Stories from Saturday, January 17, 1998

To the editor: When Jesse Stacy, as a young lad, applied for a job at Clark's Music Store on Main Street in downtown Cape Girardeau, little did he know one day he would become the famous person that he did. Jesse Stacy was always a very devoted and loving son, the only offspring of his father and mother. ...

Mother's Day Out was a lifesaver for Jerrie Gerlach, a mother of three. Her youngest child is now enrolled in the weekly program at Lynwood Baptist Church and her middle child attended before starting school three years ago. "You always knew you could make it just a few more days 'til Tuesday," she said. "It was the day I went to lunch and cleaned house or did all those wonderful things at home. It was a long enough time that you could get something done."...

The Rev. William L. Burke was born and raised in Beloit, Wis. He received a bachelor of arts degree in religion at Olivet Nazarene College in Kankakee, Ill. After spending eight and a half years in itinerate evangelism, he served as pastor of the Church of the Nazarene at Farmington for five years. He came to Cape Girardeau in February 1989...

I WOULD like to say thank you to the caller who reminded us of funny Speak Out calls. My favorite was the caller who was mad about a woman who could not get a job even though she had a BSA, and the caller wanted to know why she couldn't get the job no matter what type of car she had...

The Missouri Senate has sent a cordial but firm message to the Public Service Commission: Reconsider the loss of community optional service or face the potential loss of funding. This service known as COS links many contiguous rural communities for one low cost -- about $16 a month. Without it, phone bills would be substantially higher for many rural customers...

A new commemorative quarter will be minted for each state. The new coins will be minted in the order that statehood was earned. Missouri will be the 24th. The front of each coin will bear the image of George Washington -- the same as now. But states will get to choose the image for the flip side...

To the editor: There has been much said lately about the coercive behavior of intolerant religious people, namely us pesky Christians. Life must be pretty miserable with all this threatening intimidation. The letters and Speak Out callers have made me aware of my of coercive behavior, so please let me apologize...

To the editor: This letter concerns the Missourian's recent article about the death of Kenneth Stone. Where is your heart? A good and honest family was suffering enough knowing that their son had died, and then your newspaper had to plaster Kenny's picture on the front page, in color, and announce he was a criminal who had met death. ...

Tourism continues to be big business in Missouri, and Christopher A. Jennings, director of the Missouri Division of Tourism, wants it to continue. "We have a new logo and new marketing plans designed to attract visitors to Missouri," said Jennings, guest speaker at a Friday Tourism Rally at the River Heritage Museum, 538 Independence...

Parents need more choices when it comes to early childhood care and education, says Tonya Merritt, a local, early childhood educator. Providing options at a cost that parents can afford is the goal of an Early Childhood Care and Education Initiative announced Friday by Gov. Mel Carnahan...

Missouri's new managed-care law is still taking shape, state Rep. Mary Kasten said Friday. The Cape Girardeau Republican said regulations implementing the law are still being written by the state's health and insurance departments. The state has been writing managed-care regulations since June, Kasten said Friday at a panel discussion in Cape Girardeau on the managed-care bill...

At 6 Friday night the air in the Show Me Center filled with the light blue exhaust and nervous wail of motorcycles warming up for the night's competition. Jess Birgy of Beulah, Mich., calmly polished his Monster Truck, "Playin' for Keeps." At 39, Birgy has been shining "Playin' for Keeps" for 14 years now. "I'm one of the oldtimers," he says...

A few weeks ago I had a nice experience during a biweekly visit with my friendly neighborhood nail tech. As Chantale clucked over my nail-challenged hands, another customer came in to schedule an appointment. She stared at me for a moment, and then she said it...

In its first year, the Cape Central Tiger Shootout featured only three games. Last year in its second season, the shootout added a girls contest and grew to four games. Now in its third year, the Tiger Shootout continues to expand. Ten teams and eight schools will provide five basketball games today at the Tiger Fieldhouse in the 3rd Annual Tiger Shootout...

St. Louis Cardinals reliever John Frascatore made a bold prediction. But with it came a qualifier that could make all the difference. "I think (we'll go to) the World Series -- if we're healthy," said Frascatore, who had a 5-2 record and a 2.48 ERA in 59 appearances in his breakthrough campaign last season. "That's how good this team can be."...

When you think of the Scott City High boys basketball team, the names Jon Beck and Tim Lowery immediately come to mind. And, of course, fan favorite Howie Stubenrauch can't be forgotten. But Luke Sample? After unloading four 3-pointers and a career-high 20 points against Notre Dame Friday night in a 72-53 victory, Sample's name can now be added to the list of offensive threats the Rams possess...

NEW MADRID -- Cape Girardeau Central High's boys basketball team lost a seven-point fourth quarter lead here Friday night. As a result, the Tigers lost for the fifth time in their last six games. Red-hot New Madrid County Central rallied to knock off the visiting Tigers 62-57. It was the Eagles' sixth straight victory and evened their record at 6-6, including 2-0 in SEMO Conference play...

Southeast Missouri State University volleyball standout Tuba Meto has been named to the American Volleyball Coaches Association all-district team for the second year in a row. Meto, a setter, recently completed a sensational career at Southeast. She was named the Ohio Valley Conference Player of the Year in both 1996 and 1997 and finished with 5,003 career assists, the third-most ever at Southeast...

Southeast Missouri State University's men's and women's indoor track teams will open the 1998 portion of the season today at the Saluki Booster Invitational in Carbondale, Ill. The meet, set to begin at 9 a.m., will include teams from Georgia Tech, Mississippi State, Mississippi, Tennessee-Chattanooga, Tennessee State, Murray State, Arkansas-Little Rock, Alabama and Tennessee-Martin in addition to host Southern Illinois and Southeast...

URBANDALE, Ill. -- Fred T. Riddle Sr. of Urbandale died Friday, Jan. 16, 1998, at Southeast Missouri Hospital. He was 72. He was born in Kevil, Ky., on Nov. 14, 1925, son of Kenny and Nancy Tankersley Riddle. He was a retired millwright for the E.L. Bruce Lumber Co. at North Cairo before his retirement, and at the time of his death he worked as a security guard for the Louisiana Dock Co. at Urbandale...

THEBES, Ill. -- Funeral service for Vernon Garnett McHughs, Thebes Route 1, will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday at Lorberg Memorial Funeral Chapel in Cape Girardeau, Mo. The Rev. David Pringle will officiate, with burial in Rose Hill Cemetery at Thebes. Friends may call at the chapel after 6 p.m. today...

CHARLESTON -- Kenneth Wayne Farrell, 47, of Charleston died Friday, Jan. 16, 1998, at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston. He was born April 16, 1950, in Cairo, Ill., son of Cleveland E. "Cleve" and Theda Welch Farrell. He first married Brenda Bradish Cornwell. He later married Connie Hunsperger in December 1977...

JONESBORO, Ill. -- Helen L. Elam, 75, of Jonesboro died Friday, Jan. 16, 1998, at Union County Hospital in Anna. Lutz and Rendleman Funeral Home at Anna is in charge of arrangements.

COBDEN, Ill. -- Billy D. Wiseman, 68, of Cobden died Friday, Jan. 16, 1998, at his home. Lutz and Rendleman Funeral Home in Cobden is in charge of arrangements.

McCLURE, Ill. -- Etta Mae Walker Baugher, 74, of McClure died Friday, Jan. 16, 1998, at Alton Memorial Hospital in Alton. She was born Sept. 9, 1923, at McClure, daughter of William and Helen Mary Benefield Charles. She first married Warren C. Walker Jan. 23, 1940, at Marble Hill, Mo. He died Nov. 26, 1966. She and George A. Baugher were married Oct. 11, 1988, in Cape Girardeau, Mo. He died Aug. 11, 1991...

Nora Martha Daniel, 95, of Cape Girardeau died Thursday, Jan. 15, 1998, at Southeast Missouri Hospital. She was born May 18, 1902, at Houck, daughter of William H. and Sophia J. Sander Deneke. She and the Rev. Alfred H. Daniel were married May 19, 1946, at Poplar Bluff. He died Dec. 11, 1986...

GORDONVILLE -- Albert "Junior" Gross, 76, of Gordonville died Thursday, Jan. 15, 1998, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. He was born March 7, 1921, at Gordonville, son of Albert G. and Clara M. Meier Gross. He and Alberta Lou Ahrens were married Jan. 13, 1945, at Gordonville...

ADVANCE -- Nona Baker Dunn, 91, of Advance died Thursday, Jan. 15, 1998, at her home. She was born Oct. 4, 1906, near Advance, daughter of Sylvester and Sarah Victoria Sanders Tanner. She and Archie Baker were married in August 1924. He died in June 1970...

Son to Michael Eugene and Lisa Renee Walter of Burfordville, Southeast Missouri Hospital, 7:42 a.m. Friday, Jan. 9, 1998. Name, Zachary Tyler. Weight, 7 pounds 2 ounces. Third son. Mrs. Walter is the former Lisa Foster, daughter of Clemo and Edith Foster of Glen Allen. She is employed at Cape Girardeau Post Office. Walter is the son of Alfred Walter of Jackson and the late Arlene Walter. He is employed at Rapco International...

JACKSON -- A Jackson High School student was treated at Southeast Missouri Hospital and released after being struck by a truck shortly after noon Friday. Crystal Jones, 16, was injured after she attempted to run across Highway 72 and ran into the path of the truck driven by Robert Haupt, 16, of Jackson, police said...

MATTHEWS -- Ora Zena Skelley of Matthews died Friday, Jan. 16, 1998, at the Sells Rest Home in Matthews. She was 93. She was born May 6, 1904, in Southeast Missouri. She married William Skelley May 3, 1947, in St. Louis. He died Jan. 5, 1974. She was a pastry cook. She was a member of the Shady Acres Church of Christ...