Stories from Wednesday, August 4, 1999

To the editor: The recent poll by KFVS 12 showing that 54 percent of those responding feel a tax cut is not necessary while only 46 percent support it is significant and gratifying. Perhaps there is still enough levelheadedness among us to see through the phony so-called conservative anti-tax mania to discern reality...

To the editor: Although the heat wave has abated, perhaps the following will help some forget it for awhile. (With apologies to Harry Dacre, who wrote the well-known "Bicycle Built for Two" over a century ago. The meter is suggestive, hence the apology.)...

To the editor: With the passing of Jake K. Wells, the community, the region and the nation have lost a great artist, an inspirational teacher, a humanitarian and a man beloved by all who knew him. During the 20-plus years that I worked beside him as a colleague in the art department at Southeast Missouri State University, I can truly say that no other art teacher had more students return to visit him and tell him how much he had inspired them and provided them with the knowledge of art that caused them to succeed in their lives. ...

Just how open are a state's public records? Fifteen Illinois news organizations discovered that most officials were slow to provide documents that were clearly public record. What's worse, about one-fourth of the requests were totally ignored or flatly denied...

Cape Girardeau well knows the frustration of hospital merger talks. After nearly a year of working toward a collaborative effort, Cape Girardeau's two hospitals were cut short when the state's attorney general, Jay Nixon, announced he would oppose such a union. The two hospitals then broke off their talks...

Too many drivers fall asleep behind the wheel, says Missouri Highway Patrol Sgt. Brent Davis. "It has been a huge, huge problem for many, many years," Davis said. After 14 years of patrolling the roads out of Sikeston, Davis estimates 20 to 30 percent of accidents where alcohol wasn't a factor involved sleeping drivers. It's hard to determine an exact number...

Delays in building renovations and new construction won't cause a delay in the start of school for the Cape Girardeau School District. Superintendent Dr. Dan Steska said Cape Girardeau schools will open on schedule Aug. 26, despite slow construction on projects at three elementary schools...

The anger and frustration many residents voiced about a June 11 confrontation between police and residents of the Good Hope area has evolved into an idea city officials hope will bring peace to the community. The incident, in which eight policemen were injured, occurred when police tried to make a drug arrest and about 150 people gathered and some threw objects...

GALE, Ill. -- No further cleanup is needed at the Ilada Energy Co. Superfund site, said the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency. A proposal for no further action comes eight years after the final tank was removed in 1991 from the site along a gravel road between East Cape Girardeau and Gale...

Katie Hemmann knows how to milk cows. Nickelodeon's game-show panelists don't. After stumping the four panelists on the "Figure It Out" television game show and winning a skiing trip to New Hampshire and other prizes, the 14-year-old Oak Ridge girl gave the panelists a live demonstration of cow milking...

Editor's note: Heidi Nieland's column does not appear today. This is a Stranger than fiction column that was first printed Jan. 14, 1995, in the Southeast Missourian. Time marches on, and technological advances are the order of the day, even if I refuse to advance with them...

PARMA - A state auditor's review of New Madrid County records found discrepancies in the Parma Municipal Court. Officials from the Missouri State Auditor's office did not determine who was responsible for the missing money. The total receipts amounted to more than $1,500 during a two-year period ending June 30, 1998, and again from July 1, 1998 through May 11...

SIKESTON -- A sales tax that voters approved nearly four years ago is nearing its expiration and Sikeston City Council members are considering an extension. A quarter-cent sales tax for capital improvements was approved by voters in 1995. Council members learned Monday how the tax money collected has been spent...

Volunteers are needed to represent children in area courts. Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) will provide a free, 30-hour training course during September for adults wishing to become officers of the court. CASA is a volunteer-based organization operating in every state in the nation...

SIKESTON - Improving cable television service was a top priority for Sikeston city council members Monday. The council met with David Huntsman of Falcon Cable TV to get an update on services offered. Huntsman told council members about what changes to expect in October once Charter Communications becomes majority owner of Falcon...

Agenda Monday, Aug. 2 City Hall The city of Jackson took the following action: -- Changed the council meeting from Monday, Sept. 6 to Tuesday, Sept. 7 because of Labor Day. -- Set a hearing for 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 7 on the city's proposed potable water-user charge...

Agenda, Monday, Aug. 2 City Hall New Ordinances (First reading) -- Approved an ordinance approving the transfer of the cable communications franchise. -- Approved an ordinance accepting a general warranty deed from Cape Girardeau Sand Co. Inc. for the Cape Rock Water Treatment Plant expansion project, alluvial well field...

WICHITA, Kan. -- They don't call them the Boomerangs for nothing. Spotting the McDowell Capahas a four-run lead, the Norman (Okla.) Boomerangs came back for a 10-7 victory over the Cape Girardeau squad in the opening game of the National Baseball Congress World Series Tuesday night...

Southeast Missouri State University head football coach John Mumford has been busy with administrative duties for much of the summer and he still has a few details to take care of, including attending Thursday's Ohio Valley Conference Media Day in Nashville, Tenn...

Oak Ridge School will hold physicals today for any senior high or junior high students planning to participate in sports during the coming school year. Physicals will be given at 9:30 a.m. at the high school. The cost is $18. For more information, call the school at 266-3630...

The Cape Road Runners Fourth Annual Summer Track Series is being held at the Central High School track in Cape Girardeau. Events remaining are an 800-meter run on August 9 and a mile run on August 16. The series is open for participants of all ages and abilities with divisions from 5-and-under to 60-and-over...

Tryouts for the fall sports teams at Notre Dame High School will begin Monday. Following are the details for each sport. Cross Country: From 6-8 p.m.; Boys Soccer: From 8-10 a.m. and from 5:30-7:30 p.m.; Softball: From 9 a.m.-noon; Volleyball: From 9 a.m.-noon and from 1-4 p.m...

Practices for the fall sports teams at Cape Girardeau Central High School will begin Monday. Following are the details for each sport (practices are at the high school except where noted). Football: Begins at 7 a.m.; Boys Soccer: From 6-8 a.m. and from 6-8 p.m.; Cross Country: From 8:30-10:30 a.m.; Girls Tennis: From 7-10 a.m.; Volleyball: from 8-10 a.m.; Softball: At 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. for grades 11-12, at 5 p.m. for grades 9-10, all at Arena Park...

The new Lacroix Creek Golf Center in Cape Girardeau, a par-3, nine-hole course, opened with a bang Monday as two holes-in-one were recorded. Tom Thrower aced the 57-yard No. 9 hole while playing with Tim Thrower, Paul Unterreiner and Dave Unterreiner...

JACKSON -- Mildred Julia Lincoln, 83, of Jackson died Tuesday, Aug. 3, 1999, at the Lutheran Home in Cape Girardeau. She was born April 5, 1916, at Jackson, daughter of Charles Albert and Lizzie Lee Goza Abernathy. She and Chester O. Lincoln were married Oct. 7, 1933. He died Feb. 8, 1987...

MOREHOUSE -- Minnie M. Flowers, 89, of Morehouse died Monday, Aug. 2, 1999, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. She was born June 14, 1910, in Belgique, daughter of George and Emma L'Hote Christian. She and Duel E. Flowers were married July 15, 1947. He died June 3, 1951...

CHARLESTON -- Ollie May Wood, 80, of Charleston died Saturday, July 31, 1999, at Charleston Manor Nursing Center. She was born April 14, 1919, at Diehlstadt, daughter of John Henry and Ollie Ora Sipp. She and Arthur P. Wood were married March 8, 1939. He died Nov. 16, 1970...

Michael E. Loyd, 44, of St. Louis died Saturday, July 31, 1999. Dearest son of Ann Loyd (nee Abbott) and the late William Loyd, he was born in Cape Girardeau. He was the dear brother of Mark "Bo" Loyd and wife, Gail; Marsha Sue Wilkin and husband, Charles; and the late Mariam Loyd...

ORIOLE -- Louise Jane Abernathy, 94, of Oriole died Monday, Aug. 2, 1999, at Jackson Manor Nursing Home in Jackson. She was born Jan. 29, 1905, in Randolph County, Ark., daughter of William W. and Eliza Newsom Kinnard. She and Omer Lee Abernathy were married Sept. 22, 1924. He died Jan. 5, 1990...

Funeral for Edward Charles Wallgren of Cape Girardeau will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday at St. Andrew Lutheran Church. The Rev. Jeffrey Sippy will officiate. Burial will be in Cape County Memorial Park. Friends may call at Ford and Sons Mt. Auburn Chapel from 4-8 p.m. today...

OLD APPLETON -- Funeral for Larry L. Ruehling of Old Appleton will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday at McCombs Funeral Home in Jackson. The Rev. David Johnson will officiate. Burial will be in Cape County Memorial Park. Friends may call at the funeral home from 4-8 p.m. today...

Son to Kevin Wayne Gramlisch and Penny Lynn Cotton of Delta, Southeast Missouri Hospital, 3:24 a.m. Thursday, July 22, 1999. Name, Dakota Lee. Weight, 6 pounds 14 ounces. Second child, first son. Ms. Cotton is the daughter of Chester and Sally Cotton of Rockview. Gramlisch is the son of Lester Gramlisch of Chaffee, and the late Mary Gramlisch. He is employed at Dana Corp...

Alice Webb Boyer, 91, died August 2, 1999 at the Clearview Nursing Center in Sikeston, Missouri. Born January 11, 1908, in Wright County, Missouri, daughter of the late Jesse and Bertha Cravens Webb. The Webb family moved to New Madrid County near Parma in 1922...

I take my chef's hat off to the cooks who put homemade bread on the table at every meal. This practice didn't wane until the late 1960s in the South. I thought biscuits, corn bread and yeast bread belonged to one of the recommended food groups, one of the best ones at that...

If you were told your life would end tomorrow, what would be your choice of a last meal? That is the intriguing question James L. Dickerson asked celebrities to ponder for his new book, "Last Suppers." It is a provocative question even though, as Dickerson observes, it is one most of us will never get to answer, or won't care to. ...

It's back to reality for me. We have just returned home from vacation and it has been very hard to get back into the swing of things. We spent a very relaxing week at a beautiful beach house on the peninsula that runs between Gulf Shores and Fort Morgan, Ala. The home belongs to friends of the McClanahan family, Ralph and Cheryl Gilges. Even the name of the property, Sandcastle, screams comfort. The kids loved the water, but Lexie did not like the sand...