Stories from Sunday, April 27, 1997

covering week of April 20-26 25 years ago, 1972 Cape Girardeau County Collector Harold D. Kuehle received approval from County Court to proceed with lawsuits to collect delinquent merchants and manufacturers taxes; Kuehle told court there are "several businesses that are way overdue" on their taxes and, in fairness to vast majority of businesses which have paid up, every effort should be made to collect...

To the editor: This letter is in response to the item in Speak Out regarding Notre Dame's musical and the newspaper article on which it focused. Before I continue, I want to commend Sam Blackwell on his article concerning Notre Dame's musical and all the other articles on area shows he has highlighted so creatively and insightfully. Too often these articles become dubbed "reviews," as if there is someone else who can determine my tastes in appreciating art...

It was a special night for Andrea Sachse, Marilyn Jansen and Sonja Davis Thursday. They were honored by being named 1997 Educators of the Year. The award came about through the Jackson Chamber of Commerce. The Education Committee was trying to find a way to show how much the schools are appreciated in the community...

Robert L. Cleek has been named plant manager for the new Cape Girardeau Procter & Gamble tissue and towel plant that will be built adjacent to the P&G plant north of Cape Girardeau. Cleek, currently on special assignment for P&G, will assume his new duties here Thursday...

The Thanks Badge for outstanding service was awarded to Clarinda Miller of Cobden, Ill., Beth Guth of Perryville, Marty Sadler of Anna, Ill., and Barb Scheper of Jackson during the Otahki Girl Scout Council's annual Volunteer Appreciation program. The volunteers have all been involved in Girl Scouting for over 10 years and have held positions on the troop, service unit, association and council levels. They are also active in their church, schools and communities...

The politics of public education in Missouri is in a confused and peculiar condition on several levels. Missouri's unique position as the nation's largest contributor to public school desegregation programs now provides another conundrum: how to divide the savings of a 16-year, $3 billion-plus outlay of public money so that it is both equitable and productive. ...

Ever wonder why more and more parents are home-schooling their children or, at great sacrifice, placing their children in private schools? Look to California. From the Golden State comes still further evidence of the dumbing down of modern education, this time elementary education in mathematics. A new curriculum launched there in 1992 has angry parents in an uproar at the latest fads being embraced by the educrats. From an Associated Press report:...

There is an old story about hope. A certain poor farmer owned one horse. He solely relied on this horse for everything, from plowing to pulling the wagon into town. One night, a thunderstorm frightened the horse and it ran away into the hills, disappearing into the darkness. The search to locate the horse was in vain...

The memorial to Franklin D. Roosevelt will be dedicated this week. There will be some controversy -- just as controversy was a delectable part of his life. How should his disability be treated? Should it be ignored as he, in life, devoutly wished it to be, or should it be forthrightly portrayed to show the greatness of one with the will to overcome?...

If there is any subject under whose banner more misinformation flies than that of "campaign finance reform", it would be hard to name. An organization calling itself the Missouri Alliance for Campaign Reform is out pumping for "public" -- read, your taxes -- financing of our politicians' campaigns...

Brazeau, a Perry County town whose clean, country air is already sweetened by the smell of dogwood, smelled even better Saturday evening: All the women in town had to go home and bake. Travelers through town from the Mississippi River Valley Scenic Tour ate up all the baked goods and all the ham and beans the townspeople had prepared for them...

With 14 days and counting, the Random Acts of Kindness observance has already spread to 81 participants in four counties. The city of Scott City is jumping on the kindness bandwagon in an impressive way: The Scott County community has adopted Random Acts of Kindness Week as a Community Betterment project...

Some Missouri lawmakers want to let voters decide if the state should join 42 other states that allow their residents to carry concealed weapons. The lawmakers want a broader concealed weapons bill than the one the Senate passed and they want the issue to be decided by the voters...

Supporters who favor conceal-and-carry laws have armed themselves with an arsenal of statistics to show that Missouri would benefit from such gun legislation. The issue currently is before state lawmakers. Lawmakers and other supporters say crime rates have declined in states with right-to-carry laws...

TAMMS, Ill. -- On the verge of the 21st century, evidence exists that more than 1 million Americans live in rural areas without something the great majority of people take for granted: clean, safe drinking water flowing into their homes. This statistic may be surprising, but it's true, according to the U.S. Census Population and Housing statistics...

It's official. Our oldest daughter, Becca, is enrolled in kindergarten. This isn't one of those Kodak moments. Parents are never ready for their children to grow up, except, of course, after an infamous ketchup spill, temper tantrum, childhood disease or other natural, family disaster...

If a situation doesn't feel right, it probably isn't. Nancy Hightshoe, a pioneer in the field of criminal justice, says to "trust your instincts." Always be prepared, said Hightshoe, guest speaker at a safety seminar Saturday at the Show Me Center. "If your instincts tell you there is something wrong, take corrective action immediately," said Hightshoe, who served more than nine years as a police officer and was one of the first female beat-patrol officers in the nation. ...

Travis Cox ran the final leg of Cape Central's winning 4x100 relay at Saturday's Central Relays. For the Cape Girardeau Central girls track and field team, the manila envelope runneth over. Although no team scores were kept, it was obvious that the Lady Tigers were the stars of the 30th annual Central Relays -- the team's envelope was packed with more medals than any of the other 17 boys or girls teams involved...

Those Ohio Valley Conference softball teams that thought this was the season to finally dethrone Southeast Missouri State University evidently underestimated the depth and quality of the Otahkians' program under veteran coach Lana Richmond. The Otahkians rolled to the past two OVC regular-season championships with a combined 44-6 league record...

With their third Ohio Valley Conference championship sewn up entering Saturday's home doubleheader against Eastern Illinois, the Southeast Missouri State University Otahkian softball team finished out its league schedule with a split. Southeast won the first game 3-2 in eight innings, getting a two-out, bases-loaded pinch hit from Michelle Frank to end the game. In the second game, the Otahkians were blanked 2-0...

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. -- A blowout and a heartbreaker added up to a double defeat for Southeast Missouri State University's baseball team here Saturday. In a key Ohio Valley Conference doubleheader, host Middle Tennessee State romped in the opener 12-3 and then rallied for a 10-9 victory in the nightcap...

Spring football doesn't draw a whole lot of hype, but Southeast Missouri State University coach John Mumford hopes a successful spring practice session will be the jump-start needed for a rebound season in 1997. The Indians concluded spring drills Saturday with a public scrimmage at Houck Stadium. That was the last of 15 practice sessions -- 10 of them full contact -- allowable under NCAA guidelines...

LAKES Bull Shoals (East): 7.2' above normal, dingy; black bass fair on spinnerbaits and suspended Rogues; white bass fair on spinnerbaits and jigs; crappie fair on minnows and small jigs; all other species slow. Bull Shoals: 6' above power pool, clear; white bass good; all other species slow...

Deer hunters will have a new regulation in effect on Apple Creek Conservation Area in Cape Girardeau County during the Fall, 1997 firearms and muzzleloading deer seasons. The new regulation will allow the harvest of bucks only with a firearm or muzzleloader on the area during the proper seasons. Archery hunters will still be allowed to harvest a deer of either sex during the open season under statewide regulations...

POTOSI -- Jackson High's Josh Adams picked up his first victory of the season in style Saturday, hurling a five-inning no-hitter at Pacific in the Potosi Tournament. Adams also went 2-for-2 at the plate as Jackson concluded round-robin play with a 12-1 victory...

BENTON -- Ste. Genevieve's two high schools swept Saturday's annual Hawk Invitational hosted by Kelly. Ste. Genevieve captured the 11-team boys division with 205 points, finishing more than 100 points ahead of runnerup Kelly, which had 99 1/2. Portageville (94 1/2), Chaffee (73 1/2) and Grandview (71) rounded out the top five...

The fifth annual Notre Dame Booster Club four-person golf scramble will be held Friday, May 2, at Bent Creek Golf Course in Jackson. Either an 8 a.m. or 1 p.m. start is available. The cost is $60 per person, which includes 18 holes of golf and a cart, barbecue lunch, beverages, Notre Dame golf cap and other golf accessories...

Summer basketball camps for children entering grades 3-8 will be held at Notre Dame High School. The boys sessions will be June 9-13 and July 14-18 while the girls session will be June 23-27. The campers will meet four hours each day. The cost is $60, which includes a camp T-shirt. For more information, call coach Chris Janet at 335-1448...

River Eagle Budweiser will hold its 7th Annual Benefit Softball Tournament May 31-June 1 in Jackson. Entry fee is $75 per team for. The double elimination tournament is open to all Class C, D and E teams and players. Awards will be given out to the top four teams. There will also be a two home run limit...

The Scott City Parks and Recreation Department will hold swim lesson sign-ups from 4-7 p.m. May 1 in the Scott City High School cafeteria. A second registration date will be May 8 at the Horseshoe Pavilion from 8-11 a.m. For more information, contact Phyllis Spinks at 264-3411...

The Southeast Missouri State University Booster Club will hold its 14th annual Kohlfeld Distributing Golf Tournament Monday, May 5, at Bent Creek Golf Course in Jackson. The tournament is a six-person scramble over 18 holes. Lunch will be served at 11:30 a.m., with tee off at 12:30 p.m. There will also be dinner after play...

CHARLESTON -- Charleston High senior Rashad Oliver will take his considerable basketball talents to the junior college ranks next season. A 6-2 senior forward who has been a three-time Class 3A all-state performer, Oliver recently signed with SMS-West Plains. The school is coached by Tom Barr, a former assistant coach at Three Rivers Community College in Poplar Bluff...

MARBLE HILL -- Woodland High senior Shawn Massa has signed a letter of intent to play basketball at East Central College. Massa, a 6-foot-1 guard, averaged 22 points over his three years as a starter for the Cardinals. During his senior season, Massa averaged a team-high 22 points and five assists per game for the 17-10 Cardinals. He was also second in rebounding with five boards per game...

Cape Girardeau Central High softball coach Don Lang has had some exceptional players during his long tenure at the school. But Lang says as far as doing it all, Abby Harris tops the list. "Abby is probably the most complete player I've had in my 14 or 15 years coaching at Central," said Lang. "That's taking into account speed, defense, the bat, her arm. She just has the total package."...

The Velo Girardeau Bicycle Club will hold its promotional meeting, Pedal Push, May 12 at 7 p.m. in Hirsch Community Room at the Cape Girardeau Public Library. The meeting is for all those interested in bicycling. The club will hold Sunday rides on May 4, 11, 18 and 25. Most rides start at 2 p.m. at the Kent Library. For more information, call 334-1435 or 335-3050...

Junior golf discount cards are available at A.C. Brase Arena for ages 18 and under. The discount card are good for $2 off green fees Monday through Thursday at Cape Jaycees Municipal Golf Course. The photo ID card will be issued upon providing proof of age...

Lucretia Drum, 56, chairwoman of the Cape County Democratic Party Central Committee, died Friday, April 26, 1997, at St. Francis Medical Center. Drum was known as an advocate for including more women in politics and helped organize President Bill Clinton's visit last year. She had heart trouble and was scheduled for heart surgery next week, friends said...

ADVANCE -- Dale DeJournett, 56, of Advance died Saturday, April 26, 1997, at Southeast Missouri Hospital. He was born Jan. 2, 1941, in Essex, the son of Clemmer and the late Reba Tedford DeJournett. He married Madeline Giles on March 3, 1963, in Cape Girardeau. She survives...

PERRYVILLE -- William Jeffie Hahn, 87, of Yount died Friday, April 25, 1997, at Beverly Health and Rehab Services in Cape Girardeau. He was born Jan. 1, 1910, at Silver Lake, son of John Henry and Mary Julie Whistler Hahn. He married Edith M. Hendrix, June 17, 1933. She died Sept. 12, 1996...

ANNA, Ill. -- Judith V. Forehand, 49, of Altus, Okla., formerly of Anna, died Wednesday, April 23, 1997, at Jackson County Memorial Hospital in Altus. She was born July 7, 1947, at Anna, daughter of Edgar L. "Monk" and Pauline Wells Blaney. She married Richard L. Forehand Oct. 14, 1965, in Anna. He survives...

"Maybe we could get her to do it if we can get her out of the hedgerow and away from the birds in her back yard." I blushed. Who could they mean but me? I hurried on my way, not letting them know that I had overheard. I didn't even stick around to get some clue what it was they wanted me to do...

Master firefighter Larry Hagan worked out on tyhe abdominal machine at the St. Francis Universal Health and Fitness Center. Firefighter/Paramedic John Ryan studied for his Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) test. The test is given every two years to health care pr ofessionals to keep them certified in ACLS...