Stories from Tuesday, June 24, 1997

To the editor: When we think of a neighbor, what do we really think about? It is someone who lives near us? Usually, that is the most often thought or concept. Are they permanent? Maybe a neighbor today or perhaps a lifetime. Would you say they are friendly, sociable, accommodating? Or perhaps someone you know or think you know better than some other people? Maybe even a great jovial personality that you enjoy very much. Or is it someone who calls you frequently or visits you often?...

To the editor: I wanted to take a moment to tell your readers about a special event that is coming up in Cape Girardeau County. It is the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life that will be held from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. June 28 in the Student Recreation Center on the campus of Southeast Missouri State University. The Relay for Life is a 12-hour family event where we can join together to celebrate the community's fight against cancer...

When Gov. Mel Carnahan appointed the Total Transportation Commission about a year ago, the state was just responding to the news that a 1992 comprehensive highway plan for the state was some $14 billion short of funding. In what was obviously a move to find ways to raise billions of dollars for transportation, more than likely through tax increases, the commission has met and is about ready to make its recommendations...

I AM on-fire mad with all of you whiny parents harping about Ozzie Smith this and Ozzie Smith that. He's going to be here. You weren't robbed. Quit whining in Speak Out about it. You could have used this as positive lesson for your children. You could have said, "Hey, kids, sometimes life throws you a curve ball. ...

Tuesday, June 24, 1997, 7:30 p.m. Jackson Middle School Library ACTION ITEMS: A. Consider Federal Title II (Eisenhower/Professional Development) program for 1997-98. B. Consider Federal Title IV (Chapter 2: School Improvement) program for 1997-98...

Cody Pulliam, left, and Jamie Palen, both of Cape Girardeau, got a close-up look at a rough, green snake as Mary Hastings displayed it for the Cub Scouts during a nature class. Leland Musgrave of Cape Girardeau admired the dream catcher he made with vine and jute at the Cub Scout Day Camp...

Cybertip: You can't send a postcard without an e-mail address. Trying searching at www.infospace.com or www.infoseek.com If you can't find their e-mail there, some places let you send a real card, for a slight charge, of course. Hey, surfers. Please welcome Darren McGaha -- an integral member of the SEMissourian.com web staff -- to Click and Double Click...

BENTON -- Singing frogs have been seen in prominent television commercials and as a promotional figure for a network. But education consultant A.J. Hendershott is more excited about a rare frog species recently found near Kelly School. The school district was recently awarded a $2,150 Show Me Conservation Outdoor Classroom grant from the Department of Conservation to develop an outdoor learning environment. ...

PERRYVILLE -- Current members of the Perry County Board of Education plan to interview a future member of the board Wednesday night at the school board office. The interviews start at 6 p.m. and are open to the public. The board is looking for a replacement for Carol Laws, a school board member who resigned after her husband took a job in Kansas. Whomever they select will serve until April, when voters will select someone to fill the rest of the three-year term...

Former Southeast Missouri State University president Dr. Bill Stacy has been hired as chancellor of the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga. Stacy, 58, begins the job Aug. 1. For the past eight years he has served as president of California State University-San Marcos. He helped launch the new school after leaving Southeast in 1989...

Work on the Bill Emerson Memorial Bridge at Cape Girardeau is being concentrated on pier 2. "We're looking at the next concrete pour for the pier," said Matt Girard, project manager for Flatiron Structures Inc., the contractor. Pier 2 is on the Missouri shore of the Mississippi River near Aquamsi Street...

The lights went out at Capaha Field around 10:30 Monday night, but they had effectively gone out on Van Buren much earlier than that. Cape Girardeau Ford & Sons' American Legion baseball team hit visiting Van Buren with two monster innings to sweep a District 14 doubleheader by scores of 11-4 and 12-3...

JACKSON -- If given a choice between playing professional football for the old St. Louis Cardinals or the new St. Louis Rams, former Cardinal running back Willard Harrell would have no problems making the decision. "The Rams reflect class, whereas (Cardinals' owner) Bill Bidwell, to me, did not reflex that same kind of class," Harrell said following his speaking engagement...

BENTON -- Terry Johnson, of Benton, vaulted into first place in the Modified point standings with a win Saturday night at the Missouri International Racepark. Charles LaPlant, of East Prairie, pulled along side Johnson various times but could not make a pass on the leader. The new surface was to the liking of both drivers as each fought for 20 laps for the win. Johnson held off a final charge by LaPlant to cross the line five feet in front of the second-place car...

BLOOMFIELD -- Thelda "Teddie" Winters, 75, of Three Oaks, Mich., died Saturday, June 21, 1997, at St. Anthony's Hospital in Crown Point, Ind. She was born April 5, 1922, at Bloomfield, daughter of Roy and Essie Hilderbrand Link. She and Edwin Winters were married Jan. 27, 1946, in Little Rock, Ark...

Charles A. Pendleton, 69, of Tacoma, Wash., died Friday, June 20, 1997, at Highland Nursing Home in Tacoma. He was born June 10, 1928, in Tulsa, Okla., son of Walter and Mona Sanders Pendleton. Pendleton lived in Cape Girardeau from 1933-52. He was a graduate of Central High School, attended Southeast Missouri State University, and received a doctor of physical arts degree from the University of Oregon-Eugene...

BLOOMFIELD -- Wesley Leon Engelhardt, 68, of Bloomfield died Friday, June 20, 1997, at Southeast Missouri Hospital. He was born Nov. 26, 1928, in Hebron, N.D., the son of Arthur and Ida Smith Engelhardt. He was a line tester for General Motors in Flint, Mich., for 30 years before retiring in January 1996, when he moved to Bloomfield. He then worked for Wolsey Investigation Service in Chaffee...

ULLIN, Ill. -- Paul Dexter, 77, of Ullin, died Monday, June 23, 1997, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. Funeral arrangements are incomplete at Crain Funeral Home in Ullin.

SIKESTON -- Funeral service for Vireda McDonald of Sikeston will be held at 2 p.m. today at Ponder Funeral Home. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery. McDonald, 82, died Saturday. June 21, 1997, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. She was born April 22, 1915, at Matthews, daughter of William and Martha Jane Burroughs Latham. She and Olen A. McDonald were married June 11, 1935. He died March 8, 1990...

SIKESTON -- Grace Helen Childs, 75, of Sikeston died Sunday, June 22, 1997, at her home, following an extended illness. She was born Aug. 30, 1921, at Morehouse, daughter of D.L. and Grace Powell Fisher. Childs was a 1939 graduate of Sikeston High School, and a 1943 graduate of Duke University in Chapel Hill, N.C. She was an interpreter for the U.S. Army in Tucson., Ariz., during World War II...

William Louis "Bill" Cohen, 76, of Cape Girardeau died Friday, June 20, 1997, at his home. He was born Oct. 23, 1920, in Fredericktown. He was a graduate of Kemper Military Academy and attended the University of Missouri at Columbia. Cohen and Mary Jean Duff were married May 17, 1953, at Poplar Bluff...

ORAN -- Russell "Rusty" Anderson, 70, of Oran died Monday, June 23, 1997, at his home. He was born Oct. 14, 1926, at Thomasville, son of Walter LeRoy and Mary Jane Peace Anderson. He and Lois Stanfield were married Nov. 20, 1946. Anderson had been a maintenance man for the city of Oran. He was a member of Hooe Baptist Church...

ANNA, Ill. -- Wanda L. Fry, 91, of Anna died Monday, June 23, 1997, at Union County Hospital. She was born Oct. 11, 1905, in Alexander County, daughter of Paul M. and Effie Sichling Dillow. She married Floyd J. Fry, who preceded her in death. Fry was formerly of Oak Ridge, Tenn., and had been a secretary for the Atomic Energy Commission...

ANNA, Ill. -- Leo J. Bridgeman, 86, of Anna died Monday, June 23, 1997, at Barnes Hospital in St. Louis, Mo. He was born July 31, 1910, in Alto Pass, son of Roy and Ollie Godwin Bridgeman. He and Virgie Williams were married Dec. 25, 1930. She died July 26, 1994...

CHARLESTON -- James Milburn Moser, 56, of Arlington, Ky., died Monday, June 23, 1997, at his home. He was born Nov. 9, 1940, in Dyersburg, Tenn., son of Walter and Sybil Smith Moser. He and Cynthia Woodruff were married June 13, 1975. Moser lived in Dyersburg most of his life, moving to Bardwell, Ky., in 1991, and then to Arlington in 1996. He was a self-employed truck driver, retiring in 1989...

DONGOLA, Ill. -- Roy Dale, 94, of Dongola died Monday, June 23, 1997, at his home. Crain Funeral Home at Dongola is in charge of arrangements.

Son to Jay M. and Gina E. Todd of St. Louis, St. John's Mercy Medical Center, 10:08 p.m. Monday, June 9, 1997. Name, Nicholas Avery. Weight, 7 pounds. Second child, first son. Mrs. Todd is the former Gina Rice, daughter of Rodger and Jean Rice of Cape Girardeau. Todd is the son of Jackie and Marie Todd of Cape Girardeau. He is a professional photographer in St. Louis...

Funeral service for Jewell I. Ellis of Cape Girardeau will be held at 10 a.m. today at Ford and Sons Mt. Auburn Chapel, with the Revs. Jack Cathcart and Ron Brown officiating. Entombment will be in Memorial Park Mausoleum. Ellis, 63, died Saturday, June 21, 1997, at St. Francis Medical Center...

JACKSON -- Paul H. Bruening, 88, of Jackson died Sunday, June 22, 1997, at the Lutheran Home in Cape Girardeau. He was born April 16. 1909, in Jackson, the son of William and Bertha Sebastian Bruening. On August 20, 1944, he married Thekla Sieving. She preceded him in death on Aug. 24, 1992...

Her first role was at age 9 when she was the paper boy in "Our Town." Numerous community theater and school productions later, Shannon Felker of Cape Girardeau has been designated by California Gov. Pete Wilson as a California Arts Scholar. The honor is considered the highest distinction in California for artistically talented students. ...