Stories from Friday, November 21, 1997

To the editor: I would like to comment concerning Joe Sullivan's column, "The deeper the snow, the older the teller of the tale." To a large extent, what he said is true. People do tend to exaggerate harsh conditions, and the longer they tell about them, the worse they sometimes get...

Missouri taxpayers, grab your wallets! Preparations for the state's next budget -- details to be revealed by Gov. Mel Carnahan in his State of the State Address in January -- indicate spending will soar $750 million for various agencies and projects. That is a whopping 6.1 percent, nearly three times the rate of inflation, and it comes at a time when taxpayers already are owed hundreds of millions of dollars in refunds for being overtaxed in recent years...

During Sammy Hagar's nearly three-hour concert Wednesday night, the Show Me Center stage came to resemble a surfer garage sale. Fans tossed all manner of clothing and banners stageward, and the Red Rocker dutifully tried on most of the garments -- except the bras. Halfway through, Hagar mixed margaritas for himself and the crowd down front...

The economic impact of hit-and-run accidents in Cape Girardeau reached nearly $2 million in 1996, says a report by the Cape Girardeau Police Department. The report, presented to the Southeast Missouri Crime Stoppers by Chief Rick Hetzel, also showed that 342 of the 2,715 accidents in Cape Girardeau last year -- nearly 13 percent -- were hit-and-runs...

Common courtesy and common sense go a long way in preventing accidents, injuries and deaths, a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration representative told members of the Cape Girardeau Safe Communities Thursday. Lt. David Shaul, who is on loan from the Missouri State Highway Patrol to NHTSA for one year, visited Southeast Missouri to deliver his message of road safety. Two specific areas he addressed were recent air-bag rule changes and aggressive driving, commonly called road rage...

Landlord Janice Metzler has closed the door on renting to low-income tenants served by a rent-subsidy program. Metzler said the government needs to more closely supervise tenants in the program so landlords aren't saddled with unpaid rent and damaged property...

Do you remember that special teacher who taught you how to multiply double numbers, who kept you from fighting a battle you were sure to lose, or helped you understand Shakespeare? Can you spare five minutes today to thank them for their help? This is the last day to nominate that special educator for an Educator of the Year award...

JACKSON -- The Republican majority in Congress has made great strides this session, said U.S. Rep Kenny Hulshof, but it is too soon for party members to start resting on their laurels. Hulshof, the Republican representing Missouri's 9th District, spoke Thursday night to the Southeast Missouri Area Pachyderm Club in Jackson. Formerly a resident of Southeast Missouri, Hulshof was elected to Congress in 1996, defeating longtime Democratic incumbent Harold Volkmer...

Over the years, our home has collected sayings that mean so much to us we put them where we can always see them. The recent move my wife and I made has meant arranging our new nest to suit us. We ought to be experts. This was our 16th move in 32 years of marriage...

Sure, he wishes the team would have done better. But all in all, Ronnie Smith has absolutely no regrets about his decision five years ago to leave sunny Florida for Cape Girardeau. "I'm glad I came here because I've really enjoyed it," he said. "We maybe haven't won as many game as I would have liked. But I'd do it all over again in a minute."...

While Southeast Missouri's volleyball team won its fifth straight OVC volleyball title this year, Otahkian setter Tuba Meto was working on a streak of her own. Like her team, Meto repeated. For the second straight year, Meto has been named the OVC Player of the Year. The Southeast senior dished out 1,459 assists this season and moved into the No. 2 career spot among OVC assist leaders...

COLUMBIA -- The University of Missouri stormed out to a 25-point halftime lead and breezed to a 76-53 victory over Southeast Missouri State University's women Tuesday night at the Hearnes Center. Missouri took a 39-14 lead into intermission and were never threatened by the Otahkians, who fell to 0-2...

Anybody care to go dancing? The volleyball teams in the Ohio Valley Conference would like nothing better. An automatic berth into the NCAA Tournament -- commonly referred to as the `big dance' -- will be on the line this weekend when Southeast Missouri State University hosts the OVC Tournament for the first time ever...

Central Methodist basketball coach Jeff Sherman is realistic yet hopeful as his team prepares to face Southeast Missouri State University tonight (7:30 tipoff) at the Show Me Center. On the one hand, Sherman realizes his NAIA team is a big underdog against the Division I Indians. On the other hand, he thinks he has a pretty solid squad and firmly believes in that old adage about `on any given night.'...

Joseph W. Kies, 54, formerly of Cape Girardeau, died in Phoenix, Thursday, Nov. 20, 1997. Ford and Sons Mount Auburn Chapel is in charge of arrangements.

Son to Timothy and Susan Sansone of St. Louis, St. John's Mercy Hospital, 8:13 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 4, 1997. Name, Timothy Gerard Jr. Weight, 9 pounds 12 ounces. First child. Mrs. Sansone is the former Susan Hamm, daughter of Larry and Paulette Hamm of Benton. She is a teacher. Sansone is the son of Anthony and Mary Ann Sansone of St. Louis. He is employed with the Sansone Group...

Bernice M. Oldham, 80, died Wednesday, Nov. 19, 1997, at Villa St. Vincent in Crookston, Minn. She was born April 5, 1917, in Cape Girardeau, daughter of Raymond and Anita Allers Thomas. She and Charles Elvin Oldham were married Aug. 9, 1941, in Aurora. He died in 1978...

PUXICO -- Bonnie King, 71, of Puxico died Thursday, Nov. 20, 1997, at her home. She was born Jan. 24, 1926, at Mesler, daughter of Everett and Minnie Izetta Woodard Lackey. She and Gerald King were married June 28, 1968, near Puxico. King received a bachelor of science in elementary education and master's degree in adult education from Southeast Missouri State University...

PERRYVILLE -- Vivian Zoellner, 80, of Perryville died Wednesday, Nov. 19, 1997, at Perry County Memorial Hospital. She was born May 6, 1917, in Perry County, daughter of Edward William and Hilda Alma Unverferth Prost. She and Clyde F. Zoellner were married April 20, 1941, in Perryville. He died July 13, 1995...

EAST PRAIRIE -- Ann Taylor, 65, of East Prairie, also known as Mary Lee Emanuel, died suddenly Sunday, Nov. 16, 1997, in Chicago. She was born May 4, 1932, at Wyatt, daughter of Isom and Cherry Humphrey Dunigan. She and Napoleon Emanuel were married in 1949...

CAIRO, Ill. -- Elinor Jordan, 87, of Cairo died Wednesday, Nov. 19, 1997, at the Lutheran Home in Cape Girardeau, Mo. She was born Aug. 3, 1910, in Cairo, daughter of Harry and Daisy Hodge Dilts. She married Joe H. Jordan, who died in 1979. Jordan received bachelor and master degrees from the University of Missouri...

COMMERCE -- Funeral service for Bobby Howard Kight of Commerce will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday at Amick-Burnett Funeral Chapel in Scott City. The Rev. David Thompson will officiate, with burial in Oakdale Cemetery Friends may call at the funeral home from 4-8 p.m. today...

Mrs. Helen R. Howell of Cape Girardeau passed away at the Lutheran Home in Cape Girardeau Wednesday, Nov. 19, 1997 at the age of 89. She was born June 16, 1908 in Morehouse, MO the daughter of Benjamin & Maude nee Jones Stewart. She married Orville Howell April 7, 1928 and he passed away Dec. 13, 1977...