Stories from Friday, February 7, 1997

When Carolyn Campbell withdrew her son Levon from Charles C. Clippard Elementary School and enrolled him in May Greene Elementary School, she thought she was helping him. She didn't know she was breaking the law. "I was just trying to get him back into May Greene where he feels better," said Campbell. "He doesn't want to be at Clippard."...

Whit Lynn, a sixth-grader at Clippard Elementary School, wasn't exactly bragging when he said his elementary building was the newest in the Cape Girardeau School District. It was built in 1965. "Our principal was born about the same time it was built," he said...

PATTON -- Teachers in Meadow Heights School District are staying after school to get extra help in language. Sign language, that is. Approximately 15 teachers are participating in an after-school signing class taught by teacher-interpreter Kathy McMillan, who signs for a deaf student in the district...

The remote control was a godsend, but it would have been better if someone had done a less confusing job of scheduling. There aren't three television sets at the Sullivan household. But if there were, they might all have been going Tuesday night. Although I didn't expect any startling revelations from the president during Tuesday night's State of the Union Address, I wanted to watch it...

To the editor: This is an open letter to retired U.S. Sen. Paul Simon, D-Ill.: Dear Friend Paul: How many cards or letters have you received over the last 30 years or so which began, "Dear Friend Paul," "Dear Senator," "Dear Representative" or "Dear Lieutenant Governor"? It must have been well over a million, with 90 percent of them asking for your help in getting some problem solved. To my knowledge, you never failed to respond...

BOY, I'M glad to see one thing since the new police chief got in there. In the 200 block of Middle Street, there were 25-35 drug dealers. They're gone, plus there were about 400-500 customers who drove in there each day buying drugs. It was like drug alley in there. ...

Even in a community the size of Cape Girardeau, the uniformed police officers on the street are often nameless figures who represent the full authority of law enforcement. A typical reaction from a motorist who sees a patrol car in the rear-view mirror is to step on the brake, even if the motorist isn't exceeding the speed limit...

The death penalty is no cure-all for the most heinous crimes committed in this country. But in certain cases, there seems to be a compelling argument for imposing capital punishment. It was something of a disappointment that the American Bar Association this week took its first stand ever on the issue -- calling for a moratorium on executions...

Those of us who are interested in civil justice reform should focus our attention on St. Louis city and Jackson County, Mo. (Kansas City). In these jurisdictions, a Missouri Supreme Court rule intended to protect rural residents from the appearance of judicial impropriety has ironically resulted in an open season for plaintiffs who have little or no relationship with the state, city or county...

Some banking jobs may be lost here under NationsBank's reorganization plan following the purchase of Boatmen's Bank. "We don't have a firm schedule on the centralization issue," said Jim Limbaugh late Thursday. But some departments, he said, will be affected as certain functions are "centralized" to prevent duplication...

For 30 minutes Thursday, 120 seventh- and eighth-grade student musicians from three different schools got to feel the heat of the stage lights and the thrill of performing in a large concert. In the first of what might become an annual event, Southeast Missouri State University sponsored a string orchestra workshop for students from Cape Central Junior High School, Parkway Northeast Middle School in St. Louis and Sikeston Middle School...

It doesn't count officially as a new recruit, but Southeast Missouri State University's football program has certainly bolstered its running game in a big way. Back in the Southeast fold is talented tailback Tony McDonald, who spent last semester getting his grades in order at an Arkansas junior college...

The past two games, Southeast Missouri State University's women's basketball team faltered in the closing minutes to suffer disappointing Ohio Valley Conference defeats. It looked for a while like the same thing might happen again Thursday, but the Otahkians recovered to pull out a 66-62 victory over Murray State at the Show Me Center...

Murray State's three-headed monster was at it again Thursday night. As a result, the Racers are now in first place in the Ohio Valley Conference all by themselves while Southeast Missouri State University's Indians occupy fifth place. The Indians had a chance to move into a first-place tie in the scrambled OVC standings but they fell to the Racers 86-75 in front of 5,212 fans at the Show Me Center...

CHARLESTON -- Cape Girardeau Central High's girls basketball team, currently ranked seventh in the state in Class 4A, has had a good amount of success the past few years. But lately, that success ends abruptly when the Lady Tigers meet Poplar Bluff...

SIKESTON -- Memorial service for Robert Hodge Decker Jr. of Sikeston will be held at 11 a.m. Feb. 12 at First Christian Church. The Rev. Ed Pangburn will officiate, with burial in Sikeston City Cemetery. There is no visitation. Amick-Burnett Funeral Home at Sikeston is in charge of arrangements...

Ermil S. Bartels, 89, of Cape Girardeau died Wednesday, Feb. 5, 1997, at Chateau Girardeau Health Center. She was born Oct. 27, 1907, in Cape Girardeau, daughter of William and Tessie Hamilton Seiler. She married Walter H. "Bud" Bartels, who preceded her in death...

MOREHOUSE -- Funeral service for Earl Sloan of the Missouri Veterans Home in Cape Girardeau will be held at 1 p.m. today at Ponder Funeral Home. The Rev. H. Worth will officiate, with burial in Garden of Memories Cemetery. Sloan, 75, died Wednesday, Feb. 5, 1997, at the Veterans Home...

JACKSON -- John Michael Filer, 37, of Jackson died from a heart attack Thursday, Feb. 6, 1997, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. He was born April 11, 1959, in Cape Girardeau, son of Buford and Alice Hansen Filer. He and Mary Jo Combs were married Sept. 14, 1985...

Funeral service for Edward C. Brown of Houlka, Miss., will be held at 3 p.m. today at Baldwin Funeral Chapel in Pontotoc, Miss. Pastor Gary Blair will officiate, with burial in Williams Cemetery. Brown, 51, died Wednesday, Feb. 5, 1997, at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Memphis, Tenn...

JACKSON -- Funeral service for Anna Grace Masters of Jackson will be held at 11 a.m. today at Cracraft-Miller Funeral Home. The Rev. Don Sander will officiate, with burial in Russell Heights Cemetery. Masters, 88, died Tuesday, Feb. 4, 1997, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau...

JONESBORO, Ill. -- Donald G. Haworth, 74, of Jonesboro was found dead at his home Wednesday, Feb. 5, 1997. He was born April 1, 1922, son of George and Leona Haworth. Haworth received a degree in recreation from Southern Illinois University, and a master of science degree from Illinois State University...

PUXICO -- Artie Denny, 91, formerly of Puxico, died Monday, Feb. 3, 1997, in Pueblo, Colo. Watkins and Sons Funeral Home at Puxico is in charge of arrangements.

Son to Jason Scott and Kristina Joy Criddle of Whitewater, Southeast Missouri Hospital, 9:06 a.m. Friday, Jan. 24, 1997. Name, Jesse Shayne. Weight, 8 pounds 6 ounces. Third child, second son. Mrs. Criddle is the former Kristina Kight, daughter of Stanley and Sharon Kight of Whitewater. Criddle is the son of John and Susan Criddle of Oran. He is a material handler at Lee-Rowan Co...

Richard "Bud" Stroder, 71, of Burfordville died Thursday, Feb. 6, 1997, at his home. Arrangements are incomplete at Cracraft-Miller Funeral Home in Jackson.