Stories from Saturday, December 19, 1998

When Muslim religious leaders see the crescent moon in the skies over Southeast Missouri, the Ramadan observance begins. The official start of the holiday began at sundown Friday in many Mideast nations. Ramadan is the holy month of fasting for Muslims, the Islamic followers of the sixth-century prophet Muhammad...

The chances of having a white Christmas next week are less than 50-50, according to the National Weather Service. But with the unpredictability of the weather lately, don't even bet on that, meteorologists say. "There hasn't been much consistency in what the computer runs have been saying," said Mike York, a meteorologist at the NWS office in Paducah, Ky...

Hundreds of Missouri business owners and some homeowners with underground fuel-storage tanks face hefty fines, cleanup costs or both as Tuesday's federal deadline approaches for upgrading the tanks. Crews can be observed at a number of service stations removing or relining old tanks...

Three years after developer Stephen E. Strom started looking for a new home for a historic barn, he found the perfect spot. Today, weather permitting, the 100-year-old oak logs that make up the barn will be taken apart and moved to the Saxon Lutheran Memorial at Frohna...

Two statewide citizens groups want the Missouri Legislature to develop and submit to voters a new transportation-and-tax plan. They say the plan is needed because the state Highways and Transportation Commission scrapped the 15-year highway plan. The groups are the Missouri Transportation and Development Council and the Missouri Highway Corridor Coalition...

Declared construction costs in Cape Girardeau this year could top $40 million for the fourth time this decade. During the first 11 months of 1998, more than 450 permits declaring construction costs of more than $38 million were recorded by Cape Girardeau Inspection Services Division. Adding December's figures, the total stands at 515 permits with a value of about $39 million...

To the editor: We as Americans are no doubt facing a time that will long be remembered in history. We have already lived through so many embarrassing moments for our country. And it appears that is far from over. Yes, I am talking about Bill Clinton. ...

Nearly a decade ago, then-President Bush and the nation's governors set a series of goals for America's schoolchildren in reading, math, graduation rates and other measures. But the national education goals panel says the nation's public schools will fall short of the goals for 2000...

Along these same lines, U.S. Sen. Christopher Bond wants to cut the regulatory strings on education money. Bravo. Bond's proposed Direct Check for Education is a step in the right direction. The proposal would let local school officials decide how to spend their dollars. The amount would be based the number of students and average daily attendance...

To the editor: I had decided to let Mr. Cron get away with accusing me of "character assassination" after which he proceeded to attack my own character, to wit: "Mr. Hodge assumes that he is pure of heart and of superior intellect and divine wisdom." He said my letter was "devoid of anything resembling fact. He relies on pure emotion, character assassination and hyperbole to attempt to make his point." Unfortunately, he recently felt the need to spout off again...

I DON'T believe we should go on with this impeachment process. There aren't enough votes or conscience in our government officials. The public doesn't want this by a 70 percent margin, so they deserve this no values-no morals character to fit the no values and character which the majority of our country has become...

MARBLE HILL -- Floyd Penny saw a need to help people of Bollinger County, and for the third year in a row will distribute food baskets. He is looking for help so the project can meet needs of a growing number of people. This year's distribution will take place Dec. 23 at noon at a Main Street storefront that says New Life Fellowship Congregation. The church no longer uses the building...

The long-awaited announcement regarding the future of Southeast Missouri State University football coach John Mumford finally came Friday. And for Mumford and his staff, it was definitely good news. Despite a 10-23 record over the past three seasons -- including this year's 3-8 mark -- Mumford has been given a one-year contract extension, meaning he will be the head coach of his 10th Southeast football team in 1999...

Although a 103-pound Hoss (Hodges of Cape Girardeau Central High) and a 160-pound Pee Wee (Bartles of Jackson) fell in the second round, Jackson and Central emerged in the top seven after the first day of the 14th annual Tiger Classic Friday. With 94 points, Seckman of Arnold sits atop Southeast Missouri's premier wrestling event after the quarterfinal round...

Friday night's HealthSouth Holiday Classic championship game was a typical catchup between speed and size. No. 2 seed Poplar Bluff took advantage of its quickness and downed No. 1 Jackson 56-50 at the Show-Me Center. After trailing most of the game, the Lady Mules tied it at 39 with 6:06 left when senior guard Amy Hendricks swished a 3-pointer. It was the first time Poplar Bluff wasn't trailing since the first quarter when it was 2-2...

FARMINGTON -- Cape Girardeau Central High boys basketball coach Brett Reutzel was understandably disappointed by his team's performance Friday night. The Tigers, coming off an impressive third-place finish at last week's Sikeston Tournament, were routed by the host Knights 70-51 despite leading by three points at halftime...

Cape Girardeau Central High's girls basketball team picked up its second victory over Notre Dame in a little more than a week as the Lady Tigers prevailed 39-27 Friday night to take third place in the HealthSouth Classic Holiday Tournament at the Show Me Center...

ADVANCE -- Funeral for Katholeen Cook will be held at 2 p.m. today at Chiles-Cooper Funeral Home in Bloomfield. The Rev. David Light will officiate, with burial in Gravel Hill Cemetery near Bloomfield. Cook, 87, died Thursday, Dec. 17, 1998, in Advance...

Virginia Azalea Snyder, 75, of Junction City, Kan., died Thursday, Dec. 17, 1998, at Geary Community Hospital. She was born Sept. 6, 1923, in Cape Girardeau, daughter of Milton and Willie Harris Cobb. She and Leroy Mead Snyder were married June 26, 1946...

PERRYVILLE -- Ruth M. Lintner, 85, of Perryville died Thursday, Dec. 17, 1998, at Perry County Memorial Hospital. She was born April 19, 1913, in Perry County, daughter of Benjamain and Gilbertha Ann Bergman Klobe. She and Herbert Lintner were married Feb. 4, 1932. He died Feb. 23, 1966...

SIKESTON -- Funeral for Kristie Lynn Burnett of Sikeston will be held at 1 p.m. today at McMikle Funeral Home in Charleston. Burial will be in Anniston Cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home from 10:30 a.m. until service time. Burnett, 27, died Thursday, Dec. 17, 1998, from injuries received in a car accident on Highway 61...

Donald Edgar Stehr, 64, of Dallas, Texas, died unexpectedly Thursday, Dec. 17, 1998, at his lake home in Crockett, Texas. He was born March 28, 1934, in Cape Girardeau, son of Edgar R. and Lillian Schwab Stehr. He and Carolyn Sander were married in August 1958, in Jackson...

ANNA, Ill. -- Joseph Dennehy, 88, of Anna died Friday, Dec., 18, 1998, at Union County Hospital in Anna. Memorial service will be at 2 p.m. Sunday at the Illinois Veterans Home in Anna. Military rites will be performed by Carroll P. Foster VFW Post 3455 of Anna...

SIKESTON -- Richard Lee "Dick" Springs, 64, of Sikeston died Thursday, Dec. 17, 1998, at Missouri Delta Medical Center. He was born May 16, 1934, at Sikeston, son of Ernest "Buddy" and Laura Turley Springs. He and Earla Mae Waldo were married July 24, 1953...

WETAUG, Ill. -- James A. Stamp Jr., 70, of Wetaug, and formerly of Murphysboro, died Thursday, Dec. 17, 1998 at his home. He was born Nov. 7, 1928, at Grand Tower, son of James A. Sr. and Fannie May Gulley Stamp. He married Karol Martin on July 22, 1983...

Son to Kevin Scott and Rebekah Anne Miller of Cape Girardeau, Southeast Missouri Hospital, 4:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 10, 1998. Name, Preston Scott. Weight, 6 pounds 12 ounces. Third child, second son. Mrs. Miller is the former Rebekah Ruopp, daughter of Kathleen Ruopp of Cape Girardeau, and the late Timothy Ruopp. She is employed at Christian School for the Young Years. Miller is the son of Larry Miller of Scott City, and the late Coral Anne Miller. He is employed by Fronabarger...

SCOTT CITY -- Funeral for Laura Elizabeth Adline Baker Spooler of Scott City will be held at 1 p.m. today at Amick-Burnett Funeral Chapel in Scott City. The Rev. Randy Morse will officiate, with burial in Union Park Cemetery at Chaffee. Spooler, 95, died Thursday, Dec. 17, 1998, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau...

I read an interesting letter last week in which the individual wrote beautifully of the true meaning of Christmas. No, it's no news to the majority of Americans that the true meaning of Christmas has been snowed under by other forces vying for prominence. The glad tidings of the season is "Sale! 50 percent off!" and a certain round figure in a red velvet suit seems to have taken center stage...