Stories from Tuesday, October 20, 1998

To the editor: In regard to the First Baptist Church in Cape Girardeau, being voted out of the Cape Association of Baptist Churches, I feel that is wrong. If each church is autonomous, why are they saying this fine old church cannot have women on their deacons on the board?...

Missouri Treasurer Bob Holden and representatives from SEMO Banking Center visited Washington and Clippard elementary schools Wednesday to support the Dollar$ and $ense Bank-at-School program. This is the second year the bank has sponsored the program with fifth-graders in the schools...

The following students have been awarded Spiese Fund in Agriculture scholarships to the University of Missouri at Columbia for the 1998-99 academic year. The Spiese Fund was established in 1988 from a bequest from the estate of Helen Mae Spiese. It provides scholarships for undergraduate students majoring in an agricultural field of study. Preference is given to students from the Bootheel...

Notre Dame High School will sponsor a Halloween German Dance benefit Oct. 31 at the Bavarian Halle in Fruitland. Marv Herzob and the Bavarian Band of Frankenmuth, Mich., will perform. The Bavarian Halle is at I-55 and Highway 61 N. Prizes will be awarded for the best costumes, but costumes are not required. Chicken and bratwurst dinner plates will be available at 6 p.m...

Joan Gones of Cape Girardeau will meet with several state officials in Jefferson City today regarding public education. Gones will attend a rally sponsored by the American Association of University Women and meet with Secretary of State Bekki Cook, treasurer Bob Holden, state Rep. ...

When asked questions about their future jobs, first-graders shot their hands into the air. Youthful enthusiasm filled Carol Reimann's class at Clippard Elementary School as the youngsters talked about what they want to be when they grow up. In an effort to capture some of that enthusiasm and add a little practical advice, the Southeast Missourian begins a series of stories based on the dreams of first-graders. The stories will appear each Tuesday on the Learning page...

Boo! Peggy: Talk about scary. Reports say that among the most popular costumes this Halloween will be Bill and Monica. The Monica ensemble comes with pearls, a beret, a White House intern badge, a fluffy black wig and perhaps a blue dress. Joni: Also the scream season seems to last year-round at the cinema. There are a bunch of horror flicks getting ready to be released...

Special meeting Tuesday, Oct. 20, 7:30 p.m. Board of Education office Action Items: -- Consider long-range personnel needs for 1999-2000 and process needed to ensure best possible applicant pool. -- Executive Session - Employment, personnel evaluation, and real estate. Authority is Section 610.021, para. 2, 3 and 13, Revised Statutes of Missouri, as amended...

PERRYVILLE -- Perry County voters will find one contested race on the Nov. 3 general election ballot. Incumbent or unopposed candidates make up the other races. Keith McCrary, 34, has filed as an independent candidate against Republican nominee Thomas H. Sutterer, 60, for the presiding commissioner post...

Freeman McCullah, vice president of infrastructure development for the St. Louis RCGA, will be guest speaker at the Cape Girardeau Regional Commerce and Growth Association banquet. The RCGA's 10th annual banquet will be held Wednesday at the Drury Lodge in Cape Girardeau. The social hour will start at 6 p.m. with dinner at 7 p.m...

PERRYVILLE -- A Roman Catholic priest and educator, who was instrumental in establishing a Catholic church for blacks in Cape Girardeau during the 1940s, will be laid to rest today at the Vincentian Cemetery in Perryville following a funeral Mass. The Rev. Willis F. "Gus" Darling, who served on the faculty of St. Vincent's College in Cape Girardeau for 11 years, died Friday at St. Mary's Seminary in Perryville. He was 91...

Kristy Jansen, a junior at Notre Dame High School and Cape Girardeau resident, has been named a Commended Student in the 1999 National Merit Scholarship Program. Commended Students placed among the top 5 percent of more than 1 million students who entered the 1999 Merit Program by taking the 1997 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test...

Andrew Clark, 17, of Cape Girardeau will be among 20 young people from Missouri to attend the National 4-H Congress in Atlanta from Nov. 27 to Dec. 1. Clark is a senior at Jackson High School, is active in the marching band, Future Business Leaders of American and the Gordonville 4-H Club. He is the son of Allen and Joyce Clark...

The Clippard Elementary School Choir and pit crew have been selected to perform at the Missouri Music Educators Association State Convention Jan. 29 and 30 at Lake of the Ozarks. The group submitted an audition tape to compete for the honor against schools from Kansas City, St. Louis, Columbia and Springfield, among others...

To the editor: It's a beautiful Saturday morning. I am sitting on the weathered wooden planks of my back porch. The cool morning breeze is a gentle reminder that the fall season is near. As I look forward to the east, I observe the rising of that lucky old sun. ...

To the editor: We have a former principal of public schools who would be about the greatest person living for whom to name our new school. It is Melvin Gateley. Come on public, let's get Melvin Gateley's name on the new public school. He is volunteering his time each day in some capacity to better Cape Girardeau. Yes, he serves on the City Council. Yes, he keeps the roses trimmed and fed down by the river and along the streets. He is there to help any project that betters our city...

President Clinton vetoed an emergency farm-aid bill on grounds that the $4.2 billion measure didn't spend enough money. Clinton held out for spending more than $7.3 billion. The congressional plan consisted of a mix of disaster relief and $1.7 billion in direct payments to farmers...

A Kansas senator has raised a good question: Is the Pentagon sending the message that "as long as infidelity is secret, it's OK," by punishing adulterers only if their behavior disrupts or discredits the military? Stated another way, asks Sen. Sam Brownback, R-Kansas, "Is the military's new policy on adultery that of `no harm, no foul?'"...

Jefferson Elementary School teacher Debbie Gattis' fifth grade students often need a little imagination. Gattis, who has 12 years teaching experience, is an admittedly poor artist. This causes "many humorous experiences" when she tries to illustrate a lesson at the chalkboard...

The next meeting of the Richard J. Oglesby-Birds Point, Mo. Camp No. 61 Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War has been scheduled for 7 p.m. Wednesday at Port Cape Girardeau restaurant. In addition to regular business, there will be a discussion of Civil War uniforms and equipment of Union infantrymen...

Wednesday, Oct. 21, 6:15 p.m. Garrison Administrative Office Building, 303 34th Street Action Items: -- Approval of Shawnee Community College joint agreement. -- Discuss proposed social promotion policy: No pass/no play. -- Appoint designees for secretary of Board of Educaiton regarding school board elections...

The Missouri FFA Association has nominated two area students to receive the American FFA degree at the 71st National FFA Convention in Kansas City Nov. 12 through 14. John Fritsche of Perryville and Brian Heuring of Oran were among 194 Missouri members to be nominated for the degree...

The five-county regional vocational system Jobs for Illinois Graduates class visited with three area high schools at Southern Illinois University recently in preparation for the Leadership Development Conference. Students from Anna-Jonesboro, Goreville and Vienna high schools participated in leadership games and officer workshops prior to attending the conference, which took place at Allerton 4-H Camp in Monticello. ...

High school students with a grade-point average of B or better and college students with a grade-point of B-plus or better are eligible for a $1,000 college scholarship from the Educational Communications Scholarship Foundation. To receive an application, send a request by Dec. 16 to Educational Communications Scholarship Foundation, 721 N. McKinley Road, P.O. Box 5012, Lake Forest, Ill., 60045-5012. Requests may also be faxed to (847) 295-3972 or e-mailed to scholar@ecsf.org...

The Kelso Beta Club has elected new officers and members for the 1998-99 school year. Officers are Jenny Pinkston, president; Amanda O'Brien, vice president; Allison Johnson, secretary; and Andrew Mothershead, treasurer. New Members are Joe Brunner, Mitch Bryant, Jonathan Burford, Erica Dirnberger, Lisa Essner, Ryan Glastetter, Adam Glueck, Tiffany Glueck, Tyler Grovenor, Josh Jones, Ashley Kern, Monica Senciboy, Andrea Kluesner and Samantha Kluesner...

The Cape Girardeau City Council Monday night entered a cooperative agreement with Southeast Missouri State University on management of a River Campus. The council unanimously approved the agreement, which spells out how the two would jointly finance and share control over the proposed improvements to the old St. Vincent's Seminary property...

The problem with attorneys is not based in reality but on image and public perception, said the Missouri Bar Association president in Cape Girardeau Monday. It is an image the bar will try to change with an upcoming advertising campaign. Bar association president Jennifer Gille Bacon said a major problem attorneys face is based on the public's attitude lawyers...

A government commission was greeted by sounds of silence at a hearing Monday night to get citizen input on public officials' salaries. Four people showed up at the hearing in a meeting room of the Show Me Center. Only two of them spoke publicly at the hearing conducted by the Missouri Citizens Commission on Compensation for Elected Officials...

After passing a joint resolution Monday reaffirming their support for three key highway projects, Cape Girardeau County's three largest government bodies next plan to ask the Missouri Department of Transportation to reconsider its priorities for highway construction within the county...

With a number of statewide issues and local elections facing Missouri voters, they should plan ahead for the Nov. 3 general election, say election officials. Planning would include making arrangements to cast a ballot and learning what is on the ballot, said Missouri Secretary of State Bekki Cook...

Last week while covering a story for the newspaper, I met an amazing group of children and their parents. The kids were tumbling across mats on the gym floor while their parents talked to me about a new gymnastics program offered by Southeast University...

The Cape Girardeau Board of Education has suspended action by an ad hoc committee while it reconsiders a policy regarding the naming of school buildings. An 11-member committee was seated earlier this month and charged with submitting three unranked recommendations to the school board for the naming of the district's newest elementary school under construction near the intersection of Sprigg and Bertling streets...

Missouri Secretary of State Bekki Cook offered these plain language explanations of the seven constitutional amendments and one change in state statute on the Nov. 3 general election ballot: Constitutional Amendment 1 Proposed by 89th General Assembly...

The way the University of Arkansas Razorbacks are rolling this year, it's enough to almost remind Nathan Norman of the days when he played high school football for Jackson's Indians. During Norman's last two years at Jackson, the Indians went a combined 23-5 and played in two Class 4A state championship games...

Southeast Missouri State University's football Indians will certainly be able to test their bounce-back capabilities and mental toughness this week. After several strong performances in a row, the Indians put together a real stinker Saturday as they were routed at home by Tennessee State 38-7...

Southeast Missouri State University's volleyball team will face a pair of crucial Ohio Valley Conference matches this week. The Otahkians will take on Austin Peay at 7 o'clock tonight at Houck Field House, then hit the road Thursday for a 7 p.m. match against league-leading Eastern Illinois in Charleston...

DE SOTO -- Nathan Windeknecht explored new horizons Monday. The Jackson High senior soccer standout, already the owner of several three-goal games this season, knocked in four scores in Jackson's 11-1 demolition of De Soto. Windeknecht now has an astounding 41 goals this season...

The Jackson Swim Team will hold two more signups at Parker Pool on the Southeast Missouri State University campus, Oct. 21 and Oct. 22 from 4:45-6:45 p.m. For more information, contact Ruth Ziegler at 243-8169.

If Edward Toatley's approach to swimming instruction seems somewhat scientific, it may have something to do with his background. Toatley, the new head coach of Cape Girardeau's Gator Swim Team, earned his college degree at the University of California in Physics...

The Evening Optimist Church Basketball League is accepting registrations for its upcoming league. Team registrations are from 2-4 p.m. on Nov. 1 and Nov. 7 at the First Baptist Church in Cape Girardeau. For information, call John Eaton at 334-0243.

The Cape Aces will sponsor a girls fastpitch softball camp Nov. 14 in the Cape Girardeau Central High School gym. The camp will be divided into two sessions. Session I is for girls in grades 9-12 and will run from 1-3:30 p.m. Session II is for girls in grades 3-8 and will run from 4-7:30 p.m...

In its 18th season, the Cape Youth Tackle Football League has suddenly gotten more visible. No, the players are not bigger or wearing brighter uniforms. Instead, the league has moved from the relative seclusion of Arena Park to the high profile spot of the new Osage Community Centre grounds located right off Kingshighway...

SIKESTON -- Funeral for Florence Mae Harper of Sikeston will be held at 1 p.m. today at McMikle Funeral Home in Charleston. The Rev. Mitchell Jackson will officiate, with burial in Armer Cemetery. Harper, 88, died Sunday, Oct. 18, 1998, at Miner Nursing Center in Miner...

PERRYVILLE -- Allen Joseph Berkbigler, 38, of Perryville died Sunday, Oct. 18, 1998, in St. Louis University Hospital, as a result of injuries received in an automobile accident. He was born Feb. 15, 1960, in St. Louis, son of Earl H. and Mary Lou Triller Berkbigler...

SIKESTON -- Funeral for Stuart Dewain "Stu" Fullerton of Sikeston was held Friday at DeLisle Funeral Home in Portageville. The Rev. Mark Inman officiated, with burial in Portageville. Fullerton, 44, died Wednesday, Oct. 14, 1998, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau...

DELTA -- Funeral for Albert "Rouge" Land of Delta will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Morgan Funeral Home in Advance. The Revs. Dan Baggett and Glen Golden will officiate. Burial will be in Morgan Memorial Park in Advance. Friends may call at the funeral home from 4-8 p.m. today...

Graveside service for Carroll E. Crites of Cherryvale, Kan., was held Friday at Fairview Cemetery in Cherryvale. Potts Chapel in Cherryvale was in charge of arrangements. Crites, 64, died Wednesday, Oct. 14, 1998, at Labette County Medical Center in Parsons, Kan...

NEW HAMBURG -- Funeral Mass for Sylvester "Vess" Heuring of New Hamburg was held Monday at St. Lawrence Catholic Church. The Revs. Ralph Duffner, Normand Varone, Robert Schumacher and William Stanton officiated. Burial was in the church cemetery. Amick-Burnett Funeral Chapel at Chaffee was in charge of arrangements...

COBDEN, Ill. -- Douglas Pearson, 55, of Cobden died Sunday, Oct. 18, 1998, at his home. He was born Jan. 20, 1943, in Cobden, son of Lee and Roxie Newberry Pearson. He and Pauline Cobb were married Sept. 10, 1994, in Makanda. Pearson was a site technician with Illinois Department of Natural Resources. He was a member of Water Valley Christian Church...

CAIRO, Ill. -- Clora Gregory, 98, of Cairo died Sunday, Oct. 18, 1998, at Daystar Care Center. She was born Dec. 6, 1899, in Sandy Ridge, Ky., daughter of James and Leona Canady Lawrence. She married Joseph Henry Gregory, who died in 1951. Gregory was a member of First Christian Church, VFW Auxiliary, and American Legion Auxiliary...

EAST CAPE GIRARDEAU, Ill. -- Robert F. Popstein, 60, of East Cape Girardeau died Sunday, Oct. 18, 1998, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau, Mo. He was born Dec. 6, 1937, in Peotone, son of Frank and Eileen Souligne Popstein. Popstein was a forklift operator at Roper in Bradley for 17 years. He had lived in this area three years. Popstein served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War...

PERRYVILLE -- Gladys V. Lorenz, 82, of Perryville died Sunday, Oct. 18, 1998, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. She was born Jan. 25, 1916, in Gill, Ark., daughter of David M. and Cora Hahn Holmes. She and Byron Lorenz were married Sept. 11, 1932. He died Sept. 10, 1992...

Daughter to John and Darlene Kruse of Ankeny, Iowa, St. John's Mercy Hospital in Des Moines, Iowa, Wednesday, Sept. 2, 1998. Name, Morgan Brooke. Weight, 9 pounds 8 ounces. Second child, first daughter. Mrs. Kruse is the daughter of Pat Hecht of Jackson and Gene Hecht of Altenburg. Kruse is the son of Robert and Cynthia Kruse of Palmyra...

DEXTER -- Alvin Roy Davison, 51, of Dexter died Monday, Oct. 19, 1998, at Dexter Memorial Hospital. Watkins and Sons Funeral Home at Dexter is in charge of arrangements.

ANNA, Ill. -- Janet Augusta Robinson, 91, of Champaign died Monday, Oct. 19, 1998, at Champaign County Nursing Home. She was born Aug. 19, 1907, in Anna, daughter of Richard and Mary Marks Robinson. Robinson retired as a secretary at the University of Illinois. She was a member of First Methodist Church in Champaign...

PULASKI, Ill. -- Arthur Throgmorton, 83, of Pulaski died Monday, Oct. 19, 1998, at Beverly Health and Rehabilitation Services of Cape Girardeau, Mo. He was born Aug. 18, 1915, in Mound City, son of Arthur Thomas and May Murrie Throgmorton. Throgmorton and his mother owned and operated Pulaski Telephone Co. 20 years. He was a member of University City Christian Church in University City, Mo...

DONGOLA, Ill. -- Imogene Davidson, 73, of Dongola was found dead Sunday, Oct. 18, 1998, at her home. She was born Dec. 18, 1924, in Anna, daughter of Grover and Ruth Vancil Simmerman. She and Paul Davidson were married Sept. 24, 1942. He died Feb. 10, 1996...

SIKESTON -- Margaret Davis, 62, of Sikeston died Friday, Oct. 16, 1998, at Missouri Delta Medical Center. She was born Feb. 12, 1936, at Wyatt, daughter of James and Averie Lee Weems Mallory Sr. She and Norman Davis were married Sept. 24, 1954. Davis was a member of Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church at Canalou...

SEDGEWICKVILLE -- Jane Ellen Nix, 60, of Sedgewickville died Sunday, Oct. 18, 1998, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. She was born March 4, 1938, at Commerce, daughter of Edwin and Anna Hale Held. She and Jerry Nix were married March 4, 1960, in Cape Girardeau...

Mabel Whitehead McCaslin, 93, of Pontiac, Mich., formerly of Bernie, died Saturday, Oct. 17, 1998, at Greenery Health Care Center in Clarkton, Mich. She was born Oct. 11, 1905, at Bernie, daughter of William and Suda Crump Whitehead. She was born and reared in the Bernie area but had lived in Michigan for the past 65 years. She was a member of the Apostolic Church of Christ at Pontiac and was active in the Salvation Army for many years...

Monday, Oct. 19 City Hall Public hearing -- Held hearing to consider the request fo voluntary annexation of property owned by Jenkins Heirs/City of Jackson. -- Held hearing to consider the request for the rezoning of a 20.32-acre tract of land at the northwest quadrant of East Jackson Boulevard and Old Orchard Road intersection from I-1 (light industrial) to C-2 (general commercial) as requested by Jim Besher...