Stories from Friday, February 21, 1997

To the editor: With the best intentions, Congress passed a law in 1971 to protect America's free-roaming wild horses. Since that time, the program's implementation has been woefully mismanaged by the Bureau of Land Management, as the Southeast Missourian reported Jan. 5 ("Killing horses"). The latest findings of investigators reveal that horses are routinely adopted to individuals and corporations that send animals to slaughter in order to profit from the foreign market for horse meat...

Sarah Weddington, whose legal arguments helped convince the Supreme Court to legalize abortion, will speak at Southeast Missouri State University at 12:30 p.m. on March 5 at Glenn Auditorium. Weddington will discuss how people can make a difference in the world...

The management of West Park 4 Cinema is hoping to make an event out of today's opening of the second chapter of the re-released "Star Wars" trilogy, "The Empire Strikes Back." Brady Moses, a manager at the West Park Mall theater, said he's solicited the assistance of a few shops in the mall for a drawing and give-away on Feb. 28...

BENTON -- Richard Kirkpatrick, a Cape Girardeau businessman, has purchased the Missouri International Racepark near Benton. "Fans will be offered the same quality racing program that has been offered during past years," Kirkpatrick said. Plans for the track will include reopening the drag racing facility for Super Pro, Pro and E.T. racers on Friday nights...

The Show Me Center's honorary 3 millionth patron will be chosen Sunday during the final day of the Longhorn World Championship Rodeo. The Show Me Center will pass that milestone 9 1/2 years after opening in 1987. The winning patron, who can enter at the Show Me Center box office, will win the Diamond Anniversary Event drawing and will receive two free tickets to every Show Me Center event for a year, dinner for two at Port Cape Girardeau, free sodas and popcorn at the events, $50 gift certificates from Ameritech and Union Planters Bank and a bouquet of balloons from Bloomin' Balloons.. ...

I'D LIKE to comment on one of your front-page articles on the Shawnee School District 84. It failed to mention that our district was in great financial position three years ago, and three years ago we got two new principals in our district and a new superintendent. ...

Last November, by a margin of 700,000 votes, the electorate of California struck an enormously important blow for freedom and true American values by passing the California Civil Rights Initiative. History will record this event as a decisive turning point in the effort to jerk our culture away from the arrogant elites, especially in government, higher education and the news media, who have done so much to ruin it over the last 30 years or so. ...

Last year was one of intense political bickering in Washington, what with a presidential election involving an incumbent and a U.S. senator with considerable clout in Congress. Not only were two candidates and two political parties duking it out, but also two branches of the federal government. You know the results: Much of what needed to be done was left undone, and both sides got black eyes in the skirmishes that ensued...

To the editor: Bravo to the efforts for building a performing arts center at Southeast Missouri State University. All fine universities have one, considered by many as necessary as a science lab or a business building. What we have now, the auditorium of lovely Academic Hall, just won't do. ...

The Cape Girardeau School District is the only district in Cape Girardeau County that would get more state money if Missouri Senate Bill 360 becomes law. How much more it would get is unknown. Missouri's commissioner of education, Dr. Robert Bartman, said Thursday the reallocation of desegregation money through the bill would mean St. Louis and Kansas City would get much of the money -- about half -- while all other districts would share the other half...

JACKSON -- City public-works and utilities employees will consider unionization next month. A vote on the question is scheduled for March 19 at Jackson City Hall. State Board of Mediation officials will oversee the election. If approved, the workers would become members of International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 702 based in West Frankfort, Ill...

Debris covers the stairway to the second floor of the Mississippi County Courthouse in Charleston, which burned Feb. 10. CHARLESTON -- A team of archivists from the Missouri secretary of state's office has begun work to save records damaged by a fire that destroyed the Mississippi County Courthouse Feb. 10...

Watching movies has made me a closet dancer, but it takes a pretty fancy step to come out in the spotlight's glare. Everything I know about dancing I learned by watching movies. And if I have learned anything, it is that I should have been born in Greece. Or Argentina...

Students in May Greene Elementary School and other schools are getting an opportunity to explore the world of Scouting thanks to community volunteers. School districts in Cape Girardeau, Delta, Fredericktown, Woodland, Leopold, Zalma, Oak Ridge and Clearwater are participating in Scouting in the School Day, a partnership between Boy Scouts and Girls Scouts to provide Scouting opportunities to students who might otherwise not get the chance to participate. ...

Kate Farrington is the only gymnast to score a perfect 10 in the history of the Southeast Missouri State gymnastics program. She accomplished that feat during the vaulting event in 1995 as a sophomore. The lone senior on a squad of 20 gymnasts, Farrington is primed and ready to push the limits in search of another 10 during her final season. She has done everything but score a 10 this season. She has posted three consecutive scores of 9.9 on floor routines to lead Southeast...

MARTIN, Tenn. -- The University of Tennessee- Martin is not eligible for the OVC conference tournament -- but the Skyhawks certainly looked like the hungrier basketball team Thursday night. The Skyhawks got in Southeast Missouri's face all game long and the Indians did not respond as the they suffered a 92-62 loss in front of 4,028 fans in Sky Hawk Arena...

MARTIN, Tenn. -- Even though the Southeast Missouri State University women's basketball team had already been eliminated from contention for a spot in the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament, losses don't get much tougher than what happened here Thursday...

Southeast Missouri State University track and field coach Joey Haines believes his women's team has an excellent shot at winning its first Ohio Valley Conference indoor championship this weekend at Eastern Illinois University. The Southeast women have been second in the last two OVC indoor meets and Haines feels this could be the year the Otahkians claim the title. The meet will take place today and Saturday in Charleston, Ill...

COLUMBIA -- Three of Jackson High's four wrestlers advanced to second-round action at the Missouri Class 4A High School Wrestling Championships with first-round victories Thursday at the Hearnes Center. Travis Reiminger led the charge by improving to 35-0 in the 215-pound weight class. Joe Wiseman improved to 35-2 in the 130-pound class, while 103-pounder Lance Schlick (26-6) also advanced...

BENTON -- Notre Dame girls ended Kelly's regular season on a losing note Thursday with a 50-45 victory over the Lady Hawks. Notre Dame improved to 15-8 on the season. Kelly, which will not play until Class 2A district action opens on March 1, fell to 14-7...

Marteen Williams, 87, of Bakersfield, Calif., died Wednesday, Feb. 19, 1997, in Bakersfield. She was born June 19, 1909, at Bonne Terre, daughter of William Romine and Elba Pratte. She first married Marvin O'Sullivan; then married Jack Lathrop, who preceded her in death; and later married Lonnie Williams who died in 1995...

MATTHEWS -- A memorial service for Wade David Waters Sr. of Bryan, Ohio, will be held at 7:30 p.m. Sunday at Ponder Funeral Home in Sikeston. Graveside service will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday in Memorial Park Cemetery, with the Rev. Larry Long officiating...

SIKESTON -- Graveside service for Mary Louise Croom of Sikeston will be held at 2 p.m. today at Brearley Cemetery in Dardanelle, Ark. The Rev. Than Pyron will officiate. A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Monday at St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Sikeston...

SIKESTON -- Florence L. Ranson, 86, of Sikeston died suddenly Wednesday, Feb. 19, 1997, at her home. She was born May 9, 1910, in Wilson County, Miss., daughter of Joe and Laura Brown Maiden. She and Junior Ranson were married in 1935. He died in 1996...

CHAFFEE -- Violet Schoen, 79, died Thursday, Feb. 20, 1997, at her home. Arrangements are incomplete at Amick-Burnett Funeral Home in Chaffee.

SCOTT CITY -- Funeral service for Donna Sue Robinson of Scott City will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday at Amick-Burnett Funeral Chapel in Scott City. The Rev. Rennie Phillips will officiate, with burial in Lightner Cemetery. Friends may call at the chapel after 4 p.m. Saturday...

COBDEN, Ill. -- William Glynn Caraker, 77, of Cobden died Wednesday, Feb. 19, 1997, at Jackson County Nursing Home in Murphysboro. He was born April 8, 1919, in Cobden, son of Melvin and Beatrix Condon Caraker. He and Kenneth L. Sitter were married July 4, 1940, in Jackson, Mo...

WHITEWATER -- Funeral service for Petty Officer 3rd Class Matthew E. Schlimme of Forks, Wash., will be held at 3 p.m. Sunday at St. James United Church of Christ in Tilsit. The Revs. Jim Schultz and Jeff Jackson and a chaplain from the U.S. Coast Guard will officiate. Full military honors will be conducted by the Coast Guard from St. Louis. Burial will be in the church cemetery...

SEDGEWICKVILLE -- The Rev. Fred H. Shrum, 88, of Sedgewickville died Wednesday, Feb. 19, 1997, at Perry County Memorial Hospital in Perryville. He was born Aug. 19, 1908, in Perry County, son of James M. and Rosa B. Meyer Shrum. He and Emma Lukefahr were married Nov. 24, 1934...

EAST PRAIRIE -- Roy Sanders, 66, of East Prairie, formerly of Burnsville, Miss., died Thursday, Feb. 20, 1997 at Southeast Missouri Hospital after an extended illness. He was born Sept. 6, 1930 in Alcorn County, Miss., son of Jessie James Sanders and Charlie Sanders. He married Opal Marks in May 1978...

CAIRO -- Michael P. O'Shea Sr., 88, of Cairo died Thursday, Feb. 20, 1997 at his home. He was born May 22, 1908, in Cairo, son of Michael J. and Mary Fogassey O'Shea. He was an Army veteran of World War II. He served as the Alexander County state's attorney for 16 years and was an associate judge until his retirement. ...

SIKESTON -- Frances A. McBride, 72, of Sikeston died Wednesday, Feb. 19, 1997, at Missouri Delta Medical Center. She was born Aug. 1, 1924, at Birch Tree, daughter of Charles Allen and Pearl McLaughlin Wade. She and Joseph Ernest McBride were married March 16, 1944. He died July 14, 1974...

Daughter to Mike and Lisa Goodson of Jackson, Southeast Missouri Hospital, 8:54 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 13, 1997. Name, Lydia Grace. Weight, 5 pounds 10 ounces. Third child, second daughter. Mrs. Goodson is the former Lisa Elfrink, daughter of David and Judy Elfrink of Jackson. She is a family preservation therapist at Community Counseling Center. Goodson is the son of David and Jean Goodson of Jackson. He is a driver with USF Holland at Sikeston...

Funeral service for Blanche Delores Creibaum of Ironton was held Thursday at the Baptist Home Chapel in Ironton. The Rev. Lee R. Quinn officiated, with burial in the Baptist Home Cemetery. White Funeral Home at Ironton was in charge of arrangements...

PERRYVILLE -- Alfred P. Wucher, 94, of Perryville died Wednesday, Feb. 19, 1997, at Perry County Nursing Home. He was born July 10, 1902, at Old Appleton, son of William B. and Louise E. Unterreiner Wucher. He and Anita O. Ruppel were married Nov. 21, 1925. She died Oct. 29, 1995...

JACKSON -- Funeral service for Eugene "Gene" Green of Wappapello will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at McCombs Funeral Chapel in Jackson. The Rev. Don Covington will officiate, with burial in Russell Heights Cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home from 4-8 p.m. today. An American Legion honor guard service will be held at 7:30...

ORAN -- Ferrel Austin, 79, Oran Route 1, died Thursday, Feb. 20, 1997, in the Emergency Room at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston. He was born Dec. 11, 1917, in Atkins, Ark., son of Emmett Y. and Alta Hammond Austin. He and Lucille Heigle were married Nov. 7, 1936, in Atkins. She died Feb. 19, 1995...

PERRYVILLE -- Flora A. Stein, 70, of Perryville died Wednesday, Feb. 19, 1997, at Alexian Brothers Hospital in St. Louis. She was born Jan. 17, 1927, in Pevely to Andrew and Flora McCulla Jacoby. She had been a bus driver for the Missouri Synod's Lutheran Special School District in St. Louis. She was a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Perryville and a former member of St. Matthew Lutheran Church in St. Louis...