Stories from Sunday, November 7, 1999

In a town that has produced nine state championships, the name Frazier carries some of the best memories of the past and usually high hopes for the future. And as far as Fraziers go, none quite compares to Ricky. For Ricky Frazier, basketball glory days seemed to follow the 6-foot-6 scorer where ever he went. ...

DON'T CRITICIZE the farmer with your mouth full. Smithville Foods is buying out Murphy Family Farms. Smithville Foods Inc. is the nation's largest pork producer and processor. Farmers have to take the price offered for their hogs and cattle and grain and even though it costs more to raise them than we get for it. ...

Tracy Fisher, Jackson High School drama teacher, gets to sit back and allow others to experience the joys and agonies of directing this week. While Fisher's guidance has helped keep the one-act plays that hit the stage Tuesday and Wednesday on track, the directing duties have fallen to a pair of students...

"Sing to him a new song, play skillfully on the strings, with loudshouts."-- Psalms 33:3 (RSV) CAPE GIRARDEAU -- No one alive today knows exactly what King David or other Psalmists would have thought of Christian rock or heavy metal music. No one can deny that Contemporary Christian groups have become a huge hit with today's teen and younger adult audience, though. ...

Hoboes still abound at the St. Louis Iron Mountain and Southern Railway. Hobo Days concludes today. 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...

25 years ago: 1974Jackson's Community Chest has moved to $13,983 in contributions toward goal of $20,000 to support seven community agencies; of that amount, 28 percent has been contributed by Charmin Paper Products Co., with employees giving $4,338.05 and company $1,275; Community Chest supports VIP Industries, Retarded Children, Ministerial Alliance, Girl Scouts, R-2 Children's Welfare Fund, American Red Cross and Boy Scouts...

The city council has approved the purchase of a state-of-the-art computerized system that will allow us to monitor our power plant more accurately and to identify the location of outages in a manner of minutes. This equipment will enable the city to identify an outage down to the block where it exists. ...

Though football seemed to be his preference, Abe Stuber was the Bo Jackson of coaching at Southeast Missouri State. Stuber knew football. Stuber knew basketball. And Stuber knew track. But most importantly, Stuber knew winning. In 29 years of coaching -- which included professional stints with the Philadelphia Eagles and the Green Bay Packers -- Stuber won 22 championships in various sports, led five undefeated football teams and coached in 25 winning football seasons...

The Southeast Missouri State University basketball record book is a good place to find out about the exploits of Otto Porter. Although Porter, a product of Scott County Central High School, spent just two seasons at Southeast and graduated in 1981, many of his offensive records still endure...

It's likely that very few college football players have ever had a better debut than Kelvin Anderson. Anderson, nicknamed "Earthquake" for his exploits as an all-state running back at New Madrid County Central High School, had to sit out his first two seasons at Southeast Missouri State University, initially because of academic ineligibility and then because of an academic mixup...

Although professional athletes didn't make the absurd amounts of money in Kenneth Dement's day as they do now, the College Football Hall of Famer made a noble decision upon his graduation at Southeast Missouri State University to serve his country rather than the New York Giants...

Steve Williams is Cape Girardeau's version of Mr. Baseball. First, he played baseball at Cape Central and with the American Legion team. Then, he played at Southeast Missouri State while also playing for the Capahas. After he finished a stint in the Philadelphia Phillies' Triple-A organization, he returned to Central to coach, you guessed it, baseball...

Southeast Missouri State University's women's basketball program began to place itself on the Division II national map in the early-to-mid 1980s, thanks in large part to a home grown player who was virtually unstoppable. Pat Colon is one of the most successful female basketball players to ever emerge from Southeast Missouri, turning in brilliant careers for both Cape Girardeau Central High School's Lady Tigers and Southeast's Otahkians...

It is ironic, really, that Winfred Wilfong went by "Win." Because that seemed to be all he did. After winning two state championships at Puxico High School and drawing as much or more attention than any college player in the Midwest region of the country, Wilfong eventually won a gold medal and was MVP in the Pan-American Games; he led Memphis State to an appearance in the NIT championship game; he won an NBA championship and also won a CBA title...

People can only wonder how many points Carl Ritter would have scored if the 3-point shot had been in existence during his playing days. Ritter, who scored the most points in Southeast Missouri State University men's basketball history, was that good a marksman...

To the editor: I am the proud mom of the Central High School football team. Our team may have not been winners of the game, but I feel they were winners in many ways. I am writing to let the public know what great winners they were and how proud of the team I am...

The strapping righthander known as "Big Elam" -- he stood 6-feet-1 and weighed about 200 pounds during his playing days -- put together a fairly impressive major-league career, which began in 1919 at age 23. Vangilder is the Browns' record-holder in games pitched. He played 11 years in the major leagues starting in 1919. Vangilder, who died in Cape Girardeau in 1977 at the age of 81, pitched in 323 games during his nine-year stint with the Browns...

In a bizarre freak of nature, it has been discovered that all of the Three Rivers Community College basketball players over the past 28 years possess a special gene that helps them play basketball. It's been labeled Gene Bess. Gene Bess is one of the best basketball coaches to ever blow a whistle in Southeast Missouri...

What do you get when you take a package of speed, strength, competitive drive, selfless attitude, instincts, respect for coaches and a desire to learn, then assemble it into a 6-foot-1, 243-pound package? Nathan Norman. The linebacker/fullback left his mark on Jackson High School and is still writing his script as a starting fullback at the University of Arkansas...

Ford served out the final two-plus years of Nixon's second term. His swift pardon of Nixon earned him harsh criticism then and undoubtedly contributed to his narrow defeat in 1976. However, most now credit that action and Ford's quiet resumption of the nation's business with helping the shocked country move forward...

For a player that owns nearly every Cape Central scoring record, Ron Jones became known primarily for his defensive prowess in his four years at the University of Missouri. At 6-foot-4, Jones was a dominating center on the prep level. He led Cape Central to the Missouri Class 4A championship his senior year in 1980. ...

Ken Iman wears some of the most impressive jewelry of any athlete from the region. Iman, originally from St. Louis, starred at Southeast from 1956-59. He played both center and linebacker for Southeast and earned All-MIAA and honorable mention All-America honors...

An icon in his day, Muegge was so influential at Cape Central that the school named its football field after the legendary coach. Muegge started his coaching tenure in 1928 and eventually coached the school's first state championship teams, which both came in 1954. That year both the basketball and baseball teams, under Muegge, won state titles...

The Sikeston Train started on local routes before pulling into stations nationwide. James Wilder made a name for himself in Southeast Missouri as a bruising tailback at Sikeston High School. Coined the Sikeston Train for his punishing style of running, Wilder became an important part of Missouri's success in the late 70's and early 80's before moving onto an 11-year NFL career...

Everything Scott Pingel the athlete is composed of, one can find at the local hardware store. (Hands like) glue. (Nerves of) steele. (Tough as) nails. Put those contents together and one gets more than a 6-foot-1, 190-pound football player. In this case, the final product is the nation's all-time leading college receiver...

The best of times were frequent times in a small Southeast Missouri town called Morley. For two decades, the Scott County Central Braves were often -- no, usually -- the best. The Class 1A school holds the state record for most basketball state titles by a boys team (12) and the most consecutive state championships (7)...

There is little doubt Darla Pannier is the best female high school basketball player to lace up shoes in Southeast Missouri. Pannier -- a first-team all-American her senior year -- owns nearly every significant record at Cape Central. Her records include: Most points in a quarter (22); most points in a game (39); most points in a season (699), most points in a career (1,909), most points per game over a season (26.8); most points per game over a career (19.5); highest field goal percentage over a season (70); highest field goal percentage over a career (66); most free throws made in a game (16); most free throws made in a season (157); most free throws made in a career (441); highest free throw percentage over a season (76) and in a career (71); most rebounds in a game (25); most rebounds in a season (358) and most rebounds in a career (981).. ...

The NFL has had one undefeated team in its illustrious history. Take away one Charleston native from that team and the 1972 Dolphins don't go undefeated and they don't win the Super Bowl. Charlie Babb, who once graced the football fields of Southeast Missouri, blocked and recovered a punt attempt in the 1972 playoff game against the Cleveland Browns...

One of the top dynasties in the history of Missouri high school basketball was spearheaded by a rail-thin player who performed like a magician on the court. Marcus Timmons, in fact, was something of a Magic Johnson-like player in Southeast Missouri basketball circles, leading Scott County Central's Braves to four straight Class 1A state titles during his prep days...

One of the most popular coaches in Cape Central's history, Leon Brinkopf was also one of the school's best-ever baseball players. A 1944 graduate of Cape Central, Brinkopf played professional baseball with the Chicago Cubs after a long stint in the minor leagues. He then, in 1957, came back to his high school alma mater and became one of the most successful coaches in school history...

Lore has it that Ron Shumate, in Cape Girardeau in 1981 to interview for the position of Southeast Missouri State University head men's basketball coach, took one look at ancient, tiny Houck Field House and told his wife:"Honey, if we can win here, we can win anywhere in America."Not only did Shumate win -- he won big...

Missouri's Court of Appeals for the Eastern District made history this past week when judges held court for the first time at Southeast Missouri State University. It was the first time in the court's 124-year history that judges have met at an undergraduate institution...

Thousands upon thousands of athletes and coaches have traipsed the fields and graced the courts of Southeast Missouri over the past century. The Southeast Missourian sports department has narrowed thousands into the Top 25. Inside this issue is a commemorative sports section that we feel will stimulate memories and may even spur debate...

Andrew Bentlage tried to make the best out of his temporary cardboard home, even drawing a television set and a refrigerator on the inside of the large appliance box. With a sleeping bag and the clothes on his back, the 13-year old prepared for a night with little food and shelter...

With the goal of inspiring a passion for defending life, Voice for Life held its second annual convention Saturday at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Scott City."Our purpose is to gather together people who are working for the pro-life movement, to educate and motivate them," said Rosie San Paolo, the founder of Voice For Life. ...

When Patty looks at the wide-eyed youngster playing at her feet she doesn't think of the child as her adopted daughter. To Patty, this child is her daughter, plain and simple."No matter what, she's our daughter," said Patty, who asked that her last name not be used for privacy reasons.Patty and her husband, like many couples seeking to adopt children, faced infertility issues that prevented them from conceiving. ...

Candy wrappers. I find them everywhere these days, telltale signs that Becca and Bailey have been eating more than their share of candy. Halloween lasts only one night, but the candy they harvest in their costumes lasts for at least a month. Becca and Bailey even have a big bowl filled to the brim with candy received during their trick-or-treat travels through a friend's sweet-toothed neighborhood...

Paige Reynolds couldn't find the pumpkin she decorated in the mound of Indian faces piled atop a table at Lynwood Baptist Church. But the 10-year-old girl did know that she'd be thankful to receive such a gift if it were offered. Paige and the other children enrolled at Lyncare, an after-school program run by Lynwood Baptist Church, have spent the past week decorating miniature pumpkins and drawing placemat designs to be delivered this week to Meals on Wheels clients...

The Southeast Missouri State University Board of Regents will hold a public forum Nov. 11 in Arnold, Mo., as the University continues the process of preparing for another cycle of strategic planning. The forum is scheduled for 1 to 3 p.m. at Jefferson Community College North Room 204. The College is located at 4500 Jeffco Blvd. in Arnold. The forum is designed for residents of St. Louis County, Jefferson County, Festus, Arnold and Hillsboro, but is open to the public...

MOUND CITY, Ill. -- A three-year campaign to expand the Mound City National Cemetery has become a reality. Fueled by a $12,500 donation from Players Island Casino at Metropolis, the Mound City National Cemetery Preservation Commission recently purchased an additional three acres of space adjoining the current 12-acre cemetery. The cemetery was created during the Civil War...

A tribute at Cape Girardeau Central High School tops the list of activities planned for Thursday in honor of Veterans Day. This marks the fifth year the high school's Renaissance Club has sponsored its Veterans Day program. Librarian and sponsor Julia Jorgensen said veterans seem to enjoy the songs and speeches performed by students who have had limited exposure to military conflicts."It's student performed, and that's what we think makes our tribute special," Jorgensen said. ...

Anyone can come to visit veterans living at the Missouri Veteran's Home in Cape Girardeau, but only a few people make the commitment to develop a long-term, caring relationship with them. Some of those people are Stephen ministers, and more are always needed. A new class for people interested in Stephen ministry will begin in January...

It happened 33 years ago on the clear, cold, dark morning of November 17, 1966. Just an hour before the sun came up. 150,000 meteors per hour rained down on the middle of North America! The Earth had just passed through the debris trail of comet 55P/Tempel-Tuttle. ...

If you love offensive football, then Houck Stadium was the place to be Saturday afternoon. On a glorious day, with spring-like temperatures, Southeast Missouri State University and Eastern Illinois combined for more than 1,000 total yards, with the Indians picking up their third straight victory, 45-38 in front of 3,125 fans...

Southeast Missouri State University fullback Broderick Benson has primarily made his mark this year with punishing blocks. But Saturday, Benson did a whole bunch of damage on the ground as the Indians won their third straight game, a wild 45-38 decision over visiting Eastern Illinois...

Gary Garner warned everybody that it would take a while for Southeast Missouri State University's Indians to become a good basketball team. The 4,210 fans at the Show Me Center Saturday night no doubt agree with Garner now. Southeast suffered through a dismal first half and, despite a second-half rally, suffered a 72-68 exhibition loss to the Dreambuilders, a team of former collegiate players...

FENTON -- Different year, same result. For the second consecutive year, Notre Dame had its season ended by St. Mary's and, again, it was a 1-0 setback in a sectional game at the Anheuser-Busch Conference & Sports Centre. Notre Dame coach Brad Wittenborn said the Bulldogs had several opportunities in the last 10 minutes of the game, but couldn't come away with a goal against the top-ranked team in the state."We didn't get many clean shots," Wittenborn said. ...

JEFFERSON CITY -- Cape Central senior Lane Thomasson took sixth place in the Class 4A, state cross country meet Saturday for the best finish for any cross country runner -- boy or girl -- in school historyThomasson finished the 5,000-meter run in 19:50.46, 37 seconds off the state-championship time...

WARRENSBURG -- The Woodland Lady Cardinals swept Spokane 15-8-15-5 to claim third place at the Missouri Class 2A Volleyball Championships Saturday. Woodland finished its season with a 27-7 mark under first-year coach Emily Johnson. The Lady Cardinals found themselves in the third-place match after going 1-2 in pool play Friday. Woodland's lone victory on Friday came over Spokane...

Now that the regular season is complete, three local football teams are sill alive: Jackson, Scott City and St. Vincent. Farther south, New Madrid and Malden have also advanced. The sectional games will all take place at 7 p.m. Wednesday. Jackson, a Class 5A school, will play 10th-ranked Mehlville at home. Mehlville blistered previously unbeaten and No. 3 Kirkwood 35-10 Friday night...

The Cape Girardeau Parks and Recreation Department will sponsor its 2000 men's basketball league, which will begin January 3rd. Two games are to be scheduled each week for a total of 14 regular season games. This year the league will offer five divisions of play: Division I, Division II, Division III, Division IV and Division V. Division I and II will be for the highest levels of play with III, IV and V for the less competitive teams...

The first portion of the 1999 Firearms Deer Hunting Season in Missouri begins Saturday, and runs through Tuesday, Nov.r 23. What exactly do we mean by "first portion"? More on that later, but first, let's discuss another important date: today, Sunday, Nov. 7...

The Jackson Parks and Recreation Department will hold a Points for Pizza basketball shoot off at 10 a.m., November 20, at the First General Baptist Church in Jackson.Registration for boys and girls ages 9-17 is at 9:30 a.m. Entry fee is $1. Participants will be divided into three age brackets: 9-11, 12-14 and 15-17. Domino's Pizzas and Super Video movies will be awarded to the top three placers.For more information, call 243-3568...

The Cape Girardeau Parks and Recreation Department is currently accepting teams for their 2000 women's basketball league. Games that will be played on Wednesday evenings at Centenary Methodist.Cost is $192 per team. The 2000 league is scheduled to begin Jan. ...

Advance tickets are on sale for Wednesday night's Class 5A sectional football game between Jackson and Mehlville which will be played at Jackson High School.Tickets can be purchased at Jackson High School and SEMO Sports and Specialties. Tickets are $5 for adults, students and children. Season passes are not valid for playoff games.Game time is 7 p.m. with the gates opening at 5:30...

MARBLE HILL -- Pauline Steger Oehlert, 90, of Marble Hill died Friday, Nov. 5, 1999, at the Jackson Manor in Jackson. She was born on May 9, 1909, in Owen County, Ky., the daughter of Thomas William and Nancy A. New Parker. She married Ezra B. Steger on July 5, 1934. He died on Aug. 18, 1977. She later married George Oehlert. He also preceded her in death...

DEXTER -- Maxine Lacey, 65, of Essex died Friday, Nov. 5, 1999, at her home. She was born Nov. 18, 1933, at Pocahontas, Ark., the daughter of Marshall Jackson and Ida Ellen Goodman. She had lived in Essex and then spent some time in St. Louis before returning to Essex in 1982...

PATTON -- A one-car accident Highway 72 in Bollinger County injured three people early Saturday, the Missouri Highway Patrol said. The accident occurred at 1:09 a.m., a mile west of Patton. The driver, Anthony Ellis, 38, and passenger Imogene Cook, 44, of Sedgewickville were taken by Medivac helicopter to St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau...

MARBLE HILL -- Ambrose Douglas Peters, 26, of Marble Hill died Friday, Nov. 5, 1999, at St. Louis University Hospital. He was born on May 4, 1973, at Cape Girardeau, the son of Ambrose W. and Patricia Welter Peters. He was lumberyard foreman at Buchheit in Perryville...

Arnold Ryan (St. Louis Post Dispatch photo courtesy of Matt Chaney) James Wilder (photo courtesy of the University of Missouri sports information department) One-hundred years. Twenty-five sports figures. Selecting the top 25 athletic personalities of the century from Southeast Missouri was not an easy task. But just because it wasn't easy, doesn't mean it wasn't enjoyable...

For a short time, Puxico was big time. Bigger than Scott County Central or Charleston ever was. For the Puxico Indians weren't just great at basketball. They changed basketball. When it comes to one school or one team having an impact on a particular sport, coach Arnold Ryan's Puxico teams of the late 1940s and early 1950s have made a bigger mark than any high school team in Southeast Missouri and perhaps the state. The Indians actually drew national attention for their dominance in 1951...

1900 -- Five years after becoming the first organized football team south of St. Louis, the Jackson Military Academy Tigers win the Southeast Missouri football championship, defeating Elmwood College of Farmington, Cape Girardeau Teachers College (twice), Carbondale Teachers College and Caruthersville...

DEXTER -- Dr. Naismith probably thought he had solved basketball's last big problem when he finally decided to cut the bottoms out of his peach baskets. The inventor of basketball probably rolled over in his grave Friday night, when Poplar Bluff's 54-33 victory over Dexter was halted in the third quarter due to leaking shoes...

"If all the pitchers were like (Dr. Hubert "Shucks" Pruett), no one would have heard of me." -- Babe Ruth Dr. Hubert Shelby Pruett -- a Malden and Dexter native -- was ruthless against the Babe. The most recognizable baseball icon in history wasn't the Sultan of Swat against Pruett. He was the King of Ks...

Twelve seconds is too long to shoot a free throw. Fred Johnson and the Oran Eagles found that out the hard way in 1969 when they lost the state championship game by two points. With 12 seconds remaining and the scrappy Oran team down by two points to heavily favored Dixon, Fred Johnson was fouled. A deliberate free throw shooter, Johnson went to the line, amid the frenzies noise and sights in the Brewer Field House. He took his time and swished the first shot. It was 74-73...

There are different theories of where baseball came from and exactly how long the game has existed. Some believe that today's version of the game evolved from a game called rounders in the 1600s. Others believe Abner Doubleday invented the sport in 1839 and it is widely thought that Alexander Cartwright organized the first baseball league in 1845...

BERNIE -- During a three-year stretch in the mid-90s, Bernie's volleyball team was as dominating as any team in any sport this area has ever seen. Over the three-year span between 1994 and 1997, Bernie was never beaten in the state of Missouri. In 1994, Bernie got beat by the Class 4A state champs of Arkansas for its only loss...

So much has changed since Mildred Wiggins began coaching in 1971. Yet much has remained the same. Wiggins coached the Lady Hornets from 1971 to 1991 and retired with a brilliant 364-85-2 career record. When she started as a coach, Advance played only teams from Stoddard County because Stoddard County teams played with six players, while most other area teams played with eight...

Former Jackson quarterback Jason Liley let one fly while at Southeast Missouri State University. Liley holds several Southeast quarterback records, including most completions ina game (28,) in a season (220) and in a career (556). Oil and water. Republicans and Democrats...

Though his professional career was short, Charles "Big Jeff" Tesreau was more successful than any pitcher to ever emerge from Southeast Missouri. Reared on a farm near Fredericktown, Tesreau is the only player from the region to throw a no-hitter in the big leagues. And he was the first rookie in the history of the major leagues to accomplish that feat...

The master bathroom includes a free-standing shower and a sizeable tub with Jacuzzi. A child's bedroom is spacious and includes a ceiling fan. An open airy look with the warmth of home-spun charm creates the perfect living atmosphere for today's fast-paced society.A well-manicured lawn complete with an abundance of annuals and a lit, terraced walk graces the corner-lot location of this brick and frame split-level. ...