Stories from Thursday, May 4, 2000

To the editor: The police-state raid on the Gonzalez home in Miami is just the most recent example of the Clinton-Gore administration's contempt for law and constitutional rights. Janet Reno and Bill Clinton's constant reference to "doing what is in the best interest of the child" rings hollow in this situation when one considers the imminent danger that Elian Gonzalez faced during the pre-dawn raid. The danger came not from his loving relatives, but from armed federal agents...

Besides my normal workload, it's been a busy week. I went to Chicago Easter weekend, which is always a good reminder that Cape's a good place to live and be from when visiting the heavily trafficked larger cities. Then I spent Wednesday afternoon through Friday morning in Kansas City at a joint Missouri-Kansas meeting of the federal Civil Rights Advisory Committee. ...

In Ohio, a federal court has ruled that the state motto is unconstitutional. The motto is this simple statement: "With God, all things are possible." Many Americans might wonder how Ohio's motto differs from the U.S. motto, "In God we trust." Here is the court's reasoning...

As we celebrate the National Day of Prayer, join us in this intercession for the world, our nation, our state and our community: Almighty and ever-living God, creator of a world in which any good thing is possible, we approach you in humility, knowing, as individual masterpieces of your handiwork, that we are imperfect and capable of grave errors. Forgive us our transgressions so that we may, with mended hearts, come to you with our pleas of mercy, guidance and bountiful provision...

According to rules established by the National Heritage Society, by the time the unbuilt St. Louis convention hotel is completed, it will automatically qualify as a historic landmark. In light of the huge deals being made with retired college officials, Missouri now defines higher education as how high we can pay our cashiered educators...

When people think of Memphis, Tenn., they think of B.B. King and the blues. But this city of more than 600,000 people is also known for Elvis Presley and the birth of rock 'n' roll. The blend of these music genres and others will come together in this year's Beale Street Music Festival that begins its three-day run tomorrow...

May 18 through 20, the 23rd annual World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest will be held at the Memphis in May International Festival. This event attracts more than 200 barbecue teams from throughout the United States. Nearly 100,000 barbecue fanatics will experience the one thing, other than Elvis, for which Memphis is famous throughout the world...

Steven's Discount Sportswear and Clothing was closed for business Wednesday after police confiscated more than $21,000 in suspected counterfeit merchandise from the store. Cape Girardeau police on Monday executed a search warrant at the store at 6 N. ...

Gathered inside a Cape Girardeau school gymnasium, some 400 area junior and senior high school students and their youth pastors prayed for national, state and local leaders Wednesday night. Most of the students were from the Cape Girardeau, Jackson and Scott City area. But some came from as far away as Poplar Bluff...

JACKSON -- Jackson School District could be dissolved or taken over by the state if financial concerns aren't addressed within the next three years, school officials say The school district has overspent its budget for the past two years. More deficit spending is projected as increases in expenses outpace income gained from growth in assessed valuation the district receives as the number of homes, businesses and industries in Jackson increases...

Two people were injured in separate accidents in Southeast Missouri, the Highway Patrol said. David Bryant, 38, of Scott City was treated and released at St. Francis Medical Center after he was injured in a two-vehicle accident at 9:45 p.m. Tuesday on Route N, three miles south of Scott City...

May 4, 2000 Dear Ken, When I was living in Northern California many years ago, someone called from the local university asking me to interview a visiting poet from Oregon. I went to the caller's house and talked to the poet, whose name was Sondra something. Her poetry was good but she was shy. Fortunately, the woman who'd called me, a poet herself, kept offering insights about Sondra's writing that Sondra couldn't...

Young people can do something positive for themselves and those with diabetes Saturday at Missouri's first Diabetes Youth Walk, which will be held at Cape County Park North. "Youth walks are just beginning to catch on," said Justin Gibbs, the Jackson Junior High eighth-grader who is chairman for the walk. "This will be the fifth youth walk for diabetes in the country and the first in Missouri."...

Money will be raised for cystic fibrosis research at the 2000 Cystic Fibrosis Foundation's 10K walk Saturday at Cape County Park North. The walk, sponsored by Alliance Blue Cross Blue Shield and presented by Union Planters Bank and Dr. Scott Gibbs, is expected to attract more than 200 walkers and raise more than $15,000 for the CF Foundation's Gateway Chapter...

JACKSON -- Jackson High School students got a lesson in responsibility Wednesday when they watched fellow students die or be arrested following a simulated alcohol-related car accident. The dramatization was intended to remind students of the dangers of drunk driving as they prepare for their prom Saturday. ...

Southeast Missouri State University's Indians are having a much better baseball season than the St. Louis Billikens -- but you wouldn't know it by the two games the teams have played against each other this season. SLU captured its second one-run victory over Southeast Wednesday night as the Billikens squeezed out a highly entertaining 10-9 non-conference win in front of nearly 1,100 fans at Capaha Field...

JACKSON -- Cape Central and Jackson showed the kind of grit and determination Wednesday that would make old-timers proud. But the Tigers -- Justin Welker in particular -- are taking this smashmouth thing to the extreme. In a game that featured a couple of collisions, three hit batsmen and a badly busted lip, Cape Central (16-6) came out on top 8-4 and avenged an earlier loss to Jackson in front of a large crowd at Legion Field...

Cape Girardeau resident Bryce March recorded a hole-in-one while visiting Atlanta on April 19. March aced the 93-yard, par-3 No. 11 hole at the Cross Creek Golf Club.

FARMINGTON -- Every day is a completely new adventure in the game of golf. The Jackson High Indians found that out much to their chagrin Wednesday at the Class 4A, District 1 Tournament at St. Francois Country Club. Two days after winning the 16-team large school division of the Farmington Tournament on the same course, Jackson saw its state team hopes evaporate as it tied for fourth-place in the nine-team field...

Twin sons to Rob and Laurie Zeitler of Imperial, St. John's Mercy Medical Center, Wednesday, April 12, 2000. Garrett Robert was born at 12:55 a.m. and weighed 6 pounds 15 ounces. Brett Conrad was born at 12:57 a.m. and weighed 6 pounds 4 ounces. Mrs. Zeitler is the former Laurie Conrad, daughter of Danny and Roselyn Conrad of Cape Girardeau. Zeitler is the son of Bob and Karon Zeitler of Imperial. He is self-employed...

SIKESTON -- Graveside service for Clayton David Wallace, 2 weeks, will be held at 1 p.m. today at Memorial Park Cemetery. The Rev. Randy West will officiate. Nunnelee Funeral Chapel is in charge of arrangements. The infant died Monday, May 1, 2000, at Cardinal Glennon Children's Hospital in St. Louis, from complications at birth...

CHAFFEE -- Randy D. Payne II, 24, of Chaffee died Wednesday, May 3, 2000, near Scott City. Graveside service will be at 10 a.m. Friday in Union Park Cemetery. Amick-Burnett Funeral Chapel at Chaffee is in charge of arrangements.

CHARLESTON -- Paul Roy Fleurdelys, 78, of Charleston died Wednesday, May 3, 2000, at his home. He was born March 12, 1922, in Hannibal, son of John and Daisy Purcell Fleurdelys. He and Georgia Thurman McNutt were married July 3, 1947. She died July 16, 1975. He and Patricia Reece were married May 24, 1977...

DONGOLA, Ill. -- Funeral for Carl Goodman of Dongola will be held at 11 a.m. Friday at First Baptist Church. The Rev. Paul Sadler will officiate. Burial will be in Meisenheimer Cemetery. Friends may call at Crain Funeral Home in Dongola from 6-9 p.m. today, and Friday until service time...

CAIRO, Ill. -- Funeral for Christine Collins of Murray will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday at Barkett Funeral Home in Cairo. The Rev. Jerome Fortenberry will officiate, with burial in the U.S. National Cemetery at Mound City. Friends may call at the funeral home from 4-7 p.m. today...