Stories from Tuesday, December 22, 1998

The most delicious moment of last weekend's extraordinary events in Washington came following the stunning announcement by Speaker-designate Bob Livingston of Louisiana. Echoed by White House spokesmen, and summoning their most sincere tones, Democrat after House Democrat urged Livingston to reverse course and not to resign from the House of Representatives...

Rush H. Limbaugh Sr. of Cape Girardeau, who died in April 1996 at age 104, was one of state's leading legal voices. At the time of his death, he was the oldest practicing attorney in the nation. In June 1974, as the nation was weathering the likely impeachment of President Richard M. Nixon, Limbaugh wrote an essay on the impeachment process and its many dangers. That essay contains thoughts that are just as appropriate in 1998 as they were in 1974: Here is the essay:...

Times change. In colonial times, the worst news was "The British are coming!" Today it's "My computer just died!" Prices have jumped so high on cigarettes that the cost of smoking tobacco is more than the fine for lighting a joint of marijuana. The most recent version of Missouri's highway plan calls for motorists not to expect any improvements until workers install detour signs on the only route into town...

Waitresses often help finish preparation of the food. Grace Williams kept track of her orders through a time clock to make sure her customers were served quickly. Grace Williams served a salad to customer Betty Isbell at the Royal N'Orleans Restaurant...

Clippard School first-grader Alli Kluesner has decided she wants to be a waitress when she grows up. Carrying plates of food looks like fun to her, but there's another reason the job appeals to Alli. "I wouldn't ever get called in," she says. That happens to her mother, Joanie, a nurse at Southeast Missouri Hospital...

Cape Girardeau's police chief clarified the department's policy regarding shoplifters Monday after a city councilman questioned whether offenders might be getting off lightly. Police Chief Rick Hetzel said the department treats shoplifting seriously...

JACKSON -- The Jackson Board of Aldermen approved a 1999 budget of $15.8 million Monday night, a 5 percent increase from the amount the city spent in 1998. The city's East Main Street extension project will account for a $1.165 million expenditure in 1999. Other new costs include the funding of five new city positions, including three new firefighters, another policeman and a city engineer...

Thanks for your feedback on Internet games. Among other online gaming sites our readers recommendations include Yahoo Games and Yahoo Pager. You can find them both at www.yahoo.com One reader recommended a site with an assortment of online games. www.bonus.com...

Deonte Jenkins, 4, knew Santa Claus would be delivering toys and other presents Monday night, but he didn't expect him to come without a sleigh and eight reindeer. Deonte greeted Santa with a hug and smile, gladly welcoming him inside a warm home while sleet fell outside making roads and sidewalks slick...

MARBLE HILL -- Bollinger County government could be better managed financially by adopting recommendations of a state audit, Missouri Auditor Margaret Kelly said. The recommendations would allow the county government to be more efficiently and effectively managed, Kelly said in a statement released from Jefferson City...

JACKSON -- Jackson Mayor Paul W. Sander will run for a fourth term in the general election in April. "I would like to continue serving the citizens of Jackson as mayor and see the completion of current and future projects," he said. "We have accomplished much these last several years, but there is still much work to be done."...

Winter has arrived with a vengeance. A blast of arctic air preceded by freezing precipitation swept the region late Monday, plummeting temperatures. Icy roadways, blowing snow and wind made for dangerous travel as the storm swept Missouri. Monday was the first day of winter, and National Weather Service forecasters expect temperatures to plunge further across the region...

It never is hard to get members of the Cape Girardeau Jaycees to don red velvet suits and practice their belly laughs for Toybox deliveries. "We never have to twist arms," said Barb Hopkins, a Jaycees member who helped organize and enlist the troop of Santas for Toybox deliveries Monday night...

A perfect attendance policy that some feared was prompting some Cape Girardeau students to come to school sick will remain in place following an administrative review. However, the district will take a look at a different section of its attendance policy concerning the number of absences students may accumulate during a semester...

Christmas shopping always leaves me in a quandary over what gifts to buy and for whom. In years past, I had lists from relatives and made lists of the gifts I wanted to receive that they used in shopping. This year, Christmas sort of snuck up on me. I was busy going about my life -- doing those day-to-day things we all do but don't even think about -- when a glance at the calendar reminded me that it was DECEMBER. The month was passing quickly and shopping days were dwindling...

SPRINGFIELD -- Southeast Missouri State University's basketball Indians have had some extremely big wins already this season. The Indians have knocked off Tennessee State and Austin Peay -- picked to finish second and third in the Ohio Valley Conference -- on the road...

JACKSON -- The Rev. Andrew J. Fowler of Jackson died Monday, Dec. 21, 1998, at Southeast Missouri Hospital. He was 75. He was born April 5, 1923, at Desloge, son of Andrew and Mary Hunt Fowler. He married Lucy Bohnnenkamp at Desloge on June 8, 1946. She survives...

BLOOMFIELD -- Bill Duncan, 60, of Bloomfield died Sunday, Dec. 20, 1998, at his home. He was born Aug. 11, 1938, at Sturdivant, son of Charles and Octa Welker Duncan. He and Mary Parks were married Sept. 6, 1958, at Bloomfield. Survivors include his wife; a son, Charles Duncan of Bloomfield; a daughter, Donna Aslin of Bloomfield; two sisters, Betty Sutton of Arnold, Ruth White of Park Hills; and two grandchildren...

CHAFFEE -- Juanita Land, 86, of Chaffee died Monday, Dec. 21, 1998, at Chaffee Nursing Center. She was born Sept. 16, 1912, at Chaffee, daughter of Charlie and Cedella Priccia Snider Schultz. She and Hess Land were married July 26, 1941. He died Aug. 7, 1995...

CHAFFEE -- Hazel Ann Hastings, 57, of Chaffee died Monday, Dec. 21, 1998, at her home. She was born Dec. 24, 1940, at Allenville, daughter of Amon Edward and Dollie B. Smith Seabaugh. She and Everett R. Hastings were married April 11, 1988. Hastings had been a machine operator at Florsheim Shoe Co. in Cape Girardeau...

Virginia Dubs, 71, of Cape Girardeau died Monday, Dec. 21, 1998, at the McAllen Medical Center in McAllen, Texas. Plans are pending at the Lorberg Memorial Funeral Chapel in Cape Girardeau.

Fred James Langston, 72, of Cape Girardeau died Sunday, Dec. 20, 1998, at Cochran Veterans Hospital in St. Louis. He was born April 22, 1926, in Cape Girardeau, son of Albert and Bertha Lipps Langston. He and Patricia Campbell were married Dec. 2, 1964...

Daughter to Keith Vernon and Rhonda Lee Compas of Cape Girardeau, Southeast Missouri Hospital, 5:58 a.m. Friday, Dec. 18, 1998. Name, Jordan Taylor. Weight, 7 pounds 8 ounces. Mrs. Compas is the former Rhonda Smith, daughter of Ronnie and Phyllis Smith of Cape Girardeau. She is employed at Horizon Music. Compas is the son of Vernon and Elwanda Compas of Cape Girardeau. He is employed at the Southeast Missourian Newspaper...

Gennice Gipson, music teacher at May Greene Elementary School in Cape Girardeau, became a teacher in hopes of helping others and making a difference in the world. Imagine her surprise when she learned what an impact she had made on one kindergarten student. The youngster wanted to express his admiration, and said, "Mrs. Gipson, you have some nice dress shoes on today."...

When the Harlem Globetrotters come to the Show Me Center Jan. 11, they will add new memories for a new generation of Globetrotter fans. In a recent junior reporter contest sponsored by the Southeast Missourian and the Harlem Globetrotters, students were invited to interview an adult with a Globetrotter memory. ...