Stories from Tuesday, December 29, 1998

Searching for a good time? How about the Internet search engines. OK, here's the truth. Not all search engines are really search engines. Some are called directories or subject guides, such as our favorite Yahoo. But all these sites can provide a doorway to the vast information on the Internet...

Firefighters are called out at all hours of the day and night to battle blazes in all kinds of conditions. Many hours of training go into becoming a firefighter. Learning to crawl through tight places with equipment is just one of the skills needed...

Adam LeGrand wants to be a firefighter when he grows up. The first grader at Clippard Elementary School says he is already practicing for the job. He slides down "fire poles" at the Arena Park playground. Adam knows there's plenty to do as a fireman...

A $500,000 federal grant should help the city of Cape Girardeau launch a number of disaster mitigation projects over the next two years. The Federal Emergency Management Agency in June included the city in Project Impact, a program intended to make communities more disaster resistant...

A second Cape Girardeau police officer will be stationed in the city's public schools starting this spring. The officer will be headquartered at L.J. Schultz seventh-grade center and primarily will serve Schultz and the district's elementary schools...

To the editor: I recently had the pleasure of spending my long overdo and much-needed vacation in Cape Girardeau. It was a wonderful vacation, and I will cherish the many memories of my time there. Being from the mountains of southeastern Kentucky, visiting Cape Rock Park and Riverfront Park were highlights of my trip. Looking out over the mighty Mississippi River was a very impressive and humbling experience indeed...

I CAN see why the Muslims call the U.S.A. the "great satan." Being bombed on orders from a sex pervert can qualify. I'D LIKE to comment on Bill Clinton and the Democrats who are claiming that they're going to go back to work and do what the American people want them to do. ...

In 1992, Missouri lawmakers approved a proposal of the Missouri Highway and Transportation Commission for a 15-year plan for our state's roads and bridges. Included on the funding side was a phased-in, six-cent fuel tax increase the lawmakers signed onto...

To the editor: I have been trying with all my heart to make sense of why the Republican majority in the House pushed impeachment so vigorously even though its has been obvious for months that the majority of Americans wanted none of it. I decided the only thing to do was to apply a pure logical assessment, if logic is a word that can be said in the same breath with Washington without causing one's teeth to rot. ...

JACKSON -- The City of Jackson has formally designated land west of Interstate 55 as a redevelopment area, a step city officials say will speed commercial and industrial development of the 750-acre tract. The Tax Increment Financing district was approved by the Jackson Board of Aldermen at a special meeting Monday night. Only Phase I of the plan extending from Klaus Park north along I-55 and along both sides of Highway 61, was activated...

Cape Central's 86-57 win over No. 3 Kelly wasn't just an upset. It was an upgrade. Suddenly, the sixth-seeded Tigers appear to be one of the teams to beat in the 54th University High Christmas Tournament. Even with Kelly's leading scorer Jim Hulshof returning early from a stress fracture in his foot, the Tigers put forth a nearly perfect performance to advance to the tournament semifinals...

ST. LOUIS -- The Trans World Dome was transformed into a sea of red for Monday night's first game of the Earth Grains Classic college basketball doubleheader. Of the approximately 6,000 fans on hand for the 5:15 p.m. tipoff, more than 4,000 were supporters of Southeast Missouri State University's Indians...

The only thing more intense than Scott City's perimeter defense was the passion that the Rams and Notre Dame share for an always intense rivalry. Scott City controlled Monday night's University High Christmas Tournament quarterfinal, upending Notre Dame 75-49...

ST. LOUIS -- Playing on the big stage of the Trans World Dome Monday night, Southeast Missouri State University's basketball Indians put on a performance that certainly won't earn any rave reviews. The Indians -- arguably playing their worst game of the season -- were throttled 70-49 by a Southern Illinois squad that isn't anything close to resembling a powerhouse...

If Charleston High's feverish second half in its University High School Christmas Tournament quarterfinal game Monday shed any light on the team's condition, the Blue Jays' wings have indeed not been clipped. Charleston, an unusually low No. 4 seed in this year's tournament, has heard the naysayers. Now, with their 55-25 victory over previously undefeated Woodland, the No. 5 seed, the Blue Jays are out to prove them wrong...

Perhaps it was written on the wind that the area that vexed Jackson High most in the opening 14 minutes would wind up buoying them to victory. After flubbing six of their first eight free throws and finding themselves leading Oran by only six points early in the fourth quarter, Jackson proceeded to knock down 17 of 21 from the line in the final period and emerged a 68-48 winner in a University High School Christmas Tournament quarterfinal game Monday at the Show Me Center...

St. Vincent and Perryville both moved to 1-0 in pool play Monday in the Ste. Genevieve Tournament. St. Vincent improved to 5-1 on the season with a 75-40 victory over Zalma. Ryan Prost netted 23 points in the victory while Todd Meyer added 12. Perryville picked up its first win of the season, edging host Ste. Genevieve 43-42. The Pirates improved to 1-3 on the season. Michael Downen netted 17 points for the Pirates, who avenged a recent overtime loss to the Dragons...

This time, Scott County Central held on to its lead. The No. 7 Braves, after faltering in the final minute of regulation before being upset by No. 10 Oran in overtime of the first round, took care of business Monday, knocking off No. 15 Chaffee 77-45 in the consolation semifinal of the University High Christmas Tournament...

Son to Daniel and Julia Lohmann of St. Louis, St. Anthony's Medical Center, 2:55 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 8, 1998. Name, Nathaniel Paul. Weight, 4 pounds 15 ounces. Fourth child, second son. Mrs. Lohmann is the former Julia Henry, daughter of Harley and Betty Henry of Jackson. Lohmann is the son of Dennis and Sandy Lohmann of Perryville. He is employed at General Electric in St. Louis...

PERRYVILLE -- Clarice M. "Curly" Whistler, 86, died Monday, Dec. 28, 1998, at Perry Oaks Healthcare Center. She was born March 12, 1912, at Kaskaskia Island, Ill., to Francis Xavier and Clara Lipscomb Buatte. She married Howard J. "Red" Whistler April 24, 1934. He died Nov. 23, 1988...

JONESBORO, Ill. -- Robert Mayberry of Jonesboro died Monday, Dec. 28, 1998, at his home. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Hileman and Parr Funeral Services.

DEXTER -- Funeral for Noble Leon Garner of Ashland City, Tenn., will be held at 1 p.m. today at Watkins and Sons Funeral Home in Dexter. Loman Garner will officiate, with burial in Chalk Bluff Cemetery near Dexter. Garner, 63, died Saturday, Dec. 26, 1998, at his home...

PERRYVILLE -- Funeral for Harold W. Robinson of Perryville will be held at 1 p.m. today at Young and Sons Funeral Home. The Rev. Alphonse Hoernig will officiate. Friends may call at the funeral home from 9 a.m. until service time. Robinson, 77, died Sunday, Dec. 27, 1998, at John Cochran VA Hospital...

SIKESTON -- Willie Irene Branum, 87, of Sikeston died Sunday, Dec. 27, 1998, at Missouri Delta Medical Center. She was born March 12, 1911, in Dickson, Tenn., daughter of William John and Mae Moore Murrell. She and William Edward Branum were married Sept. 22, 1928, at Benton. He died Sept. 14, 1974...

JACKSON -- William Earl Hunt, 77, of Jackson died Monday, Dec. 28, 1998, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. He was born July 17, 1921, at Poplar Bluff, son of Herbert and Bertie Admire Hunt. He and Betty Marie Favier were married July 19, 1974, at Pocahontas...

VILLA RIDGE, Ill. -- Alberta Snow, 84, of Villa Ridge died Sunday, Dec. 27, 1998, at Meridian Manor Nursing Home in Mounds. She was born Jan. 27, 1914, in Panhandle, Ky., daughter of John and Minnie Mitchell Hall. She married Hervey Snow, who died in 1987...

CHARLESTON -- John D. Ridings, 83, of Charleston died Sunday, Dec. 27, 1998, at his home. He was born Feb. 11, 1915, in Dixon, Tenn., son of Robert Fulton and Minnie Davis Ridings. He and Gene Salmon were married in April 1936. She died in April 1969. He and Virginia Whitehead Goodin were married in May 1975...

ANNA, Ill. -- Funeral for James Buffington of Anna will be held at 2 p.m. today at Crain Funeral Home in Anna. The Rev. Charles Mitchell will officiate, with burial in Pleasant Grove Memorial Park. Buffington, 80, died Saturday, Dec. 26, 1998, at Union County Hospital...

PERRYVILLE -- Ruby F. Schott, 80, of Perryville died Monday, Dec. 28, 1998, at Perry County Memorial Hospital. She was born Feb. 26, 1918, in Perryville, daughter of Emmanuel and Frances Hoehn Boxdorfer. She and Lawrence "Lonnie" Schott were married Dec. 12, 1965...

PERRYVILLE -- Wesley J. Haertling, 64, of Perryville died Monday, Dec. 28, 1998, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. He was born Nov. 28, 1934, at New Wells, son of Walter and Frieda Bodenschatz Haertling. He and Velda Gerringer were married Oct. 27, 1956...

CHAFFEE -- Midgze Adeline Williamson, 90, of Chaffee died Monday, Dec. 28, 1998, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. She was born Aug. 28, 1908, at Burfordville, daughter of Johnny and Odie Young Nance. She and Jessie Williamson were married Aug. 1, 1925. He died Feb. 26, 1969...

ANNA, Ill. -- Bertha McClure, 87, of Anna died Monday, Dec. 28, 1998, at City Care Center in Cobden. She was born Nov. 27, 1911, in Anna, daughter of Ed and Lula Mae Miles Walls. She and Russell McClure were married Aug. 9, 1930. Survivors include her husband; two daughters, Betty Vincent of Anna, Jeanetta Drum of Peoria; two sons, Bob and Bill McClure of Anna; eight grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren...

Burl Lewis King, 73, of Missouri Veterans Home died there Sunday, Dec. 27, 1998. He was born April 4, 1925, at Campbell, son of Clyde and Mae Myrtle Poe King. He married Sue Whitsett, who died in 1967. King lived in St. Louis 50 years, moving to Cape Girardeau in 1993. He was a carpenter, retiring in 1989...

BENTON -- Sandra M. Lecarpentier, 62, of Benton died Sunday, Dec. 27, 1998, at Jackson Manor in Jackson. Lorberg Memorial Funeral Chapel in Cape Girardeau is in charge of arrangements.

BLOOMFIELD -- Marie Reck, 88, of Bloomfield died Monday, Dec. 28, 1998, at Dexter Memorial Hospital. Funeral arrangements are incomplete at Watkins and Sons Funeral Home in Dexter.

As a speech therapist at Alma Schrader Elementary School, Amy Emmenderfer has learned an important lesson about working with children: expect change. "You have to be prepared at any minute throughout the day to change your lesson plan and follow the lead of the child you are working with at the time," Emmenderfer said. "This has been a difficult thing for me to learn to deal with, but I have accommodated very well."...