Stories from Wednesday, April 16, 1997

Outstanding volunteerism was the focus of an award luncheon Tuesday co-sponsored by the Area Wide United Way and Ameritech. Eighteen volunteers and three support organizations were recognized for their service to the community throughout the year during the Volunteer Recognition program. Volunteers were nominated by people for their efforts, and several individuals received medals for outstanding service...

City officials cut the ribbon and officially opened the $2.5 million Osage Community Centre Tuesday afternoon. After a few speeches and rounds of applause, the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce hosted the facility's first event -- the Chamber of Commerce's Business After Hours...

The 1927 flood along the Mississippi River buried New Madrid and other Bootheel towns in a sea of water. Seventy years ago today, 1,200 feet of a government levee on the flood-swollen river crumbled at Dorena in Mississippi County. The river poured through the breach, tearing down trees, sweeping away buildings -- and destroying public confidence in levees that federal officials insisted would hold...

Consummating the wishes of an overwhelming number of voters, the Cape Girardeau Board of Education Tuesday approved a contract with A.G. Edwards and Sons Inc. for the sale of nearly $14 million in bonds for school improvements. Proceeds from the sale will go toward a new elementary building, additions to Jefferson Elementary School, renovations to existing school buildings, and construction of a vocational-technical school...

The quickest way to see The Other Half revert to childhood is to take him to his parent's house. When we took our jobs in Pensacola, management told us we could take vacation time after three months on the job. Our three-month work anniversary was April 8. We left for Missouri April 12 to spend a week with The Other Half's parents, Momma Half and Daddy Half...

The Southeast Missourian asked, "What do you do for fun?" Christina Limbach: "I like to go on float trips when it's warmer. Other times I like to shoot pool." Jenifer Martin: "Anything and everything when I'm with friends. I can make just about anything fun with them. Especially dancing."...

JACKSON -- With the coming of warmer weather children will bring out those bikes they received for Christmas presents and learn how to use them. But Dixie Moore of Jackson said these children need to learn bike safety before they hit the road. Moore said she encourages Jackson youth in grades K-4 to sign up for the Jackson Safety City program to be held on May 3. Registration for the program will start at 9 a.m. Saturday at Jackson City Hall...

The main theme to kindergarten education is time, said three local kindergarten teachers at an information seminar Tuesday night at Southeast Missouri Hospital. Speaking to an audience of more than 40 parents and educators, Lisa Seabaugh, Patty Montgomery and Linda Hill said everyone -- parents as well as students -- learn at their own pace...

Learning by doing is the theme of a weeklong summer program to be held for area high-school juniors. Jerry Witvoet, A+ coordinator for Cape Girardeau schools, announced that plans are under way to hold a Career Academy for Industrial and Engineering Technology...

The funny thing about words is they can come back to haunt you. Such is the case with riverboat gambling in Missouri. It was sold as a tourism draw for the state. Then, the $500 loss limit was seen as an advantage for Missouri. Now, proponents want to lift the loss limit to bring more gambling dollars into Missouri...

With any successful program, the credit is often due to hard-working people behind the scenes. Such was the case with Edythe Davis, who dedicated 22 energetic years to St. Francis Medical Center. Many of those years were spent as a key player on the hospital's administrative team...

The new CAPE OSAGE COMMUNITY CENTER was dedicated last night at 4:30 followed by the Cape Chamber's Business After Hours monthly mixer. This facility gives another option for the many sports and civic functions that fill up the calendar in Cape. Cape's infrastructure and support facilities are in process of becoming the best in the state on a per population basis...

CHESTER, Ill. -- The rising Mississippi River has delayed repairs on the Chester bridge until April 30. The Missouri Department of Transportation said worsening river conditions and the need for specialty materials have delayed the scheduled sandblasting and repainting of all steel and guardrails on the bridge. The $4.66 million renovation is being done by Global Construction Inc. of Holiday, Fla...

CARBONDALE, Ill. -- Darin Kinsolving belted two home runs as Southeast rallied from an early deficit to defeat Southern Illinois 9-4 Tuesday. Kinsolving had two of Southeast's 12 hits on the day and finished with three RBI. Southeast improved to 15-19 with the win while Southern Illinois dropped to 11-21...

After opening the baseball season against each other, Jackson and Notre Dame squared off again Tuesday at Notre Dame. The game appeared to be a reversal of the first game that Notre Dame won 9-0. This time, Jackson's Christopher Leimer pitched an outstanding game and the Bulldogs committed several costly errors to fall for the first time this year 5-2...

Southeast Missouri State University's men's basketball program has already signed five new players for next season. Since there was only one senior on last season's roster, it is apparent that -- in order to free up some scholarships -- several players who are eligible to return next season won't be back...

ST. LOUIS -- Southeast Missouri State University's softball team lost both games of a doubleheader here against Missouri Tuesday. After losing the opener 4-0, Southeast lost a six-run lead in the nightcap and fell 10-7. Southeast (22-17) totaled only three hits in the opener as Missouri's Barb Wright dominated...

Southeast Missouri State University freshman baseball player Jon Lewis recently received the Rising Star Award from the St. Louis Amateur Hall of Fame as the top high school baseball player in the metro area in 1996. Lewis, an outfielder from Herculaneum, was a first-team all-state selection and the Jefferson County Small School MVP. As a senior, he batted .516 with nine home runs and 32 RBI...

Bryan Kelpe of Cape Girardeau recently won the men's division of the 5K Spring Run. Kelpe, 19, covered the course in 17:41. Cape resident Carlene Keller, 19, won the women's 5K run in 22:53.

The Cape Central Lady Tigers improved to 8-0 on Tuesday with a 2-0 victory over Notre Dame. Nicole Thiele scored the lone first-half goal 29 minutes into the game on a pass from Erica McDonald. The score remained 1-0 until Emilee Atchley deposited an insurance goal with 16 minutes left in the game. Lori Bittle assisted on the play...

CHARLESTON -- Jesse Robert Crosno, 62, of Plantation, Fla., died Monday, April 14, 1997, in Plantation. He was born Nov. 14, 1934, in Charleston, son of Albert Lee and Grace McClanahan Crosno. He and Bonnie Uthoff were married in February 1960. Crosno was associated with Potashnick Construction Co. 38 years, managing various projects throughout the United States and Puerto Rico...

SIKESTON -- Funeral service for Sharan Kay Reedy of Sikeston will be held at 2 p.m. today at Nunnelee Funeral Chapel. The Rev. Greg Robertson will officiate, with burial in Memorial Park Cemetery. Reedy, 50, died Monday, April 14, 1997, at her home, following an extended illness...

Mary Jane Barnett, 88, of Cape Girardeau died Tuesday, April 15, 1997, at Southeast Missouri Hospital. Arrangements are incomplete at Ford & Sons Mount Auburn Chapel.

CHARLESTON -- Jack Brashears, 64, of Charleston died Saturday, April 12, 1997, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. He was born Feb. 11, 1933, in Charleston, son of William and Ruby Hurley Brashears. He and Peggy Jean Grubbs were married March 24, 1988. She died Sept. 13, 1990...

DONGOLA, Ill. -- William Edman Sheffer, 82, of Paducah, Ky., died Tuesday, April 15, 1997, at Lourdes Hospital in Paducah. He was born June 24, 1914, at Dongola, son of John and Ida Earnhart Sheffer. He and Iola Sivia were married Dec. 5, 1936, at Donogla...

SIKESTON -- Funeral service for Dustin Roth Rettig will be held at 10 a.m. today at Ponder Funeral Home. Pat Hogan will officiate, with burial in Garden of Memories Cemetery. The infant died Monday, April 14, 1997, at Children's Hospital in St. Louis...

Funeral service for Gladys Marie Schlichting, 2825 Bloomfield, will be held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at Ford and Sons Mt. Auburn Chapel. The Rev. Doyle Randol will officiate, with burial in Lindsey Cemetery. Friends may call at the chapel from 4-8 p.m. today...

DONGOLA, Ill. -- Jefferson S. Rendleman, 80, of Dongola, Ill., formerly of Wolf Lake, Ill., died Tuesday, April 15, 1997, at the City Care Center in Anna, Ill. Funeral arrangements are incomplete at Lutz & Rendleman Funeral Home in Anna.

SIKESTON -- Funeral service for Opal C. Yount will be held at 2 p.m. today at Unity Baptist Church in Benton. The Rev. Dale Huff will officiate, with burial in the church cemetery. Ponder Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Yount, 99, died Sunday, April 13, 1997, at Sikeston Health Care...

BLOOMFIELD -- Elmer R. Culbertson, 97, died Monday, April 14, 1997, at Crowley Ridge Care Center in Dexter. He was born July 30, 1899, at Dexter, son of Edd and Amanda Hill Culbertson. He and Arlie Wilson were married in 1923. She died Feb. 3, 1993...

PERRYVILLE -- Howard G. Sandlin, 73, of Perryville died Tuesday, April 15, 1997, at Perry County Memorial Hospital. He was born Dec. 2, 1923, in the town of Seventy-Six, Mo., son of Felix and Bertha Strickland Sandlin. He married Audrey Walker on June 20, 1942, and she survives him...

Son to Stephen Jerome and Mary Waneta Fischer of Jackson, Southeast Missouri Hospital, 4:23 p.m. Tuesday, April 8, 1997. Name, Stephen Michael. Weight, 8 pounds 10 ounces. Fourth child, second son. Mrs. Fischer is the former Mary Williams, daughter of David M. Williams and Patricia Williams of East Prairie. Fischer is the son of Myron Fischer and Bernice Fischer of Ferdinand, Ind. He is a sales representative with Kraft General Foods...

Desta Almeda Strickland, 74, of Cape Girardeau died Monday, April 14, 1997, at Heartland Care and Rehab Center. She was born May 27, 1922, at Menfro, daughter of Ira N. and Gertrude Sandlin Clifton. She and Carey Strickland were married in 1962 in Sugarland, Texas. He died in 1995...

Mabel Irene Criddle, 84, 1015 Haddock, died Monday, April 14, 1997, at Beverly Health and Rehabilitation Services. She was born Aug. 4, 1912, at Oak Ridge, daughter of Bennett and Carrie Suhr Kester. She and James Wade Criddle were married Dec. 21, 1929, at Jackson. He died April 27, 1987...

Funeral service for Ernest E. Hahs of Cape Girardeau will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday at Lorberg Memorial Funeral Chapel. Burial will be in Sedgewickville Lutheran Cemetery at Sedgewickville. Friends may call at the chapel after 6 p.m. today. Hahs, 61, died Monday, April 14, 1997, at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston...

Evelyn L. Sebastian, 66, of Columbia died Monday, April 14, 1997, at University Hospital and Clinics. She was born Feb. 2, 1931, at Malden, daughter of Lee Roy and Violet M. Bratcher Woolsey. She and Rudy Sebastian were married in November 1946 in Cape Girardeau...

SCOTT CITY -- Luther Earl Rhymer, 69, of Scott City died Tuesday, April 15, 1997, at his home. Amick-Burnett Funeral Chapel at Scott City is in charge of arrangements.

PERRYVILLE -- Vernard A. "John" Thompson, 85, of Perryville died Monday, April 14, 1997, at Perry County Nursing Home. He was born Nov. 28, 1911, at Lithium, son of Noah and Vicca Reed Thompson. He and Louise Bert were married March 27, 1931. She died July 2, 1990...

Glenneta Vogelsang of Cape Girardeau attended the 1997 Mid-Year Conference of Ladies Auxiliary to the Veterans of Foreign Wars held April 2-5 in Honolulu, Hawaii. She is a former national president of the auxiliary. Speaker was James E. Nier of El Paso, Texas, VFW commander-in-chief...

JACKSON -- Members of Cape Girardeau County extension clubs held the annual All Clubs Day March 31 at New McKendree United Methodist Church. The devotional was given by Mary Clingingsmith of Cheerful Country Doers. Roll call was each telling her most enjoyable program of the year...

Next week the country observes Secretaries Day, a day set aside each year to honor the person who, in many organizations, is arguably the most indispensable. I know that in our office it works that way. If I am gone for, say, a week to attend a conference, it may not be until Wednesday before everybody notices. But if our secretary is gone for an hour, we may be rendered nearly helpless...

The countdown is on. Friday is the deadline to qualify for a whole new look in the Southeast Missourian's Spring Makeover Contest. If you're tired of your haircolor, makeup, wardrobe or the whole packsge, tell us all about it. Don't worry though -- when it's all over, you'll still look like yourself...

Along with the sounds of wildlife, the scent of the woods is noted by Allan Bornstein, who checks out a spice bush. Maybe the key to bird-watching is listening. Birds are elusive, they move fast and easily get lost in the trees and bushes. So instead of scanning the trees randomly, listen...