Stories from Tuesday, September 15, 1998

Teresa Meyr hasn't had what she regards as a typical teaching career. Meyr, who is in her sixth year as a Trinity Lutheran School teacher, has made many adjustments over the years. Unlike many elementary school teachers, she has never taught a classroom of the same grade for more than two years running. She has taught learning disabilities, physical education, second grade, third grade and fourth grade in her nine years as a teacher...

Michael A. Kahn knows how to solve a mystery, and he's willing to share his sleuthing expertise with the Friends of the Cape Girardeau Public Library Foundation. Kahn, author of five legal mysteries, will be the featured guest during a dinner and mystery train ride on the St. Louis Iron Mountain & Southern Railroad Oct. 10. He will help other passengers solve the murder mystery while aboard the passenger train...

It's our favorite time of year. The SEMO District Fair is in town. Some people in the office aren't quiet as enthusiastic, but if we had the time and money, we'd be at the fair every single day. Joni: I was there opening night. Peggy: I'm headed there today. In addition to livestock and carnival rides and great food, the fair brings big-time entertainment to town. Tickets are still available for all grandstand events. You can call (573) 334-9250 or 1-800-455-FAIR...

Teacher Lucille Gesell walks quietly among her students at Hawkins Junior High School, so different from the ones she taught years ago as an elementary school teacher in Nebraska. For one thing, they're adults. Her eight students, between age 19 and 40, are from different backgrounds and bring with them a variety of life experiences...

Last year R.J. Schultz Middle School used a $400 YELL literacy grant to buy books used in its reading fair. Each year organizations may apply for literacy grants funded by YELL money. Any organization (school, club, library, etc.) may apply. The guideline is simple. Any money awarded will be used to help increase literacy...

Nao Nakano from Aichi prefecture in Japan began learning English when she was in seventh grade. But even now, after 10 years of study, she has difficulties at times reading in her second language. Nakano, who is a graduate teaching assistant at Southeast Missouri State University, said that part of the problem was in the way she learned English in Japan. She was taught to read very short passages that were written especially for people who were learning the language...

Steve Mosley uses topics from the newspaper to fuel discussions in his civics class at Notre Dame. Andrew Welker looked over the news about Mark McGwire hitting his 62nd home run. Central High School seniors use the printed media and television news in a civics course...

Investors in a Cape Girardeau ambulatory surgery center are contemplating their next step after withdrawing an application for a certificate of need for the center at the last minute. The application for the Mississippi Valley Surgery Center, a $5.6 million project, was withdrawn moments before the Missouri Health Facilities Review Committee was to meet Monday morning...

Motorists on their way to work or school today will be met by volunteers on street corners in Cape Girardeau, Jackson and Scott City raising money for literacy. Today is YELL Day. The special YELL edition newspapers include collectible and souvenir sections only available from volunteer hawkers this morning...

A steady sprinkling of rain wasn't enough to keep enthusiastic onlookers from staying around for the annual SEMO District Fair parade. The parade wound its way from Capaha Park to Arena Park, where the annual exhibition is under way. Parents watched from lawn chairs while their children, armed with empty bags, awaited treats from the more than 72 entries participating in the parade this year. ...

A coalition of at least 17 community groups interested in improving the quality of life on Cape Girardeau's south side will hold a meeting at 6:30 p.m. Oct. 20 at the Show Me Center. The meeting will give coalition members "a glimpse of what the whole is," said Dr. Charles Kupchella, a meeting organizer...

State lawmakers don't expect to make headlines when they convene Wednesday for the start of the annual legislative veto session. That's fine with state Rep. Larry Thomason, D-Kennett, who said the annual veto sessions were worthwhile even when there isn't any attempt to overrride a governor's veto...

Name any movie and within minutes someone nearby can rattle off six titles or less before bringing the cast of characters to rest at Kevin Bacon. The game illustrates a simple theory called the six degrees of separation. The theory says that everyone is related by six degrees. It's been the subject of a play and movie and, of course, the Kevin Bacon game. Now it has become a Web site: sixdegrees.com...

Peter Hilty's life is an open book. He reads constantly, everything from dictionaries to biographies. The former Southeast Missouri State University English professor loves the written word and has long delved into the origin of family names. The Cape Girardeau man is stuck on words. "Nothing interests me more," he said. "I work a crossword puzzle or two a day. Words will come up that are new to me."...

The Otahki Girl Scout Council recognizes the importance of promoting literacy issues and encourages girls and adults to explore activities that build skills in reading, writing and communications as an important part of the Girl Scout program. Resources are designed to encourage girls and adults to discover the joy of reading. Age appropriate stories and activities are included in handbooks and manuals that adults and girls use during Girl Scout activities...

The Youth Education Literacy and Learning campaign wants to do more to promote literacy. That's why the YELL Foundation has been formed, so that the $30,000 distributed to literacy programs each year can be increased. The YELL campaign previously was under the auspices of the Area Wide United Way. Businesses and corporations that made YELL donations could write them off as business expenses but not as charitable contributions...

Second-graders, like Ross Brannock, understand why learning to read is so important, and he practices his reading skills every day at home and at Clippard Elementary School in Cape Girardeau. "You have to know how to read so you won't go the wrong way on streets," Brannock explained. "You might be going to Wal-Mart and turn up at Kid's World."...

Newspapers are the most widely and often read printed product in the United States. They are read by millions every day of every week of every year. It is a business and an industry that demands a literate public, one that seeks out and consumes newspaper products in vast amounts at every opportunity...

Today is another YELL day in the life of the greater Cape Girardeau area. YELL stands for Youth, Education, Literacy and Learning. This morning from 6 to 9 a.m., hundreds of volunteers are out on street corners hawking special YELL editions of the Southeast Missourian...

Leaders of Cape Girardeau's two hospitals, having won the unanimous endorsement of the Cape Girardeau County Commission, continue in their efforts to merge the two entitles into one. The commissioners have agreed to work with hospital antitrust lawyers to draft a letter of support for the merger plan. The letters would go to the U.S. Department of Justice and the Missouri attorney general's office...

To the editor: We have this day set before us a decision and a choice of great consequence, a decision which may very well restore or remove (depending on our choice) the hand of God's blessing on this nation. Before us is the choice to accept the immoral behavior of the president of the United States as tolerable and acceptable, or the choice to make known to those whom we have entrusted our office our desire to remove a president who has displayed an encouraged a lifestyle unacceptable in the eyes of our Lord.. ...

The year that I was 12 years old the crops turned out well; the hogs got fatter; the cows gave more milk; and the chickens laid more eggs. So, a family conference was held around the old kitchen table to determine what we would do with such wealth. After much deliberation and discussion it was decided that a portion of the family would be dispatched to "the outside" to get new winter coats for the entire family. ...

GORDONVILLE -- The sorghum presses will roll again this weekend, turning sorghum into all-natural sorghum molasses. Volunteers from Christ Lutheran Church in Gordonville plan to cook more than 400 gallons of molasses, using old-fashioned methods. The last molasses-making weekend for this year will be Saturday and Sunday...

Forty percent of adults in Missouri score in the lowest two levels of literacy. More than 1 million Americans between the ages of 12 and 17 can't read. As many as 780 million people in the world can't read or write. These are some scary statistics, and they can get scarier in that they affect day-to-day lifestyles and world industry's productivity and profitability...

Farmers in eight Southeast Missouri counties are eligible for disaster relief for crop losses this summer from severe weather. Gov. Mel Carnahan announced the financial aid Monday. Farmers in Butler, Dunklin, Mississippi, New Madrid, Pemiscot, Ripley, Scott and Stoddard counties are eligible for the aid, Carnahan said...

Facts about literacy and recommended reading are just a click of the mouse away. Hundreds of literacy and reading-related sites can be found on the Internet, with information about literacy resources, becoming a literacy volunteer and good books for building literacy skills and just plain fun...

By Steve Mosley Though I would rather read the Southeast Missourian's Speak Out comments, letters to the editor, columns by staffers and editorial opinions of the Southeast Missourian, I also read books. However, as someone has said, I avoid all books whose covers are too far apart...

By Melvin Gateley We are afforded many experiences as we travel the pathway of life. As infants, our parents are generous with the tender loving care. They want the very best for their children. Then, our journey becomes more exciting and rewarding as we taste life in its many wonderful stages -- infancy, youth and adults. ...

Academic Hall, which has been a fixture on the Southeast Missouri State University landscape for more than 90 years, will be featured on the third annual Christmas holiday ornament sponsored by the Downtown Merchants Association. The special-edition ornament is being presented in conjunction with the university's 125th anniversary, said Judith Anne Lang, owner of Judith Anne's gift shop, a member of the Downtown Merchants Association and coordinator of the annual ornament project...

Southeast Missouri State University's football team will now begin directing its thoughts to the start of Ohio Valley Conference play -- although that might not be such a pleasant thought when you really think about it. Looming on the horizon for the Indians (1-1) is powerful Murray State (2-0), which will visit Houck Stadium for a 7 p.m. kickoff Saturday...

JACKSON -- Jackson pitcher Beth Becker struck out 13 Monday as the Lady Indians dealt Twin Rivers its first loss this season in six games, winning 6-0. Becker limited the Lady Royals to two hits. Jackson (11-3) had five hits, led by Emily Sander and Heidi Jansen. Each went 2-for-3 with two RBIs...

Kelly Senior Project Graduation sponsored a 3-on-3 basketball tournament during the Benton Neighbor Day festivities. Hamburg Heat won the 12-and-under group. The team was comprised of Andrew Mothershead, Ryan Glastetter and Adam Glueck. The Lawnchairs, comprised of Brett Burger, John Hamm and Jonathan Ressel, won the 13-15 age group. In the 16-18 division, the Kelly Connection triumphed. Team members were Jim Hulshof, Aaron Johnson and Jeremy Skelton...

SCOTT CITY -- Funeral for Albert F. Dunger of Scott City will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Eisleben Lutheran Church. The Rev. Joel Sarrault will officiate. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Friends may call at Amick-Burnett Funeral Chapel in Scott City from 5-8 p.m. today, and Wednesday at the church from 9 a.m. until service time...

Arthur E. McDowell, 87, of Cape Girardeau died Sunday, Sept. 13, 1998, at Southeast Missouri Hospital. He was born March 6, 1911, at Kinder, son of William H. and Edna Gibson McDowell. He and Della Novella George were married Sept. 16, 1933, at Brownwood. She died Sept. 7, 1996...

CAIRO, Ill. -- Graveside service for Margaret R. Shoemaker of Wellington, Fla., will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday at Beechwood Cemetery in Mounds. The Rev. Kelly Cox will officiate. Friends may call at Barkett Funeral Home in Cairo from 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Saturday...

SCOTT CITY -- Glenn Monroe McLain, 86, of Scott City died Monday, Sept. 14, 1998, at Southeast Hospital in Cape Girardeau. Visitation will be after 4 p.m. today at the Amick-Burnett Funeral Chapel in Scott City. Funeral will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral chapel...

Rosa Belle Hester, 97, of Cape Girardeau died Monday, Sept. 14, 1998, at Southeast Hospital. She was born March 6, 1901, in Bollinger County, daughter of Robert Walker and Ollie B. Loyd. She married Ernest Hester Feb. 1, 1926, in Poplar Bluff. She was a homemaker and a member of the First General Baptist Church of Marble Hill...

Dwight E. Richmond, a resident of Bell City, was born October 13, 1921 in Mesler, Mo., and passed away September 13, 1998 at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston at the age of 76 years. He was the son of the late Otto Richmond and Iva Mae Surlet-Richmond...

LITHIUM -- Mary "Maggie" Adams, 86, of Lithium died Monday, Sept. 14, 1998, at Perry County Memorial Hospital in Perryville. She was born Feb. 29, 1912, at Minnith, daughter of Vess and Isabelle Johnson Brown. She and Adren E. Adams were married May 6, 1930...

PERRYVILLE -- Josephine Kirn, 97, of Perryville died Monday, Sept. 14, 1998, at Perry County Memorial Hospital. She was born Nov. 26, 1900, at Apple Creek, daughter of Frank and Maria Blechle Gebhardt. She and George S. Kirn were married Oct. 15, 1929. He died July 26, 1983...

COBDEN, Ill. -- Willard F. Pearson, 88, of Cobden died Monday, Sept. 14, 1998, at his home. He was born Jan. 1, 1910, at Cobden, son of Horace and Allie M. Pearson. He and Gladys DuRall were married in 1960 in Anna. Pearson was retired from his trucking and construction business. He was a member of Shiloh Baptist Church...

MORLEY -- William Wayne Wells, 63, of Collins died Sunday, Sept. 13, 1998, at his home. He was born Nov. 16, 1934, at Point Pleasant, son of Everett and Olive Marie Fielder Wells. He married Mary Iona Holland, who died Nov. 9, 1982. Wells was a sawmill operator. He was formerly of Morley...

SIKESTON -- Elsia M. Layne, 83, of Sikeston died Monday, Sept. 14, 1998, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. Ponder Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Betty L. Mills, 62, of Cape Girardeau died Monday, Sept. 14, 1998, at St. Francis Medical Center. Ford and Sons Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

ANNA, Ill. -- Bon Frick, 65, of Anna died Sunday, Sept. 13, 1998, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau, Mo. He was born Feb. 9, 1933, in Jonesboro, son of Dan and Doris Ferrill Frick. He married Ruth Spurlock May 2, 1964. Frick retired as a technician at Choate Mental Health and Development Center. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army...

Daughter to Stephen Earl and Wanda Louise Kelley of Millersville, Southeast Missouri Hospital, 9:16 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 4, 1998. Name, Kaitelin Marie. Weight, 7 pounds 13 ounces. Second daughter. Mrs. Kelley is the former Wanda Dykes, daughter of Roger and Joan Dykes of Jackson. She is a server at Mazzio's Pizza. Kelley is the son of Lloyd and Margie Kelley of Jackson. He is employed by Kiefner Brothers Construction...

James E. Zimmerman, age 73, of Cape Girardeau, Mo., passed away Sunday, Sept. 13, 1998, at Southeast Missouri Hospital. He was born February 2, 1925, in Fornfelt, Mo., to the late Parker L. and Lydia M. Story Zimmerman. Mr. Zimmerman worked as a pipefitter in construction throughout Southeast Missouri...