Stories from Thursday, March 30, 2000

Royal Ballard, 93, of Winter Haven, Fla., and formerly of Union County in Illinois, died Saturday, March 25, 2000, at Winter Haven. He was born Jan. 5, 1907, in Cobden, Ill., the son of Walton and Dorthea Hankla Ballard. He married Elizabeth Lamer May 19, 1945, in Anna, Ill. She survives...

Daughter to Jennifer Denise Brawley of Cape Girardeau, Southeast Missouri Hospital, 10:26 p.m. Wednesday, March 22, 2000. Name, Macy Lee Ann. Weight, 7 pounds 7 ounces. First child. Miss Brawley is the daughter of Richard Brawley of Scott City and Debbie Kinder of Cape Girardeau...

Ceramic sculpture and pottery wait to be judged at Southeast Missouri State University's Art Student Juried Assessment Exhibition. SIU art professor Rick Smith spent Tuesday examining and reacting to art by Southeast students. He was looking for how the students handle ideas and whether those ideas are competently expressed and in a personal way. He might be looking for "something on the edge."...

JB: Being a kind of iconicized figure in the electronic music world, do you think that it has taken the natural evolution that people had originally envisioned, or has it surprised them? Moby: I think that the interesting thing about electronic music is it's become such a broad and disparate genre. ...

Bush, Moby and Bree Sharp will perform Wednesday at the Show Me Center beginning at 7 p.m. in the MTV Campus Invasion. The British pop band Bush broke onto the music scene in 1993 with the album "Sixteen Stone," which produced the singles "Everything Zen," "Machinehead" and "Glycerine." The second album, "Razorblade Suitcase," sold more than 5 million albums with fewer singles...

COBDEN, Ill. -- Robert L. Furlow, 72, of Cobden died Tuesday, March 28, 2000, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. He was born Dec. 26, 1927, in Union County, the son of Earl and Ethel Shingleton Furlow. He married Martha A. Adams March 1, 1947, in Piggott, Ark. She survives...

To the editor: I was sorry to hear of the death of my dear friend, Judy Crow. Mary R. Fox and I used to spend many evenings in her lovely home with its many beautiful pieces of antique furniture. I even helped strip some of those pieces for refinishing in her backyard garden. I have slept in her childhood bed for many years, and now one of my twin grandnieces enjoys it...

I'D LIKE to know what's wrong with these doctors in Cape. Don't they realize people have to work and they only go to the doctor after work hours? And they schedule these appointments weeks in advance in order to get these hours? A lot of times people even have to take off work for an hour or so to keep these appointments. ...

To the editor: Whereas the Cape Girardeau Board of Education has placed an issue on the ballot on April 4 for all citizens of Cape Girardeau to consider, and whereas the proposal would allow the Board of Education to issue $18 million in bonds to complete Phase II of the district's master plan, and whereas under Phase II all elementary schools would be K-4 grades, a 5-6 grade center would be in the current junior high school, a 7-8 grade center would be in the current high school, grades 9-12 would be located in a new comprehensive high school built next to the Career and Technology Center and the aging Schultz School would be closed, and whereas building a new high school and reorganizing the younger grades will allow more space to better meet the needs of the growing number of students enrolled in the Cape Girardeau public school, and whereas the new facilities will not only allow for improved educational opportunities, but will improve local traffic control and student safety, and whereas this bond issue will not require any tax increase, and whereas improved education, as well as student and traffic safety is in the best interest of all of the citizens of the city of Cape Girardeau:. ...

It may be hard to believe that a scant 100 years ago ... The average life expectancy in the United States was 47. Only 8 percent of the homes had a telephone. A three-minute call from Denver to New York City cost $11. There were only 8,000 cars in the U.S. and only 144 miles of paved roads...

To the editor: Twenty-two years ago I moved to California. During that time I witnessed some incredible growth in both Los Angeles and San Francisco. During that same period I watched school bond issue after issue go down in defeat. It affected me most when my kids became part of the school system. ...

An honor-roll student in West Plains ran smack dab into the school district's zero-tolerance policy -- a concept in modern education that tolerates no minor infractions for fear of Columbine shootings -- when he came to school with his hair dyed green and was immediately suspended...

Boot camps have expanded beyond the no-nonsense initiation for recruits entering our armed forces. The regimen, discipline and skill attainment of rigid military training have turned many a lad into a man. And, in recent years, many girls have matured into women after a stint in boot camp...

Missouri's 2.1 million taxpayers would get added tax refunds totaling some $230 million under a class-action lawsuit making its way through Cole County Circuit Court in Jefferson City. Two major business groups -- the Missouri Chamber of Commerce and the Missouri Merchants and Manufacturers Association -- want the state to recalculate the Hancock Amendment refund formula and return more money to state taxpayers...

PERRYVILLE -- It is time for business as usual at the sheltered workshop for the handicapped in Perryville to stop, say some Perry County officials. Complaints about overworking mentally handicapped employees at the workshop are only part of the problem, said state Rep. Patrick Naeger of Perryville. Tens of thousands of dollars are being poorly managed through an advisory board unwilling to take control, he said...

March 30, 2000 Dear Julie, Roofers have been atop our house the past week, replacing broken tiles and repairing leaks. A week before, bricklayers reassembled our decrepit chimney. The replacement bricks and tiles were aged to suit our 85-year-old house. Houses and people are at their best when they're loved and respected...

Everything is still on go for the sale of the Marquette Hotel to a Houston, Texas, businessman. "We had to go to an alternative funding source," said Eugene Davis, "but, we've been assured that the funding is in order and should be available in the near future."...

Perhaps more people wonder about the existence of God than puzzle over the gender of the divine. But the topic is getting more publicity as congregations grapple with issues of women as spiritual and ordained leaders in the church. So what gender is God?...

Naturalist Larry "Tree" Lonik developed a taste for morel mushrooms from his dad, who took him mushroom hunting when he was only 6. He liked the thrill of the hunt and the taste, which he compares to sirloin steak. Now Lonik, whose nickname comes from his 6-foot-7-inch height, is a morel expert who has written a book titled "The Curious Morel," tours the country in the spring talking about them and has his own Web site. ...

An engineering firm has been hired to study how to make the Mississippi River Overlook at Trail of Tears State Park accessible to people with disabilities. Horner & Shifrin Inc. Engineers, Architects, Planners has been hired by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources to do a study on what will be needed to make the overlook accessible, said Sue Holst, an information officer with the Department of Natural Resources...

Southeast Missouri Hospital has filed a certificate-of-need application for its proposed renovation of the Dennis B. Elrod, M.D., Obstetrics and Gynecology Center. The Missouri Health Facilities Review Committee in Jefferson City last week received Southeast's certificate-of-need application, for a proposed $4.3 million renovation to its obstetrics unit...

Giving people some dignity in their lives and work not only helps make them better but benefits the community and church, says the director of a new faith-based mentoring program. Mentoring relationships "not only strengthen the body of Christ and the church, but it means businesses will have employees that meet their needs," said Dennis Ridgon. "Dignity is the key. God gives us dignity as his sons and daughters, and that is the key to taking a risk and moving from welfare to a low-income job."...

A man convicted of smuggling illegal aliens across the Mexican border has been sentenced for his own illegal border crossing, the U.S. attorney's office said. Rosalio Gonzalez, 38, of Mexico, received 46 months in prison for the felony of illegal entry into the United States, said Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Price. He was sentenced by U.S. District Judge E. Richard Webber this week...

Cape Girardeau could get another Christian school within the year, if plans continue as expected. The Seventh-Day Adventist Church hopes to open a school for students in grades 1-8 by 2001, said Pastor Lee Whitman. The congregation is currently in the process of buying and surveying land that adjoins its existing property on South West End Boulevard near the intersection of Missouri Route 74...

Jackson's Andrea Koeper may have not been on the best team, but ask about any coach who has played against Jackson and he or she will tell you there were no finer players in this part of the state this past high school basketball season. Koeper was recognized for her outstanding season by being named to the Class 4A all-state first team, which was released today...

Notre Dame's Brian Obermann and Chaffee's Matt Stroup are touted as two of the area's top high school pitchers and they did nothing to damage their reputations Wednesday. Offense was at a premium as Obermann hurled the host Bulldogs past Stroup's Red Devils 4-1. The final few innings of the game were played in a steady rain, although action was never stopped...

SIKESTON -- As far as baseball goes, the weather couldn't have been any worse -- cold, wet and muddy. But the Sikeston Bulldogs (3-0, 3-0 SEMO Conference) made the most of it as they rallied for a 4-2 win over the Cape Girardeau Central Tigers Wednesday at VFW Stadium. The game was called in the sixth inning due to the weather...

Josh Miller carded a score of 40 for nine holes to lead the Cape Girardeau Central High boys golf team to a six-stroke victory over Farmington at the Cape Girardeau Country Club Wednesday. Central's team total of 169 included Nick Harter (41), Drew Christian (43) and Dusty York (45)...

Scott City football coach Roy Williams, Fredericktown coach Kent Gibbs and New Madrid coach Ron Jones represent Southeast Missouri as coaches at the Missouri Lions All Star Game this year. In 1984, Gibbs, who was at Hayti, and Williams, who was then at Berkely, coached the game together...

Southeast Missouri State University's scheduled baseball game at Arkansas State Wednesday was canceled because of rain. A makeup date for the contest has not yet been selected. The Indians, 17-5 overall and 4-1 in the Ohio Valley Conference, will play a three-game, non-league series this weekend at Belmont in Nashville, Tenn...

Considering that she does much of her recruiting in the St. Louis area, Southeast Missouri State University women's soccer coach Heather Nelson figures playing an exhibition game at the Kiel Center can do nothing but further help spread the program's word...

SCOTT CITY -- Everett Monroe Riley, 86, of Scott City died Wednesday, March 29, 2000, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. He was born June 18, 1913, at Rolla, son of William E. and Frances Ellen Honea Riley. He and Eva Lois Story were married Jan. 12, 1934, at Benton. She died April 29, 1997...

SIKESTON -- Private funeral for Doris F. Brotherton of Sikeston will be held at 1 p.m. today at Nunnelee Funeral Chapel, with the Rev. Tom Geers officiating. Brotherton, 54, died Tuesday, March 28, 2000, at Sikeston Convalescent Center. She was born Feb. 14, 1946, in Franklin, Ala., daughter of Charles R. and Gloria D. Whited Hammock...

MARBLE HILL -- Mildred M. Abernathy, 72, of Arnold and formerly of Marble Hill, died Friday, March 24, 2000, at the home of a daughter in Arnold. She was born July 26, 1927, at Lutesville, daughter of Samuel and Grace Hilderbrand. For many years she owned and operated a beauty shop in Lutesville...

PERRYVILLE -- Lillian Aurelia "Babe" Moll, 89, of Perryville died Tuesday, March 28, 2000, at her home. She was born Feb. 11, 1911, at Minnith, daughter of George and Lillian Tucker Griffard. She and Ben E. Moll were married Nov. 23, 1928, at St. Charles. He died March 24, 1989...

Kenneth P. Thiele, 34, of Cape Girardeau died Wednesday, March 29, 2000, at Southeast Missouri Hospital. He was born April 16, 1965, in Cape Girardeau, son of Louis and Janice Friedhoff Thiele. He and Cheryl Weimer were married Jan. 12, 1985, in Cape Girardeau...

William Eugene "Dan" Hampton, 90, of Cape Girardeau died Tuesday, March 28, 2000, at St. Francis Medical Center. He was born Feb. 9, 1910, at Whitewater, son of Martin and Cora Lape Hampton. He and Hazel Wilson were married Oct. 17, 1935, in Cape Girardeau. She died Aug. 23, 1969...

CAIRO, Ill. -- Joseph A. Huffman Sr., 80, of Cairo died Tuesday, March 28, 2000, at Lourdes Hospital in Paducah, Ky. He was born Feb. 16, 1920, in Cairo, son of Floyd and Josephine McElhaney Huffman. His wife, Alvina, died Aug. 8, 1998. Huffman was a licensed insurance agent and owner of Huffman Insurance Agency in Cairo. He was a veteran of World II serving in the U.S. Army...

NEW HAMBURG -- Jerome Dean Bradshaw, 62, of Chaffee died Tuesday, March 28, 2000, at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston. He was born July 21, 1937, at Lutesville, son of Hurma and Thelma Eaker Bradshaw. He and Letty Williams were married Aug. 11, 1956, in Cape Girardeau...

Memorial service for William F. Suedekum Jr. of Arcadia, Fla., will be held at 7 p.m. today at Faith Lutheran Church in Punta Gorda, Fla. Suedekum, 78, died Monday, March 27, 2000. He was born Sept. 13, 1921, in Cape Girardeau. Suedekum moved to Arcadia in 1990 from Republic. He was a member of the Exchange Club and Kiwanis Club in Cape Girardeau. He was a retired salesman...

KELSO -- Helen Bernice Niederkorn, 83, of Roselle, Ill., died Tuesday, March 28, 2000, in the Hospice House at Alexian Brothers Hospital in Elk Grove Village, Ill. She was born Sept. 18, 1916, at Oran, daughter of Robert and Verna Crow Vaughn. She and Anton William Niederkorn were married May 18, 1935, in Cape Girardeau. He died Nov. 21, 1986...

C. Ruth Eichhorn, 85, of Cape Girardeau died Tuesday, March 28, 2000, at St. Francis Medical Center. She was born Sept. 21, 1914, in McLeansboro, Ill., daughter of Wilford and Sadie Tieman Smithpeters. She married Paul N. Eichhorn in 1931 in Morris, Ill. He died Dec. 8, 1999...

JACKSON -- Grace Ester Johnson, 93, of Jackson died Wednesday, March 29, 2000, at Jackson Manor Nursing Home. She was born Aug. 4, 1906, at Sedgewickville, daughter of Rudolph and Catherine Bollinger Statler. She and Charles Roy Johnson were married July 27, 1923. He died Aug. 5, 1978...

SCOTT CITY -- Ora L. Mosley, 75, of Michigan City, Ind., died Tuesday, March 28, 2000, at St. Anthony Memorial Health Care Center. She was born Jan. 26, 1925, in Berkley, Ky., daughter of Orion Lindell and Laura Isabelle Moreland Brock. She and Robert Lee Mosley were married Aug. 9, 1941, in Cape Girardeau. He died Nov. 28, 1997...

SIKESTON -- Amy E. Langston, 93, of Sikeston died Wednesday, March 29, 2000, at Clearview Nursing Center. She was born March 13, 1907, in Princeton, Ky., daughter of John and Mary Stone Humes. She married John Langston Jan. 13, 1948. He died Feb. 14, 1993...

SCOTT CITY -- Marcus V. Lauck, 85, of Springfield died Wednesday, March 29, 2000, at Mercy Villa in Springfield. He was born April 9, 1914, at Ancel, son of Vince and Frances Blattel Lauck. He and Effie Marie Cohoon were married Aug. 9, 1937. She died Sept. 18, 1988...

DONGOLA, Ill. -- Funeral for Ruby Dillow of Dongola will be held at 11:30 a.m. Saturday at Crain Funeral Home in Dongola. The Rev. Raymond Oxford will officiate. Burial will be in St. John's Cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home from 5-9 p.m. Friday, and Saturday until service time...