Stories from Monday, March 1, 1999

KFVS-12 will add a business feature to its schedule. The new feature, "Heartland Business Break," will be aired mornings during the Breakfast Show. Mike Smyth, the station's general sales manager, will be the host of the new show. Additional information about the new show is available by contacting Shirlene Krewson, Business Break coordinator, (573)-335-1212...

Southeast Missouri State University's Ed Arnzen appreciates the fact that his peers voted him the 1998-99 Ohio Valley Conference Coach of the year for women's basketball. But he knows he didn't do anything different from the last two years -- when the Otahkians went a combined 13-40 and nobody was talking about Arnzen in coach-of-the-year terms...

Gary Garner has an impressive resume as a college basketball coach, even earning national accolades for his work at Division II Fort Hays State. But Garner ranks the 1998-99 Ohio Valley Conference Co-Coach of the Year award he received Friday right up there at the top of his personal list...

CompreHealth Medical Center of Southeast Missouri, has opened at 1435 N. Mount Auburn Road. The clinic, which also offers walk-in urgent care services, is jointly owned by CompreHealth Medical Centers Inc. of Addison, Texas, and PRN Systems, a division of Physicians Regional Network of Cape Girardeau...

The newest pagers are small and sleek. Pagers aren't just for business people and emergency personnel anymore. In fact, pagers have become as much a social tool as a business tool. In a recent study, half of the people using pagers are using them for social reasons, Suzanne Cross of Ameritech's Chicago office said in an interview last week. The other 50 percent are using pagers for business purposes...

This "Financial Focus" column is prepared by Edward Jones Investments, headquartered in St. Louis. Jones includes branches throughout the nation, including Cape Girardeau and Jackson. Attention, all Warren Buffett fans: You can read about this financial guru's investing strategies in the book, "Buffettology: The Previously Unexplained Techniques That Have Made Warren Buffett the World's Most Famous Investor." Written by Mary Buffett and David Clark, the book contains interesting and insightful information.. ...

UniSoccer, a sports specialty store, has opened in West Park Mall. UniSoccer, a division of The Doudox Co., a private family-owned enterprise, opened in Carbondale, Ill., in 1995, and relocated to the University Mall there in 1996. "We're excited to be in the Cape Girardeau area," said Bill Robbins, a co-owner and manager of the company's marketing and merchandising...

Country Home Accents has opened in Perryville. The business, owned and operated by Christy Welker, features merchandise custom crafted by local artisans. The store, at 9 E. Ste. Maries St., is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday. Among items at the store are benches and tables made from old barn wood, birdhouse villages crafted from pieces of driftwood, many other wood items, specially designed sweatshirts, scented candles, silk flower wreaths and a variety of other items...

The Cape Girardeau law firm of Limbaugh, Russell, Payne & Howard has announced changes in the firm. Curtis O. Poore is now a shareholder in the firm, and J. Brian Baehr and Patricia L. Ray have joined the firm as associates. Poore, who serves as a municipal judge in Jackson, received his bachelor's degree from Southeast Missouri State University and his juris doctorate from the University of Missouri-Columbia...

The U.S. Department of Commerce will update its employment, income and poverty numbers during the week of March 14. Census Bureau data show that last March the nation's unemployment rate was 4.7 percent, median household income in 1997 was $37,005, and the proportion of the nation's population in poverty for 1997 was 13.3 percent...

Mike Plummer, regional resource management specialist and no-till expert from Southern Illinois, and John Pickle, representative of Loveland Industries, will speak Friday at a no-till meeting. The daylong session will be held at the Route 25 Hall, between Jackson and Gordonville, on Highway 25...

The Southeast Missouri Regional Port Authority recently presented plaques to Luhr Brothers Inc. and Tower Rock Stone for their help and efforts in developing and improving the port. Receiving plaques, from left, Randy Newell, Alois Luhr, Mike Luhr, Rodney Linker and Ron Inman...

McDonald's Restaurant of Poplar Bluff, owned by Steve Sells, has opened a McSnacks snack bar inside the Poplar Bluff Wal-Mart Supercenter. McDonald's has snack bars and restaurants in a number of Wal-Mart Supercenters, including Cape Girardeau, where a restaurant was opened in 1994...

Curves International Inc., franchiser of Curves for Women, 30-Minute Fitness and Weight Loss Centers, has been named the No. 1 franchise by Entrepreneur Magazine, based on quality of service, return on investment and ongoing support. Curves For Women has locations in Cape Girardeau and Sikeston...

A number of speakers will discuss the latest in cattle grazing during the daylong, Heartland Forage Day program at the Sereno School higher education center at Perryville March 11, from 10 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. Speakers include Jim Gerrish, agronomist at the forage systems research center; Ron Plain, livestock marketing specialist at the University of Missouri; Joe Swink, a veterinarian; Frank Wideman, UM agriculture engineering specialist; and producer experts Tauna Powell and Jim Telle...

Losing in Saturday's semifinals of the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament was extremely disappointing for Southeast Missouri State University women's basketball coach Ed Arnzen and his players. But Arnzen realizes that the future indeed looks bright for the Otahkians...

Spartech Corp. announced record sales and earnings for the first quarter. Bradley B. Buechler, Spartech president and chief executive officer, reported first-quarter sales at $167.8 million through Jan. 31, up 26 percent from the $133.1 million during the same quarter last year...

When Southeast Missouri State University hired Gary Garner as its men's basketball coach less than two years ago, school administrators were confident that he could lead the Indians to Division I success. But it's doubtful that even the most ardent Southeast supporters believed the success would come so quickly...

The Federal Communications Commission ruled on Thursday that every call you make on the Internet is an interstate call. So what does this mean to you the casual Internet user? It means that every Internet access you make now comes under new federal telecommunications rules. This now opens all of us Internet users up to the possibility of new federal taxes...

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Southeast Missouri State University's bid for its first-ever NCAA basketball tournament berth was thwarted by Murray State in a 62-61 loss in the Ohio Valley Conference tournament championship game Sunday. For the second time this season, Murray State's Aubrey Reese hit a game-winning shot at the buzzer to beat the Indians...

Bryan Crain of Anna, Ill., knew the sentimental value associated with his great-great-grandfather's sword and canteen used during the Civil War. What he didn't know was its monetary value, that is until Sunday afternoon when he learned from an antique appraisal of its value...

During the next five years, Cape Girardeau likely will see $75.8 million in capital improvements projects ranging from repairing sidewalks to upgrading sewers and storm-water facilities. The city's capital improvements program draft will be discussed at a public hearing at 7:30 tonight at City Hall. The city charter requires that the draft be approved by the City Council before April 1...

Southeast Missouri lawmakers split over a House-passed bill that would put faculty on the governing boards of the state's colleges and universities. On Wednesday, the Missouri House approved the bill by a vote of 86 to 54. The bill would add a faculty representative to the governing boards of the University of Missouri, Lincoln University, Truman State University, Southeast Missouri State University and the other six regional state colleges and universities...

Monday, March 1, 7:30 p.m. Study session, 5 p.m. City Hall, 401 Independence Public hearings -- A public hearing regarding improvements to Kent St. from Woodland Hills Subdivision to Lexington Avenue. -- A public hearing regarding improvements to Timberland Drive from Kage Road to the dead end; Capaha Trail to dead end; Garden Lane from Capaha Trail to dead end; Hill Street from Johnson Street to 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 dead end; Terry Lane from Kingsway Drive to Joanne Street; and Johnson Street from Rand Street to Riverview Drive.. ...

I JUST saw in the paper where the lawmakers here in Missouri are trying to decide whether to lower the blood-alcohol content limit from 0.1 to 0.08. The federal government says if we don't lower it to 0.08 it will cut millions of dollars off from the state. ...

To the editor: President Clinton didn't waste any time in committing American troops to Kosovo to intervene in the civil war between the Albanians fighting for independence and the Serbians. In fact, Clinton is overriding major concerns of his own senior Pentagon officials who note that the warmer weather will soon be coming and, along with it, much more bloodshed in a war that can't be won. The administration would commit the troops to the NATO alliance under the command of other U.N. generals...

Again this year as they have for at least the past decade, Missouri counties will make their pitch to the Missouri Legislature about getting the state to pick up the costs of medical treatment for prisoners housed in county jails. Cape Girardeau County's cost of providing medical care for its prisoners has been high. ...

The fact that more than a third of the retail sales that took place in Cape Girardeau County in 1998 were purchases by people from outside the county speaks well for the county's role as a hub of business in the region. At a recent Economic Outlook Conference in Cape Girardeau, it was reported that of $1 billion in retail sales in the county last year, $370 million came from other than Cape Girardeau County residents. ...

Southeast Missouri State's Mike Branson fouled Murray State's Duane Virgil as he tried for a dunk in Sunday's OVC Tournament championship game. Southeast's Kahn Cotton (5) looked on. NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- This Aubrey Reese hero stuff must be getting old to Southeast Missouri State University's basketball team...

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Murray State's Aubrey Reese not only snatched the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament championship away from Southeast Missouri State University Sunday. He also almost certainly pilfered tourney MVP honors from the Indians' brilliant center, Bud Eley...

Northern Iowa may prove to be fodder for its Missouri Valley Conference mates, but the Panthers' robust offense flowered Sunday against the best Southeast Missouri State University had to offer. Northern Iowa, pegged by league coaches to finish in the MVC's cellar, swept Southeast in a three-game set over the weekend, racking up at least 10 runs in each game...

SHAWNEETOWN -- Wilbert R. Lorenz, 90, of Shawneetown died Sunday, Feb. 28, 1999, at The Lutheran Home in Cape Girardeau. He was born July 7, 1908, son of Martin and Bertha Kasten Lorenz. He and Eleonora Dreyer were married May 3, 1931, at Shawneetown. She died Sept. 12, 1989...

CHANUTE, Kan. -- William M. Lewis, 92, formerly of Cape Girardeau, died Sunday, Feb. 28, 1999, at a Chanute nursing home. Arrangements are incomplete at Lorberg Memorial Funeral Chapel in Cape Girardeau.

MATTHEWS -- Henry John Retz, 74, died Saturday, Feb. 27, 1999, at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston, from injuries received in an automobile accident. He was born June 4, 1924, at Suffern, N.Y., son of Louis and Mary Wilma Teller Retz. He and Susan E. Birish were married Dec. 28, 1946, in Tuxedo, N.Y...

ADVANCE -- Flavius E. Weissenborn, 92, of Advance died Sunday, Feb. 28, 1999, at Advance Nursing Center. He was born Sept. 27, 1906, at Hickory Ridge, son of John Henry and Anna Josephine Felbinger Weissenborn. He and Anna Lou Murphy were married Jan. 30, 1929, at Jackson. She died Dec. 18, 1992...

VILLA RIDGE, Ill. -- Sarah Lockey Crawford, 80, of Villa Ridge died Saturday, Feb. 27, 1999, at Union County Hospital in Anna. She was born June 7, 1918, in Butler County in Missouri, daughter of Clint and Alice Iquilla Boyles Trimmeller. She and Owen Crawford were married. He died in 1977...

Donald W. Jauch, 62, of Licking died Saturday, Feb. 27, 1999, at Harry S. Truman Veterans Hospital in Columbia. He was born July 30, 1936, in Cape Girardeau, son of Leslie H. and Ruby Leslie Jauch. He was a retired master sergeant for the U.S. Army and had completed several tours of duty in Vietnam. He retired in 1984 after more than 20 years of military service...

CHAFFEE -- Ruth Ellen Holman, 55, of Chaffee died Saturday, Feb. 27, 1999, at her home. She was born Sept. 19, 1943, at Jackson, daughter of Albert and Oma Mary Herzog Goehman. She and Cecil L. Holman Sr. were married July 13, 1962, at Mounds, Ill. She had worked as a manager at Shoney's Restaurant in Cape Girardeau. She attended the Assembly of God Church in Chaffee...

LEOPOLD -- Mary Alice VanGennip, 41, of Leopold died Sunday, Feb. 28, 1999, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. She was born Aug. 11, 1957, at Cape Girardeau, daughter of Lawrence and Alma Horrel Eftink. She and Steve VanGennip were married July 22, 1978, at Guardian Angel Catholic Church in Oran...

COBDEN, Ill. -- Roy C. Basler, 87, of Cobden died Saturday, Feb. 27, 1999, at his home. He was born April 4, 1911, at Cobden, son of Fred and Mary Sweitzer Basler. He and Frieda Lindsey were married June 14, 1932, at Cobden. She died Jan. 6, 1974. Basler was a member of St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Cobden and the Knights of Columbus. He was a retired farmer...

MCCLURE, Ill. -- Vivian M. Ralls, 61, of McClure died Saturday, Feb. 27, 1999, at St. Louis University Hospital. Funeral arrangements are incomplete at Ford and Sons Sprigg Street Chapel.

JONESBORO, Ill. -- Bonnetta Charles, 73, of rural Jonesboro died Saturday, Feb. 27, 1999, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. She was born May 6, 1925, at Delta, Ill., daughter of Harry and Lou Gearing Goleaner. She and James E. "Cub" Charles were married June 17, 1942, at Jackson, Mo. He died Dec. 6, 1997...