Stories from Tuesday, October 27, 1998

Hunter Graham gets a faraway look as he talks about life as an explorer. He hopes someday, he will have the chance to travel the globe tracking animals and exploring jungles. "I want to be an explorer," said the first-grader from Carol Reimann's class at Clippard Elementary School...

Kris Weingaertner Hartke of the Special School District of St. Louis County will present a workshop at Southeast Missouri State University on Nov. 7. The workshop will focus on successful planning techniques to teach children with special needs. Participants will learn strategies such as: MAPS (Making Action Plans), adaptations and modifications, facilitating peer relationships, student collaboration strategies and team collaboration strategies...

A forum will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. Thursday at Cape Central High School on developing a graduation test for high school seniors. Cape Girardeau School District will be the host of the last in a series of statewide educational conferences. Since 1971, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education has sponsored the annual series of regional forums to discuss educational issues...

Missouri Secretary of State Bekki Cook says Missourians should get out and vote Tuesday. Cook brought her "get-out-the-vote" message to Cape Girardeau Monday. She delivered that message in an interview at the Southeast Missourian office before attending a political fund raiser for 8th District Democratic congressional candidate Tony Heckemeyer...

The promise of health, food and fashion tips enticed some 6,500 visitors to the Show Me Center for the seventh annual Heartland Women's Show over the weekend. This year's attendance dipped slightly from last year's record of more than 7,000 people. However, organizers said the attendance was strong considering the weekend's temperate weather and the absence of major attractions such as Art Ginsburg -- also known as Mr. ...

EAST PRAIRIE -- Winning the Democratic primary in August was a difficult feat for Mississippi County presiding commissioner Jim Blumenberg, who now faces opposition from Republican challenger Donald A. Raithel in the Nov. 3 election. Blumenberg lost his position briefly after challenger Steve Ledbetter won the primary by five votes. Blumenberg successfully challenged the election, however, after irregularities were found in the balloting...

Almost $4 million is available nationwide in the name of education through the Take Charge of Education scholarship. Teachers continuing their education may apply for the Target Teacher Scholarship. Each Target store will award two $500 scholarships and 82 scholarships valued at $1,500 will be given away nationally...

The Cape Girardeau Area Vocational Technical School held a graduation ceremony for Practical Nursing Class 24 Sept. 24 at Grace United Methodist Church. Each graduate received a diploma, nursing pin and single rose. The Student Nurse of the Year award was received by Jennifer Wessell. ...

Lani Bedwell, a student at Scott City High School, has been selected Student of the Month for October by the Cape Girardeau Exchange Club. She has been active in varsity basketball and track, and has worked at Appraisal Consultants Inc., Burger King, Kelso Recreation Department, and as a tutor. She has been active in Key Club, National Honor Society, Future Teachers of America, Student Council, Future Business Leaders of America, science club, pep club, band, Model U.N., and as class secretary...

The second annual Peace Corps Day will be held March 2, 1999, in honor of the Peace Corps' 38th anniversary. Thousands of returned volunteers will be asked to join the national celebration. Peace Corps Day is an annual event that takes returned volunteers into schools all across the country to teach students about their experiences living in another culture. An estimated 5,000 returned volunteers shared their experiences during the celebration last year...

Nine students were named to the Commended Students list in the 1999 national merit Scholarship Program. A Letter of Commendation from the school and National Merit Scholarship Corporation, which conducts the program, will be presented by the principal to these scholastically-talented seniors...

Kristin Swinford was recently selected for one of the performance positions on the sixth annual Belmont University School of Music Classical Singer's Recital. She performed Oct. 18 in Massey Concert Hall, located on the campus of Belmont University in Nashville, Tenn...

Buck McNeely spends most of his time in the office preparing for trips and television shows. A baboon is one of the trophies in his office. In the small Cape Girardeau production studio and office, Buck McNeely talked last week with a cable television executive about the possibility of adding his outdoor adventure show to their line-up...

Space ... the final frontier. It has certainly been in the news this week as 77-year-old astronaut John Glenn plans his return to space Thursday on the Shuttle Discovery. There are numerous sites on the Internet that are following this historic shuttle flight, which launches at 1 p.m. Thursday from Kennedy Space Center in Florida...

JACKSON -- Joseph Graefe tries to make learning fun for his students by combining his enjoyment of football and goal-setting. Graefe is a 13-year teaching veteran who currently teaches fourth-graders at St. Paul Lutheran School. He likes to use a program called "Goalpost Geography" to help students learn about the world...

Franklin Elementary School students decided Monday that a tepee is a nice place to visit, but they wouldn't want to live there. "I don't know about that. I'd have to get used to it," Anthony Cervantes, 10, said of living in a tepee. His fourth-grade classmate Laura Hagler, 10, agreed. "I don't think so. My dog would be able to jump out the door or crawl under the edge, and I don't think I'd like that," she said...

Plans to present information about disaster preparedness took a step forward Monday when members of Cape Girardeau's Project Impact met at the Convention and Visitors Bureau to map out an educational and public outreach effort for the city. Public information campaign themes for each month of next year were tentatively set by the Education and Public Outreach Committee of Project Impact. The themes range from earthquake awareness to public health issues to handling hazardous materials...

What do the three candidates for Congress in the 8th District think about the future of Social Security and Medicare, farm policy and campaign finance reform? Are they opposed to abortion? Do they favor gun control? U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Emerson, Democratic challenger Tony Heckemeyer and Libertarian candidate John Hendricks answer those and other questions beginning today in the Southeast Missourian. ...

The east facade of old St. Vincent's Seminary should be preserved. So should an old handball court and an ancient beech tree that grace the property overlooking the Mississippi River. Those are just some of the preliminary recommendations of members of a Southeast Missouri State University committee that is considering what items of architectural or historic significance should be preserved in conjunction with efforts to redevelop the former seminary into the university's River Campus...

With the constant campaign ads airing on television and radio, nearly everyone in the country knows that next week is Election Day. Locally, voters will be asked to decide nearly everything from choosing county officials to raising sales taxes. In the news business, Election Day (or night in the case of a morning newspaper) is chock full of phone calls, precinct returns and late hours. It's about as chaotic as the newsroom gets all year. And it's plenty of fun...

The Southeast Missourian Web staff will offer beginning Internet training in November and December. The class is 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 CANAVERAL, Fla. -- John Glenn, Payload Specialist No. 2, arrived for his launch countdown Monday -- about an hour late because of airplane problems that left one crewmate temporarily stranded across the state. He and his six fellow astronauts left Houston earlier in the day in five T-38 training jets and stopped for refueling at Tyndall Air Force Base in the Florida Panhandle. A battery problem with one of the jets left astronaut Scott Parazynski waiting for a lift at Tyndall...

Each of the three candidates for 8th District were asked the same set of questions. the candidates will appear in the order they were interviewed. Jo Ann Emerson's interview will run Wendesday. Tony Heckemeyer's interview will be published Thursday. The interviews were edited for length...

To the editor: On behalf of the Programs in Dance at Southeast Missouri State University and as a proud resident of Cape Girardeau, I want to take this opportunity to thank all the dedicated and committed individuals of both the Cape region and the university community for their wonderful support in bringing Miami City Ballet to our area. ...

To the editor: From your newspaper and national television news, I am reading and hearing that the members of the House and Senate do not have the stomach for impeachment and conviction of Bill Clinton. Evidently, very few members feel their own backgrounds are clear enough to cast stones at the president...

To the editor: I am writing in response to an Oct. 24 letter that appeared to represent the views of KRCU-FM on the proposed River Campus. KRCU has no view on the River Campus or any other issue. As a licensee of the public trust. KRCU strives to inform the region on issues that are of concern to our listeners. ...

Amendment 9: "Shall the Constitution be amended to authorize the General Assembly to permit upon the Mississippi and Missouri rivers only, including artificial spaces containing water that are within 1,000 feet of the closest edge of the main channel of either of those rivers, lotteries, gift enterprises and games of chance to be conducted on excursion gambling boats and floating facilities and to provide that any license issued before or after the adoption of this amendment for any such boat or facility located in any such artificial space shall be deemed authorized by the general assembly and compliant with this section?". ...

To the editor: A Southeast Missouri State University economist wrote a letter to the editor saying buildings don't attract students to a university. I strongly disagree. I know lots of guys who chose a particular university solely on the basis of the external and internal appaearance of a building...

Save for an injury to Demetrius Watson, Southeast Missouri State University men's basketball coach Gary Garner said he couldn't be more pleased with the way the first week of practice went. "I'm really happy," said Garner prior to Monday's workout, which marked the beginning of the second week of practice for the Indians. "The attitude and work ethic of our team is just really good. Our players are working extremely hard and I feel really positive about that...

With Southeast Missouri State University's hopes of a winning football season fading fast, the Indians need to turn around their recently struggling fortunes in a hurry. Head coach John Mumford hopes the beginning of a strong close to the 1998 campaign will take place during the Indians' homecoming game Saturday against Middle Tennessee State. The kickoff at Houck Stadium is set for 1 p.m...

PERRYVILLE -- No. 5 seed Perryville, which captured the Class 4A district tournament title last year but went just 11-14-2 this regular season after dropping one classification to Class 3A, knocked off No. 4 seed Park Hills Central Monday in an opening-round match in the Class 3A, District 2 tournament...

STE. GENEVIEVE -- Lucille S. Eydmann, 77, a native of Cape Girardeau and a resident of Ste. Genevieve, died Monday, Oct. 26, 1998, at Ste. Genevieve County Hospital. She was born Sept. 12, 1921, the daughter of Charles F. and Clara Milde Steck. She married Phillip A. Eydmann in 1946. He preceded her in death in May 1990...

KARNAK, Ill. -- Margaret Hill, 71, of Karnak died Sunday, Oct. 25, 1998, at Western Baptist Hospital in Paducah, Ky. She was born Sept. 1, 1927, in Massac County, daughter of Aldrich and Ethel Marshall Cummins. Hill retired as a bookkeeper with Housing Urban Development. She was a member of the Pentecostal Church...

SEDGEWICKVILLE -- Funeral for Carroll Lynn Cook Jr. of Sedgewickville will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday at Little Whitewater Baptist Church. The Rev. Daniel Hale will officiate, with burial in Pulliam Cemetery. Friends may call at Cracraft-Miller Funeral Home in Jackson from 5-8 p.m. today...

VILLA RIDGE, Ill. -- Alice Mathis, 87, died Sunday, Oct. 25, 1998, at Eunice C. Smith Nursing Home in Alton. She was born June 15, 1911, in Villa Ridge, daughter of Harry and Alice Prindle Leidigh. She and John W. Mathis were married June 29, 1932, in Carbondale. He preceded her in death...

Son to Andrew H. and Teresa Dillard of St. Louis, Missouri Baptist Hospital, Tuesday, Oct. 6, 1998. Name, Andrew Howard II. Weight, 8 pounds 6 ounces. Second child, first son. Mrs. Dillard is the daughter of Dr. and Mrs. T. Tangonan of Kennett. Dillard is the son of Mr. and Mrs. R. Howard Dillard of Cape Girardeau...

ESSEX -- Grace Barber of Essex died Monday, Oct. 26, 1998, at Dexter Memorial Hospital in Dexter. Watkins and Sons Funeral Home at Dexter is in charge of arrangements.

ESSEX -- Clarence Richard "Syl" McMullin, 75, of Essex died Monday, Oct. 26, 1998, at Dexter Memorial Hospital. He was born Nov. 10, 1922, in Essex, son of Syl Vester and Addie Swan McMullin. He and June Mozell Alberson were married Oct. 7, 1946, in Piggott, Ark...

CHAFFEE -- Memorial service for Omega Jackson White of Sacramento, Calif., will be held today at Florin United Methodist Church in Sacramento. Burial will be in Federal Veterans Cemetery in Gustine, Calif. Formerly of Chaffee, White moved to Sacramento 25 years ago...

Joseph Harding Kipping, 78, of Clearwater, Fla., died Saturday, Oct. 24, 1998, at Integrated Health Services of Florida in Clearwater. He was born Oct. 22, 1920, in Cape Girardeau, son of Johann Wilhelm Albert and Clara Ida Birk Kipping. Kipping had been an electrical engineer. He was a major in the U.S. Air Force during World War II, serving from 1939-59...

SIKESTON -- Isabell Dodds, 96, of Sikeston died Sunday, Oct. 26, 1998, at Missouri Delta Medical Center. She was born Aug. 10, 1902, in Monroe County, Miss., daughter of Jefferson and Ila Brooms Copeland. She and William Dodds were married in 1925 in Prairie, Miss. He preceded her in death...

ANNA, Ill. -- Fred W. Blaylock, 70, of Anna died Sunday, Oct. 25, 1998, at Union County Hospital. He was born April 5, 1928, in Jonesboro, son of Logan and Edith Wilson Blaylock. He and Geraldine Caraker were married Oct. 30, 1948. Blaylock was county clerk of Union County from 1966-86. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps...

Funeral for Glenn Edward King of Cape Girardeau will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday at Cracraft-Miller Funeral Home in Jackson. The Revs. Jimmy Merity, Howard McGee and Jimmy Winfrey will officiate, with burial in Russell Heights Cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home Wednesday from noon to service time...

TAMMS, Ill. -- Alma Marie Barbeau, 79, of Tamms died Monday, Oct. 26, 1998, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. She was born Aug. 9, 1919, at Pocahontas, Ark., daughter of Silas and Anna Weaver Buckley. She married Elmer Barbeau, who died in 1985...

PERRYVILLE -- Nancy A. Carroll, 99, of Indian Lake, Texas, died Saturday, Oct. 24, 1998, at her home. She was born Oct. 16, 1899, in Summersville, daughter of James Catlett and Rachael Isabell Bond Moore. She first married Arthur F. Valleroy of Perryville Aug. 7, 1921. He died July 24, 1966. She later married John P. Carroll in 1970. He died in February 1976...

CHAFFEE -- Graveside service for Irma Lou Springer of Chaffee will be held at 2 p.m. today at Lightner Cemetery in Scott City. The Rev. John Davis will officiate. Amick-Burnett Funeral Chapel in Scott City is in charge of arrangements. Springer, 84, died Monday, Oct. 26, 1998, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau...

JACKSON -- Alvin Glenn Starzinger, 81, of Jackson died Sunday, Oct. 25, 1998, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. He was born Oct. 2, 1917, at Egypt Mills, son of Fred and Alma Steinhoff Starzinger. He and Inez Hutson were married Sept. 5, 1942, in Perryville...

LILBOURN -- Terrance Aaron "Terry" Clark, 30, of Lilbourn died Sunday, Oct. 25, 1998, as the result of a pedestrian-automobile accident near Lilbourn. He was born Jan. 31, 1968, at Malden, son of Leroy Johnson and Gloria Clark. Clark attended New Madrid County Central High School, and was a member of Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church...