Stories from Thursday, February 4, 1999

To the editor: I was amazed to open your Jan. 30 edition of the paper to the Opinion page and see the cartoon of the flag raising on Iwo Jima. I was there with the Navy invasion forces and saw it go up. I cannot understand why you so defaced this great photo from the Pacific war to be published in this manner...

To the editor: On Jan. 19, the Southeast Missourian printed a letter, "Betty Simms: A life remembered." It contained a poem written as a tribute to Betty Simms by an individual for whom Mrs. Simms worked many years ago. As the writer stated, he "wrote it in the hope of transcending, in some fashion, my personal relationship with Betty Simms in order to reflect on broader themes." Although the writer may have been well-intended, I must say that I was troubled by the unmasking of this inept, condescending and crude group of words which he called a poem.. ...

When Missouri's sex-offender law -- requiring criminals to register with the sheriff's department in the county where they live -- went into effect in 1997, there was general support for the idea. Making the list of registered offenders public, however, was another matter. Under the law, anyone can go to the sheriff's department, sign a form and pay $2 to get that county's list...

Now that all 50 states have reached settlements with the tobacco companies to the tune of $246 billion, there are still many questions to settle. For most states, deciding how to spend the money will be among the biggest political issues this year, and perhaps for years to come...

I WANT to comment about the scandal in the Olympics committee where they gave prostitutes and money to the people who were on the committee in order to get the games held in Salt Lake City. I think we should put this all behind us. After all, it's all about sex. ...

"Elizabeth" by Craig Thomas of Cape Girardeau "A Light Behind the Shadows" by Eric Ejchler of Cape Girardeau "Settle for a Roll, Mr. Fox?" by Aaron Horrell of Chaffee They are your neighbors, people you see every day strolling down the street or walking through the aisles of the supermarket. You find them at their jobs or sitting next to you in a classroom or in a movie theater. They are your neighbors, your friends...

Nathan Wibbenmeyer's wish came true this fall thanks to the Make-A-Wish Foundation. The 10-year-old Cape Girardeau boy and his family traveled to an official NASCAR race, the Pepsi 400 held Oct. 17 in Orlando, Fla. Nathan is fighting osteosarcoma, bone cancer, and is doing well. He is the son of Gary and Sue Wibbenmeyer...

Gov. Mel Carnahan telephoned reporters Wednesday to tout a study that gave Missouri state government high marks for financial management. But Republican lawmakers in Southeast Missouri later said the state won't make the grade unless it seriously cuts taxes...

When Laura Pruneau interviewed in January with the Cape Girardeau Civic Center, she came armed with three pages of questions and suggestions. She left not knowing whether she would get the job as director and started work on a list of projects she thought would be beneficial for the organization...

The Cape Girardeau Parks and Recreation Department is creating a plan for future development of the entire city park system. "What we are trying to do internally is to look at all of the parks and try to come up with some general recommendations for future development," said department director Dan Muser...

Feb. 4, 1999 Dear Julie, For anyone who lived through the Watergate hearings, the impeachment proceedings in Washington, D.C., feel vaguely like deja vu redux -- this time without the heroes. I had just graduated from college in 1973 and was spending a month with friends in St. Petersburg, Fla. We sandwiched the hearings between the beach and bar-hopping. Unlike the current paid political announcements, they made riveting TV...

It's one down, two more to go during Southeast Missouri State University's crucial three-game homestand that will determine just how much next week's contest at Murray State means. The Indians were able to take care of business Tuesday night -- although not without a struggle -- as they knocked off Tennessee State 61-54...

Southeast Missouri State University's women's basketball team has the opportunity to move back into first place in the Ohio Valley Conference tonight. The Otahkians pulled to within one-half game of the top spot by virtue of Tuesday's thrilling 74-71 comeback victory over Tennessee State...

The Southeast Missouri State University Indian baseball team has been picked to win the 1999 Ohio Valley Conference baseball title, according to a poll conducted by the league's head coaches. The Indians were a unanimous choice to repeat as OVC champs as they received eight first-place votes (head coaches were not allowed to vote for their own team)...

JACKSON -- Todd Wessel, a senior at Jackson High school, made it official Wednesday that he will play football at Northwest Missouri State University, the defending NCAA Division II champions. Despite injuring his knee midway through the season, the 5-foot-11, 185-pound running back gained 1,315 yards in just 6 1/2 games during his senior campaign...

Former Scott City linebacker Steven Thomas and offensive lineman John Wipfler were two of the 14 players who signed to play football for Southeast Missouri State University Wednesday as the official signing period began. Thomas, a first-team all-stater, and Wipfler, who was named to the all-state second team, helped lead the Rams to the state quarterfinals...

Jim Hulshof School: Kelly Sport: Basketball Coach: Kent Mangels Week report: Hulshof, a 6-foot-3 shooting guard, averaged 24.7 points as the Hawks went 3-0 last week. He opened the week with 13 points in a 66-65 win over Bernie, had a 33-point outburst in a 79-68 win over Notre Dame and wrapped up the week with 28 points in a 65-52 victory over Advance. He hit five 3-pointers against Notre Dame and six against Advance...

Chrissi Glastetter School: Jackson Sport: Basketball Coach: Ron Cook Week Report: Chrissi Glastetter, a 5-foot-9 guard, averaged 14.3 points per game over three games last week. She scored 14 in the Lady Indians' 74-63 win over St. Joseph, 14 against Notre Dame in a 62-44 win and 15 in Jackson's 69-45 win over Perryville. She was one of four players to average at least 13 points last week...

Advance and Oran are ranked third and fourth, respectively, in the preseason Class 1A state baseball poll as determined by the Missouri Baseball Coaches Association. No other teams from the immediate area were ranked in any of the other classes in the preseason poll...

Six-foot Richland guard Corey Gipson scored 56 points, including nine 3-pointers, in a 83-78 loss to Dexter Tuesday night. The scoring spree was the most recorded by any player in Southeast Missouri this year. The senior is averaging 36.2 points per game and has drawn some interest from NCAA Division I programs...

Brandon Barnes, a Sikeston High School senior, was among the 22 football players signed Wednesday by the University of Missouri. The 6-foot-4, 205 pound Barnes played defensive back and wide receiver for the Bulldogs in the 1998 season. It is not known what position he will play for the Tigers...

CHARLESTON -- Jane Kirstine Nelson, 95, of Charleston died Tuesday, Feb. 2, 1999, at Bertrand Nursing Facility. She was born June 4, 1903, in Denmark. She came to the United States at a young age, and had lived in Charleston since 1982. She married Alfred Peter Nelson, who died July 22, 1984...

ADVANCE -- James E. Bess, 79, of Advance died Tuesday, Feb. 2, 1999, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. He was born June 12, 1919, at Rumbranch, son of Charlie and Oma Shell Bess. He and Lovevota Kinnison were married Jan. 12, 1947, at Marble Hill...

BURFORDVILLE -- Jacob Thomas "Jake" Taylor, 86, of Burfordville died Wednesday, Feb. 3, 1999, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. He was born May 16, 1912, at Jackson, son of James M. and Lena Fredericka Kneibert Taylor. He and Ethel May Seabaugh were married July 20, 1932...

COBDEN, Ill. -- Funeral for Billy Joe Tolson of Cobden will be held at 1:30 p.m. Saturday at Lutz and Rendleman Funeral Home in Anna. E. James Rivett will officiate, with burial in Herrin City Cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home from 6-9 p.m. Friday...

ANNA, Ill. -- Owen H. Craig, 77, of Anna died Wednesday, Feb. 3, 1999, at Union County Hospital. Friends may call at Lutz and Rendleman Funeral Home in Anna after 5 p.m. Friday. Funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at the funeral home. Burial will be in Busby Cemetery near Goreville...

CHAFFEE -- Al Glastetter, 73, Chaffee Route 1, died Wednesday, Feb. 3, 1999, at his home. Amick-Burnett Funeral Chapel in Chaffee is in charge of arrangements.

PERRYVILLE -- Mae M. Williams, 83, of Perryville died Tuesday, Feb. 2, 1999, at Perry County Memorial Hospital. She was born June 3, 1915, in Perry County, daughter of Henry and Hilda Swank Woolweaver. She and James G. Williams were married June 10, 1938. He died May 24, 1968...

Evelyn E. Monroe, 91, died Friday, Jan. 29, 1999, at San Pablo, Calif. She was born Sept. 22, 1907, in Sikeston, daughter of John E. and Grace D. Murphy Barnhardt. A former member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Cape Girardeau, she moved to California in 1943. She graduated from the University of California at Berkeley in 1950 as a registered nurse. She owned and operated several nursing homes in California...

Juanita C. Feverston, formerly of 1127 William St. in Cape Girardeau, a homemaker and retired fashion associate with Roth's Department Store, died Sunday, Jan. 31, 1999, in Bangor, Maine. She was 83 years old. Mrs. Feverston was born Nov. 27, 1915, to William and Minnie Scholl Walker on the family farm near Dutchtown and Gordonville. ...

SIKESTON -- Rosie Lee Marshall, 73, of Sikeston died Tuesday, Feb. 2, 1999, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. She was born Feb. 28, 1925, in Lula, Miss., daughter of Bennie and Rosie Davis. She married Robert Marshall Jr. She had lived in Missouri since 1949 and was a member of the Cornerstone Baptist Church...

Vickie Ellen Emmons, 45, of Cape Girardeau died Tuesday, Feb. 2, 1999, at Southeast Missouri Hospital. She was born July 16, 1953, at Cape Girardeau, the daughter of James William Baylor Sr. and the former Ida May Fitzgerald Baylor. She married Colin David "Mick" Emmons in November 1975 at Cape Girardeau...

PERRYVILLE -- Joseph H. Phillips, 66, of Perryville died Tuesday, Feb. 2, 1999, at his home. He was born Nov. 22, 1932, in Missouri, son of Joe L. and Lucille Bohnert Phillips. He and LaVerne Brown were married May 19, 1956, at Perryville. Phillips was a farmer. He served in the U.S. Army...