Stories from Tuesday, June 22, 1999

By now, we're sure you've heard plenty about the Year 2000 computer bug and the imminent disasters predicted to accompany the change in years this January. Today we will attempt to give you some sound information about how this Y2K might impact your computer...

JACKSON -- An unassuming leader who joked he "could tell you stories" on most of those in the audience was honored with the R.A. Fulenwider Meritorious Community Service Award Monday night. James R. Nelson, who was principal of Jackson High School for 23 years, received the award at the annual Jackson Chamber of Commerce Installation Banquet at Jackson Knights of Columbus Hall...

What began as a suggestion at a town meeting is set to become city policy after the Cape Girardeau City Council agreed Monday night to form an advisory board for the police department. Last week about 300 people attended a town meeting to discuss their complaints with the police department after a melee occurred June 11 on Good Hope Street. ...

SIKESTON -- Students who addressed a task force on school violence Monday might called for unyielding guidelines and policies that would be quickly and consistently enforced by school administrators. "Firm lines need to be drawn so kids know their limits," said Scott Heiuser, who will be a freshman at Sikeston High School this fall...

Why aren't there more inventions I would like to use lining the store shelves? If engineers at a Japanese electronics company can create an ant-sized robot to crawl around and fix equipment, then technology is making greater strides than I ever expected...

The Cape Girardeau City Council Monday night gave its nod to two fee increases as they approved the proposed $34 million budget. Water fees are set to go up 2 percent and solid-waste-collection fees will go up 2.3 percent. This means the average cost per month for both services will go up from $28.59 to $29.20...

BENTON -- Should there ever be an emergency or accident involving hazardous materials, 911 officials and members of the Bootheel Local Emergency Planning Committee wants Scott County residents to be prepared. And living in a farming area means there are lots of potentially hazardous chemicals in the county. The Bootheel Local Emergency Planning Committee (BLEPC) works in conjunction with Scott County officials in case of accidents...

Robert Stroder has been seining minnows from Hubble Creek near the Jackson City Park for a quarter of a century. He's witnessed a change over the years: minnows are fewer, and the creek is muddier. "It's not like it used to be," Stroder said. The reason for the change can be attributed, at least in part, to economic growth in Cape Girardeau County, explained soil and water conservation experts...

Agenda Monday, June 21 Council chambers, City Hall Consent ordinances (Second and third reading) -- Approved an ordinance amending City Code relating to water rates. -- Approved an ordinance amending City Code relating to residential solid waste collection fees...

The Cape Girardeau Municipal Band will perform at 8 p.m. Wednesday at the Capaha Park band shell. The concert is free. Those attending should bring a lawn chair or blanket. Ronald Nall directs the band. Charles Kupchella will be both the celebrity guest director and the special entertainer...

Mosquito control is under way in Cape Girardeau. City workers have been spraying the insects since early June. They attempt to spray the city twice each week. Spraying is done during evening hours when mosquitoes are more active and winds typically have died down. The spraying usually takes about four hours, said Steve Cook of the city's Public Works Department...

A cheer for an inspiring example THANK YOU, Dustin McKinnis, for your inspirational and uplifting perspective on life as reported by Marty Mishow in Friday's Missourian. Pitched several curve balls in life, you have proven yourself a Mark McGwire outside of the stadium, hitting mammoth home runs of faith and courage. ...

You know this is going to be one heck of a campaign season when the Democratic front-runner is being forced to prove he's more compassionate than the Republican one. Try as he undoubtedly did, Al Gore couldn't quite make it through his campaign announcement without revealing his defensiveness about George W. Bush's presumptuous appropriation of the compassion theme. Bush has definitely gotten Gore's goat, and maybe even his family farm -- tobacco and all. It's a beautiful thing...

State spending in fiscal year 2000, which starts July 1, will more than double that of 10 years ago -- 118 percent higher, to be exact. In fiscal 1990, then-Gov. John Ashcroft signed a budget, then a record high figure, featuring $7.56 billion in operating costs and another $87.8 million in capital improvements for a total state budget of $7.65 billion...

An effort to finance and build improvements to the Interstate 55-U.S. 61 interchange between Cape Girardeau and Jackson has won first-round approval from the Missouri Highway and Transportation Commission. Officials of Cape Girardeau County and the cities of Cape Girardeau and Jackson want to form a transportation corporation that could issue bonds and speed up improvements at the interchange, commonly known locally as Center Junction...

To the editor: Grants, grants, grants. Day after day one hears of a grant here, a grant there. Where would our great society be without grants? Where would our societal structure be without grants? Where would our great free-enterprise, private-industry system be without grants? Where would the so-called conservatives be without the liberal, socialistic grants and special programs that continue to fuel the economy? Let's hear it for grants as so-called conservatives continue to decry socialism but continue to worship at the shrine of public subsidy.. ...

To the editor: What a wonderful way to be remembered by having a huge pavilion built in your honor. Some even suggested the entire Cape Girardeau County North Park be named in honor of the late Gene E. Huckstep, a presiding commissioner. The park began as a dream of his and is the most beautiful park around...

It's been a struggle, but the Cape Girardeau Ford & Sons American Legion baseball team has finally climbed over the .500 mark. Cape improved its record to 11-10 Monday night by exploding late for a 10-3 victory over visiting Mayfield (Ky.) at Capaha Field...

Southeast Missouri State University track and field coach Joey Haines figures the way Amy Arteme has progressed should be an incentive to all runners who weren't very heavily recruited. Arteme, a Kelly High School product, finished seventh in the 5,000-meter run Saturday night during the USA Track & Field Junior Nationals in Denton, Texas...

DUDLEY -- Carl Freddie Dillinger, 68, of Dudley died Sunday, June 20, 1999, at his home. He was born June 15, 1931, at New Madrid, son of Bill and Lela Lawrence Dillinger. He and Gertrude Hale were married Sept. 23, 1950, in Piggott, Ark. Dillinger had lived at Dudley the past 50 years. He had owned and operated a sawmill...

ANNA, Ill. -- Funeral for Billy E. Cates of Anna will be held at 1 p.m. today at Lutz and Rendleman Funeral Home. The Revs. Paul Sadler and Tim Sadler will officiate. Burial will be in Casper Cemetery, with military rites by Carroll P. Foster VFW Post 3455...

CHAFFEE -- Graveside service for Marie M. Boyts of Chaffee will be at 10 a.m. today at Memorial Park in Cape Girardeau. The Rev. Watis Harrell will officiate. There is no visitation. Amick-Burnett Funeral Chapel at Chaffee is in charge of arrangements...

PERRYVILLE -- Troy S. Kiefer, 77, of Perryville died Sunday, June 20, 1999, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. He was born July 7, 1921, in Perry County, son of Herman C. and Bernice Zahner Kiefer. He and Mildred T. Glaub were married Dec. 8, 1950...

ADVANCE -- Frank Lee Schaefer, 53, of Advance died Saturday, June 19, 1999, at Norwood. He was born July 14, 1945, in Poplar Bluff, son of John Ernest and Florence May Oakes Schaefer. He and Jeanne Kamper were married March 23, 1975, in Freeburg, Ill...

PERRYVILLE -- Marvin G. Boxdorfer, 68, of Gallipolis, Ohio, died Saturday, June 19, 1999, at Holzer Medical Center. He was born March 28, 1931, in St. Louis, son of George and Marie Hoffman Boxdorfer. He and Wanda Brown Boxdorfer were married Sept. 13, 1952, at Perryville...

Margaret Dean McTaggart, 89, of Cape Girardeau died Sunday, June 20, 1999, at Heartland Care Rehab Center. She was born April 10, 1910, in St. Louis, daughter of Murray George and Louise Behrens Jones. She and Ernest E. McTaggart were married in June 1947 in Dallas, Texas. He died in 1968...

Albert E. Overbeck, 90, of Cape Girardeau died Sunday, June 20, 1999, at St. Francis Medical Center. He was born April 13, 1909, near Gordonville, son of William and Ellen A. Goza Overbeck. He and Viola Helen Simpher were married Jan. 24, 1933, in Jonesboro, Ill...

TAMMS, Ill. -- Arletta Bradshaw, 75, of Tamms died Monday, June 21, 1999, at Memorial Hospital in Carbondale. She was born Dec. 27, 1923, in Dongola, daughter of Arley and Luetta Karraker Sheffer. She and Everett Troxel were married Dec. 9, 1941. He died Oct. 20, 1979. She and Norman Bradshaw were married April 14, 1984. He died Dec. 24, 1996...

Asa Adams Jr., 79, died Monday, June 21, 1999, at Heartland Care Rehab Center. Ford and Sons Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

SIKESTON -- Ray Baudendistel, 52, of Route 3, Sikeston, died Monday, June 21, 1999, in New Madrid County of an apparent heart attack. Arrangements are incomplete at McMikle Funeral Home in Charleston.

Son to Christopher B. and Raina E. Childers of Cape Girardeau, Southeast Missouri Hospital, 2:25 a.m. Tuesday, June 15, 1999. Name, Adam Christian. Weight, 7 pounds 10 ounces. First child. Mrs. Childers is the former Raina Pongratz, daughter of Bill and Ann Pongratz of Phoenix, Ariz. She is employed at Southeast Hospital. Childers is the son of LaDonna Childers of Laurel, Md. He is employed at Buchheit's in Biehle...

SIKESTON -- Funeral for Bernard "Shorty" Crain of Sikeston will be held at 2:30 p.m. today at Ponder Funeral Home. Msgr. William Stanton will officiate. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home from 1 p.m. until the service...