Stories from Wednesday, February 12, 1997

To the editor: As the managed-care market grows, so do questions from Missourians. Presently, many residents do not understand managed care and are confused about how to pick the best plan for themselves and their loved ones. Basically, they need more information to help them make that choice. That's why it's essential Missourians speak up now and tell our governor and legislators what the state needs to do during this legislative session...

The Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce recognized two exemplary businessmen at its annual banquet. Paul Ebaugh, a retired consulting construction contractor and bank president, received the Rush H. Limbaugh award. Horizon Screen Printing and Promotion Products was honored as the Small Business of the Year...

VH-1 has returned to the Cape Girardeau and Jackson cable TV systems. The Animal Planet is gone. But these changes will do little to appease customers long unhappy with TCI's recent decisions. TCI has tossed customers a bone by returning VH-1, but it isn't enough. Were customers surveyed? Surely TCI isn't saying that VH-1 was the channel that customers wanted back most...

The Wall Street Journal recently gave high praise in its review of the book "If I Knew Then What I Know Now" featuring CEOs and other smart executives sharing the wisdom of what they wish they had been told 25 years ago. It's not as good a book as I'd hoped ... but, still it has some good insights, such as:...

I VOTED a straight Republican ticket for the past 80 years, but after this Newt Gingrich thing, I'm voting straight Democrat from here on out. I WOULD like to really give Prosecuting Attorney Morley Swingle a thumbs up on his decision to quit the American Bar Association because of its stand on capital punishment. ...

To the editor: The Missouri Department of Natural Resources continues to do its part in bringing about the One World Woods bioreserve scheme in Reynolds County. The DNR is trying to snatch another 500-plus-acre tract of woodland near Johnson Shut-ins State Park. ...

U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Emerson said she plans to vote for every term-limits measure the House of Representatives considers, but not a single measure has enough support for passage. The House will vote on at least a dozen term-limits proposals, Emerson said Tuesday during a conference call with news reporters. The measures vary in the maximum number of terms representatives and senators would serve and in whether they would apply to current lawmakers...

CHARLESTON -- While 30 federal agents began an investigation into a fire that destroyed the Mississippi County Courthouse, the Mississippi County Commission Tuesday reached an agreement to set up shop in a nearby office building. It will take the various county offices about a week to move into 10 offices at 801 E. Marshall, said Jim Blumenberg, presiding county commissioner. The building, owned by Charleston realtor E. Paul Jackson, is about a half mile from the courthouse, Blumenberg said...

Bill Cosby's comedy comes at a high price. The famed comedian can command a fee of $80,000 to $100,000 for an appearance, said one industry observer. Southeast Missouri State University officials won't say how much is being spent to bring Cosby to the Show Me Center April 12. But they acknowledge it won't be cheap...

Happy Mardi Gras. This has become one of my favorite times of year. Regardless of where I am, how much snow is on the ground or how gray the sky is overhead, when Carnival time comes around things brighten up. I have a group of close friends, some who live in New Orleans, who meet every year for Mardi Gras. I haven't been able to go the last three years, but before then I was a regular customer...

WASHINGTON -- U.S. Rep. Glenn Poshard is considering a bid for Illinois governor. Poshard, who is completing a self-imposed limit of five terms in the House of Representatives, has said a return to Illinois politics is among options upon completion of his fifth term in 1998...

A planning meeting will be held Monday for a communitywide Fourth of July celebration. The meeting will begin at 6 p.m. at the Cape VFW Post 3838. The public is invited to attend. The VFW and other veteran groups are planning the celebration, which includes a parade, balloon fest, carnival rides, rock 'n' roll bands, Air Force flyover, speeches and fireworks...

SIKESTON -- The Missouri State Highway Patrol received overwhelming support from Southeast Missouri residents recently in an approval poll conducted by the patrol. According to the survey, 88.5 percent of those polled said the highway patrol was doing either an excellent or good job. Only 1.3 percent said the patrol was doing a poor job...

Three straight losses have put our backs against the wall, but with two straight home games coming up, hopefully we can get back in the race for one of the OVC tournament opening-round games at the Show Me Center. The OVC race is a real scramble from top to bottom. We are currently in a tie for sixth place, but we are only two games out of first place. We have remaining games against three of the teams ahead of us, meaning we control our own destiny...

Southeast Missouri State University's football program announced on Tuesday the signing of four more recruits for next season. All four are high school seniors from the St. Louis area. The Indians landed a pair of players from highly successful St. Louis programs, including wide receiver/defensive back Isaac Powell (6-feet-1, 175 pounds) from Class 5A state champion Hazelwood Central...

When a timeout was called a couple minutes into the third quarter, Notre Dame High coach Chris Janet burst onto the floor to greet his players with emphatic two-handed high-fives. It was one of the few times that Janet has had much to be elated about recently. And luckily for Janet, his players matched his enthusiasm...

JACKSON -- In area high school basketball circles, Cape Girardeau Central has been thrust squarely into the limelight this season -- particularly after winning the University High Christmas Tournament -- while Jackson has basically been relegated to the background...

SCOTT CITY -- Scott City High's injury-plagued boys basketball team continued to hit the skids Tuesday night as Kelly came on to the Rams' home court and pulled out a wild 75-73 victory in double overtime. The Rams, who at one point were 17-1, have now lost three out of their last four as they fell to 18-4. Jon Beck, the squad's top outside shooter, is injured and out for at least another week...

As Southeast Missouri State University's basketball team prepares for its final home games of the regular season, things are still wild and wacky in the scrambled Ohio Valley Conference standings. The Indians certainly did themselves plenty of damage by going 0-2 on their just-completed road trip, but -- with four games left in the regular season -- they still have a shot at a first-division finish in the 10-team OVC...

ULLIN, Ill. -- Dorothy "Dot" Bingaman, 63, of Ullin died Tuesday, Feb. 11, 1997, at her home. She was born Oct. 14, 1933, in East St. Louis, daughter of Vernon and Malinda Jane Johnson Hamblin. She and Gerald Bingaman were married April 23, 1957. Bingaman was a nurse aide at City Care Center in Anna. She was a member of First Baptist Church in Ullin, and member of Woodmen of the World...

CHARLESTON -- Earl Russell Riley, 66, of Charleston died Tuesday, Feb. 11, 1997, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. He was born May 24, 1930, in Indianapolis, Ind., son of Claude Francis and Mary Dathol Riley. He and Janette Allensworth were married Jan. 22, 1955...

ANNA, Ill. -- Funeral service for Clifford Lingle of Anna will be held at 11 a.m. today at Lutz and Rendleman Funeral Home in Anna. The Rev. Dale Jones will officiate, with burial in St. John's Cemetery. Lingle, 89, died Monday, Feb. 10, 1997, at Union County Hospital...

BLOOMFIELD -- Funeral service for Blanche Lorene Robinett of Bloomfield will be held at 1 p.m. today at Watkins and Sons Funeral Chapel in Dexter. The Rev. Edsel Pruett will officiate, with burial in Hagy Cemetery at Dexter. Robinett, 78, died Monday, Feb. 10, 1997, at Dexter Memorial Hospital in Dexter...

SIKESTON -- David J. Sellers, 83, of Sikeston died Monday, Feb. 10, 1997, at Missouri Delta Medical Center. He was born Oct. 30, 1913, at Randles, son of John R. and Rosie Chappell Sellers. He and Vera J. New were married May 18, 1935, in Charleston...

Wade Cyril Wurtz, 82, of Missouri Veterans Home, died Monday, Feb. 10, 1997, at the facility. He was born Sept. 13, 1914, in St. Louis, son of Sidney and Flora Kinney Wurtz. He and Alice L. Mueller were married April 5, 1947, in East St. Louis, Ill...

SIKESTON -- Julia Elizabeth Jones, 86, died Tuesday, Feb. 11, 1997, at Sikeston Health Care. She was born Feb. 2, 1911, in London, Ark., daughter of John Thomas and Lou Amy Freeman Cochran. She married William Edward Jones, who preceded her in death...

Alma Fowler, 75, of Hawkins, Texas, died Tuesday, Jan. 21, 1997, following a lingering illness. She was born Jan. 14, 1922, in Cape Girardeau, daughter of Samuel Colbert and Ona Moore Snider. She and Clemo Fowler were married Nov. 13, 1944. He preceded her in death...

Funeral service for Verba "Betty" Bolden of Cape Girardeau will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday at Trinity Lutheran Church. The Rev. David V. Dissen will officiate, with burial in Memorial Park. Friends may call at Ford and Sons Mt. Auburn Chapel from 5:30-9 p.m. today...

PERRYVILLE -- Lester T. "Bones" Kiefer, 75, of Perryville died Monday, Feb. 10, 1997, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. He was born Oct. 8, 1921, in Perryville, son of Andrew and Albertine Annie Feltz Kiefer. He and Ella Ruth Graff were married June 3, 1950...

Mary Elizabeth Spero, 86, of Cape Girardeau died Tuesday, Feb. 11, 1997, at Heartland Care and Rehab Center. She was born July 30, 1910, in Cape Girardeau, daughter of George and Minnie Volz Schrock. She first married Northern Wring June 30, 1930, in Cape Girardeau. He died in March 1968. She later married Melvin Spero Aug. 26, 1972, in Griffith, Ind. He died in March 1989...

HAYWOOD CITY -- Mary Alice "Hat" Stevens, 67, of Haywood City died Monday, Feb. 10, 1997, at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston. She was born Dec. 16, 1929, in Shuqualak, Miss., daughter of Lurean Hardin and Harry Jones. She and John Henry Stevens were married in 1949...

LEOPOLD -- Joseph B. Eftink, 88, of Leopold died Tuesday, Feb. 11, 1997, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. He was born April 13, 1908, near Leopold, son of George and Hanna Landewee Eftink. He and Anna Marie Trankle were married April 27, 1937. She died May 19, 1994...

POPLAR BLUFF -- Sarah M. Kerr, 85, of Poplar Bluff died Sunday, Feb. 9, 1997, at Westwood Hills Health Care Center. She was born July 16, 1911, in rural southern Illinois. She was a longtime resident of McClure, Ill. She married William Doyle Kerr, who died in 1992...

Son to Christopher Gary Davie and Shannon Marie Davis of Cape Girardeau, Southeast Missouri Hospital, 11:38 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 29, 1997. Name, Benjamin Cole. Weight, 8 pounds 9 ounces. First child. Ms. Davis is the daughter of Ronald and Nancy Davis of Marble Hill. She is employed at St. Francis Medical Center. Davie is the son of Gary and Janie Davie of Cape Girardeau. He is employed at Cape Tractor Trailer...

The Southeast Missourian asked people about their income tax returns. Diane Lutes: "I've already got them in the mail. I'm going to get a refund this time after paying for the last three years." Doug Sebaugh: "I'll be filing mine the week after next, after I see my accountant. I doubt I will get a refund, since I haven't had one in a while, so I'm not in a big hurry."...

JACKSON -- Jackson students attending Cape Girardeau's Alternative School could have another option by the end of February. Jackson schools superintendent Dr. Howard Jones requested and received permission from school board members to apply for a juvenile diversionary grant from the Missouri Division of Children and Youth Services at the school board meeting Tuesday night. ...

It's a dirty job, but somebody's gotta do it. And on Saturday, six judges and eight semifinalists converged on the Southeast Missourian to pick the winner of the Devilish Desserts contest. When the cocoa powder had settled, Rosemary Ross of Chaffee and her Butter Pecan Turtles -- a yummy, chewy brownie-like confection -- emerged the winner...

Next Best Thing to Tom Cruise Cake 1 pkg. German chocolate cake mix 1 can Borden sweetened condensed milk 1 jar butterscotch or caramel ice cream topping 1 (8 ounce) tub Cool Whip 2 or 3 Heath chocolate candy bars Bake cake as direct on package at 350 degrees for 30-35 in 9x13 pan. ...

Cajun Fudge 2 cups sugar 2 tablespoon white corn syrup 1/2 cup evaporated milk 1/4 cup milk 2 1 ounce squares semi sweet chocolate 2 tablespoons butter or margarine 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1/2 cup chopped pecans In large saucepan combine sugar, milk, evaporated milk, syrup, and chocolate...

Pan Cake Pillsbury Chocolate Fudge Cake mix made by directions on box 1 cup brown sugar 1 cup white sugar 1/2 cup cocoa 1 3/4 cups water pinch of salt 12 large marshmallows (quartered), small ones are okay 1 cup chopped nuts Mix ingredients. Stir in marshmallows and nuts. Pour into 13x9x2 inch oiled pan. Spoon batter over this. Bake at 350 degrees for 45 to 50 minutes...

Triple Chocolate Mocha Frosted Drops 1/2 cup shortening 2 (1 ounce) squares unsweetened chocolate 1 cup brown sugar 1 egg 1 teaspoon vanilla 1/2 cups buttermilk 1 1/2 cup all-purpose flour 1/2 teaspoon baking powder 1/2 teaspoon soda 1/4 teaspoon salt...

Brownie-Heath Ice Cream Cake 1 box brownie mix 1/2 gallon Heath ice cream 10-15 Oreo cookies 1 jar hot fudge sauce 1 container Cool Whip 2 Heath candy bars (crushed) Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix brownie mix as directed on box. Spray 4 quart oven safe glass bowl with Pam. Pat mixed brownie around inside the bowl to make a shell. Bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes. DO NOT OVERBAKE. Let sit until completely cooled. Allow ice cream to soften...

German Chocolate Cheesecake Squares Makes 9 to 12 servings 1 bar (4 ounce) sweet cooking chocolate 2 cups milk 1/4 cup butter or margarine 1 cup flaked coconut 1 cup finely chopped pecans 2 envelopes unflavored gelatin 3/4 cup sugar 3 eggs, separated...

Black Forest Brownies 21.5-ounce pkg. brownie mix 1 cup cherry pie filling 1\4 cup oil 2 eggs 1 1\4 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips Vanilla ice cream Mix together brownie mix, pie filling, oil and eggs. Grease bottom only of 13x9-inch pan and pour in mixture. Bake at 350 degrees 30-35 minutes. Sprinkle with chocolate chips and spread when melted...

Kat's Devil Food Cake 1 cup boiling water 2 cakes unsweetened chocolate 2 cups sugar 1/2 cup butter 2 cups flour 2 eggs beaten 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon vanilla 1 1/2 teaspoon soda in 1/2 cup buttermilk Substitute: 1 teaspoon vinegar in regular milk...

Coconut Islands Sift together: 2 cups flour 1/2 teaspoon soda 1/2 teaspoon salt Melt: 3 squares (3 oz.) unsweetened chocolate in 1/4 cup hot strong coffee. Cool. Cream well: 1/2 cup butter 1 cup firmly packed brown sugar Blend in: 1 egg and the chocolate mixture. Beat well...

3 Chocolate Cheesecake Chocolate cookie crust: 2 cups finely ground chocolate cookie crumbs 6 tablespoons ground almonds 6 tablespoons sugar Stir until blended Add: 1/4 cup milk 3/4 cup melted butter 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon Mix well. Pat into a well-buttered 10-inch springform pan. Chill well...

White Chocolate Cheesecake Crust: 1/2 cup butter 1/4 cup sugar 1/2 teaspoon vanilla 1 cup flour Filling: 4 (8 ounce) pkgs. cream cheese, softened 1/2 cup sugar 1 teaspoon vanilla 4 eggs 12-ounces white chocolate, melted and cooled. Crust: Cream butter, sugar and vanilla at medium speed with mixer until light and fluffy. Add flour, mixing at low speed until blended. Press onto bottom of 9-inch springform pan, prick with fork. Bake 25 minutes at 325 degrees...