Stories from Wednesday, October 1, 1997

To the editor: There is much ado lately about changing, or even eliminating, the present national income tax code and starting over. In reviewing the present code, one is reminded of the old saying, "A camel is a horse designed by a committee." Similarly, it seem that the present tax code is one, understandably, designed by a democratic republic such as ours. ...

Twenty-five recruits made their way into the Cape Girardeau Police Department's newest academy Tuesday. Ranging in age from their early 20s to early 70s, they weren't typical fledgling police officers. But then it isn't a typical police academy. Cape Girardeau Police Chief Rick Hetzel welcomed the entrants to the department's first Citizens' Police Academy. He said he hopes the academy will foster a relationship between the department and community...

Last fall, Trish LaFoe decided she wanted to expose her children Elizabeth, 10, and Will, 7, to a more challenging curriculum than they were receiving in the public schools. She wanted to give them a broad-based education that would help them develop academically, socially and spiritually...

As the daylight hours get shorter (which will be even more noticeable Oct. 26 when daylight-saving time ends), I seem to be filling my days with more and more exciting events or things I'd like to do and don't have time to do. Message ... the Cape area is a busy place with many activities and options...

It should come as no surprise that illegal drugs can ruin your life. Just ask Marshall Shain, a former Cape Girardeau County assistant prosecuting attorney. He is serving time in the Madison County jail for a drug conviction. Shain said his life has hit bottom, propelled downward by one of the most addictive of drugs -- methamphetamine...

A complaint was filed recently against the Scott City Board of Education. At issue was whether the board violated the Missouri Sunshine Law, which requires open meetings by government, by meeting in an illegal closed session. More governmental entities would do well to embrace openness and disclosure in all that they do...

Schnucks Markets Inc. today launches its Home Shopping Club in Cape Girardeau -- the area's first Internet on-line grocery service. The service allows customers to select and arrange for direct home delivery of more than 15,000 products available at Schnucks Food & Drug, 19 S. Kingshighway...

The shopper placed two cartons of soda in her almost-full grocery cart. Gloria Capshaw welcomed the news that her food costs were going down this week. "It's fantastic," said Capshaw. "I came to Missouri from Wyoming, where taxes are considerably lower. We had a 4-cent sales tax there."...

He's only moving around the corner, but Bobby Banfield's new house could be the start of a whole new life. Banfield, the caretaker at Old Lorimier Cemetery who was shot in the face in a July 31 robbery at the cemetery, is the latest Cape Girardeau resident relocated through the city's flood buyout program...

More than 100 teachers listened to an impassioned call to action Tuesday from Missouri State Teachers Association executive director Kent King regarding local control of educational standards. "You've got a cause, folks: They're sitting back home in your schools, they're in your homes," King told the delegates during the open hearing at the Drury Lodge Mississippi Room. ...

Apparently Pensacola Beach resembles a giant ashtray to some folks. My momma raised me better. She taught me that littering was wrong. When my sister accidentally let a napkin fly out the car window, Mom pulled over and made her pick it up. Mom told us that God didn't appreciate it when people messed up his beautiful Earth, and he'd catch up with those who did...

SCOTT CITY -- A complaint filed against the Scott City Board of Education has resulted in the revocation of a vote taken in executive session which violated the Missouri Sunshine Law. In a special meeting Sept. 25 school board members rescinded a motion passed Sept. 17 that limited the district's open gymnasium policy at the high school to one night per week. The reversal came after members learned they had violated the law governing open meetings...

Southeast Missouri State Univesity has named 437 studens to its dean's list for academic achievement during the summer 1997 semester. Students named to the list earned at least a 3.5 grade point average on a 4.0 scale and completed at least six degree credit hours during the summer session...

The Humane Society of Southeast Missouri will hold its third annual Paw Crawl at 8:30 a.m. Oct. 4, at Capaha Park. Pet owners collect pledges and then join the walk on Saturday. Registration is $10. Participants receive a T-shirt. At 8:30 a.m., walkers turn in pledge sheets and may talk with Amy Jacquin from KFVS-12 and her canine buddy, Elliot...

The semi-annual fix up/clean up week will be Oct. 6-10 in Jackson. This twice yearly service is offered to the residents of Jackson as a means to get rid of unwanted items that normally would not be picked up by our sanitation department. You can leave these items on the curbside and they will be picked up on your normal day. We hope everyone takes advantage of this service and in doing so we all will help keep Jackson clean...

The Southeast Missourian asked students at Jackson Middle School what they thought about American astronauts flying aboard the Russian space station Mir. Tiffany Wilson: "I don't think we should be putting American astronauts on there any more because of the problems they have had with the space station, unless they can fix it much better."...

Eastern Illinois University's Lady Panthers gave it their best shot -- but Southeast Missouri State University's lengthy conference volleyball winning streak lives on. The Lady Panthers, after losing the first game Tuesday night, won the next two and appeared poised to pull off a big victory at Houck Field House...

Southeast Missouri State's 42-7 win over Tennessee-Martin Saturday night came at the right place and the right time -- on the road and in time to even our record at 2-2. We experienced early adversity as Martin recovered a punt after we had inadvertently touched it. On the next play they hit a big play-action pass for a touchdown, going ahead 7-0...

Take heart local high school soccer teams, you're not the only ones. Carbondale Community High's Terriers have bullied Cape Girardeau Central, Notre Dame and Jackson this season. The Terriers' 1-0 win against Central at Lou Muegge Field on Tuesday upped their record to 5-0 this year against the area triumvirate...

Cape Central's volleyball team pushed Chaffee to three sets Tuesday night, but remained winless on the season. Chaffee won 15-8, 13-15, 15-11. Kate Nolan led Chaffee (3-4) with 18 kills while Jennifer Siebert added eight kills and Dusty Garner had five. Emily Siebert and Abby Seyer each finished with 15 assists...

Apparently no charges have been filed nor any arrests made so far in two recent incidents allegedly involving Southeast Missouri State University student-athletes. The incidents were the focus of a vague, two-paragraph news release issued by the university late Tuesday afternoon...

CHARLESTON -- Wilma Jean Straughter, 45, of Charleston died Sunday, Sept. 28, 1997, at Bertrand Nursing Facility in Bertrand. She was born Oct. 29, 1951, at Charleston, daughter of Marshall Ewing and Ardell Straughter. Straughter was a 1971 graduate of Charleston High School. She was a certified nurse aide, and member of Opportunity Church of God in Christ...

ANNA, Ill. -- Funeral service for William F. "Bill" Witthoft of Anna will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday at Lutz and Rendleman Funeral Home in Cobden. Pastor David Kollmeyer will officiate, with burial in Calvary Cemetery at Campbell Hill. Friends may call at the funeral home after 5 p.m. today...

GRAND CHAIN, Ill. -- Aoudy Eddleman, 85, Grand Chain Route 1, died Monday, Sept. 29, 1997, at his home. He was born Nov. 8, 1911, in Grand Chain, son of Thomas and Cora Eastwood Eddleman. He married the former Clatie Badgley. Eddleman owned a farm, and had served on the Grand Chain School Board. He was a member of Ohio Chapel United Methodist Church and its cemetery board, and member of Illinois Farm Bureau...

Bobby Hess, 54, of Cape Girardeau died Tuesday, Sept. 30, 1997, at Southeast Missouri Hospital. Funeral arrangements were incomplete at Ford and Sons Funeral Home.

Daughter to Jim M. and Kay Litwicki, 96 E. Cape Rock Drive, Southeast Missouri Hospital, 3:26 p.m. Friday, Sept. 26, 1997. Name, Olivia Rose. Weight, 7 pounds 11 ounces. Third daughter. Mrs. Litwicki is the former Kay Wood, daughter of Ritz Wood of Ste. ...

BURFORDVILLE -- Graveside service for Beatrice Sue Medley of Burfordville will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday in Russell Heights Cemetery at Jackson. The Rev. Bill Ellis will officiate. Friends may call at McCombs Funeral Home in Jackson from noon to 1 p.m. Thursday...

OLIVE BRANCH, Ill. -- Retta K. Clutts, 94, of Olive Branch died Monday, Sept. 28, 1997, at the Lutheran Home in Cape Girardeau, Mo. She was born July 21, 1903, in Thebes, daughter of Edward Franklin and Flora Ann Porterfield King. She and Lloyd Clutts were married Sept. 16, 1925. He died Dec. 25, 1995...

KELSO -- Zeno "Sam" Blattel, 83, of Kelso died Tuesday, Sept. 30, 1997, at his home. He was born Aug. 26, 1914, at New Hamburg, son of Antone and Regina Diebold Blattel. He and Theresa Elizabeth Weidenbenner were married Feb. 18, 1941, in St. Louis. She died Aug. 2, 1997...

JACKSON -- Eugene D. Schweer, 68, of Jackson died Tuesday, Sept. 30, 1997, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. He was born Dec. 3, 1928, north of Jackson, son of William "Willie" and Marie Sadler Schweer. He and Wanda L. Martin were married Aug. 8, 1946...

Mary Y. New, 68, of Cape Girardeau died Tuesday, Sept. 30, 1997, at Southeast Missouri Hospital. She was born April 17, 1929, in Tokyo, Japan. She and Wilmer Charles New were married March 14, 1948, in Tokyo. He died March 22, 1981. New was a seamstress at Howard's 20 years...

SIKESTON -- Willie B. "Do Da Bug" Walker, 53, of Sikeston died Friday, Sept. 26, 1997, at the Vencor Hospital in St. Louis as the result of a June 15 automobile accident near Morley. He was born Dec. 9, 1943, in Bell City, the son of Vallet and Florence Coleman Walker Sr...

The Heritage Museum in Dexter will sponsor Pioneer Day on the lawn of the Heritage House, at the corner of Cooper and Castor. The day's festivities begin at 9 a.m. and end at 3 p.m. Crafters and artisans will conduct demonstrations throughout the day, including needlework, crafts, music, woodwork, cooking, story telling and wagon rides...

The Knights of Columbus Council 1111 in Cape Girardeau will hold the annual Tootsie Roll Drive Oct. 10, 11 and 12. This is the Missouri Knights' 25th annual fund-raising drive to assist the mentally retarded in the state. Over 200 organizations receive funds from this program last year. Money from this program also helps fund the Knights of Columbus Development Center at Cardinal Glennon Memorial Hospital for Children...

"An apple a day keeps the doctor away," says an old adage. Though the maxim has less relevance today than when physicians made house calls, it is nonetheless true that apples are good for you. They contain vitamins A and C, iron, thiamine, boron, riboflavin, phosphorus, magnesium, potassium, and malic acid, which promotes digestion. They have no fat, cholesterol, or sodium and are an excellent source of fiber. What is more, eating an apple is good for your teeth and gums...