Stories from Saturday, December 20, 1997

To the editor: I'm amazed by the history lesson in the letter from Gladys Woods. However, when I think of Santa Claus, I don't honor pagan gods. Instead, I am left with a little smirk remembering when my daughter was old enough to ask, "Is there really a Santa Claus?" I answered, "Of course. Santa is Grandma, me and anyone else who is loving and caring enough to give of themselves."...

If you want to find quality education at a good price, come to Southeast Missouri. The state requires school districts to issue report cards which provides an opportunity to compare schools on key issues. The report cards give the public with some insight into a district's successes and failures over the last year. It tracks such factors as finances, staff, salaries, class sizes and dropout rates...

Savings. The Missouri Legislature and taxpayers sure have a different connotation of that word. The end of court-ordered desegregation will "save" the state millions of dollars. But legislators and urban educators want to funnel that money back into St. Louis and Kansas City schools...

WELL, THIS is my last year for putting out any Christmas decorations. I just don't think the beauty of it is appreciated that much. After all the hard work you put in, these two-bit thieves come around and steal. I made a report, and the police officers said there were three cars of juveniles who were stealing. ...

Two years ago at Christmas, Kelly Hartmann's husband, Keith, gave her a gift certificate for a massage. It was something Kelly had always wanted and admits she might have left hints for Keith, who manages the Enterprise Rent-A-Car. That first massage hooked Kelly...

Children enjoyed exercising while playing with a parachute canopy at Kids Bee Fit in West Park Mall. It's 10:30 Friday morning in a side hallway of the West Park Mall's JCPenney wing. There's a jostle of small children -- tugging on mothers' arms, pushing to get closer to the door, shedding coats at the Kids Bee Fit room beside the Tilt arcade...

There are a spate of options to give the gift of good health this Christmas. For example, there are biometrics programs to lose weight and learn a healthy lifestyle. Both area hospitals run six-week biometrics programs that combine a regimented, personal diet, exercise and weight training...

The holiday season is packed full of parties and celebrations, and many times that includes alcoholic beverages. Traditionally, this is one of our deadliest times of the year on our nation's highways, and impaired, aggressive driving is a big part of this problem...

The builder of the new Mississippi River bridge is pulling out of the project with the blessing of the Missouri Department of Transportation. Both parties agreed to terminate the $50.8 million contract because of bedrock problems under a pier being built in the river, it was announced Friday afternoon...

Nick Wallhausen, 5, wrote a letter to Santa but doesn't really expect a reply until Christmas Day. "He writes every year," said Nick's father Matthew. "He was excited about writing. He gets his answer on Christmas morning when there are gifts under the tree."...

Should old acquaintances be forgot and never brought to mind Should old acquaintances be forgot in days of auld lang syne For auld lang syne my dear, for auld lang syne We'll take a cup of kindness yet in days of auld lang syne. Every year on Christmas Eve some eight adults and about 15 kids of various ages meet at either the DeMyers, Fitzgerald, McDowell or Zellars household for a Christmas party. ...

The general went down and the troops followed. When Jennifer Glueck, Notre Dame High's senior guard, left the championship game of the second annual HealthSouth Holiday Classic early in the second quarter with a finger injury, the score was tied at 14-14...

OAK RIDGE -- Undefeated Kelly continued its impressive run through its early season schedule with a comfortable 78-42 victory over host Oak Ridge Friday night. Kelly improved to 7-0 while Oak Ridge dropped to 1-6. Denver Stuckey led the Hawk offensive with 24 points while Jason Glastetter netted 11. A total of 11 Hawks found the scoring column...

GLEN ALLEN -- Funeral service for Ethel May Wright of Glen Allen will be held at 10 a.m. today at Hutchings Funeral Home in Marble Hill. The Rev. Fred Ritter will officiate. Burial will be at 2 p.m. in Baxter Cemetery at Benton, Ill. Wright, 81, died Wednesday, Dec. 17, 1997, at her home...

ESSEX -- Edgar Thurman, 71, of Essex died Thursday, Dec. 18, 1997, at Hines VA Medical Center in Hines, Ill. He was born March 26, 1926, in Tiptonville, Tenn., son of Edgar and Lelia Payton Thurman Sr. He and Lucille Jeris were married Dec. 28, 1945, in Paragould, Ark...

FROHNA -- Funeral service for George V. Newman Sr. of Frohna will be held at 1 p.m. today at Gieseking Funeral Home in Altamont, Ill. Burial will be in Newman Cemetery near Altamont. Friends may call at the funeral home from 11 a.m. until service time...

MARION, Ill. -- Madeline King, 85, of Marion, formerly of Thebes, died Thursday, Dec. 18, 1997, at her daughter's home in Marion. She was born May 2, 1912, in Mill Creek, daughter of Elmer H. and Orpha Davault Corzine. She married Russell Morrill, who died in 1992. She was married to William Earl King who died in 1967...

CHAFFEE -- Lester Jackson, 88, of Chaffee died Friday, Dec. 19, 1997, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. He was born Jan. 24, 1909, in Thebes, Ill., son of Charlie and Stella Baker Jackson. He and Ada Mae Asher were married Aug. 7, 1926...

JACKSON -- Earl London, 70, of Jackson died Thursday, Dec. 18, 1997, at Beverly Health and Rehabilitation Services of Cape Girardeau. He was born Dec. 24, 1926, at Oran, son of Floyd and Alice Abbott London. He and Wanda Burnett were married Aug. 23, 1959. She died July 23, 1971. He later married Opal Griffith Oct. 27, 1978...

ANNA, Ill. -- Dorris L. Hankla, 80, of Anna died Friday, Dec. 19, 1997, at the home of a son in Cypress, Texas. Lutz and Rendleman Funeral Home in Anna is in charge of arrangements.

ANNA, Ill. -- Evelyn Kirkpatrick, 56, of Anna, died Friday, Dec. 19, 1997, at Union County Hospital. She was born Jan. 15, 1941, in Booneville, Miss., daughter of Archie and Mary Lou Green McKinney. She and Earl Lee Kirkpatrick were married Nov. 3, 1967, in Jonesboro. He died Dec. 3, 1994...

Daughter to David Scott and Beckie Lynn Maintz of Jackson, Southeast Missouri Hospital, 6:26 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 10, 1997. Name, Mallorie Alexis. Weight, 8 pounds 6 ounces. First child. Mrs. Maintz is the former Beckie Hitt, daughter of Jerry and Karen Hitt of Millersville. She is a customer relations representative at LDD Inc. Maintz is the son of Shirley Maintz of Oak Ridge and the late David Maintz. He is a barber and owner of Kingsway Barber Shop in Cape Girardeau...

PERRYVILLE -- Shirley Mae Ochs, 60, of Perryville died Friday, Dec. 19, 1997, in Perryville. She was born Nov. 11, 1937, at Ste. Genevieve, daughter of Oliver and Estella Slater Martin. She had been a waitress. She was a member of St. Vincent's Catholic Church and River Hills Eagles...

Jimmy Wayne Angle, 50, of Cape Girardeau died Friday, Dec. 19, 1997, at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston. He was born Aug. 10, 1947, in Bollinger County, son of John and Ruby Pulliam Angle. Angle moved from Bollinger County to Jackson in 1952, and had also lived in Scott City and Cape Girardeau...

PERRYVILLE -- Clara Catherine Gagnepain, 104, of Perryville died Friday, Dec. 19, 1997, at Perry County Nursing Home. She was born Nov. 24, 1843, at Arnsburg, daughter of George and Catherine Strueve Welker. She had worked as a shoe inspector at International Shoe Co. She was a member of St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church in Perryville...