Stories from Saturday, January 23, 1999

The number of Catholic priests in the United States is slowly decreasing, and some area parishes are already feeling the effects with doubled workloads and added responsibilities. In the Springfield-Cape Girardeau Diocese the shortage isn't quite as acute, said the Rev. David Hulshof, director of vocations for the diocese...

A bridge was washed out and at least two roads remained impassible in Scott County in the wake of Thursday night's thunderstorms that spawned as many as eight tornadoes, caused power outages and deluged some Southeast Missouri and Southern Illinois communities with as much as 6 inches of rain...

Capitalizing on the pope's scheduled visit to St. Louis next week, 13 Republican state senators have called on Gov. Mel Carnahan to help lawmakers ban partial-birth abortions. The group includes Sen. Peter Kinder, R-Cape Girardeau, who repeatedly has sought to ban such abortions...

SCOTT CITY -- Diana and Ira Judd doubted they would ever get to Rome to see Pope John Paul II, but getting to St. Louis isn't as difficult a trip for their family. The Judds and six of their nine children will see the pope Wednesday when he celebrates Mass at the TWA Dome in St. Louis. They plan to stay with relatives in South St. Louis during the trip...

A movement is under way by three organizations in Cape Girardeau to consolidate community services and information to more efficiently meet needs of those they are meant to help. Since the city lacks a public transportation system, the people who need the services often have trouble getting to them. Also, although many social, job-training and other programs are available, sometimes people aren't aware they exist...

After a one-game break from Ohio Valley Conference play, Southeast Missouri State University's women's basketball team jumps back into the fray on the road today. The Otahkians, who are now in a four-way tie for first place, take on Eastern Illinois in a 4:45 p.m. tipoff at Lantz Gym in Charleston, Ill...

Nontraditional body piercing has become the latest craze among young people. Teen-agers are putting diamond studs, gold hoops and safety pins in their eyebrows, belly buttons, noses and even tongues, all in the name of fashion. But while students call it a style, some school officials call it a distraction and safety hazard. In an effort to maintain order and safety, some school officials are stopping piercing at the door...

The threat of severe weather has now shifted east, with a little more rain possible today and clouds decreasing tonight. A welcome dry Sunday is forecast. Meanwhile, the National Weather Service office in Paducah is conducting field investigations of the tornadoes reported during Thursday night's storm...

Somebody has taken my husband, and you know what? They can keep him. I don't know what's going on, but I do know the man wearing the skin of Patrick L. Buck is not my husband. Maybe it's an invasion of the body snatchers. Maybe he has a twin who has taken over his life. Or maybe Patrick has participated in a selective adult cloning experiment without my knowledge...

DOESN'T IT scare you that by coincidence, not one Democrat will vote to convict Bill Clinton who is also a Democrat? It certainly scares me, because there, but by the grace of God, go I, a Republican. And you Democrats better pay attention to this. Your day too will come. And I promise you it will scare you to death...

For people who love animals, the Humane Society of Southeast Missouri can be a tough job. Oh, the joys are there. There's surely nothing more enjoyable than finding a good home for a bouncing puppy or tiny furball of a kitten, or reuniting lost pets with their owners...

Concerned about the condition of your home? The city of Cape Girardeau is offering free home safety inspections through February. Inspectors will provide homeowners with a written report outlining deficiencies and suggestions for correcting the problem, and they won't cite homeowners for any violations...

To the editor:Coach Dement's resignation came as a surprise to us all. I believe he has made the right decision. It is unfortunate that future athletes will no longer have him to look to for guidance. He is a good individual and a good coach. Those of us who played for him could always look to him for support and motivation. He has been a bastion for us all. I cannot imagine playing for anyone other than Coach Dement. He will have my continued supportAARON V.F. PICARCape Girardeau...

To the editor: In the Dec. 27 Southeast Missourian many Southeast Missouri legislators were quoted relative to their agenda in the 1999 legislative session. Many of these agendas are, depending upon your political leaning, troubling to the average Missouri taxpayer. However, the quote attributed to state Sen. Jerry Howard is not only troubling, but utterly false and misleading...

JACKSON -- Three Jackson High School students are among 104 selected from across the state to participate in the Missouri-All-State Band. Three three are junior flautist Jessica Terry, senior alto saxophonist Ben Hinchey and freshman trombonist Bill Schwent...

Kent Hall, district public defender in the 32nd and 33rd judicial circuits, will be guest Sunday on KRCU's "Going Public" show. The radio show airs at 3 p.m. on 90.9 FM, the area's Public Radio affiliate station. Hall will discuss the role of the public defender's office, perjury and defendants' rights...

A downtown business, Elite Express Gymnastic Center, is moving from 45 N. Main and will open at 574 Commercial on Monday. Meanwhile: -- Construction continues at the Buckner-Ragsdale building on North Main downtown in preparation for a mini-brewery and lounge...

Southeast Missouri State University's spring enrollment stands at 7,605, an increase of 102 students over the first day of classes a year ago. Spring-semester classes began Tuesday. Final enrollment figures will be calculated at the end of the fourth week of classes...

Southeast Missouri State University's basketball team has won all four of its Ohio Valley Conference road games so far this season, including a few at some notoriously difficult places. Tonight, the Indians will be looking to remain road warriors when they take on Eastern Illinois in a 7:05 OVC tipoff at Lantz Gym in Charleston, Ill...

JACKSON -- The Jackson Indians gave Doug Cary a very appropriate get-well-soon gift Friday night. Jackson (10-4) sorely missed its sharp-shooting guard and leading scorer who was out with the flu, but managed to scrap out a 61-56 win over visiting Notre Dame...

BENTON -- It took some full-court pressure and a big spurt by all-stater Jon Beck to lift Scott City High's boys basketball team to the championship of the Scott-Mississippi County Conference Tournament Friday night. The top-seeded Rams trailed second-seeded Oran 37-34 late in the third quarter. But Scott City scored 11 of the period's final 13 points -- eight of them from Beck -- and the Rams were on their way to a 69-58 victory...

PERRYVILLE -- There was no home run hero to greet the children sporting red Mark McGwire T-shirts, but the St. Louis Cardinals Caravan on Friday made its first stop in Perryville since 1986 to the delight of about 600 fans at the American Legion Hall...

ST. LOUIS -- Cape Girardeau Central High's boys basketball team ventured north Friday to take on DeSmet, ranked No. 3 in the St. Louis area coaches poll. The Tigers found out why the Spartans are thought of so highly in St. Louis. DeSmet's size proved too much for Central as the Tigers fell 56-34. DeSmet snapped a two-game losing spell and improved to 16-2, dropping Central to 7-9...

BLOOMFIELD -- The Stoddard County Tournament closed with an exciting finale as top-seeded Dexter defeated sixth-seeded Puxico 64-62 in the championship game Friday night. Shannon Wright scored a team-high 16 points for Dexter and RyanHarmon paced Puxico with 20...

Wilma R. Kesler of Cape Girardeau died Thursday, Jan. 21, 1999, at the Lutheran Home. A native of Dongola, Ill., she was the daughter of Daniel and Ella Mowery Penrod. She married Earl Kesler. Kesler was a registered cosmetologist in Illinois most of her life. She was manager of the cosmetics department at Jelleff's Department Store in Alexandria, W.Va., 20 years. She had lived in Cape Girardeau since 1970...

JACKSON -- Elmer L. Proctor, 75, of Jackson died Thursday, Jan. 21, 1999, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. He was born March 4, 1923, at Scopus, son of Kennall and Ethel Crader Proctor. He and Alene Hartle were married Aug. 23, 1945, in Jackson...

Oletta B. Cole of Farmington, passed away on January 19, 1999, at the Fleur De Lis Nursing Center. She was born on July 10, 1911, in Highland, MO, the daughter of the late Robert and Margaret (Fleming) Blaylock. In addition to her parents, she was also preceded in death by her first husband, Walter O. Goehring, and her second husband, Wilbur J. Cole, by two brothers, Chester Blaylock and Everett Blaylock, and by one sister, Iona Brown. She was 87 years of age...

Helen Sides, 63, of Cape Girardeau died Thursday, Jan. 21, 1999, at Southeast Missouri Hospital. She was born Oct. 8, 1935, in Cape Girardeau, daughter of Wilson and Bessie Lane Prince. She married Kenneth Sides Nov. 29, 1953. He survives. She lived in Cape Girardeau all her life. She was a member of St. James AME Church, serving as president of the Usher Board...

Amanda Barbara Hartman, 82, of Cape Girardeau died Thursday, Jan. 21, 1999, at St. Francis Medical Center. She was born July 21, 1916, at Oran, daughter of Henry J. and Gertrude Seesing Engelen. She and Harold D. Hartman were married May 9, 1946, in Piggott, Ark...

BERNIE -- Marie Mize, 94, a former resident of Bernie, died Friday, Jan. 22, 1999, at the Lincoln Skill Care at Fayetteville, Tenn. Arrangements are under the direction of Rainey Funeral Home in Bernie.

Son to Chris and Kaki Huckstep of Kingsport, Tenn., Indian Path Medical Center in Kingsport, 1:35 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 12, 1999. Name, Christopher Gene II. Weight, 6 pounds 10 ounces. Second son. Mrs. Huckstep is the daughter of Charles and Ella LaValle of New Madrid. ...

The Cape Girardeau County Christian Women's Club has announced its new schedule for Bible studies during the winter and spring months. Classes are offered for young mothers, nurses, couples and singles and in area nursing homes. The studies are part of Stonecroft International Ministries, a nondenominational organization...