Stories from Thursday, July 30, 1998

Ronald Reagan and Elvis are two of the luminaries featured in the Laclede's Landing Wax Museum. The Royal Dumpe Dinner Theatre offers a combination of vaudeville, musical comedy and audience participation. Along cobblestone streets and inside historic buildings vibrates a collection of restaurants, bars and shops called Laclede's Landing...

Ancient spells and rituals of paganism are alive and vital for the modern world, according to a recently published book by a Cape Girardeau County author. Dorothy Morrison of Fruitland describes her latest book, "Everyday Magic: Spells and Rituals for Modern Living," as a collection which mixes the ancient art of magic with technology...

Andrew Ostrowski quit his job at the local Procter & Gamble Co. plant at the end of March so he could campaign full time for the U.S. Senate. The Democratic candidate estimates he has spent about $3,500 of his own money in his effort to win Tuesday's primary...

Cape Girardeau was honored Wednesday for its pollution prevention efforts through the curbside recycling and combined sewer overflow programs. The city received the 1998 Governor's Pollution Prevention Award in Jefferson City. A number of city officials were on hand for the presentation by Gov. Mel Carnahan...

MARBLE HILL -- After a faint sound, indifference precluded any fury. Two people in late February complained to the Marble Hill Board of Aldermen about the new Dollar General Store's alleged violation of Missouri's Blue Law, which bans the sale of all items on Sunday except articles of "immediate necessity."...

"Spend it." That was the top intention of most Powerball ticket buyers joining in the lottery frenzy Wednesday afternoon. The winning numbers drawn Wednesday night were: 8-39-43-45-49 and Powerball 13. Officials didn't expect to know if there was a winning ticket or tickets until early today...

July 30, 1998 Dear Pat, These are the facts, ma'am. It was a Saturday like many others. I was working the day shift. The cops had solved a murder, a politician was in town, there were obituaries to write. The usual matters of life and death. DC called at 11:35 a.m. to ask me to lunch. We bought sandwiches -- tuna and veggie burger -- and drove to a little garden next to the university. There's a fountain and flowers and plants. Somebody cares about it...

Procter & Gamble Co. has filed for a permit to discharge water into the Mississippi River. The application is in the comment stage in the Water Pollution Control Division of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources in Jefferson City. The application was filed July 10, said Phil Schroeder of the DNR's Water Pollution Control Division. "We have a 30-day period for comments," he said...

MARBLE HILL -- Bill Nitsch, Republican candidate for Bollinger County presiding commissioner, opposes a recreational lake that had been proposed for Cape Girardeau and Bollinger counties. While the project is on the shelf, opinions about the lake remain strong in Bollinger County...

Television talk shows have been hot topics in recent months, with the "Jerry Springer Show" taking most of the heat. As if the antics on the broadcast version of this daily program aren't bad enough, now a videotape is being advertised that purports to show the stuff that couldn't be broadcast on the nation's airwaves. And it appears to be selling like hotcakes...

For most Americans, the killing 80 years ago of the Russian royal family is best remembered through the filter of books and movies about the mysterious Anastasia, the woman who claimed to be a daughter of the czar who survived the mass execution. Certainly there are those who have studied Russian history a bit more in depth. ...

To the editor: On behalf of St. Francis Medical Center, we would like to voice our support for the clinical practices of the physicians serving St. Francis Medical Center. We are distressed to read and hear responses to the surgery center debate focusing on quality. We feel that the investors named by the Southeast Missourian are all high-quality, competent and capable physicians and are proud to have them as members of our medical staff and community...

To the editor: A recent caller to Speak Out complained about people dropping off unwanted animals in the country. The caller's solution was to take these animals to the humane society instead of hoping someone would take in a stray. While the Humane Society of Southeast Missouri would prefer to function primarily as an adoption center, the reality is unless the community becomes more responsible it cannot. Too many people discard too many animals for us to find them homes...

To the editor: Most people have negative thoughts concerning a nursing home. That is only natural. It is for sure there is no place like home just as long as there are more than one remaining, however. To me, a home loses that precious atmosphere when you are left alone. It did for me when I lost my twin sister and was the remaining one...

I JUST want to say that if there's anyone out there who has ever taken for granted the freedoms we enjoy in this country, even for a moment, they need to go see "Saving Private Ryan." SEVERAL YEARS ago, the city promised it would take care of the curve at the old shoe factory plant on North Main Street. ...

To the editor: This is a response to the comment in the July 27 Speak Out, "It's time to stand up to abortion extremists." I appreciate the comment very much, for without an open dialogue, how can we ever learn? How can we ever overcome our differences?...

The race for Cape Girardeau County Collector has brought campaigns on both the Democratic and Republican ballots. The upcoming retirement of Harold Kuehle brought out candidates from both parties. Kuehle has been Cape Girardeau County's collector for 32 years...

Cape Girardeau's Ford & Sons American Legion baseball team isn't exactly heading into the Zone Tournament it is hosting with a full head of steam. But Cape coach Ron Michel still figures that, if his squad can get its act together, it has as good a chance as any of advancing to next week's American Legion State Tournament in Columbia...

Based on records, Dunklin County and Ballwin appear to be the favorites heading into the American Legion Zone Tournament that begins today at Capaha Field in Cape Girardeau. Dunklin County is 33-11 and Ballwin is 21-10. But the coaches of both teams were quick to point out that the zone field appears to be wide open, with Anheuser-Busch (21-15), De Soto (20-16) and host Cape Girardeau Ford & Sons (23-24) all having legitimate cracks at the title...

Danielle Gross doesn't even consider track and field to be among her most favorite sports, but that might change before too long. That's because 10-year-old Danielle has proven to be quite adept in that particular sport -- good enough, in fact, to qualify for the Hershey's Track & Field Youth Program North American Final Meet that will be held Aug. 15 in Hershey, Pa...

BERNIE -- Mattie Sandusky, 86, of Bernie died Tuesday, July 28, 1998, at her home. She was born Sept. 25, 1911, at Bernie, daughter of Frank and Grace Crump Crain. She and Jack Sandusky were married Dec. 10, 1929, in Manila, Ark. He died April 30, 1977...

ANNA, Ill. -- Clayton Butler, 64, of Anna died Tuesday, July 28, 1998, at Vencor Hospital in St. Louis. He was born Feb. 1, 1934, in Dahlgren, son of Earl and Alma Malcolm Butler. He and Clara Nell Gollihur were married July 29, 1959, in Anna. Butler was retired from Choate Mental Health Center. He was a veteran of the Korean War...

UNIONTOWN -- Ella A. Kasten, 77, of Uniontown died Wednesday, July 29, 1998. She was born April 16, 1921, in Red Bud, Ill., daughter of Arnold and Louise Rowold Erdmann. She married Ernst W. Kasten Oct. 20, 1946. He died Oct. 17, 1994. Kasten was a member of Grace Lutheran Church...

PUXICO -- Joan Foster, 64, of Puxico died Tuesday, July 28, 1998, at Pinelawn Residential Care Center. She was born Sept. 20, 1933, at Morley, daughter of Isaac H. and Susie Louise Foster. Survivors include two sons, John Foster of Puxico, Ricky Foster of Vanduser; her mother of Puxico; three brothers, Harold Foster of Bloomfield, Harlan and George Foster of Puxico; three sisters, Mary Wooley of Springfield, Katheryn Ruble of Kansas City, Charlene Griffin of Chaffee; and a grandson...

Daughter to Olen Greg and Colleen M. Ballard of Jackson, Southeast Missouri Hospital, 1:04 a.m. Wednesday, July 22, 1998. Name, Riley Ann. Weight, 5 pounds. Second daughter. Mrs. Ballard is the former Colleen Brown, daughter of Roger and JoAnn Brown of Perryville. Ballard is the son of Betty Compton of Anna, Ill. He is owner of Ballard Mobile Home...

Carole A. Bess, age 43, of Cape Girardeau died July 29, 1998 at Southeast Hospital in Cape. She was the daughter of John William Bess and Shirley Medlock Bess. She was formerly employed in sales for Mid-America Hotels. She graduated from Cape Central High School in 1973...