Stories from Sunday, March 12, 2000

Instead of "physician, heal thyself," Dr. Charles Pewitt seems to have received a slightly different revelation. "Physician, build, thyself," might be more appropriate. Pewitt held the ribbon-cutting for Jackson Medical Center Friday, a huge complex on US 72, which he designed himself. The facility opened in February, but the finishing touches are still being applied to the building -- just inside the Jackson city limits. Pewitt is also recruiting two other family physicians for the building...

A check for $2,500 was presented to Rick McClard, Jackson High School principal, on behalf of the "Leap Year" Alumni Showcase performers and the JHS Choirs Thursday. The check makes up about 25 percent of the total cost for new lighting in the historic 1939 auditorium...

Webster University in St. Louis has awarded Arika Lucy, a senior at Jackson High School, the Webster Academic Scholarship. The $3,000 per academic year scholarship is awarded to high school seniors, based on grades, class rank and ACT scores. Lucy is the daughter of Ken and Pam Lucy of Jackson...

When pockets of opportunity exist within a market, businesses tend to step up to fill the void. Success the case with B-Tan! tanning salon. The new salon opened March 3, at 130 S. High Street -- Suite 201. "I just thought Jackson needed another tanning salon," said owner Faye Bergstrom. "The two here stay pretty well booked full. I thought they could use a third one and keep the Jackson business in Jackson instead of everyone driving to Cape."...

Kelly Lynn Shields, a senior at Jackson high School, placed fourth in the 66th High School Oratorical State Finals, sponsored by the American Legion. The competition was held in Jefferson City, Feb. 26. Shields represented the Altentual-Joerns Post # 158 of the American Legion in Jackson. She received a silver medal and a $1,400 scholarship to the college of her choice...

Walking dark corridors ... tripping on life; courting insanity, evil and strife, wearing dark blinders, I sink in despair ... blinding self-pity! Does anyone care? and death ...... not a foe to be driven away but the last earthly debt that we each have to pay!...

Nearly a quarter of Jackson's population is expected to be involved --as spectators or participants -- in the 15th annual Easter pageant at First Baptist Church of Jackson, April 12-16. Some 300 church members are annually involved in putting on the mammoth production, while 2,500 to 3,000 spectators are anticipated...

Missouri Severe Weather Awareness Week 2000 will take place from March 13 -17. The 26th annual Statewide Severe Weather Drill will be on Tuesday, around 1:30 p.m. The drill will take place as scheduled unless there is a serious threat of severe weather. The back-up day will be Thursday, also around 1:30 p.m...

Jackson has added a time-tested business to its ever-growing mix of commerce. Buchheit opened its sixth "old general store" location off of US Hwy 61 in southern Jackson (2801 S. Old Orchard Road) recently. Wednesday the store held its ribbon-cutting, as part of Grand Opening Week...

The walks of life are on your face The eyes display the time and place. The prisoner's eyes were desperate now. As the warden led him down the aisle. The Mother's eyes were full of love, for a newborn babe, from God above. The killer's eyes were gray and cold...

I have to admit that when the George W. Bush-Bob Jones University flak first appeared in the media, I was a tad confused. My first thought was "Surely there isn't a university named after the poison Kool-Aid mass suicide guy!" Once my brain got warmed up, I remembered, of course, that THAT Rev. Jones was JIM Jones...

It was on a dark and dreary day, when they drug him from his bed. They stripped down his garments, and put a crown of thorns on his head. They took him to the streets, and whipped stripes on his back. They placed a heavy cross on his shoulders, he almost fell in his tracks...

25 years ago, 1975 Reversal of County Court's decision last year to build jail on County Farm in Cape Girardeau would be hazardous and would expose county to additional litigation because there is no legal cause or reason for reversing prior decision and because money has been spent as result of original order; this is one of five conclusions reached by County Prosecuting Attorney A.J. ...

I had an eye appointment a couple of weeks ago. I had been noticing the past couple of years that the small towns and highways in the road atlas were being printed with smaller type and blurrier ink. My faithful wife pointed out that it could be that my eyes, not the print had changed. ...

To the editor: The events of the past few weeks have led me to wonder: Where have the politicians for the Republican Party gone? It used to be that you could count on whatever candidates who were considered the front-runners to have both the staff and savvy to avoid mistakes like we have seen of late by both Bush and McCain...

Last summer, Jim Talent, the St. Louis congressman who will be the Republican nominee for Missouri governor this fall, proposed a bold plan to fix Missouri's highway woes. For months there was virtually no debate or discussion -- until the General Assembly convened in January. Promptly, House and Senate Democrats began the sincerest form of flattery: imitation. Lawmakers in both houses introduced bond proposals differing in many ways from the Talent proposal...

When voters get right down to it, this year's campaigns, ranging from the presidency down to the county constabulary, are really about just one subject: How might we better govern ourselves. That's it. It's the basic premise of every campaign and election to be held in the year 2000...

In all the history of Missouri, there probably never has been a food fight quite like the one now under way over what to do with Missouri's stake in the tobacco litigation, said to begin flowing in over the next 25 years in the amount of $6.7 billion. ...

To the editor: If there are any words left to describe Millie Limbaugh's charm, graciousness and personality that left a beautiful spark in everyone she touched, they are yet to be found. I never realized I would feel so empty without my faithful and loving friend. I was so happy and thankful to be in David Limbaugh's home with the entire Limbaugh family where Millie's charm radiated among each one of them...

PERRYVILLE -- Police are asking residents here to watch their mouths. At the request of Police Chief Eugene Besand, the City Council passed an ordinance earlier this year barring obscene language in public. "The wording was outdated in the old ordinance," Besand said...

Cape Girardeau patrolman Carl Eakins directed traffic around the scene of an accident on I-55 north near the diversion channel. About an inch of snow fell in the Cape Girardeau area Saturday, and it was enough to cause several traffic accidents, one of which sent five people to the hospital and caused a two-mile backup of traffic...

Southeast Missouri: Are you ready to head to the ballpark? The Southeast Missourian and Southeast Missouri State University are joining together to sponsor Southeast Night at Busch Stadium Saturday, June 3. The aim is to bring between 1,500 and 2,000 Southeast Missouri residents to the St. Louis Cardinal game against the Cleveland Indians...

WHITEWATER -- Seven mule colts, one only a few days old, sidle up to their Belgian mare mothers in Terry Givens' pasture. In a few years, they'll likely live in Lancaster County, Penn., where they will be prized and worked six days a week by Amish farmers...

While some people are urging Republicans to take a more centralist stand on issues, it is the party's conservative values that make it great, David S. Limbaugh said at the annual Lincoln Day dinner. As featured speaker, Limbaugh, an attorney and syndicated columnist, told the crowd of more than 450 that many people have pronounced conservatism dead and claim that to win elections, Republicans need to restructure...

I'm singing in the rain. OK, more accurately, I'm singing in the shower. I wouldn't be caught dead singing in the rain. Gene Kelly, I'm not. Showers, I'm convinced, were made for singing. It's a whole lot better than in centuries past when mankind had to make do with an infrequent, hot bath in a barrel. It's tough to belt out a ballad in a barrel...

SCOTT CITY -- Walter Rogers, 71, of Sikeston has been charged in an incident of "road rage" that ended in front of the Scott City police station Friday. Rogers was charged with first-degree assault and armed criminal action by Scott County prosecutors Friday for an incident that began on northbound Interstate 55 between Sikeston and Benton...

Vernon Meyr began an educational journey in 1940 at Southeast Missouri State University. Now, 60 years later, he has realized his dream. Dr. Kenneth Dobbins, president of Southeast, presented a master of arts degree in history to Meyr, 79, during a recent ceremony at the Lutheran Home, where Meyr now resides...

Cape Girardeau's Show Me Center sold beer to drinking-age customers at the ZZ Top and Lynyrd Skynyrd concert on March 3. It was the first time since 1991 that beer has been sold at a Show Me Center concert. Center Director David Ross said beer was sold some years ago on a Sunday at a country music performance. Some in the public criticized the move...

Of the 15 movies Cape Girardeau native Christopher Greenwood has been associated with, he's proud of just one -- 1999's "The Green Mile." Greenwood was in charge of video playback on the movie and was seen briefly as a guard, an uncredited role. In a movie, photography and video production career that dates to the early 1980s, he has been an assistant director, grip, set dresser, on-set still photographer and location manager among numerous other jobs on movie sets and music video productions...

When Gary Garner was hired as Southeast Missouri State University's men's basketball coach in June of 1997, nobody really knew for sure if the school had made the right choice. Now, everybody knows. It would be hard to imagine anybody -- not even John Wooden and Dean Smith rolled into one -- doing what Garner has done with the SEMO program...

For Southeast Missouri State University's men's basketball team, the wait is almost over. By very late this afternoon or very early this evening, the Indians will find out who, when and where they will be playing in their first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance on the Division I level...

WEST PLAINS -- Advance High's dream boys basketball season had a nightmarish ending here Saturday night as Billings rallied in the second half for a 62-58 Class 1A quarterfinal victory. Billings (24-6) thus advances to next weekend's Class 1A Final Four in Columbia. Advances finishes at 27-5...

PARK HILLS -- There were no miracles in the works for Scott City on Saturday. The Rams, who pulled off a most unlikely comeback on Wednesday night, saw Whitfield come back from a six-point fourth-quarter deficit as Scott City's final four hopes were demolished 66-58 in a state quarterfinal game at Park Hills Central High School...

PARK HILLS -- There are scoring droughts. Then there is what happened to Notre Dame at Park Hills Central High School on Saturday. The Lady Bulldogs failed to score in the second quarter and hit just one of their 15 shots in a stretch through the second and third quarters as John Burroughs fought off a valiant comeback and ended Notre Dame's state run for the second straight year, 44-40, in a Class 2A state quarterfinal game...

AUBURN, Ala. -- Southeast Missouri State University's gymnasts placed second behind host Auburn in a three-team meet Saturday. Auburn won with a 194.10 total, while Southeast finished with 190.20. Centenary College placed a distant third with 185.85...

Eagle Ridge Christian's girls and New Salem's boys captured championships Saturday during the Ozark Christian Athletic Conference basketball tournament hosted by Eagle Ridge. In the girls final, Eagle Ridge downed New Salem 35-26. In the boys final, New Salem beat Eagle Ridge 63-50...

COLUMBIA -- Ronland Ranson scored 29 points and grabbed 16 rebounds to help New Madrid County Central beat Park Hill South 68-55 Saturday to capture the Missouri Class 3A boys basketball championship. The game was tied 42-42 after three quarters, but NMCC went on a 10-0 run to begin the fourth. Park Hill South (18-12) was called for 28 fouls compared to just nine for NMCC (23-6). That translated into 20 more points at the line for the Eagles...

The SEMO Youth Roller Hockey League is holding registration for its spring season at Cape Skate on March 18. The 4 on 4 league is scheduled to begin on April 12. The league will consist of three levels of play: ages 6-9, 10-12 and 13-15. The $70 registration fee includes jersey, 10 games, two practices and trophies...

The Jackson Rotary Club will hold its annual 3 on 3 Hoopfest Basketball Tournament April 15 at Jackson High School. The event is for males and females, with divisions ranging from ages 10-11 to 30 and over. The tournament will be double elimination. Prizes will be trophies for younger divisions and cash for divisions 18 years of age and older...

The Cape Road Runners will sponsor its 7th annual Spring Classic April 8 at 8 a.m. The event will feature a 5K run, a 5K fitness walk and a 1K run for youths 12 and under. Medals will be awarded in each race for the top three finisher in each age group...

The entry fee is $100 per team. For more information, call Tammie Newman in the evening at 998-3149.

The ASA Slow & Fast Pitch Umpires Clinic will be held Wednesday, March 29, at Shawnee Park Sports Complex. The clinic is for all ASA umpires and anyone interested in becoming an umpire. The clinic is mandatory for umpires wishing to work state or district tournaments...

A men's and coed slow-pitch softball tournaments will be held in Scott City May 6-7. Entry fee is $100. For more information, contact Lance at 264-3112 or Keith at 264-1018.

JEFFERSON CITY -- For the second year in a row, Congress has approved a "conservation action" to enable hunters to help reduce numbers of snow, blue and Ross' geese in order to stop ongoing ecological damage. The action is separate from the regular hunting season, which ended in January. Under the conservation action, hunters are allowed to use some methods not permitted during the regular season. These include hunting with unplugged shotguns, using electronic calls and unlimited daily take...

While there have been numerous reports of mountain lions over the years, it's not proven that any live in Missouri. Suppose you hear a blood curdling scream echoing across the night air. The sound could be from a movie, but many residents claim that a wild cat is making that noise...

Golden English Neely Jr., 69, of Cape Girardeau died Friday, March 10, 2000, at Southeast Missouri Hospital. He was born Sept. 25, 1930, at Poplar Bluff, son of the Golden English and Mollie George Neely Sr. He and Jennie Lee Walker were married on Nov. 6, 1953, at Manila, Ark. He was a member of Bethany Baptist Church in Cape Girardeau and had served as an Air Force meteorologist during the Korean War...

Earl J. Brock Sr., 77, of Cape Girardeau died Friday, March 10, 2000, at Southeast Missouri Hospital. He was born Dec. 8, 1922, at St. Louis, son of James and Johanne Marie Fobian Brock Sr. He had owned and operated Brock Asphalt Co. of Brentwood for 15 years...

Douglas Harold Stevens, 65, of Cape Girardeau died on Saturday, March 11, 2000, at his home. Arrangements are incomplete at Ford & Sons Funeral Home.

Minnie Burgfeld, 92, of Jackson died Saturday, March 11, 2000, at the Lutheran Home in Cape Girardeau. Arrangements are under the direction of McCombs Funeral Home in Jackson.

SCOTT CITY -- Louis William Klughart, 89, of Scott City died Thursday, March 9, 2000, at Lucy Lee Hospital in Poplar Bluff. He was born Nov. 20, 1910, at Ancell, son of John and Rosa Mae Jackson Klughart. He and Frances Faye Gardner were married Oct. 9, 1932, at Fornfelt. She died April 16, 1997...

MARBLE HILL -- Gene H. "Mose" Johnson, 78, of Marble Hill died Friday, March 10, 2000, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. He was born March 9, 1922, near Glen Allen, son of James F. and Bessie Thompson Johnson. He was a member of the Glen Allen Baptist Church and a retired school bus driver for Woodland School District...

HARDIN, Ill. -- Rosetta Crowden, 87, of Hardin, Ill., died Saturday, March 11, 2000, at her home. She was born Dec. 26, 1912, in Lamar, Ark., daughter of John Thomas and Lou Amy Freeman Cochran. She and Robert Lee Crowden were married June 13, 1936, in Lamar. He died Dec. 11, 1988...

Joanna Milne Tygett, 69, of Cape Girardeau died Friday, March 10, 2000, at Saxony Village Manor. She was born May 20, 1930, in Jackson, Miss., daughter of Dr. John and Verna Glavin Milne. She was a graduate of Washington University in St. Louis. She was a member of First Presbyterian Church in Cape Girardeau. She also held memberships in P.E.O. Chapter GF and the Village Garden Club...

SCOTT CITY -- Ruth Littlepage, 91, of Scott City died Saturday, March 11, 2000, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. Arrangements are incomplete at Amick-Burnett Funeral Chapel in Scott City.

SIKESTON -- James E. Turner, 70, died Saturday, March 11, 2000, at Clearview Nursing Center in Sikeston. He was born Dec. 31, 1929. in Elvins, son of the late Glen and Blanche Moyer Turner. He married Dorothy Boehm Nov. 23, 1957, in Potosi. She preceded him in death April 7, 1999...

VILLA RIDGE, Ill. -- Carl Edward Rudolph, 64, of Lake Station, Ind., formerly of Mound City, Ill., died Thursday, March 9, 2000, at Vanderbilt Hospital in Nashville, Tenn. He was born Jan. 26, 1936, in Mound City, son of Jack and Bernice Sowers Rudolph...

SIKESTON -- Minnie Lee, 82, of Sikeston died Friday, March 10, 2000, at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston. She was born Jan. 15, 1918, in Tupelo, Miss., daughter of Joe Abb and Ludie Mae Green Hankins. She had been a caregiver and nurse aid before retiring. She and Finis Lee were married, and he preceded her in death on March 11, 1979...

Birthday celebrations have changed! Two or three generations ago, children were treated to cake after dinner and perhaps a present from immediate family members. Moving into the 1950s and 1960s, "Pin the Tail on the Donkey" and "Musical Chairs" were the highlights of parties celebrated at home with a handful of friends...

I suppose everyone has a special tree he or she remembers. Maybe two or three. God forbid, could there be one person in these United States who has never seen a tree? Only pavement and brick walls? My first favorite tree friend was the black walnut tree in our front yard at the farm. ...

Carol Robbins and Bobby Griffith were married March 4, 2000, at the home of the groom's parents. Randy Alford performed the double ring ceremony. The bride is the daughter of James and Juanita Robbins of Oran. Kenneth and Wanda Griffith of Cape Girardeau are parents of the groom...

JACKSON -- Immaculate Conception Catholic Church was the setting Nov. 6, 1999, for the wedding of Tara Renee Elfrink and Aaron Scott Fischer. Msgr. Edward Eftink performed the double ring ceremony. Organist was Catherine Martin, guitarist was Jim Keusenkothen, flutist was Jill Elder, and violinist was Maggie Martin, all of Jackson. Music was also presented by the church handbell choir. Vocalists were Karen Benefield of Jackson and Bryan Schmid of Columbia...

JACKSON -- Tosha Lee Grimm and Bradley Karl Borgfield exchanged vows Oct. 9, 1999, at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church. Msgr. Edward Eftink performed the double ring ceremony. Lector was Joni Oberhauser of Cape Girardeau. Organist was Catherine Martin. Vocalists were Bobbie Stroup of St. Clair and Bruce Dockins of Jackson...

SIKESTON -- Alison Ann Kitchen and Shawn Michael Morningstar were married Oct. 9, 1999, at First Pentecostal Church. The Rev. Darrell E. Faire performed the ceremony. Pianist was Susan Blackburn and vocalist was Kendra Foster, both of Cape Girardeau...

Donald and Judi Mueller of Chesterfield have announced the engagement of their daughter, Kelly C. Mueller, to Mark A. Eftink. He is the son of Leon and Mary Jane Eftink of Cape Girardeau. Mueller is a registered nurse at Community Hospices of America in Columbia...

ORAN -- Leonard and Verleen Pobst of Oran have announced the engagement of their daughter, Julie LeAnne Pobst, to Ted Joseph Ross. He is the son of Robert and Rosemary Ross of Chaffee. Pobst is a graduate of Oran High School. She is a medical assistant at Ferguson Medical Group in Sikeston...

SCOTT CITY -- Kenny and Diane Page of Scott City have announced the engagement of their daughter, Jennifer L. Page, to Norman Brant Jr. He is the son of Norman and Judy Brant of Scott City. Page is a graduate of Scott City High School. She is employed at Thorngate Ltd. in Cape Girardeau...

JACKSON -- Marvin and Martha Sides of Jackson have announced the engagement of their daughter, Connie Lynn Burroughs, to Michael Ray Heath of Cape Girardeau. He is the son of Ray and Glenda Heath of Eldorado, Ill. Burroughs is a 1986 graduate of Jackson High School. She is employed in the business office at Community Counseling Center in Cape Girardeau...

JACKSON - Kenny and Sharon Jones of Jackson and Glenn Mire of Baton Rouge, La., have announced the engagement of their daughter, Nina Catherine Mire, to Kenneth James Jackson. He is the son of Bill and Linda Jackson of Arnold. Mire is a graduate of Jackson High School. She is a junior at Southeast Missouri State University majoring in psychology. She is employed at Cracker Barrel...

SCOTT CITY -- James E. and Sally Noon of Scott City have announced the engagement of their daughter, Sarah J. Noon, to Britt Mirgaux. He is the son of Lawrence and Virginia Mirgaux of Scott City. Noon is a 1994 graduate of Scott City High School, and is attending St. Louis College of Pharmacy. She is employed at Walgreen's Pharmacy...

Connie Campbell of Nashville, Tenn., and Michael Brazel of Liberty have announced the engagement of their daughter, Marcy Rae Brazel, to Scott Lane Hamann. He is the son of Steven and Katie Hamann of St. Peters. Brazel received a bachelor of science degree in psychology from Southeast Missouri State University in 1995. She is employed at Cape Small Animal Clinic...

CHAFFEE -- Sylvan Brewer and Elaine Huestch of Belleville, Ill., have announced the engagement of their daughter, Robin Leigh Brewer, to James Edward Alsdorf, both of Chaffee. He is the son of Joe and Pat Alsdorf of Chaffee. Brewer received a degree in communication disorders from Southeast Missouri State University in 1998. She is completing a master's degree at Southwest Missouri State University. She is employed by Bell City R-II School District...

ORAN -- Mr. and Mrs. James Dannenmueller of Oran have announced the engagement of their daughter, Lori Ann Mitchell, to John Anthony Scheeter. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Tony Scheeter of Oran. Mitchell is also the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Mitchell of Cape Girardeau...

The open kitchen has convenient access to the formal dining room. The sink window affords a view of the backyard and screened porch. A well-maintained ranch nestled in a neighborhood on a quiet city street is an appealing find in today's hustle-and-bustle world. ...