Stories from Wednesday, January 5, 2000

To the editor: This letter is to publicly acknowledge the tremendous gifts that our residents at Maple Crest Manor and Frederick Street Manor received from Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Cape Girardeau. We feel that no one can really appreciate the gift of giving until he witnesses the delight and surprise on each of our residents' faces when they see what people have been kind enough to buy for them. ...

To the editor: In response to a Dec. 30 column by George Will, I would like to clarify a statement made by Mr. Will. First, let me say that I like George Will. I enjoy reading his columns, watching him on television when engaging in political debate and consider him to be well-informed and extremely intellectual. Having said that, a clarification is needed in regard to a small but very important segment of his column...

Western Europe has been in the news lately for what seems an unusual reason: Several waves of fierce storms raked the continent, felling trees and killing at least 120. Wind gusts near 100 mph were the strongest in Paris in 50 years, and in southern Germany and Austria, gusts reached 124 and 136 mph, respectively. ...

Don Kaverman, athletic director at Southeast Missouri State University, is determined to put the football program on a sounder financial footing. The recent decision to hire top-flight head coach Tim Billings of Marshall University may be seen in this light. ...

Feeling old?: Just in case you weren't feeling too old today, this will certainly change things. Each year the staff at Beloit College in Wisconsin puts together a list to try to give the faculty a sense of the mindset of that year's incoming freshmen. Here is this year's list:...

As I scanned the newspapers on the first Monday of the new year, I came across a story about President Clinton's plan to reintroduce the $322 billion tax bill he offered while vetoing the Republicans "risky" $792 billion tax cut last year. I thought to myself, "Please, not another year of political demagoguery." Just when I thought we might be getting a respite from the class warfare, I realized there would be no peace until this campaign warrior's term expires...

THIS IS a rebuttal to "Dream on, HIllary" from someone who actually read the book. As a child growing up in Illmo, I was the product of the concepts espoused in "It Takes a Village." We all played up and down the block, and if we misbehaved, the nearest mom, mine included, took responsibility and told us to stop. ...

The United States enters the war in Europe in 1917 and begins to consolidate its standing as a world power. The most celebrated graphic error in history -- an airmail stamp with an engraving of a plane upside down -- takes place in 1918. A stock brokerage clerk bought a 100-stamp sheet for $24, and the value of a single stamp from the sheet today is estimated at $100,000...

CHARLESTON -- Nearly three years after it was destroyed by arson, the Mississippi County Courthouse is open and again home to county government. County Clerk Hubert "Junior" DeLay said employees have been moving back into the $2.5 million building for the past four weeks. Offices officially opened Monday and have been running smoothly, he said...

The General Services Administration plans to hire an architectural firm this year to design a new federal courthouse for Cape Girardeau. "We are hoping to have a contract awarded in the next two to three months for an architect to start designing the project," said Dennis Miller, project manager for the GSA in Fort Worth, Texas...

The overall rating of the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce dropped in 1999. "Overall, the numbers are good," said John Mehner, president and chief executive officer of the chamber. "But 1998 was the best rating year we've had." The rating is based on the chamber's annual "Three-Minute Survey" of members. Results were presented to the chamber board Tuesday...

I've been reading the dictionary lately, concentrating on short words that use the letters Z, X, Q, K and H. Looking for ways to take one word and, with a few additional letters, turn it into something else. In a word, I've discovered Scrabble. Until Santa left this crossword game under our Christmas tree this year, I'd never played Scrabble. So to avoid getting waxed by my husband, who has played all his life, I'm been brushing up on good words...

Talk of being addicted to sex may bring titters of embarrassed laughter from many, but it's actually a serious problem recognized by mental health professionals. "Sexual addiction is a legitimate addiction," said psychotherapist Jeff Johnston of Associated Counseling Services. "Sexual addiction substitutes unhealthy relationships for a healthy one."...

A suspect in a midnight stabbing in Cape Girardeau was released by police Tuesday, since the victim said he will not press charges, police said. The suspect, who was arrested on pending charges of first degree assault and armed criminal action, was released by police at noon, Cpl. Kevin Orr said...

Until last summer, the abused women and dependent children who sought shelter at the Safe House for Women had to get back on their feet within a few days or weeks because new women and children needed their space. A struggle to make it on their own followed. Some returned to their abusive relationship...

Dennis Reed, computer information technology supervisor for Missouri Department of Economic Development (DED), will be guest speaker at the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce First Friday Coffee, to be held at 7:30 a.m. Friday at the Show Me Center...

A man threatened two K-mart employees with a knife during a shoplifting attempt on Tuesday, Cape Girardeau police said. About 11:45 a.m., police responded to a robbery at the store at 11 S. Kingshighway. A man had attempted to walk out of the store with two video cassette recorders, Sgt. Carl Kinnison said. When employees confronted him, he pulled out a knife...

SCOTT CITY -- If you love wide open, offensive basketball, then Scott City High School was the place to be Tuesday night as the host Rams outlasted the Scott County Central Braves 81-73. But Scott City coach Derek McCord, even though his squad improved to 11-1, would have much rather seen a bit more defense from the Rams...

As we head into the new year, I am very disappointed with our loss Sunday at Southern Illinois, but I am happy to be 7-2 in non-conference games this season and to be 1-0 in the Ohio Valley Conference as we begin OVC play in earnest Thursday night. I think the long layoff, going from Dec. 22 to Jan. 2 without a game, really hurt us against SIU. I have to do a better job of scheduling next season so we do not have that long a layoff...

CARBONDALE, Ill. -- The Cape Girardeau Central High boys basketball team trailed early and never recovered, suffering a 78-52 loss to host Carbondale Tuesday night. The Terriers built a 16-9 lead in the first quarter and went ahead 37-25 by halftime...

The Cape Gator swim team will hold its sign-ups Jan. 11-13 at the Cape Central pool from 6 to 7 p.m.. The three-day period will be offered free to all new swimmers as a trial period. Boys and girls ages 5 and over are welcome. Registration will be held on the pool deck...

ORAN -- Alfred E. "Soup" Smith, 71, of Oran died Tuesday, Jan. 4, 2000, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. Funeral arrangements are incomplete at Amick-Burnett Funeral Chapel in Scott City.

JACKSON -- Naomi Thompson, 74, of Jackson died Tuesday, Jan. 4, 2000, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. She was born April 13, 1925, at Crump, daughter of Lewis and Georgia Proffer Barks. She and Nathan Thompson were married Dec. 13, 1947. He died April 5, 1996...

SIKESTON -- Funeral for Joan Stearnes of Sikeston will be held at 2 p.m. today at First United Methodist Church. Dr. Jim Davis will officiate. Burial will be in Garden of Memories Cemetery. Ponder Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Stearnes, 63, died Sunday, Jan. 2, 2000, at her home...

ANNA, Ill. -- June Wall Fuller, 80, of Anna died Tuesday, Jan. 4, 2000, at Union County Hospital in Anna. She was born June 30, 1919, in West Frankfort, the daughter of David Worthy and Mary Elizabeth Smothers Wall. She married Edgar Fuller on May 30, 1935, in Benton. He died Aug. 31, 1999...

ANNA, Ill. -- Charles Edwin Resch, 87, of Anna died Tuesday, Jan. 4, 2000, at Union County Hospital in Anna. Funeral arrangements are incomplete at Lutz & Rendleman Funeral Home in Anna.

JONESBORO, Ill. -- Graveside service for Fred E. Bauer of Jonesboro will be held at 10:30 a.m. today at Jonesboro Cemetery. Phil Hileman will officiate. Hileman and Parr Funeral Home in Jonesboro is in charge of arrangements. Bauer, 76, died Monday, Jan. 3, 2000, at Jonesboro Healthcare Center...

ANNA, Ill. -- Betty Holcomb, 75, of Anna died Tuesday, Jan. 4, 2000, at City Care Center. She was born Aug. 16, 1924, in Cairo, daughter of Lynn and Madge Cassel Karraker. She and Howard Holcomb were married Jan. 17, 1948. He died Aug. 21, 1992. Holcomb had owned Holcomb Welding and Machine Works. She was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church...

Thelma G. Sides, 81, of Cape Girardeau died Monday, Jan. 3, 2000, at the home of a brother. She was born March 7, 1918, in Daisy, daughter of Toney and Virgie Cobble Suhr. She married Claude Sides Aug. 30, 1945, in Tunica, Miss. He died in November 1968...

Son to Jay McClendon and Eve Proffer of Cape Girardeau, Southeast Missouri Hospital, 9:36 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 28, 1999. Name, Jay Jr. Weight, 7 pounds 11 1/2 ounces. First child. Ms. Proffer is the daughter of Steve and Jackie Proffer of Millersville...

ANNA, Ill. -- Graveside service for Ira W. Wiseman of Anna will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday at Raleigh Masonic Cemetery in Raleigh. The Rev. Bill Jones will officiate. Military rites will be conducted by Carroll P. Foster VFW Post 3455 of Anna. Friends may call at Hileman and Parr Funeral Home in Jonesboro from 4-8 p.m. today...

PERRYVILLE -- Lunette F. Kaufmann, 91, of Perryville died Monday, Jan. 3, 2000, at Perry County Nursing Home. She was born March 2, 1908, in Perry County, daughter of William and Barbara Boxdorfer Hoehn. She married Walter A. Kaufmann, who died Jan. 21, 1956...

DONGOLA, Ill. -- Wanda Nimmo, 81, of Dongola died Tuesday, Jan. 4, 2000, at Union County Hospital in Anna. She was born March 29, 1918, in Union County, daughter of James and Amy Hess Davis. She and Harlan Nimmo were married Aug. 5, 1939. Nimmo had worked at International Shoe Co. in Anna. She was a member of Big Creek Baptist Church...

CHAFFEE -- Edith Evelyn Kinder, 72, of Chaffee died Monday, Jan. 3, 2000, in Surfside, Fla. She was born April 13, 1927, in St. Louis, daughter of John Henry and Clara Mable Kincade Loucks. She and Ernest "Jack" Kinder were married June 25, 1945. He died Aug. 7, 1989...

DEXTER -- Louis Ognibene, 88, of Dexter died Thursday, Dec. 30, 1999, at Dexter Memorial Hospital. He was born Aug. 1, 1911, in Chicago, son of Loreto and Angeline Gimanco Ognibene. Survivors include a brother, Joseph Ognibene of McHenry, Ill.; and a sister, Mary Ognibene of New Orleans, La...

ADVANCE -- Helen "Shirley" Probst, 61, of Advance, died Monday, Jan. 3, 2000, at Advance Nursing Center. She was born Sept. 15, 1938, in Jansen, Neb., daughter of John and Kathryn Paradise Koop. She married Glen Probst March 14, 1959, in Lincoln, Neb...

In the late 1950s, the Elkton, Tenn., high school juniors and seniors were always treated to a New Year's Eve party. In those days each high school class had a teacher sponsor, and my Daddy was the senior class sponsor. Daddy and Mother were always chaperones at these parties, and that meant that I got to go...

To everybody's relief, Y2K has arrived without incident. Even our cable service went uninterrupted! Apparently those dire predictions about what might happen at the dawn of a new millennium were wrong, unless the next millennium, as calendrical scholars maintain, really does not begin until a year from now...

The new year came in without any big Y2K problems to my family and to Recipe Swap. I did nothing to prepare my computer for the new year, and it is working fine. As for my family's preparations, I did nothing. Scott laughed and told one of our friends we could live three months on all of the stock in our kitchen. Oh well, at least if we ever do have a disaster, we will have groceries...