Stories from Saturday, February 13, 1999

To the editor: This is an open letter to the president of the United States: You have committed perjury and obstructed justice. You have damaged our judicial system beyond repair. You have broken moral laws and demeaned the highest office in our land. ...

So close yet so far away. The Southeast Missouri State University Indians are in the midst of their best season since moving up to the NCAA's Division I. The Ohio Valley Conference title seemed well within reach just a few days ago. But a tough loss to Murray State University's Racers Thursday night means the Indians will likely settle for second place in the OVC...

Once each year, the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce takes a step back to pay tribute to its own. At its annual dinner and dance, a distinguished community achiever and an outstanding small business of the year are both recognized. It's a process that is both gratifying and motivating to chamber members and the community...

Thank God Almighty, it's over. At times it seemed George Armstrong Custer was directing events. First, the major losers. Losers Bill Clinton. He joins Andrew Johnson and Richard Nixon on the all-time impeachment and near-impeachment list. Before Clinton celebrates too profusely, he should reflect that he was saved by the Dow Jones average and, in the words of one writer, "by people who were defending the presidency from people who are even worse than he is." We already know the first paragraph in future reference books' biographies of the president: "Clinton, William Jefferson. ...

I FEEL and I hope that the voters will respond with a vengeance in the next election, remembering the misuse and misconduct of Kenneth Starr. His actions can be compared to when Richard Nixon turned the IRS and FBI loose on his political opponents and when J. ...

While their children start language lessons with a French tutor, Jim and Angela Beise are trying to raise support for and awareness of the mission needs in France. The Beises are preparing for a return to the mission field after a 10-year hiatus during which Jim graduated from seminary and their son Michael, 4, was born. They will serve as church planters in a suburb of Paris, France, with the Mission Society for United Methodists...

Residents of the Central High School neighborhood met with school and police officials Friday to discuss concerns related to off-campus student parking. Dan Rau organized the meeting, which was attended by Cape Girardeau police Sgt. Steve Strong, traffic director Sgt. ...

With all David Limbaugh's personnas -- lawyer, editor of his famous brother's books, Sunday school teacher -- he has long aspired to something different: to be a writer Now the Cape Girardeau resident is about to begin writing a nationally syndicated column...

The Great American Smokeout focuses on helping adults quit smoking and helping teens avoid starting. There is another special day designed to discourage youths from starting to smoke. It is called "Kick Butts Day," a movement marked earlier in the year, that is gaining recognition...

The federal government plans to buy property by Sept. 30 for construction of a new courthouse in Cape Girardeau. The government wants to buy the nearly six-acre Happy Hollow site at Independence and Frederick, west of Cape Girardeau City Hall. "The objective is to have the property acquired in this fiscal year," said Jim Ogden of the General Services Administration's regional office in Kansas City. The federal fiscal year ends at the end of September...

I generally enjoy hanging out with "The Clique," but when we take our annual getaway, I realize even more why my friends are special. It's hard to believe an entire year has passed and that it is again time for Valentine's Day. Each year, Patrick and I and a group of about six couples take a getaway on the weekend nearest to this holiday to renew our romantic connections. We're mostly married or nearly married couples who share childhoods and day cares and college memories on a myriad of levels...

For many parents, talking about sex and dating relationships with their teen-ager isn't always an easy chore. But it is a necessary one. Susie Hildebrand didn't have any problems talking with her daughter, Erin, about abstinence and purity. On Sunday, Erin will make a commitment to remain sexually pure until marriage during a "True Love Waits" ceremony at Lynwood Baptist Church. About 50 youths and their parents will participate in the service at 7 p.m...

SIKESTON -- Few things pump up basketball teams like 75-foot 3-pointers. Cape Girardeau Central junior guard Donnie McClinton detonated a bomb from the right of the opposite free-throw line as time expired in the third quarter Friday night to give the Tigers a 39-37 lead -- and a confidence boost...

ST. PETERS -- On the strength of swift preliminary swims from Jason Owen, Eric Yount and two relay teams, Cape Girardeau Central High is poised to climb the standings ladder higher than ever today in the Missouri swimming and diving championships. In a preliminary race Friday at the Rec-Plex in St. Peters, Owen, a senior, placed first in the 200-yard freestyle in a time of 1:44.38, just ahead of the 1:44.79 posted by Raytown South's Adam Apprill...

The first postseason test for area high school wrestlers is history. Now comes the second and final exam -- and it will determine just who qualifies for the state meet. Jackson and Cape Girardeau Central will have a total of 14 competitors in the Class 4A, Sectional 1 Meet that will be held today at Fox High School in Arnold...

MUNCIE, Ind. -- Southeast Missouri State University's gymnastics team placed second among four teams on Friday in the Ball State Cardinal Classic. Ball State won the meet with a score of 191.175. Southeast posted a 189.800, followed by Northern Illinois (186.150) and Winona State (185.650)...

JACKSON -- Pauline "Polly" Wills, 74, of Jackson died Thursday, Feb. 11, 1999, at her winter home in Pharr, Texas. She was born May 27, 1924, in Clinton, Ky., daughter of Thomas Allen and Nettie Irene Davis Wells. She and Dr. T.D. Wills Jr. were married Dec. 31, 1943, at Camp Crowder...

PATTON -- G.F. Edward Ramey, 78, of Patton died Thursday, Feb. 11, 1999, at Claru Deville Nursing Center in Fredericktown. He was born Jan. 11, 1921, in Dyersburg, Tenn., son of John W. and Lillie May Berryman Ramey. He and Norma Glyn Hall were married April 16, 1948...

PERRYVILLE -- Joseph Chalmer Hayden, 78, of Perryville died Thursday, Feb. 11, 1999, at Perry County Nursing Home. He was born May 3, 1920, at Brewer, son of Lon L. and Lunette Brewer Hayden. He and Anna Ruth Nations were married Sept. 20, 1941, at Clareville. She died July 5, 1997...

James C. Marshall, 80, of Cape Girardeau died Friday, Feb. 12, 1999, at Beverly Health and Rehabilitation Services. Lorberg Memorial Funeral Chapel is in charge of arrangements.

MARBLE HILL -- Albert Burton Durham, 86, of Marble Hill died Friday, Feb. 12, 1999, at Bond Nursing Care Center. He was born Feb. 20, 1912, at Lowndes, son of George M. and Pheraby Ritchey Durham. Durham retired as an inspector with Wagner Electric in St. Louis. He was a member of Lowndes Methodist Church...

CAIRO, Ill. -- Funeral for Dorothy M. Whitehead of Cairo will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday at Barkett Funeral Home in Cairo. The Rev. Jerome Fortenberry will officiate, with burial in Spencer Heights Cemetery at Mounds. Friends may call at the funeral home Tuesday from 9 a.m. until service time...

CHAFFEE -- Carl C. Smith, 85, of Chaffee died Friday, Feb. 12, 1999, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. He was born Feb. 6, 1914, in Flat River, son of Solomon Cleveland and Daisy Richey Smith. He married Eloise E. Ward on Oct. 11, 1937, at Corning, Ark. She survives...

Son to John William and Melissa Jean McMichael III of Bloomfield, Southeast Missouri Hospital, 4:31 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 2, 1999. Name, John William IV. Weight, 9 pounds 3 ounces. Mrs. McMichael is the former Melissa Lancaster, daughter of Lesley and Karen Lancaster of Bloomfield. McMichael is the son of Scott and Donna Cole of Jersey City, N.J...