Stories from Sunday, October 24, 1999

UNIONTOWN -- When we clean around the grave of Louise Richter in the Arnsberg Cemetery, I remember my mother telling of her death at the age of 45. Louise, along with members of her family, had gone to the Unterreiner Sisters Hat Shoppe in Uniontown, to get their new Easter hats...

Benji Mallory of Carroton, Ga., will be ministering at Abundant Life Church (Route K and Hwy 25) in Cape Girardeau Oct. 31 and Nov. 1. Mallory has appeared on TBN and Focus on the Family. She has also authored an autobiography, Chosen.Mallory will speak at 6 p.m., Oct. ...

The Oak Ridge United Methodist Church will hold its annual beef stew and pork burger dinner at the Millersville United Methodist today.The dinner will be 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., with an auction at 1 p.m. Home-baked goods, craft items and more will be auctioned. The public is invited to attend and donated items are welcome.All proceeds will be used to help pay for the new parsonage...

OBVIOUSLY, THE people at Chaffee High School don't know the saying. "If it isn't broken, don't fix it." Please put homecoming back the way it was. Each girl in each class should have the right to compete in the homecoming queen contest. As far as the parade having a shorter route, the people in the downtown business area would love to see the parade also...

Driving north last week, I tuned in KMOX's "Morning Meeting" hosted by Charles Brennan and Zimmer Radio Group alumnus Carol Keeler Daniel. They said the next hour's guest would be Edmund Morris, author of "Dutch," the disappointing, 14-years-in-the-making Reagan biography so much in the news. ...

According to the FBI, serious crimes reported to police dropped for the seventh straight year in 1998 as both murder and robbery rates reached lows not seen in three decades. The overall violent crime rate -- 566 murders, rapes, robberies and assaults per 100,000 residents -- dropped to its lowest figure since 556 in 1985, just before an epidemic of crack sent it soaring. The FBI report showed that the use of guns to commit murder and robbery is decreasing...

An interim panel of the Missouri Senate will undertake a comprehensive examination of the state's entire tax code. The committee plans hearings over the next two months in advance of next year's legislative session, which begins in January. In addition to overall simplification of the state's tax laws, the committee will consider a host of issues. ...

I once remember as a lad --While visiting a pen,I saw a man grown old with age --Doing life to pay his sin. His beard was long, his eyes were dim --His life had left its scar. Hed done the most of his lifetime --looking through the bars. I ask him of the crime he did --For which he had to pay...

Fans are being drawn to baseball by the millions the past two or three years. I'm not one of them. I actually feel a bit alienated from the Grand Old Game. Call me old-fashioned or call me a party-pooper, but I miss pitching. Fortunately Major League baseball still manages to have at least one good pitcher in each league -- or has so far. ...

Jackson High School made a good showing at the 1999 SEMO Cross Country Conference Meet Oct. 16. The varsity girls took second in conference, while the varsity boys placed fourth. The junior varsity boys and girls teams both took second in conference...

CAPE GIRARDEAU -- Nearly 70 colleges, vocational schools and military services will be represented at the annual Regional College-Vocational School Fair at the Show-Me Center Monday. The afternoon session will run from Noon until 2:30 p.m. At that time, institutional representatives will be available to provide information about their respective school or branch of service to students and parents. ...

While Rotary International District 6060 Governor Tom Gooch noted that the Jackson Rotary Club is one of 68 pieces of a puzzle that makes the district strong and cohesive, he also lauded the Jackson club's individual accomplishments. Gooch, who spoke to the club at its weekly meeting Tuesday at the Route 25 Hall, noted that the Jackson club donated $75 per capita to the Rotary International Foundation this year -- about twice what the average Missouri club gave. ...

25 years ago: 1974Jackson Jaycees will operate haunted house Oct. 29-31; haunted abode is owned by First Presbyterian Church and is adjacent to church parking lot on North Hope Street; funds raised from Halloween attraction will go toward youth and civic improvements; this is first year local Jaycees will sponsor holiday fun...

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. -- Southwestern Energy Company (NYSE: SWN) announced Tuesday that it has signed a definitive agreement to sell its Missouri gas distribution assets to Atmos Energy Corporation (NYSE: ATO) for $32.0 million. The transaction is subject to regulatory approval from the Missouri Public Service Commission and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission."From the employees' standpoint, there should be little or no change," Harold M. ...

Lucie Lambert faced a task unusual to most Jackson High School students last weekend, after being crowned 1999 Homecoming queen. Lambert, a sophomore foreign exchange student from France, had to explain to her parents just what type of honor it was that had been bestowed upon her."I had to explain to them what it was," she said. ...

Hoboes will abound at the St. Louis Iron Mountain and Southern Railway the week of Oct. 30 through Nov. 7. Hoboes from all over America will meet at the Jackson-based depot throughout the week. They will camp on the depot grounds sharing their adventures with each other as well as with anyone who has ever been curious about a care-free life on the rails...

The Immaculate Conception School gym at 308 S. Hope in Jackson will be the scene of the annual St. Ann's Craft Fair Nov. 6-7.The fair will run 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday. The Knights of Columbus will be serving a sausage, pancake and egg breakfast in conjunction with the fair, at Immaculate Conception School, 7 a.m. to Noon...

DUBLIN, OH -- If the Heisman Trophy comes to Patton, chances are Mariah Bollinger and Troy Hays will have something to do with it. That's because the Meadow Heights High School seniors were nominated for the 1999 Wendy's High School Heisman Award. Along with more than 12,000 of the nations most accomplished scholar-citizen-athletes honored in the program, they now set their sights on the state, and possibly, national competition...

Those of us fortunate enough to be living on the cusp of a new century and a new millennium are serendipitous witnesses to a new, exciting and most challenging moment in history. As we pass through the last stages of a century that has seen a multitude of wars, monumental changes within our societies and the worldwide transformation from a mechanical to a technological era, we no doubt will be transported into an even more surprising, enlightening and remarkable period of time in the years ahead.. ...

I went to a place were smiles are made, wherepeople are happy and friendly all day.Where Mr. Walt thought of a theme and createda place from your wildest dream.Mickey Mouse is the host of the show. There wasDonald Duck and Goofy, the rest you know.I went to a place where smiles are made. I tookaway memories and the smile remains...

Good help is getting even harder to find. The high level of employment demand, which has prevailed for more than two years in the immediate Southeast Missouri area, is expected to continue. Although more than 500,000 pink, slips have been passed out by U.S. Companies during the past year, and at least another 500 jobs will be lost in Cape Girardeau and Scott Counties over the next six months, new hires have surpassed those number...

Jake Cruzen, president of Phi Sigma Eta fraternity, painted Charles Huskey's face Saturday at the Make a Difference Day event at Arena Park sponsored by Sisters in Service. Some Cape Girardeau residents who live near Central Junior High School (CJHS) awoke to the rustling of leaves early Saturday morning...

Area police agencies have a bright idea for elderly residents. Sixty-watt flashing light bulbs are being distributed through senior centers in Cape Girardeau and Jackson to residents of Cape Girardeau County, said Grace Hoover, vice-chairwoman of the Triad/SALT Council...

The U.S. Senate leadership thinks the Capitol is a mess. It's tired of uncollected trash, dirty restrooms, bugs and layers of dust. Political garbage is another matter. But at least they don't have to worry that they'll step on a bunch of playground pebbles...

Kannon Qualls has been in intensive therapy for 2 1/2 months, and his mother said the child she always knew was hidden inside his destructive, antisocial behaviors is finally beginning to emerge. Kannon, age 4, has Asperger syndrome, a high functioning form of autism, said his mother, Raquel Qualls of Cape Girardeau. ...

MARBLE HILL -- Bollinger County Commissioner Rod Jetton kicked off his campaign for state representative Friday, preaching a message of lower taxes and less government. The Marble Hill Republican said he will run for the 156th state representative seat next year. The seat currently is held by Bill Foster, R-Poplar Bluff. Term limits prevent Foster from seeking another term in 2000...

Right now, there appears to be no slowing down Southeast Missouri State University's volleyball team. The Otahkians turned what was expected to be a tough match into another routine victory as they rolled past Tennessee Tech 15-4, 15-5, 15-5 in front of more than 450 fans at Houck Field House Saturday night...

By any standards, it has been an extremely disappointing season for Southeast Missouri State University's football team. The Indians dropped their first seven games to tie the school's all-time longest losing streak of 12 and most people expected that mark to fall Saturday when Southwest Missouri came to Houck Stadium...

Rashad West had a dazzling coming out party as Southeast Missouri State University's quarterback. A sophomore in his first season with the Indians, West had seen only limited action behind center this year while also playing some at wide receiver. But Saturday, West -- who replaced starting quarterback Bobby Brune early in the second quarter -- was incredible as he helped rally the Indians to their first victory of the season, 28-23 over Southwest Missouri State...

Elation and relief oozed all over the Houck Stadium field Saturday afternoon as the final horn sounded. Southeast Missouri State University's football team had finally tasted victory again. And how sweet it was. The Indians stunned Southwest Missouri State 28-23 in front of 3,652 fans to end a school-record-tying 12-game losing streak dating back to last season...

SIKESTON -- In perhaps the biggest upset in the region this year, Sikeston put together an almost perfect game Friday night, knocking off North County -- the No. 2 team in Class 4A -- 36-35 Friday night. "It's certainly a huge win because they're such a good football team," Sikeston coach Charlie Vickery said. "There's no question we were huge underdogs. We told our team going in that nobody thinks we can beat them but us. We told them to go out there and have fun and play some football."...

JACKSON -- What a difference a year -- and a whole lot of hard work -- makes. A year ago, Cape Central senior Lane Thomasson didn't even compete in the district varsity cross country meet. She simply wasn't good enough. This year she was not only the best female runner in the eight-team Class 4A, District 1 race, she blew away the competition, finishing the 3.1-mile course 33 seconds faster than the second-place runner...

GIBAULT, Ill. -- Jackson took a tough Gibault, Ill., team to the wire in high school volleyball action Saturday, but dropped a three-set match 15-10, 11-15, 14-16. Jackson will take a 24-7-1 record into this week's district play. After getting down 9-0 in the third set, the Lady Indians battled back...

Jackson and Woodland will attempt to repeat as district champions while other area high school volleyball teams will try to break through when district tournaments are held this week. Woodland and Jackson had the most success of last year's squads, the Lady Cardinals finishing fourth in the Class 2A state tournament and the Lady Indians winning a school-record 29 matches...

Has anyone ever told you that their lake has turned over but couldn't explain what that means? Has any one ever told you that their lake turned over and the fish died? In reality, ponds and lakes turn over every year in the spring and fall, with little harm to the fish...

Team St. Louis Volleyball Club for girls will hold tryouts at Incarnate Word Academy in St. Louis Oct. 30-31. Tryouts for the 11-under (fifth grade) and 12-under (sixth grade) teams will be Oct. 30 from 9 a.m.-noon. Tryouts for the 14-under (eighth grade) will be Oct. 31 from 9-11:45 a.m. while tryouts for the 13-under (seventh grade) will be Oct. 31 from 11:45 a.m.-2:30 p.m...

GORDONVILLE -- Henry J. Wessel, 96, of Gordonville died at his home Saturday. Funeral arrangements are pending at McCombs Funeral Home in Jackson.

EAST PRAIRIE -- Jimree R. Allen, 75, of East Prairie died Friday, Oct. 22, 1999, at East Prairie Nursing Center. Arrangements are incomplete and will be announced later by Shelby Funeral Home in East Prairie.

ANNA, Ill. -- Homer R. Fear, 81, of Anna died Friday, Oct. 22, 1999, at his home. He was born Jan. 21, 1918, at Anna, son of Otto and Nora Jane Barred Fear. He and Rosemary Brown were married Aug. 9, 1941, in Jackson. Fear worked as a carpenter and retired in 1979. He was a member of the Carpenters Local 554 in Chicago, a veteran of World War II and a member of VFW Post 3455 in Anna...

MARBLE HILL -- Billie James Reel, 68, of Sedgewickville, died Friday, Oct. 22, 1999, at Southeast Missouri Hospital. He was born at Humphrey, Ark., May 16, 1931, son of James and Ruby Harrison Reel. He and Verla Eskew were married on May 23, 1950. She died July 15, 1989...

Viola and I watched the pretty little bird come to the feeder, snatch a seed and fly off to eat it elsewhere in privacy, only to come back a minute later to get another seed and repeat the process over and over in the manner of the black-capped chickadee. ...