Stories from Thursday, January 8, 1998

The peanut butter was a little soupy, but the children didn't seem to mind. Four children, aided by their parents, helped make peanut butter in a blender at the Cape Girardeau Public Library Wednesday afternoon. Ann Randolph, the library's youth services coordinator, was the top chef for the activity...

CHAFFEE -- Children run in and out of Aaron Horrell's basement studio, which is lighted with only a 60-watt bulb, warmed with a space heater and seems to be missing an easel. "My kids have caused this to evolve and happen," Horrell says "... They're always handy, climbing on cows' backs."...

MedAmerica HealthNet Inc.'s bankruptcy won't force a "proliferation of HMOs" in Southeast Missouri's health-care market, say the two local hospital administrators. The network's decision to shut down has left thousands in the region wondering what health insurance options they will have after the network dissolves March 1...

FULTON -- A Cape Girardeau County man, who was convicted in May of first-degree murder, has died of head injuries he received in an incident at the state mental hospital in Fulton. Kenneth Wayne Stone, 32, was pronounced dead of head trauma Tuesday night at University Hospital in Columbia, said John Fougere, public information officer for the Missouri Department of Corrections...

Editor's note: This is the last of a five-part series examining issues facing America's elderly population. JACKSON -- When Nelson and June Stone finally stopped taking care of their three children, they started taking care of their parents. The Stones, both in their 60s, are among a growing number of Americans in the "sandwich" generation -- recent retirees caring for aging parents...

CARUTHERSVILLE -- Aztar Casino is among only a few Missouri gambling boats not on what could become an endangered list. More than half of 16 operating casinos face problems as a result of the Missouri Supreme Court's recent ruling on boats in moats...

Be prepared is the motto for Cape Girardeau County in case of a disaster. In an effort to get prepared, key players from local governments, agencies and companies are meeting regularly to work out an emergency response plan. The group, called EMAC, Emergency Management Action Committee, met Wednesday. Cape Girardeau County Presiding Commissioner Gerald Jones stressed the importance of working together in advance of an emergency situation like a flood, tornado or earthquake...

Jan. 8, 1998 Dear Julie, It hasn't been a quiet week in Cape Girardeau. A low front brought temperatures into the 60s, sending the golfers to their closets to finger their clubs and worrying gardeners that their bulbs will rush out to greet this falsest of springs. But steady rains accompanied the warm days, leaving the golfers in a mid-January reverie of what might have been, and the gardeners to fret even more about a premature awakening of their plantings...

To the editor: Thank you, the many volunteers and United Way for the Y.E.L.L. grant to Rolling Readers USA, Cape Girardeau regional chapter. Our volunteers read to children weekly and give them hardback books (by age or grade level) three times a year...

America may be the land of technology and the nation of computer science, but we probably won't command any respect until we begin dating our checks 1998. Jerry Seinfeld decides to call it quits at the end of this year's TV season. Other comedians don't retire until they're voted out of office...

To the editor: I am writing to all the methamphetamine users and sellers in this area. You may not think you are addicted or need help, but my husband was there at one time. He started out not addicted, then sold meth to feed his habit. He lost seven years of his life, five in federal prison and two being addicted and awaiting trial and sentencing...

To the editor: In the Jan. 2 issue of the Southeast Missourian, a letter appeared on the Opinion page written by Donn S. Miller of Tamms, Ill. He said that the Ohio state motto is "With God, all things are possible" and that the American Civil Liberties Union is making an effort to retire this motto. He hopes the ACLU will succeed...

To the editor: The final report of the Joint Interim Committee on School Desegregation and Finance Issues, which I co-chaired, has been issued. The committee's recommendations are, for the most part, consistent with my objectives. Those primary objectives are:...

To the editor: Your front-page story Dec. 31 regarding efforts by citizens of Benton, Chaffee and Oran to seek expanded area telephone service struck a responsive note with me. I am convinced that Southwestern Bell is hurting economic growth in our area by being obstinate about the issue of extended-area calling...

There was welcome news at the end of 1997 that homicides in some of the nation's largest cities had dropped dramatically from the year before. A few other cities, though showed sharp gains. Overall, the trend across the country is downward for serious crimes...

When a circuit judge in Jefferson City ruled at year end that he could not order the Missouri Gaming Commission to license a riverboat in St. Joseph even though the owners had complied with every step of the licensing process, other questions about gambling oversight in the state were raised...

The Frank Harrell Farewell Tour around the Ohio Valley Conference has hit a serious snag for Tennessee Tech's Golden Eagles. Southeast Missouri State University's Indians hope to keep that trend going tonight when the teams meet in a 7:05 tipoff at the Show Me Center...

STE. GENEVIEVE -- When it comes to winning streaks, the Jackson High wrestling team needs to avoid Ste. Genevieve. In 1988, the Dragons snapped Jackson's 51-match win streak in their gymnasium. Wednesday night, the Dragons were at it again. The Indians brought a 48 dual-match win streak into Ste. Genevieve, but the Dragons sent the Indians home with a 34-22 loss...

Although he continues to make solid progress, Bud Eley's hopes of getting into a basketball game this week have been dashed. It was announced Wednesday that Eley, Southeast Missouri State University's standout center, will miss at least three more games because of the broken bone in his foot...

DELTA -- Delta High's Lady Bobcats outscored Portageville 21-6 in the second quarter Wednesday night as they posted a 47-34 win in the championship game of the Delta girls basketball tournament. That big second period for Delta wiped out an 11-4 Portageville advantage after one quarter. Leading 25-17 at halftime, the Lady Bobcats steadily pulled away in the second half...

Larico Coleman School: Charleston Class: Senior Sport: Basketball Position: Point guard Coach: Danny Farmer Week report: Coleman was the Blue Jays' leading scorer as Charleston claimed its 12th University High School Christmas Tournament title last week. ...

JACKSON -- Ralph Ervin Lorenz, 44, died Saturday, Jan. 3, 1998, at his home in Jackson. He was born April 20, 1953, at Perryville, the son of Hubert E. and Meta R. Versemann Lorenz. He married Lynda S. King on June 3, 1989, at Farrar. Lorenz was the operations manager for Gibson Recovery Center in Cape Girardeau since 1983. Previously, he was employed as a carpenter...

CAIRO, Ill. -- Robert J. Dean Sr., 76, of Cairo died Wednesday, Jan. 7, 1998, at his home. He was born Nov. 12, 1921, in Cairo, son of Stephen and Louise Meneese Dean. Dean retired as owner of Bob's Cafe in Cairo. He was a member of St. Patrick's Catholic Church, Cairo VFW Post 2649, fourth degree member and treasurer of Cairo Knights of Columbus Council 1027. He was a veteran of World War II...

MATTHEWS -- The Rev. Raymond H. Myrick, 82, of Matthews died Tuesday, Jan. 6, 1998, at Sells Rest Home. He was born June 24, 1915, in Rector, Ark., son of Coy and Nancy Johnson Myrick. He and Lounell Riley were married Oct. 15, 1932, at Matthews. She died Jan. 1, 1998...

MATTHEWS -- Funeral service for Kathleen A. Havens of Matthews will be held at 1:30 p.m. today at Nunnelee Funeral Chapel in Sikeston. Marty Blakey will officiate, with burial in Garden of Memories Cemetery at Sikeston. Havens, 45, died Tuesday, Jan. 6, 1998, at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston...

Albert Charles Horn, 35, of Cape Girardeau died Monday, Jan. 5, 1998, at his home. He was born Oct. 16, 1962, in White Plains, N.Y., son of Mickey and Elena Phelliccia Horn. Horn was a self-employed painting contractor. He served in the National Guard Reserves...

WHITEWATER -- Funeral service for Elda Alma Niswonger of Whitewater will be held at 1:30 p.m. Saturday at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Chaffee. The Rev. Wayne Schwiesow will officiate, with burial in Memorial Park Cemetery in Cape Girardeau. Friends may call at McCombs Funeral Home in Jackson from 4-8 p.m. Friday, and at the church Saturday from 12:30 p.m. until service time...

Wilma E. Reimann, 89, of the Egypt Mills area, died Wednesday, Jan. 7, 1998, at the Lutheran Home in Cape Girardeau. Ford and Sons Mount Auburn Chapel is in charge of arrangements.

PERRYVILLE -- Frederick J. Clifton, 80, of Perryville died Wednesday, Jan. 7, 1997, at his home. He was born June 28, 1917, at Memfro, the son of L.S. and Flora Schindler Clifton. He married Stella M. Hilderbrand on Aug. 7, 1943. She survives. Clifton worked for the Army Corps of Engineer at St. ...

PATTON -- Kent P. Madalon Sr., 57, of Patton died Wednesday, Jan. 7, 1998, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. He was born Aug. 27, 1940, in Hammond, Ind., son of John and Pauline Fredericks Madalon. He married Margaret Ann Parks on June 19, 1960. She died April 30, 1993...

GOREVILLE, Ill. -- Kent Owen Eastwood, 35, of Goreville died Tuesday, Jan. 6, 1998, in Union County Hospital in Anna. He was born April 17, 1962, in Anna, son of Lowell and Faye Davis Eastwood. He and Angela S. Davis were married April 17, 1986, in Elco...

PATTON -- Tera Lou Smith, 93, of Patton, died Monday, Jan. 5, 1998, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. She was born March 26, 1904, at Marble Hill, daughter of Henry and Hulda Welker Lincoln. She and Carl Smith were married Nov. 14, 1923...

COBDEN, Ill. -- Donald E. "Gene" Jackson, 64, of Joliet, formerly of Union County, died Wednesday, Jan. 7, 1998, at St. Joseph Medical Center in Joliet. Lutz and Rendleman Funeral Home in Cobden is in charge of arrangements.

Elsie Funk, 87, of Cape Girardeau died Wednesday, Jan. 7, 1998, at St. Francis Medical Center. She was born Aug. 27, 1910, at Charleston, daughter of Oscar and Myrtle Mehnard Doughty. She and Walter Funk were married July 18, 1936, in Cape Girardeau. He died Oct. 13, 1995...

Kenneth Wayne Stone, 32, of Cape Girardeau died Tuesday, Jan. 6, 1998, at the University of Missouri Hospital in Columbia. He was born Feb. 10, 1965, in Cape Girardeau, son of James Wayne and Frances Ann Kirkpatrick Stone. He had been an electrician with Fru-Con Construction Corp. He was a member of Centenary United Methodist Church. Stone was a veteran of the U.S. Navy...

ORAN -- Marcella C. Diebold, 84, of Oran died Wednesday, Jan. 7, 1998, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. She was born Aug. 5, 1913, near Oran, daughter of Emil and Bertha Metz Stubenrauch. She and Leon W. Diebold were married Dec. 29, 1932...

Cathryn M. White, 94, of Cape Girardeau died Wednesday, Jan. 7, 1998, at Chateau Girardeau Health Center. She was born May 9, 1903, in Jackson, daughter of Thomas Patrick and Lenore Franklin Rafferty. She and O.O. White were married June 4, 1938. He died Oct. 13, 1979...

WYATT -- Virgil Eugene Thomas, 83, of Wyatt died Tuesday, Jan. 6, 1998, at Village Care Center in Mission, Texas. He was born June 10, 1914, in DesMoines, Iowa, son of George W. and Martha Rylander Thomas. He and Mary McLain were married July 1, 1937. She died Sept. 9, 1984. He and Emagene Krause were married Sept. 21, 1985...

BLOOMFIELD -- Ray E. Metcalf, 90, of Bloomfield died Wednesday, Jan. 7, 1998, at Beverly Health and Rehabilitation Center. He was born Jan. 6, 1908, at Crowder, son of James Lawson and Julia Ann West Metcalf. He and Maida Ruth Lewis were married Dec. 13, 1941. She died July 22, 1991...

SIKESTON -- Mary Romine, 89, died Tuesday, Jan. 6, 1998, at Missouri Delta Medical Center. She was born Feb. 12, 1908, in Sikeston, daughter of John and Lena Simpson. She married Earl Sylvester Romine, who died in 1965. Survivors include a son, Jay Romine of Nashville, Ark.; a daughter, Fran Baker of Sikeston; a sister, Elma Kneezle of Marion, Ill.; 17 grandchildren; 24 great-grandchildren; and a great-grandchild...

Son to Tony Lamark Harris and Terri Diane Hunt of Cape Girardeau, Southeast Missouri Hospital, 2:23 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 17, 1997. Name, Taveon Marquise. Weight, 8 pounds 7 ounces. Third son. Ms. Hunt is the daughter of Josephine Newsom of Cape Girardeau. Harris is the son of Earline Harris of Cape Girardeau...