Stories from Wednesday, January 20, 1999

"In the history of cookery, there are few names more blighted than casserole," says Russ Parsons of the Los Angeles Times. "Mention it and heads politely turn away. Stomachs just turn." I know first-hand what Parsons is talking about. I can recall vividly the time some 20 years ago when I suggested to my colleagues on a committee planning a banquet for a national convention that we consider something on the order of a casserole. ...

This has been a very exciting week for Recipe Swap. Good job readers! Our responses this week have been wonderful and the recipes sound great. Greg Illers of Cape started quite a stir when he requested a recipe for a German style peanut butter coffee cake. ...

JACKSON -- Attorney Scott Alan Lipke will challenge Mayor Paul Sander in the general election in April, providing Sander with his first opposition since he was first elected in 1993. Lipke, a former assistant prosecuting attorney for Cape Girardeau County, filed for the mayor's seat Tuesday, the last day of filing for the election...

A last-minute push for a wide-ranging gambling bill that would have permitted dockside gambling fizzled in the final hours of the Illinois General Assembly that ended early this month. But legislators and riverboat casino operators believe the issue will surface again during the session that just began...

Eight candidates will vie for positions on the Cape Girardeau Board of Education in the April 6 election. Two incumbents and six challengers will compete for three, three-year school board positions. The filing period for school board elections in Missouri closed at 5 p.m. Tuesday...

I think my husband was lying when he said he most admires women's eyes. I'm not exactly sure why my in-laws gave us the "Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Venus" board game for Christmas. Maybe it's the long, cold silences that often occur between The Other Half and me when the in-laws are around. But that's not because we don't understand each other. It's because Mr. Half is constantly doing and saying stupid things while I'm perfect...

To the editor: I somewhat agree with Donn Miller from Tamms, Ill. One of the pleasure I have living in Southeast Missouri is that Dr. Laura and Rush Limbaugh (sorry, Limbaughs of this area -- I'm sure you're fine people) don't come easily into my home...

To the editor: The Humane Society of Southeast Missouri has a dream: We want every adoptable animal that comes to us to have a home. Right now, we are a long way from that dream. Last year, we accepted 5,438 animals. Of those, only 1,340 were adopted or returned to their owners. That means over 4,000 beautiful, loving dogs and cats had to be put to sleep...

There's no such thing as a victimless crime. Even crimes against businesses hurt the bottom line and, in turn, may hurt consumers as the losses are passed along. Such is the case with shoplifting and bad checks. These two factors can account for major losses for some retailers...

The need is dire. The American Red Cross has put out the call for blood throughout the region. Bad weather in recent weeks has put a damper on blood collections. A number of drives were canceled in late December and early January due to the ice and extreme cold weather...

I WOULD how many other schools in the area also held classes on Martin Luther King Day. I'm sure Cape Girardeau was not the only one. Also, Cape schools don't get out for Columbus Day, and that's a national holiday. What's the big whoopee about? I'd rather go to school now than in the middle of the summer...

There was a nice crowd at the MARTIN LUTHER KING BREAKFAST Monday. I enjoyed the deep bass voice and delivery of JUDGE LESLIE ISAIAH GAINES, who was the keynote speaker. I especially enjoyed his poem on black or white ... do what's right. I've requested a copy of it and will share it when I receive it...

The Cape Girardeau City Council introduced Kevin Priester as the new utility manager for the city's water system Tuesday. Priester has been the production superintendent at the water treatment plant since the city purchased the system from Union Electric Co. in 1992...

The American Red Cross' first blood drive of the year at St. Francis Medical Center will be held today. The drive will be held from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the St. Francis Medical Center's Education Wing, Conference Rooms A and B. The procedure usually takes less than an hour. Donors must meet certain health requirements and must be at least 17 years old...

PERRYVILLE -- Cape Girardeau schools superintendent Dr. Dan Tallent is one of two finalists being interviewed for the Perryville School District superintendent's position this week. Board members are seeking a replacement for Dr. Rex Miller, who will resign July 1. Miller, who is completing the last year of his three-year contract, announced his decision to leave the school district in October...

Seventy candidates have announced their candidacies for boards of education in Bollinger, Perry and parts of Cape Girardeau and Scott counties. The deadline for Missouri candidates to enter school board races by filing at their respective school district offices ended at 5 p.m. Tuesday. Most area school districts are seeking to fill three, three-year terms...

The Federal Emergency Management Agency confirmed last week that its director will visit Cape Girardeau early next month, but the date of the visit has been changed. James Lee Witt will participate in a signing ceremony Feb. 5 to officially welcome the city into FEMA's Project Impact program. The ceremony, originally scheduled for Feb. 3, will be held at the Show Me Center...

Notre Dame found out that it's difficult to match up with a 6-foot-3 forward who can drain threes, post up, handle the ball, rebound, pass and dunk. Kelly Illers did all of the above Tuesday night in leading Cape Central to a 66-55 home win over the Tigers' cross-town rival Notre Dame...

Jerry Dement resigned from his position as Cape Central head football coach after six years with the Tigers, athletic director Terry Kitchen announced Tuesday. Dement declared his decision Tuesday at a team meeting. Dement resigned under his own terms, Kitchen said, after leading Cape Central to a 31-29 regular-season record during his duration. ...

We're at the halfway point in our Ohio Valley Conference season and I'm really pleased with the effort and the togetherness of our basketball team. This team has worked very hard to get into position to have a chance to win the OVC title. We are 8-1 and in second place behind Murray State. We just have to continue to play one game at a time, beat Murray State at their place and hope someone else beats the Racers...

Southeast Missouri State University basketball coach Gary Garner is an optimistic sort who generally always believes his team has a chance to win. But Garner admits that, if somebody had told him before the season that the Indians would win eight of their first nine Ohio Valley Conference games, he might not have believed it...

Southeast Missouri State University women's basketball coach Ed Arnzen acknowledges that the Otahkians have significantly upgraded their talent base this season and also considerably improved their team chemistry. But, said Arnzen, if he had to pinpoint one area for his team's dramatic turnaround this season, it would be defense...

ARNOLD -- The college scouts came to watch 6-foot-3 Seckman guard Justin Tylka. He didn't disappoint them. Tylka, who entered Tuesday's game against visiting Jackson averaging 25 points a game, poured in 29 as Seckman outlasted the Indians 53-50. Trailing by one, Jackson was called for a traveling violation with three seconds remaining. After a quick foul and Seckman's two free throws, Jackson's Doug Cary missed a contested 20-foot 3-point attempt at the horn...

The Southeast Missouri State University Booster Club is sponsoring buses for the Southeast basketball games at Murray State Feb. 11. The buses will leave the Show Me Center parking lot at 2:30 p.m. Feb. 11 and will stop at the Dutch Essenhaus Smorgasbord outside Murray. The buses will arrive at the Murray State Regional Events Center prior to the 5:30 p.m. tipoff of the women's game. The men's game will follow at 7:30...

The Jackson Area Optimist Soccer Association (JAOSA) will hold its spring signups on three upcoming days at Main Street Fitness in Jackson. Signups will be Jan. 23 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.; Jan. 27 from 6 to 8 p.m.; and Jan. 30 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. For more information, contact Tom Sprandel at home (243-4065) or work (243-9533)...

The Cape Area Youth Soccer Association (CAYSA) will be taking signups for the spring outdoor soccer season Jan. 24 and Jan. 31. from noon to 5 p.m. inside West Park Mall at the JC Penney entrance. Age groups span pre-kindergarten through eighth grade in both co-ed and girls divisions. Registration fee is $20 for kindergarten through eighth grade and $10 for pre-kindergarten...

The 1999 Budweiser/Cardinals Caravan will make a stop at the Perryville American Legion Hall Friday. Hosted by River Eagle Distributing Company, doors will open at 6 p.m. and the program will begin at 7 p.m. Tickets are $3.50, which includes beer, hot dogs, soda and chips. Proceeds will go to Perryville Youth Baseball...

CHARLESTON -- Herman Davis, 30, of Wichita, Kan., died suddenly Sunday, Jan. 17, 1999, at his home. He was born Aug. 15, 1968, in Charleston, son of Georgia B. Davis and C.W. Mixon. He and Yvette Scott were married Oct. 8, 1994. Davis was a 1987 graduate of Charleston High School. He had lived in Kansas the past three years...

THEBES, Ill. -- Graveside service for Raymond Stevenson of Granite City will be held at 1 p.m. today at Rose Hill Cemetery in Thebes. The Rev. Billy Don Heady will officiate. Crain Funeral Home in Tamms is in charge of arrangements. Stevenson, 53, died Monday, Jan. 18, 1999, at his home...

Clyde L. Trickey, 65, of Cape Girardeau died Tuesday, Jan. 19, 1999, at Southeast Missouri Hospital. Ford and Sons Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Dr. Cleo W. Mabrey, 74, of Cape Girardeau died Tuesday, Jan. 19, 1999, at Southeast Missouri Hospital. He was born May 5, 1924, at Kime, son of John and Carrie Bounds Mabrey. He and Jean Stevenson were married in 1946 at Lowndes. Mabrey received his undergraduate degree from Southeast Missouri State University, and master's and doctorate degrees from the University of Missouri-Columbia...

PARMA -- Funeral for Leo Lane of Parma will be held at 1 p.m. today at Watkins and Sons Funeral Home in Parma. The Rev. Jody Duncan will officiate, with burial in Parma Cemetery. Lane, 88, died Monday, Jan. 18, 1999, at Dexter Memorial Hospital in Dexter...

DORENA -- Elton L. Williams, 94, of Dorena died Monday, Jan. 18, 1999, at East Prairie Nursing Center. She was born June 25, 1904, in Winchester, Tenn., daughter of Jake and Ruthie Travis Smith. Williams had lived in the Dorena community most of her life. She owned and operated Williams Store from 1938-73, and was a member of Dorena Baptist Church...

Irwin E. Fuchs, 86 years of age, of McClure, Illinois passed away Monday, January 18, 1999, at St. Francis Medical Center. He was born August 16, 1912 in St. Louis, Missouri, the son of John Henry and Anna Penno Fuchs. Mr. Fuchs was president and owner of Bardahl Oil Co. in St. Louis, Missouri between 1945 to 1972; retiring in 1972...

FRUITLAND -- Amanda Anderson, 98, formerly of Fruitland, died Tuesday, Jan. 19, 1999, at the Lutheran Home in Cape Girardeau. McCombs Funeral Home in Jackson is in charge of arrangements.

DEXTER -- Bonnie L. Kell, 70, of Poplar Bluff died Tuesday, Jan. 19, 1999, at Lucy Lee Hospital in Poplar Bluff. She was born June 13, 1928, in East Prairie, daughter of Harry Otho and Chessie Zook Ishmael. She and Joseph M. Kell Jr. were married Feb. 15, 1947, in Inglewood, Calif. He died Oct. 12, 1983...

BLODGETT -- Flora Mae Lambert, 90, of Poplar Bluff died Monday, Jan. 18, 1999, at White County Medical Center in Searcy, Ark. She was born Sept. 28, 1908, in Birmingham, Ala., daughter of Noah and Margaret Waters Hunter. She and Reno Lambert were married Feb. 26, 1927. He died Jan. 28, 1979...

JONESBORO, Ill. -- Bob J. Ury, 68, of Jonesboro died Tuesday, Jan. 19, 1999, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau, Mo. Hileman and Parr Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

MARBLE HILL -- The Rev. Arzie R. Long, 64, of Marble Hill died Tuesday, Jan. 19, 1999, at his home. He was born Dec. 26, 1934, son of David F. and Barbara Causey Long. He and Marceda Douglas were married Oct. 5, 1957. Long was ordained into the Old Liberty Association of General Baptist Oct. 15, 1960. He had served as an evangelist and pastor since that time. He was a member of Hurricane Fork General Baptist Church...

ST. LOUIS -- Clara A. Scott, 86, of St. Louis, and formerly of Mississippi County, died Tuesday, Jan. 19, 1999, at St. Mary's Hospital. She was born Aug. 16, 1912, at Cape Girardeau, daughter of Gus and Annie Leible. She married John Scott, who preceded her in death Jan. 4, 1981...

PERRYVILLE -- Marie A. Laurentius, 68, of Perryville died Tuesday, Jan. 19, 1999, at her home. She was born Feb. 2, 1930, at Apple Creek, daughter of Louis and Dorothy Buchheit Hennemann. She married William "Willie" Laurentius July 19, 1952. She was a retired shoe factory worker...

PERRYVILLE -- Two city aldermen will be uncontested in their April bids for re-election. Three seats on the six-member Board of Aldermen are up for re-election. Filing for the April 6 municipal election closed Tuesday. Ward I Alderman Paul Dunlap and Ward III Alderman Gary Schumer will run unopposed...

JACKSON -- When workmen put gravel on the approaches next week, the Old Cape Road Bridge will reopen to local traffic for the first time since construction of the new bridge began in September. Though the bridge will be open to local traffic, asphalt probably won't be poured until April. Under its contract, Penzel Construction Co. has 33 more working days to finish the project...

Southwestern Bell Foundation has donated $3,000 for Southeast Missouri State University to develop an interactive television classroom at the proposed River Campus. "We are grateful for the Southwestern Bell Foundation's support of what will become one of the finest schools of visual and performing arts in the nation," said Wayne Davenport, vice president of university advancement and executive director of the Southeast Missouri University Foundation...

Since I'm never going to live this one down, I'm going to be the one to tell it. I think that I shall be kinder to myself than anyone else will be. After about three days of the worst chest cold that I have ever had, I was seeking relief anywhere I could find it. Being a teetotaler, a hot toddy cure did not occur to me, but it certainly did to a small gathering of my friends...