Stories from Tuesday, November 25, 1997

Most basketball coaches believe a team can go a long way with talented guards and Charleston's Blue Jays are hoping that theory proves correct this season. The tradition-rich Blue Jays, who went 25-4 last season and lost to Perryville in a Class 3A sectional game, return one of the area's top backcourts in 5-foot-8 senior Larico Coleman and 5-10 sophomore Howard Biles...

Southeast Missouri State University women's basketball coach Ed Arnzen and his Otahkians couldn't wait to get the 1997-98 season started so they could begin making amends for last year. "We did not have a very good year last year so we're anxious to get back and start again," said Arnzen...

A glance at his Wildcats paints a pretty accurate picture of what Leopold basketball coach Carlton Thoma faces this season. "At times," Thoma said, "we look a little scrawny. We look young." For this team, looks don't deceive. "You can say we're going to be really young and inexperienced. We may have to use a lot of Band-Aids to keep us taped up this year," Thoma quipped...

Oran boys basketball coach Mitch Wood suffered through his first losing season in nine years last year. He isn't expecting that to happen again this season. Wood will rely heavily on six juniors that made up a 20-3 JV unit as sophomores last year and two returning seniors to lead the Eagles back to their winning ways...

In his first season as the coach of the Oran girls basketball team, Adrian Eftink had no seniors to help lead the team through a 3-18 campaign. But in his second year at the helm, Eftink has three seniors on the squad and two underclassmen returning as starters that should help turn things around...

The four seniors on the Kelly boys basketball team have known only one high school basketball coach at the school. Entering his fourth-year as coach of the Hawks, Kent Mangels is looking forward coaching those seniors through their final season. "This group of seniors were freshman when I got here, so this group is special," said Mangels. "Hopefully this will be the year we can break through."...

The Kelly girls basketball team had only one all-conference player on last year's 17-7 team. But the Lady Hawks will have two all-conference players on the court this season with the return of senior Ashley Dirnberger (5-6) from a knee injury that forced her to miss her entire junior season...

In the past when St. Vincent boys basketball coach Bruce Valleroy needed a critical basket, he always had a go-to guy to turn to. In his first season as head coach, Valleroy gave the ball to Jason Bauwens. Then Scott Pingel and Jason Buerck followed and last year Valleroy had the school's second-leading all-time scorer to turn to in Jonathan Wengert...

Last season, Bell City basketball coach Scott Kruse spotted games on his Cubs' schedule that he just knew his team would lose, unless the opposition's bus didn't start. This year, although Bell City has a tough schedule, the Cubs have four starters returning. Kruse says those glaring mismatches of a year ago aren't nearly as conspicuous -- and that makes the second-year coach optimistic...

Advance's basketball ascent, reflected by its 16-10 record, reached its zenith last season. Three years ago, the Hornets struggled to a 2-20 mark. Then came a dramatic leap to a 14-14 record the next year, which was followed by their best mark since 1981 last season...

Its been a while since the St. Vincent Squaws broke above the .500 mark for a winning basketball season. St. Vincent's coach Terry Wengert is optimistic, with several players returning from last year's 7-15 team, this could be the season. "We're really excited," said Wengert. "We've got four girls back with quite a bit of experience and we're planning on doing well."...

Life without four-year starter and all-state basketball player Sara Emerson begins for the Scott City girls this season. Emerson and her 20 points a game will be gone along with three other seniors from last year's 21-6 district runner-up club. According to Scott City coach Randall White, Emerson led the team in practically every statistical category last year...

With 53 wins and consecutive No. 7 rankings in the Class 2A poll the past two seasons, the Scott City boys basketball team has become one of the most successful programs in the state. It didn't hurt having two-time all-state selection Dustin Cauble (6-4) and 6-5 Chris Sisk on the inside pouring in points and pulling down rebounds...

Youth will definitely be served on the Notre Dame boys basketball team this season. The Bulldogs have only two seniors on their entire roster and just one of those seniors played last year. But Notre Dame coach Chris Janet doesn't necessarily believe youth will be a major deterrent as the Bulldogs try to improve on last year's 9-17 record...

Notre Dame girls basketball coach Jerry Grim says he can't wait to get the season started -- and who can blame him? The Lady Bulldogs have plenty of talent back from last year's team that went 22-10 and advanced all the way to the Class 2A state championship game before losing. It was Notre Dame's second state runnerup finish in the past three years...

Chaffee's boys basketball team did not meet the expectations of first-year coach Jim Stoverink last season, going just 4-17. But Stoverink will be looking for better things during his second campaign in charge of the Red Devils. "I was a little bit disappointed last year. ...

Paulette Crouthers begins her first season as Chaffee's girls basketball coach looking to be competitive and hoping for more. "I think we'll be very competitive," said Crouthers, who coached at Risco last year. "Our main goal is just to improve because we've still kind of got a young team. I hope we'll at least be .500, but I just don't know yet."...

With three returning starters and five of its top eight players back, the Woodland boys basketball team hopes to put together another solid season. The Cardinals were one of the area's better small-school squads last year, going 17-10 and playing well for most of the season...

With a team extremely thin on depth, Woodland girls basketball coach Harley Eddleman is hoping the Lady Cardinals can avoid injuries and foul problems in order to put together a competitive season. The Lady Cardinals made some strides last year as they improved to a 5-12 record. Eddleman will be looking for his team to be at least as competitive this year...

Chris Winkler enters his first season as Oak Ridge's basketball coach optimistic that his Blue Jays will be able to get up and down the floor in a hurry in order to make life tough on the opposition. "I'm excited about the season and pretty optimistic," said Winkler, an assistant with the Blue Jays last year. "Everybody has worked hard and improved a lot. I think our speed and quickness will be pretty good. I think we'll be able to push the ball up and down the floor."...

Charleston girls basketball coach Bev Wright doesn't expect her team to be world-beaters early. But Wright figures if the Lady Blue Jays hang in there, they can ultimately be a solid squad. The Lady Jays return very little experience from last year's 11-13 team -- among the four seniors lost was Talisha Haynes, the program's all-time leading scorer who is now playing at Moberly Junior College -- so the going could be fairly tough right off the bat...

Cape Central boys basketball coach Brett Reutzel's first year as head coach couldn't have gone much better last season. The Tigers won 21 games, claimed the University High Christmas Tournament and finished the season with a district title. But eight seniors that made life a little easier for Reutzel have graduated, leaving the Tigers with one of their more inexperienced teams in some time...

The Cape Central girls basketball team returns only one of seven players that saw much playing time last year during a 19-7 season. "We lost the whole core of our team," said Central coach Paula Watkins. "It's a brand new world for us this year." Gone from last year are graduated seniors Nichole Thiele (19 ppg), Laura Lukens (13 ppg, 8 rb), Elizabeth Kunz (10 ppg, 8 rb), Abby Harris (7 ppg), Ashley Skinner (3 ppg) and Brooke Spradling (4 ppg)...

Jeff Gravon will try to use techniques he implemented in the North to boost a struggling program in the Midwest. Gravon, who coached the boys basketball team in Elgin, Minn., last year, is the new Meadow Heights coach. He came to Meadow Heights because he was offered a full-time teaching position and the athletic director job...

Rob Harlow, Marquand's new basketball coach, has inherited what appears to be a favorable situation. First-year coach Ken Lunsford led the Tigers to an 18-6 record last season after they had struggled to a 7-13 mark the year before. And although Marquand lost three starters to graduation, the top three scorers from last year are returning. Also, featuring four players ranging from 6-foot-3 to 6-5 isn't very common for Class 1A teams...

Even when the Scott County Central girls basketball team experiences adversity, the Bravettes still seem to have a season that would make a lot of other teams envious. Despite dropping their JV team last year due to a lack of numbers and starting two freshmen and a sophomore, Scott County's varsity still managed to compile a 14-12 record and advanced all way to the 1A quarterfinals...

Fourth-grade teacher Dorothy Meyr has had plenty of life experiences before and after her marriage to help her in her profession. The 15-year teaching veteran works at Trinity Lutheran School, where besides teaching a classroom, she also serves as the school's music director...

Paper hats and decorative place settings, cornucopias and turkey drawings. These are only a few of the things children bring home from school in the days preceding Thanksgiving. All area schools are commemorating Thanksgiving with art projects, special curriculums, plays, meals or a combination of all. Whether they're dressing up like Pilgrims and Indians or telling what they're thankful for, almost all children seem to love Thanksgiving...

A proposed revision of the city of Cape Girardeau's hotel, motel and restaurant tax is geared toward making assessing the tax more equitable. Members of a city subcommittee will meet today to discuss whether the change -- which could go before voters in the April 7 election -- actually accomplishes that...

Zalma's basketball record the last three years is 13-55, with 10 of those wins gained two seasons ago. The Bulldogs went 2-22 last season and lost all five starters to graduation. On paper, things may seem bleak for the Bulldogs. But don't mention the word "rebuild" to coach John Martin. He says it doesn't properly apply to his team...

One of the state's top girls basketball programs is currently going through a change. And new Perryville coach Vicki Lohmann is hoping that one aspect that will not change is the program's winning tradition. Lohmann served as JV coach the last eight seasons and as assistant to longtime Perryville head coach Steve Wunderlich. But in one of the surprising moves since last season, Wunderlich, at odds with some of the administration, decided to accept a job elsewhere...

Cybertip: We still have openings for the Dec. 8 and 11 beginning Internet training classes. The Monday class will be held from 7-9 p.m., and the Thursday class will be from 1-3 p.m. in Dempster Hall on the campus of Southeast Missouri State University. Cost is $10. To register, call Joni or Peggy at 335-6611...

After being hit hard by graduation, Fredericktown girls basketball coach Lonny Sheldon will be looking for new sources of point production this season. Fredericktown, which enjoyed a 19-6 record last season, lost four starters and over 80 percent of its scoring punch...

Third-year Fredericktown boys basketball coach Don Huff doesn't mind the underdog role, just as long as his team strains at the chain and flashes some teeth. Huff saw his team do that numerous times last year in a 3-19 season. "I felt we worked hard last year," said Huff. "We made some comebacks and made some games interesting that we went into as the underdog. And this year we'll probably be underdogs again quite a few times. But I think we can make things interesting and upset a few teams."...

JACKSON -- The Jackson Board of Aldermen approved an ordinance Monday night that will incrementally increase the average family's sewer and water rate from the current $16.20 per month to $24.70 per month in 2000. The ordinance makes law the wishes of Jackson voters who last August approved a $10.54 million bond issue for sewer and water system improvements. ...

No matter the number of starters returning, Scott Country Central boys basketball coach Todd Porter has learned one fact in his three years at the school -- the goal is to always win state. The Braves have achieved that lofty goal a state record 12 times since 1976...

First-year Perryville boys basketball coach Dean Lewis is new to the area, but he's already had a good look at one of the top players in the area. Luckily for Lewis, that player -- Paul Weinkein -- will be wearing a Pirate jersey. Lewis, undertaking his first head coaching job, does not lack superlatives when talking about the 6-foot-6 senior...

Jackson girls basketball coach Ron Cook doesn't allow himself to look back too much. He prefers to keep his eyes focused on the future and the task at hand. It's not that the past is painful and strewn with disappointments. To the contrary, Jackson has arguably been the most successful girls basketball program in the state over the past three years. That span includes three state appearances, two state runner-up finishes and a total of seven losses...

After an 8-16 season three years ago, Delta's boys basketball team has enjoyed its station among the area's elite small-school squads the last two seasons. Two years ago, the Bobcats went 19-6. The tide remained high last season as Delta posted an 18-10 mark and advanced to the championship game of its district tournament before losing to defending Class 1A state champion Richland...

Delta girls basketball has a new coach, Amy Blattel, but the old foe, Scott County Central, is still around. Blattel, who was an assistant coach last season at Delta, said her team's goal this year is to win a district title. Jim Gloth was Delta's coach last year...

Once again the Jackson boys basketball team has that feeling of standing in the blocks while the race is on. The explanation is successful Jackson football, which usually keeps a few players in cleats playing playoff football rather than in a gymnasium wearing sneakers...

Church groups, civic organizations, and individuals are busy placing holiday decorations at the Cape Girardeau County Park in preparation for the 10th annual Holiday of Lights festival. The 1997 display will be lit for the first time Wednesday evening, following performances by several area choirs. The ceremony begins at 5:45 p.m. at shelter 8...

So far, there's only one contested race for the Cape Girardeau City Council. But that could still change by 5 p.m. today. That's the deadline for council candidates to file their nominating petitions. In order to seek office, candidates must have collected signatures from at least 50 registered voters...

A New York city man has donated $75,000 to the Southeast Missouri State University Museum. The unrestricted donation is the largest cash gift in the museum's history, said Dr. Jenny Strayer, museum director. The museum opened in 1976. The donor, George Schriever, also donated a number of art objects...

A number of area nursing home patients will be "Home for the Holidays" on Thanksgiving day. Nursing home patients who are unable to travel except by ambulance will be transported Wednesday and Thursday of this week, and again on Dec. 24-25 to any county residence by the Stoddard County Ambulance Service (SCAD)...

"Cats know how to obtain food without labor, shelter without confinement and love without penalties." -- W.C. George He left as quietly and suddenly as he arrived, but not before leaving his mark on the household. For three weeks, I was blessed with the presence of a lovable, gray and white cat. And in a household that had already meshed five felines, this stray Tom was lucky to have survived...

U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Emerson, R-Cape Girardeau, convened an anti-drug summit last week that brought together participants at six locations throughout the sprawling 8th District she represents in Congress. The innovative session was an interactive video conference involving presentations at six colleges throughout the region. ...

Illinois has just joined a growing list of states that have banned partial-birth abortions. Over the past two years, nearly 20 states have passed bans on this brutal and unconscionable procedure. More than a score of other states are considering measures to ban the procedure...

To the editor: Alan Journet's arguments against my position in my last letter are basically flawed. For starters, he takes offense with my using labels like "liberal" and "leftist." He says my position is weak because I used those terms, but in the same letter he dismissed my views as dogmatic. ...

To the editor: Lately, the Southeast Missourian has published informative articles and letters to the editor concerning local public school finance. Before we have an all-inclusive, full-fledged public debate as to how best address looming school money shortages, we need to better understand the things that determine the amount of money a public school district receives...

Project CHARLIE volunteers may be retired, unemployed or hold full-time jobs. They can be parents, grandparents or none of the above. They may even be veteran volunteers or newcomers stepping into the role for the first time. In fact, adults working with the drug prevention program said the assortment of volunteers is one of its strengths. Different volunteers get the point across differently, they said, but they're all working towards the same goal: To keep kids away from drugs...

Cory Johnson came out of Three Rivers Community College in Poplar Bluff with a reputation as an exceptional long-distance shooter. Through two games for Southeast Missouri State University's basketball Indians, Johnson has certainly lived up to that billing -- and then some...

On the one hand, as Southeast Missouri State University football coach John Mumford has pointed out, the Indians fielded a relatively young team this season, with only nine seniors (including both specialists) starting most of the year. But many of those seniors were among the Indians' better players -- and a few of them were the squad's very best performers...

PERRYVILLE -- Notre Dame's girls basketball team opened the season on a winning note Monday night, defeating Farmington 56-45 in round-robin play in the Perryville Tournament. Rachael Schlosser led the Lady Bulldogs with 14 points while Jennifer Glueck added 11...

Gary Garner doesn't really know what to expect out of his first Southeast Missouri State University basketball team this season, but he is counting on two things. "I expect us to play hard and I expect us to play unselfishly, which means together," said Garner. "If you do those two things, then I believe good things will happen."...

Former Poplar Bluff standout Stephanie Faith has left the Southeast Missouri State University women's basketball team. Faith, a senior, had played in just one of Southeast's two games thus far, scoring two points. The university provided no explanation for Faith's departure...

BRENTWOOD, Tenn. - Tennessee Tech's Alex Franco was selected the Ohio Valley Conference player of the week Monday. The junior forward had a team-high 23 points, 10 rebounds, four assists and six steals in an 84-72 victory over Lambuth last week. He also contributed 12 points, 11 boards, four assists and four blocked shots in a 92-62 win over Clinch Valley...

BROSELEY -- Funeral service for Ann Kehoe of Old Monroe will be held at 11 a.m. today at Watkins and Sons Funeral Home in Dexter. The Rev. John Sheley will officiate, with burial in Chalk Bluff Cemetery at Dexter. Kehoe, 58, died Saturday, Nov. 22, 1997, at Lincoln County Memorial Hospital in Troy...

MORLEY -- Graveside service for Kaitlyn Brooke Grogan was held Monday at New Morley Cemetery. The Rev. James Martin officiated. Ponder Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements. The infant died at birth Saturday, Nov. 22, 1997, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau...

SIKESTON -- Dorothy Nave, 75, of Sikeston died Sunday, Nov. 23, 1997, at Missouri Delta Medical Center. She was born Jan. 26, 1922, in Amorel, Ark., daughter of Arden and Mary Rittenberry Wilson. She married Earl Nave, who died in 1965. Nave was a nurse aide at Missouri Delta Medical Center 10 years, and later worked part time at Heartland Oxygen. She was a member of House of Prayer General Baptist Church...

FARRAR -- Bernice Lohmann, 55, of Farrar died Monday, Nov. 24, 1997, at her home. She was born Sept. 12, 1942, at New Wells, daughter of Edgar and Edna M. Lorenz Versemann. She and Edward O. Lohmann were married Aug. 10, 1963. Lohmann was a member of Salem Lutheran Church...

JACKSON -- Alice L. Hahs, 63, of Jackson died Monday, Nov. 24, 1997, at her home. Arrangements are incomplete at McCombs Funeral Home in Jackson.

TAMMS, Ill. -- Virgil Malone, 77, of Tamms died Monday, Nov. 24, 1997, at the VA Medical Center in Marion. He was born Feb. 29, 1920, in Union County, son of Virgil and Mattie Farrel Malone. He and Jacqueline Clifford were married July 20, 1962. She died Jan. 5, 1992...

Funeral service for Catherine E. Cullick of Cape Girardeau will be held at 10 a.m. today at Lorberg Memorial Funeral Chapel. Msgr. Edward Eftink will officiate. Burial will be later in Sarona Cemetery in Sarona, Wis. Friends may call at the funeral chapel from 9 a.m. until service time...

JACKSON -- Ola M. Ates, 87, of Jackson died Sunday, Nov. 23, 1997, at the Lutheran Home in Cape Girardeau. She was born July 15, 1910, in Cape Girardeau County, daughter of Andrew and Katie Hosea Green. She and Jasper Ates were married Oct. 1, 1938. He died Aug. 13, 1984...

William R.C. "Rick" Johnson, 40, of DeSoto died Sunday, Nov. 23, 1997, at Jefferson Memorial Hospital in Crystal City. He was born July 18, 1957, in Booneville, Miss., son of Thomas and Cladia Reilley Johnson. He married the former Irene Dietrich. Johnson was formerly of Cape Girardeau. He was a printer at Conform Inc. in Maryland Heights...

Daughter to T. David White II and Kristie Rae Myers of Cape Girardeau, Southeast Missouri Hospital, 5:16 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 18, 1997, Name, Lara Nicole. Weight, 7 pounds 6 ounces. Third child, second daughter. Ms. Myers is the daughter of Benny and Brenda Myers of Jackson. White is the son of Dave and Brenda White of Chaffee. He is employed at Drury Co...

Orville W. Medlin of Cape Girardeau died Sunday, November 23, 1997, at St. Francis Medical Center after a short illness. He was born January 15, 1925, in Bell City, Mo., the son of George and Lura Pritchett Medlin. He and the former Henrietta M. Schwepker were married on December 27, 1947, in Cape Girardeau. She survives...

Combatting the rise of gang activity has become an important priority for two members of the Cape Girardeau police department. To that end, Cpl. Charles Herbst and Officer Ike Hammonds have become adjunct faculty members, teaching a gang resistance program two days a week to seventh graders at L. J. Schultz Middle School...

David Walker, professor of Australian Studies at Deakin University in Melbourne, Australia, will lecture on cultural anxiety Dec. 4 at Southeast Missouri State University. The title of the lecture is "Cultural Anxiety: Australia and the Rise of Asia, 1880s to the Present." The event is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. in the University Center Missouriana Room and is free and open to the public...