Stories from Wednesday, April 29, 1998

To the editor: I would like to take this opportunity to comment on state Sen. Peter Kinder's column, "Joe Heckemeyer delivers a second low blow to Mary Kasten," that was published April 9. Kinder's blatant attack upon the character and legislative prowess of state Rep. Joe Heckemeyer troubled me so greatly that I feel the need to respond...

"Well, I never felt more like singing the blues," went a Guy Mitchell tune that rose to the top of the charts in the late 1950's. Though Mitchell's song was plaintive, when it comes to cheese, the blues can be positively joyous. However, blue cheese can take some getting used to. ...

Margie Batson, president of the Missouri Association of Hospital Auxiliaries, encouraged members of her audience to talk among themselves. Talking wouldn't be rude because it is the goal of the meeting, Batson said. "Mainly it's the talking back and forth and talking with others to get different ideas that we want to accomplish today." said Batson...

St. Louis Alderman Steve Conway stresses his accounting background as he travels the state in search of votes in his quest to win election as state auditor. The 41-year-old certified public accountant faces a Democratic primary challenge from Jackson County Prosecuting Attorney Claire McCaskill. McCaskill isn't a CPA...

Missouri Attorney General Jay Nixon will deliver the spring commencement address at Southeast Missouri State University on May 16. The commencement ceremony is scheduled for 2 p.m. at the Show Me Center. An honors convocation is scheduled for 11 a.m. in Academic Auditorium...

THERE'S A Russian general touring the U.S. giving his testimony, and I think it's extremely interesting. I'd like to share some of it from the recent issue of the Missouri Baptist paper, "The Word and Way." This general was the chief commander of the nation's combat troops and had a nickname of General War. ...

A week ago Sunday I attended early church services, and then Wendy and I left the Cape Girardeau airport at 10:30 a.m. and flew direct to Dallas Love Field in my self-piloted company Bonanza A36 airplane. It took two hours and 20 minutes. We arrived in time for a special brunch that ended at 2 p.m. I'll tell you more about the Newspaper Association of America convention later...

The Cape Girardeau Convention and Visitor's Bureau faces a challenging future. Mary Miller has resigned as director of the CVB. It was a position she had held since the CVB came under city control in 1993. The CVB has had its share of success stories in working to promote the city to tourists and conventioneers. ...

Everyone can make a difference. Volunteers at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church in Cape Girardeau have made a difference in a number of people's lives through Marillac's Moveables. The charity program provides such furnishings as beds, couches, tables and chairs to the needy...

To the editor: Our next-door neighbors, Clyde and Becky Ledbetter, and their daughter, Danielle, share their lives with us. They share Sophie, their friendly Shelty dog, and Squeeky, their cat. We share tools for repair work, and now and then when we are not looking, they mow our lawn and shovel snow...

Cape Girardeau is Missouri's first disaster resistant community. City officials hope the designation will help them do more to prepare for earthquakes, floods and any other potential disaster. Mayor Al Spradling III said: "I think it's going to give us the opportunity to be recognized as a community that is working toward preparedness for disasters and also give us the ability, if we are effective in the various grants and funding available, to continue mitigation either in the earthquake or flood areas. ...

The Cape Girardeau Board of Education Tuesday opened four bids for the renovation of Jefferson Elementary School and accepted a low bid from Sides Construction Co. of $1,494,333 to perform renovations and additions at Central Junior High School. Bids on the renovation of Jefferson Elementary School were tabled for consideration...

A St Louis-based manufacturer with two operations in Cape Girardeau will lease the new speculation building in Nash Road Industrial Park. Spartech Corp., a producer of engineered thermoplastic materials, polymeric compounds and molded and profile products, will use the 200-by-300-foot, 60,000-square-foot building at 4901 Nash Road for a warehouse...

When John James Audubon moved to Ste. Genevieve in the early 1800s, it wasn't as a naturalist. He was a merchant. "But he had a problem," said Elizabeth Gentry Sayad. "When his partner was operating Rozier's Store at Ste. Genevieve, Audubon roamed the countryside looking for birds."...

I guess people just need a reason to justify their stupid questions. This week, I've got to give a mass Idjit Award to all the people who've asked me how tall I am. I'm 6 feet, 3 inches tall. I'll throw in my weight for good measure -- 270 pounds. There, you satisfied?...

JACKSON -- Jason M. Enders of Jackson, a third-year student at St. Louis College of Pharmacy is the recipient of the Cunningham-Thayer Chemistry Award. The gift was made possible by L.G. and Sarah Cunningham of Atlanta, Ga. The college was established in 1864 and is one of only three private pharmacy schools in the nation...

Considering the rather wet history of Cape Central's Big 8 Baseball Tournament, Tigers' coach Steve Williams might be enjoying this weeks deluge of precipitation more than most high school baseball coaches. In the six-year history of the eight-team invitational, thunderstorms and rainouts have been as much a part of tourney action as home runs and strikeouts. Only once, in 1996, did wet weather bypass the area, allowing for a tournament free of delays or make-up games...

Celebrity readers will share books with youngsters and their parents during Family Storytime Monday. The event begins at 6:30 p.m. at the Cape Girardeau Public Library. Family Storytime is sponsored by Cape Girardeau Rotary Club 448. Children who attend receive a free book...

BLOOMFIELD -- Funeral for Opal Long of Bloomfield will be held at 10 a.m. today at Chiles-Cooper Funeral Home. The Rev. Don Pickney will officiate, with burial in Walker Cemetery. Long, 88, died Monday, April 27, 1998, at Dexter Memorial Hospital. She was born Nov. 23, 1909, at Bloomfield, daughter of Prince and Etta Harper Lane. She married James Long Dec. 19, 1925. He died Dec. 31, 1989...

VANDUSER -- Myrtle Bea White, 80, of Vanduser died Tuesday, April 28, 1998, at Miner Nursing Center. She was born Nov. 27, 1917, in Franklin County, Ala., daughter of Clint and Lela Singleton Burks. She and Roy Jackson were married Oct. 10, 1936. He died in February 1951...

ROCKVIEW -- Ida Zoda Green, 82, Rockview Route 2, died Tuesday, April 28, 1998, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. She was born Nov. 13, 1915, at Bell City, daughter of Ed and Alma Kneazel Tucker. She and Charles Javis Green were married Nov. 13, 1935. He died Sept. 27, 1993...

CHARLESTON -- Glenda Boone, 62, of Smartville, Calif., died Saturday, April 25, 1998, at Sierra Nevada Hospital in Grass Valley, Calif. She was born March 27, 1936, in New Madrid County, daughter of Roy R. and Jessie W. Organ Cox. Boone had lived in California 30 years, and had been manager of an apartment complex...

LILBOURN -- Mary Alice Newson, 51, of Lilbourn died Sunday, April 26, 1998, at the home of a daughter. She was born March 27, 1947, in Tate County, Miss., daughter of Jessie and Annie B. Woods Newson. Newson was a member of Pilgrim Rest Missionary Baptist Church...

ANNA, Ill. -- Luther Fear, 82, of Anna died Tuesday, April 28, 1998, at Union County Hospital. Hileman and Parr Funeral Home in Jonesboro is in charge of arrangements.

Son to John and Carolyn Kerr of Columbia, Boone Hospital there, 7:50 a.m. Friday, April 17, 1998. Name, John Caro. Weight, 4 pounds 9 ounces. First child. Mrs. Kerr is the former Carolyn Hajaved, daughter of Kathryn Hajaved of Chicago, and the late Caro Hajaved. She is an attorney with the state of Missouri. Kerr is the son of Larry and Hazel Kerr of Columbia, formerly of Cape Girardeau. He is nursing supervisor at Columbia Regional Hospital...

JACKSON -- Funeral Mass for Martha Wagner of Jackson will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday at Guardian Angel Catholic Church in Oran. The Rev. Normand Varone will officiate, with burial in Old Guardian Angel Cemetery. Friends may call at Ford and Sons Mt. Auburn Chapel in Cape Girardeau from 4-8 p.m. today. Parish prayers will be at 7, and the rosary will be recited at 7:30...

The Southeast Missourian asked juniors at Jackson High School about their preparations for Saturday's prom. Brandy Trotter: "We have been working on it four or five months with the planning and the decorations for the prom theme, `The Titanic: My Heart Will Go On.' We had to go through lots of magazines, pick out backdrops and order souvenirs."...

JACKSON -- The Oliver House will be open for tours from 1 to 4:30 p.m. Sunday. A display of collectible items will be featured at the home. The Oliver House is located at 224 E. Adams and is a nine-room brick Federal style home which has been restored and furnished by the Jackson Heritage Association...

JACKSON -- When freezing temperatures led to a water main break in the city a few years ago, stopping the gushing water took hours because the shut-off valve couldn't be located. A new computerized system that maps every element of the city's infrastructure would have told workers that valve was only a few feet from the break...

JACKSON -- After three motions for action and more than an hour of discussion, the Jackson Board of Education voted four to one to keep a new transportation policy involving day-care centers intact for the 1998-99 school year. Board member Gerald Adams was the lone naysayer when the vote was taken Tuesday night regarding transportation of students to and from day-care centers within the school district. ...

There's some new listings in the new-look Southeast Missourian Classified section. -- Antiques & Special Autos. -- Lake/Resort Property. -- Part-Time Employment. -- Full-Time Employment. And, there are other listings, yet to be used, that are now available:...