Stories from Tuesday, July 7, 1998

DORENA -- Big Oak Tree State Park is something of an enigma. The park, about 15 miles southeast of East Prairie, is known nationally among bird watchers. Yet among Southeast Missourians, its state- and national-champion trees in an 80-acre virgin bottomland hardwood forest and duckweed-covered swamp are relatively unknown...

Movie studios pull out all the stops each summer for the blockbuster movies. As we've mentioned before, movie studios do a great job of integrating movie promotion with fun stuff on the Web. This summer's crop of new releases is no exception. A good place to start is Hollywood Online at...

If tax credits and other funding mechanisms aren't in place by January, the new owners of old St. Francis Hospital will give up plans to renovate the structure, Trent Condellone said Monday night. Condellone of 801 Good Hope Inc., the group that bought the old hospital this year, brought the Cape Girardeau City Council up to date on the group's plans for the building...

A building that housed the offices and workshop of Cooper Oil Co. in South Cape Girardeau was destroyed Monday afternoon by a fire that apparently started when a hot-water heater ignited fumes from a fuel tank. Three engines from the Cape Girardeau Fire Department responded to the fire, which started shortly after 3 p.m. By 3:29, all fire lines were in place. Ten minutes later, the blaze was under control but not before the building at 1301 Giboney was destroyed...

With the downfall of communism and breakup of the Soviet Union, ex-Soviet countries are trying to adjust to new systems of government, and they are finding some help in Southeast Missouri. Monday was the first of a 10-day tour of Southeast Missouri by a group of 20 Ukrainian agriculture officials. The tour is part of a program to help the officials learn how to privatize an agricultural system that was once controlled by the government...

It doesn't take much for my imagination to run wild, lately. It might be the high levels of stress in my life that are to blame for my vivid fantasies, but I doubt it. Although it seems like everything that could possibly go wrong lately has done so, I know things could be worse. ...

A SPEAK Out caller recently asked what the city of Cape had accomplished by installing street lights in the east end of town. The caller then observed that the lights put out very little light and give a person a headache. This is a good example of a Speak Out caller raising and answering his or her own question...

By a vote of 402-8, the U.S. House has passed and sent to the Senate a bill enacting significant reforms in the Internal Revenue Service. This package is said to be the most significant set of IRS reforms in nearly 50 years. Fed up with complaints about lousy service and mismanagement at the IRS, the House included in the measure provisions strengthening oversight and boosting taxpayer rights in collection disputes...

The Associated Press recently noticed that certain physicians across the country, including a Cape Girardeau cancer specialist, happen to own farmland on which tobacco is grown. We aren't sure what the scandal is in this story. Tobacco has been cultivated in North America for nearly five hundred years. It is an especially important cash crop for our neighbors in Kentucky, as it is in Virginia and the Carolinas...

To the editor: A June 19 article, "Man pleads innocent by insanity in killing of twin sons," brought up the insanity plea once again. Once there used to be the idea that a person is responsible and accountable for his own actions. Indeed, the foundation of justice is based on that idea. ...

To the editor: In response to the Speak Out caller who stated that I, as a Libertarian, would vote Republican rather than waste my vote: I can assure you that I never consider voting for someone who reflects my principles a wasted vote. I feel that everyone should vote his principles, and I feel that there are lots of people just like me who are tired of sending hard-earned money to a wasteful government. ...

Cape Girardeau City council Monday, July 6 7:30 p.m. Consent ordinances -- Approved an ordinance accepting sewer and waterline easements from the James L. and Wanda L. Drury Real Estate Trust and the Roman Catholic Springfield-Cape Girardeau Diocese for construction of sanitary sewers to serve the new Notre Dame High School and surrounding areas...

JACKSON -- Design plans for Cape Girardeau County's jail expansion are nearing completion, and the county is preparing to make way for the project. Architect John Dudley told the Cape Girardeau County Commission Monday: "We had several hurdles to overcome, but things are starting to smooth out. "We're in the design development phase, and we're getting ready to move to the working plans."...

Wilson told the Jackson Board of Aldermen that the committee is leaning toward advising that the two entities continue to maintain independent emergency operations centers. But, he said, they should investigate jointly forming a mobile communications center...

The Cape Girardeau Municipal Band will perform at 8 p.m. Wednesday at the Capaha Park band shell. The concert is "Cape Girardeau Night," and features the unveiling and presentation of the new Cape Girardeau city flag. Musical selections include "The Golden Year," "Chorale and Shaker Dance," "Trumpets Ole,'" "The White Rose March" and "Big Bands in Concert."...

Democratic congressional candidate Tony Heckemeyer charged Monday that U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Emerson supported the GOP-backed budget resolution last month in exchange for $2 million in funding for a flood-control project in Southeast Missouri. Heckemeyer, a former circuit judge from Sikeston, hopes to unseat Emerson in the November election...

Goreville (Ill.) pitcher Brett Blondi was reminded of a lesson Monday night in his team's 10-5 loss to the McDowell Capahas at Capaha Field that he probably should have remembered from Little League. The lesson: Always listen to your coach. Trailing 5-4 in the seventh inning with Capahas left-handed slugger Robert Kern coming to the plate with two runners on, Goreville player-coach Shawn Tripp, who played two years of baseball at Southeast Missouri State University in 1992-93, had a meeting on the mound and told his right-hander to walk Kern intentionally.. ...

Mark McDowell carded a hole-in-one Friday on the eighth hole at Cape Girardeau Country Club. McDowell used a nine-iron on the 141--yard hole. Witnessing the shot were Lance Bray, Neil Prater and Tom Hamilton.

TAMMS, Ill. -- Charles Williams, 81, of Tamms died Sunday, July 5, 1998, at H&S Care Center. Friends may call at Jones Funeral Home in Tamms at 10 a.m. today. Graveside service will follow at Westside Cemetery in Ullin, with the Rev. Kenneth Johnson officiating...

SIKESTON -- Funeral for Thomas Edward Holmes of Sikeston will be held at 2 p.m. today at First United Pentecostal Church, with the Revs. Gaylon Butler, Richard Whitman and Billie Butler officiating. Burial will be in Garden of Memories Cemetery. Ponder Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements...

DEXTER -- Lucille H. Duley, 76, of Dexter died Sunday, July 5, 1998, at Southeast Missouri Hospital at Cape Girardeau. She was born Sept. 14, 1921, at Barnhill, Ill., daughter of Arthur L. and Ida L. Crow Stickles. She married Archie Merrell Duley July 9, 1938, at Fisk. He survives...

ULLIN, Ill. -- Richard U. Nipper, 78, of Ullin and formerly of Granite City and Alto Pass, died Sunday, July 5, 1998, at Southeast Missouri Hospital at Cape Girardeau. He was born Jan. 17, 1920, in Jackson County, Ill., son of Albert A. and Lettie Rebecca Wilmouth Nipper...

PERRYVILLE -- Angela N. Burfiend Mason, 91, of Perryville died Monday, July 6, 1998, at the Perry County Nursing Home. She was born Aug. 20, 1901, at Frohna, daughter of Ernest and Martina Wirth Burfiend. She married Richard T. Mason on Sept. 28, 1937. He died April 26, 1986...

SIKESTON -- Xu Xue Qin "Louise", 52, of Sikeston died Saturday, July 4, 1998, at her home. She was born Oct. 5, 1945, in Jintan, Jianqsu, China, daughter of Xu Zi Quang and Xu Xin Chen. She was owner and operator of Yang's Chinese Food. Survivors include two sons, Xu Weifeng of Sikeston, Xu Wei Qua of China; a daughter, Xu Wei Hua of China; her mother of Taiwan; two brothers, Xu Zaitian and Xu Yuntian of Taiwan; three sisters, Nancy Thomas of Sikeston, Xu Qisheng of California, Xu Qixian of Taiwan; and two grandchildren.. ...

PERRYVILLE -- Viola M. Moll, 80, of Perryville died Monday, July 6, 1998, at Brewer. She was born June 21, 1918, at Longtown, daughter of Theodore and Mary Bohnert Weinrich. She and William V. "Bill" Moll were married July 17, 1948. Moll was retired from Prince Gardiner. She was a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church...

OLMSTED, Ill. -- Funeral Mass for Wilma Gore of Springfield will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday at St. Catherine's Catholic Church in Grand Chain. The Rev. Bill McGhee will officiate, with burial in Concord Cemetery. Friends may call at Wilson Funeral Home in Karnak from 5-9 p.m. Wednesday. A prayer service will be held at 7...

JACKSON -- Stella Sides, 80, of Jackson died Monday, July 6, 1998, at Heartland Care and Rehab Center in Cape Girardeau. Morgan Funeral Home in Advance is in charge of arrangements.

MOREHOUSE -- Shirley M. Warren, 52, of Greenwood died Monday, July 6, 1998, at Lees Summit Hospital in Lees Summit. She was born May 11, 1946, at Morehouse, daughter of Yewell and Early Lucille Taylor. She married Pastor Eugene Warren. Warren was a member of United Pentecostal Church, and was a Sunday School teacher and director...

SIKESTON -- Louise Minner, 78, of Sikeston died Sunday, July 5, 1998, at her home. She was born Oct. 31, 1919, in St. Louis, daughter of Dr. E.J. and Olive Louise McGee Nienstedt. She and Robert O. Minner were married Aug. 6, 1944, at Blodgett. Minner was a 1941 graduate of Southeast Missouri State University. she taught 31 years at schools in Portageville, Blodgett, Poplar Bluff, Sikeston and St. Louis...

Funeral for Ruby A. Arsta of Cape Girardeau will be held at 1 p.m. today at Lorberg Memorial Funeral Chapel, with the Rev. John Goff officiating. Burial will be in Morgan Memorial Park in Advance. Friends may call at the chapel from 10 a.m. until service time...

Son to Brian and Melissa Kellmann of Pittsburgh, Pa., McGee Women's Hospital in Pittsburgh, 10:34 a.m. Friday, May 29, 1998. Name, Luke Edward. Weight, 8 pounds 8 ounces. First child. Mrs. Kellmann is the former Melissa Dohogne, daughter of Bob and Jeanette Dohogne of Cape Girardeau. Kellmann is the son of Virginia and Edward Kellmann of Creve Coeur...

PUXICO -- Kenneth Gene Allen, 70, of Puxico died Sunday, July 5, 1998, at his home. He was born Jan. 21, 1928, in Cape Girardeau, son of Eugene and Hazel Grimes Allen. He and Stella Clutts were married May 21, 1948, in Cape Girardeau. Allen worked in the plumbing and heating department at Montgomery Ward 35 years, retiring in 1986 as head of the department. He then owned and operated Ken's Used Cars five years...

Nell Ruth Goza, 95, of Cape Girardeau died Friday, July 3, 1998, at the Lutheran Home. She was born Dec. 17, 1902, in Wayne County, daughter of Samuel and Bell Hanks Gilliland. She and Edward R. Goza were married Oct. 13, 1923, in Cape Girardeau. He died Jan. 24, 1972...

Oscar Teichman, 93, of Cape Girardeau died Monday, July 6, 1998, at Southeast Missouri Hospital. He was born Nov. 30, 1904, at Millersville, son of August and Regina Gengenbaugh Teichman Sr. Teichman was a commercial fisherman with his father, and then he and his brother operated a fishing business at the corner of Main and Merriwether until 1960. The brothers then purchased a farm west of Millersville and raised cattle...

JACKSON -- Hulda Sides, 87, of Jackson died Monday, July 6, 1998, at St. Francis Medical Center of Cape Girardeau. McCombs Funeral Home of Jackson is in charge of arrangements.