Stories from Tuesday, November 9, 1999

Do you like a good puzzle. Sometimes I do, if it's accompanied by even an ever-so-brief peace and quiet to concentrate on the answers. There are a number of good puzzle sites on the Internet if you're willing to test your wits. These things are fairly addicting. ...

Missouri is new to the charter-school experience. The state law allowing charter schools in St. Louis and Kansas City is only 2 years old.Charter schools are public schools funded with tax money from the state and the local school district. The schools have open admissions and can't charge tuition."We have to take anybody that knocks on the door," said Dave Camden, assistant director of the Charter Schools Information Center in St. ...

Golfers love the record-high temperatures the past few days, but the warm, sunny weather has made sweaters a tough sell. Record highs have been set the past three days, said Dr. Al Robertson, a retired Southeast Missouri State University earth sciences professor who keeps track of weather in Cape Girardeau. ...

Southeast Missouri State University could play a key role in launching charter schools in St. Louis. But university officials have yet to decide how they will react when or if they are asked to sponsor a charter school. Charter schools are public schools operated with tax dollars, but they operate free from many of the regulations that apply to traditional public schools...

Area Lutheran children really have something to sing about when the mass children's choir gathers Sunday to mark the celebration and dedication of Saxony Lutheran High School. A celebration and praise service is planned at 2:30 p.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church, 100 N. Frederick St...

The gambling casinos viewed by many Indian tribes as an escape hatch from reservation poverty will be the tribes' undoing, predicts Mohawk Iroquois journalist and community activist Doug George. He lives on the Onondaga Reservation in Central New York, a region where the operation of casinos by the Mohawks and Oneidas has contributed to an atmosphere of strife charged with accusations of corruption and demagoguery."Gambling will ultimately result in the demise of the Indian people as independent," says George, contending it is a way for government to exert control and is contrary to Native American spiritual beliefs. ...

A former Sikeston police officer plead guilty to three felony counts of stealing Monday in connection with the theft of funds from a volunteer search and rescue squad in Sikeston, the state Attorney General's office said. Douglas A. Brooks, a former sergeant, plead guilty in Cape Girardeau County Circuit Court to three felony counts of stealing. His case was handled by a special prosecutor from the Missouri Attorney General's office...

Stroke is the third leading cause of death in the United States, yet many people don't even know what it is."I'm always surprised at the number of people who don't know that a stroke affects the brain," said Kathy O'Howell, a nurse in the Generations Family Resource Center at Southeast Missouri Hospital.The hospital will sponsor a free stroke screening Wednesday.Strokes are caused when a blood clot or burst blood vessel cuts off the flow of blood to an area of the brain. ...

Efforts to hammer out pledges of a clean campaign between Missouri's two candidates for U.S. senator are looking just a bit silly these days. Gov. Mel Carnahan and U.S. Sen. John Ashcroft long ago squared off for an epic battle unlike any in recent Missouri history. ...

To the editor: An avid baseball fan, I relished every moment of the playoffs and World Series, and I appreciated the excellent sports coverage from the Southeast Missourian. Yet, like so many Cape residents, I'd have preferred watching a championship series involving the St. Louis Cardinals...

Southeast Missouri State University head football coach John Mumford insists he's not going to worry about what his future in Cape Girardeau holds until after the Nov. 20 season finale against Tennessee State. Right now, Mumford says he'd rather focus on the fact the Indians have put together a three-game winning streak, and he and his staff want to do everything in their power to make it four straight a week from Saturday."I'm going to leave that up to (Southeast athletic director) Don Kaverman and (Southeast president) Dr. ...

In its 15-year history, the Cape Girardeau Central High boys soccer team has had a great deal of success against area teams, winning six Class 4A, District 1 crowns, including the 3-2 overtime victory over top-seeded Jackson last Wednesday. A sectional victory, however, has eluded the Tigers in five attempts. ...

PUXICO -- Vernon Johns, 77, of Puxico died Monday, Nov. 8, 1999, at the Puxico Nursing Center.Arrangements are pending at the Morgan Sifford Funeral Home in Puxico.

JACKSON -- Brenda Wood-Gilder, 50, of Jackson died Monday, Nov. 8, 1999, at her home.Arrangements are incomplete at McCombs Funeral Home in Jackson.

ANNISTON -- Earl Russell Nolen, 79, of Anniston, died Sunday, Nov. 7, 1999, at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston. He was born Dec. 13, 1919, at Crosno, son of William and Dura Duty Nolen. He lived in Mississippi County his entire life. He was postmaster at the Anniston Post Office. He was a veteran of World War II, having served in the U.S. Army Air Forces. He was of the Protestant faith...

CHARLESTON -- Rosie E. Fowler, 90, of Charleston died Monday, Nov. 8, 1999, at Bertrand Retirement Home in Bertrand. She was born April 4, 1909, in Bertrand, daughter of J.W. and Cecilia Priester. She and James Aubrey Fowler were married in 1927. He died Sept. 19, 1993...

MOUNDS, Ill. -- Funeral for Earl A. Williamson of Mounds will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday at Barkett Funeral Home in Mounds. The Revs. Stephen Wolfe and Verlee Eaker will officiate. Burial will be in Spencer Heights Cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home from 6-8 p.m. Wednesday...

SEDGEWICKVILLE -- A memorial service for Orville Glen "Snapper" Smith of Lake Villa, Ill., was held in October at First Presbyterian Church in Arlington Heights, Ill. The Rev. Thomas D. Frazier officiated. Burial was in Woodland Hills Cemetery. Strang Funeral Home in Antioch, Ill., was in charge of arrangements...

Funeral for Samuel Wesley "Dub" Rhodes of Cape Girardeau will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Ford and Sons Sprigg Street Chapel. The Rev. Lee Roy Quinn will officiate. Burial will be in Hobbs Chapel Cemetery, with graveside rites by VFW Post 3838..Friends may call at the chapel from 5-8 p.m. today...

CHARLESTON -- Funeral for retired CW3 Thomas S. Wright will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday at McMikle Funeral Home in Charleston. The Rev. Gerald Brown will officiate. Burial will be in Calvary Ceme: LOUISE PETTIS BELL CITY - Louise Marie Pettis, 84, of Bell City died Friday, Nov. ...

ANNA, Ill. -- Orin Capps, 78, of Anna died Sunday, Nov. 7, 1999, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau, Mo. She was born July 1, 1921, in Evarts, Ky., son of Dan and Nora Hall Capps. He and Carimena Porterfield were married July 1, 1974. Capps retired as a truck driver with Arkansas Best Freight. ...

Cape GirardeauTuesday, Nov. 9, 1999On Sunday, firefighters responded to the following calls:At 2:36 p.m., a brush fire at 2800 block of Sprigg.At 5:53 p.m., gas smell at 1105 Linden.At 6:06 p.m., emergency medical service at 382 Fawn.At 7:17 p.m., emergency medical service at 2852 Independence.At 7:57 p.m., illegal burning at Caruthers and Independence.On Monday, firefighters responded to the following calls:At 2:28 a.m., alarm sounding at 1000 Towers South.At 1:59 p.m., field fire mutual assistance at Spring Street and Bloomfield Road.At 3:25 p.m., brush fire at 1122 N. ...

Franklin Elementary School teacher Julie Harrington believes laughter aids learning. Harrington, in her 14th year of teaching, said students perform better when they enjoy the learning environment. She encourages her kindergartners to be independent thinkers and initiate research."We laugh a lot," said Harrington. ...

Several college students from southeast Missouri have been included in the 22nd Annual "The National Dean's List, 1998-99," published by Educational Communications, Inc. It is the largest recognition program and publication in the nation honoring high achieving college students...