Stories from Sunday, December 19, 1999

Article #4 Foreknowlege This attribute of God has a different meaning than what most people would assume by merely looking at the combined words. As always I ask the reader to search the scriptures to rightly understand the usage of this sacred yet often misunderstood character of God...

Duel: Billy Schwent and Ryan Vangilder dueled to the death. Going nowhere: Dr. Ron Anderson, superintendent of R-2 Schools, was at the mercy of Erika Beasley and the other ladies in waiting...

Guests at the Jackson High School Choral Department's Ye Olde Madrigal Feaste Dec. 9-11 experienced the calendar being turned back four centuries. A 1599 feast at the castle of King Dole, somewhere in Medieval England, the evening featured period food, costumes and entertainment...

Dennis Niswonger has joined the sales team at the Ford Groves dealership in Jackson. Niswonger, a native of Cape Girardeau, has over 22 years of sales experience in the automobile and mobile home markets. He served in the U.S. marine Corps 1960-66 and is now a life member of the Disabled American Veterans...

CHAFFEE -- Two of Missouri's top student figures in the business education scene took part in the annual Chaffee High School Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) officer and new member installation ceremony Dec. 7. Josh Pfefferkorn of Jackson, state FBLA president and Chaffee native Jason Mott, state president of Phi Beta Lambda business fraternity, both spoke glowing words about FBLA and contributions the organization makes, both to individuals and to communities...

Maggie Martin interviews Delta High School student Regina Hafner for her feature on culinary arts students. Jackson USA Signal/Mark Evans Jamie Wachter edits copy at the Southeast Missourian office. Jackson USA Signal/Mark Evans Heather Farmer, Maggie Martin, Advisor Debbie Otto and (obscured) Cory McElrath layout pages at the Southeast Missourian office. Jackson USA Signal/Mark Evans...

25 years ago, 1974 Jimmy Joe Below, clerk-elect of Common Pleas Court, spent more money than any other candidate for county office in November general election; he was followed closely by Pauline Young, successful candidate for recorder of deeds, and Marybelle Mueller, who won probate judgeship; expenditures are listed on candidate affidavits which must be filed with recorder of deeds 30 days after each election...

Truman State University student Cabell Gathman, of Pocahantas, placed second in poetry interpretation in a competition at the University of Texas-Tyler recently. Gathman, a sophomore philosophy and religion major, competed as a member of the Truman debate and forensics team...

Chapter 3 Hence began my "door-knocking days"--a two-year period whereby Jeff's mental acceleration/deceleration, linked with my own endeavors to understand and cope, touched an entire gamut of professionals ... within specialized evaluative and educational settings...

As I drove past the cemetery entrance again, I realized I was hopelessly lost. I had been wandering these same country roads for over an hour and still couldn't find the outer road that led to the interstate highway. The night had been a disaster already. ...

The Oliver House, located at 224 East Adams in Jackson, will be open to the public for guided tours from 1-4:30 p.m., today. The home has been decorated for a traditional Victorian Christmas. A collection of toy tractors and implements and combines, owned by Eric and Curtis Sievers, sons of Marilyn and Lonnie Sievers, will be featured today. ...

Four times I have taken a vehicle past the magic 100,000 mile mark. Being the numeral-fancying people that we are, I think we all keep at least a half-conscious watch at the odometer for landmarks. Yet in two of the four instances I have wound up missing the actual "big moment."...

As the technologies that are transforming our lives race ahead, none is having more impact than the Internet. In a few short years, this incredible new communications medium has become a forum for, among other things, shopping for virtually anything. Inevitably, a hue and cry has arisen to tax Internet sales. We understand why some are alarmed but will take this opportunity to urge caution before rushing into new taxation...

In this season of exploding e-commerce, the downside of Internet sales is emerging as well. As promising as this new medium is, kinks abound. Among the major gripes consumers have: lousy customer service, out-of-stock merchandise, botched orders and late deliveries. It's enough to drive many e-commerce shoppers out to the crowded mall they had hoped to avoid...

I have been the auditor of Cape Girardeau County since 1969, so I feel I have the background to speak about Cape Girardeau County's finances from that time to the present. I have never been a person to hide my head in the sand when it affects Cape Girardeau County or any of the cities within our borders. I am prejudiced about the people and businesses of Cape Girardeau County, and when I see where I think the people and businesses in Cape Girardeau County are being hurt, I react...

Sometime between the end of the collegiate football season and the Super Bowl, America turns to another contest of strength, formerly known as Christmas, although in recent years it has unofficially been labeled giftexchanging.com. Like virtually every other activity now known to man, we have at last succeeded in transforming this magnificent holiday period into a catastrophic cacophony of computerized chaos. ...

Several new books have arrived at the main Jackson facility of the Riverside Regional Library. New adult titles include Who Moved My Cheese?, by Spencer Johnson; Chicken Soup for the Cat and Dog Lover's Soul; Battle Born, by Dale Brown; rules of Engagement, by Gordon Kent; Annie's Rainbow, by Fern Michaels; a Very Strange Trip, by Dave Wolverton; and A Long Way From Home, by Connie Briscoe...

There are those of us who believe that First Lady Hillary Clinton is the original woman who believes, in the immortal words of Thomas Babington, Lord Macaulay, that she was born "booted and spurred, to ride mankind." Confirmation of this view, and of just how radical Hillary's background and instincts are, comes from the current National Review, which features a profile entitled "Hillary Clinton, Perfect Liberal."...

The final pair of Florsheim shoes will roll off the assembly line at the Cape Girardeau Florsheim Shoe Co. manufacturing facility Tuesday, marking an end to an industry that has operated here almost a century. Florsheim Shoe Co., which once occupied a multi-level structure on North Main, will close its modern plant at the intersection of South West End Boulevard and Southern Expressway Tuesday, putting the final 200 workers there out of work...

If you happened to be traveling south of Cape Girardeau on I-55 Saturday evening you might have had the feeling everyone else knew something you didn't considering all the cars headed north. Many of those travelers were from Scott City, and they did know something -- John Beck was playing basketball at the Show Me Center...

Preparing for how a city will grow over a 20-year period isn't an easy task, but it's one that city planners in Cape Girardeau have tackled. Cape Girardeau has a comprehensive growth plan and is ready to move to the 21st American cities are ill-equipped for future growth. The plan has been revised and updated to meet the city's changing growth needs...

Bill and Juda Worley have been thinking about adopting a dog for a while and decided Christmas would be a good time to bring a pet into their Benton home. So they were in the Humane Society of Southeast Missouri Saturday morning filling out the application to adopt a big-eared, small-framed black and brown dog they had already nicknamed Macho...

Police said Sanders was traveling south in a 1993 Mercury when her car crossed the center line and struck a St. Francis River bridge. The vehicle was then struck by a 1989 Plymouth van driven by Jack Mooney, 65, of Piggot, Ark. Both drivers were taken to Doctor's Hospital at Poplar Bluff where Sanders was pronounced dead...

How could that be? We didn't invite him in for Christmas. But he came anyway, scurrying through the walls of our home like some tiny burglar. Joni and the girls first spotted him one Saturday morning while I was at work. Becca and Bailey immediately sought the safety of the kitchen table. The tiny mouse, of course, ran away to hide...

SCOTT CITY -- Enrollment growth enabled the Scott City School District to retain experienced teachers and have the highest starting teacher salary in the region, even as it laid claim to the lowest tax rate among districts that support high schools in Cape Girardeau or Scott counties...

Saturday's donation of more than 800 cases of canned goods from VFW Post 3838 certainly helps the Salvation Army in its Christmas drive, but the agency is still running behind in its annual campaign. "The VFW donation reduced our grocery bill by more than $3,000," said Maj. Robert Gauthier of the Salvation Army. However, kettle collections are about $6,000 less than they were this time last year, he said...

Southeast Missouri State University is getting closer and closer to deciding on a new head football coach, with an announcement expected to come in the next week or so. Three of the four finalists -- Marshall defensive coordinator Tim Billings, Iowa State passing game coordinator Richard Wilson and Iowa State quarterback coach Phil Meyer -- were on campus for interviews last week, with Jackson State offensive coordinator John Shannon coming in Monday...

Southeast Missouri State University men's basketball coach Gary Garner knew the Indians would have to step up their play in order to beat a talented Arkansas State squad Saturday night. And step up the Indians did as they slipped past the ASU Indians 74-71 in front of a season-high 5,826 fans at the Show Me Center...

Jackson wrestling coach Steve Wachter was about as displeased as a coach could be after the first round of the Tiger Classic on Friday night. Then, on Saturday, his team pulled a reversal on him. Jackson's wrestlers had an outstanding day at the Tiger Classic Saturday finishing in third place behind Murphysboro and Ste. Genevieve...

Without question, the HealthSouth Holiday Classic brings together some of the top basketball teams in the region. To give an indication of how tough this tournament is, Notre Dame is 5-1 and state-ranked, but is the fifth seed among seven teams. "It's a good tournament and it's great for girls basketball in general," said Cape Central coach Darrick Smith, whose team got the third seed, just behind Jackson at No. 2. "You're looking at possibly three Missouri district champions in this group."...

BENTON -- Kelly hit a season-high nine 3-pointers as the Hawks slipped past Clearwater 70-67 Saturday. Jeremy Skelton hit five of the 3-pointers as he scored a career-high 23 points. Jamie Essner added 21 points for the Hawks, who improved to 4-2 on the season...

How different would the University High Christmas Tournament seeds be if the seeding meeting were held today instead of last Sunday? Advance and Cape Central each picked up huge wins this past week that would've wreaked havoc on the top seven seeds...

A pair of winter slowpitch softball tournaments will be held Jan. 15-16 at the Recreational Sports Complex in Sikeston. A women's tournament and a coed tournament will be held which will benefit the Y.M.C.A. Entry fee is $75 for each tournament and entry deadline is Jan. 11...

Fish lives in the darkness of Missouri's caves. Have you wondered if there are fish in the state of Missouri that live in water that is underground? Are you a person who likes to see the unseen, or do you believe that fish that are small only have one purpose and that's to feed larger fish? There are numerous small aquatic species that play a principal role in the aquatic environment. One of these would have to be the cavefish...

Kelly High School baseball coach Mike Scott will hold a coach's clinic Friday, Jan. 14, from 6 to 9:30 p.m. in the school cafeteria. In addition, a follow-up player clinics will be held the following day: 9 a.m. to noon for grades 3-5 and 1 to 4 p.m. in grades 6-8...

McCLURE, Ill. -- Beatrice "Bea" Earline Moore, 76, of McClure, Ill., died Friday, Dec. 17, 1999, at her home. She was born April 15, 1923, at Sturdivant, Mo., daughter of Leslie and Ruth Frazier Wagoner. She and William C. Moore were married June 10, 1939, at Benton. He died Feb. 7, 1999...

Deanna F. Seabaugh, 49 years, of Marengo, Ill., died Wednesday, Dec. 1, 1999, at her home after a long illness. She was born July 6, 1950, in Cape Girardeau, Mo., to Rusby and Clara Hartle Cook. On May 26, 1973, she married Stephen Seabaugh in Cape Girardeau, Mo. She was a commercial artist employed at Mecum Auction of Marengo, Ill...

EAST PRAIRIE -- Myrtle Lucy Bryant, 83, of East Prairie, died Saturday, Dec. 18, 1999, at the East Prairie Nursing Center. She was born June 19, 1916, in New Madrid County, daughter of William and Mary M. Cave Wright. She and W.C. Bryant were married Sept. 22, 1934. He died Jan. 12, 1994...

KARNAK, Ill. -- Floyd Allen Lance, 72, of Karnak, Ill., died Friday, Dec. 17, 1999, at his home. He was born March 20, 1927, at Pulaski, Ill., son of William Edward and Harriet Annie Atherton Lance. Lance was retired from the Century School District of Ullin, Ill., where he was a bus driver...

WAPPAPELLO -- Fred C. Moss, 77, of Wappapello died Friday, Dec. 17, 1999, at Lucy Lee Health Care Center in Poplar Bluff. He was born April 27, 1922, near Wappapello. He and Jewell VanMatre were married Sept. 12, 1942. Moss was a self-employed timber buyer and sawmiller. He was a Wayne County deputy sheriff and a veteran of World War II. He was a charter member of Neighborwatch and was honored by the Wappapello Lions Club with the Marvin Jones award for service to the community...

A Saturday morning accident at the Scott City Fire Station damaged the facility and a fire engine. A squad truck and engine were dispatched to respond to a vehicle accident on I-55 across from the airport. Apparently one of the men had stowed his gear on the engine, but did not put the door down. The driver did not see that the door was open and drove out of the station...

Jan White, Santa's helper, photographed children who come to talk Santa. A preschooler has talked non-stop about Santa for the 15 minutes she's been standing in line at West Park Mall to visit with this holiday icon. Then her moment comes. Santa motions to her to come sit on his lap. She takes a hesitant step forward, then fear takes over and she ducks behind her mother's legs and refuses to budge...

First Baptist Church was the setting June 12, 1999, for the wedding of Misty Hedges and Johnny Faith. The Rev. Kevin Morgan performed the ceremony. The bride is the son of Loyd and Norma Hedges of St. Anne, Ill. The groom is the son of Gaylen and Willidean Jackson of Thompsonville, Ill...

Help! Police! FBI! ATF! Santa Claus! My old black, blistered soup kettle is missing. Robbers? Borrowers? Grinch? How will I get through the winter without it? Winter Soup Weather was late this year or I would have missed the kettle before this, but now that the cold wind swishes out of the north, whistles at a storm sash, and the old bones of the house creak in the night, it is high time for that black friend to take its familiar place on the simmering burner...

JACKSON -- Heather Michelle Verhines and Steven Robert Fisher were united in marriage Sept. 18, 1999, at New McKendree United Methodist Church. The Rev. David Griffin performed the double ring ceremony. Organist was Linda Thompson of Jackson. Vocalists were Jeremy Verhines of Dana Point, Calif., brother of the bride, and Kerri Seabaugh of St. Louis, cousin of the bride...

JACKSON -- Kerri Renee Seabaugh and Thomas Patrick Goforth exchanged vows Oct. 2, 1999, at New McKendree United Methodist Church. The Rev. David Griffin performed the double ring ceremony. Organists were Christy Shinn and Iris McElrath of Jackson. Soloist was Jennifer Icaza of Springfield...

JACKSON -- Clark and Russell Ann Duke of Oran have announced the engagement of their daughter, Misty Dale Duke, to Jeffery Brian Griffin, both of Jackson. He is the son of Larry and Jeanette Griffin of Caruthersville. Duke is a 1991 graduate of Thomas W. Kelly High School. She received a degree in child care and guidance from Southeast Missouri State University in 1994. She is employed in the Early Childhood Center at Oak Ridge R-VI Schools...

JACKSON -- Mary Ann Laxton of Chaffee and Charles Laxton of Marble Hill have announced the engagement of their daughter, Angela Laxton, to Christopher Grebe, both of Jackson. He is the son of T.C. and Rocky Reisenbichler of Fruitland, and Pat and Paul Grebe of Cape Girardeau...

SCOTT CITY -- Mr. and Mrs. Gene Restoff of Scheller, Ill., have announced the engagement of their daughter, Francie Marie Scheller, to David Landewee. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Anthony Landewee of Scott City. Restoff is a graduate of Tamaroa Community High School. ...

Slender windows and add a dramatic touch to this wall, positioned above the stairs. Enjoy fishing from your private dock or canoe on the freshly-stocked lake. The large kitchen is stationed under one of two skylights in the house. The downstairs bathroom featured black and white chedkered tiles and a black toilet...