Stories from Friday, October 3, 1997

To the editor: The following story is for those who grieve or feel outrage over the continuing uncontrolled destruction of natural areas in this region, and especially for those who don't: The leaves of the hickory rustled in the first morning breeze. ...

To the editor: This country has been blessed by God. This country has fallen from the grace of God because of legalized abortion. If you believe that being a Christian is living a life as Jesus did, then you cannot support abortion. The first nine months of Jesus' life on earth was spent in his mother's womb...

To the editor: I am a landowner who recently sent a letter stating my stance in favor of the proposed lake. I felt it was extremely important for the outsider looking in to hear from a landowner directly affected so they too could see that not every landowner is against the possibility of a proposed lake. ...

Ron Shumate, former Southeast Missouri State University basketball coach, has rejoined an old friend and is once again among the ranks of college sports administrators. In his new job as athletic promotions director at the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga, where Dr. Bill Stacy is president. Stacy was president at Southeast when Shumate was hired from UT-C to be the head coach here...

When the AmeriCorps program was created in 1994, the Clinton administration envisioned a twofold benefit: volunteers would provide needed manpower for not-for-profit agencies, and those volunteers would earn education grants to help pay for college costs...

IN RAY Owen's column in Monday's paper ("What lies ahead for Cape's downtown?") he told all the positive things that would happen if the Boyd company located here. The negatives far outweigh the positives. Cape would be known as a gambling town. It would lose its identity as a clean, university and family town. Some builder could put up apartments on the property there overlooking the river. The place is perfect...

KENNETT -- "Little Women" was the first book that made an impression on Evelyn Pulliam. "After that I read all the classics. I'm still reading everything," says Pulliam, one of six new recipients of the Missouri Humanities Council's Acorn Award. The council's highest honor is given biannually to Missourians who have made exceptional contributions to "our knowledge of our history, our literature, or the ideas that shape our democracy."...

U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Emerson wants to cancel Congress' automatic pay raise. Emerson is among 27 lawmakers who are pushing a bill that would terminate automatic cost-of-living adjustments for Congress. If passed by Congress and signed by President Clinton before Jan. 1, the Congressional Pay Integrity and Accountability Act would prohibit any automatic salary increases...

He waggles the bat in shallow circles while waiting for the pitch; A chorus of cicadas and crickets replace the murmur of the crowd. The ball leaves the pitcher's hand in a slow, erratic dance toward the plate and -- pop! it shoots into the air off the bat with a fury...

A relative newcomer to the Cape Girardeau manufacturing scene has been accorded the Chamber of Commerce's highest honor for industry. Miltenberger & Willing (M&W) Packaging U.S. Inc., which opened the doors to a $41 million, eight-building complex totaling more than 147,000 square feet in early 1990, was recognized as the 1997 "Industry of the Year," at the annual Chamber of Commerce's Industrial Appreciation Dinner Thursday night...

Cape Girardeau, Jackson and Cape Girardeau County officials would like an improved east-west highway through the county. The question is how best to lobby for the road improvement and what form it would take. In August, the Cape Girardeau City Council committed $10,000 to lobby government officials to route a suggested Interstate 66 through the city. It has been proposed that such a highway would run from Norfolk, Va., to California, running only through small cities...

I can only hope that my proposal for a downtown golf course didn't scare them off. But think of the possibilities! Everywhere I go, people are talking about my idea, first revealed in this very column a few weeks ago, to put a three-hole, par-three golf course on the wooded grounds of the Common Pleas Courthouse in beautiful downtown Cape Girardeau...

Individuals interested in learning more about computers and computer programs may register for beginning classes offered by Southeast Missouri State University. The university has been teaching college students basic and advanced computer skills for at least 15 years. Similar classes are available this fall for individuals who aren't enrolled at Southeast...

Award-winning writers gave students insight into how and why they do their jobs Thursday at the first day of the Children-Young Adults Literature Festival at Southeast Missouri State University. Four authors were on hand for presentations and autographs Thursday. ...

Murray State's volleyball team didn't exactly come to Houck Field House with a full deck of cards Thursday night as the Lady Racers attempted to end Southeast Missouri State University's long conference winning streak. The Otahkians entered the Ohio Valley Conference contest having won 34 straight regular-season OVC matches. Southeast has also won the past four regular-season OVC titles...

BELLEVILLE, Ill. -- Cape Girardeau Central High's Tigers scored 26 points during an eight-minute span of the second quarter to take a commanding halftime lead against Belleville Althoff Thursday night. But it took an impressive 17-play, nine-minute drive in the fourth quarter to seal the outcome against the host Crusaders...

The Cape Girardeau Kohlfeld Scorpions rugby team traveled to Hillsboro, Ill., last Saturday to defeat the Macoupin County Mercenaries 32-8. Trys were scored by Mark Shultz, Mark Lineberry, Marty Hendershott, Alan Kloss and Brian Harthill. A penalty kick and two conversions were scored by Sean Hagan...

Despite various media reports that have suggested some Southeast Missouri State University football players were allegedly involved in an assault, a police spokesman says right now there is no evidence pointing to that. The assault took place Monday night. According to Sgt. Carl Kinnison, public information officer for the Cape Girardeau Police Department, a Southeast student reported being punched and knocked to the ground after leaving a downtown nightclub...

Both the Scott City Rams and Chaffee Red Devils are off to their best starts under their respective head coaches entering tonight's rivalry game at Chaffee. The Rams (3-1) have won four games in each of coach Terry Flannigan's first two seasons. A victory over the Red Devils would match the season victory totals of the last two years...

JACKSON -- Kelly High, a Class 2A school, may be much smaller than 4A schools Jackson and Cape Central, but that didn't prevent the Lady Hawks from winning the SEMO Conference softball title this year. With its 8-4 win over Jackson on Thursday, Kelly finished the conference 4-1. If Jackson had beaten Kelly, it, Central and Kelly would have tied for the conference title...

BELL CITY -- Roger Van Rampley, 48, of Bell City died Wednesday, Oct. 1, 1997, at Lucy Lee Hospital in Poplar Bluff. He was born Dec. 7, 1948, at Bloomfield, son of Carman and Lavern Cook Rampley. Survivors include a brother, Stanley Rampley of Bell City...

Clyde McCain, 84, formerly of Malden, died Tuesday, Sept. 30, 1997, at Beverly Health and Rehabilitation Services of Cape Girardeau. He was born Oct. 8, 1912, in Manila, Ark., son of James and Elizabeth Kultz McCain. McCain was a retired farmer. Survivors include a son, Jerry McCain of Fort Worth, Texas; a granddaughter; and a great-granddaughter...

ANNA, Ill. -- Funeral service for Ina Mangold of Anna will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at Crain Funeral Home in Anna. The Rev. S.S. Borum will officiate, with burial in Anna Cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home from 5-8 p.m. today, and Saturday until service time...

Funeral service for Imogene M. Hartzell of Smith Creek, Mich., was held Tuesday at Karrer-Simpson Funeral Home in Port Huron, Mich. Chaplain Mary Ann Stackpoole officiated, with burial in Sunset Memorial Gardens at Fort Gratiot, Mich. Hartzell, 74, died Saturday, Sept. 27, 1997, at Port Huron Hospital...

ANNA, Ill. -- Grace B. Choate, 105, of Anna died Thursday, Oct. 2, 1997, at Union County Hospital. She married James I. Choate, who preceded her in death. Survivors include two sons, Thomas Adams and Clyde Choate of Anna; three daughters, Creta Yates and Dorotha Ballance of Anna, Ethel Marlow of Bradenton, Fla.; a stepdaughter, Ivern Fuller of Granite City, Ill.; 24 grandchildren; 39 great-grandchildren; 10 great-great-grandchildren; and numerous stepgrandchildren...

PERRYVILLE -- Viola M. Blechle, 90, of Perryville died Wednesday, Oct. 1, 1997, at Perry County Memorial Hospital. She was born Oct. 26, 1906, at Belgique, daughter of Vincent and Alice Stcyns Courtois. She married Anton Blechle Oct. 26, 1926. He died Oct. 21, 1977...

ANNA, Ill. -- Graveside service for Frank Overby of Mulberry Manor in Anna will be held at 11 a.m. today at Anna Cemetery. Jimmy Keller will officiate. Lutz and Rendleman Funeral Home of Anna is in charge of arrangements. Overby, 84, died Wednesday, Oct. 1, 1997, at Union County Hospital...

Lawrence L. Trost, 70, 1931 College, died Thursday, Oct. 2, 1997, at his home. He was born May 11, 1927, at Oran, son of Fred and Dora Barr Trost. He and Berneice Bollinger were married Oct. 27, 1945, at Oran. Trost had been a truck driver with Wiethop Truck and Trailer Sales. He was a member of Bethany Baptist Church. He served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War...

Funeral service for Laura Asalea Wise of Castro Valley, Calif., will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday at Ford and Sons Mt. Auburn Chapel. Donald Wise will officiate, with burial in Oakdale Cemetery at Commerce. Friends may call from 9 a.m. to service time Saturday...

Son to Robert B. and Marsha D. Bartley, 2469 Masters, Southeast Missouri Hospital, 1:09 p.m. Friday, Sept. 26, 1997. Name, McGwire Walter. Weight, 9 pounds 4 ounces. Second son. Mrs. Bartley is the former Marsha Ellison, daughter of Walt Ellison and Peggy Ellison of Perryville. Bartley is the son of E.W. Bartley Jr. and Geraldine Bartley of Sikeston. He is technology director at Jackson R-2 Schools...

Angie Holtzhouser, author of the new cookbook "Drop Dumplin's and Pan-Fried Memories ... Along the Mississippi," will sign copies of her book from 1-4 p.m. Saturday at the Royal N'Orleans restaurant in Cape Girardeau. The book is a compilation of family history, country recipes, anecdotes and histories of the 10 sponsoring companies or restaurants, including the Royal N'Orleans...

Memorial service for Gail N. "Lefty" Tidd of Sebring, Fla., will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday at Memorial Park Mausoleum. The Rev. Scott Lohse will officiate. Friends may call from 1 p.m. to service time at the mausoleum. Ford and Sons Mt. Auburn Chapel is in charge of arrangements...