Stories from Saturday, March 25, 2000

Maybe you've heard about the loaves and fishes, but what did Jesus and his disciples eat? What about the rulers and kings of the first centuries after Christ? Food tells a lot about a people, and the youth at First Christian Church are learning about the earliest Christians by preparing their foods...

The band Testimony led the Wednesday night youth service at Lynwood Baptist Church. Members include, from left: drummer Josh Reimann and singers Kyle Meadows, Marquis Brookins, Austin Brewer and Alison Eaton. Whether it is in the soft, blended voices of a preschool children's choir or the full-throated sound of a gospel song, more children and youth are singing at churches and in public performances...

The Southeast Missouri State University Board of Regents Friday hiked fees and room and board charges for the 2000-2001 academic year even as some members expressed concern about the ever-growing cost of education. The regents unanimously adopted the administration's recommended fee hikes at their meeting in the University Center Ballroom...

Some Cape Girardeau utility customers may be in shock this week after erroneously receiving bills for about twice the amount of their normal monthly bill. The error occurred on utility bills mailed by the city Wednesday. Some customers were billed for last month's estimated water use in addition to this month's use even though they already had paid last month's bill...

This week I found out firsthand what a superwoman does. A superwoman is able to care for the sick, feed the hungry, patch up the injured, entertain the traveler, complete work assignments and attend necessary meetings in a single bound. Basically, she manages to juggle home, work and community without dropping any of the balls...

JACKSON -- Retired BioKyowa plant manager Joe Gambill filed Friday for Cape Girardeau County Second District commissioner. The Cape Girardeau Republican's candidacy sets up another election battle with Democrat Max Stovall, the incumbent commissioner...

About a dozen members of the Alzheimer's Association from the Cape Girardeau area will be among the 300 or so members from across the state who will travel to Jefferson City March 28 to talk to their state legislators about a bill that affects Alzheimer's patients...

JACKSON -- A Jackson school bus driver whose driver's license had been suspended by the state last year has been suspended from driving pending an investigation by school officials. Superintendent Ron Anderson said Friday the driver was suspended about a week ago immediately after the district was notified by state officials that her driver's license had been suspended. ...

DUDLEY -- Two people were killed and four others seriously injured in an accident Thursday, the state Highway Patrol said. The wreck occurred at approximately 4:48 p.m., about half a mile south of Dudley on Route TT. Marylin Hill, 47, of Dexter was driving her 1990 Oldsmobile north on the two-lane road when she lost control. Her car swerved into the path of a southbound 1987 Dodge driven by Jeffrey Harty, 32, of Wappapello...

Southeast Missouri State University volleyball coach Cindy Gannon will be the guest Sunday on KRCU's "Going Public" show. Gannon will discuss the school's volleyball program and the impact of Title IX on university athletics. The show airs at 3 p.m. on 90.9 FM, the region's National Public Radio affiliate station...

Students tapped out "Happy Birthday" on drums, teachers danced to the Broadway tune "One" and Blanchard Elementary School principal Barbara Kohlfeld showed her prowess with a hula hoop Friday, all to honor school namesake Barbara Blanchard on her birthday...

To the editor: It's not Random Acts of Kindness Week, nor should anyone wait until one special day to acknowledge any unselfish acts of benevolence or generosity. For all not-for-profit organizations like SEMO Alliance for Disability Independence, our dependence on community support goes beyond monetary giving, although that is any charitable entity's primary goal. ...

Why do you suppose the Framers were so insistent that only virtuous men serve as president? To set a moral example for the nation? Oh, yes, but there's much more to it than that. Before you Clintonoids wrongly assume I am waxing nostalgic for impeachment and urge me to move on, you should hear me out. Despite the brilliant scheme of checks and balances incorporated into the Constitution, the system is not foolproof against the devices of clever and deceitful men...

The Cape Girardeau County Commission has picked eight acres of land in Cape Girardeau for a new juvenile justice center. The location in an industrial area at the corner of Progress and Enterprise streets seems ideal. The county has been looking for nearly two years for a suitable site to build the center, which is estimated to cost between $2.5 million and $3 million. It would serve offenders age 12 to 17 from Cape Girardeau, Bollinger and Perry counties...

The Riverfest Association has decided to take a year off. It will reorganize its board and look at the possibility of an improved celebration in 2001. This is a good decision considering the fact Riverfest has suffered in both attendance and donations in recent years...

For the second straight weekend, Southeast Missouri State University's baseball team will play an Ohio Valley Conference series on the road against one of the league's traditional powers. The Indians, who split a pair of games at Eastern Illinois last Saturday before having the scheduled Sunday single contest rained out, is in Clarksville, Tenn., today for the start of a three-game series against Austin Peay...

JACKSON -- The Notre Dame Bulldogs were about to get their rear ends chewed. Instead, they got them in gear. Trailing 7-3 going into the seventh inning, Notre Dame -- ranked No. 1 in Class 2A -- scored five runs to take the lead and eventually beat the Jackson Indians 13-8 in a wild, 10-inning game Friday...

Southeast Missouri State University's amazing men's basketball season ended more than a week ago, but fans of the Indians took one more opportunity to cheer for their beloved team Friday evening. More than 600 Southeast supporters turned out at the Show Me Center for `A Championship Celebration' honoring the 1999-2000 Indians, who compiled a number of firsts on the Division I level...

Cape Girardeau Central's girls soccer team got its season started on the right foot Friday as the Lady Tigers prevailed in a matchup of state final four teams from last year. The Lady Tigers, fourth in Class 4A last season, defeated St. Louis Notre Dame -- which was third in Class 1A-3A a year ago -- 2-1 during first-day action in the eight-team I-55 Tournament at Notre Dame High School...

CARBONDALE, Ill. -- Southeast Missouri State University's softball team posted an easy win and suffered a heartbreaking loss as the Southern Illinois Tournament got under way Friday. After rolling past Western Kentucky 8-1, Southeast saw Northern Iowa score six runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to stun the Otahkians 9-8...

CHAFFEE -- The Chaffee High School baseball team cruised to a 9-2 win over a young, slightly banged-up Kelly squad Friday. Scoring at least one run in every inning, Chaffee never trailed and evened its season record at 1-1. The Red Devils had suffered a tough eight-inning loss to Cape Central in their opener...

Leslie McNamara, a senior cross country runner at Southeast Missouri State University, has been named to the 1999-2000 GTE Academic All-District VII Fall/Winter At-Large team. Southeast sophomore Amy Arteme, a Kelly High School product, was named second-team GTE Academic All-District...

MOUNDS, Ill. -- Graveside service for Patricia Herera of Mounds will be held at 1 p.m. today at West Eden Cemetery in Cypress. The Rev. Ronald Null will officiate. Friends may call at Wilson Funeral Home in Karnak from 10 a.m. to noon. Herera, 37, died Thursday, March 23, 2000, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau, Mo...

Funeral for Joyce M. Godwin of Cape Girardeau will be held at 1:30 p.m. Sunday at Ford and Sons Sprigg Street Chapel. The Rev. Roger Christiansen will officiate. Burial will be in Lorimier Cemetery. Friends may call at the chapel from 4-8 p.m. today...

MARBLE HILL -- Elsie Geraldine Smith, 75, of Marble Hill died Thursday, March 24, 2000, at her home. She was born May 4, 1924, at Lesterville, daughter of Elmer Todd and Liza Copeland. She and Edward Smith were married July 12, 1946, in Nashville, Ill...

Son to Allan Lee and Madelyn I. Sample of Cape Girardeau, Southeast Missouri Hospital, 7:48 a.m. Friday, March 17, 2000. Name, Zachary Allan. Weight, 9 pounds 5 ounces. Second child, first son. Mrs. Sample is the former Madelyn Schmucker, daughter of the Rev. ...

WAPPAPELLO -- Jeffrey M. Harty, 32, of Wappapello died Thursday, March 23, 2000, from injuries received in an automobile accident near Dudley. He was born Jan. 24, 1968, in St. Louis, son of Loyd and Judy Clark Harty. He and Lorie Griffin were married July 1, 1989, at Puxico...

Graveside service for Kenneth Clemmons of Los Angeles, Calif., was held Friday at Lorimier Cemetery. The Rev. Randy Tochtrop officiated. Ford and Sons Mt. Auburn Chapel was in charge of arrangements. Clemmons, 59, died Friday, March 17, 2000, at his home...

BELL CITY -- Dwight "Tumble" Jennings, 74, of Bell City died Thursday, March 23, 2000, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. He was born Jan. 9, 1926, at Bell City, son of Thomas Allen and Ruth Ann Oakley Jennings. Jennings was a lifelong resident of rural Bell City and a retired farmer...

BENTON -- Gordon Carver, 74, of Benton died Thursday, March 23, 2000, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. He was born March 28, 1925, in Antlers, Okla., son of Jesse Hubert and Beulah Mae Robbins Carver. He and Lilly Brewer were married Aug. 13, 1946, in Piggott, Ark...

THEBES, Ill. -- Funeral for John Butcher Sr. of Thebes will be held at 1 p.m. Sunday at First Baptist Church. The Rev. Carl D. Fisher will officiate. Burial will be in Old Thebes Cemetery, with military rites by Carroll P. Foster VFW Post 3455 of Anna...