Stories from Sunday, May 16, 1999

Random acts of kindness. What a week it has been. The kind acts have been as different as the people performing them. From sharing a kind word to Procter and Gamble's amazing donation of 759 cases of diapers for tornado victims. Wow. There were stories of people changing tires for others, planting flowers, baking treats, buying meals and even groceries for strangers. ...

The Patton Volunteer Fire Department is hosting its annual kettle beef dinner at the Patton Firehouse Saturday. Kettle beef and fried chicken will be served, along with various side dishes, beverages and homemade pies, from 11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Those who attend will also have a chance to win some door prizes donated by area merchants...

Miss Jackson, Christina Heckenkamp, will be available for local speaking engagements May 24 through 27. A junior at Truman State University, Heckenkamp will represent Jackson at the Miss Missouri Scholarship Pageant in June. She is a sociology major and plans to pursue a Masters in education and become a junior high counselor. Her area of community service for the Miss Missouri Program is eating disorders -- awareness and education...

An exhibit of artwork by Jackson South Elementary students is on display at Riverside Regional Library until Friday. Students whose work is on display are Chantel Brooks, Marcus Lennartzon, Chris Lee, Alicia Streiler, Josh Mueller, Casey Seabaugh, Levi Ruble, Kyle Borneman, Dalton Miller, Megan Davidson, Kyla Wills, Brennan Mouser, Matthew Ulrich, Devon Trowbridge, Travis Self, Kayla Lawson, Stacey Kohrman, Kara Moneyhun, Lacey Pack, Trent Weaver, Myles Robinson, Ashley Robinson, Rachel Hoffman,Laurie Clippard, Joseph Schneider, Trevor Beussink, Nicole Whitehead, Taylor Coe, Rodney Clover, Caitlin Bell, Seth Gregory, Elizabeth Fry, Tommy Stops, Jake Macke, Michael Carbaugh, Andrea Penzel, Kevin Cromembold, Derek Bridges, Logan Sutherlin, Morgan Henley, Ellen Beil, Olivia Meyer, LaDonna Faire, Dallas Proffer, Amber Shepherd, Megan Kaempfer, Laura Jennings, Christine Sturms, Cameron Tomsu, Grant Ressel, Kyle Tronsdale, Derek Gantz, Lauren Mais, Erica Michelsen, Chad Pack, Stanley Burton, Paul Murphy, and Zach Kreifel.. ...

The Jackson Chamber of Commerce is holding its annual installation banquet June 21 at the Knights of Columbus Hall. The keynote speaker will be U.S. Representative Jim Talent, chairman of the House Committee on Small business. This committee oversees the Small Business Administration. Talent is also a Republican candidate for governor...

More than half a century after she rang her first school bell at Hildebrand School, near Friedheim, Helenmarie Koenig has received a totally unexpected honor. The St. Paul Lutheran teacher has been named Wal-Mart Teacher of the Year by the associates from the Jackson Wal-Mart...

Dr. Ron Anderson, new Jackson R-2 superintendent of schools, has so far backed up his words with actions. "I plan to do a lot of listening and a lot of visiting," Anderson told teachers and other guests at a public reception Tuesday. "You'll see me in the buildings a lot and out in the community a lot."...

The Western Cherokee Nation of Arkansas and Missouri has recently begun working with an anthropologist to gather and write the history of the Cherokee in this nation. The tribe is asking anyone with stories, newspaper clippings or other information from the past 150 years to send this information...

Few families in Cape Girardeau County have the rich heritage steeped in history, as the Kneibert and Tobler families. And few families are as humble as these families are. Jackson was first incorporated by the County Court in April, 1819. In 1859, a special charter was granted by the Legislature for the City of Jackson. The first board of trustees elected under this act composed of Thomas English, John McGuire, Jacob Kneibert and Charles Litterer...

25 years ago: 1974 Campaign by Jackson Police Chief David M. Gellatly for new police-fire headquarters building has gathered mostly favorable reaction throughout community and City Council likely deal with issue within forthcoming year; primary concern is money; council will have to determine which of possible financing methods available is most feasible for construction of badly-needed facility...

The adjournment of this year's first annual session of the 90th General Assembly was, as were its 178 precedents, a joyful occasion, signaling the completion of nearly five months of study, work and political jousting. As has been their custom for many years, Missouri's lawmakers paid tribute to themselves, saluting their unrequited love for their constituents, their achievements and the difficult job that comes with trying to please 5.4 million constituents...

The Clinton internationalists -- those who believe the United States has a right or even a duty to stick its imperial nose into every conflict it wishes around the globe -- reject the time-honored principle that, as to foreign-policy decisions, this nation ought to be guided by its strategic national interests. ...

I WAS reading the editorial about preparedness, and it said that an F5 tornado had not hit Missouri. On March 18, 1925, the tri-state tornado first touched down in Missouri, and then it continued over into Illinois and finally dissipated in Southern Indiana. ...

Traditional American classrooms have been captured for posterity by television classics such as "Mr. Peepers," "Leave it to Beaver," "The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis," "Room 222" and "The Brady Bunch," among others. It doesn't take an expert on education or television to realize that education has changed tremendously since the 1950s and 1960s. ...

Parents sometimes need to be shown how to let their children be creative, art teacher Lisa Bishop says. Parents aren't letting their children be creative if they remind them that skies are supposed to be blue or lines are meant to be colored inside...

Missouri taxpayers were the winners from this year's legislative session, say two area Republican lawmakers. State Reps. David Schwab of Jackson and Patrick Naeger of Perryville said the tax cuts included an exemption on prescription drugs for the elderly...

There are many stories of the 1949 tornado that devastated Cape Girardeau. A common thread runs through people's recollections. It was a storm that will long be remembered. Irene Wright and some Cape Girardeau friends were showing guests the city, capping off their visit with a picnic in the park...

Southeast Missouri State University graduates shouldn't let their diplomas be "intellectual death sentences," former senator Paul Simon of Illinois said Saturday. Simon spoke at the university's spring commencement Saturday afternoon at the Show Me Center. Degrees were conferred on 900 undergraduates and nearly 100 graduate students...

Last week Bryan Singleton, co-manager of Cape Girardeau's Wal-Mart Supercenter, figured it wouldn't hurt to ask, and people responded to the needs of victims from the recent Oklahoma and Kansas tornadoes. Area residents and businesses filled a tractor-trailer with disaster relief items during the fourth annual Random Acts of Kindness Week...

About 100 people attended the 1999 Salvation Army civic dinner Saturday at which U.S. Rep. JoAnn Emerson served as the keynote speaker. Emerson said she was honored to have the privilege to speak. "I remember my parents saying, 'If you get in trouble -- no matter where you are -- and if you see a member of the Salvation Army you can go to them for help with no questions asked,'" Emerson said...

It's true. The grass is greener in my neighbors' yards. That's not jealousy on my part. It's a simple fact. Their yards have that carpet-green look to them. Weeds don't stand a chance. Of course, I'm sure it helps that they get out there and fertilize their turf...

PERRYVILLE -- Nearly 400 people were in attendance Saturday morning at the grand opening ceremonies for Perryville's new Perry Park Center, and about 1,000 more passed through the gates before the day was done. The multi-purpose center houses two racquetball courts, a gymnasium, a weight room, a performing arts center and an indoor pool complete with a water slide...

The following students from Notre Dame, Scott City and Cape Girardeau Central high schools have been named Student of the Month by the Cape Girardeau Elks Lodge during the 1998-99 school year. The Student of the Month program is designed to bring recognition to outstanding youth in the area. Students are nominated monthly by classmates and teachers in their schools and then screened by a school student committee or panel...

Rocky Rainey's message is simple: If you're on drugs, get off -- if you don't do drugs, don't start. Rainey speaks from firsthand experience. After 22 years of drug and alcohol abuse Rainey feels he is one of the lucky ones and he wants others to benefit from his experiences...

The Junior Panhellenic Council from Southeast Missouri State University held a car wash at K's Merchandise parking lot on Saturday and raised $155 to be given to the Safe House for battered and abused women. Dena Pehlman, shelter director, wished to thank the council on behalf of the Cape Girardeau Safe House. "The shelter exists solely on donations and we're so appreciative of all the volunteer efforts," said Pehlman...

I just wanted to tell the country how good our neighbors and what good deeds they have done for us. They are Mr. and Mrs. Art Osserman. They took up our papers, we take two of them a day, when we're gone. They pick them up, even when we don't tell them that we're not at home...

Southeast Missouri State University's baseball team didn't have a great day Saturday. But thanks to plenty of outside help, it was more than good enough. By splitting a doubleheader with visiting Tennessee Tech -- and by virtue of Middle Tennessee and Austin Peay losing doubleheaders -- the Indians clinched the host spot for the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament...

District tournaments for high school baseball teams get under way this week and the three local tourneys figure to feature all kind of suspense and excitement. Perhaps the most intriguing is the Class 2A, District 2 event in Chaffee. Notre Dame has drawn wide acclaim as arguably the area's top team all season -- yet Kelly earned the No. 1 seed by virtue of a win over the Bulldogs. And Chaffee isn't far behind. Those three are certainly among the area's top squads for any class...

JACKSON -- Cape Central's girls track team had perhaps its best meet of the year, while the boys team had its worst Saturday at the Class 4A, District 1 track meet. Central won its fifth straight district team title on the girls side, but the boys took second, 23 points behind Poplar Bluff, ending the Tigers' five-year reign as district champions...

It will be something of a Perryville party when the state high school golf tournament is held Monday and Tuesday. Perryville High, competing in Class 3A, gained a state tournament berth for the first time since the program was revived six years ago...

This week we will do a little spring cleaning. We will go "out with the old" (spring turkey season) and "in with the new" (squirrel hunting and stream fishing). You could say that Missouri's spring turkey hunting season is history (the three-week season ended last Sunday). You could also say that the season made history with an all-time record harvest of 50,338 birds. That is an increase of 2,015 birds over the record set in 1998...

The NASCAR Winston Cup car driven by Robert Pressley will be on display Saturday, May 22, from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. at Parks Automotive at 17 S. Park in Cape Girardeau.

The 17th annual Riverfest Run will be held Friday, June 11, in downtown Cape Girardeau. The event, which begins at 7:30 p.m., will consist of a 5.25-mile run and a 1-mile run. The pre-registration entry fee is $9 for individuals and $12 on race day. Entry fee is $6 a person for families with three or more members registered. All participants will receive a T-shirt, refreshments and a finisher medallion...

The 7th annual SEMO Home Builders Association Classic Golf Tournament will be held June 4 at Bent Creek. The 1 p.m. shotgun start will be preceded by a noon lunch and registration. Cost for the four-person scramble is $65. Numerous prizes will be available, including a $10,000 prize for a hole-in-one...

Kelly, Chaffee and Scott City combined to advance 16 athletes to state -- the top two athletes in each event qualify -- at the Class 2A, District 1 track meet at the Abe Stuber Track Complex in Cape Girardeau Saturday. Kelly's boys finished second among 13 teams with 95 points, 55 points behind Lutheran North of St. Louis. Chaffee finished fifth with 58 points, followed by Scott City with 51...

The Chaffee Chamber of Commerce will sponsor the Tywappity Trails 5K Run and Fun Walk on June 5. The run around Lake Tywappity will begin at 9 a.m. Proceeds will go into the chamber's scholarship fund. For more information, contact H.B. Rice at (573) 887-3555...

There will be a women's fast-pitch softball tournament June 12-13 at Arena Park. The event is sponsored by the SEMO Fast-pitch Association. The tournament will include four teams in the women's division, four teams in the 18-under division and four teams in the 14-under division...

The 7th annual 4-person scramble will be held Saturday, June 19, at Cape Jaycees Municipal Golf Course. The field will be limited to 40 teams with an entry fee of $120 (does not include cart or trail fee). Numerous prizes will be awarded in the four-flight tournament...

The 5th annual Capaha Field Improvement Committee Baseball Camp will be held June 9-10 at Capaha Park. Camp hours will be 8 a.m.-noon both days. The camp, open to youngsters ages 7-16, costs $55, which includes lunch provided by Domino's Pizza June 9 and a T-shirt...

The Chaffee Senior American Legion baseball team will hold a tryout Sunday from 4-5:30 p.m. at Harmon Field. The Junior Legion squad will hold a tryout the same day from 2:30-4:30 p.m.

Notre Dame High School will hold summer camps in a variety of sports. Following is a rundown (for more information on any of the camps, call (573) 335-1448): Boys Basketball: Conducted by coach Chris Neff, there will be two sessions, June 21-25 and July 12-16. The cost is $60. For more information, call Neff at (573) 334-3738...

Cape Girardeau Central High School will hold summer camps in a variety of sports. Following is a rundown (for more information on any of the camps, call (573) 335-8467): Boys Basketball: For boys entering grades 3-9, the camps will run every weekday except Tuesdays from June 7-18. Times will be 9-11:30 a.m. for grades 3-6 1-3:30 p.m. for grades 7-9. The cost is $30. The camps will be conducted by coach Brett Reutzel and his staff. For more information, call Reutzel at (573) 339-1776...

JONESBORO, Ill. -- Flossie Woolridge, 96, of Memphis, Tenn., and formerly of Jonesboro, died Friday, May 14, 1999, at St. Francis Hospital in Memphis. Woolridge was born July 4, 1902, at Steele, Mo., daughter of Will and Delsie Deal. She and Dewey Woolridge were married Aug. 24, 1951...

CHAFFEE -- Brenda Marlene Dumey, 44, of Chaffee died Friday, May 14, 1999, at her home. She was born on Aug. 17, 1954, at Chaffee, daughter of James Washington and Lorene Emma White Kinsey. She was a retired nurse, having worked for Cardiovascular Consultants of Cape Girardeau Inc...

JONESBORO, Ill. -- Clyde Doughty, 58, of Jonesboro died Friday, May 14, 1999, at Union County Hospital in Anna. Doughty was born Dec. 21, 1940, at Mount Glen, son of Jerry and Edna Morgan Doughty. He and Audrey Sivia were married May, 15, 1964, at Alto Pass. Doughty was retired from the Sanitation Department with the city of Anna...

ANNA, Ill. -- John D. Huffman, 73, of Anna died Saturday, May 15, 1999, at his home. Huffman was born Oct. 17, 1925, at Rochester, Minn., son of Dr. L.D. and Nell Huffman. He was a veteran of World War II and was of the Catholic faith. He is survived by a dear friend, Martha Hoyle of Anna; two sisters, Barbara Eakle of San Antonio, Texas, and Emily Griswold of Calexico, Calif...

ANNA, Ill. -- Lila M. Sangero, 79, of Anna died Friday, May 14, 1999, at the Abbey of Carbondale. Sangero was born Sept. 20, 1919, at Sand Lake, Mich., daughter of Albert J. and Emma McDonald Anderson. She is survived by four daughters, Patricia Dublak of Munster, Ind., Eileen Cooney and Judith Humphrey, both of Steger, and Sue Lacy of Makanda; a son, William Schubert Jr. ...

JACKSON -- Jason Glueck remembers the phone call from Marsha Johnston back in February. After dropping her son at day care, Johnston's car door would not close. "I was in panic mode," she said. "After driving the three miles to work holding my door closed, I was quite shaken."...

The business meeting started simply. During roll call, each member of the Kage Family Community Education Club told of a kind act they had performed during Random Acts of Kindness Week. The list was impressive. Most all had donated food to the collection taken by local mail carriers and had brought supplies for the Women's Safe House...

THE KINDERGARTEN center at Sikeston Public Schools has been busy all week with kind acts. Early childhood classes made place mats for nursing homes. Students picked up litter around the school, and wrote thank-you notes to janitors, cooks, bus drivers, librarians, volunteers and others. Kindergarteners also read to early childhood students. Each teacher handed out "tickets" that they issued to children "caught" doing kind acts around the school...

Around four o'clock in the afternoon three rabbits come to play, eat, or sleep in the back yard. Sometimes all of the above. Their play is rather simple, just chasing each other round and round in ever widening circles. One game is a little more intricate. ...