Stories from Tuesday, September 23, 1997

Cybertip: A handful of spots are still open for beginners Internet training Thursday from 1 to 3 p.m. The class is taught by members of SEMissourian.com's online staff. Registration costs $10. For information, call Peggy or Joni or Darren at 651-6611. Reservations are also being taken for the Oct. 9 class, also from 1 to 3 p.m...

May Greene Elementary School teacher Dava Moore will wear, say and do whatever it takes to help her students to learn. The learning disabilities class instructor said each of her students has a unique learning pattern, so she has to be versatile in her teaching approaches to help them to learn...

Schoolchildren peered over the bow of the Nina during a tour. The Nina moored off downtown Cape Girardeau has been overrun with interested area residents. In 1492, Christopher Columbus sailed the ocean blue. But it took another 505 years for area students to get a real feel for that voyage...

Hot-air balloons, skydivers, helicopters, experimental aircraft and remote-controlled planes are among attractions planned for Aviation Day, a Fall Fling and Fly In. The event will be held Oct. 18 at Cape Girardeau Regional Airport. Gates open at 8 a.m...

Powerful new drugs and increased education helped cut Missouri AIDS deaths by one-third from 1995 to 1996, mirroring a national downturn in AIDS-related deaths. In Cape Girardeau County, AIDS-related deaths also dropped, the Missouri Department of Health said...

Melvin Gateley wonders why the birthplace of the Missouri state flag doesn't have a city flag. Under the auspices of the Vision 2000 Community Relations Council, the Cape Girardeau councilman called a meeting of the local class of 2000 to get the flag-making process started...

The sun set orange over a steel-gray ocean, wispy clouds looking like pink and red watercolor paint strokes swept in a half-moon shape away from the descending orb. A path of jumping yellow light blazed from the horizon to the edge of the boardwalk. Despite the pain of the light, I couldn't help but look at everything...

Sometimes the winds of modern education seem to flow in curious currents. In the high school in Blue Springs, Mo., a Kansas City suburb, the principal is pleased as punch about his "innovative" math classes -- for girls only. Principal Ted Lewman established the classes based on studies that show girls are more reticent than boys in classroom situations and, therefore, are less likely to benefit from the teacher's attention or to speak up when there are questions...

To the editor: I would like to thank Joe Vernier, who wrote again on behalf of the Lake Facts Committee, for clarifying and correcting the impression that he seemed to be trying to promot in his earlier letter. In his recent letter, Mr. Vernier acknowledges that the proposed Bollinger-Cape Girardeau County Lake would have no impact on flooding in the cities of Cape Girardeau and jackson. ...

To the editor: This letter is in response to Tamara Baremore's letter. James C. Roche may not have land that would be taken away, but he does live near the proposed lake site. I would not have land taken away for the lake, but I would probably lose some because of the roads that would have to be put in to serve the lake. In fact, not only would there be taxes for the lake to be built, there would be taxes for new roads and bridges...

To the editor: I saw in Speak Out the comment "Pro-lifers can take the babies." I feel compelled to reply. Abortion has absolutely nothing to do with unwanted babies not having provisions. This position by the pro-death advocates flies in the face of reality and truth. ...

JESSE HELMS is the best living proof of what's wrong in Washington. It's all about power, always has been. The Republicans have Jesse. Democrats have Sen. Byrd of Virginia. Two perfect example of dictatorial power in our democratic form of government. Men with power because they've been in too long. What happened to a person's right to have a hearing? One man's opinion is not democracy...

I guess it was to be expected. Our world offered far more homage to a tall, attractive, English-speaking princess than a small, unattractive Catholic nun who labored tirelessly in the world's slums and ghettos. Princess Diana drew rave reviews after she was killed in a tragic car wreck, along with her Egyptian boyfriend, and the sanctification that followed surprised all but the cynics among us. ...

Every successful person, whether it be someone who has achieved fame or someone who has managed to avoid the pitfalls of life, can point to at least one teacher who made a difference. There are thousands of good teachers across the nation. And, out of the hundreds of Missouri teachers who take their work seriously and enjoy it at the same time, one from Cape Girardeau has been selected as this year's Teacher of the Year...

Last Thursday, a Kansas City developer bought a three-acre plot on Hackberry Street near Pacific Street. Cohen-Esrey Housing Partners LLC plans to start building 48 affordable two- and three-bedroom apartments on the site when it finishes designing them and awards a contract for construction...

CARBONDALE -- Pulitzer Prize-winning author John Updike will appear at Southern Illinois University at Carbondale Oct. 8 as a Glassman University Honors Lecturer. He will appear at 8 p.m. in the Student Center Auditorium, where he will read from his latest work, "Toward the End of Time." A free public reception will follow in the Student Center Gallery Lounge...

The Village People will highlight Family Weekend '97 at Southeast Missouri State University next month. Family Weekend is Oct. 3-5. This year's theme is "Hi...from Southeast." The concert is scheduled for Oct. 4 and will follow the Southeast vs. Eastern Illinois University football game that begins at 5 p.m. in Houck Stadium. Concert admission is included in the price of a football ticket...

The flu season is rapidly approaching, and anyone wanting to ward off the bug should plan to attend one of the flu vaccination clinics sponsored by the Cape Girardeau County Public Health Center beginning next week. A total of five clinics will be held in Cape Girardeau, Delta and Jackson throughout October. ...

Even though his team was still coming off a loss, you can bet Southeast Missouri State University football coach John Mumford felt a lot better during Monday's weekly media conference than he had at the previous one. The reason is that the Indians certainly put together a much better four-quarter effort during Saturday night's 17-3 loss at Murray State than they had during the previous Saturday's 41-7 home loss to Illinois State...

For the second consecutive week, Southeast Missouri State University volleyball player Krista Haukap has been named the Ohio Valley Conference Freshman of the Week. Haukap had 39 kills and 17 digs in wins over Middle Tennessee State and Tennessee Tech last week. She was named the OVC Freshman of the Week last week after recording 57 kills and 33 digs in four matches...

PICKWICK, Tenn. -- Led by Ryan Jacques' even-par 72, the Southeast Missouri State University men's golf team stood tied for fourth after Monday's opening round of the 1997 Tri-State Classic hosted by Tennessee-Martin at the Pickwick Landing State Park Golf Course...

Ferne Jamieson fired a hole-in-one to highlight the Cape Girardeau Country Club's Women's Golf Association's event this past week. Jamieson accomplished the feat on the recently opened par 3 No. 2. June Kang finished as medalist of the event. Play of the Day was `Blind Partners.' The 18-hole winners were Diana Miller and Jamieson. Placing second were June Kang and Edna Ruth Fischer...

St. Vincent of Perryville graduate Scott Pingel has been named the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference player of the week after hauling in 11 passes for 147 yards in Westminster College's 27-20 come-from-behind win over Greenville College...

The Cape Girardeau Kohlfeld Scorpions Rugby Club defeated the Little Rock Rugby Club 30-20 Saturday at Arena Park. Scorpion scorers included Richard Fricke and Mark Lineberry and two tries from Alan Kloss. Sean Hagan provided two penalty kicks from about 35 meters out and completed two conversion kicks...

OAK RIDGE -- Jackson raised its record to 11-3-4 by sweeping host Oak Ridge 15-4, 15-4 Monday night. Chrissi Glastetter, Valerie Jansen and Andrea Koeper each had five kills for Jackson while Jennifer Ellis added 12 assists. "We played well," said Jackson coach Nancy Ellis. "We came out and were able to close the door quick."...

SIKESTON -- Violet Ayers, 81, of Sikeston died Sunday, Sept. 21, 1997, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. She was born Oct. 29, 1915, in New Madrid County, daughter of James and Carnelia Kindred Wilburn. She and Thomas Wylie Ayers Jr. were married Jan. 31, 1936, in New Madrid. He died July 3, 1995...

ARBOR -- Lucy E. Kidd, 95, of St. Louis died Sunday, Sept. 21, 1997, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. She was born Sept. 7, 1902, at Arbor, daughter of Adam and Gladys Beck Kidd. Kidd was a seamstress at Bemis Manufacturing 35 years, and was a member of Lafayette Park Methodist Church in St. Louis...

Bonnie R. Pletcher, 69, 2404 Kingsway, died Sunday, Sept. 21, 1997, at Southeast Missouri Hospital. She was born Oct. 5, 1927, at Jackson, daughter of James and Laura Hartle Bollinger. She and Cecil Pletcher were married Aug. 29, 1947, in Piggott, Ark...

VANDUSER -- Donald Hatley, 55, of Vanduser died Monday, Sept. 21, 1997, at his home. He was born Jan. 23, 1942, at Wardell, son of Claude R. and Ruth Margaret Gean Hatley. He and Brenda Gail Burke were married May 16, 1963, at Benton. Hatley was a veteran of the Vietnam War...

CHARLESTON -- Jettie Aileen Penry, 78, of Charleston died Sunday, Sept. 21, 1997, at Charleston Manor. She was born May 4, 1919, in Campbell, daughter of Herman Edgar and Georgie Cook Crawford. She had lived in Charleston since 1951, and was a member of First General Baptist Church...

MATTHEWS -- Funeral service for Alice Elizabeth Ward of DeSoto will be held at 1 p.m. Wednesday at Amick-Burnett Funeral Chapel in Sikeston. The Revs. Bill Bass and Thomas Caffery will officiate. Burial will be in Garden of Memories Cemetery at Sikeston...

BLOOMFIELD -- Joseph J. Watts, 84, died Sunday, Sept. 21, 1997, at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston. He was born March 3, 1913, near Oran, son of Obe and Addie Kynion Watts. Watts was a retired farmer. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II...

PERRYVILLE -- Genevieve M. Firestack, 73, formerly of Perryville, died Sunday, Sept. 21, 1997, in Denison, Texas. She was born Jan. 2, 1924, at Silver Lake, daughter of Walter and Clara Henderson Coffelt. Firestack was a computer operator with Teamsters Local 952. She was a member of VFW Auxiliary and American Legion Auxiliary in Denison...

Betty L. Harper, 68, of Stockton, Calif., died Tuesday, Sept. 16, 1997, at her home. A native of Cape Girardeau, Harper had lived in Stockton 48 years. She retired from San Joaquin Probation Department in 1974. She was a member of Stockton Water Ski Club...

SCOTT CITY -- Funeral service for Edward L. Roth of Frankenmuth, Mich., was held Sept. 19, 1997, at St. Lorenz Lutheran Church, with the Revs. Mark D. Brandt and Dale C. Ahlschwede officiating. Burial was in the church cemetery. Cederberg Funeral Home in Frankenmuth was in charge of arrangements...

ANNA, Ill. -- Bryon L. Hoffman, 43, of Anna died unexpectedly Sunday, Sept. 21, 1997, at Union County Hospital. He was born Aug. 24, 1954, in Fort Dodge, Iowa, son of Marlyn and Joann Hoffman. He and Jackie Scivally were married Dec. 6, 1981. Survivors include his wife; a son, Jerry Hoffman of Anna; a daughter, Amy Travelstead of Anna; his mother of Anna; two brothers, Loran and Steve Hoffman of Dongola; three sisters, Sharol Hutchison of Fresno, Calif., Eileen Cruse of Anna, and Janette Bracken of Dongola.. ...

Mabel Daniels, 70, of Cape Girardeau died Sunday, Sept. 21, 1997, at Heartland Care Center. Ford and Sons Mt. Auburn Chapel is in charge of arrangements.

Son to Terry Lee and Michele Lea Shirrell, 200 Parkwood, Southeast Missouri Hospital, 10:55 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 9, 1997. Name, Thomas Anthony. Weight, 6 pounds 13 ounces. Second child, first son. Mrs. Shirrell is the former Michele Duke, daughter of Brenda and Dan Farrow of Cape Girardeau and Michael and Fleeta Duke of St. Charles. Shirrell is the son of Janet Shirrell and David Shirrell of Jackson. He is employed at Auto Tire and Parts...

A few seats remain for Thursday's hands-on Internet training. Southeast Missouri State University and the Southeast Missourian newspaper are co-sponsor hands-on Internet training sessions for beginners. The class will be held from 1-3 p.m. in Room 103 of Dempster Hall on the campus of Southeast Missouri State University...

The Lord called Harvey Ray Bennett home on Sept. 19th after a short battle with pancreatic cancer. Harvey was born April 2, 1942 in El Centro, CA, son of Ray and Emma (Kruse) Bennett. He graduated from Illmo-Scott High School in Scott City, MO and graduated from the University of Missouri, Rolla School of Mines in 1965 with a degree in electrical engineering. Harvey married Carol Ware, daughter of Mr. & Mrs. Omar Ware, on Nov. 26, 1965...