Stories from Thursday, April 22, 1999

An afternoon in an electric wheelchair brought a new perspective to Dwayne Szot and his fascination with the aesthetic capabilities of machines. "As I sat in that wheelchair, the ease at which it guided me through the store brought a realization that I could create machines that would act as physical extensions for other people, people with disabilities," said Szot...

Joining the Cleveland Dancing Wheels was a challenge for choreographer Sabatino Verlezzo, who had his own dance company in New York at the time and had been a soloist with the pioneering May O'Donnell Dance Company. The challenge he happily accepted was to choreograph dances for people who dance sitting down...

ANGIE MCFERREN Prayer changes things. That's the belief and hope of Cape Girardeau parents and students after learning of yet another fatal shooting incident at a U.S. school. Students and parents were unable to describe their feelings about Tuesday's shootings at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colo. ...

Attorney Ben Lewis encouraged volunteers to continue building the walls of the community during the Volunteer Recognition Awards program sponsored by the Area Wide United Way and Ameritech Wednesday. Lewis was the keynote speaker for the event, which is held annually to recognize community workers for their volunteer efforts. He likened local volunteerism to the biblical figure Nehemiah, whom he called the first community activist for Nehemiah's work in rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem...

Attorney Patricia Ray is surprised that Cape Girardeau has been able to hold off managed health care. In larger communities, patients and physicians have suffered from over regulation and lots of changes brought about in an effort to control health-care costs, she said...

OLIVE BRANCH, Ill. -- Construction of a sewage-collection and wastewater-treatment plant will get under way in this Southern Illinois community this week. The new system will enable the community's more than 1,384 residents to safely dispose of sewage without fear of posing a community health or safety risk, say officials who gathered at the Olive Branch Community Center Wednesday for an official groundbreaking ceremony hosted by the Central Alexander County Sanitary District...

April 22, 1999 Dear Julie, Driving south toward the Oklahoma City skyline at dusk Saturday night began a pilgrimage that took me first to a Church's Fried Chicken restaurant to ask for directions thinking everybody must know the place. The clerk just knew it was somewhere downtown...

REGARDING YOUR article "Teaching Elijah," you mentioned the term "clinical studies." I am very cautious when I hear that general term without any specifics, like how many and what types of groups. Please be responsible, especially when talking about something as controversial as behavior analysis therapy. ...

Leaders from more than 40 countries will meet in Washington Friday for an elaborate three-day celebration commemorating NATO's 50th anniversary. As NATO prepares for its self-congratulatory love fest, evidence is mounting that instead it should be engaging in critical self-evaluation...

When the federal government breaks a promise, it should have to pay a penalty. And a federal judge has ordered the federal government to pay a California savings and loan nearly $1 billion for a rule change that threatened the stability of many S&Ls in the 1980s and caused several to go belly up. ...

When it comes to international relations, U.S. presidents can expect to hobnob with some folks you wouldn't invite to a backyard barbecue. But last week's visit to Washington by Chinese Premier Shu Rongji tested the limits of American hospitality. In one breath, the premier said he promised China's cooperation in investigating allegations of spying and illegal campaign contributions, then laughingly denied that either of the charges had any merit...

To the editor: I was sickened if not completely surprised that the Southeast Missourian didn't bother to answer the two recently published letters written by native Serbs. Both letters criticized what most Americans consider the more-than-justified NATO air attacks in Yugoslavia. But, they went way beyond that...

To the editor: The apprehension in the young reservist's voice, sitting in the adjacent barbershop chair, wrenched my stomach into a knot. He had received a phone call to report to his St. Louis reserve unit in 72 hours. A deeply seated memory of the same trepidation flooded my senses, transporting me back to 1970 as I sat with a group of classmates listening to draft numbers on the radio. ...

Rick Boyd, right, store manager of the Jackson Wal-Mart Supercenter, welcomed Andrew Schmidt and his son Andrew of Jackson as the first customers at a grand opening of the new store Wednesday. JACKSON -- Doors to the second Wal-Mart Supercenter in Cape Girardeau County opened Wednesday...

Southeast Missouri State University track and field coach Joey Haines considers it a fitting honor that Heather Keltner will get to compete against two Olympic champions this weekend. Keltner, a three-time Ohio Valley Conference 400-meter champion, has been selected to participate in the invitational 400-meters at the prestigious Drake Relays in Des Moines, Iowa...

With it's top two home run hitters from last year out virtually all season because of injuries, the long ball has not been Southeast Missouri State University's strong suit in 1999. But Wednesday afternoon, the Indians put on a power display that was nothing short of spectacular...

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Southeast Missouri State University's golf team narrowly missed out on winning its first-ever Ohio Valley Conference championship Wednesday. The Indians fell one stroke short as Morehead State rallied with a big final round to capture the OVC title at the Springhouse Golf Club...

Jackson High School has turned out all kinds of talented female basketball players over the years. And the school also apparently hasn't fallen short in turning out talented basketball coaches. Kia Kamp, a 1985 Jackson graduate, is busy hitting the recruiting trail as she puts together her first women's team at Mineral Area College, a two-year school in Park Hills...

CHARLESTON, Ill. -- Southeast Missouri State University's softball team split a pair of 1-0 games here Wednesday as the Otahkians' fell back into a first-place Ohio Valley Conference tie. Eastern Illinois scored a run in the seventh inning to capture the opener. Then Southeast pushed across a run in the eighth inning of the nightcap to salvage a split...

BENTON -- To say that Bradley Kolwyck has been in a zone would not even be doing the Kelly High junior justice. Kolwyck blasted two home runs in his first two trips to the plate Wednesday -- giving him homers in five consecutive at-bats -- as the Hawks won a 15-10 slugfest over visiting St. Vincent...

Tommy Stidham School: Chaffee Sport: Baseball Coach: Bruce Qualls Week Report: Stidham, a junior pitcher/shortstop, went 9-for-19 (.474) with a double and two runs batted in from the leadoff position last week. He helped Chaffee to a first-place finish in the Red Devils' eight-team tournament by winning the semifinal game against Dexter and generally setting the table for the heart of the lineup...

Heather Hey School: Cape Central Sport: Soccer Coach: Tom Doyle Week Report: Hey, a sophomore goalkeeper, recorded five shutouts last week. She posted four of those zeros in the Fralish Cup Tournament in Marion, Ill., an event featuring some tough competition from southeast Missouri and all parts of Illinois. Central coasted to the tournament championship and improved to 13-0-1 on the season...

SCOTT CITY -- William Henry Foulk, 85, of Scott City died Tuesday, April 20, 1999, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. He was born March 27, 1914, in West Frankfort, Ill., son of Thomas Monroe and Mary Elizabeth Henson Foulk. He and Alene G. Penrose were married Sept. 10, 1936, at Jackson...

Funeral for the Rev. Ray Rhyne of Triangle, Va., will be held at 10 a.m. Friday at Ford and Sons Mt. Auburn Chapel. The Rev. Cy Smith will officiate. Burial will be in Memorial Park. Friends may call at the chapel from 4-8 p.m. today. A Masonic service will be held at 7...

MOUNDS, Ill. -- Funeral for Charles E. Wehrenberg Jr. of Mounds will be held at 2 p.m. today at Barkett Funeral Home in Mounds. The Rev. Jimmie E. Corbin will officiate. Burial will be in Beechwood Cemetery. Wehrenberg, 85, died Tuesday, April 20, 1999, at Jackson Manor Nursing Home in Jackson, Mo...

Helen Marie Benson, 86, of Cape Girardeau died Monday, April 19, 1999, at Southeast Missouri Hospital. She was born Aug. 2, 1912, in Jackson, daughter of Alphonso and Carrie Brown Lacey. She and Clyde Lee Benson were married Nov. 8, 1943. He died June 6, 1972...

JACKSON -- Alma L. Cook, 81, formerly of Millersville, died Wednesday, April 21, 1999, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. She was born May 23, 1917, in Bollinger County, the daughter of John H. and Gracie "Gertie" Mayfield Bollinger. She married Elam W. Criddle on May 5, 1934. He died March 28, 1944...

ADVANCE -- Geneva Corbin of Advance died Wednesday, April 21, 1999, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. Arrangements will be announced later by Morgan Funeral Home in Advance.

KELSO -- Graveside service for Raymond F. Moore of Kelso was held Wednesday at Lightner Cemetery in Scott City. Amick-Burnett Funeral Chapel at Scott City was in charge of arrangements. Moore, 77, died Tuesday, April 20, 1999, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau...

EAST PRAIRIE -- Funeral for Earlene Riley of East Prairie will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday at First Baptist Church. George White will officiate. Burial will be in East Prairie Memorial Park Cemetery. Friends may call at Shelby Funeral Home in East Prairie after 5 p.m. Friday...

ADVANCE -- Funeral for Flora Belle Moore of Advance will be held at 2 p.m. today at Chiles-Cooper Funeral Home in Bloomfield. The Rev. Frank Husted will officiate. Moore, 93, died Tuesday, April 20, 1999, at Advance Nursing Center. She was born Jan. 21, 1906, near Aquilla, daughter of Walter and Rosa Belle Dawson. She and Clarence Moore were married March 31, 1923. He died June 18, 1955...

JOPPA, Ill. -- Raymond Sheffer, 66, of Joppa died Tuesday, April 20, 1999, at Massac Memorial Hospital in Metropolis. He was born Sept. 1, 1932, in West Chester, Pa., son of Arthur and Dorothy Summers Sheffer. Sheffer was retired from Illinois Power and Gas Co. in Maryville. He was a veteran of the Korean War...

PERRYVILLE -- Zida N. Martin, 66, of Perryville died Tuesday, April 20, 1999, at DePaul Hospital. She was born May 27, 1932, in Perry County, daughter of Harvey and Viola Boxdorfer Brewer. Martin was a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church. Survivors include a daughter, Gloria Sherrill of Frohna; three sons, Vest Martin of Chicago, Doug and Dean Martin of Perryville; a sister, Ruth Geile of St. Louis; seven grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren...

PERRYVILLE -- Funeral for Robert Peter Ukele of Perryville will be held at 2 p.m. today at Young and Sons Funeral Home. The Rev. Robert Huttegger will officiate. Burial will be in Evangelical St. Petri Cemetery in Red Bud, Ill. Friends may call at the funeral home from noon until service time...

PERRYVILLE -- Rosedell M. Mitchell, 68, of Perryville died Wednesday, April 21, 1999, at St. Louis University Care. She was born Sept. 8, 1930, at Belgique, daughter of James and Loraine Streiler Evans. She and Charles Mitchell were married June 17, 1949...

BLOOMFIELD -- Maxine Robey, 69, of Bloomfield died Wednesday, April 21, 1999, at Dexter Memorial Hospital in Dexter. She was born Dec. 27, 1929, in Clarksville, Ark., daughter of John H. and Vevie Drye Tilley. She married Claude Robey Sept. 1, 1951, in Piggott, Ark. He died April 19, 1984...

Mark McGwire alone won't send major league baseball into a sound financial orbit. That's the view of McGwire's boss, St. Louis Cardinals president Mark Lamping. Major league baseball must address its "no hoper" franchises and help get financially struggling teams back on their feet, Lamping said during a Common Hour speech Wednesday at Southeast Missouri State University...

"Why does the universe go to the bother of existing? ... [I]f we do discover a complete theory, it should in time be understandable in broad principals by everyone, not just a few scientists. Then we shall all, philosophers, scientists and just ordinary people, be able to take part in the discussion of the question of why it is that we and the universe exist...