Stories from Thursday, December 9, 1999

To the editor: Your Dec. 6 editorial regarding the Crowley's Ridge Scenic Byway was very disappointing. It failed to reflect the facts in the case. The byway is an outgrowth of local citizens in three counties, not any governmental body. Many citizens looking to better their counties worked very hard over the past six to eight weeks on this project. ...

Now that Americans know just about every personal detail there is to know about our recent presidents, it may come as no surprise to learn that most voters aren't as concerned about a presidential candidate's compassion, leadership skills or government philosophy as they are about one character trait in particular: honesty...

About every two years, it seems to come as a surprise to the nation -- and its news media -- that the retirement age for full Social Security benefits is going up. The latest round of stories comes just as the changes approved in 1983 start to take effect...

One inescapable truth has emerged from the failed World Trade Organization trade talks in Seattle: Foreign leaders have less tolerance for Bill Clinton's high-handedness than American politicians do. In what we hope will be his final foreign-policy hurrah, Clinton sought to use the talks to firm up his legacy by achieving major breakthroughs in international trade and by bolstering Al Gore's presidential campaign by shoring up his support from labor...

WE'RE HAVING a problem. People are not paying attention to the handicapped-parking signs. At one store, I saw four different vehicles in 10 minutes park in spaces designated for handicapped parking, and they didn't have a handicapped tags or licenses. It is Christmastime for all, and we need to be considerate of handicapped people...

Alan Naslund's first book of poetry took him nearly 25 years to finish. To paraphrase a show tune, he had some living to do. Two divorces, a third marriage, children, stepchildren, and teaching writing and literature in Japan, Korea and in prisons along with a few American universities are all it took to compose "Silk Weather."...

Where do you find fireworks in December? This is a question making the rounds this week following actions by city officials in Scott City, Jackson and Cape Girardeau to allow fireworks to be discharged for a brief period as the 20th century ends and the 21st century starts...

Lowrell Royal Anderson knows that miracles really do happen. He has the proof: A newborn daughter and gifts from a generous community. Anderson and his family were traveling from St. Paul, Minn., to Marianna, Ark., on a holiday trip last week when they were forced to stop in Cape Girardeau because Sheyte Kidane went into labor about three weeks early...

More than 10,000 people have signed U.S. Sen. Christopher "Kit" Bond's "Highway Safety First" petition urging the Sierra Club and the Missouri Coalition for the Environment to withdraw their lawsuit against the Environmental Protection Agency. The Republican senator from Missouri continues to wage war against the Sierra Club, contending the lawsuit threatens federal highway funding in the state...

Dec. 9, 1999 Dear Ken, On New Year's Day nearly three years ago, a massive mudslide near a Northern California town called Stafford destroyed and damaged some homes. The land above the slide is owned by the Pacific Lumber Co., the environmentalist's version of the Evil Empire...

The Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce has added a new twist to its annual selection of outstanding educators: All-out competition. The Education Committee, which annually honors four educators from Cape Girardeau public, private, parochial or business schools, is accepting nominations for its seventh annual Educator of the Year awards. Any person, group, colleague, student or parent in the community may nominate full-time teachers or administrators for an honor...

The upcoming Senior Tour of Lights will not only give area senior citizens a chance to see holiday decorations, it also will offer them a chance to get to know law enforcement officers. The tour, which will leave at 6 p.m. Dec. 16 from the Cape Girardeau Senior Center, is sponsored by SALT (Seniors and Law Enforcement Together), a local chapter of the Triad Council, a collaboration of the American Association of Retired Persons, the National Sheriff's Office and the International Chiefs of Police.. ...

MARBLE HILL -- Robert W. Gray, 60, of Grassy has been appointed to the Bollinger County Commission. Gray will serve as First District commissioner, filling the vacancy created by the death of commissioner Jerry Woodfin. Gray, a Democrat, lost to Woodfin in the 1992 general election. Gov. Mel Carnahan late last month chose Gray to fill the unexpired term...

The Cape Central girls basketball team squeaked out a win in a closely contested defensive struggle and defeated Notre Dame 38-35 at the Cape Central Field House Wednesday night. Cape Central improved to 4-1 with a victory over the previously undefeated Lady Bulldogs, who fell to 4-1...

Katie Dougherty School: Cape Central Sport: Basketball Coach: Darrick Smith Weekly Report: Smith challenged Dougherty at the beginning of the season and the 6-foot junior certainly stepped up to the plate in the first week of the season. With two of Central's key figures Heather Jenkins and Dionna Webb suffering from injuries, Dougherty and others picked up the slack to lead the Lady Tigers to a 3-0 start and a championship in the Oakville Invitational round-robin tournament. ...

Ronald Watson School: Scott City Sport: Basketball Coach: Derek McCord Weekly Report: The details may be a bit fuzzy for him, but Watson, a 6-foot-4 senior, had a brilliant week nonetheless. Watson had already scored 27 points when there was 3:45 left in the game Saturday night when he took an accidental knee to the head, resulting in a scary concussion and a 40-minute delay in the I-55 Classic championship game against Delta C-7 which the Rams won 80-56. ...

CHAFFEE -- The Kelly Lady Hawks got another big night from Marissa Essner and improved to 5-0 on the season with a 56-43 win over Oran in a semifinal game of the Chaffee Tournament Wednesday night. Chaffee's girls beat Sikeston 49-45 to reach the semifinals and earn their first win of the year. The Lady Red Devils will play Delta, a 59-55 winner over East Prairie...

PATTON -- Earl William Brotherton, 85, of Patton died Wednesday, Dec. 8, 1999, at Jackson Manor Nursing Home in Jackson. He was born Aug. 10, 1914, at Patton, son of Pink and Rella Seabaugh Brotherton. He and Emma Long were married Nov. 11, 1933. She died Oct. 18, 1989...

OLIVE BRANCH, Ill. -- Dorothy Sams, 96, of Olive Branch died Wednesday, Dec. 8, 1999, at her home. Crain Funeral Home in Tamms is in charge of arrangements.

SCOTT CITY -- Hugo Ernest "Shine" Sandvos, 83, of Scott City died Wednesday, Dec. 8, 1999, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. He was born April 13, 1916, at Jackson, son of Fritz and Elizabeth Walter Sandvos. He and Alma Ann Mirgaux were married Nov. 14, 1936, at Illmo. She died Feb. 18, 1998...

DEXTER -- Franklin Thomas Seabaugh, 95, of Dexter died Wednesday, Dec. 8, 1999, at Crowley Ridge Care Center. He was born Sept. 11, 1904, at Patton, son of Alex and Millie Hanners Seabaugh. A lifelong resident of Sikeston, he moved to Dexter 10 years ago. He was employed at International Shoe Co. in Sikeston 33 years. He was a member of First Baptist Church...

EAST PRAIRIE -- Vivian Bell, 57, of East Prairie died Wednesday, Dec. 8, 1999, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. McMikle Funeral Home in Charleston is in charge of arrangements.

CHAFFEE -- Leon "Frog" Kiefer, 71, of Chaffee died Wednesday, Dec. 8, 1999, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. He was born Dec. 30, 1927, at Oran, son of Adam Henry and Bertha Theresa Vogel Kiefer. He and Opal May Leggett Dees were married Nov. 19, 1955...

ADVANCE -- Sybil L. Robison, 79, of Advance died Wednesday, Dec. 8, 1999, at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston. She was born Jan. 15, 1920, at Goose Pond Hill, daughter of Henry and Minnie Pixley. She and Jack Robison were married Nov. 14, 1938, at Jackson. He died Aug. 18, 1987...

JACKSON -- Amelia G. "Bet" Ford, 89, of Jackson died Wednesday, Dec. 8, 1999, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. She was born Nov. 26, 1910, in Oak Ridge, daughter of Ferdinand and Nice Ann Lape Mantz. She and Lawrence Ford were married Jan. 31, 1931. He died Dec. 25, 1972...

EAST PRAIRIE -- Annie Adeline Furgerson, 82, of East Prairie died Wednesday, Dec. 8, 1999, at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston. She was born Feb. 4, 1917, in the Sugartree community near East Prairie, daughter of William and Maude Mae Anderson Newman. She and William F. Furgerson were married May 31, 1936. He died Dec. 22, 1992...

Funeral for Thelma Abernathie of Cape Girardeau will be held at 1:30 p.m. Friday at Ford and Sons Sprigg Street Chapel. The Rev. Clayton Smith will officiate. Burial will be in Jonesboro City Cemetery in Jonesboro, Ill. Friends may call at the chapel from 4-6 p.m. today...

BERNIE -- Funeral for Eva Marie Kinkade will be at 11 a.m. today at Rainey Funeral Chapel in Bernie. The Rev. O.H. Brooks will officiate, with burial in Bernie Cemetery. Kinkade, 87, of Dexter, died Monday, Dec. 6, 1999, at Vintage Village Nursing Center at Dexter...

MILLERSVILLE -- J.R. Johnson, 73, of Millersville died Wednesday, Dec. 8, 1999, at his home. He was born Oct. 21, 1926, at Sedgewickville, son of Charles R. and Grace Statler Johnson. He and Mary Dunn were married Jan. 18, 1959, in Marble Hill. Johnson farmed in the Sedgewickville and Millersville areas. He was a member of Shawnee Church of Christ in Jackson...

WYATT -- Gladys R. Johnson, 81, of Wyatt died Wednesday, Dec. 8, 1999, at Charleston Manor. She was born Dec. 10, 1917, in Mississippi County, daughter of Glennie and Ethel McMillen Hodges. She and Albert "Jack" Johnson were married Sept. 22, 1934. He died July 9, 1978...

Son to Edward Shawn Barker and Melanie Susan Baron of Cape Girardeau, Southeast Missouri Hospital, 8:32 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 30, 1999. Name, Landon Thomas Shawn. Weight, 8 pounds 15 ounces. Ms. Baron is the daughter of George and Carolyn Baron of Jackson. She is an orthodontic assistant for Dr. Shanon Kirchhoff. Barker is the son of Edward and Dorothy Barker of Cape Girardeau. He is a systems analyst with city of Cape Girardeau...

ADVANCE -- Margaret C. Peters, 75, of Advance died Wednesday, Dec. 8, 1999, at Advance Nursing Center. She was born July 4, 1924, at Glennon, daughter of William and Anna Hinkebein Vandeven. She and Clarence J. Peters were married Nov. 30, 1946. He died July 18, 1999...