Stories from Thursday, October 21, 1999

THERE HAS been so much bad news in the paper recently about Jackson I thought I would report some good news. I have been coaching Little League baseball and soccer for the past two years. I was so happy when the city hired the parks and recreation director. ...

Who could help being inspired by Olivia Glueck, a longtime resident of Kelso who currently makes her home at Cape Girardeau Residential Care Center. Mrs. Glueck, you see, is 101 years old. That in itself is something worth noting. But when employees of the care center asked Mrs. Glueck if she would like to do something special for her birthday celebration, they learned there indeed was something Mrs. Glueck wanted to do...

For the skeptics of America -- and there are more than a few -- it comes as little surprise that some U.S. senators opposed emergency farm assistance to the tune of nearly $9 billion. This appropriation, approved by Congress and backed by President Clinton, is $3 billion more than last year's ag bailout. But that's a sign of the current farm economy...

To the editor: Remember "The Ballad of Casey Jones"? It begins, "Come on you rounders that want to hear the story of a brave engineer." It goes on to describe the heroism of Casey Jones, a real person. In essence, Casey Jones, an early 20th century American railway engineer, sacrificed his life by taking control of a train right before it crashed. He died, but his assistant and the passengers survived...

To the editor: There is a big difference between a man and a dog that we should all be aware of. We give our dogs all that they need. We have not been giving humans all they need. Education is the key. To take in a homeless dog is a great responsibility. ...

Kent Crider's show "Hot New Country" airs from 5 to 9 a.m. on K-103 FM radio. Amy Austin is one of the disc jockeys who play rock music on MIX 104.7 FM radio. Kent Crider is more than just another pretty voice. As the morning disc jockey for K-103 FM radio, Cape Girardeau's most popular station, he is careful about the way he looks...

Whether collecting socks for U.S. soldiers overseas or clothes for the needy or picking up trash, people from throughout the area are planning on making a difference during Saturday's Make A Difference Day. The nationwide initiative, sponsored by the Points of Light Foundation, encourages children and adults to make a difference in the world. How they do that is left to the individual and varies around the country and community depending on needs, ability and interests...

JEFFERSON CITY -- The Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission will meet Nov. 5 in Cape Girardeau. The commission is working with the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce to determine a site for the meeting. The exact location and time of the meeting will be announced soon...

Oct. 21, 1999 Dear Leslie, On our vacation in paradise, DC dreamed that the top of her head had been cut off. She remembered reaching up in her sleep to check and feeling only brains. What could it mean? she wondered. She was still wondering on the plane home when we both noticed the popping sensation in our ears that can accompany changes in altitude. ...

Know some useless trivia? Put your knowledge to work during Trivia Night Nov. 6 at the Osage Community Centre. The event is sponsored by Southeast Area Special Olympics, the Cape Girardeau Parks and Recreation Department and Zimmer Radio Group. Doors open at 7 p.m. and playing starts at 7:30 p.m. Competition is open to teams of eight for $100 and includes prizes...

Southeast Missouri State University hopes to address campus parking problems, the school's president said Wednesday. Inadequate parking space remains a problem on the 126-year-old campus in Cape Girardeau, faculty say. The issue surfaced during a strategic planning forum at Dempster Hall that attracted about 100 faculty, staff and students...

When someone misses a practice for the Trinity Ringers Handbell Choir, other players notice. Notes don't get played, or another ringer has to fill in with little warning. With handbells, it isn't quite like a choir of voices, said Director Judy Dissen. With 10 sopranos in a voice choir, if one is missing nine others can fill in. But with handbells, "there's a hole," Dissen said...

The city's Historic Preservation Commission wants a little more information about conservation zoning before making any sort of official decision. The commission met Wednesday for 100 minutes and discussed conservation zoning and multiple nominations to the National Register of Historic Places...

From "Burlap to Cashmere," a seven-piece New York Band, to the father-son, guitar-bass duo of Chuck and David Sower, of Mounds, Ill., last weekend's Cape Girardeau City of Roses Music Festival was termed a success. "The rains hurt us some Friday," said Bill Shivelbine, president of the Music Heritage Association, "The weather also delayed things a bit Saturday afternoon, but overall everything went well."...

Staff members from the federal Environmental Protection Agency, the Missouri Department of Natural Resources and health agencies will discuss the Missouri Electric Works cleanup project at a meeting today in Cape Girardeau. The open-house-format session will be held from 5-7 p.m. at the Drury Lodge, I-55 and Route K. The meeting is open to the public...

After 43 years of coaching -- including 38 as a head coach -- Norm Stewart can finally relax a little bit when basketball practice rolls around. And part of that relaxation had the former longtime University of Missouri boss taking in Southeast Missouri State University's workout at the Student Recreation Center Wednesday...

One-hundred seventy-four feet. Two-thousand eighty-eight inches. Fourteen Geo Metro Coupes arranged end to end. Any way you slice it (or hook it), 58 yards is a long way to kick a football. To kick it straight 58 yards is a whole different matter. It's such a remarkable feat that only two high school kickers in the state's history have ever made a field goal of at least that distance. And Cape Central's Brian Emmendorfer is one of them...

As far as the Missouri high school football playoff system goes, what teams have done through the first seven weeks of the season doesn't matter at all. It's what happens over the next three weeks that will determine which teams qualify for the postseason and which teams will hang up their gear once the regular campaign ends...

When covering football games, I try to be as objective as possible. But there is always a part of me that roots for the little guy. I love watching the 155-pounder squirt through the arms of a burly, 250-pound defensive lineman. I like it when the 5-foot-6 safety lowers his head and chops down the 200-pound fullback...

Andrea Koeper School: Jackson Sport: Volleyball Coach: Nancy Ellis Week Report: It's hard to believe that Andrea Koeper is a junior the way she has dominated the volleyball court this year. In three games and just six sets this past week, Koeper, a middle hitter, blasted 38 kills, including 16 against Perryville. She also hustled for 22 digs...

David Enderle School: Scott City Sport: Football Coach: Roy Williams Week Report: Because of a power outage, Enderle and his Rams played two games last week, one Monday and one Friday. But while half of the lights didn't work two Friday nights ago, Enderle was simply electric three nights later. ...

The toughest tests are yet to come for Tennessee Tech, but the Eagles have definitely positioned themselves to be a factor in the Ohio Valley Conference football race. Tech, after beating Western Kentucky 23-10 last Saturday, moved to the top of the OVC standings with a 3-0 record. The Eagles are off to their best OVC start since 1993 and are 4-1 overall for the first time since 1977...

PERRYVILLE -- Alberta M. Amberger, 74, of Perryville died Tuesday, Oct. 19, 1999, at Perry County Memorial Hospital. She was born June 23, 1925, at Claryville, daughter of Herman and Mabel Brown Pick. She and John M. Amberger were married May 19, 1946...

Stephen Edward Adelman Sr. of Las Vegas, Nev., died Thursday, Sept. 23, 1999, at Odyssey Health Care in Las Vegas. He was born Sept. 12, 1963, in San Diego, Calif., son of Jack and Barbara Berkowitz Adelman. Adelman was a swimming pool maintenance worker...

Isa Hobbs Casper, 74, of Morro Bay, Calif., died Tuesday, Oct. 19, 1999, at Morro Bay Hospital. She was born Oct. 24, 1924, in Cape Girardeau County, daughter of Isaac and Esther Schroeder Hobbs. She and Chester Casper were married in California. He preceded her in death...

LOWNDES -- Funeral for Betty F. Tollison of Lowndes will be held at 11 a.m. today at Community Church of Christ. Jack Rogers will officiate. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Friends may call at the church from 10 a.m. until service time. Morgan Funeral Home in Advance is in charge of arrangements...

MINER -- Funeral for Dawn L. Thurston of Miner will be held at 2 p.m. Friday at Ponder Funeral Home in Sikeston. Bob Medlock will officiate. Burial will be in Garden of Memories Cemetery in Sikeston.Friends may call at the funeral home from 5-8 p.m. ...

DONGOLA, Ill. -- Russell Shaffer, 82, of Dongola died Wednesday, Oct. 20, 1999, at his home. He was born Jan. 1, 1917, in Dongola, son of Oscar and Coba Elizabeth Meisenheimer Shaffer. He and Elsie Schnaare were married Sept. 22, 1944. Shaffer was a retired farmer. He was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Anna...

Son to Darren and Tina LeGrand of St. Charles, St. John's Mercy Hospital, 1:42 a.m. Friday, Oct. 1, 1999. Name, Cameron Jacob. Weight, 8 pounds 5 ounces. Mrs. LeGrand is the daughter of Gerald and Bernadette Schlitt of Oran. She is training manager at CFM. LeGrand is the son of Etber and Robey LeGrand of Oran. He is employed at Pre-Coat Metals...

TAMMS, Ill. -- Kenneth Earl "Poss" Lingle, 76, of Tamms died Wednesday, Oct. 20, 1999, at Union County Hospital in Anna. He was born July 1, 1923, in Jonesboro, son of Charles Earl and Mary Edith Dillow Lingle. Lingle retired from Illinois Transportation Highway Department, where he worked 17 years. ...