Stories from Sunday, August 2, 1998

Unfamiliar faces belonging to new students are not unusual on the first day of the school year, but several area schools also will see new adults assuming administrative duties when school begins in August. Two school districts in the region are starting the school year with new superintendents. Don Abner has been named superintendent of Kelly schools, and Dr. Robert Isom replaces retiring Cairo, Ill., schools superintendent Dr. Elaine Bonifield...

My family and I recently climbed Pikes Peak. The altitude on Pikes Peak is 14,110 feet above sea level (Ours is more like 600). Even the beginning of Barr Trail, which ascends the famous mountain, starts at 6,800 feet. The air is much thinner in the mountains, and the higher we ascended on the 13-mile trail, the more difficult it became to breathe...

About 10 antique clocks, some of which date to the 1800s, are on display today at the Oliver House in Jackson. The public is invited to view them from 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Five of the clocks belong to Pat Fosse of Jackson, who has been collecting them for several years...

To the editor: New medications hold great promise for the successful treatment of mental illnesses, especially schizophrenia. However, when people don't take their medications, the results can be tragic. The fatal shootings of two police officers July 17 at the U.S. Capitol have focused the national spotlight on that very issue...

25 years ago: 1973 Opposition that rang out loud and clear at public hearing at Jackson last fall on proposed relocation of Highway 72 has forced Missouri Highway Department to abandon plan, at least for now; but there is no indication alternate method of solving heavy traffic problem between Jackson and Interstate 55, and on into Cape Girardeau, is in the making; for now, this appears to be dead issue...

You've seen Deep Impact. You've seen Armageddon. Now it is time for reality. It is with some apprehension that I report to readers that the Earth is poised to slam into the debris trail of a dying comet. The Real Celestial Event (RCE) will occur on the night of August 11 and early morning hours of the 12th. At that time the orbital velocity of the Earth will combine with the speed of the comet debris to launch material into the Earth's atmosphere at over 60 miles per second...

A Small World Preschool took provisions from a food drive to the Humane Society Friday after being visited by the program coordinator, Cynthia Kothe, and learning about the society and it's functions. Gina Herzog was one of the teachers from A Small World that took the children on the field trip...

I'M CALLING in response to the Speak Out comment from the individual who calls pro-lifers extremist and makes the statement, "Right-thinking people should say, `Enough!'" The right-thinking people are those who are against abortion. This pro-abortionist obviously doesn't know the difference between right and wrong. They are the ones who need to start thinking right instead of telling those of who believe in saving unborn children. No one has the right to murder unborn children...

Sometimes it's good for columnists to forget about the transitory news-of-the-day or the politician-of-the-year and concentrate on getting acquainted with the persons who are kind enough, or sympathetic enough, to read what is written on the newspaper page. So, for the next few minutes, let's just visit. If you have the time, that is...

As stories of a search for DNA from a possible semen stain on an intern's dress slither out of the Oval Office, we all wonder what has become of the office of Washington and Jefferson, of Adams and Lincoln and Teddy Roosevelt. As Americans listen to Clintonite spinmeisters night after dreary night telling us that obstruction of justice, perjury and witness tampering in a chief executive are just jim-dandy -- no cause for concern, as long as you spin it right -- the worm may just be about to turn.. ...

Tuesday is primary election day in Missouri, one of the two most important days of the year in the essential process of choosing our leaders. While the ballot isn't as crowded with aspirants as it has been in some years, enough candidates are vying for certain key offices that it is certainly worth your attention and time on Tuesday...

This was the week when Sister Mary Ann Fischer and her crew began getting moving into the exciting new Notre Dame High School. The $6.7 million, 114,000-square-foot structure has taken shape over the last year on about 25 of the 48 acres donated for the purpose by the James and Wanda Drury Family Trust...

Members of House of Prayer Church and St. Vincent de Paul Parish worked together Saturday to prepare a safe place for Cape Girardeau youth to gather. More than 75 youth and adults worked throughout the day to strip the house at 712 N. Independence of worn carpet, furnishings and debris. The property, bought by the House of Prayer, will soon become the church's Educational Youth Domestic Center and is expected to open in late November...

Just as the nation mourned the death of two Capitol police officers shot late last month in the line of duty, so 37 years ago the city of Cape Girardeau mourned the death of two of its officers in the same line of duty. On March 10, 1961, a Cape Girardeau police officer and an auxiliary police officer were shot and killed during a gun battle with two California prison escapees...

GORDONVILLE -- Got mud? Ooze, pickup trucks, ATVs and dune buggies were in plentiful supply Saturday at the 1998 Mud Races in Gordonville Park, where nearly 100 racers signed up to compete. The premise is simple enough: Drive through the big mudhole in the middle of the park faster than any of the the other guys...

Even as the summer heat continues, the most dreaded event of the summer for many students draws near: The first day back to school. Area schools are beginning the 1998-1999 school year as early as Aug. 14 and as late as Aug. 26. All will start school before the historical beginning of the fall semester, Labor Day, which is Sept. 7...

The Missouri Department of Transportation is taking the first steps in a study to determine improvements to Highway 34 from Jackson to Van Buren. MoDOT has picked QST Infrastructure Inc. of St. Louis to complete the study on the 85-mile stretch of highway...

The Cape Girardeau School District will see a major administrative shift this school year when a number of new building principals assume their duties. A total of six administrative positions were vacated when officials retired or resigned last spring, said Associate superintendent David Giles. ...

Voting. I never imagined I'd have to try to define it to my 6-year-old. But there I was the other day trying to explain it to Becca. It all started innocently enough when I pointed out the polling place where I would be voting in Tuesday's primary. "Why do you vote?" she asked. "Do they pay you?"...

WICHITA, Kan. -- The McDowell Capahas made one of their quickest departures in recent years from the National Baseball Congress World Series as they lost an 8-2 decision Saturday to Orange County (Texas) in an elimination game. The loss came on the heels of a 4-1 loss to Liberal (Kan.) in Friday night's opening round...

The 1998 Ohio Valley Conference Football Media Day will be held Friday morning in Nashville, Tenn. A breakfast buffet will be served, followed by presentations from each of the eight OVC head football coaches. Since I work nights and don't often rise early, I'm not much of a breakfast man. And while I've always enjoyed listening to football coaches, most of them are extremely cautious when on the podium, meaning they don't really say a whole lot...

Dunklin County's Redbirds are proving to be a hard baseball team to knock out during the American Legion Zone Tournament being played in Cape Girardeau. When the Redbirds lost to Ballwin Friday night during the winner's bracket final of the five-team, double-elimination event, Ballwin was clearly in the driver's seat since the St. Louis squad was the only remaining undefeated club left in the tourney...

Cape Girardeau's Parks and Recreation Department, along with Pepsi-Cola will be sponsoring the last of its three sand volleyball tournaments Aug. 8 at Arena Park Entry fee for the 2-on-2 tourney is $21 and there are no gender requirements. Cash prizes will be awarded to the top three places...

The Cape Area Youth Soccer Assciation is in need of sponsors for the fall and spring recreational leagues. Anyone interested in sponsoring a team should contact Howard Aslinger at 334-3921.

Anyone interested in coaching in the Cape Youth Tackle Football League this fall should contact league director Mike Dunaway at 335-1475. The league begins its 18th season later this month.

Youth soccer registration for Jackson's upcoming fall season end Aug. 8. Registration will be held Aug. 5 at Main Street Fitness from 6-8 p.m. and also Aug. 8 from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Registration forms can be picked up and dropped off at SEMO Specialties and Sports. Cost is $25 per child...

The Cape Girardeau Parks and Recreation Department is sponsoring a trip to see the St. Louis Cardinals play the Atlanta Braves on Aug. 29. For $20, the Cape Parks and Recreation Department will provide a ticket to the game and transportation. To take part or for more information, call the Cape Parks and Recreation Department at 335-5421...

LINCOLN, Neb. -- SEMO South opened the 1998 Junior Babe Ruth Regional Tournament in winning form Saturday, defeating the Iowa State Champions 12-3 in a first-round game. Trey Graviett led SEMO South (8-0), a collection of 13-year-old Babe Ruth players from four Southeast Missouri communities, both on the mound and at the plate...

The Cape Youth Baseball Fall League will hold sign-ups from 2-4 p.m. Aug. 8 at Houck Field House. Boys ages 15-18 are eligible to participate in the weekend league. Entry fee is $30 per person. For additional information, contact Jeff Glenn at 651-3061...

Practice for all Cape Girardeau Central High School fall sports teams will officially begin Monday, Aug. 10. Following are the times when players should report for the various sports (practices are at Central High School unless otherwise noted): Football: grades 10-12, 8:30 a.m.; grade 9, 8 a.m...

The 9th annual Coors Purewater 2000 Triathlon will be held Sept. 19 at Trail of Tears State Park. The race will consist of a half-mile swim, a 15-mile bike ride and 4-mile run. Awards will be presented in a variety of age groups. Registration is $26 for an individual and $31 for a team. All participants must be triathlon federation members (one-day permits are $5). All entrants will receive race T-shirts and swim caps on entry...

Bachman's Warbler, a former resident of Southeast Missouri, falls victim to man's encroachment. As an Ecologist I am frequently asked pointed questions about rare or protected species in our state. Most often the questions revolve around what value could a rare or endangered animal have in light of societies greater concerns and plans. A good example of that is when someone wants to clear an area for housing or farming and does not consider the conversion of habitat to be any great loss...

MOREHOUSE -- Virginia I. Ferrell, 91, of Morehouse died Friday, July 31, 1998, at the Sikeston Convalescent Center. She was born April 16, 1907, at Redford, daughter of Grover Cleveland and Lura Bell Welch Brawley. She married Sherman Gentry Ferrell on May 1, 1927, He died April 19, 1983...

JACKSON -- Paul Alan Bogues, 42, of Jackson died Friday, July 31, 1998, at the St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. He was born Dec. 3, 1955, at Shreveport, La., son of William and Connie Evans Bogues. He married Terri Gaulding Aug. 8, 1981. She survives...

SIKESTON -- Harvey Woodrow Head, 80, died Friday, July 31, 1998, at Sikeston Health Care. He was born Aug. 24, 1917, son of Joel and Ida Stroud Head in Mammoth Springs, Ark. On Oct. 3, 1936, he married Alice Marie Stroud. She died April 7, 1987. He was a retired employee of the Himmelburger-Harrison Lumber Co. and of the Baptist faith...

DEXTER -- Lee Wilson of Dexter died Friday, July 31, 1998, at Vintage Villa Nursing Center in Dexter. He was 92. He was born in Leora on Sept. 14, 1905, son of Shirl and Roxie Christian Wilson. He was a retired farmer and carpenter and had lived in Dexter since 1956. He was a member of First General Baptist Church of Dexter, where he was a longtime Sunday School teacher...

OAK RIDGE -- Keith A. Todd, 50, 2826 state Highway B, Oak Ridge, died Saturday, Aug. 1, 1998, at his home. Arrangements are incomplete at McCombs Funeral Home in Jackson.

Kiana Lafaye' "Ki-Ki" Willis of 238 S. Sprigg, Apt. 2 died at Southeast Missouri Hospital Thursday, July 30, 1998. She was 10 months old. She was born in Cape Girardeau Sept. 30, 1997, daughter of Audra Willis. She is survived by her mother and a sister, LaQuisha Willis, both of the home; maternal grandparents Mr. and Mrs. James Willis Sr. of Cairo, Ill.; and maternal great-grandmother Adell Willis of Cairo...

PERRYVILLE -- Clifford Dail Holland, 75, of Perryville died Friday, July 31, 1998. He was born Sept. 2, 1922, in Ravenden, Ark., son of Leonard and Lena Dail Holland. He married Tommie Lea Norris of Black Rock, Ark., in February 1946. She died Feb. 12, 1993...

PERRYVILLE -- Jacob B. Rhodes, 82, of Perryville died Friday, July 31, 1998, at Perry County Memorial Hospital. He was born May 28, 1916, in Bollinger County, son of Lee and Cora Lincoln Rhodes. On May 21, 1946, he married Cleo Statler. She died April 7, 1993...

PERRYVILLE -- Cordula C. Ponder, 90, of Perryville died Saturday, Aug. 1, 1998, at Perry County Nursing Home. She was born July 11, 1908, in Perry County, daughter of the late Hugo and Caroline Wibbenmeyer Winschel. On Sept. 23, 1930, she married Herman Ponder. He died April 6, 1993...

SCOTT CITY -- Virginia Lee Porter, 72, of Scott City died Friday, July 31, 1998, at St. Francis Medical Center. She was born in Cape Girardeau Feb. 21, 1926, daughter of William and Martha Angle Firestone. On Feb. 16, 1944, she married Walter Porter at Osceola, Ark...

DELTA -- A Chaffee couple were in stable condition Saturday night after an automobile accident. Bill and Ella Goad, ages 59 and 56, respectively, suffered serious injuries in the single-vehicle accident at 5:10 p.m. on Highway 25 three miles south of Delta...

ANNA, Ill. -- Tony Korbel of Anna died Saturday, Aug. 1, 1998, at the Mulberry Manor Nursing Home. He was 77. Funeral arrangements are incomplete at Hileman & Parr Funeral Services.

Charlotte Reed and a few of her friends gave a puppet show to children at the Lynnwood Baptist Church. Charlotte Reed has made over 144 puppets during the last 11 years. Charlotte Reed is doing God's work. But to most people, God's work looks more like an episode of Sesame Street than a typical missionary outreach program. Since 1986, this Cape Girardeau woman has made more than 100 different kinds of puppets for her Christian ministry she calls Puppet Power...

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. Since Lou and I had both lost our husbands during the 1970s, our Aunt Nellie who lived in Walnut Creek, California, thought it would be good for us to come west for a visit...