Stories from Thursday, January 13, 2000

JACKSON -- Two administrators in the Jackson School District submitted their resignations to the Board of Education this week. The board accepted resignations of assistant superintendent Terry Gibbons and associate superintendent Fred Jones during a closed meeting Tuesday night. Their resignations are effective June 30...

JACKSON -- Dust off your Mona Lisa. Antique Appraisal Day is coming. Jackson's homegrown version of the TV program "Antiques Roadshow" will premiere Saturday. Antique Appraisal Day from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Jackson High School cafeteria is a benefit sponsored by the Jackson Heritage Association...

On Oct. 4, 1957, for the first time in history, an artificial satellite was dispatched to orbit Earth. Trouble is the satellite, or Sputnik, beeped information back to the Soviet Union, and the space race between the Soviets and the United States officially began...

Planning for the city's needs, whether it be roads, public utilities or even building usage is part of the job of the Planning and Zoning Commission. Commissioners heard about proposed sewer bond issues and continuing projects and building use during a meeting Wednesday night...

Jan. 13, 2000 Dear Leslie, Chaos theory has usurped the second law of thermodynamics as the guiding principle at our house as the new year begins. We were just getting comfortable with the second law and the idea that everything in the universe tends in the direction of falling apart. Our house was scientific proof. But in the new millennium, chaos theory seems to be asserting itself...

The Cape Girardeau School District has planned a number of opening day activities for Tuesday when students begin classes at Blanchard Elementary School. Students and staff will kickoff festivities at 9:15 a.m. parade from the Show Me Center, 1333 N. Sprigg to the school north of Sprigg and Bertling...

Opening a new parochial high school in Southeast Missouri shouldn't be about competition for students but offering alternatives and options for education, said a Cape Girardeau Lutheran elementary principal. Saxony Lutheran High School is expected to open in August with an enrollment of at least 50 students. The school will rent classroom space from St. Andrew Lutheran Church until a permanent building is completed...

The majority of newborn boys in the Cape Girardeau area are circumcised, local pediatricians say. Most parents have it done because its the accepted norm rather than for its medical value, doctors say. "I've never had parents ask significant questions about circumcision," said Dr. Scott Weiner, a doctor at Southeast Missouri Hospital. He treats hospital patients who don't have their own doctors...

There'll be something old and something new at the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce's annual dinner, to be held Jan. 28, at the Show Me Center. Shuffleboard, karaoke and gambling for prizes are planned. Also planned are the Small Business, the Rush H. Limbaugh and the Go-Getter awards...

The mother of a Sikeston toddler who died last April in Cape Girardeau and a friend of the mother have been charged with endangering the child's welfare. Gwendolyn Wims, 22, and Telly S. Caldwell, 23, were arrested Tuesday by Cape Girardeau police. Judge Gary Kamp set bond at $5,000 each. Wims remained in custody Wednesday at the Cape Girardeau County Jail while Caldwell bonded out...

SIKESTON -- few races have developed, but many more offices are still in need of candidates as filing continues for city offices in most area communities. Candidates have until 5 p.m. Tuesday to file for the city offices to be filled at the April 4 general election...

PLEASE ALLOW me to amaze your readers with an observation that they may not have noticed. What is it about the conservative position that makes it so inherently weak that those who advocate conservatism must resort to name calling and mudslinging? The example in Speak Out is calling liberals "arrogant and condescending." Usually the terms used will be "Marxist" or "socialist" or "atheist." Even on the national level, if you listen to Rush or if you read any of David Limbaugh's columns, you will note that more often than not it's just a lot of name calling and mudslinging. ...

Early on in the presidential campaign, George W. Bush's phenomenal popularity was being met with much resistance from the conservative wing of the Republican Party. Isn't it odd, then, that his closest competitor is challenging him from the left? Not when you consider the media's role in Sen. McCain's campaign...

In 1820, representatives of what would become a state the following year put the finishing touches on the first Missouri Constitution. In 1865 and again in 1875, new constitutions were drafted and adopted. In 1945, Missourians accepted the fourth and final version of their state constitution...

Surely there are few things in life worse than having a loved one in a medical condition where life itself is dependent on artificial support. In each case, family members and doctors must agonize over appropriate courses of treatment and, sometimes, whether to end life support...

To the editor: Some business leaders and citizens lately have been characterized as belonging to the so-what crowd on the issue of global warming. It appears the name callers have resorted to labeling a coalition that is troubled at the prospect of significant Missouri job loss. Many of us are deeply concerned at the direction the Clinton administration is taking with this complex issue...

To the editor: The Lutheran-Roman Catholic accord -- a reflection. Late in 1999, a Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification was signed by Lutherans and the Roman Catholic Church. After perusing the document, it seems that Luther himself could have signed it. It was a development that he probably yearned for. It was fully his intention that the whole church of Christendom was indeed a forum for dialogue on doctrines emanating from Scripture...

Southeast Missouri State University's women's basketball team has already suffered narrow road defeats against two of the Ohio Valley Conference's top squads. Today, the Otahkians get a crack at reversing that trend when they visit Tennessee-Martin for a 5:45 p.m. tipoff at Skyhawk Arena...

Southeast Missouri State University men's basketball coach Gary Garner had one primary goal regarding preparation for tonight's 7:45 Ohio Valley Conference game at Tennessee-Martin. Focus. The Indians are riding high with a 4-0 OVC record, good for first place in the 10-team league. Looming on the horizon for Southeast is a Saturday night showdown at Murray State, which is the only other OVC team with a perfect league record...

SCOTT CITY -- Kelly and Scott County Central will meet in the championship game of the Scott-Mississippi Conference Tournament Championship at 8 tonight after winning semifinal games on Wednesday. Kelly posted a 53-35 win over Oran, while Scott County Central disposed of Delta 57-24...

KARNAK, Ill. -- James Howell, 71, of Beaver Dam, Wis., died Wednesday, Jan. 12, 2000, at Columbus Nursing Home in Columbus, Wis. Wilson Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

SIKESTON -- Frances Lenora Norman, 98, of Cherokee Village, Ark., died Tuesday, Jan. 11, 2000, at Eastern Ozark Regional Health Center in Cherokee Village. She was born July 21, 1901, in Blytheville, Ark., daughter of James W. and Nannie I. Smith Norman...

PERRYVILLE -- Paul E. Hinshaw, 79, of Perryville died Tuesday, Jan. 11, 2000, at Independence Court. He was born March 9, 1920, in Winchester, Ind., son of Samuel M. and Edna Reece Hinshaw. He and Mary R. Engle were married Oct. 7, 1939. She died July 22, 1998...

SEDGEWICKVILLE -- Lillie E. Skaggs, 87, of Sedgewickville, died Wednesday, Jan. 12, 2000, at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis. She was born April 3, 1912, at Patton, daughter of Charles and Docie Johnson Kuhlmann. She and C.W. "Chris" Skaggs were married April 29, 1929. He preceded her in death...

ANNA, Ill. -- Dennis L. Bridgeman, 85, of Anna, died Wednesday, Jan. 12, 2000, at his home. He was born May 1, 1914, near Alto Pass, son of Roy and Ollie Godwin Bridgeman. He married Nadine Forby Dec. 4, 1936 in Wickliffe, Ky. She died Oct. 1, 1994...

Son to Stephanie Nicole Cooper and David Howard Barberis II of Scott City, Southeast Missouri Hospital, 12:07 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 15, 1999. Name, Daniel Howard Cooper-Barberis. Weight, 5 pounds 15 ounces. First child. Ms. Cooper is the daughter of Linda Cooper and Michael Rulo of Scott City. Barberis is the son of Jeryl and Tom Kuehn of Jackson and Pat and Dave Barberis Sr. of Dutchtown. He is employed at QPI Packaging...

ANNA, Ill. -- Albert "Barney" Lence, 79, of Anna died Tuesday, Jan 11, 2000, at Jonesboro Health Care center. He was born June 18, 1920, at Cobden, son of Edward F. and Arena Gregory Lence. Lence married Ernestine Davis on Jan. 17, 1945 at Coronado, Calif...

JACKSON -- Clarence A. Oberbeck, 85, of Jackson died Wednesday, Jan. 12, 2000, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. He was born June 11, 1914, in Cape Girardeau County, son of Martin F. and Freda E. Nabe Oberbeck. He and Cora Best were married Dec. 30, 1945, in Cape Girardeau...

MORLEY -- The Rev. Bob Williamson, 67, of Morley, died Wednesday, Jan. 12, 2000, at the Veterans Administration Medical Center in Memphis. He was born June 9, 1932, at Essex, son of W.J. and Anna Fortner Williamson. He and Dorris Sheehy were married Aug. 1, 1953, in Bernie...

ORAN -- Funeral for Elmer F. Elfrank of Oran was held Wednesday at Vinyard Funeral Home in Festus. The Rev. Don Glastetter officiated, with burial in Rose Lawn Memorial Gardens in Crystal City. Elfrank, 72, died Sunday, Jan. 9, 2000, in O'Fallon. He was born March 9, 1927, at Chaffee, son of John Theodore and Lorena Urhahn Elfrank...

KARNAK, Ill. -- Funeral for William "Bill" Sauerbrunn of Karnak will be held at 10 a.m. Friday at Wilson Funeral Home. The Rev. Alvin Thomas will officiate, with burial in Masonic Cemetery at Grand Chain. Friends may call at the funeral home from 5-8 p.m. today...

PERRYVILLE -- Lucy L. Monier, 50, of Perryville died Tuesday, Jan. 11, 2000, at Perry County Memorial Hospital. She was born Dec. 21, 1949, in Ste. Genevieve, daughter of Xavier and Rose Mary Pfaff Figge. She and Dale E. Monier were married Oct. 4, 1969...

PERRYVILLE -- Erich H. Ruesler, 96, of Perryville died Wednesday, Jan. 12, 2000, at Perry County Nursing Home. He was born Dec. 16, 1903, in Bollinger County, son of William C. and Wilhelmina Bangert Ruesler. He first married Nettie Emde in October 1928. She died in March 1934. He then married Clara Laurentius Buerck in May 1940. She died in May 1965. He later married Clara Bergman Rudisaile in April 1968. She died in July 1985. He and Flora Garrett Obermeyer were married in August 1987...

Debra Hitt, 42, of Cape Girardeau died Tuesday, Jan. 11, 2000, at Southeast Missouri Hospital. Ford and Sons Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.