Stories from Sunday, June 18, 2000

PARMA, Mo. -- Ronald Wayne Sexton, 48, of Parma died Saturday, June 17, 2000, at the Beverly Health Care Center in New Madrid. He was born Feb. 8, 1952, near Dexter, son of Newburn "Pete" Sexton and Lorene Lape Sexton. He was raised by Alvin and Iva Payne, who preceded him in death. He was a member of the Assembly of God Church in Parma...

CAPE GIRARDEAU -- River City Players will hold auditions for its August musical comedy production of Nunsense II, by Dan Goggin. The auditions will be June 28-29 at Port Cape Girardeau Restaurant at 7 p.m. Four female roles, ages 20 and above, will be cast. Auditions consist of a cold reading from the script, a prepared vocals election and a simple movement or dance routine. Prospective cast members should bring an extra copy of sheet music for an accompanist...

Many Jackson residents probably conceive of expansive growth as a post 1970 phenomena in the city. Growth, however, has been steady and consistent over the years -- at least in population. Jackson entered the last century a bustling little town of 1,685. ...

Matt Kiefer has joined LeeRowan, Jackson as a Buyer. Kiefer holds a B.S. in Business Administration, with a major in Finance from Southeast Missouri State University. Sean McFarland has been named the third shift Production Supervisor in the Wood Department at LeeRowan. He is a recent graduate of Southeast Missouri State University majoring in Industrial Management and Industrial Manufacturing...

East Missouri Action Agency (EMAA) has received $172,800 in funds from the state to provide cooling assistance to low income families during the 2000 summer months. Distribution of the funds began on June 1, through the Energy Crisis Intervention Program (ECIP) For this year only, the disconnect notice for the elderly has been waived, therefore, making it possible to help even more families in need during the hot summer months. ...

25 years ago, 1975 Charlotte Craig, county public health nurse, says number of patients she is visiting in homes has reached limit, and county is in dire need of second public health nurse; summary presented by Craig to County Court Monday shows that number of home health visits she makes has increased from 26 in February, when she became health nurse, to 81 in March, 103 in April and 97 in May...

JEFFERSON CITY -- For Gregory Meier of Jackson, the Missouri Department of Agriculture is making it a little easier to get a college degree. Meier is one of 20 Missouri high school students who will get help from the state agriculture department to pursue a degree in agriculture or a related field. A senior at Jackson High School in Jackson, Meier has been awarded a $500 scholarship to attend the University of Missouri - Columbia...

For 14 Jackson High School students and several local adults, the second half of June will provide a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. These Jacksonites -- along with some 200 Cape Girardeau residents -- will be part of a Missouri Ambassadors of Music troupe, making a 16-day good will tour of Europe. The singers and musicians will perform in England, France, Switzerland, Austria, Italy and Germany before returning home June 30...

CAPTAINS: Some of the assembled Relay for Life team captains looked over information at the first organizational meeting, June 12. Jackson USA Signal/Mark Evans Amy Evans hopes to see not only a large crowd at the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life in Jackson August 4-5, but a fun-filled one...

GRAND CHAIN, Ill. -- Alfred H. Easter, 88, of Grand Chain died Friday, June 16, 2000, at his home. He was a retired riverboat captain for the Missouri Barge Line Co. He was a member of the Ohio Chapel United Methodist Church at Grand Chain, the Grand Chain Masonic Lodge #660 and the Association of Retired Marine Personnel of Paducah...

This time of year, we are privileged to witness that Awesome force of nature, the thunderstorm. Meteorologists (weathermen) tell us these are the result of warm, moist air masses colliding with cool, dry air masses. It is often hot and breezy before a storm, violent during the storm (sheets of rain, thunder, lightening, wind, hail) and cool and calm afterward...

Rush Hill's Angel On My Shoulder, a 17-month-old golden retriever whose call name is Shannon, got primped by handler Sandy Primovic of St. Louis at the Southeast Missouri Kennel Club dog show Saturday at the A.C. Brase Arena Building. The dog is owned by Carol Hardy of Chesterfield, Mo. The show continues today...

Since 1968 sheltered workshops operated by Hillary Schmitzehe have created opportunities that previously did not exist for physically and mentally handicapped adults in the region. Almost all of those who have become part of a sheltered workshop, group home or supported living apartment owned by Hillary Schmittzehe have intially embraced the opportunity...

FRUITLAND, Mo. -- A 16-year-old Jackson High School student died from an accidental shooting Friday night at a friend's home following a session of target practice with a semi-automatic handgun. Killed was Nicholas James Hendrix of Jackson. The incident occurred at 8:20 p.m. at 3090 State Highway FF in Fruitland...

As a generation of teachers reach retirement age, school districts are being forced to decide whether to dedicate themselves to employing veteran teachers, beginning teachers, or a good mix of both. A national teacher shortage is underway, caused in part by increased accountability, low pay rates, and the aging of baby boomers who flooded into the field some 30 years ago. ...

Never mind the Cubs, Chicago is a great city. It has a beautiful lake and plenty of museums. But it also has a ton of traffic and no place to park. Interstate traffic creeps through the city at rush hour, if it moves at all. And there's nothing like a summer trip to Chicago to make you appreciate Southeast Missouri gas prices...

People's reactions to disabilities were very different in 1952, when a high school football injury landed Harold Kuehle in a wheelchair. "Back in those days people did not know how to spell accessibility, much less know what it was about," he said Saturday night in his keynote speech at the fourth Annual Barrier Freedom Awards Banquet...

Federal prosecutors must get approval from the Justice Department to participate in state or local ballot initiatives as a result of a policy change at the government agency. They must submit written statements or testimony related to political activities to the Justice Department for review and prior approval...

They aren't wearing the old-time uniforms, but there is something refreshingly retro about Cape Girardeau's highest-level baseball team these days. The McDowell Capahas have actually dusted off the old wood bats and are hitting with them most of the time this year, only turning to the modern aluminum every now and then...

It seems that there has been some interest in the management of two of Southeast Missouri's more popular lakes: Lake Girardeau and Wappapello Lake. In the past year there has been some controversy concerning several management activities involving Lake Girardeau and Wappapello Lake. This week we'll take a look at Lake Girardeau and next month we'll discuss Wappapello Lake...

Stuart D. Henry, 94, of Cape Girardeau died Saturday, June 17, 2000, at Chateau Girardeau. He was born May 28, 1906, in Reading, Penn., son of Solomon and Ethel M. Dampman Henry. He married Bertha Tegge in 1929, in Allentown, Penn. She died in 1984. He then married Henrietta V. Vinson on March 1, 1986, in Leesburg, Fla...

William Charles Schweizer, 84, of Cape Girardeau died Friday, June 16, 2000, at St. Francis Medical Center. He was born on April 20, 1916, at Ferguson, son of Henry and Elizabeth Lott Schweizer. He and Mary Ruth Fields were married in 1942. She died Aug. 15, 1989. He and Katheryn Smith were married Nov. 27, 1991, at Benton...

Helen Louise Hency, 70, of Lake Wales, Fla., died Friday, June 16, 2000, at Lake Wales Hospital. She was born Feb. 13, 1930, at Sedgewickville, Mo., daughter of Wilburn and Ruby Propst Seabaugh. She and Claudis W. Hency Jr. were married Oct. 17, 1949, at Cape Girardeau...

Zettie Mae Burton, 88, of Cape Girardeau died Saturday, June 17, 2000, at Beverly Health and Rehabilitation in Cape Girardeau. She was born on May 8, 1912, at Moreland, Ark., daughter of Jack and Tennie Burks Henderson. She was a homemaker and later worked as a cook at Sands Pancake House in Cape Girardeau...

BENTON, Mo. -- Charles Darris Worley, 51, of Benton died Friday, June 16, 2000, in the emergency room at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau following an apparent heart attack. He was born May 24, 1949, in Sikeston, son of George Virgil Worley and Virginia Masters Worley Gurnow. He and Patricia Bentley were married in August 1968. She died Aug. 15, 1971. He and Billie E. McClellan were married Nov. 19, 1972, and to Debbie Aters on April 17, 1993...

SIKESTON, Mo. -- Margaret Allen, 75, of Sikeston died Saturday, June 17, 2000, at Missouri Delta Medical Center. She was born April 13, 1925, in Lawrence County, Tenn., daughter of Andrew and Celia Maybell Cantrell Robinson. She and Marvin R. Allen were married Aug. 22, 1942, in Bloomfield...

JACKSON, Mo. -- Nicholas "Nick" James Hendrix, 16, of Jackson passed away Friday, June 16, 2000, near Fruitland. He was born Dec. 27, 1983, at Cape Girardeau, the son of Stephen and Marcia Stoner Hendrix. Nicholas was a member of First Baptist Church of Oak Ridge. ...

DELTA, Mo. -- H.L. McDaniel, 74, of Delta died Saturday, June 17, 2000, at his home. He was born March 6, 1926, in Tilman, the son of Curt and Mattie Thompson McDaniel. He and Thelma "Cricket" Simmons were married Nov. 14, 1945, at Bloomfield. He was retired form Elfrink Truck Lines in Advance. He was a member of the Perkins Baptist Church and VFW Post 3127 of Chaffee. He was a veteran of WWII...

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- Robert S. Mattingly, 87, of Perryville died Saturday, June 17, 2000, at Perry County Memorial Hospital. He was born April 5, 1913, in Perry County, son of Vincent Leo and Rosella Gibbar Mattingly. He and Stella Marie Lawrence were married June 12, 1940...

SEDGEWICKVILLE, Mo. -- Denni-Jeanne Layman, 56, of Sedgewickville died Saturday, June 17, 2000, at her home. She was born Aug. 8, 1943, in Granite City, Ill., daughter of Miller Augustus and Dorothy Louis Painter Burckhartt. She and Darrell Layman were married Aug. 19, 1971, in Alton, Ill...

ANNA, Ill. -- Joan M. Haas, 54, of Anna died Saturday, June 17, 2000, at her home. Arrangements are incomplete at Crain Funeral Home in Anna.

LONGTOWN, Mo. -- Blaine Adelman Sr., 66, of Longtown died Thursday, June 15, 2000, at Ste. Genevieve County Memorial Hospital. He was born Dec. 23, 1933, in New Jersey, son of John and Phyllis Fredericks Adelman. He and Lois Simmerman were married Dec. 22, 1983...

One of the most disturbing aspects of life in America today is the growing tendency on the part of those involved in our established institutions -- governmental, economic, social to politicize issues that until recently were not considered a part of any partisan agenda. This trend resembles being unable to see the trees for the forest, rather than the other way around...

To the editor: When I say that my letter to Officer Muench had made its way to the Southeast Missourian, I was astonished, but in a most pleasing way. I would like to thank Chief Hetzel for taking the initiative of sending this letter to you. Maybe it will enlighten and inspire others as it most certainly have inspired him...

To the editor: Animal lovers everywhere will tell you that their pet is a member of their family. The pets feel love for their owners and other extended parts of that family. They worry for their owner's safety and are capable of courageous acts. To think otherwise of a pet could only mean one of two things, you don't have a pet or you don't care for it...

Today is Father's Day, a celebration that occupies a special place in the hearts of Americans. Recent sociological and psychological research has confirmed what common sense would never have doubted: The importance of fathers can't be overestimated. ...

The historic June 9 vote by the U.S. House of Representatives to phase out the death tax over a 10-year period was a heck of a way to start the 21st century. In fact, a pretty good case could be made that if the Congress had done nothing else for 12 months but pass a budget and this piece of legislation before adjourning and going home till January, it would have been one excellent year's work...

Flowers in the room can make a house guest feel special. For many families, summer brings visits from relatives and friends. Making such visits become the fodder for fond recollections rather than lingering resentments depends greatly on the amount of communication between hosts and visitors and remembering manners and common courtesy, experts say...

JACKSON, Mo. -- Misty Dawn Baker and Terry Lee Koenig Jr. were married May 13, 2000, at St. Paul Lutheran Church. The Rev. Robert Henrichs performed the double ring ceremony. Organist was Christy Shinn and soloist was Coye Moore. The bride is the daughter of Dennis and Pat Koch of Jackson and William McClard of Dexter. The groom is the son of Terry and Vickie Koenig Sr. of Jackson...

Mr. and Mrs. Howard G. Bock of Cape Girardeau celebrated their golden wedding anniversary May 20, 2000, at the Osage Community Centre. Hosts for the buffet dinner were their sons Burton and Bradley Bock of Cape Girardeau; Brian Bock and wife Bonnie of Oakville, and their children Nathan, Amanda and Adam Bock...

EAST CAPE GIRARDEAU, Ill. -- Mr. and Mrs. Almos Randol of East Cape Girardeau celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary May 24, 2000, with a private dinner at Whitfield's in Cape Girardeau, Mo. A dinner was held May 21 hosted by their children and spouses: Kathy and Bill Keller, Mike and Susan Randol, Sonnie and Jim Keller, and Lisa and Scott Conrad...

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- Eldon and Patsy Groff of Perryville announce the engagement of their daughter, Christine Eugena Groff, to Craig Bradley Friese. He is the son of Gail Mungle and Glenn Friese, both of Daisy. Groff is a 1997 graduate of Oak Ridge High School. She is employed at Hab-Care Inc. in Perryville...

JACKSON, Mo. -- Tammie Lyn Thompson and Mathew Todd Showmaker announce their engagement. She is the daughter of Roberta "Bobbi" Gerecke of Jackson and Terry Thompson of St. Johns. Showmaker is the son of Edward and Norma Showmaker of Anna, Ill. Thompson is a graduate of Jackson High School. She is employed at Thorngate Ltd. in Cape Girardeau...

Thomas and Susan Reinagel of Cape Girardeau announce the engagement of their daughter, Kristin K. Reinagel, to Thomas W. Preusser. He is the son of Alan Preusser and Fatena Brotherton of St. Louis. Reinagel is a 1996 graduate of Notre Dame High School. She received a bachelor of science degree in business administration/marketing from St. Louis University in January. She is an assistant buyer at Famous-Barr...

Mr. and Mrs. Nelson Roth of Frohna announce the engagement of their daughter, Barbara Lynette Roth, to Virgil Duane Theiss, both of Cape Girardeau. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Paul Theiss of Uniontown. Roth is a graduate of Perryville High School. She is employed at Lowes and Drusch law firm...

Michael and Janna Middleton of Metropolis, Ill., announce the engagement of their daughter, Julie Renee Middleton, to Micah Paul Janzow. He is the son of Fred and Susan Janzow of Cape Girardeau. Middleton is a 1995 graduate of Massac County High School, 1997 graduate of Shawnee Community College, and 2000 graduate of Southeast Missouri State University. She is employed at Central High School...

JACKSON, Mo. -- Tom and Kathy Schmid of Jackson announce the engagement of their daughter, Julia Renee Schmid, to Eric Jon Pitts, both of St. Louis. He is the son of David and Karen Pitts of Selah, Wash. Schmid is a 1995 graduate of Jackson High School. She received a bachelor of science degree in psychology from Missouri Baptist College in St. Louis in 1999. She is employed in the graduate office at the college...

JACKSON, Mo. -- Mr. and Mrs. Gerald Hitt of Jackson announce the engagement of their daughter, Kelly Denise Hitt, to Matthew Christian McCurry. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Lonnie McCurry of Chickamauga, Ga. Hitt is a 1994 graduate of Jackson High School. She received a bachelor's degree in personnel/human resource management from Southeast Missouri State University in 1998. She is assistant registrar at Southeast University...

Geralyn and Mike Maglone of Cape Girardeau and Vaughn and Marsha Hinkebein of Jackson announce the engagement of their daughter, Yvaughna Dodd, to John Maglone. He is the son of Larry Maglone of Cape Girardeau. Dodd attended Central High School. Maglone attended Central High School. He is employed by city of Cape Girardeau...

JACKSON, Mo. -- Rodney and Donna Seabaugh and Scott and Rhonda Kirn of Jackson announce the engagement of their daughter, Crystal Gail Seabaugh, to Deric Frank Brown, both of Kansas City, Mo. He is the son of Gerald and Diane Brown of Jackson and Dennis and Mary Crader of Chaffee...

SIKESTON, Mo. -- Steve and Linda Woods of Sikeston and Steve and Viney Mosley of Cape Girardeau announce the engagement of their daughter, Ellen Marie Woods, to Glenn Edward Collom. He is the son of Charles and Bobbie Collom of Sikeston. Woods is a 1990 graduate of Sikeston High School. She is store manager at Payless Shoesource...

I've been withdrawing big fat checks from the Bank of June every day. On the endorsement side there is that familiar description of the month in little flowery letters, "What is so rare as a day in June when if ever come perfect days..." I boldly endorse the checks by looking and listening and seeing all that is glistening...

1141 Broadridge in Jackson has plenty of room for entertaining inside and out. Invite the neighbors over and set up the volleyball net, let the kids schedule soccer practice at your house, round up some buddies for a game of touch football. Just where are you supposed to do all this? The well-manicured, oversized level lot of this Jackson subdivision home has room for a variety of outdoor activities...