Stories from Saturday, July 11, 1998

The Rev. Mark Anderson of Lynwood Baptist Church helped build a church in Brazil. Dr. Alan Branson examined a brazilian patient's eyesight. Branson, a member of Lynwood Baptist Church in Cape Girardeau, worked at a medical clinic during the church's mission trip to Brazil...

Residents in a Cape Girardeau neighborhood got a surprise when a hot-air balloon landed in their quiet cul-de-sac Friday evening. The Caribbean Fire, piloted by Jerry Robinson of Little Rock, Ark., touched down at the corner of Dover and Plymouth at about 8 p.m...

In a nation of more than 267 million people, counting everyone is no small task. The Census Bureau plans to spend $4 billion to conduct the 2000 census. The bureau has about 5,000 employees, but the number balloons every 10 years when the census is taken...

A new foundation is in the works to elevate the three-hour YELL Day into a year-round approach to benefit literacy programs in the region. Kim McDowell of the Southeast Missourian informed business leaders of the newly formed YELL Foundation Inc. during the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce First Friday Coffee Friday at the Show Me Center...

Business leaders got their first glance at Planet X-Treme, a new initiative designed to increase social opportunities for Cape Girardeau youths, during the monthly Chamber of Commerce First Friday Coffee at the Show Me Center Friday. Dan and Nora Ross, Planet X-Treme founders, have been working since January to develop a place young people 12 to 19 can safely go to socialize. ...

A fatal wreck shut down the Mississippi River bridge for more than four hours Friday. Casey A. Gravlett, 18, of Delta was killed when his westbound pickup truck hit an eastbound fuel tanker truck loaded with gasoline nearly head-on on the bridge. Gravlett was killed instantly...

We have seen many developments in communication in the past 15 years. Rotary telephones have been replaced with touch tone, cordless and cell phones, and for a monthly fee companies will connect all your communication modes to make sure you get "the call."...

The Missouri Department of Transportation will receive more oversight under a new piece of legislation signed by Gov. Mel Carnahan this week. The question is: Would such additional scrutiny have prevented the gross miscalculation of the 15-year plan costs?...

I GET disgusted when I read in the paper and see people blaming the doctors' greed on the fact they are probably Republicans. There are two kinds of Republicans. There are the kind who are Republicans because they think Republicans should go as far as they can themselves. ...

Filmmakers once told us that love means you never have to say you're sorry. In the world of law and order, forget it. A Jackson youth recently pleaded guilty to burglary and stealing. He broke into the Oak Ridge School and took more than $6,000 worth of video and computer equipment...

To the editor:The July 5 letter to the editor, "Concerned about 'minor' differences" by 15-year-old Megan LaVanchy lifts my spirit about the future of our country. Many people feel that times couldn't be better, but here a young lady can deduce that not all is well. If our young people can be inculcated with this sense of responsibility, then our country indeed has a bright future. God bless you Megan.VICTOR L. BRANTCape Girardeau...

To the editor: The July 3 article regarding the county's mounting records storage problem is an issue important to every citizen of Cape Girardeau County and related individuals nationwide. It is imperative that we preserve historic documents relating to citizens of the county for future generations. ...

To the editor: The U.S. Women's Open golf tournament was played at Kohler, Wis., with a playoff between an amateur and a rookie. It was very exiting. Every year, April through September, local women compete each week at their respective golf courses...

To the editor: The Safe House for Women would like send its heartfelt thanks to the family of Kendra Bannister. The donation that was collected from her memorial will assist many women and children in a time of crisis. We hope we can provide some comfort and help the family overcome the loss of a daughter. We thank them for all they have done...

The Census Bureau wants to use sampling to account for people who otherwise might be missed in the counting process, but the idea remains mired in a political fight between President Clinton and the Republican-controlled Congress. The process is favored by many demographers and Democrats. Republicans worry that sampling would work against them when it comes to drawing the new boundaries for congressional seats...

When Dennis Gibson built his home nearly 20 years ago, there weren't many houses in his neighborhood. But things have changed along Green Acres Drive, particularly with the construction of two new houses on nearby lots. Hammers will be pounding and saws buzzing today and into next week during the Habitat for Humanity "blitz build" at both houses. It is the second "blitz build" for the local affiliate...

MARBLE HILL -- Rick Jones has settled in as Marble Hill's new city administrator. A former radio station employee, Jones began his job on July 1. He replaces David Jackson, who worked for the city for seven years. Jackson left to take a job as safety director for Black River Electric Cooperative...

McDowell Capahas manager Jess Bolen is definitely not one to rub it in after a lopsided victory. So Bolen was certainly not about to get on the case of the Murphysboro (Ill.) Red Wings after the Capahas' 21-4 romp Friday night during the opening game of the 1998 National Baseball Congress Mid-South Regional Tournament at Capaha Field...

JACKSON -- Top-seeded SEMO Bank opened its drive for the District 14 Junior Legion Tournament title Friday with an 8-2 victory over fourth-seeded Sikeston. Trailing 2-1 after four innings, SEMO Bank struck for four runs in the fifth and three more in the seventh to advance into today's winner's bracket final...

Funeral for Loren Adair Shanks of Cape Girardeau will be held at 10 a.m. Monday at Ford and Sons Mt. Auburn Chapel. The Rev. James Sanderson and Dr. Clayton Smith will officiate, with burial in Valhalla Cemetery in St. Louis. Friends may call at the chapel from 4-6 p.m. Sunday...

COBDEN, Ill. -- Rufus Eldon Smith, 83, of Cobden died Thursday, July 9, 1998, at Vencor Hospital in St. Louis, Mo. He was born Dec. 12, 1914, in Raleigh, son of Calvin Lee and Nancy Etta Brown Smith. He and Mary Ann West were married May 14, 1938, at Jackson. She died Oct. 24, 1995...

ORAN -- Thelma Marie Pobst, 74, of Oran died Thursday, July 9, 1998, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. She was born June 29, 1924, at Randles, daughter of Grover and Ida Davis Mobley. She and Walter Michael Pobst were married Nov. 15, 1943. He died Feb. 13, 1983...

SIKESTON -- Ethel Mae Hunt, 102, died Wednesday, July 8, 1998, at Long Term Care Unit in Phillipsburg, Kan. She was born Nov. 6, 1895, in Harrisburg, Ill., daughter of Joel and Emaline Smith. She and John Willie Hunt were married June 8, 1913, at Parma. He died Feb. 28, 1960...

Josie Smith, 95, of Cape Girardeau died Friday, July 10, 1998, at Fountainbleau Lodge. She was born July 3, 1903, at Bloomfield, daughter of Andrew and Hattie Grayum Turner. She and Glenn O. Smith were married Dec. 26, 1922, at Benton. He died Sept. 24, 1964...

CANALOU -- Evelyn Landers, 71, of Canalou died Friday, July 10, 1998, at her home. She was born May 28, 1927, in Ocie, daughter of Harve and Pearl Campbell. She and Robert Landers were married Oct. 31, 1941. Survivors include her husband; six sons, Howard, Kenneth and Gary Landers, all of Sikeston, Jerry, Billy and Bobby Landers, all of Canalou; seven daughters, Charlene Hughes of Manteca, Calif., Ellen Davis and Kathy Stinnett of Sikeston, Linda Buck of Kewanee, Sandra Campbell of Santa Ana, Calif., Debbie Keasler of Columbus, Miss., and Carla Johnson of Matthews.. ...

KARNAK, Ill. -- Florence Ann Beaton, 64, of Evansville, Ind., died Thursday, July 9, 1998, in Grand Chain. Wilson Funeral Home in Karnak is in charge of arrangements.

The Mississippi Queen of the Delta Queen Steamboat Company is scheduled to dock at approximately 12:30 p.m. Monday at Cape Girardeau's Riverfront Park. The steamboat is scheduled to leave at 5 p.m. If the Mississippi River continues to rise, the docking may be canceled. Call the Cape Girardeau Convention and Visitors Bureau, 335-1631, for more information...

Phyllis Stoll, 65, of St. Charles, formerly of Cape Girardeau, died suddenly Thursday, July 9, 1998, at her home. Ford and Sons Mt. Auburn Chapel is in charge of arrangements.

Daughter to Robert William and Joan Marie Stephens II of Jackson, Southeast Missouri Hospital, 2:50 a.m. Sunday, July 5, 1998. Name, Sarah Marie. Weight, 7 pounds 1 ounce. Third daughter. Mrs. Stephens is the former Joan Ruch, daughter of Ruby Ruch of Oak Ridge. She is a secretary at JoAnn's Greenhouses Inc. Stephens is the son of Robert and Christine Stephens of Cape Girardeau. He is general manager of Pizza Hut...

DEXTER -- Funeral for Irene Wilkerson of Dexter will be held at 2 p.m. today at Watkins and Sons Chapel in Dexter. The Rev. Fred Leist will officiate, with burial in Dexter Cemetery. Friends may call at the chapel after 1 p.m. Wilkerson, 93, died Wednesday, July 8, 1998, at Doctors Regional Medical Center in Poplar Bluff...