Stories from Thursday, December 31, 1998

To the editor: Kevin Trenberth is head of the climate analysis section of the National Center for Atmospheric Research in Boulder, Colo. His response to the data: "The case that the climate is changing in part in response to human activities is building stronger with every passing year." Meanwhile, Thomas Karl, senior scientist at the national climate data center of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in North Carolina, basing his analysis on techniques revealing historic temperature patterns exhibited in sea sediments, tree rings and glacier ice cores, pointed out that the 1990s have been the warmest decade in 600 years.. ...

To the editor: This is a modern fairy tale about a president who loved golf, or "It Is About Lying and Not About Golf (Sex)." Once upon a time, there was a very popular president. But a few didn't like him or his policies and tried to destroy him in any way they could. ...

It's too late to change the events of 1998, and there are a good many that deserve to be undone, just as there are some that deserve praise, although the balance sheet appears to be even more lopsided that most years. Here's a look ahead to 1999: -- In our community, important elections will be held next April. ...

Southeast Missouri State University's purchase of Old St. Vincent's Seminary was the big cultural news of 1998 locally. The university plans to build a performing arts center at the site and to locate its performing and visual arts departments there along with the University Museum...

Charles Kruse has been elected to a fourth two-year term as president of the Missouri Farm Bureau Federation. Kruse, a Dexter farmer, was re-elected during the Farm Bureau's 82nd annual meeting at Osage Beach earlier this month. "I'm honored that the farmers and ranchers of the state of Missouri have expressed their confidence in me to continue to serve as Missouri Farm Bureau president," Kruse said. ...

Questions remain about who will lead St. Francis Medical Center when James Sexton, president and CEO of the hospital, leaves. Sexton announced Tuesday that he is taking a job as president and CEO of a hospital network in Mason City, Iowa. His last day on the job here is Feb. 5...

A change in how the federal government funds state veterans cemeteries could save Missouri millions, but could also delay two planned projects, including one at Bloomfield. A law signed by President Clinton on Veterans Day allows the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to fund 100 percent of construction and initial equipment costs for new state veterans cemeteries...

The countdown is on not only toward the new year but also toward the deadline for paying Cape Girardeau County taxes. Today is the last day to pay both real estate and personal property taxes without a late fee. Tax bills may be paid in person at the county collector's office in Jackson or Cape Girardeau. The offices will be open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m...

Republican Diane Diebold spent $26,472 in winning election to the Cape Girardeau County collector post last fall. The job pays $47,966 a year. Diebold outspent Democratic challenger and longtime deputy county clerk Judy Beussink by $9,350. Beussink spent $17,122 in a losing effort. Her campaign ended up $638 in the hole, campaign finance records show...

New Year's Eve, a traditional night for raucous parties and heavy alcohol consumption, will be a little safer this year if the efforts of law enforcement in the area are successful. Both local and state police will be out in greater numbers this year in hopes of reducing the number of alcohol-related traffic accidents...

Almost three years ago, a fiber-optic line was damaged in the Jackson area. A number of customers from Jackson to Benton couldn't make or receive calls. In some cases the severed line caused a slow dial tone but didn't isolate service. Three years, $26 million and 750 additional miles of fiber-optic cable later, such an incident is a rare happening...

NEELYS LANDING -- The Burlington Northern tracks closed by a derailment Tuesday were expected to reopen by noon on Thursday, officials said. Jerry Jenkins, a spokesman for Burlington Northern, said crews used a crane Wednesday to set the derailed cars upright and to prepare to put them back on the track...

New Year's Eve 1998 Dear Pat, We are trapped in the spin cycle of U.S. history. 1968 was the last year in memory that approached this year's bizarreness. Thirty years ago, King and Kennedy were assassinated, and riots broke out at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago. All this one year after the Summer of Love...

STILLWATER, Okla. -- Southeast Missouri State University basketball coach Gary Garner was more than anything looking for a spirited and hard-nosed effort from his team Wednesday night. That's why Garner left storied Gallagher-Iba Arena with mostly good feelings even though the Indians suffered their third straight defeat...

Chalk another one up for Charleston. The Blue Jays completed -- and continued -- their annual quest of the University High Christmas Tournament championship Wednesday night by claiming their 13th title with a 61-56 win over Jackson in front a large crowd at the Show-Me Center...

Scott City High's sickly 3-point shooting and bungled layups made the Rams ill enough, but one Cape Girardeau Central forward left them Iller. Kelly Illers scored 12 of his game-high 22 points in the fourth quarter's opening four and a half minutes, and Central upset Scott City 60-57 at the Show Me Center Wednesday to capture third place in the University High School Christmas Tournament...

STE. GENEVIEVE -- Ryan Verseman scored 18 points as Perryville defeated Valle of Ste. Genevieve 52-49 in the championship game of the Ste. Genevieve Round Robin Tournament. Mike Downen and Tyler Abernathy each added 11 points. In the third place game, St. Vincent defeated Ste. Genevieve 65-52...

Tight games were the norm for the final day of the University High Christmas Tournament with the consolation championship and fifth-place game setting the tone for the games to follow. Scott Central and Advance kicked off the day with a thriller as the Braves rallied late for an 81-77 victory...

Jackson-s Nathan Windeknecht, left, and Spencer Knowlan Five area soccer players were recently named to all-state teams. Notre Dame High School's soccer team, which reached the Missouri Class 1A-3A sectional round, recently had three players named to the 1A-3A All-State Third Team. ...

Daughter to Stanley L. and Lisa K. Propst of Cape Girardeau, Southeast Missouri Hospital, 7:45 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 23, 1998. Name, Conner Leigh. Weight, 8 pounds 8 ounces. Second child, first daughter. Mrs. Propst is the former Lisa Turner, daughter of Burnell and Elizabeth Turner of Cape Girardeau. Propst is the son of Ruby Propst of Cape Girardeau, and the late Gerald Propst. He is a self-employed farmer...

SCOTT CITY -- Funeral Mass for Shirley Ann Glastetter of Scott City will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday at St. Lawrence Catholic Church in New Hamburg. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Friends may call at Amick-Burnett Funeral Chapel in Scott City after 3 p.m. Friday. Parish prayers will be at 6:30...

MARBLE HILL -- Retta M. Reed, 86, of Marble Hill died Tuesday, Dec. 29, 1998, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. She was born July 15, 1912, near Glen Allen, daughter of Joseph L. and Hattie V. Johnson Rhodes. She and Burette Sample were married Oct. 20, 1936. He died Oct. 21, 1956. She later married Henry Jack Reed Nov. 10, 1973. He died Dec. 12, 1979...

ADVANCE -- Norma Lee Kardell, 65, of Advance died Wednesday, Dec. 30, 1998, at her home. She was born May 23, 1933, in Cincinnati, Ohio, daughter of Arthur and Ruby Bane. She and Ivan Kardell were married Jan. 14, 1950, in Toledo, Ohio. Survivors include her husband; three sons, Ivan Kardell Jr. ...

WILSON CITY -- Dave Neal, 82, of Wilson City died Monday, Dec. 28, 1998, at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston. He was born Aug. 24, 1916, in Armorel, Ark., son of Dennis and Ivory Newhouse Neal. He and Jewel Lee Jones were married June 28, 1941...

MATTHEWS -- Funeral for Lowell "Bud" Huls of Matthews will be held at 2 p.m. today at Ponder Funeral Home in Sikeston. The Rev. Carl Addison will officiate, with burial in Matthews City Cemetery. Huls, 79, died Tuesday, Dec. 29, 1998, at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston...

Graveside service for Naomi Cook of Cape Girardeau will be held at 11 a.m. Friday at Memorial Park. A memorial service will follow at 11:30 at Southside Baptist Church, with the Rev. Phil Thompson officiating. Friends may call at Ford and Sons Mt. Auburn Chapel from 10-11 a.m. Friday...

PERRYVILLE -- Private funeral for George F. LaClear of Perryville will be held today. Young and Sons Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. LaClear, 83, died Tuesday, Dec. 29, 1998, at Perry County Nursing Home. He was born Sept. 6, 1915, in Lynwood, Calif., son of Susan LaClear Palmer...

SCOTT CITY -- Iris Graff, 69, of Scott City died Tuesday, Dec. 29, 1998, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. She was born Aug. 17, 1929, at Commerce, daughter of John Gustav and Lucy Spraker Sander. She and John Francis Graff Jr. were married June 18, 1949, in Piggott, Ark. He died Sept. 26, 1989...

BLOOMFIELD -- Thomas J. "Tommy" Terry, 57, of Bloomfield died Monday, Dec. 28, 1998, at John Cochran VA Hospital in St. Louis. He was born Oct. 26, 1941, in Savannah, Tenn., son of Leonard and Hattie Mae Stricklin Terry. He and Judy Ann Wilkerson were married in August 1978. She died June 21, 1984...

DAISY -- Ocia Crites, 91, of Daisy died Wednesday, Dec. 30, 1998, at her home. McCombs Funeral Home in Jackson is in charge of arrangements.

SIKESTON -- Eunice T. Rudd, 86, of Sikeston died Wednesday, Dec. 30, 1998, at Missouri Delta Medical Center. She was born April 25, 1912, in Sikeston, daughter of Frank and Maggie Whalen Tidwell. She and James Ural Chewning were married May 23, 1931, in Sikeston. He died Sept. 28, 1962. She and Forest Rudd were married Feb. 5, 1966, in Cape Girardeau. He died May 12, 1983...

ANNA, Ill. -- John Ragsdale, 78, of Anna died suddenly Tuesday, Dec. 29, 1998, at Union County Hospital. Lutz and Rendleman Funeral Home in Anna is in charge of arrangements.

BLOOMFIELD -- Funeral for Nurcine Graves of Bloomfield will be held at 2 p.m. today at Chiles-Cooper Funeral Home. The Rev. Kevin Eskew will officiate, with burial in Bloomfield Cemetery. Graves, 87, died Tuesday, Dec. 29, 1998, in Cape Girardeau. She was born Nov. 24, 1911, at Leora, daughter of Oscar and Sophia Tanner Lewis. She and Ralph Graves were married Jan. 31, 1929. He died May 23, 1995...