Stories from Saturday, June 7, 1997

To the editor: Recently, a nationwide newsletter reported that last June 17-year-old Matthew C. Janssen of Appleton, Wis., decided to exercise his free-speech rights on a public golf course. Without saying a word, he lowered the U.S. flag from the pole, found a secluded place to drop his pants, then defecated on Old Glory. He placed the soiled flag on the steps of the clubhouse for others to clean up...

Aromatic, some in early summer bloom, the herb plants in Jane Kniestedt's backyard will add flavor to her cooking year around. Long before Kniestedt of Frohna uses in recipes the dozens of herbs she grows, she is enjoying the beauty of the plants. Kniestedt's circular herb garden, complete with inlaid bricks to form a path, boasts dozens of herb varieties all labeled and carefully grouped. ...

Lemon-rosemary Rub 1 1/2 teaspoons grated lemon peel 1 teaspoon dried rosemary leaves, crushed 1/4 teaspoon each salt, dried thyme leaves and coarse grind black pepper 2 large garlic cloves, minced Combine ingredients. Store in airtight container. Shake before using. Makes enough to season 2 pounds of meat...

The Alternative School program in Cape Girardeau, Jackson and Perryville earned a major boost last week. More than $441,000 was awarded to these programs that serve at-risk youths, along with the Clean Streams Project. There's a lot of grant money doled out each year, both from state and federal dollars. Some of the grants finance rather dubious projects...

While some schools are thankful for government grants, others are praising private business for providing a financial boost. Procter & Gamble and Southwestern Bell recently awarded sizable grants to area schools for improved technology. These businesses deserve a pat on the back for their continued community service...

To the editor: I was touched by Peter Kinder's article June 1 on the life of Dr. Raymond Ritter Sr. I watched the mourners streaming out of the Presbyterian church and felt as if I left too many words unspoken to him. Dr. Ritter and I shared a love of local history and genealogy since my arrival in Cape Girardeau in 1991. He and his daughter-in-law, Ann, and I shared a passion last year in the survival of a local landmark, the former St. Vincent's seminary...

Les Lindy Jr. wanted a small piece of history from the old Airline Lounge. He got it. Lindy, owner of Lucky Find Antiques at Gordonville, purchased at a recent auction the almost half-century-old, lighted, revolving, 4-foot world globe that stood high atop the structure...

The schedule of events is set, plans are being finalized, and organizers of next weekend's two-day Riverfest '97 activities promise non-stop family entertainment. "Where else can you get a quality event for so little expense?" said Riverfest co-chairman Laurel Adkisson...

Management of WDKA-TV, UPN-49 promise that those who turn to channel 49 will finally get something other than snow. "It's there," said Joe Mazza, vice president of Max Media Properties, which operates the new station. "We're on the air now." After months of delay, the United Paramount Network affiliate officially began broadcasting Friday. It had originally announced starting dates in March and then in late May...

Any new state transportation plan should focus on finishing the road projects promised the public under the Department of Transportation's 15-year plan, Missouri House Speaker Steve Gaw said Friday. "I think you have to use that as the centerpiece for anything new that is proposed," the Moberly Democrat said during a visit to the Southeast Missourian offices in Cape Girardeau...

This column can be summed up in two words: First birthday. The professional moms were right. I freely admit that the milestones I so looked forward to as a new mom were the very ones the professional moms cautioned me against. Now those feelings are coming back on me with the force of a jagged-jawed boomerang...

OAK RIDGE -- Wayne Bock will spend two weeks this summer in the sun, but he'll be watching cars catching sun rays rather than working on a tan. The Oak Ridge industrial technology teacher will be an official observer in the 1997 Sunrayce, a biennial intercollegiate competition of solar-powered cars...

CHARLESTON -- Angela Gary is concerned for her friends. In five years, welfare as it has been for more than 50 years will end. The question of what will replace it concerns Gary, a single mother. Gary, who volunteers for a church missionary, said she favors a return of a church- and community-centered welfare system. But, she said, five years is not a long time to prepare for the added burden that will be placed on local pantries and assistance organizations...

Teachers, parents and law enforcement officials will be able to share experiences and discuss issues during a free one-day conference scheduled for June 13. The Cape Girardeau School District, U.S. Department of Justice and Cape Girardeau Police Department will sponsor a seminar on youth, crime and educational issues at Southeast Missouri State University...

The Kohlfeld Capahas opened up a big five-game weekend homestand by rallying for an 11-5 victory over the Valmeyer (Ill.) Lakers Friday night at Capaha Field. The Capahas, who improved their record to 4-0, will take on two-time defending National Baseball Congress state champion St. Louis O.B. Clark in doubleheaders today (2:30 p.m. and Sunday (1 p.m.)...

Kim Anderson estimates that, in his career as first a standout player and then an assistant coach, he been involved in "probably 1,000 games in my life." And that, said Anderson, is sufficient experience to make him an ideal candidate to become the next head men's basketball coach at Southeast Missouri State University...

Western Kentucky may be renewing its affiliation with the Ohio Valley Conference. The OVC presidents voted Thursday at their summer meeting in Martin, Tenn., to amend the league constitution to permit associate members in certain sports. Western Kentucky has been without a conference affiliation in football since leaving the OVC in the 1981-82 academic year when it joined the Sun Belt Conference...

Southeast Missouri State University baseball coach Mark Hogan has announced the signing of a pitcher from one of the top junior colleges in the nation. Tim Larsen, a righthander from Rancho Santiago Community College in Santa Anna, Calif., will pitch for the Indians in 1998. Larsen was 7-2 with a 4.80 earned-run average last year. In 60 innings, he gave up 52 hits while striking out 34 and walking 27...

Southeast Missouri State University women's assistant basketball coach Marcia Brooks has resigned to accept a similar position at the University of Missouri. Brooks had been an assistant at Southeast the past two seasons. She had previously been the restricted earnings coach at Missouri for three years after completing a standout playing career with the Lady Tigers...

DONIPHAN -- Claude Eli Slayton, 76, of rural Doniphan, died Wednesday, June 4, 1997, at the Missouri Veterans Home in Cape Girardeau after a long illness. He was born March 28, 1921, in Ripley County and grew up in the region. He lived and worked away from the area for several years before moving back 20 years ago...

BURFORDVILLE -- Ted Bowers of Burfordville died Friday, June 6, 1997, at Heritage Gardens Nursing Home in Jackson. Funeral arrangements are incomplete at McCombs Funeral Home in Jackson.

Kathleen Susan Andrews, 38, of Cape Girardeau, died Thursday, June 5, 1997, at Southeast Missouri Hospital. She was born Jan. 13, 1959 in Kansas City, Kan., daughter of Warren Dale Andrews and Mabel Grace Cordell. Both preceded her in death. She was a homemaker...

CAIRO, Ill. -- Rita M. Downing Clifton, 79, of Stone Mountain, Ga., died Friday, June 6, 1997, at DeKalb Medical Center in Atlanta, Ga. She was born April 26, 1918, in Cairo, daughter of William and Blanche Fitzgerald Kreitner. She married Jack Downing, who died in 1970...

EAST PRAIRIE -- Funeral service for Birdie Elizabeth Cooper of East Prairie will be held at 2 p.m. today at Shelby Funeral Chapel in East Prairie. Pastor Fred Girdwood will officiate, with burial in Anniston Cemetery near Anniston. Friends may call at the chapel after 10:30 a.m...

BLOOMFIELD -- Mary Magoline Edwards, 72, of Bloomfield died Thursday, June 5, 1997, at Beverly Health and Rehab Center in Bloomfield. She was born April 14, 1925, in Eolia, Ky., daughter of John and Myrtle Colinger Sturgil. Edwards had lived at Bloomfield the past 30 years. She had worked at Inland Shoe Co., Elder Manufacturing Co., and had been a nurse aide...

ANNA, Ill. -- Jewell Basler, 89, of Anna died Thursday, June 5, 1997, at her home. She was born Feb. 11, 1908, at Thompsonville, daughter of Oscar and Della Ramsey Waller. She and Dennis J. Basler were married July 21, 1930, at Cobden. Basler retired as a mental health technician at the former Anna State Hospital. She was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church...

PERRYVILLE -- Funeral Mass for Maythel M. Unterreiner will be held at 8:30 a.m. today at St. Vincent's Catholic Church. The Rev. Kevin Fausz will officiate, with burial in Mt. Hope Cemetery. Miller Family Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Unterreiner, 84, died Thursday, June 5, 1997, at Perry County Nursing Home...

JACKSON -- Funeral service for James "Jim" Davenport of Jackson will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday at McCombs Funeral Chapel in Jackson. The Rev. O. David Griffin will officiate, with burial in Russell Heights Cemetery. Friends may call at the chapel from 3-8 p.m. today. A Masonic service will be held at 7...

GRASSY -- Courtland C. Miller, 87, of Grassy died Thursday, June 5, 1997, at Bond Nursing Care Center in Marble Hill. He was born Jan. 15, 1910, at Grassy, son of John L. and Rhodie A. Jackson Miller. He and Vera M. Newell were married Dec. 24, 1930. She died Sept. 3, 1994...

Ten people were injured in three separate traffic accidents in the area Friday. Two people were hurt in a one-vehicle accident Friday morning near Interstate 55 and Route M in Perry County near Brewer. Annabelle Shelby, 46, and Joey Brown, 15, both of Villa Ridge, Ill., were reportedly taken to the Perry County Hospital in Perryville, Mo...

The reinforcing steel bar used in the construction of a portion of a concrete tower of the new Bill Emerson Memorial Bridge fell over Friday. Matt Girard of the Flatiron Structure Co. in Cape Girardeau said the incident will set the bridge construction back by a week...

The Rev. Charles W. Creibaum, 84, of the Baptist Home in Ironton died Thursday, June 5, 1997, at the home. He was born Jan. 5, 1913, in Cape Girardeau, son of William and Leona Sherf Creibaum. He and Blanche Delores Trickey were married April 10, 1936, in Cape Girardeau. She died Feb. 17, 1997...

Daughter to Eric W. and Dawn L. Johnson, 303 Themis, Southeast Missouri Hospital, 5:46 p.m. Sunday, June 1, 1997. Name, Paige E. Weight, 9 pounds 4 ounces. First child. Mrs. Johnson is the former Dawn Pautler, daughter of Ed and Carla Pautler of Evansville, Ill. She is employed at the Center for Orthodontics. Johnson is the son of Don and Helga Johnson of Jackson. He is employed at Horizon Music Inc...

John Lynn Sams, 72, of Cape Girardeau died Friday, June 6, 1997, at Southeast Missouri Hospital. He was born June 17, 1924, in Cape Girardeau, the son of Joseph and Dolly Huckstep Sams. He was first married to Belva K. Atchley on Aug. 6, 1949, at Cape Girardeau . She died Oct. 29, 1970. He then married Nadine L. Babb on Nov. 27, 1971, at Mattoon, Ill. She survives...