Stories from Wednesday, January 26, 2000

Thinning-out a tree by removing its branches of the point of origin. The importance of correct pruning techniques cannot be overemphasized. Plants pruned improperly suffer from increased disease infections, insect infestation, and are more susceptible to wind damage. They quite often are misshapen and lose their aesthetic appeal...

One of the Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity members responsible for killing a student during hazing rituals in 1994 was sent to prison for probation violations. Michael Q. Williams, 24, of north St. Louis County, will spend at least 120 days in prison for drug and work-related violations of his probation on an original charge of manslaughter, said St. Louis Circuit Judge Robert H. Dierker Jr...

Show Me Center patrons would be drinking only Pepsi products over the next decade under a contract being considered by Southeast Missouri State University. Pepsi would pay $200,000 the first year and from $1,500 to $30,000 annually for the next 10 years under an exclusive contract the Southeast Board of Regents will take up at its meeting Thursday...

Worried about your water bill? City officials say you shouldn't be despite the fact that the bills are almost two months late. Most Cape Girardeau residents haven't received a water bill since late November, but there isn't cause for concern, officials say. The city knows it is behind in mailing bills and will offer adjusted cycles for billing and payments...

The Cape Girardeau Civic Center has until March 1 to pay off its $46,000 mortgage, and on Tuesday it received its first donation in a drive to reach that goal. The Breakfast Optimist Club donated $5,000 toward paying off the mortgage on the center at 232 Broadway (See photo on Page 3A). The club issued a challenge to other service organizations to follow suit...

With four months to go before summer, it's time to look for better ways to include residents of South Cape Girardeau in the life of the whole community, the Rev. David Allen said. Youths are often isolated, lacking transportation to summer programs offered in other parts of the city, Allen said...

BLOOMFIELD -- A Puxico man suffered moderate injuries Monday when his vehicle and a school bus collided at the crest of a hill near Bloomfield. Timothy Hart, 26, was taken to Dexter Memorial Hospital after the 3:38 p.m. accident on County Road 249, seven miles northwest of Bloomfield...

With its large size, impressive wingspan, fierce gaze and brilliant white head and tail, the bald eagle is a magnificent bird. Throw in the fact that these birds are an uncommon sight and that they are the symbol of our country and it's easy to see why people get excited when they spot this majestic raptor...

SCOTT CITY -- Supervalu Inc. workers losing jobs when the company closes in April will get help from the Rapid Response Team of the Missouri Department of Economic Development. Team members will be in Scott City today and Friday to talk to workers. Meetings will be held at the grocery distribution center at 10:30 a.m. and 2:30 and 4:30 p.m. both days...

The Missouri Mentoring Project received a $10,000 grant Tuesday to help young people in Cape Girardeau and Scott counties get jobs and become self-sufficient. Target store team manager Harry Gefre has recommended the grant application to the Target Good Neighbor program because he thinks the program is making an impact on the community. Every Target store donates 5 percent of its federal tax income to support the company's grant projects...

JACKSON -- The Jackson Board of Education considered issues related to spring activities during a meeting held Tuesday night. The school board approved a plan to schedule alternate dates for the district's high school graduation this year in case of bad weather. Graduation is scheduled for 7 p.m. May 19 at the Jackson football stadium. In case of bad weather, the ceremony will be postponed to May 20 or, if necessary, May 21...

Dinosaurs in Marble Hill? It's an intriguing notion that could pay big dividends for Bollinger County's county seat. A dinosaur expert from Arnold has been digging near Glen Allen and has discovered the bones of a duck-billed dinosaur and the teeth of a tyrannosaurus. Self-taught paleontologist Guy Darrough says the Bollinger County dig is the only known dinosaur site in the Midwest...

ISN'T IT amazing how the people who scream the loudest and protest the most about their rights have done very little or nothing at all to earn those rights. It was the blood, sweat and guts of others who earned those rights, but for them, it's another freebie...

Medical advancements in Cape Girardeau continue to amaze and impress. Last week, a young mother from Southeast Missouri became the first patient to receive a brain pacemaker. The device implanted in her chest is intended to help prevent seizures. Dr. Scott Gibbs implanted the device at Southeast Missouri Hospital's Regional Brain and Spine Center. This breakthrough treatment is aimed at patients who don't respond well to anti-seizure medications...

It is good to have a few days this week without games so we can get back to the practice floor and work on some of the things we need to improve on. We've had so many games recently that we have spent most of our time just preparing for other teams...

Tim Billings, the new head football coach at Southeast Missouri State University, has completed his coaching staff for the 2000 season. The new assistant coaches include Dwayne Nunez, offensive coordinator; Michael Phillips, defensive coordinator; Kip Shaw, offensive backs; Shannon Morrison, defensive backs; and Greg Olejack, offensive line. Rory Segrest, the lone hold-over from the previous coaching staff, will be in his second year at Southeast and coach the defensive line...

Dried toast. A lecture on the mating habits of dragon flies. A half hour of C-Span, perhaps. Few things could be as bland as the Cape Central-Portageville game at Tiger Field House Tuesday night. Other than three dunks by Portageville's William Dirden neither team had much to get excited about as Portageville managed a 50-34 victory over the Tigers...

SCOTT CITY -- How 'bout them Rams!? While the football world has been swallowed by St. Louis' Super Bowl bound Rams, Scott City's basketball version of the blue-and-gold has opened up some eyes as well. Scott City's record of 17-1 and its 11-game winning streak has garnered the top ranking in this week's Class 2A state media poll. It is the first time in school history that Scott City has been ranked No. 1...

The Cardinal Caravan will make a stop in Cape Girardeau Friday, at the Osage Center, with the program beginning at 7 p.m. Several Cardinals players, coaches and other celebrities are scheduled to attend the event that will feature an autograph session for youngsters, a question and answer session, souvenirs and give-aways...

JACKSON -- The Jackson Indians suffered their second consecutive one-point loss on Tuesday, falling to Sikeston 72-71 in boys high school basketball action. Jackson (9-10) had a chance to win with three seconds left in the contest, but misfired twice from the field...

The Shawnee Park Sports Complex is starting to form its 2000 softball leagues. A managers meeting will be held at the Osage Community Centre Feb. 10 at 6:30 p.m. There will also be a rules meeting on March 7 at 6:30 p.m. at the Osage Centre. League games will tentatively begin on April 24. For more information contact Kaed or Jennifer at 334-2523, or leave a message at 335-5421...

The races will begin at 12:45 p.m. Youths from crawlers to age 15 are welcome to participate. For more information, contact Chris at 335-5421.

The USA Athletes International in conjunction with the Netherlands Olympic Committee is holding baseball tryouts for a traveling team to Belgium and Holland next summer. The tryout, to be held Feb. 6 at Cape Central High School, is for high school age players who will not turn 16 before Aug. 15, 2000...

The Cape Area Youth Soccer Association (CAYSA) will conduct sign-ups for the upcoming spring season Jan. 30 at Westfield Shopping Center. The sign-ups will be held from noon to 5 p.m. in the JC Penney courtyard. Parents may also pick up a registration form from Unisoccer, Howard's Sporting Goods and Play It Again Sports. The registration period ends Feb. 9...

DONGOLA, Ill. -- Funeral for Shirley 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. today, and Thursday at the church after 9 a.m...

POMONA, Ill. -- Clarence Eugene "Bob" Franklin, 90, of Pomona and formerly of Grand Tower, died Tuesday, Jan. 25, 2000, at Rehab and Care Center in Jackson County. He was born Nov. 12, 1909, at Pomona, son of William Harvey and Cora Belle Childers Franklin. He and Ethel Cauble were married April 28, 1928. She died Feb. 26, 1987. He and Crettie Ellis were married Nov. 26, 1993, at Grand Tower. She survives...

DECATUR, Ill. -- Funeral for Billie June Killius Rhoades will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday at Jones Funeral Home in Villa Ridge. The Rev. Alvin Thomas will officiate. Burial will be in Masonic Cemetery at Olmsted. Friends may call at the funeral home from 5-8 p.m. today...

PERRYVILLE -- Cramer Hobson Bess, 70, passed away Monday, Jan. 24, 2000, at Perry County Memorial Hospital. He was born Aug. 10, 1929, in Jackson, son of Hobson and Maude Cramer Bess. He married Mary Lou Clingingsmith June 18, 1954. She survives. Other survivors include two sons, Richard Bess of Dearborn, Mich., and James Bess of Perryville; two daughters, Kathy Kutz of Uniontown and Edna Decker of Oak Ridge; a brother, Gene Bess of Poplar Bluff; two sisters, Mildred Phelps of Jackson and Ruth Ann Morris of Arnold; two grandchildren, Ashley Kutz and Adam Decker.. ...

WHITEWATER -- Earley Hugh Proffer, 87, of Whitewater died Monday, Jan. 24, 2000, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. He was born Feb. 29, 1912, at Crump, son of Grover and Myrtle Jones Proffer. He and Marcella L. Penrod were married Oct. 20, 1948. She died Dec. 11, 1999...

DELTA -- Mary Immogene Hester, 80, of Delta, died Tuesday, Jan. 25, 2000, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. Arrangements are incomplete at Amick-Burnett Funeral Chapel in Chaffee.

DELTA -- Owen Flowers, 77, of Delta died Tuesday, Jan. 25, 2000, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. He was born Nov. 20, 1921, at Arbor, son of Isaac and Ella Williams Flowers. He and Virginia Rhodes were married Dec. 22, 1938, at Benton. She died June 3, 1996...

During a recent trip, I just about lost my heart to Charleston, S.C. When in Charleston, one expects to see Scarlett and Rhett sashay out of any one of the hundred historic homes adorning the bay area. What we didn't expect was to end up smack-dab in the middle of the filming of Mel Gibson's new movie, "The Patriot," with a full-fledged bomb scare going on. While some were heading for higher ground, "Angie and Larry Joe the curious" saw it all...

Brownies are a quick and easy treat with many added benefits. Each brownie is an easy pick-up-and-go snack, recipes yield many serving portions and they are great for almost any event where you are encouraged to bring a dessert. They also mail nicely to out-of-town family and friends...