Stories from Friday, April 10, 1998

To the editor: Recently as I prayed for wisdom about a matter, the only answer I received from the Lord was wait. Wait for what? Wait upon the Lord was the reply. I searched the pages of my Bible like someone searching in the dictionary for the definition of a word. ...

Cynics, scholars, comedians, candidates, reporters, writers, philosophers and just about everyone else from Plato to Groucho has used humor at one time or another. Every wit, wag, pundit, punster, and one-liner champion has tried his hand at humor. Humor is being applied in business to reduce stress and prevent burn-out. ...

It's time for U.S. lawmakers to start dealing with the deficit in the Social Security program, said U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Emerson, R-Cape Girardeau. The Social Security trust fund is $700 billion in debt due to loans to other government programs "to mask size of the federal deficit. This is wrong," Emerson said Thursday night in a speech to the Cape Girardeau Kiwanis Club at Drury Lodge...

Maddie Swanner, a nurse at Mississippi Valley Allergy & Asthma Associates, applied 30 dermapiks of various allergens to Jacob Cantrell's back to see what he is allergic to. The allergens range from pollens to animal hair. It's spring. Trees are budding out, flowers are blooming, the sun is shining...

A series of accidents involving barges on the Mississippi River in recent days has called attention to the commercial traffic on the long waterway that moves commodities vast distances throughout the nation's midsection. It appears to be only a coincidence that a strike among river pilots began just as the accidents occurred, although an incident in St. ...

There are teachers who get so excited about what they are doing that students look forward to being with them. Occasionally, one of those teachers is singled out for special recognition, and that was the case with Cindy King, who has been teaching at Notre Dame High School in Cape Girardeau for more than a quarter of a century...

To the editor: In 1776, the land of the I declared its independence from the land of the We. The individualists succeeded in that war and forged the land of individual responsibility. The nation of I flourished. The standard of living as compared to the countries of We was significantly higher. ...

To the editor: An Associated Press report explained how the Treasury Department is placing honest-to-goodness paper Treasury bonds into a file for the money it is borrowing from the Social Security Trust Fund. This is instead of handling this simply enough through a computerized system of book entries. Now one can point to a locked file cabinet with some $650 billion in special, nonnegotiable Treasury bonds at a location where the trust fund actually exists...

Southeast Missouri State University's men's basketball program was placed on probation for three years and lost a scholarship for violating NCAA regulations under former coach Ron Shumate. The school's cooperation in the NCAA investigation likely helped avoid a more severe penalty...

The Cape Girardeau County Commission Thursday decided to wait before granting any tax abatements for the old St. Francis Hospital in Cape Girardeau. Commissioners said they would reconsider if and when the proposal becomes a viable project. Springfield, Mo., developer Trent Condellone asked the commission to forgive back taxes and fines on the property...

For Gordonville native Sarah Lorberg, the price was right for a spring break in Los Angeles. Lorberg, a senior marketing major at Southwest Missouri State University, won $27,000 in prizes on the "Price is Right" television game show last month. Her prizes included a paddle boat, juicer, fireplace, spa, washer and dryer, a bar and a Buick Century...

Two people -- caught in a traffic snarl caused by a collision between two tractor-trailers -- were in an accident themselves Wednesday night in Southern Illinois. Christopher A. Masters, 20, of Cape Girardeau was cited for failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident in the incident, which occurred at Route 146 and Morgan School Road, four miles west of Jonesboro...

When I come to a dead stop on Broadway, I'm giving the right-of-way to another motorist. Either that or I'm lost. When Tammy Wynette, the much-appreciated country singer, died this week at age 55, someone in the office said, "It's so sad when someone dies so young."...

The foreign language department at Southeast Missouri State University is searching for roommates for three German students and two French students for next fall. The students who agree to be roommates would receive a small scholarship to participate in a new university course, "Experiencing German and French Language and Culture."...

Southeast Missouri State University will offer a new criminal justice course this summer for elementary and high school teachers. The course, Criminal Justice Overview for Teachers, will be taught on weekends and cover units on gangs, when and what happens when you are under arrest, life inside prison and other criminal justice topics for classroom use by teachers...

Two new and two returning members of the Cape Girardeau City Council were sworn in Thursday. Councilmen Frank Stoffregen, Ward 1, and Jay Purcell, Ward 3, won their posts in Tuesday's election. Stoffregen defeated incumbent James "J.J." Williamson Jr., and Purcell defeated Gerald Stevens for a two-year unexpired term...

What was once a fleeting wish became a reality for Darlene Duben Thursday when she and other members of the River Hills Garden Club, some 50 Clippard Elementary School students and employees of the Department of Conservation planted trees to make the Cape Woods Conservation Area look more "natural."...

Southeast Missouri State University's baseball team will be facing its stiffest competition of the season this weekend -- and coach Mark Hogan is looking forward to it. The Indians and nationally-ranked Georgia Tech will square off beginning tonight in a three-game series in Atlanta. The squads will have a 7 o'clock single contest tonight and a 1 p.m. doubleheader Saturday...

Southeast Missouri State University basketball coach Gary Garner didn't want to sound like a guy who was getting ready to celebrate. After all, the Indians received three years of probation and the loss of one scholarship during Thursday's ruling handed down by the NCAA...

Despite Thursday's NCAA ruling that Southeast Missouri State University's men's basketball program committed several violations under the direction of former coach Ron Shumate, Shumate emphatically denied that he is guilty of any major rules violations...

The Southeast Missouri State University women's softball team dropped a pair of home non-conference games to Evansville at Parker Field Thursday. An Otahkians' rally in the seventh-inning of the first game ended with the bases loaded as Evansville escaped with a 5-4 win. Evansville outscored Southeast 3-1 in the seventh inning of the nightcap for a 10-8 victory...

The Cape Girardeau Central High girls soccer team remained undefeated on the season Thursday as the Lady Tigers routed Poplar Bluff 4-0. Freshman Amber Voerg scored two goals as the Lady Tigers improved to 6-0-1. Amanda Hiler scored 15 seconds into the game while Lorie Bittle scored the last goal. Kim Aslinger picked up an assist...

Below is the entire report released Thursday by the NCAA on Southeast Missouri State University athletic infractions: I. INTRODUCTION. This case involved the men's basketball program at Southeast Missouri State University and primarily concerned violations of NCAA bylaws governing extra benefits, recruiting, financial aid, institutional responsibility to monitor and ethical conduct...

BENTON -- William Thomas Penrose, 84, of Benton died Thursday, April 9, 1998, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. He was born Feb. 20, 1914, in Blodgett, son of Harry and Maggie Payton Penrose. He first married Wanda Mae Smith, then married C.O. Thomas, and later married Marie Venable, all of whom preceded him in death...

SCOTT CITY -- Edward Heisserer, 81, of Scott City died Thursday, April 9, 1998, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. Amick-Burnett Funeral Chapel at Scott City is in charge of arrangements.

MOREHOUSE -- William S. Dillon, 88, of Morehouse died Wednesday, April 8, 1998, at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston. He was born May 31, 1909, at Van Buren, son of Harry and Melissa Dillon. He and Juanita Hall were married at Bloomfield. Dillon retired as superintendent at Himmelberger-Harrison Manufacturing Plant. He also served as administrator of New Madrid County Health Department several years, and served several terms as mayor of Morehouse...

SIKESTON -- William L. Howard, 78, of Sikeston died Tuesday, April 7, 1998, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. He was born Dec. 25, 1919, in Clarksdale, Miss., son of Will and Luella Smith Howard. He had lived in Missouri since 1951. He is survived by his wife, Ida Mae Anderson Howard of St. ...

MOUND CITY, Ill. -- The Rev. John R. Hinman Sr., 77, of Mound City died Wednesday, April 8, 1998, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. He was born March 21, 1921, son of Charles and Sylvia Bussey Hinman. He was a letter carrier with the Mound City Post Office for more than 30 years and a veteran of World War II. ...

NEW ORLEANS -- Randy Ray Williams, 38, formerly of East Prairie, died Thursday, April 9, 1998, at his home in New Orleans after an extended illness. He was born Feb. 17, 1960, in Hammond, Ind., son of James R. "Mutt" and Betty Sue Ward Williams. He had lived in New Orleans for the last 10 years. He was a member of the First General Baptist Church in East Prairie...

EAST PRAIRIE -- Funeral for Herschel Joseph Schneider of East Prairie will be held at 11 a.m. today at Shelby Funeral Home in East Prairie. Burl Britt will officiate, with burial in Dogwood Cemetery. Schneider, 84, died Wednesday, April 8, 1998, at his home...

SIKESTON -- Frances Barnett, 93, of Sikeston died Thursday, April 9, 1998, at Clearview Nursing Center. She was born March 1, 1905, at Morehouse, daughter of Frederick B. and Cora Kessling Rauch. She and Charles O. Barnett were married Aug. 10, 1930...

CAIRO, Ill. -- Evelyn Snyder, 93, of Cairo died Tuesday, April 7, 1998, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau, Mo. She was born Nov. 5, 1904, in Cairo, daughter of Richard and Caroline Franz Jones. Snyder worked at Cairo Public Library 38 years, and was librarian 24 of those years. She was a member of St. Patrick's Catholic Church and its Altar Guild, Cairo Women's Club, Cairo Business and Professional Women's Club, Cairo Historical Association, and Cairo Senior Citizens...

Funeral for Shannon Shawnta Dalton of Cape Girardeau will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday at Ford and Sons Sprigg Street Chapel. The Revs. William Bird, Paula Jones and Sheldon Tyler will officiate. Burial will be in Lorimier Cemetery. Friends may call at the chapel Saturday from 10 a.m. until service time...

Graveside service for Seirra Katheryn Shepard will be held at 1:30 p.m. today at Hanover Lutheran Cemetery. The Rev. Jeffrey Sippy will officiate. Ford and Sons Mt. Auburn Chapel is in charge of arrangements. The infant died shortly after birth Wednesday, April 8, 1998, at Southeast Missouri Hospital...

Funeral for Frank Zieba of Cape Girardeau will be held at 10 a.m. today at Taylor Funeral Chapel in Farmington. Dr. David Webster will officiate, with burial in Lutheran Cemetery at Farmington. Zieba, 88, died Wednesday, April 8, 1998, at Fountainbleau Lodge...

ZALMA -- Norma Jean Wells, 56, of Oklahoma City, Okla., died Wednesday, April 8, 1998, at the VA Medical Center in Oklahoma City. She was born Jan. 1, 1942, in Arab, daughter of Elmo and Lorene Stroup Lemons. Wells was a professional quiltmaker. She was a veteran of the U.S. Army...

PERRYVILLE -- Euphrasia Tucker, 92, formerly of Perryville, died Thursday, April 9, 1998, at Iroquois Memorial Hospital in Watseka, Ill. She was born May 11, 1905, at St. Marys, daughter of Daniel and Mary Felista Ridgon Nifong. She married Joseph F. Tucker Oct. 20, 1925. He died Nov. 7, 1988...

Son to James Kent and Lorey Anne Reagan of Cape Girardeau, Southeast Missouri Hospital, 1:22 p.m. Friday, April 3, 1998. Name, Kent Joseph. Weight, 8 pounds 6 ounces. Second child, first son. Mrs. Reagan is the former Lorey Barnes, daughter of Gerald and Susan Barnes of Grand Chain, Ill. She is a technician in obstetrics at Southeast Hospital. Reagan is the son of Neal and Glendora Reagan of Ullin, Ill. He is a butcher at Reagan's Market and at Schnucks...

LEBANON, Tenn. -- Lester Keith McGill, 59, of Lebanon and formerly of Mound City, Ill., died Wednesday, April 8, 1998, at Sumner Regional Medical Center in Gallatin, Tenn. He was born July 24, 1938, son of Russell and June Trammel McGill. He was a quality control manager for the Imperial Corp. and a veteran of the U.S. Army...