Stories from Tuesday, October 6, 1998

JACKSON -- Tammy Carroll became a teacher because she learned what not to do at an early age. Her brother was never a proficient reader and was often humiliated by teachers who thought that would make him do better in his studies. He never graduated from high school, although he attended school for 12 years, she said...

OK, maybe the information isn't earth shattering, but the Internet is full of lots and lots of practical, or maybe useless, information. Here's a site some reviewers have called the "No. 1 most incredibly useful site." We agree, it's pretty informational and fun...

Billy Keys, right, coached a trumpet player Justin Cain in the Cape Central Marching Band during a practice. Keys team teaches with other music teachers and still finds time to play with his band Papa Aborigine on the weekends. Experience is the best teacher for teachers, according to Cape Girardeau teachers Philip Mayhall and Billie Keys...

JACKSON -- The proposal to widen Highway 34 in west Jackson from two lanes to five has drawn fire from city officials who say the Missouri Department of Transportation has failed to listen to them. The plan gives top priority to a project that city officials say they cannot support as a more pressing need than the proposed East Main Street interchange at Interstate 55...

More money to fight methamphetamine has become the battle cry for many of Missouri's congressional delegation. Sens. John Ashcroft and Christopher "Kit" Bond and Reps. Jo Ann Emerson, Kenny Hulshof, James Talent, Roy Blunt, Ike Skelton, Pat Danner and Karen McCarthy last week sent a letter to the chief House and Senate negotiators on an appropriations measure. The lawmakers called for "the highest funding level possible" for programs to fight the meth epidemic...

JACKSON -- Missouri highway officials will meet from 5:30 to 8 Wednesday night at the Jackson Middle School cafeteria with property owners who might be affected by the improvement of Highway 34. Missouri Department of Transportation officials and their consultants will be on hand to discuss details of the recommendation to upgrade Highway 34 (West Jackson Boulevard) from two to five lanes. ...

While America wrestles with its presidential problems, the rest of the world continues at its fast-clipped pace. Asian nations are faltering on the brink of financial failure, and we have all read stories about atrocities in Kosovo, Africa and the Mideast...

To the editor: Another Clinton donor tied to the Chinese government is Johnny Chung, who recently admitted that he funneled at least $100,000 of the $300,000 he received from Chinese military intelligence to Democrat causes in the summer of 1996. The conduit for the money was Liu Chao-ying, whose father was the head of China's military at the time the donations were made to the DNC. Chung likely achieved his China connections through the Clinton Commerce Department...

To the editor: I do feel compelled to write, because I know a man who has worked so hard for southern Missouri and has always been a people person. It would make no difference to him if you were a Democrat or a Republican. If you need him, he is always there. ...

To the editor: The Southeast Missourian newspapers were delivered for teachers to use with their students. I wanted to share the great feeling I had when I heard a teacher exclaim, "Wow!. We got newspapers today." That's not all. The sixth grade students who participated in selling the YELL newspapers Sept. ...

Missouri's education commissioner, Robert Bartman now says he wants to require an exit exam for high school seniors before they can be awarded a diploma. Students would be allowed to take the test as early as the 10th grade. Graduation would be contingent on taking the test...

The race for the U.S. Senate seat held by Christopher Bond, R-Mo., has thus far featured the usual complement of television advertisements, fueled by millions of dollars in donations on both sides. Bond began airing ads months ago, a tactic that reflects his fatter war chest. ...

A new attorney has joined the staff of the Cape Girardeau County prosecuting attorney's office. Abbie Crites-Leoni joined the staff Monday as an assistant prosecutor for Cape Girardeau County, Morley Swingle, the county's prosecuting attorney, made the announcement...

Southeast Missouri State University's College of Education will present a Multicultural/International Lecture Series this academic year. The series is open to the public. It will begin Wednesday with a lecture titled, "Issues and Trends in 21st Century Education in India."...

Two additional attorneys have joined the staff as assistant public defenders in the Southeast Missouri district of the state's public defender system. Bryan Greaser and Gregory Spencer have joined the public defender's office as staff attorneys, announced Kenton Hall, district defender and managing attorney of the district office...

The principal scholar of the rhetoric of Dwight Eisenhower will present the fourth annual Emil C. Weis Lecture today at Southeast Missouri State University. Dr. Martin Medhurst, coordinator of the program in presidential rhetoric at Texas A&M University, will present the lecture. Medhurst is a professor of speech communication...

Southeast Missouri State University's Center for Health and Counseling will offer local residents the opportunity to learn about the signs and symptoms of depression and manic-depression at a free screening Wednesday. The event is being held in conjunction with National Depression Screening Day...

The Southeast Missourian Web staff is gearing up for beginning Internet classes. The classes are designed for beginners who want to learn more about the Internet and World Wide Web. Practical surfing tips will be offered along with a number of informational handouts...

Cape Girardeau County and Jackson are considering employment of a nuisance officer whose primary duty would be animal control. The county has been discussing the need for a nuisance officer for a year and a half. "What we're considering is for Jackson and the county to jointly fund a nuisance officer for one year," Presiding Commissioner Gerald Jones said Monday. "We will track and see what calls this person responds to."...

7:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 5 Study session 5 p.m. Consent ordinances -- Approved an ordinance amending the City Code to establish a handicapped parking space on Park Avenue. -- Approved an ordinance reaffirming the action of the City Council declaring it necessary to improve, providing for the improvements, directing the city manager to enter into a contract to do the work and providing for the manner of the payment for the working of making certain sewer improvements to serve the Lakeshore Drive area, Lateral Sewer District No. ...

The Cape Girardeau City Council gave first-round approval Monday night to a rezoning request from residents of North Park and Normal but held off on rezoning a section of North West End Boulevard. In other action, the council also approved leasing the airport restaurant to Mac's Smokehouse...

Southeast Missouri State University football coach John Mumford has talked repeatedly about the character and attitude of his 1998 Indians. And those traits served the Indians well during Saturday's stirring second-half comeback at nationally-ranked Eastern Illinois -- even though Southeast wound up losing 35-33 on a late field goal...

Twenty-one point deficits are nothing new for the Chaffee Red Devils, who have been struggling to win football games for most of the last decade. On Thursday night, Chaffee fell behind visiting Ste. Genevieve Valle 21-0 in the first quarter. The Red Devils battled back, establishing a running game and pulling to within seven points late in the third quarter. But they could not overcome a problem which has plagued them all season long: failure to convert in the red zone...

Jackson players celebrated their 4-1 victory over Cape Central in the Class 4A, District I championship game Monday. Though Jackson High had turned aside Cape Girardeau Central twice in as many tries before Monday's Class 4A, District 1 softball championship game, the two teams' seeming equality still lingered in Megan Kuntze's mind...

KELSO -- Not even rain nor a change of venue could keep Kelly High's softball team from its appointed rounds of a district championship. The top-seeded Lady Hawks overcame both of those obstacles Monday to defeat second-seeded Notre Dame 6-4 in the finals of the Class 2A, District 2 Tournament...

Cape Girardeau Central High's girls tennis team finished off its third consecutive undefeated dual-match season Monday as the Lady Tigers blanked visiting Sikeston 9-0. The Lady Tigers, who improved to 12-0, won five matches 8-0. Central's JV won its match 13-2...

PEORIA, Ill. -- Southeast Missouri State University's golf team is tied for second place entering today's final round of the Bradley Fall Classic. The Indians fired a 297 during Monday's 18 holes. A second scheduled round of 18 holes Monday was rained out...

Spencer Scott Foster died at birth Saturday, Oct. 3, 1998, in St. Louis. His twin, Tyler Ryan Foster, died Sunday. Survivors include their parents, Tim and Cheri Nolkemper Foster of Sikeston; a brother, Steven Nolkemper of the home; a sister, Brittany Foster of the home; paternal grandparents, Harold and Sharon Foster of Olive Branch, Ill.; maternal grandparents, Mike and Sharon Scott of Fruitland; paternal great-grandmother, Effie Foster of Olive Branch; and maternal great-grandmother, Jeannette Scott of Versailles.. ...

VIENNA, Ill. -- Kevin Wayne Warren, 32, of Vienna died Monday, Oct. 5, 1998, on arrival at Union County Hospital in Anna, from injuries received in a motorcycle accident. He was born June 9, 1966, in Wayne County, Mich., son of Lindell and Brenda Christian Warren...

PERRYVILLE -- Nathan H. Weiss, 83, of Perryville died Sunday, Oct. 4, 1998, at Missouri Veterans Home. He was born April 7, 1915, in Perryville, son of Henry F. and Helena Schott Weiss. He and Adella Bohnert were married Oct. 5, 1940. She died Jan. 18, 1996...

BENTON -- Doris Wanda Ketcherside, 73, of St. Louis died Sunday, Oct. 4, 1998, at Park Avenue Health Care in Herrin, Ill. She was born Jan. 6, 1925, at Benton, daughter of John Edward and Jesse Figgins Boals. She married Ray Odell Ketcherside, who preceded her in death...

DEXTER -- Graveside service for Christine Novella Humphries of Dexter will be held at 3 p.m. today at Dudley Cemetery in Dudley. The Rev. Bud Meadows will officiate. Chiles-Cooper Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Humphries, 64, died Saturday, Oct. 3, 1998, at Lucy Lee Healthcare Center in Poplar Bluff...

SIKESTON -- Odis L. Morris, 89, of Sikeston died Sunday, Oct. 4, 1998, at Missouri Delta Medical Center. He was born April 4, 1909, in Hope, Ark. He and Ona Marie Clark were married March 10, 1935, in Sikeston. She died March 17, 1974. Morris had owned and operated Morris Plumbing Co. He was a member of Sikeston Eagles Aerie 3319, and booster member of Henry Meldrum American Legion Post 114...

JONESBORO, Ill. -- Charles D. Smiddy, 84, died Sunday, Oct. 4, 1998, at City Care Center in Anna. He was born Dec. 30, 1913, in Jonesboro, son of William and Nora Miller Smiddy. He and Dorothy Hawkins were married in 1956 in Granite City. Smiddy was a machinist, retiring in 1975. He was a member of Machinist Union of District 9, Metro East Auto Lodge 313, and First Baptist Church...

JACKSON -- Ethel Marie Baughman, 86, of Jackson died Monday, Oct. 5, 1998, at Jackson Manor. She was born June 11, 1912, in Poplar Bluff, daughter of William and Carrie Elizabeth Pack Pulley. She and George Baughman were married Oct. 19, 1936, in Jonesboro, Ill. He died Oct. 10, 1997...

ULLIN, Ill. -- Suda Baker, 78, of Ullin died Monday, Oct. 5, 1998, at Union County Hospital in Anna. Friends may call at Crain Funeral Home in Ullin after 6 p.m. Wednesday. Funeral will be at 1 p.m. Thursday at First Baptist Church.

SIKESTON -- Charles W. Krauss, 86, of Sikeston died Monday, Oct. 5, 1998, at Missouri Delta Medical Center. He was born Oct. 9, 1911, at Charleston, son of William and Nellie Mae Atkins Krauss. He and Lois Ray were married Jan. 11, 1933, in East Prairie...

CHAFFEE -- Amy J. Dugger, 90, of Chaffee died Monday, Oct. 5, 1998, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. She was born July 5, 1908, at Oran, daughter of James Henry and Dora Lyon Davenport. She and Albert Dugger were married June 6, 1929...

Glen "Bunny" Runnels, 81, of Cape Girardeau died Monday, Oct. 5, 1998, at his home. Funeral arrangements are incomplete at the Liley Funeral Home in Marble Hill.

Daughter to John and Julie Clark of Dallas, Texas, Baylor University Hospital, Monday, Sept. 21, 1998. Name, Charlotte Grace. Weight, 7 pounds 1 ounce. First child. Mrs. Clark is the former Julie Sandfort, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Maurice Sandfort, formerly of Cape Girardeau. Clark is the son of Jacklyn Clark of Cape Girardeau, and the late D. David Clark. He is vice president of Energy Capital Union Bank in Dallas...

WHITEWATER -- Funeral for RoseLee Nussbaum of Whitewater will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Christ Lutheran Church in Gordonville. The Rev. D. Lee Cullen will officiate, with burial in the church cemetery. Friends may call at McCombs Funeral Home in Jackson from 4-8 p.m. today...