Stories from Saturday, February 28, 1998

GORDONVILLE -- With its stained-glass windows, polished wooden pews, ticking regulator clock and pipe organ, Zion United Methodist Church is so full of history visitors can almost feel the past just by walking through the door. "Every time you step in the front door, you can feel 150 years of history," said the Rev. Conway Briscoe...

The pastor's office at First Baptist Church in Jackson has been vacant for the past three years. Editor's note: This is the final story in a four-part series featuring area pastors and churches. The pastor's office may be empty, but the ministries remain strong at First Baptist Church in Jackson and Christ Episcopal Church in Cape Girardeau...

"... for dust you are and to dust you will return." Genesis 3:19 Christians marked the beginning of Lent in various ways this week. Many churches held Ash Wednesday services for the imposition of ashes or began special Bible lessons for members. Lent is a time of penance and preparation for Easter. It begins with Ash Wednesday and is observed as a time of spiritual discipline...

After years of moves from one ill-fitted space to the next, the Arts Council of Southeast Missouri may finally have found home sweet home. The organization's staff and its Gallery 100 have moved into a former art gallery on the southeast corner of Spanish and Independence streets. Owned by Greg Williams, who also is the director of the Regional Commerce and Growth Association, the building formerly housed the gallery of Cape Girardeau architect and artist John Boardman...

GORDONVILLE -- A group foster home under construction next to Abundant Life Church in Gordonville will be more like a large family home than a "children's prison," as some neighbors fear, says the Rev. David Butler, the church pastor. "We see a great need for the children of our local area," Butler said. "Until the church takes an active role in doing something, talk is cheap."...

Southeast Missouri State University's fraternity and sorority row could get a major facelift under a plan being considered by the school administration. Dr. Dale Nitzschke, Southeast president, said the university wants to renovate five of the six houses that make up the Greek complex...

Students at the Alternative Learning Center laughed, cried and sang "Hakuna Matata" lyrics with Penny Lea Friday. Friday, Lea made students identify with the story of Simba, the young cub whose life lost direction after his father died in Walt Disney's "The Lion King." She told students the storyline closely follows the path of her own life...

P.T. Barnum has been described as one of the most famous showmen of his time. Barnum cam to fame during the late 1800s, when he presented such circus attractions as Gen. Tom Thumb, a midget; Jenny Lind, a noted Swedish singer; and Jumbo, a giant elephant...

Everyone is, to some extent, a gossip. We all like to get the scoop on people, places and events, mainly because having knowledge that isn't general makes us seem a little bit more important. It gives us a one-up on those who were slow or late with the news...

6th Grade -- Ashley Ballard, Kellie Brockman, Tripp Culbertson, Michanda Gramlisch, Valerie Hency, Alicia Kellogg, Tyler Long, Sarah Lumley, Brian McKinzie, Alissa Moore, Lindsey Naile, Tristan Raithel, Jennifer Raper, Nathan Rapert, Ashley Rockett, Chris Romas, Jennifer Silvey, Charles Simmons, Delina Still, Benjamin Vinyard, Shawn Warren, Whitney Wilson...

To the editor: The Senior Citizens Winter Warm-up Dinner was a great success. Thank you for your support and participation. Without it, this dinner would not have been possible. All who came had a great time, and we also had a wonderful experience hosting it. Thank you again for all of your help. It really was greatly appreciated...

With the passage of a local bond issue and the governor's budget recommendation of $1.65 million, it seemed Cape Girardeau's proposed vocational-technical and new high school had a green light. Wrong. A patch of wet ground with trees has delayed plans on the high school portion, which the district had hoped to bid at the end of this month. It also delayed the bidding process on the vocational school...

When it came to words, Aileen Lorberg was a master. This longtime grammarian and Southeast Missourian columnist died Tuesday on her 88th birthday anniversary. Her feisty wit and role as protector of the English language earned her some pretty influential friends...

To the editor: Upon reading the Feb. 26 article, "Prosecutor says he is tough on perjury," I was shocked at the information presented in the article. I would hope that if you were to only contact one side regarding this case, then you would make every attempt to ensure that the information provided is accurate. Clearly, the information contained in this article is not accurate and has dealt a substantial blow to my client's ability to receive a fair trial...

To the editor: We know of no published studies or research linking human health effects to the use of plastics in food contact applications. Despite this, USA Weekend's recent article -- "Are Common Chemicals Scrambling Your Hormones?" -- alarmingly suggests that health risks exist from such applications. ...

A pair of Southeast Missouri State University basketball players -- Cory Johnson of the men's team and Jamie Koester of the women's squad -- have been named to the all-Ohio Valley Conference second team. The all-conference squads, based on voting by the league's head basketball coaches and sports information directors, were announced Friday...

The time has come to finally decide which area boys basketball team is the best in Class 2A. It's been debated all season, but with the opening round of several 2A districts in the area beginning today, the time for talk will end as only one team will emerge as the district champion...

Things fall apart. Especially when the opposition's 3-pointers are falling in. With less than two minutes left in the first half of the Class 4A, District 1 Tournament championship game Friday night, Poplar Bluff High's girls led Jackson 18-16. One glorious, nearly flawless half later -- in which 3-pointers rained and turnovers were almost completely restrained -- second-seeded Jackson hoisted the tournament's championship trophy for the sixth time in seven years after a 57-33 victory at Cape Central's Tiger Field House.. ...

If it was up to the Jackson Indians' basketball team, the Tiger Field House might have its name changed to the Indian Teepee. The Indians have certainly looked at home in the Cape Central gymnasium. Friday night in front of a rowdy Cape County-crowd, Jackson picked up its fourth victory of the season on Central's home floor to claim the Class 4A, District 1 Tournament championship over the Tigers 54-47. ...

Funeral service for Aileen D. Lorberg of Cape Girardeau will be held at 11 a.m. today at Trinity Lutheran Church. Pastor David Hintz will officiate. Private burial will be in Memorial Park. Friends may call at the church from 10 a.m. until service time...

POPLAR BLUFF -- Graveside service for Harold F. Snider of Poplar Bluff will be held today at Poplar Bluff Cemetery. Announcement courtesy of Amick-Burnett Funeral Chapel in Chaffee. Snider, 74, died Thursday, Feb. 26, 1998, at Doctors Regional Hospital...

SIKESTON -- Funeral service for Christine Scott of Sikeston will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday at Shady Acres Church of Christ. Pat Hogan will officiate. Burial will be in Forest Hills Memorial Garden at Morley. Friends may call at Amick-Burnett Funeral Chapel in Sikeston after 4 p.m. today...

DEXTER -- Funeral service for Eulah Macel Emery of Dexter will be held at 1 p.m. today at Watkins and Sons Funeral Home in Dexter. The Rev. Bob Wiggins will officiate, with burial in Memorial Park Cemetery at Malden. Emery, 72, died Thursday, Feb. 26, 1998, at the home of a son...

Funeral Mass for Barbara Sue Moore of Cape Girardeau was held Thursday at St. Vincent's Catholic Church in Perryville. The Rev. Kevin Fausz officiated, with burial in Mt. Hope Cemetery at Perryville. Young and Sons Funeral Home in Perryville was in charge of arrangements...

JACKSON -- Lee Roy Cotner, 77, of Jackson died Thursday, Feb. 26, 1998, at the home of a daughter in Gordonville, following a lengthy illness. He was born June 8, 1920, at Leemon, son of Arthur and Daisy Catherine King Cotner. He and Dorothy Marie Humes were married June 8, 1945, in Jackson. She died Dec. 17, 1996...

SIKESTON -- T.M. "Bud" Kelley, 78, of Sikeston died Friday, Feb. 27, 1998, at Missouri Delta Medical Center. He was born Aug. 10, 1919, in Casey, Ark., son of John Henry and Winnie Hubbard Kelley. He and Opal McMillan were married Aug. 23, 1941. Kelley was a farmer, and member of Hooe Missionary Baptist Church...

PERRYVILLE -- Danny C. Durkee, 27, of Perryville died Thursday, Feb. 26, 1998, in Perryville. He was born Jan. 26, 1971, in Cape Girardeau, son of Danny Joe and Shirley Mae Boxdorfer Durkee. Durkee was employed at Perry Oaks Nursing Home. He was a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church...

MCGEE -- Garry McCain, 42, of McGee died Friday, Feb. 27, 1998. Morgan Funeral Home in Advance is in charge of arrangements.

KELSO -- Sylvia Ann Messmer, 92, of Kelso died Friday, Feb. 27, 1998, at Fountainbleau Lodge in Cape Girardeau. She was born June 10, 1905, at Kelso, daughter of Andrew and Annie Scherer Heisserer. She and Ervin F. Messmer were married Nov. 27, 1927. He died Jan. 18, 1986...

Hazel B. Clingingsmith, 88, of Cape Girardeau died Friday, Feb. 27, 1998, at Southeast Missouri Hospital. She was born June 9, 1909, in St. Louis, daughter of Fredrick and Louise Frey Schneider. She and Raymond M. Clingingsmith were married Feb. 9, 1932, in Illinois. He died May 10, 1985...

PERRYVILLE -- Robert J. "Bob" Joy, 70, of Perryville died Friday, Feb. 27, 1998, at St. John's Mercy Medical Center in Creve Coeur. He was born Oct. 1, 1927, in St. Louis, son of Ernie L. and Rosa E. Ditterline Joy. He and Jean Elizabeth Chase were married July 7, 1990...

PERRYVILLE -- Esther M. Powers, 73, of Perryville died Thursday, Feb. 26, 1998, at her home. She was born June 11, 1924, in Centralia, W.Va., daughter of Edrick and Eva Keller Goad. She and Robert L. Powers were married Nov. 6, 1941, in Braxton County, W.Va. He died Jan. 9, 1975...

Son to Jerry Lynn and Dinah J. Seabaugh of Cape Girardeau, Southeast Missouri Hospital, 7:45 a.m. Friday, Feb. 20, 1998. Name, Joshua Berton. Weight, 8 pounds. Third child, second son. Mrs. Seabaugh is the former Dinah Spooler, daughter of Leonard and Louise Spooler of Cape Girardeau. ...

MARBLE HILL -- Alma Fisher Murdock, 90, of Marble Hill died Friday, Feb. 27, 1998, at the Jackson Manor in Jackson. She was born July 18, 1907, at Lutesville, the daughter of Lee and Rozeta Hahn Fisher. She married Lee Kirkpatrick on Oct. 2, 1926. He died April 27, 1927. On June 23, 1929, she married Edward Lee Buehler. He died Aug. 8, 1954. She married Edward Collins on Aug. 10, 1957. He died April 11, 1977. She then married Henry Murdock on Nov. 17, 1990. He survives...