Stories from Saturday, March 15, 1997

IN THE article about students and police in schools, it says for years the officers have worked with the very successful DARE program to help reverse drug use. I want to say, if it's that successful, how come drug use is higher than ever amongst the younger crowd?...

To the editor: The Southeast Missouri State University student body and the citizens of Cape Girardeau have many things to be proud of. Regrettably, how we support and cheer for our women's college gymnastics team isn't one of them. My wife and I drive to Tuscaloosa, Ala., for the four-team gynmasitics meet. We witnessed the Crimson Tide roll over the other three teams. We were intimidated not only by the 'Bama team, but by their fans...

To the editor: In response to Scott Moyers recent piece "Death penalty imperfect but still worth keeping," the following comments come to mind: The "big legal question has been ... whether the death penalty is unfair" misses the point. When the question in the balance is life and death, the concern must be whether it is ethical/moral, not whether it is fair or not...

The Area Wide United Way held a well-deserved celebration last week. The campaign -- with a $525,000 goal -- ended on an upbeat note. Pledges and contributions topped $534,000, the largest amount every collected by the local United Way. Previously, the highest amount raised was about $508,000. In fact, a goal of $520,000 fell short in 1994...

Once again, the Missouri Legislature wants to meddle in decisions that should remain local. A state senator wants to cap tuition increases at Missouri's four-year public colleges and universities. The purpose may seem well-intentioned. Parents and students paying their own way are no doubt frustrated by the rising cost of college education...

As many as 344,000 Missouri teen-agers are at risk of contracting a sexually transmitted disease this year, said Beth Meyerson of the Missouri health department's HIV prevention program. That makes up about 10 percent of the 3 million U.S. teens who will have a sexually transmitted disease in 1997...

Eighth-graders at St. Vincent de Paul School in Cape Girardeau studied magazine ads for jeans and perfume looking for the underlying sexual themes. The class project last week was to write warning labels for the ads. One group, after looking at an ad picturing a beautiful young woman in very tight jeans, wrote this warning: "You won't look like this if you have sex and get pregnant."...

The clock is ticking for Missouri state lawmakers who will be shown the door when term limits hit the General Assembly with full force in 2002. Voters approved a constitutional amendment in November 1992, that limits state lawmakers to eight years or four terms in the House and eight years or two terms in the Senate...

With just over two weeks before voters decide the fate of two Cape Girardeau school funding proposals, absentee ballots are beginning to trickle in. On April 1, voters will decide if the Cape Girardeau Board of Education can raise the property tax levy 69 cents for each $100 assessed valuation...

While local Tele-Communication Inc. customers will be paying more for cable television service, the rate increase will be lower than the average hike the company plans to impose nationally. Effective June 1, the cost TCI's customers in the Cape Girardeau and Jackson areas will pay for the most popular packages of channels will tentatively go up $1.07 a month -- about a 4.3 percent increase. That increase does not include other possible fee changes...

In October, motorists will be able to exit Interstate 55 directly onto Highway 74, a route that eventually will lead to the new Bill Emerson Memorial Bridge. Construction will begin in two weeks on the interchange that will connect the interstate to the recently relocated Highway 74, said Henry Bangert, vice president of Millstone Bangert Inc...

CHARLESTON -- More than 30 weary teachers and others whooped for joy when the Charleston Board of Education finally ended a closed meeting at 2 a.m. Friday. "Joe Forrest has been reinstated as principal at Charleston High School," announced Board of Education president Eddie Barnhill at the close of the meeting, which began early Thursday night...

The Cape Girardeau chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People voted Friday night not to support the Cape Girardeau school bond issue April 1. The issue is the first of two proposals. If the first passes April 1, it will result in a 69 cent per $100 assessed valuation tax increase. The money would fund construction of a new vocational-technical school and elementary school, and renovations at other school buildings...

Here is the ballot wording for the April 1 school bond election and what it means. What voters will see on the ballot: Proposition 2 Shall the Cape Girardeau Public School District 63, Missouri Board of Education, borrow money in an amount not to exceed $14 million for the purpose of acquiring property for a new elementary school, a new vocational technical school and a new high school; constructing a new elementary school and a new vocational technical school; renovating the Alma Schrader, Clippard and Franklin elementary schools and renovating and expanding the Jefferson elementary school; renovating the current vocational facility to house district offices; renovating the current junior high school and high school facilities and making other improvements to district facilities; and paying the costs of issuance of the bonds; and issue bonds for the payment thereof?. ...

Personal politics have no place in the hands of elected officials. When most Americans go to the voting polls, we do so with a belief in the anthem "of the people, for the people, by the people." We select public officials with the hope that the individual will work for the good of the community...

APPLE CREEK -- It isn't unusual for a stranger to come up to Shirley Buchheit and tell her she recognizes her from the Apple Creek Hee Haw. Then the stranger might say, "I heard this cute little joke. You can use it on your Hee Haw." Buchheit, who plays Cousin Minnie, writes it down and saves it for the next year's production...

A rabies alert issued nine days ago for Cape Girardeau County has brought on somewhat of a rabies panic. Officials with the Cape Girardeau County Health Department said the county was placed on rabies alert by the Missouri Health Department because one animal was found with a confirmed case of rabies...

JACKSON -- Canine units from the Jackson Police Department and Missouri State Highway Patrol entered Jackson Junior High School for a surprise drug search Friday morning. The search was held as a result of reports heard by school and law enforcement officials about the presence of drugs in the schools. Although no drugs were found, the school superintendent, Dr. Howard Jones, said he hopes students got a clear message from the search...

COLUMBIA -- Last year Springfield Glendale had all the experience and it showed in a 71-66 win over Jackson for the Class 4A girls state high school basketball championship. This season Jackson has the experience -- and it paid plenty of dividends for the Lady Indians Friday afternoon as they advanced to their second straight 4A title contest...

COLUMBIA -- An undefeated squad will be waiting on Jackson High's girls basketball team today in the Class 4A state championship game. Gateway Tech of St. Louis (27-0) and Jackson (27-2) will square off at 2:10 p.m. at the University of Missouri's Hearnes Center...

With their "ugliest" performance behind them, the Notre Dame Lady Bulldogs feel they have something every team needs this time of year ... luck. The Lady Bulldogs advanced to the 2A quarterfinals tonight at Park Hills High School with a last-minute comeback over East Carter County at the Cape Central Fieldhouse Wednesday night...

Up until now, the only thing Southeast Missouri State University gymnastics coach Bill Hopkins had in common with enigmatic Chicago Bulls star Dennis Rodman was winning. But don't be surprised if you see Hopkins making a Rodman-like choice between flashy fuchsia and pretty pink fingernail polish in the cosmetics aisle...

HONOLULU -- Southeast Missouri's softball team traveled all the way to Hawaii, but found its first win of the 1997 season. Playing in the University of Hawaii Tournament Friday, the Otahkians defeated Creighton 5-4 in eight innings. However, the win was followed by losses to Illinois State and Cal-Berkeley...

Cape Central's girls swim team suffered its first loss of the season, losing a close meet to Parkway North 98-88 Friday at Cape Central Pool. "We made a few mistakes and we were without our big star Grace Freeman," said Cape Central coach Dayna Powell. "With Grace there, I think we could of won it, but it would of been a one or two point difference."...

Catherine Leggee, 69, of Green Valley, Ariz., died Monday, Feb. 17, 1997, in Green Valley. She was born March 17, 1927, in Cape Girardeau, daughter of James Clifford and Blanche Gray Logan. She and Richard Leggee were married July 8, 1945. Survivors include two daughters, Karen Swift of Holmdel, N.J., Lauren Leggee of Albuquerque, N.M.; a son, Richard Leggee of Atlanta, Ga.; a brother, James Logan of Cape Girardeau; and five grandchildren...

SIKESTON -- Gary Dale Dowdy, 41, of Sikeston died Thursday, March 13, 1997, at Missouri Delta Medical Center of an apparent heart attack. He was born Dec. 21, 1955, in East Prairie, son of James Thomas and Louella Goodwin Dowdy. He and Rose Ruger were married Oct. 19, 1995...

EAST PRAIRIE -- Funeral service for Gerald Morgan of Creve Coeur will be held at 10 a.m. today at Shelby Funeral Home in East Prairie. LeRoy Davenport will officiate, with burial in Oak Grove Cemetery near Charleston. Morgan, 47, died Wednesday, March 12, 1997, at Westview Nursing Center in Creve Coeur...

SIKESTON -- Funeral Mass for Paul Edward Hill of Sikeston will be held at 10 a.m. today at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church. The Rev. Robert Schumacher will officiate, with burial in Forest Hills Cemetery near Morley. Hill, 65, died Thursday, March 13, 1997, at Deaconess Medical Center in St. Louis...

ANNA, Ill. -- Gene F. "Frankie" Williams, 49, of Anna died Friday, March 14, 1997, at St. Joseph's Memorial Hospital in Murphysboro. Lutz and Rendleman Funeral Home in Anna is in charge of arrangements.

Daughter to Stephen Michael and Wanda Louise Hahn, Chaffee Route 1, Southeast Missouri Hospital, 8:14 a.m. Monday, Feb. 24, 1997. Name, Abby Marie. Weight, 5 pounds 14 ounces. Second daughter. Mrs. Hahn is the former Wanda Senciboy, daughter of James Senciboy and Mildred Senciboy, Chaffee Route 1. She is employed at Chaffee Head Start. Hahn is the son of Coletta Hahn of Chaffee, and the late George Hahn. He is employed at Schaefer Water Centers...

OLIVE BRANCH, Ill. -- Funeral service for Maurice "Bub" Willis of Olive Branch will be held at 3 p.m. Sunday at Crain Funeral Home in Tamms. The Revs. Billy Don Heady and Carl Hester will officiate. Burial will be in Olive Branch Cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home after 5 p.m. today...