Stories from Sunday, April 30, 2000

Firefighters from the Jackson Fire Rescue Unit and other area fire departments showed bystanders what they do, and why, Saturday. The demonstration also gave the different departments the chance to work together, as well as compare notes. The demonstration, held at the Jackson Wal-Mart parking lot, included removing the tops of two cars with the fabled "Jaws of Life" equipment and extracting a victim/dummy. Another crowd-pleaser was the engulfing of a sample "room."...

COPTER TALK: Personnel from the Lifeline helicopter of Southeast Hospital were on hand to answer spectators' questions. Jackson USA Signal/Mark Evans...

My daughter had an 18-month-old son, and her friend had an 18-month-old daughter. On an auto trip, the little girl died of carbon monoxide poisoning. My daughter is a highly volatile person, and she became hysterical. When we got her quieted enough to go and see her friend, the friend asked me to sing at the baby's funeral. ...

We be Bloods We be Crips We be bad We be hip Too bad for school Too hip you fool We cruise the loop We shoot some hoop We sell some smack We smoke some crack We be bad We be hip We be Bloods We be Crips We be dead What's the diff

If it hadn't been for Lisa Lane, executive director of Southeast Missouri Weed and Seed Inc., I wouldn't have been allowed to attend the community event sponsored by Time magazine last week. During an interview with Time's Midwest bureau chief, Lisa mentioned me and asked if I had received an invitation to the meeting...

I'm sure every reader has been breathlessly awaiting today's paper to get my take on Monday's ABC movie on the lives of the Three Stooges. After all, where else in a smaller community, can one go for such intellectual enlightenment? Within the realm of Stooge fans, though, April 24 (the date of the made-for-TV movie) was a long-awaited -- and in many cases, long-dreaded -- date. ...

He came to walk the Calvary's road the only man for such a load. He came a Jew, God's chosen race, but from God's plan they turned their face. His mind as sharp as broken glass, his love as deep as a mountain pass. and gave their life and all for him...

I'd like to tell you a story, of a sinner like you and me. How he was in the pits of Hell, and how Jesus set him free. when he awoke in his bed. He was sick from drunkenness, and there was awful pain in his head. He cried out, "Somebody help me," but only to his despair...

I probe my mind and thoughts alike To find some words that fit just right. How can I, a space age man Relate myself to God's great plan? But in my heart, I'll never believe That this great world just came to be. Some would say, they came to be From monkeys hanging in the trees...

He ran the l o n g cold mile to the bus stop where she stood waiting under the street lamp. For a brief half hour, snowflakes melted on their warm, red faces while he prayed the bus would be late for the l o n g mile ride to his cold apartment.

A friend is one who is always there, No matter when or where. To encourage and to comfort you, No matter what you do. To share their concern and love, And give you an occasional hug. One who listens to your groan and moan, Even if we talk for hours on the phone...

Associated Sheet Metal, Inc., of Jackson currently has three apprentices enrolled in the Sheet Metal Apprentice Training Program. The apprentices are Blaine Morton, Jeff Ostendorf and Dan Smith. All are in their first year of the five-year program. More than 20 apprentices have graduated from the program that started at Associated Sheet Metal, In., over the years...

Serveral new books are available at the main Jackson facility of the Riverside Regional Libary. In the adult division, new titles include Headache and Neck Pain Workbook, by Douglas E. DeGood; Blue Jelly, by Gail Debby Bull; Wicked Widow, by Amanda Quick; and Hugger Mugger, by Robert B. Parker...

OWINGS MILLS, Md. -- Arts and Kids is pleased to announce that $38,000.00 in prizes and scholarships will be awarded this year in it's Annual Art Competition. Students from the Jackson area, particularly beginners, are welcome to try to win their share of over 115 prizes...

Medical savings accounts, which are best thought of as similar to an individual retirement account for health-care purchases, are in the news once again. A very slanted Associated Press article published last week misled readers on this promising health-care reform. ...

25 years ago, 1975 Jackson R-2 High School offers broad curriculum containing 22 more units of study than average North Central Association school, but there is lack of course work suitable for non-college bound youth; these are two points made in North Central evaluation report on high school curriculum which was presented to Board of Education Tuesday night...

Coming up this week is the annual Mayors Prayer Breakfast. Official duties in your state Capitol will prevent my being here. Believe me, we need the prayers. Scanning the news, it is clear that unless resisted, the forces of societal dissolution advance on all fronts...

The Muscular Dystrophy Association is currently seeking applications from people who would like to volunteer to spend a week as counselors at the MDA summer camp at Babler State Park in Wildwood, Mo. Volunteers will act as companions to campers (ages 6-21) with neuromuscular diseases during the camp session to be held June 25-July 1. ...

The news out of Kansas City informs us one of that community's new charter schools has been put on probation during its first year in operation following an audit performed by Central Missouri State University on all the schools it charters. Good. About this development, several observations are in order...

What's a random acts of kindness? No one says it better than Daphne Rose Kingma of Santa Barbara, Calif., who wrote the forward in the first of a series of Random Acts of Kindness books. Kingma observed: Random Acts of Kindness are those sweet or lovely things we do for no reason except that, momentarily, the best of our humanity has sprung into full bloom...... you are doing not what life requires of you, but what the best of your human soul invites you to do...

Cape Girardeau funeral home director William Kuss plans to do his part to raise money for construction of the National World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C. Kuss operates Lorberg Memorial Funeral Chapel and is a member of the National Funeral Directors Association, which is seeking to raise $5 million toward the project...

A few more than a dozen placards were raised to protest conditions for the handicapped in Cape Girardeau on Saturday. Dave Grant, who made the placards, would like more options for the disabled in Cape Girardeau County than what VIP Industries can offer...

JACKSON -- Jackson residents will meet with school officials Tuesday to discuss growth needs of the district. The meeting will be held at 7:30 p.m. at the middle school. Board of Education members, school administrators and anyone interested in developing solutions is invited to attend...

Forget Al Gore and George Bush. Americans have a third choice in November. They can vote for presidential Barbie. She's beautiful, elegantly dressed and very popular. Dressed in an ice blue suit and sporting a "Barbie for President" button on her lapel, the slender doll made by Mattel is running for the highest office in the land. She's doing so from a red, white and blue box advertising "Barbie President 2000."...

Saturday was a perfect day for working in the yard, but about 250 residents spent the day cleaning and planting in Cape Girardeau parks instead. Volunteers worked in 23 parks throughout the city as part of the annual Friends of the Parks Day. For more than 15 years, the event has been held to help prepare the city's parks for the summer...

The long-awaited day has finally arrived. Star Wars episode 1, "The Phantom Menace" videos are out! You can bet our family bought one the very first day. We watch eagerly the previous three Star Wars releases occasionally, and the dialogue from those movies is a part of our dialogue. ...

You'll never catch Jeremy Johnson boasting about all he has accomplished as one of the best baseball players Southeast Missouri State University has ever produced. He's just not that type of person. But the records and statistics speak for themselves...

Southeast Missouri State University baseball coach Mark Hogan is realistic enough to believe that the Indians were not likely to win the remainder of their games this season. That's why Hogan, while a bit disappointed, was still more than willing to accept the Indians' doubleheader split with Ohio Valley Conference foe Murray State Saturday afternoon...

Notre Dame must have ate big before the Big 8. The Bulldogs had just a little more pop and seemed just a bit sharper than the Cape Central Tigers Saturday as Notre Dame won its first Big 8 championship, 14-9, over its cross-town rival at Tiger Field...

Jackson's girls soccer team finished off an impressive weekend Saturday by winning the Noon Optimist Spring Classic with a 3-1 victory over rival Cape Girardeau Central. The Lady Indians won all three of their games and outscored the opposition 11-1 during the eight-team, two-day tournament played at Notre Dame High School...

Southeast Missouri high school baseball leadersHome runs Batting average (Minimum 25 at-bats) Runs batted in Doubles Triples Runs Stolen bases Walks PITCHING Wins Earned Run Average (minimum 15 innings pitched) Jason Van de Ven, Leopold 0.95 Strikeouts...

Rob Maxwell of St. Charles recently recorded a hole-in-one at Bent Creek on No. 6, a 158-yard par 3. Maxwell used a 7-iron to accomplish the feat. Witnesses were Bob Maxwell, Shannon Davidson and Greg Margeson.

Based on a favorable weather forecast, Doug Gannon expects a large turnout for today's 16th annual Steamboat Classic Triathlon that will be held in Cape Girardeau. And Gannon emphasizes that it's not too late to enter the event sponsored by the Cape Girardeau Parks & Recreation Department. Registration will be held today from 8-9:30 a.m. at the Cape Central Pool, with the triathlon scheduled to begin at 10 a.m...

This season's track leaders in the Southeast Missourian's coverage area (Area-best times) BOYS 4x800 -- Cape Central 8:36.3 110 hurdles -- Jon Coleman, Jackson :15.78 100 -- Mario Whitney, Jackson :10.48 Discus -- Jeff Thiele, Cape Central 150-1 Long jump -- Ross Conner, Cape Central 21-7...

MOREHEAD, Ky. -- The Southeast Missouri State women's softball team split an Ohio Valley Conference doubleheader with Morehead State on Saturday, winning the opener 5-0 before dropping the nightcap 6-1. Southeast remained at .500 for the season at 22-22 and went to 12-7 in the OVC...

Have you ever noticed when a certain plant or shrub is in bloom, how it will be covered in honeybees, or have butterflies flitting around? Do you have a neighbor who has hummingbird feeders or other types of birdfeeders? Do you enjoy finding a mourning dove nest in the crook of your fruit tree? Would you like to see more wildlife in your backyard?...

PATTON -- Loretta Ruth Welker, 77, of Patton died Friday, April 28, 2000, at her home. Welker was born Nov. 6, 1922, at Fredericktown, daughter of Walter K. and Jettie Sebaugh Mungle. She and Carl D. Welker were married March 16, 1944. He died Jan. 25, 1979...

ANNA, Ill. -- Betty E. Spears, 68, of Anna died Saturday, April 29, 2000, at Union County Hospital. She was born Jan. 15, 1932, at Anna, daughter of Cecil and Edith Adams Boyd. She and Chester L. Spears were married May 29, 1954, at Chicago. He died May 12, 1998...

SIKESTON -- Floy O. Jackson, 81, of Matthews died Friday, April 28, 2000, at the Missouri Delta Medical Center. She was born Oct. 29, 1918, at Lauderdale County, Ala., daughter of John Orville and Tennie Leslie Gray LeMay. She and James Doyal Jackson were married Dec. 29, 1939, at Vina, Ala. He died July 15, 1992...

PUXICO -- C. Rudy Clark, 65, of Wappapello died Saturday, April 29, 2000, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. He was born Nov. 24, 1934, at Dudley, son of Lester and Gertie Allen Clark. He and Bevelyn Shubert were married Sept. 1, 1990, at Dudley...

Kenneth Thair Carter, 85, formerly of Ellington, passed away Wednesday, April 26, 2000, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. He was born April 3, 1915, in St. Johns, Mich., second son of Volney A. and Anna Irene Eibach Carter. Preceding him in death was his parents and a brother, Walter Blackburn Carter...

HARRISONVILLE -- Mary Ellen Ferguson, 89, of Harrisonville died on Monday, April 24, 2000, at Golden Years Care Services. Ferguson was born Nov. 10, 1910, daughter of Will and Genney Davis Crowden. She and Thomas Luther Ferguson were married Dec. 26, 1952, in Benton...

ADVANCE -- Irene Marie Pink, 95, of Brownwood died Friday, April 28, 2000, at her home. She was born Nov. 15, 1904, at St. Louis, daughter of Ellis and Christine Henke Royer. She and Roy H. Pink were married Sept. 19, 1931, at St. Louis. He died July 23, 1959...

BLOOMFIELD -- James D. Evans, 69, of Bloomfield died Saturday, April 29, 2000, at his home. He was born July 30, 1930, at the Fairview community near Puxico, son of William Lawrence and Velma May Jackson Evans. He and Betty Lou Lee were married Nov. 6, 1946...

SIKESTON -- Joe Emerson, 37, of Jackson, died on Saturday, April 29, 2000, at Southeast Missouri Hospital due to injuries sustained in an accident near Old Appleton. He was born Aug. 2, 1962, son of Jimmie and Gene Whittley Emerson of Sikeston. Emerson, formerly of Morley, was a member of the Morley Baptist Church and a 1980 graduate of Scott County Central High School. ...

A Jackson man died when his pickup truck flew off the interstate and landed in a creek late Friday night, the state Highway Patrol said. Randy Joe Emerson, 37, was driving a Ford pickup truck near the junction of Highway 61 and Interstate 55 when his truck struck a bridge railing about 11:30 p.m., the highway patrol said. The truck became airborne and landed in a creek...

Melissa Weber's cat Katie examines company, looking out the front door of her house off of Route A in Frohna. Glenn Weber, Lenord Hoehen, Ellis Hecht and Don Wunderlich regularly play 7 point pitch at Harold's. You can find a group of guy's playing pitch at Harold just about any day of the week. "They call it pitch 'cause if you get mad you can pitch your cards and leave," Weber explained...

Today I made an inventory of a different kind. I counted the number of return address labels I currently have. The total is 931. Tomorrow it may be increased by 33. In making my inventory I noticed 33 seems to be the favorite number for one sheet. I probably will have four letters to mail. So?...

JACKSON -- Mr. and Mrs. Raymond Reiminger of Jackson celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary with an open house April 16, 2000, at Mac's Smokehouse Airport Restaurant in Cape Girardeau. Approximately 100 guests attended the event. Reiminger and Jo Ann Biler were married April 26, 1950, at St. Ambrose Catholic Church in Chaffee. Their attendants were Peggy Denton and Theo Reiminger, brother of the groom...

Mr. and Mrs. Marvin Smith of Cape Girardeau celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary Feb. 18, 2000, at their winter home in Clearwater, Fla. Smith and Lois Wiley were married in Cape Girardeau by the Rev. A.J. Langston. He was employed 38 years at Lone Star. Mrs. Smith is a nurse and worked at several health care facilities...

JACKSON -- Melvin and Loretta Uelsmann of Jackson announce the engagement of their daughter, Kristina Lynn Uelsmann, to Robert Bradley Stout. He is the son of Frank and Berta Stout of Ellington. Uelsmann received a bachelor of science degree in health management from Southeast Missouri State University in 1999. She is employed at Southeast Outpatient Rehabilitation in Cape Girardeau...

Wayne and Carolyn Nenninger of Cape Girardeau announce the engagement of their daughter, Kassie Elizabeth Bartlett, to James Arthur Foust of Cape Girardeau. He is the son of James and Verlee Foust of St. James. Bartlett is a graduate of Notre Dame High School, and is majoring in business at Southeast Missouri State University...

JACKSON -- Mr. and Mrs. Brian F. Miller of Jackson announce the engagement of their daughter, Maegan Elizabeth Miller, to Jonathan Marc Jensen. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Arnold W. Jensen of Florissant. Miller is a 1998 graduate of Jackson High School, and is a student at Shawnee Community College in Ullin, Ill...

JACKSON -- Mike and Martha Riehn of Jackson announce the engagement of their daughter, Melanie Louise Riehn, to Leo Edward McElrath IV of Cape Girardeau. He is the son of Leo and Carolyn McElrath of Jackson. Riehn is a 1997 graduate of Jackson High School. She is employed by Cape Girardeau County Recorder of Deeds...

JACKSON -- Judith K. Rose and Donald G. Cathcart of Jackson announce the engagement of their daughter, Lanna Kay Cathcart, to Kevin Lee Williams. He is the son of Hursel A. and Mary L. Williams of Morley. Cathcart is a 1991 graduate of Jackson High School. She is employed at SEMO Otolaryngology in Cape Girardeau...

Bill and Leslie Phillips of Chesterfield announce the engagement of their daughter, Kerie Phillips of Cape Girardeau, to Matthew Seabaugh. He is the son of Terry and Mona Seabaugh of Jackson. Phillips is a 1994 graduate of Central High School. She is a hairstylist at JCPenney Styling Salon...

JACKSON -- Tom and Tandra Allen of Jackson announce the engagement of their daughter, Tori April Allen, to David Wayne Mirly. He is the son of Kenny and Joann Mirly of New Wells. Allen is a 1996 graduate of Jackson High School, and expects to receive a degree in business administration from Southeast Missouri State University in May. She is employed by MidAmerica Hotels Corp./Drury Restaurants in Cape Girardeau...

Tom and Cindy Robbins of Cape Girardeau and Larry Fadler of Festus announce the engagement of their daughter, Cassandra Nicole Fadler, to Matthew Douglas Dameron. He is the son of Tom and Cheryl Dameron of Jackson. Fadler is employed at Sincerely Yours Secretarial Service...

JACKSON -- Mr. and Mrs. Earl Burnett of Jackson announce the engagement of their daughter, Deanna Lynn Burnett, to John Patrick Haley. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Gerald Haley of St. Louis. Burnett is sales manager at Commercial Mail Services in Cape Girardeau...

NEW HAMBURG -- Ralph and Debbie Heisserer of New Hamburg announce the engagement of their daughter, Nikki Suzanne Heisserer, to Benjamin John Urhahn. He is the son of Tom and Clara Urhahn of Oran. Heisserer is a 1998 graduate of Thomas W. Kelly High School, and expects to graduate from Stage One Hair School in June. She is employed at Great Clips in Cape Girardeau and at County Seat Restaurant in Benton...

The Connecticut gambrel-style house at 118 Sunset in Jackson's Grandview Acres boasts several soft maple trees that provide shade in the front yard. The best in building materials combined with attractive decorating and an affordable price best describes this corner lot home...