Stories from Saturday, September 6, 1997

Christine Stephens of Cape Girardeau grieves for herself and the world, but not for her pen pal, Mother Teresa. "She's earned her reward in heaven," said Stephens. "We can take comfort in the fact that she is happy." Last August Stephens wrote a note along with her contribution to Mother Teresa's work with the poor. To her surprise the famous nun wrote back...

CHARLESTON -- Sheila Randle needs a job. Randle is black and a single mother in a city of about 5,000, where unemployment runs high. The city of Charleston hopes to land a new state prison. The 1,500-inmate prison would provide nearly 400 jobs, with an annual payroll of $9.1 million...

For as long as I can remember, I have enjoyed reading. I have my favorite teachers to thank for my literacy: My parents. I think I love to read because my parents always had books everywhere. Both of my parents read a lot, and they made sure we had books on every level and subject imaginable around the house. They also made sure we had a resource library -- a set of encyclopedias, a dictionary and a thesaurus -- so that I could find the meaning of words I didn't know...

It's always a worry when a good friend becomes ill. But when that individual is a city councilman known and respected by many, the concern increases. Melvin Gateley underwent six hours of open-heart surgery Wednesday. Gateley, who is in his early 70s, had a quadruple bypass as well as replacement of the mitral valve in his heart...

I JUST from the farmers market at Plaza Galleria in Cape. It was my first time and last. I've never encountered such rudeness of all types on such a large scale from elderly persons who are the first to condemn teen-agers. Most teens that I meet could give lessons in manners to that bunch. Now I know where the teens with no civility learned it. Incidentally, I'm 55...

We have never pretended to fully understand the political arena. But we do know this. Gov. Mel Carnahan will not, as news reports have indicated, overlook Charleston as a new prison site simply because the GOP senator who represents Charleston is seeking to override the governor's veto. To do so would be a political disaster on the governor's part and would harm a community that has long held strength for the Democratic party...

Get ready. Get set. Go to the SEMO District Fair this week. In its 142nd year, this extraordinary celebration of agriculture and ingenuity is one of the region's favored pastimes. The fair opens Sunday with free admission. The fair board has worked hard to keep regular admission and parking prices static. The excitement and entertainment stretch over seven days...

SCOTT CITY -- As you may recall from childhood, if you step on a crack, you break your mother's back. It seemed as though Scott City's football team thought something of the like would happen if it stepped on and over the goal line in the first half of its season opener Friday against St. Vincent...

JACKSON -- The Riverview Gardens Rams came into their football game with Jackson with an explosive reputation. But that reputation blew up in their face Friday night as the Indians provided plenty of offensive fireworks in a season-opening 28-14 win...

FARMINGTON -- Cape Girardeau Central High's football Tigers got the 1997 season going in fine fashion Friday night by rolling past host Farmington 34-0. The Tigers started somewhat slowly and led only 7-0 at halftime. But they turned it on in the second half to win going away...

Cape Central 34, Farmington 0 Jackson 28, Riverview Gardens 14 Sikeston 45, Carbondale, Ill. 27 Poplar Bluff 37, Dexter 0 Scott City 12, St. Vincent 3 Malden 38, Chaffee 0 East Prairie 44, Hayti 7 Gosnell, Ark. 42, Portageville 32 Kennett 31, Charleston 22...

The Otahkians improved to 4-1 on the season by prevailing 15-10, 5-15, 15-13, 15-9. Southeast will have two more matches today, facing Loyola at 12:30 p.m. and Cincinnati at 5 p.m. "This is typical of what I anticipated this team to be like," said Southeast coach Cindy Gannon. "We're young and we will make mental mistakes. We are going to try and work through the ups and downs early in the year."...

One thing is pretty clear after just a few games of the high school soccer season: Cape Girardeau Central and Jackson are extremely evenly matched. For the second time in four days, the Tigers and Indians played to a deadlock through regulation. But unlike during Tuesday's season opener -- which ended in a draw when no overtime was played -- this time Central prevailed 2-1 Friday in a penalty kick shootout during the semifinal round of the Notre Dame Soccerfest...

CHAFFEE -- Chaffee High's football team ran into a rugged Malden squad Friday night and the Red Devils suffered a 38-0 home loss in their season opener. Malden made the Class 2A playoffs last season while Chaffee suffered through an 0-9 campaign. "It was a tough way to start the season against a really good team," said Chaffee coach Brian Horrell. ...

DEXTER -- Lucille Goodson, 87, of Dexter died Friday, Sept. 5, 1997, at Lucy Lee Hospital in Poplar Bluff. She was born Aug. 20, 1910, at Hayti, daughter of Bob and Oda May West Pullam. She and William Esco Goodson were married Oct. 8, 1935. He died Dec. 17, 1988...

Meyer Hecht, 71, of Missouri Veterans Home died Friday, Sept. 5, 1997, at Southeast Missouri Hospital. He was born May 7, 1926, in Poplar Bluff, son of Julius and Ginny Hecht. Hecht was a records clerk with the U.S. Government. Survivors include two cousins, Martin Hecht of Cape Girardeau and Walter Hartman of Poplar Bluff...

SIKESTON -- William Calvin Stovall, 71, of Sikeston died Friday, Sept. 5, 1997, at Clearview Nursing Center. Amick-Burnett Funeral Chapel in Sikeston is in charge of arrangements.

JACKSON -- Rosine Sandvoss, 101, of Jackson died Friday, Sept. 5, 1997, at the Lutheran Home in Cape Girardeau. Arrangements are incomplete at McCombs Funeral Home in Jackson.

CHARLESTON -- Flora Ivy Scott, 76, of Charleston died Thursday, Sept. 4, 1997, at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston. She was born Aug. 30, 1921, in Clarksdale, Miss., daughter of Henry A. and Fannie M. North Nelson. She first married Elder Berry Ivy, who died in 1965. She then married Louis Scott, who died in 1993...

Daughter to Melissa Lenore Stortz, Perryville Route 1, Southeast Missouri Hospital, 8:40 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 26, 1997. Name, Samantha Danielle. Weight, 6 pounds. Third child, second daughter. Ms. Stortz is the former Melissa Walker, daughter of Beverly Walker of Farmington and Buford Walker of Winfield...

Two motorists were injured in an accident at 3:30 p.m. Friday on Highway 74, two miles west of Cape Girardeau. June B. Stubbs, 66, of Chaffee was taken to Southeast Missouri Hospital with what the Highway Patrol described as moderate injuries. She was still being treated in the emergency room Friday night...

Scientists and public-health specialists from Southeast Missouri are studying soil so they can better advise contractors and installers of sewage treatment systems. A new Missouri law requires all developers of properties under three acres to get a permit before installing a septic tank or aeration system. The permits are issued by county health departments...

CHICAGO -- Declaring that Chicagoans must not dominate next year's slate of Democratic candidates, state Sen. Penny Severns said Friday that she may make a downstate-oriented bid for the secretary of state's office. "It's important that we have the ticket balanced in all kinds of ways -- including geography," said the Decatur Democrat, who ran for lieutenant governor in 1994...

The Cape Girardeau Central Junior High School Parent Teacher Association will sponsor a Tie 'Er Day for eighth- and ninth-grade students today from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on campus behind the school. There will be free refreshments, a dance contest, T-shirt tie-dying, lots of games and a photo booth provided by Pat Patterson Photography...