Stories from Thursday, July 8, 1999

An unidentified man celebrates after winning a game of dominoes. "Domino!" Leon Bond jubilantly yelled the game-ending word as he slapped down the winning domino on the picnic table at Indian Park. As he did, three other players groaned before reluctantly standing up so three new players could try their luck at dominoes...

FRUITLAND -- Interstate 55 overpass bridges at the Fruitland interchange will be replaced in the first phase of highway improvements associated with the Procter & Gamble expansion. A construction contract was awarded to Penzel Construction Company, Inc., of Jackson for $3,295,745, and includes replacement of both existing I-55 overpass bridges over Route 61...

Top, Lauren Castleman, 7, practiced her newly acquired skills. Right: Thomas instructed children how to make chalk by mixing Tempera paint and plaster of Paris. The children used empty toilet paper rolls to shape the chalk. Chalk muraling, a children's art class offered by the Arts Council of Southeast Missouri, put the kids on the street this week to celebrate the 600th anniversary of chalk painting...

The hunt is on for the cause of three cases of hepatitis A diagnosed in Cape Girardeau County. But Charlotte Craig, director of the Cape Girardeau County Health Department, said often such searches come up empty. An adult and two school age children at a local day care center have been diagnosed with hepatitis A, a virus that mimics the flu...

The state's farmers would be burdened with higher property taxes if a Cole County Circuit judge's ruling stands, a Missouri Farm Bureau official said Wednesday. Estil Fretwell, director of public affairs for the Jefferson City-based organization, said farmers statewide could be faced with paying an additional $5 million to $10 million annually in property taxes...

For five years one police officer has defined community policing in Cape Girardeau. As he leaves the department this month to take a marketing job in Jackson, Corporeal Charlie Herbst will leave behind a legacy that will be difficult to top. "You don't replace a police officer like Charlie Herbst," said Police Chief Rick Hetzel. "What he has accomplished in community policing has been invaluable."...

FAIRVIEW HEIGHTS, Ill. -- The McDowell Capahas avenged a weekend loss to Fairview Heights with a 15-1, seven-inning victory Wednesday night. Steve Kress was the offensive hero for McDowell (19-6) with two three-run homers. Kress also added a double and finished with six RBIs...

JACKSON -- Updated restrictions on open burning within the city limits of Jackson are aimed at maintaining air quality for residents' safety, Fire Chief Brad Golden says. Amendments to the City of Jackson fire code approved Monday by the Jackson Board of Aldermen restrict what can be burned and the size of burns. The amendments allow the burning of tree trimmings and other organic refuse while limiting the burning of items that cause noxious fumes...

July 8, 1999 Dear Patty In a tin breadbox at DC's parents' cabin resides a diary departing visitors are asked to recount their experiences in. Sometimes the writer is a guest, often a member of the family. If DC's father is doing the telling the account is very "Dragnet." "Two soft-shell turtles, 13-inch small mouth bass. ...

Money raised from the "Soybean Check," initiated in Missouri two decades ago, helps fund market development, research and education for the state's farmers in the soybean industry. It's an idea that can be found in many segments of agriculture, said Stephanie Gable, of the Missouri Soybean Association, headquartered at Jefferson City. ...

Their years of service and dedication have earned them the right to speak at a memorial service tonight, but the speakers hope to avoid attention to their efforts and focus on heroes of the past. "I was just one of the tiny parts of a big machine," said retired Air Force Lt. Col. Charles Woodford...

While Missouri suffered nine fatalities and Illinois had 21 over the July Fourth weekend, none were reported in Southeast Missouri or Southern Illinois, according to state highway patrols. The Missouri State Highway Patrol and Illinois State Police give credit for the relatively safe weekend to a greater number of police on the roads, and driver's expectations of the patrols...

DEXTER -- With hazardous temperatures lately nearing the 100 degree mark, a local program has focused on insuring those in need stay cool. The Delta Area Economic Opportunity Commission (DAEOC) in Dexter has a program called Summer Cooling for this purpose...

Some traffic-light suggestions I HAVE an idea that may help stop accidents at traffic lights and also save some people some traffic tickets. The yellow caution light could be located a distance back from the intersection, the distance to be determined by traffic engineers. ...

We spent two days of the Fourth of July weekend in St. Louis ... a great destination for a short getaway trip. Wendy and I don't just relax ... we explore. The MISSOURI BOTANICAL GARDEN is always a must stop ... and there's a surprising Mexican import shop located across from the new Botanical Research Center. It has excellent values on unusual statues, garden pots and furniture...

You will recall that there was a big fight a few month back about the census required by the U.S. Constitution to be taken in 2000. Every 10 years, every American is supposed to be accounted for. There are practical reasons for making a census. For one thing, government needs to know how many people there are who require essential services. ...

To the editor: I read with interest an extensive article in the Southeast Missourian regarding the completion of the Walker Creek walking trail project. I know it's been a long time coming. However, at the time I was reading the article I was looking out the back window of my mother's house, which backs onto the Walker Creek project. The view consisted of 3-foot-tall weeds, rocks that would ruin any lawn mower and piles of dirt and gravel that have been there since last year...

In the nightcap of an American Legion doubleheader Wednesday, Cape Ford & Sons pitcher Dustin Glastetter played the recent role of Randy Johnson. And Dunklin County starter Chris McClain was Jose Jimenez. McClain tossed a seven-inning no-hitter, out-dueling Glastetter as Ford & Sons dropped the second game 3-0 after handing Dunklin County an 8-2 loss -- its first in district play -- in the opener...

SIKESTON -- Timmy Wencewicz hit an opposite-field, 3-run homer in the bottom of the eighth inning to lift the fourth-seeded Wood & Huston Cape Junior Legion team to a 5-2 victory over No. 5 seed Poplar Bluff in the opening round of the District 14 Tournament Wednesday...

Son to Ricky Calvin Keller and Tiffany Alice Cowell of Scott City, Southeast Missouri Hospital, 5:12 a.m. Monday, June 28, 1999. Name, Dylan Keith. Weight, 5 pounds 15 ounces. First child. Ms. Cowell is the daughter of Mary Dannenmueller and Charles Cowell of Scott City. Keller is the son of Kenneth and Bonnie Keller of Scott City...

BELL CITY -- Funeral for Mary Juanita Surface will be at 10 a.m. today at Chiles-Cooper Funeral Home in Bloomfield. Burial will be in Gravel Hill Cemetery near Bell City. Surface, 70, died Tuesday, July 6, 1999, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau...

ANNA, Ill. -- Funeral for Clinton Shae Doublin of Anna will be held at 1 p.m. today at Hileman and Parr Funeral Home in Jonesboro. The Rev. Dale Jones will officiate. Burial will be in Anna Cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home from 11 a.m. until service time...

JACKSON -- Funeral for Ralph Lee Litzelfelner of Bald Knob, Ark., was held Saturday at Central Baptist Church in Bald Knob. Burial was in Shady Grove Cemetery. Litzelfelner, 78, died Wednesday, June 30, 1999, at his home. He was born Sept. 21, 1920, in Jackson, son of Odus and Ethel Masterson Litzelfelner. He married the former Juanita Leggett...

Emerson Huey, 81, died Tuesday, July 6, 1999, at Southeast Missouri Hospital. He was born April 3, 1918, at Blodgett, son of Simon Peter and Elsie Ree Jennings Huey. He and Velma Varble were married Nov. 27, 1940, at Chaffee. She survives. He completed 10 years of schooling. ...