Stories from Saturday, March 14, 1998

To the editor: Buildings are torn down for many reasons. Sometimes, with the passage of time and neglect, they have deteriorated to the extent that restoration is not possible. On occasion, an existing building must be sacrificed to a practical need to redevelop a piece of real estate. ...

Sometimes things do work out for the best. Such was the case with the wetlands issue that threatened to stall work on the Cape Girardeau School District's new vocational school and high school projects. When the district bought the property, it had no knowledge of wetlands on the property. The wet clump of trees, it turns out, fits the federal definition of a wetland...

Sound streets are vital for any city. Thanks to approval of a half-cent transportation sales tax in 1995, work is continuing to improve a number of Cape Girardeau's streets. But the growing number of street projects has brought to light some inconsistencies in assessment policies. As a result, the city has come up with policies for five different types of street construction:...

I THINK the city's going too far. When they tell you that all you can own is up to four animals and they have to be neutered, then it's time that the people elect new people in city office. Come on, all you cat and dog lovers, we need to vote these people out. ...

The Rev. Ken Holt moved sound equipment into the Osage Community Sentre before worship service at Cape Family Church. The fledgling congregation began meeting at the center about three weeks ago. Leaders of Cape Family Church must set up befor every service at the Osage Community Centre. The church holds worship service in a meeting room at the center...

U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Emerson and 99 other Republicans in the House have succeeded in pushing House leaders to move ahead with efforts to pass a federal highway bill. In a letter this week to Majority Leader Dick Armey, the lawmakers said they want the House to finish work on a new highway bill before its two-week break in April...

The Missouri Department of Transportation will hold public meetings to determine how motorists use Highway 34 between Jackson and Van Buren and where they are headed. The first of four meetings will be held from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday in the Middle School cafeteria at Jackson...

Not too many years ago, a convenience store was the small, family-owned grocery store just down the street or around the corner. The store stocked a little of something for everyone: groceries and fresh meat cut to order, pet food and sundries, and lots of penny candy for the kids...

JACKSON -- New transportation policies for Jackson public schools next fall will mean parents of students whose elementary schools and day-care centers are on opposite sides of school redistricting lines will have to find alternate transportation or new day-care services...

"A penny for your thoughts, a nickel for your kiss, and dime if you say you love me." Altogether, 16 cents is not a bad price for those items. People don't value coins as spendable currency anymore, and I just don't understand why. It's as if counting cents is too time-consuming or something, and folks would rather stick to paper currency of no less than one dollar...

Attention deficit disorder and insurance for small businesses will be the topics Sunday on KRCU's Going Public" and "Let's Talk Business," respectively. The two radio programs air on 90.9 FM, the region's public radio station. "Going Public" airs at 3 p.m. The half-hour show will feature Ken Callis, Peggy Pruitt and Molly Strickland. They will discuss attention deficit disorder and the national support group, Children and Adults with Attention Deficit Disorder...

COLUMBIA -- It wasn't supposed to happen this way, but luckily for the Jackson Lady Indians it did. Jackson, ranked third in the state, advanced into the Class 4A championship game for the third straight year with a 41-33 victory over top-ranked Gateway Tech Friday morning at the Hearnes Center...

Tonight's Class 1A quarterfinal games in Cabool will feature boys teams that are looking to break through and girls teams that are looking to reach familiar territory. Action gets under way at 6:30 p.m. when Scott County Central's girls take on Norwood. Delta's boys will face Fordland at about 8. The winners earn berths in next weekend's Class 1A Final Four in Columbia...

COLUMBIA -- Bring on the Zizzers. The West Plains Zizzers, ranked eighth in the state, are the only team that stands in the of the third-ranked Jackson Lady Indians first-ever Class 4A basketball title. Tip-off at the Hearnes Center is scheduled for 12:20 p.m...

Southeast Missouri State University's baseball team faces an early-season Ohio Valley Conference showdown on the road this weekend. The Indians will put their 2-1 OVC record on the line against defending OVC champion Tennessee Tech, which is off to a 3-0 league start...

Southeast Missouri State University's softball team will be heading to Florida for a little sun and fun -- but mainly to win some games. The Otahkians will begin play Sunday in the annual Rebel Spring Games in Orlando, Fla. The event attracts squads from across the nation who are looking to get in plenty of early-season games in a warm climate...

Wilson L. Box, 82, of Cape Girardeau died Friday, March 13, 1998. Funeral arrangements are pending at Ford and Sons Funeral Home.

Funeral for Lois E. Ray of Cape Girardeau will be held at 10:30 a.m. today at McCombs Funeral Home in Cape Girardeau. The Revs. Bill Ellis and Mark Anderson will officiate. Burial will be in Fairmount Cemetery. Ray, 67, died Thursday, March 12, 1998, at Southeast Missouri Hospital...

CAIRO, Ill. -- Doris Yarbrough, 81, of Memphis, Tenn., died Thursday, March 12, 1998, at St. Francis Nursing Home in Memphis. She was born Dec. 20, 1916, in Carbondale, daughter of Everett and Mary Helms Watson. She married Dr. Charles L. Yarbrough, who died in 1983...

ADVANCE -- Henry J. Strobel, 84, of Advance died Thursday, March 12, 1998, at Crowley Ridge Nursing Center in Dexter. He was born Dec. 28, 1913, at Swinton, son of Elmer and Bertha Mann Strobel. He and Hazel White were married Dec. 23, 1931, at Swinton...

SIKESTON -- Memorial service for O.C. Cole Jr. of Sikeston will be held at 2 p.m. today at Ponder Funeral Home. The Rev. Lee Fansler will officiate. Friends may call at the funeral home from 1 p.m. until service time. Cole, 81, died Thursday, March 12, 1998, at his home...

GRASSY -- Ruby Lee Miller, 66, of Grassy died Thursday, March 12, 1998, at Marble Hill. She was born Aug. 28, 1931, in Cape Girardeau, daughter of Russell and Cora Bowman Brown. She and Henry Miller were married Sept. 29, 1956, at Overland. Survivors include her husband; a son, Lee Miller of Grassy; three brothers; three sisters; and two grandchildren...

SCOTT CITY -- Funeral for Melvin D. Choate of Ramona, Calif., will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday at Amick-Burnett Funeral Chapel in Scott City. The Rev. Charles Lance will officiate, with burial in Lightner Cemetery. Friends may call at the chapel after 4 p.m. today...

SIKSTON -- Herbert Harold "Bert" Teachout, 71, of Sikeston died Friday, May 13, 1998, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. He was born May 21, 1926, in Des Moines, Iowa, the son of Harold E. and Verona DeVore Moore Teachout. He married Evelyn Marie Crosno on Nov. 22, 1947, at Perryville, and she survives him...