Stories from Thursday, March 11, 1999

To the editor: A recent news item on a local television station featured a person waving a large, dangerous-looking weapon and stridently stating that if Proposition B passes, known gang members would be able to legally carry such weapons into banks. ...

People will have a chance April 28 to voice their views on a proposed site for a federal courthouse in Cape Girardeau. The General Services Administration will hold a public hearing at 7 p.m. at Cape Girardeau City Hall. People can sign up to speak at the hearing beginning at 6:30 p.m...

At left is one of Wolf Eagle's vases with dried grass tied to it. This coil-made toad pot was dung fired. David Wolf Eagle displayed a hand-made bowl. Until David Wolf Eagle went to his first powwow, he was an artist without a muse. Until they met, his wife, Georgia, was the vice president of the local chamber of commerce and managed a manufacturing company...

CLINTON ALLOWED technological war material to go to China in 1992 in exchange for China's campaign money for him to win the presidential election again in 1996. Janet Reno will not open a campaign finance investigation. Of course not, she's a Clinton appointee, part of the corruption. ...

Despite President Clinton's State of the Union address in January that announced a federal-budget surplus -- and dozens of ways to spend it, the truth of the matter is that the surplus is a fiction, a deception and, in the long run, a dangerous fiscal lie...

A few years ago a dentist was riding his bicycle on a blacktop road in Cape Girardeau County when a motorist passed him. Too closely, the dentist thought. Human nature being what it is, the dentist blessed the motorist with an obscene gesture. The driver immediately pulled over and jumped from his car, armed with a tire tool. ...

Some controversies are so laden with emotion that many people become impervious to facts. An example is airline safety. Air travel is the safest mode of transportation by far. It's many times safer than a car trip. But for those who are anxious about flying, statistical evidence will never be convincing. A similar phenomenon clouds the debate over whether Missourians should have the right to carry concealed weapons...

To the editor: Last week I listened with interest and amusement as a small group of people were talking about how much the officials from the city of Jackson had made personally on the purchase of the new industrial tract on U.S. 61 North. I was even more amazed to find out these people even knew the exact amounts that were paid in supposed commission. ...

CARBONDALE, Ill. -- Not many popular music performers sitting at a piano could hold the rapt attention of an arena packed with 11,000 people. Elton John can and did Wednesday night. Once the king of star suits and duck costumes and outsized eyeglasses, Elton John is now a Sir, wears slightly glittery suits and treats his music with R-E-S-P-E-C-T...

KASKASKIA, Ill. -- Hundreds of visitors will flock into Kaskaskia the weekend of March 20 and 21. Most will visit Fort Kaskaskia State Historic Site in the small Southern Illinois village that overlooks the Mississippi River. They will be here for the Revolutionary War and French Colonial Encampment, a new event that will be free...

Coela Webb, left, Rich Hurling and Vicki Meissner, friends of convicted killer Roy "Hog" Roberts, attended a protest against the death penalty during the hours before Roberts was executed at Potosi early Wednesday. POTOSI -- Despite his pleas of innocence and calls of protest from family, friends and religious leaders, Roy "Hog" Roberts was executed seven minutes after midnight Wednesday at the Potosi Correctional Center...

March 11, 1999 Dear Julie, DC is worried. She thinks she might be a failure. One of our high school classmates just received a woman of the year award. DC's mother won one of those years ago. DC is worried. Maybe she should be doing more, she says. She's not happy with her latest attempts at pottery. A Christmas garland is still hanging on the front banister. She works longer hours than she'd like and she's concerned that the color scheme of her garden is all wrong...

The Full Gospel Businessmen's Fellowship will meet at 8 a.m. Saturday at Holiday Inn. Guest speaker is the Rev. Randy Morse, pastor of First Assembly of God Church in Scott City and president of the Scott City Chamber of Commerce. The meetings are open to the public. First-time visitors will receive a free meal. For reservations or information, call 334-2632 or 334-0248...

POPLAR BLUFF -- Early in the third quarter Wednesday night, Scott County Central's girls basketball team looked like it was certainly headed for a spot in the state quarterfinals. But Couch had other ideas. The Lady Indians staged a furious rally and stunned the Bravettes 65-60 in a Class 1A Sectional game at Poplar Bluff High School...

After watching youth be served Wednesday night, Notre Dame High coach Jerry Grim declared that the precocious triumvirate of Deana McCormick, Courtney Vickery and Lisa Millham are freshmen in name only. The three first-year players helped lift Notre Dame to a 54-47 victory over East Carter County in the Class 2A Sectional basketball game at the Tiger Fieldhouse...

POPLAR BLUFF -- The dream season for the Oran boys basketball team ended Wednesday night at the hands of a tough Thayer squad. Oran fell behind 24-12 at halftime and could not catch up as Thayer posted a 47-41 Class 1A Sectional victory at Poplar Bluff High School...

For those who didn't already know, Jim Hulshof proved how valuable he was to the Kelly Hawks Wednesday night. The versatile 6-foot-3 guard regarded as one of the premier players in Southeast Missouri, fouled out of the game with 2 minutes, 33 seconds remaining in the game...

The women's cross country team at Southeast Missouri State University has been recognized by the Women's Intercollegiate Cross Country Coaches Association as having the highest team grade-point average in the nation. Southeast had a team GPA of 3.71 to rank first nationally. Nebraska was second (3.67)...

Southeast Missouri State University's gymnasts were looking forward to a big home victory Wednesday night. But Central Michigan had other ideas. The visitors proved solid in most areas as they knocked off the Otahkians 193.350 to 192.300 in a dual meet at Houck Field House...

Jim Hulshof School: Kelly Sport: Basketball Coach: Kent Mangels Week Report: Hulshof, a 6-foot-3 senior guard, led the Hawks with 56 points in three games last week in guiding Kelly to its first district championship since 1983. Hulshof had 19 against Bloomfield in the first round of district action, 29 against Notre Dame in the semifinal and 18 against rival Scott City in the championship game. In the Notre Dame game, Hulshof made 16 of his 17 free throws...

Deana McCormick School: Notre Dame Sport: Basketball Coach: Jerry Grim Week Report: McCormick, a 5-foot-10 freshman post player, was the only Notre Dame player to score in double figures in both of the Lady Bulldogs' wins in the district tournament. Part of a balanced offense, McCormick scored 11 against Greenville and 12 against Scott City as the Lady Bulldogs won another district title...

Joseph Clyde Jenkins, 85, of Advance, was born November 10, 1913, in Advance, and passed away at his home on Tues., March 9, 1999. He was the son of the late Elijah and Melinda Taylor Jenkins."Joe" was a retired farmer, a member of the Advance United Methodist Church, and a member of the church board for several years...

Harley A. Anderson, 87, of Caruthersville died Tuesday, March 9, 1999, at Pemiscot Memorial Health Systems in Hayti. He was born March 1, 1912, in Hayti, son of Daniel and Mattie Smitherton Anderson. He married Ardella Jenkins on Sept. 4, 1934, at Caruthersville...

EAST PRAIRIE -- Bob Burney, 77, of East Prairie died Tuesday, March 9, 1999, at his home. He was born April 18, 1921, in Harden, Tenn., son of Edward and Fronie Aday Burney. He and Imogene Thomas were married Dec. 19, 1942. Burney was a retired farmer. He moved to East Prairie in 1994 from Dorena...

SCOTT CITY -- Funeral for Bessie Jewell Flowers of Scott City will be held at 11 a.m. Friday at Eisleben Lutheran Church. The Rev. Joel Sarrault will officiate. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Friends may call at Amick-Burnett Funeral Chapel in Scott City from 5-8 p.m. today...

SIKESTON -- Wanda B. Mack, 64, of Lamar, Ark., died Tuesday, Feb. 16, 1999, at Baylor Center for Restorative Care in Dallas, Texas. She was born July 24, 1934, in Lamar, daughter of Samuel Dewey and Mary Ellen Tucker Richardson. She and James "Sid" Mack were married Aug. 26, 1950. He died Feb. 7, 1977...

PUXICO -- Earl C. Boyt, 74, of Puxico died Tuesday, March 9, 1999, at John J. Pershing VA Medical Center in Poplar Bluff. He was born Sept. 12, 1924, at Parma, son of Charles Clinton and Lola B. Taylor Boyt. He married Mary Ellen Watson. Boyt lived in Scottsburg, Ind., from 1963 until moving to the Puxico area in 1995. He attended Corinth General Baptist Church near Puxico. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army...

JACKSON -- Ray L. Gerecke, 78, of Jackson died Tuesday, March 9, 1999, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. He was born Sept. 25, 1920, in Jackson, son of Louis and Freda Ahrens Gerecke. He and Lola Richards were married June 3, 1944, in Collinsville, Ill. She died Jan. 18, 1999...

BERNIE -- John Olen Bomar Sr., 87, died Saturday, March 6, 1999, at Okmulgee Hospital in Okmulgee, Okla. He was born Jan. 2, 1912, in Formosa, Ark., son of Reuben and Levettie Aufenshine Bomar. Bomar was a 1932 graduate of Formosa High School, and a former resident of the Bernie area...

Daughter to Steven Brock and Danielle Renee Oakley of Sikeston, Southeast Missouri Hospital, 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 2, 1999. Name, Kaytlin Alyssa. Weight, 8 pounds 15 ounces. First child. Mrs. Oakley is the former Danielle Taylor, daughter of Shirley Taylor of Charleston. She is a lead customer service representative at Falcon Cable TV in Sikeston. Oakley is the son of Steven and Linda Oakley of Wyatt. He is employed by Airborne Express in Cape Girardeau...

COBDEN, Ill. -- James J. Brasel, 88, of Cobden, Ill., died Tuesday, March 9, 1999, at City Care Center. He was born Sept. 5, 1910, at Cobden, son of Charles and Mary Hartley Brasel. He and Greta Rawlings were married May 18, 1935. She died Nov. 22, 1991...