girardeau have opened a dialogue to address the recent controversy surrounding the local cable television system. Company representatives, including Roger Harms, general manager of the local TCI system, met Tuesday with Mayor Al Spradling III and City Manager Michael Miller at City Hall...

Next time, I'll burn my furniture instead of move it. By the time you read this, I should have my first sunburn. Yes, after 17 years as a proud Missouri resident, I'm moving to the Sunshine State of Hurricanes, also known as Florida. Pensacola, to be exact...

WASHINGTON -- U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Emerson didn't waste any time in introducing legislation. On the first day of the 105th Congress Tuesday, the Cape Girardeau Republican sponsored four constitutional amendments and two bills. She introduced amendments to balance the budget, allow voluntary school prayer, prevent flag desecration and ban abortions...

Only one week remains for potential school board candidates to decide if they will run in upcoming elections, and a number of districts don't have enough names yet to fill positions. A total of 18 people have announced candidacies in 15 school districts in Bollinger, Cape Girardeau and Scott counties. However, to fill all available positions, at least 21 candidates are needed...

He wasn't supposed to be a New Year's baby but there he was, all 2 pounds 4 ounces of him one and one-half months early. Now little Charles R. Schmitt Jr. is fighting for his life at Cardinal Glennon Children's Hospital in St. Louis, and his parents have established an account at Boatmen's Bank to help...

JACKSON -- Dr. Gary Kremer, a history professor at Williams Woods University, will be guest speaker at the Jackson Heritage Association's annual meeting and awards banquet on Jan. 25 at Bent Creek Golf Club. A social will begin at 6 p.m. followed by dinner at 6:30 p.m...

The Southeast Missourian asked people what they thought about the possibility of building a multipurpose community center for the city of Jackson. Chris Hampton: "As fast as Jackson is growing, I think this would be good for the city. Public events could be held on a scale smaller than the Show Me Center, and it would bring more tourism and revenue into the city."...

Jan. 6, 1997 Action Items Power and Light Committee A. Approved an ordinance accepting dedication of drainage easement from Appleton Valley Farm Inc. B. Approved an ordinance authorizing Mayor to sign depository agreements with Union Planters Bank and Boatmen's Bank...

Maybe Southeast Missouri State University's brutal early-season schedule -- which virtually guaranteed the Indians a poor overall record at this point -- is paying dividends after all. Among the Indians' non-conference losses in the first several weeks of the season were setbacks against Cincinnati, Missouri, Oklahoma, Old Dominion and Fresno State, who all should stand solid chances of making the NCAA Tournament...

Cape Girardeau Central High's boys basketball team had already proven itself against the best Southeast Missouri had to offer by beating Charleston on its way to the University High Christmas Tournament championship. Tuesday night, the Tigers proved themselves against one of the best from Southern Illinois as they held off Carbondale 67-61 in the Tiger Field House...

St. Vincent of Perryville went with its strength -- its physical strength -- but rival Notre Dame proved a little stronger overall and outlasted the Indians in a physical contest on Tuesday 65-60. St. Vincent (2-6), a school which has made a name for itself on the gridiron and features many football players on the basketball team, battled a depleted Notre Dame (6-5) squad throughout...

FARMINGTON -- Cape Central took a liking to its Class 4A, District 1 site Tuesday with a convincing 68-23 victory over Farmington at the new Civic Center. Central improved to 7-2 with the victory. Nicole Thiele, 23 points, led three Central players in double figures. Laura Lukens added 12 points and Abby Harris tallied 10...

JACKSON -- Jackson High's boys basketball team pounced on Hillsboro in the first half, building a 26-point lead, and defeated the visiting Eagles 75-58 Tuesday night. Jeff Walter scored 19 points and Justin Keen added 18 as Jackson improved to 9-4 on the season...

Mary Harriett Cofer Gentry, 77, of Amarillo, Texas, died Wednesday, Oct. 23, 1996, in Amarillo. She was the daughter of Charles and Erna Osterloh Cofer of Cape Girardeau. Her parents owned Cofer's Clothing Store on the corner of Sprigg and Good Hope. She married Phillip Brooks Gentry...

MOREHOUSE -- Betty Jean McCutcheon, 58, of Walnut Grove, Calif., died Monday, Jan. 6, 1997, in Walnut Grove. She was born Oct. 4, 1938, in Muscadine, Ala., daughter of George and Essie Coley Laminack. She and Don McCutcheon were married in 1960. McCutcheon lived in Morehouse from 1940 until moving to California in 1958...

CAIRO, Ill. -- Louise Hearon, 86, of Cairo died Monday, Jan. 6, 1997, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau, Mo. She was born Sept. 23, 1910, in Hopkinsville, Ky., daughter of Frank and Maude Hall Southhall. She married Clarence Hearon, who died in 1978...

MATTHEWS -- Funeral service for Hester G. Graham, Matthews Route 1, will be held at 2 p.m. today at Nunnelee Funeral Chapel in Sikeston. The Rev. Greg Robertson will officiate, with burial in Garden of Memories Cemetery. Graham, 78, died Monday, Jan. 6, 1997, at her home...

ORAN -- Kathleen Lillian Taylor, 82, Oran Route 1, died Monday, Jan. 6, 1997, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. She was born Oct. 8, 1914, in Anniston, daughter of Delpha Redden and Robert Finley. She and La Ray Robbs Taylor were married June 30, 1937. He died Feb. 2, 1984...

PERRYVILLE -- LeRoy F. Morrison, 81, of Perryville died Monday, Jan. 6, 1997, at his home. He was born June 13, 1915, at Perryville, son of Willis and Clara Besand Morrison. He and Corene L. Heisserer were married April 28, 1938. Morrison retired from International Shoe Co., and then was a clerk in the men's department at Rozier's. ...

SCOTT CITY -- Patsy Ussery, 53, of Springfield, Ill., died Monday, Jan. 6, 1997, at St. John's Hospital in Springfield. She was born April 21, 1943, at Sikeston, daughter of John S. and Rebecca D. Harp Bagwell Sr. She and Floyd Eugene Ussery were married Dec. 28, 1970, in Anna, Ill...

TAMMS, Ill. -- Funeral service for Florence E. Ring of Tamms will be held at 1 p.m. today at Jones Funeral Home in Tamms. The Revs. Jimmie Keller and Garnett Mitchell will officiate, with burial in Metropolis Memorial Gardens in Metropolis. Ring, 79, died Monday, Jan. 6, 1997, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau, Mo...

MOUNDS, Ill. -- Funeral service for Otho Ferguson, Mounds Route 1, will be held at 10 a.m. today at Barkett Funeral Home in Mounds. The Rev. F. Jerry Herring will officiate, with burial in the Masonic Cemetery at Grand Chain. Friends may call at the funeral home after 9 a.m...

Monday, Jan. 6 Public Hearings -- Request from the Lutheran Home for the Aged to rezone land at 2825 Bloomfield Road from R-1, single family residential, to R-4, multiple family residential. -- Request from the Lutheran Home for the Aged for a special use permit for a home health agency office at 2861 Bloomfield Road...

Charles "Ottie" Winstead, 78, 815 Rodney Vista, died Tuesday, Jan. 7, 1997, at Ratliff Care Center. He was born Sept. 17, 1918, in Providence, Ky., son of Charlie and Katherine McNeely Winstead. He and Eileen Branch were married Oct. 16, 1937, at Marble Hill. She died April 9, 1992...

Laura St. Ann Keller, 3120 Independence, an educator and avid worker for historic preservation in Cape Girardeau, died Sunday, Jan. 5, 1997, at Chateau Girardeau Health Center. She was born July 4, 1894, in Redding Ridge, Conn., daughter of Daniel Jerome and Adene Cook Keller. The family moved to Malden in 1900 from New York, and then to Cape Girardeau in 1938...

JACKSON -- All former members of the 140th National Guard are invited to a reunion planning meeting. It will be held Tuesday, Jan. 14 at Delmonico's restaurant in Jackson, beginning at 7 p.m. Members of Headquarters Company and Service Company of Cape Girardeau and Company E of Jackson are also invited to attend...

Question: Several days ago my dog had to be hospitalized because of dehydration. It seems she ate something that did not agree with her, and with the resulting vomiting and diarrhea, she became dehydrated. The vet put her on an I.V. for a few days, and she did okay. ...

Often the harbor of the home, a kitchen can radiate a warmth as comforting as any food. While cookbooks are written on every conceivable culinary subject, local cookbooks have the corner on the personal touch, regardless of what part of the country they hail...