Stories from Tuesday, February 15, 2000

Cherie Fuemmeler, center, discussed where to display recognition plaques in the Oak Ridge Early Childhood Center with Linda Holt, left, and Misty Duke. David Fuemmeler checked the operation of a computer printer with computer applications teacher Jill Lynn at Nell Holcomb School...

SCOTT CITY -- Textbooks don't get much use in Angie Batchelor's classroom. The first-year kindergarten teacher at St. Joseph School prefers hands-on activities and lessons to those contained within the pages of a textbook. Students need variety and like to touch, feel or smell things, she said. It helps them to learn and enjoy the experience...

Where do you go on the Internet? Chances are you go to many of the same sites each and every time you surf. You're not alone. Humans are creatures of habit, and the Internet won't change that. The fact there are so many Internet sites with thousands more every day has also put some surfers into an information overload...

Edward met Helen during a St. Vincent's Seminary Picnic at Perryville about 70 years ago. That was six children, 30 grandchildren and 64 great-grandchildren ago. Edward and Helen Hayden of Perryville observed their 67th wedding anniversary last November...

SCOTT CITY -- Policeman David Leeman moved a bit stiffly Monday, but at least he was moving. The day before he came within a split second of being shot in the head by a .357-caliber Magnum. "We just have him filling out reports today," said Scott City Police Chief Danny Clubb...

JACKSON -- A countywide planning and zoning issue won't be on the April 4 ballot. The Cape Girardeau County Commission decided Monday to withdraw the issue and put it on the November election ballot. "A general election vote will provide a much greater voter turnout, and this should produce a result more representative of the wishes of the people on the issue of planning and zoning," the commissioners said in a written statement...

A Hornersville woman was injured Monday in an accident just west of the city in Dunklin County. Jennifer Goff, 26, of Hornersville was injured when her vehicle ran off the road and overturned, according to reports from the Missouri State Highway Patrol...

Former Southeast basketball player Lakeo Y. Keller was sentenced to six years in prison Monday for dealing in marijuana and cocaine. Cape Girardeau County Prosecutor Morley Swingle called it one of his most significant drug cases, based on the amount of narcotics Keller said he could sell...

The Missouri Highway and Transportation Commission has awarded a contract to plant 323 trees along the Shawnee Parkway right of way. The trees will be planted over a mile-long area along the route near the Interstate 55 interchange. The work will be done by Hillside Gardens Inc. of Foley at a cost of $52,206. Federal funding will pay for the work, Missouri Highway and Transportation Department officials said...

Even the road signs in Cape Girardeau show the city is prepared for floods, earthquakes and high winds. Now it is just a matter of getting them placed at key places in the community. The sign design was chosen because it especially appeals to children, said Terry Fulk, Project Impact coordinator...

A Cape Girardeau man was robbed while riding his bicycle early Monday morning, police said. About 4:50 a.m., a 32-year-old man told police he was riding his bicycle south on Sprigg Street near Good Hope Street. As he was riding slowly, a man came upon him from the right, grabbing the bicycle. The two got into a tugging match...

When Corps of Engineers employees at Wappapello Lake gave a water-safety demonstration to Boy Scouts in Poplar Bluff a few years ago and included a skit with a character named Willie B. Safe, they had little idea the character might one day be as familiar to water enthusiasts as Smokey the Bear is to campers and hikers in national parks and forests...

To the editor: A leading spokesman for the Democrats, Al Franken, was a guest on the MSNBC John Gibson show this past Friday. As we all know, NBC is one of the three major networks that all promote the far-left ideas of the Democratic Party. During the discussion, which was devoted more to the Republican Party candidates, some mention was made about Sen. ...

"It is the public policy of this state that meetings, records, votes, actions and deliberations of public governmental bodies be open to the public unless otherwise provided by law." Pertinent sections of the Missouri Sunshine Law "shall be liberally construed and their exceptions strictly construed to promote this public policy."...

Coming off an impressive performance during a season-opening three-game series at national power Arkansas, Southeast Missouri State University's baseball team will now prepare for its first home action. Martin Methodist, a strong NAIA team from Tennessee, will provide the opposition Wednesday in a 1 p.m. first pitch at Capaha Field...

Southeast Missouri State University's men's basketball team doesn't play again until Saturday and coach Gary Garner figures the week off between games will do the Indians some good. Speaking at his weekly media conference Monday morning, Garner said the Indians need some time to regroup following Saturday's surprisingly lopsided 77-60 home loss to Murray State, which jumped ahead of Southeast into first place in the Ohio Valley Conference standings...

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Aubrey Reese of Murray State helped put his team back into first place in the Ohio Valley Conference and was honored Monday as the OVC player of the week. Reese averaged 25.3 points, 9.7 rebounds and 4.7 assists in three victories last week. He posted a double-double against Southeast Missouri with 24 points and 12 rebounds...

SIKESTON -- Cape Girardeau Central High's girls basketball team pulled away from a slim halftime lead to knock off host Sikeston 42-25 Monday night. The Lady Tigers, who improved their record to 18-4, led just 16-13 at the intermission. They outscored the Lady Bulldogs 10-5 in the third quarter and 16-7 in the final period...

Coleson Son to Herschel "Dean" and Tammy Marie Coleson Jr. of Tamms, Ill., Southeast Missouri Hospital, 7:49 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 1, 2000. Name, Joseph Ryan. Weight, 4 pounds 6 ounces. Third son. Mrs. Coleson is the former Tammy Henderson, daughter of Vernon "Butch" and Alice "Evie" Henderson of Olive Branch. Coleson is the son of Herschel and Wendy Coleson Sr. of Olive Branch...

KARNAK, Ill. -- Howard Thomas, 83, of Karnak, died Monday, Feb. 14, 2000, at the home of a daughter in Joppa. He was born July 15, 1916, at Dongola, son of William and Sarah Peterson Thomas. He and Geraldine Wilkenson were married. She preceded him in death...

EAST PRAIRIE -- Sam Smithson, 62, of East Prairie died Sunday, Feb. 13, 2000, in Columbia. He was born Dec. 19, 1937, in East Prairie, son of Buster L. and Bea Flowers Smithson. He and Kim Iwata were married Oct. 12, 1958. Smithson was retired from Smithson Auto Parts in Charleston. He was a member of Mississippi County Transit Board, American Legion Post 112 in Sikeston, current commander and former quartermaster of VFW Post 4294 in Charleston...

EAST PRAIRIE -- Graveside service for Nadine T. Neal of East Prairie will be held at 1 p.m. today at Anniston Cemetery. Martin Lucas will officiate. Friends may call at McMikle Funeral Home in Charleston at noon today. Neal, 87, died Sunday, Feb. 13, 2000, at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston...

BERNIE -- Bobby E. Potts, 63, of South Elgin, Ill., died Saturday, Feb. 12, 2000, at his home. He was born Jan. 17, 1937, in Baldwin, Miss., son of Ezra and Ester Hamm Potts. He and June D. Andersen were married April 2, 1977, in Elgin, Ill. Formerly of the Bernie area, he had lived in South Elgin 16 years. He was owner of Bobby Potts Auto Body Shop in South Elgin until retiring...

SCOTT CITY -- Esther Mae Harty, 74, of Bettendorf, Iowa, died Friday, Feb. 11, 2000, at Genesis Medical Center in Davenport, Iowa. She was born April 8, 1925, in Alton, Ill., daughter of William C. and Mae Northcutt. She and Alvin Gene Harty were married Dec. 25, 1948...

PERRYVILLE -- Otis R. Sewing, 87, of Perryville died Monday, Feb. 14, 2000, at Perry Oaks Manor. He was born June 11, 1912, in Cape Girardeau County, son of Ferdinand and Laura Klaus Sewing. He and Trula Propst were married Feb. 20, 1938. She died Oct. 25, 1999...

PERRYVILLE -- Betty Jean Braddy, 59, of Perryville died Saturday, Feb. 12, 2000, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. She was born June 20, 1940, in Rockingham, S.C., daughter of Glenn and Ruth Wiggens Stokes. She and William C. Braddy Sr. were married March 6, 1964...

CAIRO, Ill. -- Joseph Boalbey, 81, of Cairo died Monday, Feb. 14, 2000, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. He was born Oct. 27, 1918, in Cairo, son of Solomon and Rose Joe Boalbey. Survivors include three sisters, Lutefa Malooley of Terre Haute, Ind., Edna Parker of Indianapolis, Ind., Loraine Nassif of Anamosa, Iowa; and a brother, Richard Boalbey of Rock Island, Ill...

PERRYVILLE -- Ray Henderson, 76, of Perryville died Monday, Feb. 14, 2000, at Perry County Memorial Hospital. He was born June 4, 1923, in Perry County, son of Jessie and Mildred Hudson Henderson. He and Elizabeth Ashley were married in November 1945. She died in March 1985. He and Vivian Martin Nelson were married Dec. 11, 1988...

Funeral Mass for William H. Vandeven Sr. of Cape Girardeau will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday at St. Mary's Cathedral. The Rev. Joe Burger will officiate. Burial will be in St. Mary's Cemetery. Friends may call at Lorberg Memorial Funeral Chapel from 6-8 p.m. today. Parish prayers will be at 7, and Knights of Columbus rosary will be recited at 7:30...

JACKSON -- Alvin A. Rhodes, 75, of Jackson died Monday, Feb. 14, 2000, at his home. Arrangements are incomplete at the McCombs Funeral Home in Jackson.

WEST FRANKFORT, Ill. -- Golda E. Barnes, 84, of West Frankfort died Sunday, Feb. 13, 2000, at Shawnee Christian Nursing Center in Herrin. She was born Aug. 31, 1915, in West Frankfort, daughter of William Clabe and Etta Ingram Thomas. She married Virgil Barnes Nov. 21, 1932, in Marion. He died Aug. 14, 1980. She later married Garland Hughes, who died in 1993...

CHAFFEE -- Lucille M. Bentley, 86, of Chaffee, died Monday, Feb. 14, 2000, at Clearview Nursing Center in Sikeston. She was born Sept. 10, 1913, at Kurreville, daughter of Robert Otto and Rosie Octivia Walker Riehn. She and Ardello William Bentley were married April 6, 1929. He died Nov. 30, 1978...

Funeral for Traci N. Taylor of Cape Girardeau will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Ford and Sons Mt. Auburn Chapel. Randy Alford and the Rev. Cy Smith will officiate. Burial will be in Fairmount Cemetery. Friends may call at the chapel from 4-8 p.m. today...