Stories from Monday, February 14, 2000

Capaha Realty & Investments has moved to 1427 Thomas Drive. The move gives the company more working space and parking, say Fern Lange and Gary Lange, brokers and owners. Capaha Realty opened at its new site in December. The company, which was founded more than 20 years ago, in 1979, has five associates in addition to the owners Michael Conley, Marty Ford, Gloria Huber Smith, Marilyn Ostendorf and James Woodard...

Westfield American Inc., a real estate investment trust and owner of 38 regional Westfield Shoppingtown shopping centers, including West Park Mall of Cape Girardeau, has reported increased earnings for the fourth quarter, ending Dec. 31. Annual funds from operations were $177 million, or $1.73 a share. Total mall sales far the year were $3.2 billion, up 6 percent from 1998...

"Missouri Chamber Day at the Capitol," will be held Wednesday a the Capitol Plaza Hotel in Jefferson City. The daylong event, sponsored by the Missouri Chamber of Commerce, will get under way at 9 a.m., with a series of panel discussions by state legislators...

America's historic economic expansion propelled the unemployment rate to a 30-year low of 4 percent in January, giving many workers the best labor market they have seen since taking their first job. Trying to keep pace with the roaring economy, employers added a whopping 387,000 jobs to their payrolls last month, the largest leap since September 1997, the Labor Department reported Friday...

High-tech companies, desperate for workers amid a booming economy, want to hire more foreigners and are pushing Congress to expand an immigration program to let them do just that. Congress temporarily expanded the program in 1998, increasing the number of six-year visas from 65,000 to 115,000 a year, but that hasn't satisfied the high-tech industry's appetite for skilled workers with college degrees...

AAA Travel will sponsor a travel tour seminar Feb. 21 at 10 a.m. at the agency's office, 1903 Broadway. A Trafalgar Tours representative will present the program. Trafalgar Tours feature motorcoach packages throughout Europe, United States, Canada, Australia, and the Orient...

Andy Leighton, an AFLAC associate, recently completed special training to become "Flex One" certified. The certification allows AFLAC associates to assist employers in establishing a "cafeteria" style employee benefits program, which allows employees to pick and choose from among various types and levels of benefits to customize their coverage to meet their needs...

Kurre Allen has joined Consolidated Insurance Agency, 1707 N. Mount Auburn Road, in Cape Girardeau. Allen of Cape Girardeau is a graduate of Southeast Missouri State University and has more than 28 years experience in the commercial insurance field, as a marketing counselor...

Cindy Propst has been appointed branch manager at the Mercantile Bank facility at Jackson. Her appointment was announced recently by Lowell Peterson, president of Mercantile Bank of Cape Girardeau and Jackson. Propst joined Mercantile in 1995.

Missy Jones, human resource administrator for Dana Spicer Axle Division, 2075 Corporate Circle, has been elected president of the Cape Area Personnel Association (CAPA) board for 2000. New officers include Jones, Jill Gage, vice president; Larry Koehler, treasurer; and Angie LaHomme, secretary...

Dr. Charles E. DeFelice has joined Occupational Medical Services L.L.C. of Cape Girardeau. DeFelice, a graduate of the University of Maryland Medical School at Baltimore, has been practicing cardiology in Cape Girardeau since 1980. Prior to entering practice here, he taught medical students and medical residents 12 years...

Renee Vandeven was winner of a "Tuxedo Party," to be presented by the House of Brides. The seven-party tuxedo party, valued at more than $700, was a grand prize during a recent promotion by the House of Brides Inc. at 238 N. Pacific in Cape Girardeau...

David M. Plassman, accounting supervisor at Schott & Van de Ven, Certified Public Accountants, has received a certification of achievement in tax planning and advisor for closely held businesses. Plassman, a certified public accountant, completed 96 hours of specialized training and passed a series of tests to qualify for the recognition, presented by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants...

Charles Jackson and Mary Stallings, package drivers for United Parcel Services, were recently honored for completing 20 years service with the company. Jackson of Cape Girardeau and Stallings of Benton work out of the Cape Girardeau UPS facility. UPS employs more than 339,000 workers worldwide, serving more than 200 countries and territories. The Missouri District employs more than 5,000 workers and has 30 operating centers...

SBC Communications Inc., has been named America's "Most Admired" telecommunications company. Fortune Magazine selected "Most Admired" companies in a number of categories. SBC received a total score of 7.16 in Fortune's grading system, more than a half-point better than the nearest communications competitor, MCI World Com, at 6.60. Rounding out the top five in the communications category were Sprint, 6.43; Bell Atlantic, 6.40 and AT&T, 6.32...

Union Planters Corp. reported record annual net earnings of $410 million, or $2.85 a diluted share for 1999, compared to $225.6 million or $1.58 a diluted share of 1998. The 1998 results were reduced by merger costs and other significant charges. The acquisitions increased assets from to $33.3 billion, making Union Planters one of the 30 largest bank holding companies in the United States...

Karem Kayserilioglu and Penny Tanner have joined Westfield Shoppingtown West Park Mall. Jim Govro, general manager of the mall, has appointed Kaykserilioglu as assistant marketing director, and Tanner as administrative assistant. Kaykserilioglu of Cape Girardeau has a bachelor's degree in business administration marketing form Southeast Missouri State University and is enrolled in the university's master's program in business administration...

These light bulb packages are printed in both English and French. The freshness sticker on this Hardee's chocolate chip cookie is printed in English, Spanish and French. This package for Schultz Seed Starter Plus is printed in English as well as French for the Canadian market.This package for IAMS Cat Food is printed in English and Japanese...

This "Financial Focus" column is prepared by Edward Jones Investments, headquartered in St. Louis. Jones includes branches throughout the nation, including Cape Girardeau and Jackson. Over the past year or so, we've seen tremendous price appreciation in many Internet-based stocks. These surging stocks have caused concern on the part of market analysts who realize that many of these companies are missing a key ingredient -- earnings. Now, some of these same stocks have tumbled back to earth...

Hill's Country Kitchen has opened in Southern Illinois. The new restaurant, less than two miles from the Mississippi River Bridge, features "home cooking and all you can eat," said its owner and cook, Ginger Hill, who claims cooking as her hobby the past 30 years...

Tobacco Lane has a new name and a new location. Tobacco Lane & Gifts recently moved to 244 S. Silver Springs Road "The new location doubles our space, and provides good parking," said Ralph Sharp, manager of the business. "It will allow us to expand our gift and collectible lines...

Have shears, will travel. Matthew Edward Prince of Cape Girardeau may be the only Southeast Missouri barber who makes house, or office, calls. A third-generation barber, Prince offers his customers a quality haircut, good hair advice and a chat while they sit at their office desk or chair at home...

Heights Finance Corp. has opened a branch office at 125 Broadview, Suite 5, in Cape Girardeau. Heights Finance, headquartered at Peoria, Ill., has operations in five states, including 13 offices in Missouri. Other branch operations are in Illinois, Kentucky, Indiana and Tennessee...

Tuesday Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce "Business After Hours," 5 to 6:30 p.m., Marion Eye Centers & Optical, 297 Silver Springs Road. Thursday Missouri Chamber Day at the Capitol, starts at 9 a.m., Jefferson City. Feb. 24 Economic Outlook Conference, noon to 2, Robert Dempster Hall...

"What's Ahead for the Year 2000?" is the topic of the second annual economic outlook conference, to be held from noon to 2 on Feb. 24, in Glenn Auditorium of Robert A. Dempster Hall on Southeast Missouri State University campus. Dr. Phillip Miller, assistant director of the College of Business Administration Research Center at the University of Missouri-Columbia, will discuss "The National and State Forecasts for 2000."...

David Rudert of Perryville, a district representative for Aid Association for Lutherans, a fraternal benefit society for insurance, education and volunteer opportunities, headquartered at Appleton, Wis., has been honored for exceptional sales and service for 1999...

JEFFERSON CITY -- Missouri's statewide elections are months away, but nine initiative petitions have been registered with the secretary of state, and more are reportedly on the way. The purpose of initiatives is to change, modify or replace existing statutes or change the Missouri Constitution...

John Alanis' approach to finding true love is very new century and businesslike. The Internet both expands your amorous database and helps narrow your search, says the 29-year-old, who has recorded an audio book on the topic. Instead of Dolly Levi, America Online plays matchmaker...

The people, not the building, make the church. This belief is popular among people of many religious denominations. They believe the congregation that worships together can meet in any establishment and form a church body. The structure that houses the congregation is viewed as a building that has a religious purpose...

Yale Gerber used the pay phone at Wink's Mini-Mart to call a cab for him and his mother. Mitchel and Barbara Gerber steer clear of cars. They have never owned one. Most people view personal vehicles as essential to their lives, particularly in a city like Cape Girardeau where public transportation is limited...

When she died early Sunday morning at Southeast Missouri Hospital, Traci Taylor's 13-year fight against leukemia and the terrific strain treating it put on her body ended as well. She was 19. During those years, the 5-foot, and at the end, 80-pound young woman endured incredible physical trials and was honored with national and state awards for the care she showed other children who had contracted diseases...

Robert Fornkahl heard the lightning crash near his rural Cape Girardeau home. Then he saw the flames erupting from his combination garage and shed. But the elderly Fornkahl could do little but watch the metal-roofed building burn. Fornkahl and his wife were home when lightning struck Sunday afternoon...

The Cape Girardeau County Commission is concerned that is unable to force owners of property who leave trash on their land to clean up the mess, The commission is contemplating what to do about it. The commission is considering an ordinance that would make it a crime for people to leave trash on their land unless it is kept more than 440 yards from neighbors' properties and public roads or alleys. ...

Distributing cards to youngsters that contain pictures of local policemen has helped children in other cities around the country get acquainted with policemen, and there is no reason it won't do the same at Jackson. The Jackson Police Department is embarking on the program. Beginning in about a month, most Jackson police officers will have their own trading cards much as professional athletes do. Children can collect the cards by flagging down an officer in a car or stopping him or her anywhere...

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. -- Southeast Missouri State University's baseball team, after losing a pair of close games to Arkansas Friday and Saturday, turned the tables on the Razorbacks Sunday. The Indians held off an Arkansas rally in the ninth inning to prevail 8-7 and notch their first victory of the young season. Southeast is now 1-2. It was the Indians' first-ever win over Arkansas, which had won the four previous meetings between the squads...

SCOTT CITY -- Alma "Tootsie" Burger, 75, of Scott City died Sunday, Feb. 13, 2000, at Chaffee Nursing Center in Chaffee. She was born Jan. 11, 1925, at Commerce, daughter of Alexander and Clara Georger Burger. She was a member of St. Augustine Catholic Church in Kelso...

JACKSON -- Catherine Marjorie Voelker, 76, of Jackson died Sunday, Feb. 13, 2000, at Jackson Manor. She was born on Jan. 12, 1924, at Millersville, daughter of Avery Washington and Ariminta Proctor Dellinger. She and Edgar Voelker were married on Sept. 29, 1947. He died in 1981...

CAIRO, Ill. -- Harriette K. Thompson, 73, of Cairo died Sunday, Feb. 13, 2000, at Western Baptist Hospital in Paducah, Ky. She was born Sept. 10, 1926, at Cairo, daughter of Leonard and Harriette Brankel Levitt. She was a member of St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Cairo, serving on the church Altar Guild. She was a former secretary for Calvary Cemetery...

SIKESTON -- Martha Iladene Ellis, 78, of Woodville, Texas, died Friday, Feb. 11, 2000, at Tyler County Hospital in Woodville. She was born July 18, 1922, at Paducah, Ky., daughter of Bill and Ivy Stevenson Barnes. She had been a custom drapery maker for Blue Ridge Drapery and Upholstery...

William H. Vandeven, 95, of Cape Girardeau died Sunday, Feb. 13, 2000, at St. Francis Medical Center. Funeral arrangements are pending at Lorberg Memorial Funeral Chapel.

Annie Lovie Eldridge, 90, of Cape Girardeau died Sunday, Feb. 13, 2000, at Ratliff Care Center. She was born Oct. 19, 1910, in Stoddard County, daughter of Noah and Emma Ella (Christian) Russell. Annie first married William "Bill" Griffin on March 18, 1927. Bill died in 1941. She later married Dave Eldridge on Nov. 23, 1963. Dave died in 1980...

JACKSON -- Lillian A. Macke, 85, died Sunday, Feb. 13, 2000, at the Jackson Manor Nursing Home in Jackson. She was born Jan. 9, 1915, at Gordonville, the daughter of William and Bertha Birk Niemann. On Jan. 10, 1942, she married Arnold A. Macke. He preceded her in death on March 2, 1969...

Traci N. Taylor, 19, of Cape Girardeau died Sunday, Feb. 13, 2000, at Southeast Missouri Hospital. Arrangements are incomplete at Ford and Sons Funeral Home.