Stories from Thursday, January 21, 1999

"If you're a kid milking a cow and you get the cow laughing so hard that milk comes out its nose, you're destined to be a comic," says comedian Taylor Mason. Mason, who will be appearing at Southeast Missouri State University Friday night, followed his comedic destiny, parlaying his talent into a highly successful career...

The countdown toward a million-dollar campaign is on at the Area Wide United Way. "We will be a million-dollar community. The question is when," said Nancy Jernigan, United Way executive director. Jernigan spoke at the United Way's annual meeting Wednesday. New board members and officers were elected...

Local lawmakers say they will push for state funding for Southeast Missouri State University's River Campus even though Gov. Mel Carnahan's proposed budget for fiscal 2000 doesn't include any money for the project. Carnahan's budget, unveiled Wednesday, includes $66.3 million for capital improvement projects on the state's college campuses...

To begin laying the foundation for a long-term community development plan, the newly created Vision 2020 Strategic Planning Committee will meet for the first time Saturday. Vision 2020 is an outgrowth of Vision 2000, a community improvement group established in 1987...

Jan. 21, 1999 Dear Julie, Duke Robillard was the prototypical East Coast guitar-slinger the last time I saw him, black hair oiled back, have Stratocaster will travel, all swagger and slick fingers. Last weekend in Columbia, 10 more years on the road and maybe a bit too much barbecue had, shall we say, broadened him...

To the editor: According to the news, the most widely used steroid for women in the United States makes it 1.9 times more likely that women will die from cerebrovascular disease and 2.5 more times likely will die from cervical cancer. Now add the fact that this steroid will affect a womans body for 10 years after she stops taking them...

To the editor: My vexation index is maxed. The information highway has become the pornographers' sleeze freeway. The White House administration that was to become a reflection of America has become the abomination's heaven. Who knew that America was a circus?...

Some random observations on the world around us: -- There isn't much glamour in landfills, but recent reports indicate there is hidden treasure buried with the millions of tons of garbage in many modern landfills: methane. Methane is a gas created by decomposing waste. It's not a pretty thought, but the methane can be burned much like natural gas. Put to the right uses, methane from landfills can become a low-cost and efficient way to provide heat...

I AGREE with Marty Mishow's column that SEMO's basketball has given fans a lot of excitement lately, and I would like to suggest that the reason there aren't full-house crowds at every game is that the price is too high for most fans to attend every game. ...

United Methodist ministers in Cape Girardeau don't believe that blessing homosexual marriages will be an issue decisive enough to create a split in the denomination. The issue is not a problem in Southeast Missouri and likely will never be one. Missouri does not legally recognize the marriages of same-sex couples...

JACKSON -- The Jackson Board of Education could select a new superintendent during a special meeting tonight. Board President Jack Knowlan Jr. said the board will consider two viable candidates for superintendent during a closed meeting. He would not name the finalists...

Agenda, Thursday, Jan. 21, 1999, 6 p.m. Central Junior High School Cafeteria Action Items: -- Consideration of name for new elementary school. -- Fund transfer. -- Approval of ballot for school board election. -- Approval of resolution for investing funds...

Partial Agenda, Tuesday, Jan. 19 City Hall New ordinances (First readings) -- Tabled an ordinance declaring it necessary to improve Timberland Drive from Kage Road to the dead end; Capaha Trail from the end of existing pavement to the dead end; Garden Lane from Capaha Trail to the dead end; Hill Street from Johnson Street to the dead end; Beaudean Lane from College Street to south of Elm Street; Beaudean Lane from Linden Street to Hickory Street; Engram Street from Highland Drive to the dead end; Terry Lane from Kingsway Drive to Joanne Street; and Johnson Street from Rand Street to Riverview Drive.. ...

Tammy Gwaltney eagerly recruits area residents to serve as host families for international students who come to Cape Girardeau for Southeast Missouri State University's Intensive English Program. Gwaltney works as an international student support specialist. Part of her job is to find host families for international students...

Southeast Missouri State University's women's basketball team, the surprise of the Ohio Valley Conference so far, hopes to continue its roll against a non-league foe tonight. The Otahkians will be in Nashville, Tenn., to take on Belmont in a 6 p.m. tipoff...

Marissa Essner School: Kelly Sport: Basketball Coach: Curtis Finley Week Report: Essner, a 5-foot-9 sophomore post player, scored 58 points over three games last week in the Scott-Mississippi Conference Tournament. The Lady Hawks took second place in the tournament, falling to No. 1 seed Scott County Central 55-49...

Ryan Prost School: St. Vincent Sport: Basketball Coach: Bruce Valleroy Week Report: Prost, a 6-foot-3 junior forward, scored 52 points in two games last week, including a 33-point performance against Marquand. Season Report: Prost averages 18 points, five rebounds, five steals and five assists per game. He is shooting 65 percent from the floor and 75 percent from the foul line...

The Notre Dame Lady Bulldogs' 45-44 win over Farmington Wednesday night was the second 1-point victory over Farmington this year. Farmington (11-4) had a chance to win the game, but missed two shots -- one coming off an offensive rebound -- in the closing seconds...

Clyde L. Trickey Sr., 65, died Tuesday, Jan. 19, 1999, at Southeast Missouri Hospital. He was born June 19, 1933, in Cape Girardeau County, son of John William and Laura Medlock Trickey. He married Norma B. Kaufmann June 30, 1956, at Evangelical United Church of Christ in Cape Girardeau...

CHAFFEE -- Margaret B. Kinder, 66, died Wednesday, Jan. 20, 1999, at Southeast Missouri Hospital. Arrangements are incomplete at Amick-Burnett Funeral Chapel in Chaffee.

SCOTT CITY -- Herman E. Stubenrauch, 76, of Scott City died Wednesday, Jan. 20, 1999, at his home. Arrangements are incomplete at Amick-Burnett Funeral Home.

Funeral for Lesley Rees of St. Louis will be held at 1 p.m. today at First Free Will Baptist Church. Burial will be in Lorimier Cemetery. Friends may call at the church from 11 a.m. until service time. Ortmann Funeral Home in St. Louis is in charge of arrangements...

VANDUSER -- Agnes L. Hill, 69, of Vanduser died Tuesday, Jan. 19, 1999, at her home. She was born Feb. 4, 1929, at Portageville, daughter of Roy and Zella Ruffin Phillips. She and James W. Hill were married Sept. 19, 1947. He died July 29, 1986. Formerly of Sikeston, she retired as a salesclerk at Norwood Fashions in Sikeston. She also had worked at Dee Wigery and The Vogue. She was a member of Vanduser Baptist Church...

FRUITLAND -- Funeral for Amanda G. Anderson of Fruitland will be held at 11 a.m. Friday at McCombs Funeral Home in Jackson. The Rev. David Johnson will officiate, with burial in Russell Heights Cemetery at Jackson. Friends may call at the funeral home from 3-7 p.m. today...

SIKESTON -- Jackson B. "Jack" Carter, 73, of Fort Mohave, Ariz., died Tuesday, Jan. 19, 1999, at Western Arizona Regional Medical Center in Bullhead City. He was born July 2, 1925, in Sikeston, son of Alton and Mona Pansy Ables Carter. He and Norma Kellogg were married Feb. 8, 1952...

JONESBORO, Ill. -- Funeral for Bob J. Ury of Jonesboro will be held at 11 a.m. Friday at Hileman and Parr Funeral Home. Rick Hertenstein will officiate, with burial in St. John's Cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home from 4-8 p.m. today. Ury, 68, died Tuesday, Jan. 19, 1999, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau, Mo...

MALDEN -- Graveside service for James Roy McNew of Malden will be held at 11 a.m. today at Oak Ridge Cemetery in Kennett. The Rev. Loyd Adams will officiate. Friends may call today at Bradshaw Funeral Home in Malden from 9:30-10:30 a.m. McNew, 92, died Tuesday, Jan. 19, 1999, at Twin Rivers Medical Center in Kennett...

OAK RIDGE -- Funeral for Viola A. Dunwell of Oak Ridge will be held at 7 p.m. today at McCombs Funeral Home in Jackson. The Rev. Paul Short will officiate. Graveside service will be at 1 p.m. Friday at Pontiac Cemetery in Pontiac, Mo., with the Rev. David Burge officiating...

PERRYVILLE -- Norman J. Smith, 69, of Perryville died Tuesday, Jan. 19, 1999, at Perry County Memorial Hospital. He was born Dec. 22, 1929, in St. Louis, son of Harry and Rose Sirsch Smith. He and Joyce Bateman were married July 3, 1987, in Paragould, Ark...

Joe Lesem, 87, of DeLand, Fla., died Tuesday, Jan. 19, 1999, at Memorial Hospital-West Volusia in DeLand. He was born Aug. 5, 1911, in Cape Girardeau, son of Milton and Josephine Lesem. He was a graduate of Southeast Missouri State University. Lesem was a member of First Christian Church, Rotary Club, and Chamber of Commerce in Cape Girardeau...

CHARLESTON -- Margaret H. Rolwing, 92, of Charleston died Wednesday, Jan. 20, 1999, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. McMikle Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

TAMMS, Ill. -- Gerald Honey, 81, of Tamms died Wednesday, Jan. 20, 1999, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. Friends may call at Crain Funeral Home in Tamms from 5-8 p.m. Friday. Funeral will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at the funeral home. Burial will be in McCrite Cemetery...

Mildred Marie Meier, age 91, died on January 19 at the Fountainbleau Lodge in Cape Girardeau. She was born July 19, 1907, in New Melle, Mo., the daughter of Dr. and Mrs. Oscar A. Muhm. She married Hadley J.W. Meier on January 7, 1942. Mr. Meier preceded her in death on June 12, 1955...