Stories from Monday, February 21, 2000

Two major Canadian newsprint makers, Abitibi-Consolidated Inc. and Donohue Inc., are merging in a $4 billion cash-and-stock deal to create a massive player that would control 35 percent of the market in North America. When Abitibi-Consolidated, the largest newsprint maker on the continent, completes its takeover of No. 3 Donohue, the combined business will have double the capacity of the No. 2 manufacturer, Bowater Inc. of Greenville, S.C...

Dr. Joel F. Allison of the Jackson Wal-Mart Vision Center has been named "Regional Doctor of the Year" by the Wal-Mart Optical Division. Allison was recognized during the 1999 National Wal-Mart Year-End meeting at Kansas City. Allison, a native of Cape Girardeau, received his degree from the University of Missouri-St. Louis School of Optometry...

Gertrude W. Jordan is new director of the Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES). Gov. George H. Ryan announced Jordan's appointment recently. Jordan, 66, of Chicago has worked in local and state government more than 30 years. Most recently, she was assistant director of the Department of Central Management Services...

Thursday Economic Outlook Conference, noon to 2, Robert Dempster Hall March 3 Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce First Friday Coffee, 7:30 a.m. Show Me Center. March 16 Bootheel Regional Planning Economic Development Commission meeting, site and time to be announced...

Schott & Van de Ven, Certified Public Accountants has received the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants' (AICPA) highest evaluation in peer review. The report indicates the firm is conforming to professional standards in all material respects. The on-site review evaluated the firm's system of quality control against standards and comprehensive guidelines established by the AICPA...

The Drury Co. of Cape Girardeau, is recipient of the 2000 Master Contractor Award and Inner Circle of Quality Award in recognition of the company's commitment to providing consistent, quality commercial roofing system installations. Drury is one of 256 contractors nationally to receive the Master Contractor Award, and one of 87 to receive the Inner Circle of Quality Award...

The Small Business Development Center (SBDC) and Rural Missouri Inc. (RMI) will co-sponsor a series of meetings on "Small Business Financing." Representatives of SBDC, RMI, the Small Business Administration, Missouri Department of Economic Development and Missouri Department of Agriculture, will be on hand to discuss assistance and financing programs for Missouri small businesses...

NEW YORK -- The Thomson Corp. is selling its U.S. newspaper business, made up mainly of 49 local and regional dailies, to concentrate on the professional information services that make up the vast majority of the Canadian company's operations, the Associated Press reported...

Nominations are being accepted for "Missouri Older Worker of the Year." The Missouri contest is sponsored by the Missouri Senior Employment Coordinating Committee (MSECC), a statewide group that helps promote the hiring of older workers. The MSECC includes a number of organizations Division of Job Development and Training, the Division of Aging, the Division of Employment Security, Green Thumb Inc., the Jewish Vocational Services, the American Association of Retired Persons, the National Council on Aging, the U.S. ...

Housing construction sprinted ahead in January to the highest level in a year, suggesting rising mortgage rates have yet to sideline confident consumers, economists said. Aided by mild weather early in the month, builders began work on new units at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.78 million, a 1.5 percent increase from December, the Commerce Department said Wednesday. That marked the highest level since January 1999 when 1.80 million units were started...

Whether it is a scratched-up Snoopy lunch box from the 1970s or a "Great Pumpkin" video, fans of Charlie Brown and the "Peanuts" gang have been clamoring for reminders of their comic strip friends since Charles Schulz's death. The Internet auction site eBay had more than 3,000 pieces of "Peanuts" memorabilia Wednesday, from dog dishes to key chains. Among them, 86 old "Peanuts" lunch boxes were up for bid...

Millions of Americans are taking advantage of a growing number of companies offering to not only file taxes electronically but to make doing taxes less taxing by performing the calculations and offering tips sometimes for free. The Internal Revenue Service has been pushing electronic filing to comply with a 1998 law requiring it to have 80 percent of all federal tax filings submitted electronically by 2007. ...

Kenneth E. Volkerding, a Lutheran Brotherhood district representative from Jackson, recently attended "IRA 2000: Distributions for the New Millennium," a school offered by Lutheran Brotherhood. Volkerding, affiliated with Lutheran Brotherhood's Pals Financial Group in St. Charles, was one of about 200 leading Lutheran Brotherhood district representatives who were invited to the special school, designed to advance representatives' knowledge of retirement planning...

Dr. Beverly Cleair has been elected president of the Medical Group Management Association (MGMA) of the Southeast Missouri Region. Other officers of the MGMA group include Patty Schaefer, vice president; Sharon Bowen, treasurer; and Kathie Huttegger, secretary...

Kathie Simpkins, city administrator of East Cape Girardeau, and vice chairman of the Bootheel Regional Planning Commission, has been elected to the position of chairman to fill the unexpired term of Lynn Langston who resigned in December. Simpkins has been an active member of the commission a number of years...

There's something new at TG (U.S.A.) Corp. in Perryville: -- A new name, "TG Missouri Corp." -- And, a new logo. When TG (U.S.A.) Corp. opened for business in Perryville Industrial Park more than a dozen years ago, it produced plastic transmission gears for Ford Motor Co. and steering wheels for Chrysler Corp. The company and its small band of 27 workers operated out of a 48,000-square-foot building...

Industrial production leaped ahead in January at its strongest rate in nearly 18 months as the output of a wide range of goods including cars, computers and carpets all posted big gains. The booming U.S. economy -- fed by robust consumer and business spending -- and a pickup in overseas' demand for U.S. goods as countries continue to recover from a global financial crisis were the main factors behind the surge, economists said...

Wal-Mart Stores Inc.'s fourth-quarter profits rose 23 percent from a year ago, fueled by strong sales growth at its U.S. superstores and operations abroad. The results reported last week by the world's largest retailer were slightly above expectations...

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. There is no shortage of categories in the investment world. You'll find large-capitalization growth stocks, large-capitalization value stocks, small-capitalization stocks, mid-capitalization stocks, international stocks and more. ...

Buchheit's new store, located northwest of the Interstate 55/Highway 61 intersection, is now open. Grand opening ceremonies for the 110,000-square-foot retail operation will be held March 8-12, but the store is open daily now. Stores hours are 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Sunday...

Alto Vineyards of Alto Pass, Ill., has been recognized as one of the "Best of the East" wineries in a millennium tasting contest. "Vineyard and Winery Management," a national magazine of the grape and wine industries, sponsored the competition. Two Alto Vineyards wines have been selected to be served at the Vineyards and Winery Management gala banquet at Lancaster, Pa...

The 1990s went out on a high note for Cape Girardeau County, which posted the lowest average annual unemployment rate of the decade in 1999. Although there was a slight increase in the county's unemployment at the end of the year, the 12-month average was 2.55 percent, well below the previous lows of 3.6 percent in the years 1996 and 1998...

JACKSON -- Cameron Heath doesn't go to work until people die. "I have a brother who calls me 'Dr. Death,'" said Heath, team leader for the state Highway Patrol's major crash investigation team in Southeast Missouri. Sgt. Heath and two other officers have handled every multiple death accident from Ste. Genevieve to Shannon to Pemiscot counties for the past year...

If you suspect children, relatives or friends may have an eating disorder, it is importnat to make your concern known, but in a loving, compassionate way, said Dr. Beth Mansfield, a psychologist in the Center for Health and Counseling at Southeast Missouri State University...

Tuesday, Feb. 22 at 7:30 p.m. Council chambers, City Hall, 401 Independence Study session at 5 p.m. Public hearings Consent ordinances (Second and third readings) New ordinances (First reading) Resolutions (Reading and passage) Appointments Other...

Eating disorders range from eating little at all to compulsive overeating to bingeing and purging. No matter what form it takes, such a disorder can threaten a person's mental and physical health and even that person's life. "Eating disorders are scary because people can die from them," said Dr. Beth Mansfield, a psychologist in the Center for Health and Counseling at Southeast Missouri State University...

Three Southeast Missouri lawmakers are sponsoring a measure that would require ethanol to be added to gasoline sold in the St. Louis area. The proposal also would allow cities and counties elsewhere in the state to mandate the use of ethanol as an alternative fuel...

The Cape Girardeau County Commission's decision to delay until November a vote on countywide planning and zoning was a wise one for two reasons: It gives voters more time to learn about the proposal, and it assures a greater number of voters will go the polls to decide the issue...

Southeast Missouri State University's Charlie Mrino slid safely into third with a stolen base as Iowa State's Rob Conway reached to tag him during the second game of Sunday's doubleheader, which the Indians swept. Jeremy Johnson keeps piling up records, and Southeast Missouri State University's baseball team keeps piling up victories...

By virtue of Saturday night's 72-71 win at Eastern Illinois, Southeast Missouri State University's men's basketball team clinched a first-round home game in the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament for the second straight season. The 7 p.m. contest will be played Tuesday, Feb. 29, at the Show Me Center against an opponent that has not yet been determined...

COLUMBIA -- Southeast Missouri State University's gymnastics team suffered a 193.525 to 191.225 loss at the hands of host Missouri Sunday. Missouri's Shannon Brown captured all-around honors with a score of 38.825. Southeast'sJessica Bagwill was second (37.400) and Amy Cole third (36.875)...

Michelle "Shelly" Coffer, 30, of Cape Girardeau died Saturday, Feb. 19, 2000, in St. Louis, from injuries sustained in an automobile accident. She was born July 17, 1969, at Charleston, daughter of Doye Gene and Carolyn Gail Thornton Coffer. She was formerly of Sikeston before moving to Cape Girardeau and Scott City. She was formerly employed by Mudsuckers Restaurant. She was a member of the Diehlstadt General Baptist Church...

JACKSON -- Johnny L. Byrd, age 74, passed away Sunday, Feb. 20, 2000, at the Jackson Manor Nursing Home in Jackson. Friends may call today between 4-7 p.m. at McCombs Funeral Home in Jackson. An American Legion honor guard service will be held at 7 p.m. Funeral service will be Tuesday, Feb. 22 at 2 p.m. at McCombs, followed by interment in Russell Heights Cemetery in Jackson. Janet Hopkins will officiate...

CHARLESTON -- Lois Emily Baker, 74, of Charleston died Saturday, Feb. 19, 2000, at the home of a sister. She was born May 5, 1925, in Poplar Bluff, daughter of James Roy and Lucile Barker Baker. She had lived in Poplar Bluff most of her life and was a member of the United Methodist Church. She had worked as a secretary for Pacific Railroad until her retirement...

JACKSON -- Wayne C. Voorhes, age 62, passed away Sunday, Feb. 20, 2000, at Eldercare Nursing Home in Marble Hill. Friends may call Tuesday, Feb. 22 from 9-11 a.m. at the St. Paul Lutheran Church in Jackson. Funeral service will be Tuesday at 11 a.m. at the St. Paul Church followed by interment in Russell Heights Cemetery. The Rev. David Johnson will officiate...

Marie Tranter, 60, of Jackson, died Saturday, Feb. 19, 2000, at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis. She was born Nov. 22, 1939, at St. Louis, daughter of Sylvester and Alfreda A. Marshall Williams. She and John Wesley Tranter were married Aug. 15, 1969, at Washburn, Mo. He died Dec. 17, 1990...

Jerry L. Strack, 63, of Cape Girardeau died Saturday, Feb. 19, 2000, at St. Francis Medical Center. He was born, April 29, 1936, at Jackson, son of Albert Henry and Hilda Borgfield Strack. He and Mary Dohogne were married May 13, 1961, at Kelso. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army...

ANNA, Ill. -- Barbara Laura Ann Treece, 92, of Anna, died Saturday, Feb. 19, 2000, at Union County Nursing Home. She was born May 28, 1907, at Cobden, Ill., daughter of Charles and Laura Sharp Stegle. She and Hugh S. Treece were married Oct. 10, 1925, at Cobden. He died June 10, 1972...

ANNA, Ill. -- Cyril "Sandy" Copeland, 86, of Anna, died Saturday, Feb. 19, 2000, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. Funeral arrangements are incomplete at Lutz and Rendleman Funeral Home.

JEFFERSONVILLE, Ind. -- Doris Tyler Gardner, 81, died Saturday, Feb. 19, 2000, at Jewish Hospital in Louisville, Ky. She was born May 12, 1918, at Conway, S.C., daughter of Chester Hooks and Gertrude Tyler. She and James F. Gardner were married. He preceded her in death...

MILLERSVILLE -- Vonnie U. Jones, 92, died Sunday, Feb. 20, 2000, at Beverly Health and Rehabilitation Center in Cape Girardeau. She was born July 9, 1907, in Biehle, daughter of Christopher and Barbara Fulbright Eddleman. She and Tony W. Jones were married Aug. 7, 1925. He died Dec. 7, 1969...

BENTON -- Leamon E. "Bud" Markland, 74, of Benton died Sunday, Feb. 20, 2000, at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston. He was born Jan. 9, 1926, at Dexter, son of James Marion and Ellie Laveta Lane Markland. He and Opal Louise Lyons were married Nov. 19, 1948, in St. Louis. She died June 9, 1993...

Two people from Southeast Missouri died from injuries received in separate accidents Saturday along Missouri highways. Michelle Coffer, 30, of Cape Girardeau died in an early morning accident Saturday in St. Louis County. Robert Shouse, 58, of Williamsville died at Lucy Lee Hospital in Poplar Bluff following an accident in Butler County. the accident happened at 1:45 p.m., just north of Poplar Bluff on U.S. 67...