Stories from Wednesday, July 2, 1997

The mayor of Scott City and a council member have been charged following a Missouri Ethics Commission investigation. A special county prosecutor alleges that the two misled the council into paying a false bill. The initial dispute centered on whether a sitting councilman could be hired as the public works director. The city attorney questioned the legality...

In the legal world, out-of-court settlements of civil lawsuits tend to be fairly common. Many such lawsuits are settled without going to trial. The settlements allow both sides to sidestep costly court battles, and the details often remain confidential between the clients and the lawyers. Silence by all parties, then, becomes a mandate of the settlement. Case closed...

I flew to Indianapolis (is that a politically correct name? INDIAN-apolis? -- with a minor league team called ... horrors ... the Indians) for a newspaper board meeting last Friday and Saturday. The one-hour, 21-minute self-piloted flight took me into the international airport...

I AM proud to be a Southern Baptist, and I will definitely support the boycott against Disney and no longer watch ABC or anything to do with Disney products. I AM embarrassed and ashamed by the actions of my beloved Southern Baptist Convention, and it is truly sad that a federal judge from Texas by political maneuvering turned my faith from a Christ-centered missionary church to a social-political movement. ...

SCOTT CITY -- A retriever puppy is at the center of a $1,500 lawsuit against Scott City and its animal-control officer. The suit was filed by Betty and Orley Jackson, who live just outside the Scott City limits. The Jacksons filed the suit in Scott County Small Claims Court. A hearing has been scheduled for July 28 before Associate Circuit Judge David Mann...

Police will block streets Friday to make room for the 1997 Independence Day Parade. The parade begins at 11:30 a.m. in Capaha Park, goes west on Broadway to Kingshighway to Kiwanis Drive, and west on Kiwanis Drive into Arena Park. During the parade traffic from Broadway and Kingshighway will be detoured to Hopper Road, Mount Auburn Road and Independence...

A Cape Girardeau businessman who recently visited Honk Kong says the city should continue to be a stable and economically vibrant place that could become China's window to the world. Travel is up in the city of more than 6 million, say local travel agencies, and Missouri exports to Hong Kong, China and other Far East markets are up and expected to increase...

Now that William Street is clear, be prepared to take a detour on Independence. As work proceeds on Cape Girardeau's $25 million project to upgrade the sewer system in older parts of town, motorists can expect more disruptions. Possibly as early as today, eastbound traffic will leave Independence at Henderson Avenue and follow Merriwether to Benton to allow construction workers to put in a new storm sewer on Independence. Westbound traffic will use a single lane that will remain open...

Missouri Farm Bureau officials say the numbers don't add up to a $14 billion shortfall in the state's 15-year highway plan. The estimated shortfall is at the center of assumptions in a state transportation plan that is being finalized by Gov. Mel Carnahan's Total Transportation Commission...

What will Speak Out be like without departing reporter Scott Moyers to kick around? Journalists are like soldiers, IRS investigators and Chinese acupuncturists -- once in formation, once on the trail, once stuck together they are hard to separate. We've also been described as leeches but we won't go into that here...

PERRYVILLE -- The Perryville Jaycees will sponsor an Independence Day celebration beginning at 4 p.m. Friday in the Perryville City Park. Organizers said the celebration will be a traditional family-themed event. Planned activities include a skydiving exhibition, games for children and concessions. Everyone is encouraged to bring a picnic basket...

Mark Ostendorf picked up both wins over Poplar Bluff in a doubleheader sweep for the Cape SEMO Bank Junior Legion baseball team Tuesday. Ostendorf went the distance in an 11-1 five-inning victory in the first game. Then he pitched two innings of relief in a 9-8 nightcap win...

Mary R. Cherry, 97, of Cape Girardeau died Tuesday, July 1, 1997, at St. Francis Medical Center. She was born March 31, 1900, in Obion County, Tenn., daughter of James I. and Emma Headden Collins. She and Rufus Cherry were married Dec. 23, 1918, in Mason Hall, Tenn. He died March 3, 1994...

Cora Isabelle Copeman Shearer, 69, 1256 Linden, died Tuesday, July 1, 1997, at St. Francis Medical Center. She was born Nov. 28, 1927, in Genesce County, Mich., daughter of Carl Franklin and Zelma Anna Pauline Burnham Covert. She and John Floyd Shearer were married Feb. 21, 1972, in Mississippi. He died in August 1995...

SIKESTON -- Pearle Cawthon, 101, of Sikeston died Monday, June 30, 1997, at Hunter Acres Caring Center. She was born Aug. 6, 1895, in Marion, Ill., daughter of W.S. and Ada Caroline McInturff Robertson. She and Hugh R. Cawthon were married Sept. 30, 1920, at Kennett. He died Oct. 3, 1964...

BERTRAND -- Funeral service for Herbert Lee Sliger of Pana, Ill., has been changed to 2 p.m. Thursday at Watkins and Sons Funeral Home in Dexter. The Revs. Robert Jones and Kenneth Biggs will officiate, with burial in Memorial Park Cemetery at Sikeston...

BELLEVILLE, ILL. -- Michael Crown Jr., 21, of Belleville died Sunday, June 27, 1997, near San Antonio, Texas, from injuries sustained in an automobile accident. He was born on Oct. 15, 1975, in Belleville, the son of Michael and Susan Crown Sr. Survivors include his parents, his stepmother, Deann Crown of Mounds, Ill., and his paternal grandmother, Ruth Chancy of Pulaski, Ill...

Son to Kevin Wayne and Sheila Lynn Menz, Chaffee Route 1, Southeast Missouri Hospital, 9 p.m. Thursday, June 12, 1997. Name, Garret Wayne. Weight, 6 pounds. Second child, first son. Mrs. Menz is the former Sheila Hahn, daughter of Morris and Shirly Hahn of Oran. Menz is the son of Cletus and Dorothy Menz of New Hamburg. He is employed at Kelso Supply Co...

We recently were notified by MoDOT that our application for ISTEA grant funds had been accepted. A total of $43,308 was approved for the City of Jackson to replace a footbridge/bike crossing that was removed last year because of its poor condition. The crossing will be located on Hubble Creek just to the west of the Primary Annex School on West Jefferson Street. MoDOT has informed us that it will take at least 12 months to complete the project...

The Southeast Missourian asked students at Jackson Middle School what they learned at summer school. John Mosby: "We learned about the oceans and sharks. We saw a real tooth from a white whale shark. It was about an inch long. We made an example of shark skin with paper and sandpaper to see what it felt like."...

JACKSON -- It's been nearly a year since a $7.8 million bond issue was approved by Jackson voters. Now the expansion and improvements for educational facilities in the district are continuing. The building of the new South Elementary School off Highway 25 toward Gordonville is off and running...

With only two more days until the Fourth of July, you still have time to gather supplies from your recycleables to create the most fantastically fun family affair imaginable! A few necessary ingredients need to be in place even before you do this. As in any of our most worthy endeavors, time and energy are needed. ...