Stories from Tuesday, April 25, 2000

THE STORY SO FAR: Delia has started fishing with her Grandpa, and they are getting used to each other. One day, he surprises her by telling her the harrowing tale of the "Mirlo" rescue years before, when he was nearly killed. He tells her that she has lifesaving in her blood. He also tells her that lifesavers always go out after people in need -- but they don't always come back...

Nancy Lewer planted petunias in front of the board of education building at Thomas W. Kelly School as part of the landscaping class. BENTON -- Vocational agriculture once prepared students to be farmers, but few students are using their skills professionally anymore...

Award programs are pretty much a dime a dozen. On the Internet, it's the Webby Awards. In its fourth year, the May 11 ceremony in San Francisco will honor the best and the weirdest on the Internet. You can watch the event via a live Webcast. (I like the part that they limit acceptance speeches to five words.)...

CHAFFEE -- Math is best learned through application. Chaffee High School teacher Larry Cleair also believes it should be fun. That's why Cleair, a 25-year teaching veteran, tries to mix in some of his favorite activities with his math and physics classes. ...

Jerra Hutson had problems with her first pregnancy, but her baby was born with no major complications because the problems were detected early with a screening test developed through research funded by the March of Dimes. "I'm one of many people affected by March of Dimes, but I didn't even know it at the time," said Hutson, who will participate in Saturday's WalkAmerica fund raiser for March of Dimes at Cape Girardeau County Park. The goal this year is to raise $27,000...

The Cape Girardeau Board of Education will consider altering boundaries between two schools just one year after overhauling the district's elementary school boundaries. The school board will study a proposal received Monday night for a month and consider the proposed changes during a meeting in May...

Student applications to Southeast Missouri State University for the fall 2000 semester are up 1.5 percent over a year ago and 9.3 percent since 1997. The increase comes even as the university copes with a smaller pool of prospective students in Southeast Missouri...

PERRYVILLE -- After 26 years of managing Perry County's sheltered workshop for the disabled, VIP Industries has been voted out. Eight of nine persons appointed to the county's Senate Bill 40 Board met for the first time Monday, and seven voted not to renew the Cape Girardeau firm's contract...

A series of accidents on Interstate 55 in south Cape Girardeau tied up traffic for over two hours Monday. Six other accidents involving overturned vehicles were reported Monday across Southeast Missouri. Cape Girardeau police responded to the I-55 accidents Monday morning. The five accidents, which occurred within minutes of each other in the northbound lanes, involved 11 vehicles and sent five people by ambulance to St. Francis Medical Center with minor injuries, Cpl. Kevin Eudy said...

Week one of my Tallahassee, Fla., stay is over. I've survived sharing a bedroom with a New York City native and stared into the gaping maw of state politics. And I'm scared. Real scared. I'm here to report on the final weeks of the Florida Legislature's 2000 session. Two lucky co-workers, a man and a woman, landed the same assignment. We're sharing a two-bedroom, two-bathroom apartment our employer rents for just such occasions...

PERRYVILLE -- The Perryville School District will hold the first of three meetings Thursday to discuss challenges facing the district. The first meeting will be held at the Perry County Higher Education Center. The center is in a former grade school at x, about five miles east of Perryville on Highway 51. Additional meetings will be held Monday at the high school library and Tuesday at the St. Rose of Lima Church...

OLIVE BRANCH, Ill. -- Olive Branch area residents can hook into a new sewage-collection and wastewater-treatment facility this week. Construction of a $2.7 million system will allow the 1,380 residents to dispose of sewage without posing a community health or safety risk...

JACKSON -- Jack Priest and the City of Jackson both called in reinforcements Monday night in their continuing dispute over Priest's use of land along the new East Main Street extension. In the wake of calls Priest made to the Jackson police over the weekend, two officers used a metal detector to check for weapons before allowing him to enter City Hall for a Board of Aldermen study session. Priest himself brought along a lawyer who told the board his client "wanted to defuse the situation."...

There is little doubt that methamphetamine, the easy-to-make and highly addictive drug, continues to be a serious problem throughout Missouri. Not only does meth endanger the lives of those who use it and those around them, but homemade labs used to produce meth also pose health and safety hazards...

It was disappointing to learn last week that word games may be holding up $500,000 in already approved federal funding for the relocation of the Southeast Missouri Regional Crime Lab. The crime lab is housed in a converted residence on North Henderson Street on the campus of Southeast Missouri State University. ...

To the editor: What a pleasant surprise to read of the efforts of State Auditor Claire McCaskill. I had long ago determined that no one in government really cared how our valuable tax dollars were spent. The audits that McCaskill has conducted are a breath of fresh air. ...

To the editor: "The times are dark, the spirits of ruin are abroad in all their power, and the mercy of God alone can save us." Although it was Abraham Lincoln who spoke these words in 1862, they apply to us today as well. As our society decays spiritually and morally, we see and hear the effects clearly through daily news broadcasts and newspaper headlines. ...

To the editor: I was astonished to see a headline in the April 24 St. Louis Post-Dispatch which reads, "Republican leaders step up attacks on taking of Elian." In your capacity as an organ for the Republican Party in Missouri, I would appreciate an explanation...

Because of a slow start, Southeast Missouri State University's string of five consecutive Ohio Valley Conference regular-season softball titles is likely to end this year. But the way the Otahkians have rebounded in recent weeks has greatly lifted the spirits of coach Lana Richmond, who believes her team can still accomplish some very special things this season...

The fact that his program has not yet signed any new players for next season does not concern Southeast Missouri State University's men's basketball coach Gary Garner in the least. Garner, in fact, believes it is probably a good sign because the Indians are still in the running for some of their top choices who are still unsigned...

Jenny Doehring, a freshman on Southeast Missouri State University's softball team, has been named the Ohio Valley Conference Co-Pitcher of the Week. Doehring worked three complete games, including tossing a pair of shutouts, for a 3-0 record last week. In 20.1 innings, she had an 0.34 earned-run average while allowing eight hits, striking out 12 and walking three...

BRENTWOOD -- Kindle Ernst netted four goals to lead the St. Vincent girls to a 9-1 victory over Brentwood in high school soccer action. Cari Strattman added three goals and Caitlin Hoeh scored twice as the Squaws improved to 5-4-1 on the season. Mindy Cattoor led St. Vincent with two assists, while Hoeh, Ernst, Strattman, Nicole Richardet, Keisha Clubb and Amy Wengert had one apiece...

Southeast Missouri State University's Jeremy Johnson has been named the Ohio Valley Conference Player of the Week for baseball. Johnson, a senior right fielder, had a huge week at the plate, batting .647 (11-for-17) with two doubles, five home runs, 13 runs scored and 10 runs batted in as the Indians won all five of their games...

Dorothy Enid Shuffler, 79, of Cape Girardeau died Monday, April 24, 2000, at her home. She was born Aug. 25, 1920, in Rutherfordton, N.C., daughter of E. Upton and Saphronia Roper Bryant. She and B.E. "Bill" Shuffler were married Feb. 12, 1952, in Marion, N.C...

ANNA, Ill. -- Lucille B. Bromley, 90, of Havana, Fla., died Thursday, April 20, 2000, in Tallahassee, Fla. She was born Dec. 24, 1909, daughter of Samuel J. and Delphia Ann Dillard Littlejohn. She and Chapman Bromley were married Dec. 24, 1938. He died Dec. 30, 1963...

JONESBORO, Ill. -- Funeral for Wilma F. Carter of Jonesboro will be held at 1 p.m. today at Hileman and Parr Funeral Home, with the Rev. John Prather officiating. Friends may call at the funeral home from 11 a.m. until service time. Another funeral will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday at Bishop Funeral Home in Greenup. Burial will be in Swick Cemetery at Hidalgo...

DEXTER -- Funeral for Sylvia Daisy Maddox of Dexter will be held at 1 p.m. today at Watkins and Sons Funeral Home in Dexter. The Rev. Greg Stevens will officiate. Burial will be in Rock Hill Cemetery near Puxico. Maddox, 83, died Saturday, April 22, 2000, at her home...

Son to Rowe and Becki Arends of Jefferson City, St. Mary's Health Center there, 12:51 a.m. Saturday, March 4, 2000. Name, Kaleb Rowe. Weight, 8 pounds 10 ounces. First child. Mrs. Arends is the daughter of Kenny and Bambi Fowler of Jackson. Arends is the son of Melanie and Larry Crain of Malden, and Warren and Martha Arends of Jonesboro, Ark...

MALDEN -- Graveside service for John C. Blaylock of Malden will be held at 2:30 p.m. today at Rosewood Cemetery in Malden. The Rev. Charlie Shrum will officiate. Friends may call after 1 p.m. today at Watkins and Sons Funeral Home in Dexter. Blaylock, 90, died Saturday, April 22, 2000, at Ridgeview Nursing Center...

ANNA, Ill. -- Robert T. Johnson, 91, of Anna died Monday, April 24, 2000, at Three Rivers Health Care Center in Three Rivers, Mich. Lutz and Rendleman Funeral Home in Anna is in charge of arrangements.

PERRYVILLE -- Bernie Joseph Ruch Sr., 81, of Perryville died Monday, April 24, 2000, at Perry County Memorial Hospital. He was born March 15, 1919, at Silver Lake, son of Moritz and Mary Richardet Ruch. He and Lahoma E. Barron were married Aug. 20, 1947, in St. Louis...

Sharon J. Evans, 55, of Cape Girardeau died Monday, April 24, 2000, at St. Francis Medical Center. She was born Feb. 22, 1945, in Cape Girardeau, daughter of George C. and Virginia Brown McGlone. She and Floyd "Neal" Evans were married Oct. 10, 1970, in Cape Girardeau...

Lester Everet Pind, 82, of Cape Girardeau died Sunday, April 23, 2000, at St. Francis Medical Center. He was born Feb. 17, 1918, in Cape Girardeau, son of George Jack and Carrie Stillwell Pind. He and Imogene Smith were married Feb. 17, 1939, in Perryville...

ALTENBURG -- Vernon Meyr, 78, of Altenburg died Monday, April 24, 2000, at the Lutheran Home in Cape Girardeau. Young and Sons Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.