Stories from Wednesday, January 15, 1997

Each year, the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce surveys its membership to determine the top priorities of the year. As one might expect, economic development, creation of new jobs and business retention top the list most every year. But the 1,100-plus chamber membership has more many concerns. Tackling crime moved up the priority list to No. 3. This reflects a communitywide concern about a string of 16 burglaries targeting the elderly, as well as a high number of overall burglaries...

The city of Cape Girardeau wants to raise water rates 5 percent to cover the cost of increased operations. Some residents wonder why the increase is needed on the heels of a water system sales tax and bond issue that voters approved last fall. The proposed rate increase -- the maximum allowed by the city charter -- has left some hard feelings on both sides...

Southeast Missouri State University Coach RON SHUMATE won his 300th college career coaching victory Saturday with a 2-point victory over Eastern Kentucky State. And with his 301st victory Monday, SEMO finds itself tied for FIRST PLACE in the Ohio Valley Conference...

Just want to say a big thank you to Harry Salazar and his city street crew who got the city streets cleaned of the recent snow. They wasted no time in getting the job done. We sure thank you, and keep up the good work. UNTIL recently, until this new city manager change, we had the roads cleaned, sanded by the time kids were up ready to go to school, people up ready to go to work. ...

SCOTT CITY -- Interstate 55 was never meant to be a country road, but for the people of Scott City to get just about anywhere that's where they'll eventually end up. "The problem isthe interstate is being used as a local road and that decreases the capacity of the interstate," Missouri Department of Transportation project manager DawnRae Clark Fuller said. "In order to keep the interstate flowing we need to move some of that traffic off."...

Dr. Peter Bergerson, chairman of the political science department at Southeast Missouri State University, will guest lecture this week in Washington as part of a program on presidential inaugurations. The Washington Center program gives college students an opportunity to celebrate one of the greatest rituals in American political history. ...

Prolonged cold has increased the amount of ice in the Mississippi River, prompting the Coast Guard to warn mariners and sightseers to be careful. "We're preparing to send out a notice to mariners to use extreme caution in the area due to the icing," said Lt. Tom Tarrants of the Coast Guard station in Paducah, Ky. "Barges shouldn't be greatly affected at this point but they should use caution. If they don't have a tow, they're a lot more unstable."...

When the city of Cape Girardeau bought the water system from Union Electric five years ago, it hired a company to handle management chores. But increased operating costs and almost annual rate increases concern Councilman Melvin Gateley. Gateley suggested Tuesday that the city seek proposals from other utility management companies or look at running the water system itself...

What a difference a day makes. In some instances, 24 hours made the difference between not enough candidates to fill available positions and a bona fide race for seats on school boards in some Bollinger, Cape Girardeau and Scott county school districts...

At this time of the year, we all seem to reflect on the experiences of the past year, both good and bad. We have a great student body, a committed staff, a dedicated Board of Education and supportive patrons to thank them for so many good memories. Our students gained state recognition in academic areas, in sports, music and many other extra curricular areas. They distinguished themselves in other communities as good citizens and good sports. The letters of commendation were frequent...

JACKSON -- The Multipurpose Building Feasibility Study Committee will meet for the first time tonight. The meeting begins at 7 p.m. at the committee room at City Hall and is open to the public. Last week, a group of 58 volunteers recommended by Mayor Paul Sander was appointed by the Board of Aldermen to serve on the committee...

Jim Kinsella, a noted authority on no-till farming, will be the feature speaker at the Southeast Missouri No-Till Annual meeting Jan. 24 at the Jackson Knight of Columbus Hall. Kinsella, who has more than 20 years of no-till experience on his farm at Lexington, Ill., will discuss his experience and research on no-till production, starting at 4 p.m...

The Project Charlie program graduated a new class of students in its fight against drugs Tuesday at Nell Holcomb school. Twenty-three fourth graders received special scrolls and certificates of completion from Corporal Kevin Orr of the Cape Girardeau Police Department and program volunteer Lois McFadden. Orr and McFadden visited the students for 30 minutes weekly during November and December as part of the program...

The Southeast Missourian asked people what they thought about plans by the city of Jackson and the Jackson Chamber of Commerce to jointly establish a web site on the Internet. Linda Putz: "It would be a great opportunity for Jackson to have this. It could include local history. It would be good for kids to learn about the past."...

JACKSON -- Missouri School Board Member Recognition Week meant business as usual to the Jackson Board of Education Tuesday night. Jackson board members were recognized by faculty and administrators with carnations and certificates from the Missouri School Board Association for their service to the district...

It has been an outstanding week for the Southeast Missouri State Indians since my last article. We won three games and are now 4-1 in the Ohio Valley Conference, which puts us in a three-way tie for first place. The effort has been good and some of our goals both offensively and defensively are beginning to surface. The things that hurt us early in the pre-conference schedule are beginning to come around...

As Southeast Missouri State University's basketball team prepares to hit the road again, the Indians can take pride in reaching a pair of milestones for the school's still-young NCAA Division I program. First, the Indians are off to their best Ohio Valley Conference start ever. And that start has them tied for first place in the OVC. Never before at any point in a season has Southeast been at the top of the OVC pack...

Steve Schottel has been named offensive coordinator for the Southeast Missouri State University football team. Schottel, who was offensive coordinator at Missouri Valley College last season, has 18 years of collegiate coaching experience, including stints at Missouri Western, Michigan State, Missouri and Louisville. He was head football coach at Baker University in 1995...

BERTRAND -- Funeral service for the Rev. Mickey Joe Vinson of Bertrand will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday at McMikle Funeral Home in Charleston. The Rev. Frank Bippus will officiate, with burial in Oak Grove Cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home from 5-8 p.m. today...

VIENNA, Ill. -- Doyle Adams, 78, of Vienna died Tuesday, Jan. 14, 1997, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. He was born May 30, 1918, in Cypress, son of W.T. and Elvina Gore Adams. He and Sylvia Dunn were married in 1945. She died in 1968. He and Marcella Bufford Webb were married in 1971...

Louella Lewis, 78, 1222 S. Pacific, died Monday, Jan. 13, 1997, at Southeast Missouri Hospital. She was born Oct. 18, 1918, in Clarksdale, Miss., daughter of Steve and Louetta Underwood Booker. She and Nig Lewis were married in Clarksdale. He died in 1971...

GLEN ALLEN -- Thomas Frederic Becker, 55, of Glen Allen died Monday, Jan. 13, 1997, at Beverly Health and Rehabilitation Services in Cape Girardeau. He was born June 18, 1941, in Perryville, son of Fred and Rosa Glaub Becker. He and Janett S. Vaughn were married July 9, 1960...

BERTRAND -- Winford E. Wages, 67, of Bertrand died Tuesday, Jan. 14, 1997, at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston. He was born Sept. 13, 1929, in Scranton, Ark., son of Thomas E. and Lizzie Ballard Wages. He and Linda F. Hunt were married May 6, 1952, in Piggott, Ark...

PERRYVILLE -- John E. Bishop, 73, of Perryville died Monday, Jan. 13, 1997, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. He was born Nov. 15, 1923, in Perry County, son of George Washington and Meniah Isabell Loberg Bishop. He and Eileen H. Hendrix were married Jan. 15, 1944...

WILSON CITY -- Celia Mae Woods, 77, of Wilson City died Saturday, Jan. 11, 1997, at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston. She was born Dec. 4, 1919, in Greenwood, Miss., daughter of Isiah and Eliza Jones. She married Sandy Woods, who died in 1976...

JACKSON -- The Rev. Lorne Fleming Piercey, 92, of Hazen, Ark., died Monday, Jan. 13, 1997, at St. Vincent's Medical Center in Little Rock, Ark. He was born March 23, 1904, in Totten Ham, Ontario, Canada, son of James and Annie Fleming Piercey. He first married Florence Schell in October 1928. She died in January 1966. He then married Alma Snyder in May 1970. She died in January 1995. He later married Dolores Huffman...

EAST PRAIRIE -- Eugene Ray Woods, 75, of East Prairie died Tuesday, Jan. 14, 1997, at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston. He was born Feb. 15, 1921, in Norse City, Ill., son of George H. and Ethel Thurmond Woods. He and Elizabeth Mae Rhodes were married Sept. 21, 1941...

JACKSON -- E.M. "Blick" Reisenbichler, 72, of Brandon, Miss., died Saturday, Jan. 11, 1997, at Rankin Medical Center in Brandon. He was a native of Missouri, moving to Brandon in 1960 from Jackson. He married Doris Lee Maddox, who preceded him in death...

Former Cape Girardeau police officer Frederick L. Schneider Sr., 86, 308 N. Middle, died Tuesday, Jan. 14, 1997, at the Lutheran Home. He was born Aug. 19, 1910, in Cape Girardeau, son of Dr. John J. and Lydia S. Rueseler Schneider. He and Viola E. Esicar were married Nov. 26, 1949, in Cape Girardeau. She died June 10, 1989...

EAST PRAIRIE -- Annie M. Baker, 89, of East Prairie died Monday, Jan. 13, 1997, at Bertrand Retirement Home in Bertrand. She was born Sept. 8, 1907, in East Prairie, daughter of L.D. and Ozetta Ercel Curry Hanor. Baker had lived near East Prairie all her life, and was a member of First Church of God...

TAMMS, Ill. -- LaVerne Walker, 77, of Tamms, Ill., died Tuesday Jan. 14, 1997, at her home. She was born Nov. 17, 1919, in Cairo, daughter of James and Rose Evans Parker. She was a retired seamstress with M. Snowner and Co. She is survived by two daughters, Jo Alice Walker,of Ripley, Tenn., and Faye Spraggs of Olive Branch; one son, Barry Walker of Anna; six sisters, Marie Knight of Granite City, Helen Ide of Brighton, Dean Parker and Alma Southern, both of Bicknell, Ind., Mary Beaver of Paducah, Ky., and Brenda Butler of Metropolis; one brother, Bill Parker of Olive Branch; and several grandchildren and great-grandchildren.. ...

The Southeast Missourian's first-ever Devilish Desserts recipe contest is perfect for those tired of endless rules and regulations. There are just two simple guidelines: -- All recipes submitted must have chocolate as a prominent ingredient. -- The entry deadline is Jan. 27...

As people look for ways to enhance their time at home, many are focusing on an object that was once a defining element of the workplace. No longer relegated solely to the formality of offices and laboratories, computers are just as likely found in family rooms, kitchens or bedrooms...