Stories from Wednesday, May 5, 1999

The distinctive residence of the eastern tent caterpillar was found in a tree along Gordonville Road in Cape Girardeau. I recently received several samples of worms that were found crawling up and down pin oaks and sweetgum trees in the Heartland. An entomologist friend of mine, Larry, identified them as eastern tent caterpillars...

Liesl Schoenberger is just a freshman at Notre Dame Regional High School. But the 14-year-old already is an accomplished violinist. Area residents have enjoyed her musical talents for years. She is the reigning Missouri junior fiddle champion. The Cape Girardeau girl made her debut as a symphony orchestra soloist this year, performing a difficult piece by Tchaikovsky...

Missouri law enforcement officers should breathe a little easier thanks to $1.3 million in new equipment and training being made available to 24 drug task forces in the state. The equipment includes protective coveralls, chemical-resistant gloves, goggles and respirators...

On Friday, Bill Clinton announced that he would convene a White House summit on youth violence on May 10. In his opening remarks, after briefly relating how much time he had spent in the last week agonizing over the Littleton massacre, he conducted a clinic on that skill for which he has become legendary: compartmentalization...

RIGHT IS right, and wrong is wrong. This is what we have been taught all our lives. So tell me what is right about city and county prosecutors who choose to ignore and drop assault charges consisting of bodily injuries, ex parte orders in full force being broken with police present and with knowledge of such and with witnesses present. ...

Sigma Nu fraternity at Southeast Missouri State University will raise money Thursday to help victims of the Columbine High School shooting. Fraternity members will raise money for the Mile High United Way Community Healing Fund. From 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., members will lounge in the new water fountain at Kent Library...

Members of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3838 and the American Legion auxiliary will distribute Buddy Poppies this weekend at a number of locations throughout Cape Girardeau. Cape Girardeau Mayor Al Spradling III purchased the first poppy here this year to kick off the event, which will be held Friday and Saturday...

To the editor: Because it's not right. That is why Midamerica Hotels Corp. is opposed to Southeast Missouri State University's River Campus project. Last summer, University and city officials told all of us: Support our performing arts project, It's a lot of money, but the state of Missouri and the university will pay three-fourths of the cost. ...

We will start out Recipe Swap this week with recipes given to me by two special people in the lives of my children. The first recipe was given to me by Ross' daycare teacher who we love very much, Gail Jones. When we working Moms have to leave our children everyday, it is hard, but knowing they are with people who love them as their own makes it tolerable. ...

Steven Bjelich wants a job that shares a sense of values, family and community, and he says he has found that job at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. Bjelich was named the medical center's president and chief executive officer Tuesday. He assumes duties July 5...

The Missouri Department of Transportation wants to build a four-lane, divided highway from Blomeyer to Cape Girardeau at a cost of about $60 million. Area residents will have a chance to discuss the highway plan at a public hearing May 24 at the Holiday Inn in Cape Girardeau. The hearing, which will be an open-house-styled meeting, is scheduled for 4 to 8 p.m...

Jonathan Shaw pedaled away from Cape Girardeau Tuesday morning with 40 pounds of gear loaded on his bicycle, headed west on a cross-country adventure. Shaw, a police officer from Lancaster, England, had ridden 1,100 miles from Kitty Hawk, N.C., to Cape Girardeau. He is headed through the Rocky Mountains to Coos Bay, Ore., the end of his trip. In all he expects to travel about 3,600 miles...

A Senate committee Tuesday moved a step closer to approving funding for the River Campus at Southeast Missouri State University. The Senate Appropriations Committee unanimously deleted an amendment to the capital improvements bill that would have placed the River Campus funding under a contingency. Under the House amendment, the $4.6 million allotted for the River Campus would not have been available while a lawsuit protesting the project was pending. That amendment was approved last week...

Editor's note: While Heidi Nieland takes a writing sabbatical, the Southeast Missourian will be printing some favorite columns from the past. This column originally was printed Feb. 19, 1997. The local science fair restored my faith in American youth...

Of all music's powers music, the power to exalt is perhaps the best of all. The Choral Union, University Choir and Southeast Missouri State University Symphony Orchestra delivered an evening of buoyant music Tuesday night, most of it inspired by the love of liberty and disdain for slavery that formed the American experiment and has tested it again and again...

Cape Girardeau Downtown Merchants Association members had an opportunity to hear about revitalization of commercial districts during a special meeting of the group Tuesday night. A movement headed by some downtown merchants, city, university and Chamber of Commerce officials is under way to seek Main Street status for Cape Girardeau. ...

In celebration of Southeast Missouri State University's 125th anniversary, six former presidents of the school have been invited to attend a reception Friday at the Show Me Center. The public is invited to the event, scheduled for 4:30 to 6 p.m. in the meeting rooms...

Letter carriers will be delivering mail and collecting food during their Saturday rounds. Members of the National Association of Letter Carriers are conducting the food drive. Individuals may place food donations near their mailboxes Saturday morning. Nonperishable food items like canned meats, soup, vegetables, juice, pasta, cereal and rice are needed...

When the black, translucent plastic lining adheres to Notre Dame's outfield fence as it did Tuesday, Bulldog fans pay special attention when power hitter Josh Eftink steps in the box. But Eftink needed neither the brisk wind nor one of his patented towering shots to drive in runs against St. Vincent...

Southeast Missouri State University senior shortstop Steve Lowe has been named the Ohio Valley Conference Player of the Week after helping lead the Indians to the top of the league. Lowe went 7-for-8 with three doubles, two homers, seven runs scored and 11 RBIs as the Indians swept a three-game series from Morehead State over the weekend. He had two homers and eight RBIs in Sunday's 19-1 win...

The 1999 Tournament of Champions Classic slow-pitch softball tournament will be held May 15 at the Dexter Sports Complex. The entry fee is $110 per team and teams will provide their own ball. The first-place prize is $300. To enter or for more information, call Jimmy Smith at 624-8630...

The Cape Girardeau Parks and Recreation Department will hold its annual Summer Registration Day May 12 at A.C. Brase Arena from 1-7 p.m. The day will provide an opportunity to enroll in summer recreation classes, aquatic classes, leagues and special events...

JACKSON -- Cape Girardeau Central and Jackson have waged some thrilling high school soccer games this season and Tuesday was no exception. The Lady Tigers fell behind 1-0 early in the second half but they rallied to post a 2-1 victory as they improved their record to 18-1-1. Jackson fell to 13-5-1...

The University of Missouri Caravan -- featuring head football coach Larry Smith, new head basketball coach Quin Snyder and others -- will be in Cape Girardeau Monday, May 17. Also in town will be athletic director Mike Alden and broadcaster Mike Kelly. The MU Caravan will be at the Drury Lodge, with a social hour at 5:30 p.m. and a program at 6:30...

Jackson Sr. Babe Ruth baseball will hold a tryout Saturday, May 15, at Legion Field in Jackson City Park. The tryout is for ages 16 to 18.

Notre Dame High School will hold its summer volleyball camp July 26-30. The camp, for girls entering grades 5-8, costs $45. Participants need to sign up by June 15. For more information or to sign up, call Notre Dame coach Helen Payne at 334-3726.

COBDEN, Ill. -- Glenn F. Aldridge, 78, of Cambria died Monday, May 3, 1999, at his home. He was born April 25, 1921, at Cobden, son of Joseph Frank and Lora Rader Aldridge. He and Mabel Pauline Dangbar were married Sept. 13, 1941, in Jackson, Mo. She died Nov. 14, 1990...

FROHNA -- Eldor E. Koenig, 86, of Frohna died Tuesday, May 4, 1999, at Chester Memorial Hospital in Chester, Ill. He was born Aug. 29, 1912, at Farrar, son of Joseph and Martha Detjen Koenig. He and Arline Petzoldt were married Feb. 15, 1942. Koenig was an agriculture and livestock farmer. He was a member of Concordia Lutheran Church and East Perry Fair Board, and was involved with the Soil and Water Conservation...

CHAFFEE -- Vera Ellen Mangum, 98, of Chaffee died Tuesday, May 4, 1999, at Chaffee Nursing Center. She was born Oct. 20, 1900, at Magan Station, Ky., daughter of Jasper Newton and Iona Coleman Ford. She and Monroe Mangum were married April 17, 1938, in Helena, Ark. He preceded her in death...

Funeral for Trixie Clubb of Cape Girardeau was held April 21 at Horton-Wampler Funeral Home in Park Hills. The Revs. Sanderson and Bone officiated. Burial was in St. Francois Memorial Park Cemetery. Clubb, 90, died Monday, April 19, 1999, in Cape Girardeau...

PERKS, Ill. -- Funeral for Eva Robertson Price of Perks will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday at Wilson Funeral Home in Karnak. The Revs. Walter Stevenson and Dennis Fitzsimmons will officiate. Burial will be in Mt. Olive Cemetery near Dongola. Friends may call at the funeral home from 6-9 p.m. today...

CYPRESS, Ill. -- Graveside service for Alvin C. Stevens of Mesa, Ariz., will be held at 1 p.m. Sunday at Masonic Cemetery. The Rev. Dave Marinello will officiate. There is no visitation. Wilson Funeral Home in Karnak is in charge of arrangements. Stevens, 84, died Thursday, Jan. 28, 1999, in Mesa...

Daughter to Christopher and Shelly Nall of Cape Girardeau, Southeast Missouri Hospital, 8:22 a.m. Monday, April 26, 1999. Name, Grace Katherine. Weight, 8 pounds 8 ounces. Fourth child, first daughter. Mrs. Nall is the former Shelly Lee, daughter of John and Marie Lee of Festus. She is in charge of children's ministries at La Croix United Methodist Church. Nall is the son of Dennis and Sandy Nall of Festus. He is music director at La Croix Church...

FREDERICKTOWN -- Sue E. Vance, 75, of Fredericktown died Tuesday, May 4, 1999, in Fredericktown. She was born Dec. 14, 1923, in St. Louis, daughter of Earl and Elgis Hammond Humphreys. She married A. Paul Vance July 22, 1938, in St. Louis. Survivors include her husband; three sons, Mike Vance of Overland, Terry Vance of Burlington, Iowa, Robin Vance of Fredericktown; a brother, Earl Humphreys of Overland; three sisters, Jean Ford of Overland, Ruth Andreotta of St. ...

ORAN -- Freda I. Rhodes, 89, of Oran died Monday, May 3, 1999, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. She was born March 18, 1910, at Hornersville, daughter of John Henry and Dora Lee Link Schrader. She and Barney Rhodes were married Dec. 19, 1945, in Cape Girardeau. He died Aug. 18, 1975...

Herbert Louis Stephens, 82, of Cape Girardeau died Tuesday, May 4, 1999, at the Lutheran Home. He was born Aug. 28, 1916, in Peoria, Ill., son of Herbert William and Virginia Schwabacher Stephens. He and Jane DeGuire were married April 30, 1940, at Rolla...

My Grandmother Mayes' blue-ribbon cornmeal Battered Chicken is a crunchy twist to southern fried chicken. The only chicken Grandmother cooked was her farm-raised pullets (hens under a year old.) On this particular occasion Grandmother was sacrificing three of her pullets for a family dinner. ...