Stories from Tuesday, February 18, 1997

Cybertip: Right now, all Internet addresses in the United States end in one of six ways: .com for commercial businesses, .org for non-profit organizations, .net for networks, .edu for educational institutions, .gov for governmental bodies or .mil for the military. ...

The city of Cape Girardeau has concluded negotiations with an engineering firm for work on the first phase of improvements to its water system. Under the negotiated agreement, Burns and McDonnell Engineering Co. Inc. of St. Louis will handle construction engineering and design services for the upgrade and expansion of the Cape Rock Water Treatment Plant. The city would pay no more than $1,885,000 to the company...

Mary Ann Lewis held the microphone for first-grader Nick Busby while he talked about Lincoln in front of a May Greene Elementary School assembly. Chasity Johnson, a first-grader in Theresa Burke's class, waits with her costume on for the assembly to kick off the mile of pennies program. It takes 84,000 pennies to make a mile...

Cindy Rhodes has become expert in working under special conditions with a special group of students. Rhodes is an early childhood special education coordinator and teacher for the Oak Ridge Elementary School. Her special situation is the hourlong commute between the school and her home in Dexter, where she and her husband both grew up...

SIKESTON -- Because of the nation's farmers, Americans are the best fed, best clothed people on Earth, U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Emerson told the annual Rural Restoration Conference Monday. An American farmer produces enough for himself and 130 other people, and his story isn't told enough, said Emerson, a Republican who represents Missouri's 8th District...

Just before sunrise, with a clear sky, skywatchers might be able to catch a glimpse of a comet that is making its first appearance in this neck of the galaxy. The Hale-Bopp Comet was discovered two years ago when it was 650 million miles away. The fact that it was seen so far out makes the comet unique. Astronomers say its size and brightness will become a beautiful sight in March and April as the comet comes closest to Earth...

A group of Cape Girardeau kindergarten students showed off their skills with a paintbrush Monday: They painted the first two rows of bricks on a schoolhouse that tracks support of the school's upcoming bond election. Each row represents pledges of yes votes from 500 people. The two rows painted red Monday represent the first 1,000 yes votes...

Weather observers have been a fixture at Cape Girardeau Regional Airport for decades. But that will end March 5 when the National Weather Service goes to an automated system that will provide continual weather observations from the airport. Jeff Dahms, who supervises the airport weather station, said the automated system will be cheaper to operate...

As I delicately closed the door of the new-to-me 1995 Dodge Neon, I was immediately overwhelmed with memories of my first kiss and the first time I had eaten strawberry ice cream. My favorite memory -- that day on the high school football field when I scored the winning touchdown against our high-school rivals -- also came back, though I know that never happened. People who know me will laugh at the idea of me catching anything propelled in my general direction...

Tuesday, 7:30 p.m. City Hall Financial Affairs -- City clerk's and treasurer's reports Action Items -- Motion approving list of capital improvement projects relating to water and sewer systems. -- Motion authorizing the advertisement for bids on the East Substation foundation...

JACKSON -- Friday is the deadline to make reservations for the first reunion of National Guard Headquarters Company, Service Company, and Company E of the 140th Infantry to be held March 21. A dinner and fellowship will be held from 6-10 p.m. at the Knights of Columbus Hall...

To the editor: The letter from Ray Umbdenstock (Jan. 25) criticizing the EPA demands a response. The refrigerant known as Freon is a chlorofluorocarbon. There is overwhelming evidence indicating that CFCs rise in the atmosphere and destroy ozone molecules. ...

CLINTON SAID in his state of the union speech that a child born today would have not memory of this century. They may not remember but they will be constantly reminded of this century as they pay off the $5 trillion national debt with huge taxes withheld from their paycheck that they earn after they've crossed the bankrupt bridge into the 21st century...

When the geniuses who developed the first computers were hard at work inventing machines that could do lightning-speed calculations, they apparently didn't think their new electronic brains would last long. Along the way, these mid-century pioneers only allowed two digits for the years used in date calculations -- the last two digits...

For several years, Shawnee Community Unite School District 84 in Wolf Lake, Ill., has seen enrollment decline due to changing economics. As a result, the 560-student district has an enviable student-teacher ration of 9 1/2 to 1. Most educators and parents would likely agree that small classes are better for learning...

At some point during the 1996-97 season, Southeast Missouri State University's basketball Indians might have played better than they did against Middle Tennessee State Monday night. But it's hard to remember when. Putting on perhaps their most impressive wire-to-wire performance of the season, the Indians cruised to an 85-76 victory in front of 4,589 fans at the Show Me Center...

The last home game of the season for Southeast Missouri State University's women's basketball team also served to officially eliminate the Otahkians from a possible spot in the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament. Middle Tennessee State, on the other hand, stayed very much in the battle for an OVC tourney berth as the Lady Raiders rolled past the Otahkians 78-63 Monday at the Show Me Center...

Hart fires hole-in-one at Bent Creek Gary Hart of Jackson recently recorded a hole-in-one at Bent Creek. Hart used a 7-iron to accomplish the feat on the 163-yard, par 3 No. 6 hole. Gabe Estes witnessed the feat.

The Cape Girardeau Central Lady Tigers celebrated Senior Night Monday with a 77-20 pounding of the Sikeston Lady Bulldogs. Lady Tiger senior guard Nicole Thiele had a night to remember in her final home game by setting a school record with 20 deflections and also tied a school mark with 11 steals while scoring 14 points...

EAST PRAIRIE -- Graveside service for Bennie F. DeWitt, formerly of East Prairie, will be held at 2 p.m. today at East Prairie Memorial Park Cemetery. LeRoy Thornton will officiate. Shelby Funeral Home in East Prairie is in charge of arrangements. DeWitt, 69, died Wednesday, Feb. 12, 1997, at Sikeston Health Care Center, following an extended illness...

ADVANCE -- Lula Strauser, 87, of Advance died Monday, Feb. 17, 1997, at Advance Nursing Center. She was born March 3, 1909, in Hamilton County, Ill., daughter of John and Synthia Hughes Livingston. She and Claud Strauser were married Dec. 19, 1931, at Bloomfield. He died Jan. 22, 1987...

CAIRO, Ill. -- Gene Knight of Clinton, Iowa, former teacher and coach at Cairo High School, died Saturday, Feb. 15, 1997, following an extended illness. He was 67. He was born March 9, 1929, in Chicago, son of Wesley and Daisy Knight. He and Mary Ethridge were married April 25, 1955, in Corpus Christi, Texas...

SCOTT CITY -- Funeral service for Carl Dean Howell Jr., Scott City Route 1, will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Eisleben Lutheran Church. The Rev. Joel Sarrault will officiate, with burial in Lightner Cemetery. Friends may call at Amick-Burnett Funeral Chapel in Scott City after 3 p.m. today, and Wednesday at the church from 10 a.m. to service time...

CHARLESTON -- James B. Moran Sr., 77, of Charleston died Monday, Feb. 17, 1997, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. He was born May 22, 1919, at Bloomfield, son of Verner W. and Ida Blair Moran. He and Louise "Til" Atteberry were married June 14, 1946...

WHITEWATER -- Funeral service for MK3 Matthew E. Schlimme, formerly of Whitewater, will be held at 3 p.m. Sunday at St. James United Church of Christ in Tilsit. Friends may call at Ford and Sons Mt. Auburn Chapel in Cape Girardeau from 4-8 p.m. Saturday...

State Sen. Peter Kinder has opened an office on the fifth floor of the H&H Building at 400 Broadway. The suite number is 580. Victor Gunn, who served as campaign manager of Kinder's senate race last fall, will manage the office. The phone number is 339-9744...

BERTRAND -- Clayborn McKinley, 81, of Bertrand died Monday, Feb. 17, 1997, at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston. McMikle Funeral Home at Charleston is in charge of arrangements.

PERRYVILLE -- Clinton J. "Buster" Esselman, 65, of Perryville died Monday, Feb. 17, 1997, at Jefferson Barracks Nursing Home. He was born Nov. 24, 1931, at McBride, son of Pat and Lillian Anderson Esselman. He and June Marlen were married April 4, 1959...

SCOTT CITY -- Warren Eugene Ramsey, 34, of Kirkwood died Sunday, Feb. 16, 1997, at his home. He was born Nov. 21, 1962, in St. Louis, son of Harlen E. and June Barnes Ramsey. Ramsey worked in overnight receiving at Wal-Mart. Survivors include his father of Kirkwood; his mother, June Just of Evansville, Ind.; and a sister, Lenore Lindenberg of Steeleville, Ill...

BELL CITY -- Dr. O.M. Richards, 72, of Bell City died Monday, Feb. 17, 1997, at Dexter Memorial Hospital in Dexter. He was born Feb. 15, 1925, in Greenwood, S.C., son of Lawrence and Sally Williams Rivers. He and Mildred Bidewell were married Oct. 4, 1944, at Ninety Six, S.C...

SIKESTON -- Zora Nichols, 62, of Sikeston died Wednesday, Feb. 12, 1997, at St. Louis University Hospital. She was born March 10, 1934, in Sidon, Miss., daughter of Arizona and Nora Bell Williams Winters. She and the Rev. J.L. Nichols were married Nov. 10, 1952...

JACKSON -- August Martin "Peanuts" Lange, 84, of Jackson died Monday, Feb. 17, 1997, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. He was born July 28, 1912, at Egypt Mills, son of John and Dena Fornkohl Lange. He and Evelyn Maevers were married Oct. 14, 1939, in Cape Girardeau...

Daughter to K. Scott and Susan K. McClanahan, 366 Barberry, Southeast Missouri Hospital, 8:41 p.m. Monday, Feb. 10, 1997. Name, Lexie Elise. Weight, 8 pounds 14 ounces. Second child, first daughter. Mrs. McClanahan is the former Susan Kinsey, daughter of Duane and Marilyn Kinsey of McClure, Ill. She is an administrator at Cape Senior Center. McClanahan is the son of Jerry and Barbara McClanahan of Cape Girardeau. He is a cabinetmaker with Jerry's Custom Cabinets...

Francis E. Owen, 85, of Scott City died Monday, Feb. 17, 1997, at the Heartland Care Rehab Center in Cape Girardeau. Arrangements are incomplete at the Amick-Burnett Funeral Chapel in Scott City.