Stories from Saturday, August 7, 1999

Though 20-year-old Ray Smith saw Mark McGwire hit home runs number 62, 69 and 70 last year, he hadn't planned to be at the Cardinals game Thursday night. At the last minute, he and some friends drove to the sold-out game, bought tickets from a scalper outside and took their seats at baseball history...

The first day of 2000 isn't the only date of concern for computer users. The new millennium brings fears of the Y2K bug, thanks to computer designers of earlier years and their eagerness to minimize then-precious computer memory. "It all works great until 00 comes along," said George Florian of Automation Services Co. Inc. of Cape Girardeau...

Maria Reed will be listening to President Clinton's every word Sunday in St. Louis. The 40-year-old Marble Hill woman will be one of two interpreters on stage when the president speaks to the nation's governors. Clinton is scheduled to speak at 2:15 p.m. at the Adam's Mark Hotel downtown at the annual meeting of the National Governors Association...

A Jackson man who allegedly exposed himself to three cashiers at local gas stations was found guilty in a jury trial on Friday. Leo McElrath IV, 27, was found guilty of three counts of sexual misconduct in connection with the incidents, which occurred last October...

A report of a dangerous hand grenade at a residence turned out to be false, Cape Girardeau police said. The police had received a tip from law enforcement officers in Bonn Terre that hand grenades had been purchased there and transported back to Cape Girardeau, said Sgt. Carl Kinnison...

Real problems need meaningful action by city government, not sugar-coated solutions. That's why a proposed Human Relations Commission may take Cape Girardeau down the wrong path. The concept grew out of a melee in the city's south side in June where six police officers and two suspects were injured. ...

To the editor: Our 1999 summer reading program, "Reading Time '99," was a great success. Every child completing the 20-book requirement received a free book of his choosing; a certificate signed by Gov. Mel Carnahan, Secretary of State Bekki Cook and Missouri librarians; and good memories of a program that was at least as much fun for us as it was for our young patrons...

THE LAST time we had a good Speak Out argument going was about how to change the school boundaries. This time the good argument is about whether the president is a pervert. I don't know if he's a pervert or not. I've never seen him in action. But we all know he's a liar. The interesting thing is how many of his friends have to lie in order to prove that he's not a pervert...

High school coaches in the region have been playing musical chairs this past spring and summer. But it seems that the music has stopped and most of the vacant positions have been filled as the start of the school year approaches. The most noticable changes have come on the football scene with new coaches at Cape Central, Scott City, Charleston and Chaffee...

SUM: Quick ending didn't seem to fit another strong season. It's the nature of sports that teams -- no matter how successful -- always seem to remember what happens at the end of a season. And what happened to the McDowell Capahas at the end of their 1999 season was not impressive; the Cape Girardeau baseball team, for the second year in a row, lost both its games in the National Baseball Congress World Series...

If returning talent is any indication, then this could be a strong season for Ohio Valley Conference football. Sixteen players who earned either first-team or second-team all-OVC honors last year make up the majority of the 1999 preseason all-league team in voting by the conference's head football coaches and sports information directors...

Thomas Statler MILLERSVILLE -- Thomas Emerson Statler, 97, of Millersville died Thursday, Aug. 5, 1999, at his home. He was born Nov. 14, 1901, north of Sedgewickville, son of Albert Ross and Sarah Caroline Bowman Statler. He and Mary Hallie Keller were married Sept. 16, 1924, in Chester, Ill...

Roy Williams SIKESTON -- Roy D. Williams, 65, of Sikeston died Thursday, Aug. 5, 1999, at Missouri Delta Medical Center. He was born May 3, 1934, in Beech Grove, Ark., son of Roy E. and Mamie Harvell Williams. He and Betty F. Goodin were married Jan. 11, 1968, at Sikeston...

PUXICO -- Chester O. Snider, 75, of Puxico died Thursday, Aug. 5, 1999, at Lucy Lee Medical Center in Poplar Bluff. He was born Jan. 21, 1924, at Essex, son of Alvin Riley and Ada Grace Bridges Snider. He and Violet Marie Ridenour were married June 21, 1946, at Puxico...

MOREHOUSE -- Memorial service for Furl Lee "Doodlebug" Henson of Morehouse will be held at 7 p.m. today at Watkins and Sons Funeral Home in Morehouse. The Rev. Marty Blakey will officiate. Friends may call at the funeral home after 5 p.m. Henson, 56, died Thursday, Aug. 5, 1999, at his home...

Ethel Kurre FRIEDHEIM -- Ethel Bernice Kurre, 86, of Friedheim died Thursday, Aug. 5, 1999, at Chateau Girardeau Health Care Center. She was born July 29, 1913, at Old Appleton, daughter of Marion and Addie Dickman Myers. She and Edwin P. Kurre were married April 18, 1933, at Jackson...

Martinea Boles MARBLE HILL -- Martinea I. Boles, 70, of Marble Hill died Friday, Aug. 6, 1999, at the home of a daughter in Luxora, Ark. She was born April 18, 1929, in St. Louis, daughter of Earl and Lydia Abernathy Hamlyn. She married Marvin O. Schaefer April 27, 1946. He died July 10, 1968. She and Roy Boles were married March 18, 1972. He died Aug. 1, 1994...

Rosemary Varner MOUNDS, Ill. -- Rosemary B. Varner, 81, of Springfield died Friday, Aug. 6, 1999, at St. John's Hospital in Springfield. She was born May 2, 1918, in Cairo, daughter of Hollie and Clara Perks Bonner. She married Burgess Varner, who died Jan. 30, 1998...

EAST PRAIRIE -- Pheaby Z. Robinson, 89, of East Prairie died Thursday, Aug. 5, 1999, at Bertrand Nursing Facility. Shelby Funeral Home at East Prairie is in charge of arrangements.

Son to James A. Barks and Stephanie L. Meggs of Whitewater, Southeast Missouri Hospital, 12:19 a.m. Monday, July 26, 1999. Name, James Allen. Weight, 8 pounds 11 ounces. Second son. Ms. Meggs is the daughter of Teddy and Cathy Meggs of McClure, Ill. She is employed at Doctor's ValuVision. Barks is the son of Jim and Donna Barks of Glen Allen. He is a self-employed farmer...

Volunteers are urgently needed for various duties to participate in the Jerry Lewis Labor Day Telethon, which will air on KFVS12 on Sept. 6. "Volunteers are needed in all kinds of functions, from answering the pledge phones on camera to escorting guests to the proper place at the proper time," said Tammy Wubker, Muscular Dystrophy Association district director...

The American Red Cross will hold several blood drives this week. The Birthday Bash will be held from noon to 6 p.m. Monday in the vacant building next to the Arena Park entrance at 837 N. Kingshighway. The Jackson community will hold a blood drive from 1:30 to 6:30 p.m. Monday at the American Legion Hall on North High Street...