Stories from Friday, December 4, 1998

To the editor: On behalf of the Toybox effort and the Southeast Missourian, I want to thank the Cape Road Runners for a great race before the annual Holiday Parade of Lights. The event raised over $500 in toys and cash contributions for needy children, making their Christmas a brighter and happier time of year. With 80 runners taking to the crowd-lined course down Broadway, I know every participant enjoyed the applause and encouragement along the way...

The following construction work by the Missouri Department of Transportation may cause travel delays for area motorists: WHERE? Rt. HH 4 km. east of Hwy. 61 at St. Johns Ditch in Scott County. WHAT? Replacing bridge with three-cell box culvert. WHEN?...

A 156-year-old house once occupied by a daughter of city founder Don Louis Lorimier and an abode designed by Sears, Roebuck and Company are the latest candidates for local landmark designation by the City of Cape Girardeau. If their applications are approved by the City Council, they would increase the number of local historic landmarks to 17 five years after the register was initiated...

In 1861 a French physician, Prosper Meniere, first described an abnormality of the inner ear causing severe dizziness, a roaring or ringing sound in the ears, fluctuating hearing loss, and a sensation of fullness or pain in the affected ear. This condition now bears his name, but in medical terms it is referred to as endolymphatic hydrops...

A Lunch with Santa will be served Saturday, sponsored by the Cape Girardeau Evening Optimists. The event will be held from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at Notre Dame High School. The lunch menu includes hot dogs, chili dogs, chips and soda. Children may have their pictures taken with Santa Claus or Mrs. Claus...

Herman Weaver, a former NFL punter with the Detroit Lions and the Seattle Seahawks, remembers the day his life really changed. It wasn't the day a football scout from the University of Tennessee saw him play. The scout was at the high school game to watch a player on the opposing team, but spotted Weaver and offered a scholarship to the youngster from a tiny Georgia town...

Driving is a skill most of us take for granted. Advancing age, accident or affliction, however, can make driving a car seem almost impossible. Impossible, that is, without help. "Driving is the highest level of daily activity we perform," said Ellen K. Holcomb, senior occupational therapist at the St. Francis Center for Health and Rehabilitation...

A SPEAK Out caller recently waxed indignant over those who refused to judge others as God might. To me, this caller typifies the most serious problem in America today. Writer Edmund White puts it best. In the December issue of Harper's magazine, White warns against "hysterical evangelism with its red-necked bigotry, its we're saved and your damned certainties." Thus it is likely that the most self-righteous Speak Out callers are the scariest...

More than three weeks ago, the chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, Henry Hyde, sent a list of 81 questions to President Clinton asking for yes-or-no responses. The questions, the chairman indicated, would help speed up the impeachment hearing process -- something the president clearly would like to see come to a close as soon as possible...

Public high schools more and more frequently around the nation are requiring students to perform volunteer community service as a requirement for graduation. One Chicago-area school that has had this requirement for more than 20 years is now facing a quandary: Can volunteer work at church be counted and not somehow erode separation of church and state?...

To the editor: Whatever happened to Thanksgiving? What happened to turkeys and pilgrims? I remember when I was a little girl my class preparing for Thanksgiving by making little table centerpieces out of construction paper, glue and imagination. We would dress up and tell the story of Thanksgiving. Now Thanksgiving gets run over by the Christmas rush. It's left smoking in the sleigh exhaust...

To the editor: I was unable to attend the meeting Monday night to discuss the seminary plans. What a pleasure to read the account of the meeting in your newspaper. It's good to know that Cape Girardeau is in the mainstream of American thought. As one watches the federal government in action, it is apparent that there is no end to the good that can be done with other people's money. Our Legislature and governor are equally adept at appropriating the funds of others for worthwhile projects...

Superintendents at two Missouri school districts have been named finalists for the top school job in Cape Girardeau. Dan Steska, superintendent at Arcadia Valley R-II District in Iron County, and David G. Smith, superintendent at Excelsior Springs District near Kansas City, will be in Cape Girardeau next week to meet with faculty, staff and the public...

CHARLESTON -- A part of Interstate 57 interchange was closed for nearly nine hours Thursday following a double fatality tractor-trailer accident. The Missouri Highway Patrol said the accident occurred when the driver fell asleep. The driver, Erin Wynn, 41, and a passenger, Randolph Pryor, 43, both of Olive Branch, Miss., died when their truck ran off the interstate near Charleston and struck a concrete pillar, the patrol said...

Warm weather is upsetting the internal clocks of blooming plants and guys who would rather be outdoors. Once again, there is good reason for everyone to be talking about the weather. The unusually warm autumn -- has the thermometer dipped below freezing yet? -- is good news for some, not so good news for others...

U.S. Sen. John Ashcroft may be in a charitable mood these days, but he still thinks President Clinton should resign. Ashcroft and fellow Missourian and U.S. Sen. Christopher "Kit" Bond stuffed Christmas bags for veterans at the Salvation Army building during a brief stop in Cape Girardeau Thursday afternoon...

The beginning of the second half was the beginning of the end for the University of Tulsa Thursday night. The Southeast Missouri State Otahkians (4-2) opened the second half with a 14-5 run over visiting Tulsa and coasted to an 80-63 win. "It was a good win. We call this a blue-collar job," Southeast head coach Ed Arnzen said. "I didn't think we played especially well, particularly in the first half. We shot well, but I didn't think we played defense very well."...

CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. -- Kahn Cotton, coming back from knee problems to see his first action of the season Thursday night, did not make a field goal. But what a huge difference Southeast Missouri State University's senior guard was nonetheless as the Indians opened Ohio Valley Conference play with a 74-65 road victory over Austin Peay...

ST. LOUIS -- Before meeting Fox on Thursday, Cape Girardeau Central High's girls basketball team already had in hand the championship of the round-robin Oakville Tournament. But lackluster Central was not. Thanks to a stifling defensive effort, the Lady Tigers routed Fox 73-12. They improved to 3-0...

PATTON -- Visitation for William T. Pogue, 70, of Patton will be from 4 to 9 p.m. today at Liley Funeral Home in Patton. Funeral will be Saturday at 11 a.m. at the funeral chapel, with the Rev. Jeffrey Lloyd officiating. Burial will be in the Reagan Chapel Cemetery near Patton...

MOUND CITY, Ill. -- Funeral for Nellie L. Doom of Sandy, Ore., will be held at 1 p.m. Monday at Barkett Funeral Home in Mound City. The Rev. Nell Bierman will officiate, with burial in Beechwood Cemetery at Mounds. Friends may call at the funeral home after 5 p.m. Sunday...

A memorial service for John D. Davis of Cape Girardeau will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday at Lorberg Memorial Funeral Chapel. The Rev. Philip Curran will officiate. Burial will be in Guthrie, Okla. Davis, 76, died Tuesday, Nov. 24, 1998, at St. Francis Medical Center...

Marjorie A. Hecht, 64, of Cape Girardeau died Wednesday, Dec. 2, 1998, at her home. She was born March 3, 1934, in Perry County, daughter of Frank and Ada Dunn Martin. She and Dean R. Hecht were married July 5, 1952, near Longtown. Hecht owned and operated Cape Answering Service 25 years, retiring in 1988. She was a charter member of St. Mark Lutheran Church...

MOUNDS, Ill. -- Doug Long, 69, of Mounds died Wednesday, Dec. 2, 1998, at Union County Hospital in Anna. He was born Sept. 17, 1929, in Salem, Ky., son of Gene and Leona Sharp. Survivors include two sons, Mike Long of Villa Ridge, Doug Long of Mounds; two daughters, Brenda Snider of Marion, Lisa Calvert of Mounds; two stepsons, John Tucker of Mound City, Jerry Kurtz of Mounds; two stepdaughters, Judy Webb of Marion, Lisa Calvert of Mounds; a sister, Luvene Duckworth of Dongola; a brother, Roy Long of Mounds; a friend, Colleen Colbroth of Mounds; several grandchildren and great-grandchildren.. ...

BELL CITY -- Funeral for Larry James of Bell City will be held at 2:30 p.m. today at Morgan Funeral Home in Advance. The Rev. Ted Stone will officiate, with burial in Gravel Hill Cemetery near Bell City. Friends may call at the funeral home from 1 p.m. until service time...

Thelma Van Zant, 85, of Keokuk, Iowa, died Wednesday, Dec. 2, 1998, at River Hills Nursing Home in Keokuk. She was born Aug. 11, 1913, in Bollinger County, daughter of Jasper Samuel and Grace Sample McGee. She and Herbert Louis Sohl were married Feb. 13, 1936. He died Nov. 15, 1969. She later married Paul Van Zant Feb. 25, 1973. He died Aug. 14, 1991...

PERRYVILLE -- Patricia Ann "Patti" Baughman of Perryville died Thursday, Dec. 3, 1998, at Missouri Baptist Hospital in St. Louis. She was 57. She was born Jan. 11, 1941, daughter of Alvin and Arvada Nichols Hysler. They survive of Springfield, Ill. She first married Richard Smith, who preceded her in death. She married Ardell Baughman April 9, 1988. He survives of Perryville...