Stories from Tuesday, May 30, 2000

Gwen Thoma, director of educational services at Southeast Missouri Hospital, was honored recently for 30 years service. The hospital recognized 200 employees for a total of 2,242 years services, during the hospital's 30th annual employee award banquet held at the A.C. Brase Arena Building...

On sale online: Fake passports, Social Security cards, birth certificates, driver's licenses, college diplomas, press credentials and even IDs for police officers and FBI agents. They're fraudulent but authentic-looking enough to enable users to steal people's identities, get loans or convince enemies they're being arrested...

Spartech Corp. has announced record sales and earnings for the second quarter that ended April 29. Bradley B. Buechler, Spartech president and chief executive officer, reported second-quarter sales at $256.7 million, up 30 percent from the $196.9 million sales of the same period a year ago...

Joann Colyer-Toler of McClure, Ill., and Aaron Kaiser of Gordonville have joined the staff of Personnel Support, 618 Bellevue in Cape Girardeau. Colyer-Toler, a retired administrative secretary from Shawnee School District 84, will perform recruiting, staffing and placement duties...

Cathy McClard, nurse manager of Southeast Missouri Hospital's Intensive Care Unit, has received the Sigma Theta Tau award for nursing practice. The award, which recognizes people with exemplary professional clinical practice, was presented during the annual meeting of the Lambda Theta Chapter of Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing...

Fayetta Garland, clerk typist II, has been recognized as "Employee of The Year 2000" at Cottonwood Residential Treatment Center. Martha Cassel, administrator at the center, announced the award during the center's annual employee relations day. Garland joined Cottonwood in 1997...

Chris Scherer, activities specialist at Southeast Missouri Hospital's skilled nursing facility, has received "Activity Director of the Year" award from the Southeaster Missouri Chapter of Activity Directors Association of Missouri (ADAM). Scherer, an employee at Southeast since 1996, received the award during an ADAM meeting at Perryville, recognizing Scherer for a wide range of activities he has implemented to benefit patrons both physically and emotionally...

Linda Eyler is among a number of Century 21 Key Realty real-estate agents receiving sales honors. Eyler was honored with the Award of Excellence by Century 21 Real Estate Corp. for sales production of more than $2 million. She received a summit level award of excellence from the Cape Girardeau County Board of Realtors...

In the coming months, we'll see everything from night vision to radar that regulates distance from other cars and voice control that will automatically set the temperature and radio station. The former can be a "life saver," too. With deer populations at new highs in Illinois and Missouri, night vision, which uses an infrared camera to help drivers see things far beyond the headlights' glow, can help cut down on the nation's more than 250,000 deer-vehicle accidents each year that result in more than 100 deaths and 15,000 injuries.. ...

This "Financial Focus" column is prepared by Edward Jones Investments, headquartered in St. Louis. Jones includes branches throughout the nation, including Cape Girardeau and Jackson. If you have a Roth IRA, a traditional IRA, an employer-sponsored retirement plan or some other tax-deferred retirement vehicle, the chances are pretty good you're funding your plan either partially or entirely with mutual funds...

BENTON -- The outdoors is the classroom for Kelly High School teacher Tom Hulshof. Hulshof has taught vocational agriculture courses at Kelly for the past eight years. The unique teaching environment provides many opportunities to challenge students using realistic learning materials, he said...

A sign on the back of a trailer advertises big pay incentives for truckers. It's barely past midnight. Everything is quiet except for the hum of the powerful motor and tires of an 18-wheeler rolling down the "Double Nickel" and the radio voice of Willie Nelson blaring out "On the Road Again."...

America's trade deficit widened to a record $30.2 billion in March as the nation's bill for foreign crude oil hit an all-time high, helping swamp a strong rebound in U.S. exports. The Clinton administration sought to minimize the bad news, but opponents of the China deal pointed to the widening deficit as evidence President Clinton's trade policies are not working...

The nation's moneymakers have finally gotten around to giving Abe and Alex face lifts, leaving only George is in his untouched state. New $5 and $10 bills, featuring a big and slightly off-center Abraham Lincoln and Alexander Hamilton, respectively, are making their debut Wednesday...

The Small Business Development Center will conduct counseling sessions at Cape Girardeau, Sikeston, Perryville and Malden in June. The counselor, Gil Degenhardt, will be available June 21, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce office. The counseling sessions (about one hour) are free. Call 335-3312 for appointment...

Wednesday Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce, Membership Drive Victory Party, 4 p.m., Drury Lodge. Friday Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce's First Friday Coffee, 7:30 a.m., Show Me Center. June 7 Cape Girardeau workers compensation discussion group, Drury Lodge, noon, sponsored by Associated Industries of Missouri...

Two softball players laughed after colliding at second base during a league game between Drury Southwest and KFVS/Natural Health Organic Foods. The game was one of many played at the Shawnee Sports Complex. Sounds of summer and softball ring through the Shawnee Sports Complex with the plop of a ball hitting a glove, the ping of a bat, the buzz of electric lights or the cheers from spectators...

Betty Hoffmeister and Alene Proctor of Jackson have always attended Memorial Day services. Respect for the nation's flag, soldiers killed in the line of duty and their husbands, both World War II veterans, had been their motivation over the past 50 years...

BENTON -- When 17-year-old Raif was moved out of the juvenile court system into drug court a year ago, he thought life had just gotten easier. "I thought I was getting a slap on the wrist," said Raif, who had been arrested for misdemeanor marijuana use. "I figured we'd go into these treatment sessions and watch movies."...

Some veterans like to tell war stories; some don't. Harold W. Henderson, a resident of the Missouri Veterans Home for the past eight years, belongs to the latter group. "I think we want to forget it," he said Monday afternoon at the home's well-attended ice cream social in honor of Memorial Day. "They are memories we don't care to keep."...

When it comes to exercise, Dorothy DiGirolamo walks rings around most people, and those rings stretch out for 3,200 miles. That's how far DiGirolamo, a 67-year-old Cape Girardeau grandmother, has walked in the last year, mostly at Westfield Shoppingtown West Park...

Next time, instead of buying a new car, I'm going to recommend someone take me into a dark alley, beat me senseless, and leave me for dead. Because buying a new car feels exactly the same way, except you aren't left owing someone several thousand dollars and trying to decide which is more important groceries or electricity...

JACKSON -- The Jackson school board hopes for a big turnout at a community meeting at 7:30 tonight at Jackson Middle School. District Superintendent Ron Anderson said a good turnout is needed to help the district form strategies to gain passage of two funding measures being proposed in August elections...

Cape Girardeau Central earned its share of respect, but Lafayette earned the big prize -- a berth in the Class 4A Final Four. The Tigers put up a strong challenge in Monday afternoon's quarterfinal baseball game, but the visiting Lancers showed why they are the state's top-ranked 4A team by pulling away late for a convincing 8-3 victory...

WINONA -- St. Vincent High's baseball team is headed to the state semifinals for the first time in school history. The Indians secured their first final four berth by rallying past host Winona 11-5 Sunday afternoon in the Class 1A quarterfinals. St. Vincent, which won its eighth straight game to finally climb above the .500 mark at 14-13, will play Engelwood Christian of Independence at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Simmons Field in Columbia in a 1A semifinal matchup...

PIEDMONT -- Notre Dame High's baseball team walked right over Clearwater and into the Class 2A Final Four. The Bulldogs used nine walks -- including seven in one inning -- to trample over host Clearwater 14-4 in five innings Monday during the 2A quarterfinals...

The McDowell Capahas suffered their first loss of the season Monday but then bounced back to salvage a split of their Memorial Day doubleheader with visiting Goreville, Ill. Goreville rallied for a wild 16-12 victory in the opener, which was scheduled for seven innings but went eight. Then the Capahas romped 17-5 in the nightcap that was stopped after the top of the fifth inning by the 10-run rule...

Tammy Hoffman, 37, of Jackson died Sunday, May 28, 2000, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. Arrangements are incomplete at McCombs Funeral Home in Jackson.

Lloyd Green, 81, of Cape Girardeau and formerly of the Scott City area died Monday, May 29, 2000, at his home. Arrangements are pending at Amick-Burnett Funeral Chapel at Scott City.

Romilda A. Alstat, 80, of Greshem, Ore., and formerly of Mound City, Ill., died Friday, May 26, 2000, in Greshem. She was born Sept. 23, 1919, in Ellis, Kan., daughter of Alex and Emma Niernberger Wiesner. She married Carl Alstat. Together they owned and operated the former Alstat Funeral Home in Mound City. He died in 1973...

Anthony B. Hite, 47, of Cape Girardeau died Sunday, May 28, 2000, at Barnes-Jewish Hospital at St. Louis. He was born June 23, 1952, at Cairo, Ill., son of Elston B. and Ida M. Parrott Hite. Hite worked for Havco Wood Products of Cape Girardeau and for Mike's Marine Sales and Service...

SIKESTON -- Sherman Butler, 90, of Sikeston died Thursday, May 25, 2000, at the Sikeston Convalescent Center. He was born Jan. 25, 1910, in Greenville, Miss., son of Nathaniel and Lucy Ann Whitney Butler Sr. He and Eddie Mae Gardner were married on Aug. 7, 1935. She died Aug. 31, 1995...

SIKESTON -- Agnes Harlene Schuerenberg, 88, of Sikeston died Monday, May 29, 2000, at the Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston. She was born Jan. 22, 1912, in Cave-in-Rock, Ill., daughter of Harland and Maggie Hans Sheridan. She and Lynual A. Schuerenberg were married on Aug. 22, 1934, in Jonesboro, Ill. He died Aug. 5, 1986...

JONESBORO, Ill. -- Edward John Dahmer, 80, of Jonesboro died Saturday, May 27, 2000, at his home. He was born Oct. 12, 1919, in Williamson County, son of August and Emma Soldner Dahmer. He married Virginia Hoffard. She died March 9, 1991. He and Berneice E. Ice Young were married March 23, 1992...

ANNISTON -- Susie Mae Talley Kearby, 83, of Anniston died Monday, May 29, 2000, at the Missouri Delta Medical Center. She was born Sept. 11, 1916, at Blytheville, Ark., daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Hanes. She and Charles G. Talley Sr. were married in 1932. He died March 19, 1994. She and Owen M. Kearby were married May 9, 1956. He died Feb. 2, 1999...

ULLIN, Ill. -- Velma Stewart, 89, of Ullin and formerly of Tamms died Sunday, May 28, 2000, at her home. She was born July 27, 1910, at McCroy, Ark., daughter of William and Mattie Miller Vance. She and Eddie Lee Stewart were married in 1926. She was a member of the Cape Bible Chapel in Cape Girardeau...

JACKSON -- Vanita L. Spooler, 83, of Jackson died Saturday, May 27, 2000, at Southeast Missouri Hospital. She was born April 28, 1917, at Tilsit, daughter of Alvin and Amanda Lange Birk. She and Elmer H. Spooler were married June 13, 1953. She was a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church at Jackson...

May is National Bicycle Month, and an appropriate time to celebrate one of the great inventions of our time, and consider ways to increase its beneficial use in society. The bicycle is often claimed to be the most efficient method of transportation yet devised, and important innovations, such as the pneumatic tire, accompanied its development...

Considering the number of serious boating accidents that have occurred in Missouri in recent years, one might think the Show Me State isn't the safest place to take to the water. 1997 was the worst year ever for boating accidents in the state. The 410 accidents that occurred that year ranked Missouri fourth among all states in serious accidents, and the 25 fatalities resulting from those accidents ranked it 11th in that category. ...

The latest recipient of the Timothy J. Ruopp Award for outstanding work at the Cape Girardeau County Sheriff's Department has been named, and again a member of the Ruopp family was on hand for the presentation ceremony. This year's award, presented annually in honor of former sheriff's deputy Timothy J. Ruopp, who was killed in the line of duty 15 months after joining the San Diego Police Department in 1984, went to sheriff's Sgt. Richie Walker...