Stories from Thursday, May 27, 1999

Dear Graduating Senior of 1999. The time is coming, the plans are being made and in your mind you can't wait for the day to come. Graduation is a special time in your life. It is a time to move on. And it perhaps is one of the biggest leaps you will ever take. ...

The famous Clydesdales are one of the attractions at Grant's Farm. ST. LOUIS -- From jazz in a garden to loop-the-loops aboard Batman the Ride, St. Louis offers a heady mix of things to do this summer. Music and musical theater always draw thousands of visitors to St. Louis during the summer. Stellar R&B performers Bonnie Raitt and Jimmie Vaughan get the summer started right with a concert June 4 at the Fox Theatre...

AFTER READING Speak Out, I want to speak out about the Thebes man who was busted for meth. You were right about the judicial system being messed up. Kevin McCain would have gotten less time if he had murdered a person, sexually abused or raped someone. ...

Cape Girardeau has had its hands full with two deteriorating buildings: the old St. Francis Hospital and the Marquette Hotel. Time and time again, new owners or the potential for sale of one or the other have raised hopes. But in the end, there has been no significant movement to revitalize either project...

Teen-age smoking is not an easy nut to crack. Missouri law makes it illegal for businesses to sell cigarettes to individuals 17 years old or younger. The state and the city have cracked down on stores that sell to minors. But still youngsters can be seen smoking throughout the town. Unlike alcohol, possession of cigarettes by a minor is not illegal -- only the sale...

To the editor: In this day and time of the everyday hustle and bustle of our own lives and problems, we sometimes fail to notice the needs of others around us. I'm sure much kindness was shown during the recent storm and its aftermath. However, we would like to publicly say a special thanks to a Scott City man, Gary Gibbs, a new neighbor of ours whom we had never met until after the storm...

To the editor: Sam Blackwell's May 13 column deserves much praise, not only as a well-written commentary of "Star Wars," but also as a reassuring affirmation that, like the Force of "Star Wars," a force for good does indeed exist in this world and can be experienced is we can, like Luke Skywalker, take the time to look within. ...

A $65 million flood-control project in the Missouri Bootheel could damage Mississippi River wildlife habitat, the state Conservation Department says. But supporters say it would be an economic boon that would protect East Prairie and the surrounding region from devastating floods...

Bargains by the mile will be available during the region's initial 100-Mile Yard Sale. The event starts today, and traffic is expected to increase through Memorial Day as motorists look for bargains along the 100-mile stretch of Highway 25 from Jackson to Kennett...

The Rev. S.S. Borum says if the Lord's willing, he won't ever retire from the ministry. "Don't say retire," said the soon-to-be 95-year-old. "I'm not going to. I want to be of service as long as God wants me to." For the past 23 years, Borum has served as interim pastor for churches in Southeast Missouri and Southern Illinois. He fills the pulpit so that the congregations have time to search for full-time leaders...

The show will go on. After a week of public pleas for sponsors to help prevent financially pinched Riverfest from being canceled, organizers announced Wednesday that enough corporations, merchants and individuals have chipped in to stage Riverfest 1999 June 11-12...

Kelley Transportation Co. will continue its taxi service in Cape Girardeau. City Manager Mike Miller met Wednesday with Terrence and Kim Kelley, owners of the taxi company, to work out details for the subsidized program. The Kelleys agreed to honor their bid for the next year...

May 27, 1999 Dear Julie, In DC, the desire to master a new skill produces pottery, little of which meets her approval yet. Mastery takes time. This is my fifth year of playing golf. Mastery is far, far from me. As you hear often on the course, it's a humbling game...

Franklin Elementary School students and teachers bid a tearful goodbye to one of its most-loved teachers Wednesday during a retirement assembly to honor Ruth Rhodes. Rhodes, a fourth grade teacher, was surprised to learn the choral concert her students' had been rehearsing for in recent weeks was actually a cover for the surprise assembly for her. She spent much of the hour-long event in tears as current and former co-workers and students presented poems, tributes and songs in her behalf...

Eighteen workers graduated from the Southeast Missouri Regional Training program Wednesday night. The training group was founded more than two years ago and consists of 12 manufacturing and industrial employers who work together with Southeast Missouri State University, Mineral Area Community College of Park Hills and the Cape Girardeau Vocational-Technical School...

KENNETT -- Concerned parents, teachers and counselors attended a children's forum "The Child and Adolescent Focus: Interventions that Work" on Monday at the First Baptist Church. Sponsored by the Family Counseling Center, Dunklin County Caring Council and the Missouri Department of Mental Health, the main objective of the forum was to help parents and educators learn how to work in positive ways with hard-to-reach children...

KENNETT -- "One day an altercation was on the playground," Heather Estes said in a story assigned by her teacher, Sande Crunk. "Mrs. Crunk, I broke a resolution because I didn't keep my desk neat." "We're being too loquacious today, aren't we Mrs. Crunk?"...

Students at Cape Girardeau Central High School recently received honors at the annual awards assembly. Tricia Zimmer received the principal's leadership award. Rob Tygett was named the A+ Academic Athlete. Elizabeth Moore and DeMarco Williams received the CHS Class of 1948 scholarship...

MINER -- An Arkansas man was killed and a Cape Girardeau man seriously injured in an accident early Wednesday morning along Interstate 55. According to reports from the Missouri State Highway Patrol, Steven Davidson, 38, of Cabot, Ark., was killed when his motorcycle was hit from behind by a tractor-trailer driven by Stanley Price, 33, of Bolton, Miss...

Nearly 11,461 Missouri children wait in foster homes, residential treatment centers or other temporary arrangements for someone to make a decision about where they will live. About half those children have been waiting 15 months or more. Child advocates say the uncertainty hurts children. A new federal law promises to make permanent decisions about children within a year...

I've had the privilege of covering nearly every Notre Dame home baseball game this season. And I've always been impressed with the Bulldogs' lineup. It's relentless. But I have to be honest with you. At the beginning of the season it seemed to me that Notre Dame was a very talented team that lacked chemistry...

Notre Dame and South Pemiscot's baseball squads are similar in many ways. Both teams have the same mascot. They have both won their respective district championships. Both teams feature dominant hitters who are batting near .500 and both teams will likely send left-handers to the mound today...

As if Oran's pitching and a state-wide reputation weren't enough to make a player's knees buckle ... Actually, Bernie pitcher Mike Johnson's knee didn't give in intimidation. It twisted during celebration. The status on Bernie's best hitter and pitcher is in doubt for today's 4 p.m. Class 1A sectional game in Malden after the .500 hitter re-aggravated a knee injury last Thursday in celebration of the team's district championship...

One of the primary reasons Brandon West signed to play baseball at Southwest Missouri State University two years ago was fact the Bears' had made the NCAA Division I Tournament field two straight seasons. "That's the main reason I signed," said the former Cape Girardeau Central High School standout. "I really wanted to play in the NCAA Tournament."...

Armed with some extremely high-quality athletes, Cape Girardeau Central High's girls track and field team appears poised to make a strong showing at the Missouri Class 4A State Championships this week. The 3A and 4A meets will both be held on the Lincoln University campus in Jefferson City Friday and Saturday. Central's boys also qualified several competitors, as did Jackson, for the 4A meet. Perryville will be well represented in 3A...

Grace Freeman School: Cape Central Sport: Swimming Coach: Dayna Powell Week Report: Freeman closed out her impressive high school career with a strong showing at the 1999 Missouri State Championships that helped Cape Central to fifth place -- its highest finish in school history. ...

Jared Tanz School: Perryville Sport: Track Coach: Craig Knaak Week Report: Tanz, a senior, qualified for state in four events last Saturday at the Class 3A sectional meet at North County High School. Tanz won the 800-meter run in 1 minute, 59 seconds. ...

JACKSON -- The Jackson Junior American Legion baseball team will host a six-team holiday tournament Friday through Sunday at the Jackson American Legion Field. Also participating will be Perryville, Sikeston, De Soto, Sullivan and Florissant. First-round games Friday will pit Jackson against Perryville at 4 p.m. and Sikeston against De Soto at 6:30...

CAIRO, Ill. -- Michael A. Moss, 58, of Columbia, Mo., died Wednesday, May 26, 1999, at the home of a sister. He was born July 21, 1940, in Cairo, son of Francis Roberts Moss. Moss retired as an insurance claims adjuster with Laborers Local 773 in Cairo...

Margaret M. Poe, 86, formerly of Cape Girardeau, died Tuesday, May 25, 1999, at a hospital in Longview, Texas. She was born May 9, 1913, at Winfield, Kan., daughter of Carl and Mildred Fisher. She was married to Wilford Haas, who preceded her in death...

Earl Tiffin Hartline, 86, of Cape Girardeau died Monday, May 24, 1999, at Missouri Veterans Home. He was born Aug. 1, 1912, in Mounds, Ill. He and Wanda Raby were married June 2, 1934, in Mounds. Hartline worked at Elco Mineral Co. from 1930-40, and then at Woodward Hardware before serving in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1942-46. He graduated from Radio Material School at the Naval Research Laboratory in New York City in September 1943...

SCOTT CITY -- Katheryn Dale McDowell, 44, of Rochester, Ill., died Tuesday, May 25, 1999, at Hermann Hospital in Houston, Texas. She was born April 9, 1955, in St. Louis, daughter of Walter and Bonnie Rose Link Johnston Jr. She and Neal Aron McDowell were married Dec. 25, 1983, in Jackson...

NEW WELLS -- Leroy Marvin Seabaugh Sr., 57, of Jefferson City died Tuesday, May 25, 1999, at St. Mary's Health Center in Jefferson City. He was born June 16, 1941, at New Wells, son of Levi and Meta Perr Seabaugh. He and Pauline Pritchett were married Sept. 3, 1966, at Flat River...

JACKSON -- Funeral for Norman Leimer of Jackson will be held at 10 a.m. Friday at St. Paul Lutheran Church. The Rev. David Johnson will officiate. Burial will be in Russell Heights Cemetery. Friends may call at McCombs Funeral Home in Jackson from 4-8 p.m. today, and at the church Friday after 9 a.m...

Daughter to Clay and Becky Hurst of Marble Hill, Southeast Missouri Hospital, 4:12 a.m. Saturday, May 8, 1999. Name, Annie Elizabeth. Weight, 6 pounds 8 ounces. Fourth child, second daughter. Mrs. Hurst is the former Becky Crader, daughter of Don Crader of Marble Hill, and the late Nancy Crader. Hurst is the son of Carl and Janet Hurst of Marble Hill. He is an agent with Farmer's Insurance Group...

PERRYVILLE -- Mable B. Hunt, 86, of Perryville died Wednesday, May 26, 1999, at Perry County Nursing Home. She was born Aug. 15, 1912, at Lithium, daughter of William E. and Zeba M. Preston Adams. She and Howard Hunt Sr. were married May 6, 1930, at Claryville. He died Oct. 31, 1965...

NEW HAMBURG -- Earl Arthur Dirnberger, 81, of New Hamburg died Wednesday, May 26, 1999, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. He was born July 27, 1917, at Oran, son of Joseph and Mamie Scherer Dirnberger. He and Henrietta Kluesner were married June 21, 1947, at New Hamburg...

Dorothy Marie McClain, 70, of Liberty died Tuesday, May 25, 1999, at Liberty Hospital. She was born Oct. 22, 1928, in Nevada, Mo., the daughter of Laurence William and Bessie Adaline Hunt Cleland. She graduated from Liberty High School in 1946 and attended William Jewell College...