Stories from Tuesday, January 25, 2000

OAK RIDGE -- Oak Ridge School District is hoping a public preschool program in its first year will become a long-standing feature in the district's educational program. The district was one of several in the state to receive a Missouri Preschool Project grant in 1999 to fund startup and operating costs for an early childhood learning program. The program is unique because it is administered by public school systems and classes are taught by certified teachers...

How do you spell Super Bowl? R-A-M-S! It's hard not to catch the fever that is sweeping St. Louis and much of the state. First the first time I really have a team to root for, instead of just watching the Super Bowl for the better-than-normal commercials...

Frogs, worms and such don't scare Lori Fritsche a bit. Fritsche, who works at L.J. Schultz School, deals with animals and students daily in her role as a seventh-grade science teacher. This is Fritsche's first year as a teacher. She said she enjoys engaging students in "hands-on, minds-on activities."...

Cape Girardeau voters will consider a no-tax increase, $18 million bond issue when they go to the polls April 4. The Cape Girardeau Board of Education passed a resolution to include the proposition on the ballot by a roll call vote of 6-0 during a meeting Monday night. Board member Mark Carver was absent...

JACKSON -- Cape Girardeau County voters will decide April 4 whether to establish countywide planning and zoning. The Cape Girardeau County Commission voted unanimously Monday to put the issue on the next ballot, culminating three years of work by the county Planning and Zoning Commission to develop a master plan...

Two-year old Desire Wims died on April 23 from injuries to her head that Cape Girardeau police described as blunt trauma. But an autopsy showed the girl also had an acute stomach hemorrhage; three lacerations to the rectum; one hemorrhage to the posterior hymen; and multiple acute contusions to the upper back, the rear left shoulder and the left side of her face...

Essentially, I want a replica of my favorite white shirt and nothing less will do. Finding great clothes is a difficult task. I'm talking about finding that perfect outfit that makes you feel your best or most comfortable every time you wear it. It isn't an easy pursuit. Ask any woman who's ever tried on blue jeans or a bathing suit and she'll confirm this to be true...

JACKSON -- Phyllis Schwab of rural Jackson plans to run for Cape Girardeau County public administrator in the 2000 election. "The job of public administrator really appealed to me," the 57-year-old Republican said in announcing her candidacy Monday...

I WOULD like you to take an interest in a dangerous problem in the city. I'm not sure what to call them, but the concrete dividers and directionals on our highways are a real hazard. I have seen pieces of cars on them. I have seen tire marks on them everywhere. ...

It turns out the federal government made a sweetheart deal with TV networks, which resulted in anti-drug messages in the scripts of some of America's favorite comedies and dramas. Apparently, this is big news because the arrangement has been in place for awhile, and several top executives of TV networks say they weren't aware of it until they were questioned often by reporters for their own newscasts...

To the editor: On behalf of the Salvation Army, I would like to thank you and your staff for the positive support you have provided us over this past year. You have done for us what our limited funds and resources could never do. You have carried the story of the Salvation Army to countless homes throughout our area...

Missouri Attorney General Jay Nixon is supporting proposed state legislation that would allow Missourians to pay $10 every two years to list their names on a don't-call list for telemarketers. There already is a federal law that lets folks ask to be put -- for free -- on a telemarketer's don't-call list. And there are sanctions for telemarketers that ignore these requests...

Two down and two more to go for Southeast Missouri State University's basketball Indians as they attempt to sweep a four-game homestand that coach Gary Garner believes is vital to their Ohio Valley Conference championship hopes. The Indians rolled past Eastern Illinois 77-66 Saturday night after opening the homestand with a hard-fought 61-50 win over Tennessee Tech...

After scoring only 24 points in its previous outing, Cape Central's girls basketball team rediscovered its scoring touch Monday in a 62-26 victory over Scott City. The Lady Tigers nearly matched their point production in Saturday's loss to Parkway West -- a 40-24 setback -- in the first quarter of Monday's game as it bolted out to a 23-7 lead...

Sarah Booth, a senior outside hitter at Woodland, was recently named first-team all-state in Class 2A for volleyball. Booth was the only player from the immediate area to be named to the first team. In Class 1A, Sarah Gowen from Leopold and St. Vincent's Jessica Lakenan were named to the second team. Also in 1A, Pearline Gill and Jessica Sillinum were both first teamers from Bernie...

CAIRO, Ill. -- Billy D. Willis, 65, of Cairo died Sunday, Jan. 23, 2000, at his home. Private service will be held at Brittlinger Funeral Home in Decatur, Ill. Barkett Funeral Home in Mounds is in charge of arrangements.

ANNA, Ill. -- Elizabeth I. Pickett, 78, of Anna died Sunday, Jan. 23, 2000, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. She was born April 19, 1921, in Cobden, daughter of Russell and Vesta Rendleman Abernathy. She and Carl "Moon" Pickett were married Sept. 10, 1950, in Piggott, Ark...

OLIVE BRANCH, Ill. -- Memorial service for Judy Quesenberry of Olive Branch will be held at 6 p.m. Thursday at Alexander Free Will Baptist Church. The Revs. Ernest Brown and Billy Don Heady will officiate. Friends may call at the church after 4:30 p.m. Thursday...

Son to John Todd and Kelli Swope of Coppell, Texas, Trinity Medical Center in Carrollton, Texas, 7:33 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 12, 2000. Name, John Brandon. Weight, 7 pounds 13 ounces. Second son. Mrs. Swope is the former Kelli Whitwell, daughter of Leslie Cox of Lubbock, Texas. She is employed at Terragon Realty Advisers. Swope is the son of Joe and Jacque Aden of East Cape Girardeau, Ill., and John and Mollie Swope of Seattle, Wash. He is an account executive with BAX Global...

COBDEN, Ill. -- Ernest McCuan, 91, of Cobden died Saturday, Jan. 22, 2000, at Union County Hospital in Anna. He was born Dec. 14, 1908, in Vienna, son of Tobe and Jane Phelps McCuan. Friends may call at Crain Funeral Home in Anna from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. today...

Funeral for Myrtle A. Reeves, 95, of Cape Girardeau will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday at Donnell-Wiegand Funeral Home in Greenville, Ill. The Rev. James G. Caughlan will officiate. Burial will be in Mount Auburn Cemetery in Greenville. Friends may call from 5-7 p.m. today at the funeral home...

MOUNDS, Ill. -- Salona C. Watson, 89, of Olmsted died Monday, Jan. 24, 2000, at Meridian Manor Nursing Home in Mounds. She was born Oct. 10, 1910, in Wyatt, La., daughter of Albert and Ollie Morris Stephens. She and Albert V. Watson were married. She was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Olmsted...

DECATUR, Ill. -- Billie June Blanchard Rhodes, 60, of Decatur died Monday, Jan. 24, 2000, at Memorial Medical Center in Springfield. She was formerly of Pulaski County. Jones Funeral Home at Villa Ridge is in charge of arrangements.

DONGOLA, Ill. -- Funeral for Shirley Parrott Hite of Dongola will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday at First Baptist Church. The Rev. Paul Sadler will officiate. Burial will be in Mound City National Cemetery. Friends may call at Crain Funeral Home in Dongola from 4-9 p.m. Wednesday, and after 9 a.m. Thursday at the church...