Stories from Friday, July 18, 1997

As with so many issues in government, someone or several someones with their own agendas appear to be using the cover of a nonbinding, unelected commission appointed by the governor to propose a major change: implementation of a 1 percent state sales tax increase. ...

Once upon a time, before air conditioning and TV kept everyone indoors year around, neighborhoods were -- well, neighborly. Everyone knew everyone else on the block. Neighbors shared laughter and tears. They watched out for each other. They played together. They helped each other...

County Market, a group that operates more than 100 stores nationwide, will become the largest supermarket in Cape Girardeau when it opens on Silver Springs Road in the fall. Formal documentation should be completed within 30 days, allowing for a fall opening, said Darrell Long, president of Supervalu's St. Louis and Scott City distribution centers...

A Cape Girardeau man drowned while swimming in the Mississippi River at the Cape Girardeau waterfront Thursday afternoon. Witnesses said Dallan Hutson, 22, of Cape Girardeau waded into the river from Cape Girardeau Riverfront Park between Broadway and Themis about 2:30 p.m. He was in the water with two friends, Tommy Latham, 18, of Cape Girardeau and Kim Meinhardt of Granite City, Ill...

Tourism is where everyone is going these days, including the Regional Commerce and Growth Association. But tourism isn't the only thing the RCGA is involved in, and it displayed that Thursday night by presenting Loyd Ivey with its John T. Crowe Award...

A city official estimates the city could take in an additional $45,000 a year from its hotel and restaurant taxes if the law was revised to include every business that serves meals. But most of those who want the tax extended to include convenience stores, snack bars, employee cafeterias, stores that sell prepared food, stores that sell prepared deserts, and bed-and-breakfast establishments say they are concerned more with equity than increasing revenue...

Remember when the best way to combat July temperatures and humidity was to use a cardboard fan from the funeral home? When it is mid-July in Missouri, everyone is thinking about hot weather, even if they don't have to be in it all that much. Think about it. ...

Cape Girardeau's Ford & Sons American Legion baseball team could not have envisioned a more perfect end to its home schedule. Ford & Sons moved two giant steps toward the regular-season District 14 championship and the No. 1 seed for next week's district tournament by sweeping Dunklin County Thursday night...

On a course with "monsters" lurking in two different water hazards at the Cape Country Club, the sweltering 90-degree heat proved to be the toughest obstacle during the two-day Lassie's Classic Scramble. But Vicki Long and Janice Hoffman were able to beat the heat and the rest of the competition in the Scottish-themed tournament to win the Championship Class of the 19th annual women's tournament with an 11-under par total of 129. ...

OLIVE BRANCH, Ill. -- Rachel LeeAnn Prater, 21, of Olive Branch died Wednesday, July 16, 1997, in Joliet. She was born May 2, 1976, in Cape Girardeau, Mo., daughter of Larry Allen and Patricia Ann Vaughn Prater. Prater was a graduate of Egyptian High School. She had been a certified nurse assistant at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau...

Funeral service for Marjorie Ann Seabaugh of Neosho was held July 10, 1997, at Clark Funeral Home in Neosho with Dr. D.L. Mitchell officiating. Burial was July 14 in Ft. Logan National Cemetery in Denver, Colo., with the Rev. Mike Coen officiating. Seabaugh, 57, died Tuesday, July 8, 1997, following an illness of nine years...

ANNA, Ill. -- Elizabeth Galbraith, 89, of Anna died Wednesday, July 16, 1997, at City Care Center in Cobden. She was born Jan. 26, 1908, in Grassland, Ky., daughter of Hartford and Lela Ann Bullock Johnson. She and Earl Galbraith were married Jan. 27, 1923. He died April 30, 1989...

PUXICO -- Funeral service for Suzie Landon of Puxico will be held at 10 a.m. today at Hobbs Chapel Church near Puxico. The Revs. Gary Green, Wiley McGhee and Amos Dees will officiate. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Watkins and Sons Funeral Home at Puxico is in charge of arrangements...

DEXTER -- Funeral service for Everett Edward Belvin of Dexter will be held at 11 a.m. today at Shelby Funeral Chapel in East Prairie. The Rev. Kenneth Biggs will officiate, with burial in Dogwood Cemetery near East Prairie. Belvin, 88, died Wednesday, July 16, 1997, at Dexter Memorial Hospital, following an extended illness...

SIKESTON -- Maureen Vanover, 57, of Sikeston died Thursday, July 17, 1997, at Missouri Delta Medical Center. She was born Aug. 17, 1939, in Charleston, daughter of Wesley Frances and Mary May Baker Brown. Vanover had been a housekeeper for Lawrence Ray...

KARNAK, Ill. -- Vera Yunkus, 69, of Benton, Ill., formerly of Karnak, died Wednesday, July 16, 1997, at her home. She married Anthony Yunkus, who preceded her in death. Yunkus was a lab technician at Franklin County Hospital. She was a member of Karnak Baptist Church...

Son to Treena Renee Rains of Cape Girardeau, Southeast Missouri Hospital, 3:35 p.m. Saturday, July 12, 1997. Name, Austin Milo. Weight, 6 pounds 9 ounces. Second son. Miss Rains is the daughter of Eddy Rains and Paul Rains of Cape Girardeau. Daughter to Petty Officer 3rd Class Richard and Jacki Ainsworth of San Diego, Calif., Balboa Hospital there, 4:13 a.m. ...

MILAN, TENN. -- Daisy Fisher West, 90, of Milan, Tenn., formerly of Grand Chain and Dongola in Illinois, died Wednesday, July 16, 1997, at Milan Hospital. She was born July 2, 1907, in Dongola, the daughter of John David and Martha Earnhart Fisher. She was a member of First Baptist Church in Dongola...