Stories from Wednesday, December 10, 1997

To the editor: Jack Stapleton's Oct. 6 commentary ("Physician shortage poses rural Missouri health hazard") accurately described the health problems associated with limited access to physicians in rural Missouri. He lamented an impending crisis and noted "something must be done." Fortunately, several statewide initiatives are already in place and answering this challenge...

SCOTT CITY -- Christmas is a time for helping neighbors and Scott City students are trying to do just that. For many years, students and clubs at Scott City High School have collected toys and games for needy children in the community. Several clubs are holding fund raisers to help with the toy drive, and student council members are organizing it, said John Helderman, student council sponsor...

NEW MADRID -- The chief investigator of the New Madrid County sheriff's department was elevated to the top post by the county commission Monday following last week's resignation of the former sheriff. Gary D. Hill, of Gideon, became interim sheriff Monday afternoon at the unanimous request of the county commission. He will hold the position until a new sheriff is elected in a special election on Feb. 10...

St. Nicklaus is riding the rails these day, via the Burlington Northern Santa Claus Express Train, making half-hour stops along a route from Mississippi into Alabama, Tennessee, and Missouri, including Thursday night's stop in downtown Cape Girardeau...

Attention shoppers! Getting in and out of some stores on Cape Girardeau's west side should be easier. In the heart of the Christmas rush, the city of Cape Girardeau has placed a temporary four-way stop at the intersection of Siemers and Lambert drives in response to heavy traffic along the route...

I'VE BEEN reading with interest about all the children bringing handguns to school, and they're either suspended or expelled from school. What does the law say about a child having to go to school? I thought the law mandates that a child must go to school. So if the one hand mandates a child go to school, what does the law say if a child is suspended?...

December has no shortage of activities. The major sports of football, basketball and hockey are in their overlapping seasons. Golf, tennis and bowling are now year-round sports ... and for those who participate, it's snow skiing time. The Christmas LIGHT PARADE Sunday evening was again a delight with its local touches and participation. The cold weather didn't reduce the crowds or enthusiasm...

To the editor: Most of you did not know Kyle Cope. You would have liked him. He was bright, energetic and fun. After graduating from Charleston High School, he attended Truman State University in Kirksville. Gov. Mel Carnahan appointed him as the student representative to the university's board of governors as a freshman. ...

JACKSON -- The Jackson Board of Education approved a schedule for accepting applications for the April school board elections during a meeting Tuesday night. Elections will be held April 7 to fill two three-year positions. The seats are held by board secretary Jeanette Bollinger and former board president Marvin Adams...

Each week, Cape Girardeau's two street sweepers can be found cleaning more than 200 miles of streets. The city tries to clean each street at least once, with busier streets getting more attention. Some streets are harder to sweep because of constant traffic. But it would behoove the city to schedule cleaning of business or commercial areas during nonwork hours...

They never mean to kill. But those who drink too much and drive may unwittingly turn their vehicle into a weapon. And a car can kill just as effectively as a gun. This is the season of celebration. Oftentimes that revelry includes alcohol. But drinking and driving don't mix...

Southeast Missouri State University may set up a regional tourism center that could promote the region and offer on-the-job training for students. The idea is being pushed by the Southeast Regional Tourism Advisory Council. The group includes representatives from throughout the region. Its most active members include officials of Southeast Missouri State University and the Cape Girardeau Convention and Visitors Bureau...

When computer wizard Bill Gates looks for advice outside the ranks of his Microsoft empire, who does he call? Rich Comeau in Cape Girardeau. Comeau is director of research and development for Horizon Music Inc., here. He has been programming computers since 1978. That is when he first met "Mr. Bill."...

Two Scott County youngsters suffered the first confirmed influenza cases in Missouri. The children, both 3, were diagnosed with type A influenza last month through the rural health clinic at the Cape Girardeau County Public Health Center, which provides health-care services for children...

JACKSON -- Missouri farmers would see their property tax assessments go up as much as 17 percent under a proposal by the State Tax Commission. Delegates to the Missouri Farm Bureau's annual meeting Tuesday voted to oppose the proposal. In Cape Girardeau County, property taxes on 91 percent of all agricultural land would be increased. If approved, the change would take effect Jan. 1, 1999...

I knew it wasn't meant to be when he kept ending letters with, "take care." My friend Al called the other day with a problem. He wants to dump his girlfriend. And he wants to do it before Christmas. Ouch. You'd think this would be pretty routine for Al. ...

Teresa Connell, graphic designer for the Southeast Missourian, won the two top spots for news graphics in the 1997 Kansas-Missouri Associated Press News photo/Graphics Contest. Connell was honored Monday at the Missouri-Kansas Publishers and Editors convention in Kansas City. She won for newspapers serving small cities...

Saturday was a good day for me and our basketball team. I had a chance to visit with my old high school coach, Jim Peters, and our team beat Austin Peay 73-61 before a crowd of over 6,000 at the Show Me Center. Coach Peters had a tremendous influence on my coaching philosophy. He has a tremendous knowledge of the game and it was really good to reminisce with him about our days at West Plains High School...

Southeast Missouri football was represented well in the three smaller classifications this season, with three clubs placing among the top teams in their respective classifications. Those three teams -- along with other area squads -- were represented well on the Missouri All-State Football Teams released today for Classes 1A-3A. The 4A and 5A teams will be released Thursday...

JACKSON -- Maybe Justin Keen should defer the above-the-rim play to fellow 6-foot-5 senior Jeff Walter. But Keen is unlikely to hear nary a whisper of objection when he lines up for an open 3-pointer -- or even a contested one. Keen's wide-open slam-dunk try clanged off the iron in the fourth quarter, but he led Jackson High's Indians with five 3-pointers and 17 points in their 80-41 home-opening demolition of Fredericktown on Tuesday...

SCOTT CITY -- The Scott City Fire Department was not called to the scene, but Jon Beck and the Rams torched the Scott City gymnasium Tuesday night. Beck's hand was smoldering with 59 points in Scott City's 126-46 victory over Egyptian (Ill.). Beck sank a school record 16 3-point shots on 25 attempts. Beck shared the old record with Mike Workman at 10. Scott City (4-0) also shot down the team record, sinking 24 of 40 3-point attempts...

NEW MADRID -- Johnny Mack Mays, 46, died Saturday, Dec. 6, 1997, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau after an automobile accident. He was born June 21, 1951, in Tennessee to Robert and Flossie Mays, and had lived in New Madrid since 1983...

PATTON -- Dr. Samuel Price Marshall, 77, of Patton died Monday, Dec. 8, 1997, at his home. He was born Jan. 24, 1920, at Morley, son of Sterling Price and Etna Brown Marshall. He and Orpha Mae Brown Doggett were married March 13, 1970. Marshall retired as a major in the U.S. Army, and then was principal at Meadow Heights and Zalma Schools...

DEXTER -- Funeral service for Katherine Whittley of Hillsboro will be held at 1 p.m. today at Watkins and Sons Funeral Home in Dexter. The Rev. Bob Holland will officiate, with burial in Tillman Cemetery near Advance. Whittley, 85, died Monday, Dec. 8, 1997, at Jefferson County Memorial Hospital in Crystal City...

CAIRO, Ill. -- Graveside service for Amanda Schuh of Cairo will be held at 11:30 a.m. Friday at Cairo City Cemetery in Villa Ridge. The Rev. Jerome Fortenberry will officiate. There is no visitation. Barkett Funeral Home in Cairo is in charge of arrangements...

JACKSON -- Elsa May Hickam, 82, of Jackson died Monday, Dec. 8, 1997, at Jackson Manor. She was born Sept. 16, 1915, near Jackson, daughter of James Lorenzo and Lillie Marie Yates Dow. She and Milford L. Hickam were married Sept. 16, 1935. He died Feb. 3, 1985...

ORAN -- Clara L. Adams, 73, of Route 1, Oran, died Saturday, Dec. 6, 1997, at the Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston. She was born Dec. 25, 1923, at Gagde, Ala., daughter of Ellis and Fannie Harrison Little and had lived in Missouri for more than 50 years...

SIKESTON -- Karen Sue Davis, 48, of Sikeston died Tuesday, Dec. 9, 1997, at Missouri Delta Medical Center. She was born Sept. 28, 1949, in Sikeston, daughter of L.I. and Alpha Faye Bryant Freeman. She and Joe Hampton Davis were married July 30, 1994, at Benton...

Funeral service for Mildred M. Boatner of Maple Crest Manor was held Dec. 1 at McLaughlin Funeral Home in St. Louis. Burial was in Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery. Boatner, 75, died Thursday, Nov. 27, 1997, at Southeast Missouri Hospital. She was born Feb. 28, 1922, in Sikeston, daughter of John and Bertha May Thomas...

EAST PRAIRIE -- Ethel M. Cogdill, 90, of Doniphan died Tuesday, Dec. 9, 1997, at Current River Nursing Center in Doniphan. She was born Oct. 6, 1907, at Steele, daughter of James Felix and Nellie Evline Busby Goodman. She and Orphia Cogdill were married Aug. 9, 1924. He died March 20, 1994...

Daughter to David W. and Dolly G. Terry, 1232 Normal, Southeast Missouri Hospital, 4:08 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 3, 1997. Name, Rachel Elisabeth. Weight, 5 pounds 3 ounces. Second daughter. Mrs. Terry is the former Dolly Guillermo, daughter of Art and Cora Guillermo of Cedar Falls, Iowa. She is employed at Century 21 Dutch Realty. Terry is the son of Dr. Bill and Eloise Terry of Cape Girardeau. He is an attorney with Limbaugh, Russell, Payne and Howard...

JACKSON -- Walk into Jackson City Hall on a work day or attend a meeting of the Board of Aldermen and one of the first things you'll notice is the absence of suits and ties. The City of Jackson, in line with a path being followed by many Fortune 500 companies, practices the belief that a less-formal workplace is a better workplace...

Tuesday, Dec. 9, 1997 7:30 p.m. Jackson Middle School Library Action Items: -- Consider amendments to the 1997-98 budget. -- Consider authorizing superintendent to enter into agreement with St. Francis Medical Center for early childhood special education-related service...

JACKSON -- The Dec. 4 meeting of the Family, Community, Education Council was held Dec. 4 in the fellowship hall of New McKendree United Methodist Church. Erma Meyer gave the devotional, and Mary Klaproth presided. It was decided to amend the club's constitution and for each club to donate two dolls to be presented at Advocacy Day in Jefferson City Jan. 27...

The late humorist Erma Bombeck used to maintain that there were actually only four or five fruitcakes in the world and that they made the rounds during the holidays like, she said, a chain letter. "If you don't give away your fruitcake before the year is up," she warned, "something terrible will happen to you."...