Stories from Wednesday, September 22, 1999

Drooping leaves on a viburnum shrub are the result of moisture stress. I've heard several old-timers (anyone who is older than me by one day, or anyone who looks older than me) say that they have never seen it as dry as it is now. They must be right, because crabgrass in my front yard, usually the only plant growing during a dry spell, has put a halt to cell division and cell elongation. When weeds quit growing, it must be dry...

To the editor: Maybe I have just missed the fine print in the news again, but would someone tell me what punishment was given to the parents who knew about and did nothing or who participated in the crime against the Venable boy? I can think of a long list of possible charges...

The Cape Girardeau Public Library is getting a facelift. The almost 20-year-old building will be remodeled this fall with a new coat of paint and carpet. Renovations will also be completed for the Hirsch Community Room, which is well used by community groups. The periodical room will be remodeled as well...

The River Heritage Mural Association is considering a new project. Since the organization commissioned its first mural in downtown Cape Girardeau in 1986, murals have been popping up all over town. Even neighboring communities, such as Jackson, have joined in the mural movement...

Clinton-Gore veto tax cut: Rarely have the biases of our colleagues in the media been as clearly on display as in this season's coverage of Congress's $792 billion tax cut. To read the papers you'd think that the Republicans' tax-cut policy had broken apart on the shoals of public indifference, and that the president's imminent veto represented a mercy killing. ...

To the editor: I'm writing in response to the Speak Out caller who blamed the Jackson hazing on sports. This so-called prank had absolutely nothing to do with sports by any means. Yes, the pranksters may have played football, but how do you blame the coaches and their desire to win for this?...

Southeast Missouri State University will dedicate the Kala M. Stroup Fountain on the Plaza Oct. 6. The $72,000 fountain in front of Kent Library is named for the state's commissioner of higher education, who previously served as the 14th president of Southeast...

One of the nation's largest grocery operations plans to open a store in Cape Girardeau within a year. Albertson's Grocery, with more than 2,400 stores in 38 states, has entered a contract to purchase land on the northeast corner of Kingshighway and Independence to build a 61,020-square-foot Albertson's Food Center...

Southeast Missouri State University experienced its largest fall enrollment in 14 years. After four weeks of classes, Southeast's enrollment stands at 8,869 students. The university hasn't had that many students enrolled in classes since 1985 when enrollment stood at 9,058...

Rising labor costs, squabbles over right-of-way easements and a changing scope of the project mean more money is needed to finish work on Cape Girardeau's sanitary sewer projects. City Council members spent 45 minutes during Monday night's study session discussing options on how to deal with the matter...

A category 1 hurricane may not be bad, but it sure can ruin a weekend. As natural disasters go, hurricanes are among the most bizarre. Take tornadoes. They're a lot like bad love affairs. They whirl into your life unexpectedly, do a lot of damage and then disappear, leaving you (and your therapist) to clean up the mess...

An automobile traveling north on Illinois Route 3 makes a left turn at the T-intersection onto Route 146. Heading south, three cars are turning right to merge with traffic on Route 146, which leads to the Mississippi River Bridge between East Cape Girardeau, Ill., and Cape Girardeau. Mo...

The Cape Girardeau Board of Education heard presentations from two groups hoping to purchase May Greene school during a closed session Monday night. Representatives from First Assembly of God Church and the SEMO Facilities Corporation pitched similar programming ideas to the school board in hopes of winning favor during the meeting...

A child removed from his or her home because of abuse or neglect goes into a confusing world of foster care, social-worker interviews and court hearings. Serving as an advocate for the child in such cases are CASAs, Court Appointed Special Advocates...

Baby girls 3-6 months 1st: Lynden Suzanne Sides, daughter of Angelica and Brian Sides; 2nd: Grace Danielle Smail, daughter of Joy and Glen Smail; 3rd: Kylee Ryann Meyer, daughter of Wayne and Renee Meyer. 6-9 months 1st: Audrey Christine Beggs, daughter of Scott and Darla Beggs; 2nd: Charleigh Marie Simmons, daughter of Marlya and Tom Simmons; 3rd: Conner Leigh Propst, daughter of Stan and Lisa Propst...

In an effort to learn more about their neighbors, the Cape Girardeau City Council and Jackson Board of Aldermen will meet for a joint tour of their respective cities today. It is the first time for such a tour, although each council usually tours its own city buildings about once a year...

The Bell City Community Betterment will sponsor a spaghetti supper and gospel singing from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday Sept. 24. Performing will be the Gospel Five from Dexter and the Assurance Gospel Singers from Morely. Advance tickets are $5 for adults, $2.50 for children. Tickets at the door will be $5.50 for adults, $3 for children...

SCOTT CITY -- The Missouri Department of Transportation showed what it will and won't do to make travel easier in the area at a public hearing Monday. Citing a cost of approximately $20 million to build a new road between Cape Girardeau and Scott City, MoDOT officials said their decision was not to build...

In the 1950s TV series, Tonto never mounted his horse until the Lone Ranger climbed on his own first and never spoke to the masked man until he was spoken to. Tonto was a "good Indian" -- subservient. That is the kind of image of Native Americans Joseph Marshall III wants to help change...

Murray State provides too much quick-strike ability and firepower to spot an early 14 points. But that's what we did Saturday night as the Racers prevailed 45-18. After a blocked punt and a pass interception early in the game for Murray touchdowns, we played our best football to date in the first half...

St. Vincent's football team moved up one spot to earn the No. 1 ranking in Class 1A in this week's state media poll. St. Vincent is 3-0 this season and has posted wins over Carlyle, Ill., Fredericktown and Park Hills. Fredericktown and Park Hills are both 3A schools...

LAWRENCE, Kan. -- Southeast Missouri State University's golf team tied for 13th out of 17 squads during the Kansas Invitational that concluded Tuesday. Missouri won with a three-round total of 881 while Kansas was second with 888. Southeast scored 922...

Southeast Missouri State University volleyball player Krista Haukap has been named the Ohio Valley Conference Player of the Week as she helped lead the Otahkians to the championship of last weekend's Kentucky Conference Challenge. Haukap, a junior, was named MVP of the Kentucky Conference Challenge after amassing 51 kills and 30 digs while hitting .390 for the tournament. She has earned all-tournament honors in each of the three tournaments the Otahkians have participated in this season...

Neil Prater recorded his first hole-in-one while golfing Tuesday at the Cape Girardeau Country Club. Prater used a 7-iron to ace the 145-yard, No. 13 hole. He was playing with Mark McDowell.

CARBONDALE, Ill. -- Notre Dame High's soccer team picked up a victory Tuesday afternoon in most exciting fashion. Matt Pobst put in a shot with only two seconds remaining in regulation play to lift the Bulldogs to a thrilling 1-0 victory over the Carbondale (Ill.) Terriers...

Registration and packet pick-up for the City of Roses Half Marathon, 5K and 1K runs will be held Thursday from 6-8 p.m. at Universal Fitness. The road run will be held Sunday morning at Arena Park. Participants may register in person Thursday or race day from 5:30 a.m. until start time...

The second annual Park Development Foundation Mixed Scramble will be held Oct. 16-17 at Cape Jaycee Municipal Golf Course. Cost is $80 per team and is limited to the first 50 teams. The top three places in the four flights will receive cash prizes. Entry deadline is 5 p.m. on Oct. 13...

ADVANCE -- Michaela Anne Lewis was stillborn Monday, Sept. 20, 1999, at St. Anthony's Hospital in St. Louis. Survivors include her parents, Michael D. Lewis and Tricia Sue Arnott of Imperial; two sisters, Shana and Jacey Arnott of Imperial; paternal grandparents, Adolphe VonKlemen and Joyce VonKleman of Imperial, formerly of the Advance area; and maternal grandparents, Larry and Patricia Heckathorne of Pinellas Park, Fla...

Funeral for Walter Arnold Fraser of Cape Girardeau will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday at Lorberg Memorial Funeral Chapel. Dr. Miles White will officiate. Friends may call at the chapel from 5:30-8 p.m. today. Fraser, 62, died Monday, Sept. 20, 1999, at Heartland Care Rehab Center...

SIKESTON -- A memorial service for Bettye Marshall will be held at 5:30 p.m. today at Ponder Funeral Home. Ed Pangburn and Mary McCord will officiate. Friends may call at the funeral home after 5 p.m. Marshall, 75, died Monday, Sept. 20, 1999, at Missouri Delta Medical Center...

CHARLESTON -- Nellie Luckie, 87, of Charleston died Saturday, Sept. 18, 1999, at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston. She was born July 30, 1912, in Clarksdale, Miss., daughter of George and Mary Hazlett Washington. She first married William Gardner Jr. and later married Jodie Luckie. Both preceded her in death...

ADVANCE -- Funeral for Carl Edward McKinley of Winston was held Monday at Bram Funeral Home in Maysville. Burial was in Alta Vista Cemetery near Winston. Announcement courtesy of Morgan Funeral Home. McKinley, 79, died Friday, Sept. 17, 1999, at his home...

Charles E. Stiver, Sr., of Cape Girardeau died September 21, 1999. He was born in Cape on November 19, 1914. He attended the old Normal grade and high schools in Cape and was graduated from the University of Missouri School of Journalism in 1936 with a bachelor's degree. He was a copywriter for Famous-Barr in St. Louis, a staff writer for RADIO TODAY magazine and a member of the Public Relations Department of Johns-Manville in New York City...

Son to Mark A. Klein and Connie Jansen-Klein of Marina Del Rey, Calif., Cedar Sinai Medical Center in Beverly Hills, Calif., 12:49 a.m. Monday, Sept. 6, 1999. Name, Jonathan Christopher. Weight, 7 pounds 9 ounces. Second son. Ms. Jansen-Klein is the daughter of Rose Klein of Cairo, Ill., and the late John Klein. She is a representative with Excel Communications. Klein is the son of Leonard and Joyce Jansen of Cape Girardeau. He is general manager at Pentair Electronic Packaging...

ANNA, Ill. -- Carol L. Wright, 60, of Anna died Monday, Sept. 20, 1999, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. He was born Dec. 29, 1938, in Cobden, son of Lawrence and Ruby Harrell Wright. He and Bonnie Mayberry were married July 18, 1988, in Cape Girardeau...

Question: I have a dog that has light-colored hair and dark stains that run from the inside corner of each eye across the face. I believe these stains are produced by tears from the eyes. Is there anything that can be done for this? Answer: This tear staining syndrome you describe is called epiphora. ...

College is in the air. I have always liked the feel of a college campus, where energy abounds as the hurry-scurry pace swirls around you. In 1969 on the campus of David Lipscomb College in Nashville, Tenn., I met for the first time my college roommate, Carolyn Moore, from Bassett, Va...

The SEMO District Fair has come and gone, and people got their fill of all of that wonderful fair food. When planning what our family would eat this week, my husband was quick to respond "anything except fish or hamburgers." He certainly had the opportunity to eat all he wanted while working at our church stand...