Stories from Thursday, May 7, 1998

To the editor: Israel under King Solomon enjoyed a halcyon age of rare peace and prosperity. But that golden era soon gave way to apathy and sin. Ungodly leadership next led to civil war and the bloody fracture of God's covenant people into two kingdoms, Israel in the north and Judah in the south...

Federici Fiori, called Barocci, painted the oil on canvas titled "The Annunciation." The date for the painting is 1582-84. This gilded metal and silver sculpture is from the Pontifical Sacristy. It is titled "Saint Michael and the Dragon." It's comforting to be reminded that even the Vatican is fascinated with angels...

Diana Weaver began taking piano lessons at age 5 and a year later was performing at the mall in Sikeston. That precocious talent is still with her as her list of victories in music competitions attests. The Southeast sophomore won first place in the statewide Missouri Music Teachers Association contest her senior year at Cape Central High School and her freshman and sophomore years at Southeast. She also has won the university's concerto competition the past two years...

Though the last time he sang the dramatic oratorio "King David" was decades ago in college, Dr. John Egbert still remembered many of the melodies when the Choral Union began rehearsing for Tuesday's concert. "These are some of the most wonderfully melodic things I have ever heard in my life," says the Choral Union director...

As long as there are governments, there will no doubt be someone trying to dip into the public treasury through cheating and fraud. But with so many federal watchdogs and enforcements agencies, it is alarming to see the extent of the abuses of some U.S. government programs...

Another chilling bit of information about our federal government comes in the form of news that the Pentagon's computers are being invaded by hackers. So far, the computer thieves, who must break codes and break through electronic fire walls to get to information the Pentagon thought was adequately protected from outsiders, haven't reached any classified files. Or so the Pentagon says...

To the editor: I have to take exception to parts of Selma M. Crisler's recent letter. If misleading statements are not answered, people will take them at face value. NAMBLA, the man-boy love association, is opposed in the gay community. The implication that all gay males would have sympathy for NAMBLA or are inclined to have sexual relationships with minors is not true. ...

To the editor: I was delighted to read in the Southeast Missourian of the return of the City of Roses Festival in August. I am sure with Bill Shivelbine's determination and skill it will prove an even greater success. Music plays an important part in a person's life. ...

Today, people will put aside denominational differences to pray for the nation and its leaders during National Day of Prayer. Four local ceremonies are planned, and a new white-ribbon campaign begins today, said Sherri Mehner, local coordinator of National Day of Prayer...

Student regents could attend closed-door meetings of their institutions' governing boards under an open-meetings bill approved Tuesday by the Missouri Senate. The provision involving student regents was an amendment to a larger bill that makes changes to Missouri's Open Meetings and Records Law...

Cape Girardeau is taking a new approach to route truck traffic through the city. The existing truck traffic ordinance specifies streets and roads on which truck traffic is prohibited. A new ordinance before the City Council spells out routes on which truck traffic is allowed and sets up a permit process for truck drivers who need to use other routes to make deliveries or reach construction sites...

May 6, 1998 Dear Julie, DC and I were at our favorite bookstore spilling cappuccinos on the magazines when I brought her a copy of Isabel Allende's new book, "Aphrodite: A Memoir of the Senses." I read her this 12th-century poetry that begins the book:...

The Cape Girardeau branch of the NAACP hopes a public forum will lead to improved race and "town-gown" relations between faculty, staff and students at Southeast Missouri State University and in the community. The forum will be held at 6 p.m. Friday at the Cape Civic Center, 232 S. Broadway...

Gardeners may enter blooms in the annual SEMO Iris Society show this weekend at West Park Mall. Anyone may enter irises, but the flowers must be named. Entrants don't have to be members of the SEMO Iris Society. Entries will be accepted Friday from 9:30 p.m. to midnight at the JCPenney's Court...

Southeast Missouri State University's baseball Indians are hoping their first-ever time to host the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament pays major dividends. Since making the move up to the NCAA Division I level starting with the 1992 season, Southeast has never had the opportunity to play the league tourney on its home field...

The way Southeast Missouri State University baseball coach Mark Hogan sees it, everybody is dangerous in the 1998 Ohio Valley Conference Tournament. That means any of the six teams figure to have a solid chance to win the tourney that opens today and runs through Saturday at Capaha Field in Cape Girardeau...

To advance to the biggest stage in school history, Southeast Missouri State University's softball team will have to overcome its biggest obstacle this season -- the DePaul Blue Demons. For the second straight year, the Otahkians will face DePaul, the Mid-Continent Conference champion, in an NCAA play-in series. Last year in Chicago, the Blue Demons swept Southeast 9-1 and 5-3...

Travis Stevens School: Jackson Class: Senior Sport: Baseball Position: First Base Coach: Sam Sides Week report: Stevens had a sensational two games Saturday in the four-team Kelly Tournament, going 8-for-9 with two home runs and six RBIs. Stevens went 4-for-4 with a home run and three RBIs in an 11-5 win over Perryville and in the 10-8 title-game loss to Scott City, Stevens was 4-for-5 with a home run and three more RBIs. Jackson completed the week 7-8 overall...

Cape Central's golf team was sizzling Wednesday in its final regular-season match of the season, shooting a seven-over-par 147 as a team to beat Dexter by 25 strokes at Cape Coutry Club. "That's our lowest score in quite a few years," said Central coach Dick Wadlington. "That's an outstanding high school score...

A woman and an infant suffered minor injuries in a one-vehicle accident near Cape Girardeau Wednesday morning. The driver, Tammy L. Nunnery, 22, and passenger Shane M. Nunnery, both of Cape Girardeau, were taken to Southeast Missouri Hospital by private vehicle after the accident, which occurred on County Road 621, two miles north of Cape Girardeau...

Son to William Thomas and Tammy Jo Woodall Jr. of Cape Girardeau, Southeast Missouri Hospital, 9:09 a.m. Tuesday, April 28, 1998. Name, Andrew Thomas. Weight, 7 pounds 3 ounces. Second child, first son. Mrs. Woodall is the former Tammy Biggerstaff, daughter of Karen Biggerstaff of Cape Girardeau. Woodall is the son of Bill and Alice Woodall of Cape Girardeau. He is self-employed...

ANNA, Ill. -- Juanita Pauline Bittle, 79, of Anna died Tuesday, May 5, 1998, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau, Mo. She was born Sept. 21, 1918, in Jonesboro, daughter of Daniel and Doris Ferrell Frick. She and Howard R. Bittle were married in 1935 in Murphysboro...

WOLF LAKE, Ill. -- Earl Butterfield, 74, of Orlando, Fla., died Tuesday, May 5, 1998. Butterfield worked many years in various areas of construction management. He was a member of Redeemer Lutheran Church in Winter Park, Fla. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps during World War II...

ADVANCE -- Sister Agnes Seyer, 80, died Wednesday, May 6, 1998, at Cori Manor Professional Nursing Home in Fenton. A native of Advance, she entered the congregation of School Sisters of Notre Dame in 1936 and professed her final vows in 1945. Seyer worked in food service 44 years at schools in St. ...

PERRYVILLE -- John Frank Adelman, 52, of Perry County died Tuesday, May 5, 1998, in Perry County. He was born Jan. 16, 1946, in Brooklyn, N.Y., son of Jack and Edith Lindholm Adelman. Adelman retired as a computer technician at the University of Nevada. He was a member of Seventh-Day Adventist Church in Cape Girardeau. Adelman served with the U.S. Air Force in Vietnam...

SCOTT CITY -- Memorial service for Stephen Robert Cruse of Los Angeles, Calif., was held April 18, at First Presbyterian Church in Santa Monica, Calif. Gates, Kingsley and Gates Funeral Home in Santa Monica was in charge of arrangements. Cruse, 29, died Monday, April 13, 1998, at his home, from sudden heart failure...

MOREHOUSE -- Violet Lorine McGuirt, 75, of Morehouse died Tuesday, May 5, 1998, at her home. She was born March 23, 1923, at Dexter, daughter of Amos and Anna Chandler Griffee. She and Britt B. McGuirt were married Dec. 23, 1963, at Sikeston. He died Oct. 7, 1991...

GOREVILLE, Ill. -- Emma Martin, 75, of Goreville, formerly of Mounds, died Wednesday, May 6, 1998, at Marion Memorial Hospital. Visitation will be after 5 p.m. Friday at the Crain Funeral in Tamms. Funeral will be at 1 p.m. Saturday at the funeral home, with the Rev. Billy Don Heady officiating...