Stories from Wednesday, November 12, 1997

To the editor: I am writing in regard to the smell of the hog farm. If the people who own the hog farms had to live within a quarter-mile of them, they would not have one. One does not have any idea what this smell is like if you have not been there. ...

The Cape Girardeau Planning and Zoning Commission will hear a request from the Gibson Center for a rezoning and special use permit to allow operation of a halfway house program for the Missouri Division of Probation and Parole. A public hearing and discussion and action are scheduled on the request to rezone the center at 1112 Linden from R-4 multiple family residential to C-1 local commercial district and issue the special use permit...

The Health Care Financing Administration, the agency that manages Medicare, will expand coverage for some preventive services in the next few years. Effective Jan. 1, Medicare will consider coverage for the following services: -- Annual screening mammograms for all women 40 and over who are eligible for Medicare. The coverage falls under Medicare Part B and Medicare will waive the deductible for mammograms...

U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Emerson remains undecided on the fast-track trade-negotiation authority, but admits she is leaning toward support of the measure. "I have been agonizing over the measure," said Emerson during a visit to Southeast Missouri Tuesday. "I'm not totally positive about the trade initiative."...

In an interview in my Beta Gamma Sigma newsletter with management expert PETER DRUCKER, the following exchange took place: "BSG News: One of my colleagues has remarked that most people's lives have been lived during a period of struggle between capitalism, socialism and communism. He concludes that the struggle is over and capitalism was the winner. How would you comment on that?...

One of the best ways to achieve improvement is when the impetus comes from within. This premise works with people, businesses and neighborhoods. After all, those most involved are the ones with the greatest insight and appreciation of the problems. Solutions are more likely to be pragmatic...

This past week, James Wente was installed as chairman of the Missouri Hospital Association. He is one of only a handful of hospital officials in Southeast Missouri to have served in this prestigious role. This state association of 150 hospitals has taken an active role in medical and health issues since its formation in 1922...

JACKSON -- Customer preference will take a back seat to creative flair when beauticians from the Style Stop Impact salon put their talents to artistic use for worthy causes this weekend. The salon is hosting "The Collection Theatre" at 7 p.m. Saturday at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Jackson. The show is a benefit event that will provide assistance for Safe House for Women and the Jackson R-2 schools' fine-arts department...

Cape Girardeau School District finances are stressed to the point that significant changes in spending will be required, the Board of Education was told Tuesday. Schools superintendent Dr. Dan Tallent and business manager Dr. Steve Del Vecchio informed the board of extremely low fund balances during a special meeting to finalize work on the current budget. The budget is expected to be approved at a meeting Monday...

Kirk Miller, a junior at Cape Girardeau Central High School, performed "America the Beautiful" on cello during the school's Veterans Day assembly program Tuesday. Veterans, their families, school children and others gathered around four rebuilt brick pillars at Cape Girardeau's Freedom Corner Tuesday to honor men and women of the military...

Ameritech has unveiled plans to offer local and long-distance telephone services to residential customers in the Cape Girardeau, Jackson and St. Louis areas. The company has filed its expansion plans with the Missouri Public Service Commission. Pending PSC approval, Ameritech plans to start marketing its new telephone service in the three areas early next year...

JACKSON -- Before John Philip Sousa composed "The Stars and Stripes Forever," before a San Francisco newspaper published the first comic strip, even before James Naismith invented the game of basketball, Lena Gisi was born in Ste. Genevieve. She was born in 1889 -- the same year that Gustave Eiffel designed his famous tower for the Paris Exposition; the same year Benjamin Harrison became inaugurated as the nation's 23rd president; the same year that North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana and Washington became the 39th, 40th, 41st and 42nd states of the union.. ...

They don't stick their paws in electric sockets, but they do scratch up wallpaper. Yes, the kid-versus-cat battle continues as The Other Half and I consider expanding our family. For those of you not following the epic saga, we're approaching 30. We're also approaching our third wedding anniversary. Many people our age -- including some very family-oriented cousins -- have a child or two, whereas we have two cats, a brother and sister named Bosco and Romy...

The Southeast Missourian asked students at Jackson High School for their thoughts about the Jackson Indians football team which is heading into its first-round play-off game tonight. Devree Flint: "It has been a team effort. The whole team has really been coming together, and we've been showing just what we can do. Everybody does their part so that we're able to get the job done."...

JACKSON -- The Board of Education will hold public meetings in December concerning the future of the district's Gordonville and Millersville elementary facilities. The district is seeking community input on possible changes in the grade configurations at the schools...

JACKSON -- After every Jackson High School home football game, the players' parents serve a family-style meal to the players, coaches and their families gathered in the gym. Many former players from past teams stop by. "It's like a community party," says head coach Carl Gross. "We eat and talk and lots of times stay 'til midnight."...

Last season, Marionville High's Comets slipped past visiting St. Vincent 21-20 in a Class 1A sectional football game. According to Marionville coach Harv Welch, look for a game that is just about as close when the teams meet again tonight in a rematch. The kickoff in Perryville is set for 7:30...

After watching the video of our 20-10 loss to Eastern Kentucky Saturday, I can't tell you how proud I am of the effort our players gave. Make no mistake, we play to win. Against a team like the Colonels, there is little room for error. We made fewer errors than in previous games. However, a dropped punt and a penalty helped EKU scored 10 points...

After watching the film of Monday night's 97-80 exhibition victory over Dream Builders, first-year Southeast Missouri State University head basketball coach Gary Garner came away even more pleased than he had been right after the game. "After watching the tape, I saw more positive things than I saw on the bench (during the game)," said Garner during his first weekly media conference of the season Tuesday morning. ...

After Southeast Missouri State University's commanding 15-9, 15-5, 15-3 win against Tennessee-Martin, Southeast scorekeepers asked coach Cindy Gannon whom they should announce as player of the game. "Tuba," she announced, sparing no time mulling things over...

Maybe losing to the Finnish National Team in Tuesday night's exhibition game isn't such a bad thing after all for Southeast Missouri State University's women's basketball squad. Last year, the Otahkians beat Finland 79-68 but Southeast went on to post a dismal 5-21 regular-season record that included a last-place finish in the 10-team Ohio Valley Conference...

FENTON -- Sometimes preparation just isn't enough. The Jackson Indian soccer team made it to the Anheuser-Busch Soccer Complex well over an hour early for their Class 4A Sectional Tuesday. With no bus to take them to the game, their opponents, the Lindbergh Flyers, didn't make it to the field until less than a half hour before the start...

Looking for a drop-dead, even football game? The 10-0 Jackson High Indians and 9-0 Kirkwood Pioneers should provide such a contest tonight in their Class 5A opening-round playoff game at "The Pit" in Jackson. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. "It's kind of a neat opening sectional game," said fourth-year Kirkwood coach Mike Wade. "There's only four undefeated teams in 5A and two of them are matched up in the first round."...

In a battle that went right down to the final week, Brad Palmer is the champion of the 1997 Southeast Missourian Weekly Media Grid Picks competition. Palmer, the voice of the Cape Girardeau Central High Tigers on KZIM, bolted to a commanding early lead and held off a spirited challenge from Southeast Missourian sports writer Marty Mishow...

NEELYS LANDING -- Funeral service for Frieda Ackman of Carlsbad, N.M., was held Nov. 6 at Hillcrest United Methodist Church. The Rev. Joe Barthlow officiated, with burial in Carlsbad Cemetery. Ackman, 79, died Monday, Nov. 3, 1997, at Columbia Medical Center in Carlsbad...

Funeral service for Robert Anthony Gabler of Cape Girardeau will be held at 11 a.m. today at Ford and Sons Mt. Auburn Chapel. The Rev. Clayton Smith will officiate. Gabler, 82, died Sunday, Nov. 9, 1997, at St. Francis Medical Center. He was born Aug. 3, 1915, in Chicago, son of Anthony J. and Nella Erana Hoeppner. He and Juanita Beard were married Jan. 10, 1956, in Winter Haven, Calif...

Daughter to Kevin K. and Pamela L. Smith of Columbia, Southeast Missouri Hospital, 7:50 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 29, 1997. Name, Erika Louise. Weight, 8 pounds 12 ounces. Second daughter. Mrs. Smith is the former Pamela Evans, daughter of Jack and Mary Lynn Evans of Scott City. She is a registered nurse at University Hospital. Smith is the son of David and Betty Smith of Spirit Lake, Iowa. He is a pharmacist at University Hospital...

BLOOMFIELD -- Jacqueline Dunlap, formerly of Bloomfield, died Monday, Nov. 10, 1997, at DePaul Hospital in Bridgeton. Chiles-Cooper Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

ANNA, Ill. -- Billy Wayne Dirden, 65, of Anna died Tuesday, Nov. 11, 1997, at his home. Lutz and Rendleman Funeral Home at Anna is in charge of arrangements.

Florence A. Rains Sparks, 86, of Cape Girardeau died Monday, Nov. 10. 1997, at Southeast Missouri Hospital. She was born Jan. 3, 1911, in Grand Tower, Ill., daughter of Agnes M. Blackwell and Mr. Blackwell. She first married Milo S. Rains in 1934, in Murphysboro, Ill. He died May 25, 1977. She later married Leo Hardin Sparks, who died Aug. 25, 1990...

SIKESTON -- Funeral service for Charles Hardin French of Sikeston will be held at 3 p.m. today at First United Methodist Church, with the Revs. Fred Leist and Jim Davis officiating. Private burial will be in Sikeston City Cemetery. Friends may call at the church from 2:30 until service time...

CAIRO, Ill. -- Hurley C. Bevill Jr., 82, of Cairo died Monday, Nov. 10, 1997, at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston, Mo. He was born Sept. 23, 1915, in Cairo, son of Hurley and Emma Wiseman Bevill. His first wife, Gene, preceded him in death...

JACKSON -- Local people have an opportunity to participate in the Missouri Governor's teleconference on early childhood, to be held Friday, Nov. 21. The teleconference will be held at the University Extension office, 815 Highway 25 in Jackson from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Lunch will be provided. The teleconference is free, but registration is required. Seating is limited. To register, call Tiffany Parker at 651-5198 by Nov. 14...

The Reitred Senior Volunteer Program will have their annual recognition program from 2 to 4 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 18 at the Drury Lodge in Cape Girardeau. Over 500 RSVP volunteers serving communities in Scott and Cape Girardeau counties will be honored. This year, volunteers enrolled in the program have volunteered 80,000 hours...

Not too many people suffer from apocolocynposis, though surely this would be the time of year for it. Apocolocynposis is the fear of turning into a pumpkin and with pumpkin consumption at its height around the Thanksgiving holiday you'd think the phobia would be more prevalent...

Forty-three days and counting. That's the magic number until Christmas arrives. The stores are already brimming with Christmas decorations and presents, and thoughts are turning to finalizing busy holiday schedules. Cookies go hand-in-hand with the busy holidays...