Stories from Sunday, July 19, 1998

To the editor: I would like to tell you a story. For years and years I have avoided going to the post office in Cape Girardeau because the employees always had such sour faces and were very unfriendly. It always seemed to be a bother for them to help me when I needed help. Even when I made a phone call, usually asking for something as simple as a ZIP Code, it seemed to take too much effort for them to be friendly and helpful on the phone, but they did give me the information I needed...

When we encounter difficult problems, the natural inclination is to pray and seek God's help. Yet prayer seems to be the last resort rather than our first option. Because we fail to pray, we miss out on many blessings in life. As for myself, I fall under the temptation of "too much to do." There always seems to be too much work to do to start my day with a time of prayer and reflection. I delude myself into believing I have to get to the "real" work that lies ahead...

Tony Baker, Dean Bucher, Angie Schwab and Ryan Mangells of the Jackson High School FBLA have returned from the FBLA National Leadership Conference held July 5-8 in Orlando, Fla. Bucher was there to compete for Mr. Future Business Leader, Schwab was there to compete in the local chapter annual business report competition and Mangells was there to compete in the information processing concepts competition. ...

Howard Jones, superintendent of Jackson R-2 schools, speaks to the crowd from the Agri-Gusiness Tours outside the new math and science building at Jackson High School. Charles Hinkebein of Blomeyer checks out one of the new science labs. For more than 20 years the Jackson Chamber of Commerce, SEMO Cattleman's Association and SEMO Pork Producers have taken a day to show area residents what businesses, industries and farms in the area are doing to stay competitive...

25 years ago: 1973 Reid Carron, son of Mrs. Carlyn Carron of Jackson, has been named associate with law firm of Faegre and Benson in Minneapolis, Minn.; he graduated recently from University of Missouri-Columbia law school, where he was highest ranking student in his class; Carron is graduate of Jackson High School and Southeast Missouri State University at Cape Girardeau...

Christina Shaw, a 1998 graduate of Scott City High School and a three-year member of the school speech team, has made school history. She is the first speech team member to win district and state competitions. During the 1997-98 school year she was the state and district champion in prose reading, and the district champion in dramatic interpretation. ...

TO THE riverboat gamblers who consider themselves Methodists: There have always been people who call themselves Christians but do not follow Christ. In the same way, you should not refer to yourselves as Methodists if you are unwilling to follow your own church teaching...

If an alien from outer space were suddenly to land on Earth and pick up a newspaper, he/she/it would no doubt infer that today's Americans are suffering from a variety of major problems, a list of which includes: 1. Beastly, uncomfortable temperatures that seem to have been created by some far-off god or goddess with the strange Latin-sounding name of El Nino;...

The dustup over vote-buying in Bootheel elections is both interesting and amusing on many levels. Repeat after me: It isn't about Gene Copeland. It isn't about Gene Copeland. It isn't about Gene Copeland. Never was. Nobody who matters much accused my friend Gene of personally buying votes...

If you didn't think there was enough to worry about, consider this harbinger of the collapse of western civilization: So few American are checking the $3 campaign-finance box on their income-tax returns that presidential candidates will probably have to fight the primary battles without all the federal money they are entitled to receive...

Missouri Lt. Gov. Roger Wilson has done what, for a politician, seems an unnatural act. He has refunded his donors' campaign donations. Wilson served 13 years in the Missouri Senate before winning election to the first of two terms as lieutenant governor in 1992. ...

To the editor: I am writing to speak about a recent program that took place during the summer which shows the real benefits of business and schools working together for the benefit of young people. I am writing to praise the recent program that was put on called the Academy of Industrial and Engineering Technology which took place the week of July 6. ...

In 1957, Shirley Waterman owned a poodle skirt. She danced to a juke box and dated a boy who drove a convertible. "I think kids had more fun back then," she said, surrounded by classmates from Cape Girardeau Central High School's classes of the 1950s. "I have a lot of wonderful memories."...

The number of doctors accepting Medicaid reimbursement in area counties indicates a shortage of providers that will worsen when nearly 4,000 patients are added to local rolls. About 90,000 Missourians in all are expected to enroll under the new program, which expands eligibility to include families with incomes up to 300 percent of the federal poverty level. Under the new program a family of three with a combined income of up to $40,951 would qualify for Medicaid benefits...

The only thing more difficult than tracking the number of doctors who accept Medicaid in four area counties is getting an accurate count of all the doctors and specialists working in those counties. The Southeast Missourian contacted several state and local agencies during the past month in an attempt to compile an accurate count of total physicians and those accepting Medicaid in Bollinger, Cape Girardeau, Perry and Scott counties. ...

David Hitt, director of emergency operations for Cape Girardeau County, likens the year 2000 computer problem, known as the Y2K bug, to a devastating, once-in-a-lifetime earthquake. "Normally, when we talk about a major earthquake," he said, "we're talking about parts of seven states, which is a huge, huge area. But you can eventually get outside the damaged area to where there are resources...

Some people have cashed in on the art of complaining. Complain, complain, complain. My wife has accused me at times of being wed to whining. "You're complaining," I gently remind her. "No, I'm not," Joni replied. "I'm just making an observation." Naturally, I view my so-called complaints as just every-day observations akin to commenting on the weather...

There's a big difference between breaking NCAA rules and breaking the law. In my book, justice was definitely served this past week when former Southeast Missouri State University assistant basketball coach Randy Curl was found innocent of stealing by deceit...

Thomas Rainwater of Bloomfield found himself in some unfamiliar territory after Saturday's first round of the two-day Park Development Foundation Individual Men's Tournament at Cape Girardeau's Jaycees Golf Course. Rainwater fired a 4-over-par 74 to hold a one-stroke lead in championship class over Todd Centers of Cape entering today's final round...

Two years ago, the Kelly High baseball program was solid if not spectacular. Then John Livingston showed up. After transferring into the Kelly school system his junior year from Shawnee High School, located in Wolf Lake, Ill., the Hawks became arguably the most successful baseball team in the area. Kelly placed third in Class 2A last year and this year won its second straight district title with a 20-5 record...

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. -- The McDowell Capahas dropped to 20-10 on the season with two one-run losses during Saturday's doubleheader with Springfield. Springfield won both games with its final at-bats, winning 6-5 in the first game with a run in the bottom of the seventh inning. In the nightcap, Springfield needed extra innings to secure a 10-9 victory in nine innings...

JACKSON -- Clint Ruppel of Oak Ridge fired his first hole-in-one Friday with an eight iron on the 150-yard, sixth hole of Kimbeland Country Club. Witnessing the shot were Ed Esicar, Jessie Eaker and Earl Cotner.

MAYSVILLE -- Waterfowl hunters who were sorry to see the end of the reservation system at public hunting areas will be glad to learn that reservations are back at all waterfowl hunting areas. Those who liked not having to make reservations will find something to like about the new system, too...

Have you ever enjoyed a relaxing fishing trip, only to notice that some of your fish have little yellow and black bumps? What did you do? Did you release the fish? Or, did you take them home and fillet them as usual? If you normally return these "infested" fish to the water, you may be pleased to learn that there is really no problem at all. ...

The Tribal Council 6th annual Four-Man Scramble golf tournament will be held July 31 at Bent Creek. Play begins with a 1 p.m. shotgun start. Entry fee is $65 per person, which includes cart, greens fee, lunch and beverage. Money raised is for the Jackson High School Booster Club...

The St. Francis Medical Center Outdoor Tennis Classic will be held Aug. 1-2 at Universal Health and Fitness. Nine divisions will be held: Men's singles -- Open, A, 35, 45, 55; Men's Doubles - Open, 35; Women's - Open, Doubles. All matches are best two out of three sets...

The FHA of Kelly High School will sponsor a 5K fitness run and mile run/walk on Aug. 8. The event, which begins at 8 a.m., will be staged by the Cape Road Runners Club. Entry fee is $8 and $4 for those that register by Aug. 2. Late registration will be held from 7-7:45 a.m. race day...

Chaffee Junior and Senior High School students who plan to participate in athletics for the 1998-99 school year should make plans to get their physicals before the fall season starts, which is Aug. 10. Physicals may be gotten at the following local doctor's offices:...

The SEMO Soccer Club Under-14 Boys team will conduct tryouts on July 21 and July 28 at the soccer fields behind Jackson Junior High School. Both tryouts will run from 5:30-7 p.m. Players must be born on or after Aug. 1, 1984. For more information, contact Jack Knowlan at 243-7777...

The Sixth annual SEMO Home Builders Association Classic Golf Tournament will be held Aug. 7 at Bent Creek Golf Course. Proceeds from the four-person scramble will to Habitat for Humanity. A shotgun start will begin play a 1 p.m. Entry fee is $65 a person and includes lunch, green fee and prizes...

Cape Central wrestling coach Drew Lilledahl will conduct a youth wrestling camp Aug. 3-6 at the Tiger Field House. The camp will last each day from 9-11 a.m. For more information, contact Lilledahl at 335-2981.

DEXTER -- Alfred N. Acuff, 57, of Circle City died at his home Friday, July 17, 1998. He was born Oct. 13, 1940, at Paragould, Ark., son of Alfred Wilson Acuff and Edith Byrd Acuff. He married Gloria Jean Overturf at Rock Island, Ill., Nov. 16, 1965...

Clara Bell Lange, 70, of Cape Girardeau died at Southeast Missouri Hospital Friday, July 17, 1998. She was born May 20, 1928, at Cape Girardeau, daughter of John E. and Flora Tune Stephens. She married Floyd R. Lange on June 22, 1946, at Cape Girardeau. He died in September 1985...

LEOPOLD -- Helen Marie Holzum-Whealen, 64, of Florissant, formerly of Leopold, died Saturday, July 18, 1998. Funeral arrangements will be announced by Hutchings Funeral Chapel in Marble Hill.

WOLF LAKE, Ill. -- Wesley Alan Davis, 37, of Wolf Lake, died Thursday, July 16, 1998. Funeral arrangements are incomplete at Hileman & Parr Funeral Services.

GLEN ALLEN -- Elizabeth Pauline Gibson, 86, of Glen Allen died Friday, July 17, 1998, at the Heritage Gardens Nursing Center in Jackson. She was born Nov. 10, 1911, at Bear Springs, Tenn., daughter of Ben and Sally Green Selph. She married John Elbert Legate. He died May 19, 1956. She later married Floyd Gibson. He also preceded her in death...

ANNA, Ill. -- Loretta Clayton Harris, 68, of Anna died Saturday, July 18, 1998, at Jonesboro Health Care. She was born Dec. 22, 1929, in Union County, daughter of William Everett and Pearl Smith Clayton. She married Dennis Junior Harris Aug. 13, 1949, in Piggott, Ark. He died May 15, 1998...

SIKESTON -- Gladys Irene Kincaid, 82, of Sikeston died Friday, July 17, 1998, at her home. She was born March 30, 1916, at Matthews, daughter of James and Maggie Hayes Ratliff. She married Robert L. "Sonny" Kincaid Sept. 30, 1958, at Morehouse. He died Nov. 19, 1993...

Ada Mae Werner, 64, of Cape Girardeau, died Saturday, July 18, 1998, at Southeast Missouri Hospital. She was born Oct. 26, 1933, at Arbor, daughter of Floyd D. Bond and Amy G. McNeely Bond. She married Charles R. Werner on July 19, 1957, at Cape Girardeau. He survives...

EAST PRAIRIE -- Charles Weldon Bird, 61, of East Prairie, died at his home Saturday, July 18, 1998. He was born July 6, 1937, at Madison, son of Ernest and Mabel Ferrel Bird. He married Nancy Ellen Moss on May 15, 1995. She survives. He lived in Mississippi County for 41 years and had been employed as a steel worker at Noranda Aluminum. He was a past member of the East Prairie Jaycees, Lions Club and Chamber of Commerce. He was Methodist...

Dorothy J. Williams, 80, of Cape Girardeau, died Saturday, July 18, 1998, at St. Anthony Medical Center in St. Louis County. She was born Jan. 22, 1918, at Cape Girardeau, daughter of Barrett Cleveland and Mary Alma Huttman Seabaugh. She married Joe H. Williams in June 1947 at Cape Girardeau. He died Feb. 21, 1962...

OAK RIDGE -- Funeral Mass for Harold J. Hinkebein of Oak Ridge will be held at 10 a.m. Monday at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Apple Creek. The Rev. John Bolderson will officiate, with burial in the church cemetery. Friends may call at Miller Family Funeral Home in Perryville from 4 to 9 p.m. today and Monday from 6:30 to 9:30 a.m. The parish wake will be at 7 tonight. The rosary will be recited at 9 a.m. Monday...

PATTON -- Two people were injured in a motor vehicle accident near Patton Saturday. Brenda Valenzula, 52, of Reseda, Calif., was treated at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau and released. Also treated and released was a passenger in Valenzula's vehicle, Jamie Hill, 7, of Reseda...

The origins of ice cream reach back as far as Alexander the Great. Biblical references indicate that King Solomon was fond of iced drinks during harvesting. Roman Emperor Nero Claudius Caesar (A.D. 54-86) frequently sent teams of runners into the mountains to get snow, which was then flavored with honey, fruits and juices...

Jean Bell Mosley's new autobiography, "For Most of the Century," is only available in serialized form in the Southeast Missourian. Return each week for her continuing story. The decade moved on toward its close. It wasn't the best of the century. But there were some bright spots. ...

Watermelon ice, although not technically an ice cream, is still popular among the kids. Sarah Fluegge poured butterscotch over a sundae for a customer at Baskin-Robbins 31 Flavors. No one gets the scoop more than Americans. This nation practically screams for ice cream...