Stories from Sunday, September 24, 2000

The Rev. John 0. Gooch will be guest speaker at the annual Old McKendree Day Sunday, Sept. 24 at 3 p.m. The "Godsquad" youth ensemble from Centenary Methodist Church in Cape Girardeau will provide special music. Old McKendree Chapel is located between Jackson and Cape Girardeau and is marked with a number of directional signs. The log building, completed in 1819, is the oldest Protestant church building still standing west of the Mississippi River...

Rube Waddell was a great pitcher for the Philadelphia A's baseball club in the early 1900's. He held strikeout records that stood until Nolan Ryan in 1973. His career was short, however, and he died young of tuberculosis. Even in his prime, he was known as an eccentric. ...

After highly praising the continued accomplishments of the Jackson Optimist Club, long-time Optimist International staff member Ben Bradshaw encouraged members to "do just a little bit more" in the coming year. Bradshaw, the incoming Missouri East District governor, who served on the staff of Optimist International 1967-1997, was keynote speaker at the Jackson Optimists' annual installation dinner Tuesday...

Although Harriet Martin has been teaching for 27 years, the Orchard Elementary third grade teacher has no qualms about embracing tomorrow's technology in the classroom. "I love these computers," she said. "They let you do anything. Because of this technology, we're able to reach more kids."...

Dixie Moore and Bev Nelson received special awards Thursday night. Moore received the Lifetime Membership Award, while Nelson was named Optimist of the Year for the second time. Jackson USA Signal/Mark Evans New officers and board members for the Jackson Optimist Club are (standing, from left) Jennifer Garms, board member; Mary Kirn, board member; Anita Sievers, secretary; Patty Turner, treasurer; Mary Beussink, board member; Debbie Campbell, board member; (seated) Carolyn Wright, vice president; LaDonia Beggs, president; and Shelly Littleton, vice president. ...

Several new books and videos are available at the main Jackson facility of the Riverside Regional Library. New titles in the Adult category are When Christ Comes by Max Lucado, Comrades by Stephen Ambrose, French and Germans in the Mississippi Valley, The Letter of the Law by Tim Green, Pagan Babies by Elmore Leonard...

The 56th annual Jackson Marching Band Festival will be held on Tuesday, Oct. 3. Jackson Schools will dismiss at 2:30 p.m. In case of inclement weather, the alternate date will be Tuesday, Oct. 10. The days' events will include a parade through downtown Jackson at 3:30 p.m. and the evening Band Festival beginning at 6:30 p.m. in the Jackson High School Stadium. The cost for the show is $2 for adults and $1 for students, and will be collected at the gate...

OWINGS MILLS, MD -- Arts and Kids is pleased to announce that $38,000 in prizes and scholarships will be awarded this year in its annual art competition. Students from the Jackson area, particularly beginners, are welcome to try to win their share of over 115 prizes. The deadline for the contest is Dec. 31. The contest is open to everyone 17 years of age and younger and entry is free...

Leaders: Members of the JHS Spanish IV class led visiting third graders in various games and exercises, to give them a taste of the Spanish language. Chant: JHS Spanish IV students joined third graders in a Spanish version of the JHS football cheer...

Missouri's courts will be going online next year in a way they never have before. The Missouri Court Automation project, which started in 1994, aims to link all aspects of state courts, from money taken in by the probate division to results of trials by July 1. Lawyers will be able to check their cases online, and everyone involved in courts will save more time, said William Syler, presiding judge for state courts in Bollinger, Cape Girardeau and Perry counties...

Riverboat passengers stopping in Cape Girardeau for shopping and sightseeing, construction crews working to widen and repair city streets and volunteers planting flowers and tending rosebushes share a common thread. All of them -- downtown development, better streets and landscaping and beautification -- were part of a strategic planning effort in Cape Girardeau that began in 1988...

FRUITLAND, Mo. -- Sitting in her backyard on a gentle summer night, Ruth Hermann used to gaze at horses grazing in a neighboring pasture. These days, the view is much different. Seven used, vacant mobile homes stand where the horses used to graze. Most of them have been there for about a year and a half, a visible reminder of a mobile home park that has never developed...

JACKSON, Mo. -- The Cape Girardeau County Commission wants to establish five zoning districts as part of regulations that would be implemented if county voters approve the planning issue on the Nov. 7 ballot, and all county voters get their say in the matter...

Dining out is still an adventure. It's not like joining the Navy, but it's still risky. Our oldest daughter, Becca, is 8 years old. Her sister, Bailey, is 4 years old. Like most parents, we figure practice makes perfect. That's why Joni and I continue to take our children to area restaurants...

Motorists can expect traffic delays on the Mississippi River Bridge at Cape Girardeau this week as Missouri Department of Transportation crews continue making repairs to the structure. Traffic is scheduled to be reduced to one lane from noon to 5 p.m. Monday, 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday, and 7:30 a.m. to noon on Thursday...

EAST PRAIRIE, Mo. -- An East Prairie man was injured in a two-vehicle accident Friday at East Prairie in Mississippi County. Ronald L. Carter, 59, was injured when he made a left turn in his pickup truck as another vehicle was passing him on Shelby Street. Carter's pickup was knocked into a ditch, the Missouri Highway Patrol said...

Marsha Toll, left, presented the Yard of the Month Award for September to Helen Hawkins. She and her husband, Paul, live at 188 Garnet in Twin Lakes. The landscape awards are rotated among seven major areas of Cape Girardeau during the primary growing season...

The Inaugural Veryl L. Riddle Distinguished History Lecture will be delivered at 7 p.m. Wednesday in Dempster Auditorium of Crisp Hall on the campus of Southeast Missouri State University. The event is free and open to the public. Dr. John David Smith will present the lecture entitled, "How I Became a 'Doubting Thomas' and Came to Know Black Judas." Dr. ...

A radiant smile lit up 6-year-old Atlanta Foskey's face as 1960s-era teen idol Davy Jones kissed her cheek. "I love it," Foskey said after meeting her favorite singer. In front of her parents, she vowed never to wash the cheek again. The rural Anna, Ill., girl received a huge surprise Saturday night when she learned she would get to meet Jones...

CAIRO, Ill. -- Dorothy Mayberry recalls a woman once asked to have her property assessment increased. The woman came by the office one day and complained her property taxes were too low and that she wasn't paying her fair share of taxes, said Mayberry, Supervisor of Assessments/Board of Review Clerk for Alexander County...

Very few people can dispute the fact that, from a pure basketball standpoint, Bobby Knight should rank as one of college's all-time great coaches. But when it comes to being civil and treating people with respect, he has to rate as one of the all-time worst...

Southeast Missouri State University's football team finally ran out of miracles Saturday night. The Indians, who had pulled off two straight amazing victories, looked for a while like they might make it three in a row. But Western Kentucky took control over the final 19 minutes of the game and scored the last 21 points to prevail 38-14 in front of a Family Weekend Crowd of 10,222 at Houck Stadium...

Southeast Missouri State University football coach Tim Billings said the in-your-face lecture he had for quarterback Rashad West during the third quarter Saturday night was not really a big deal at all. Billings said he felt that West, who missed last week's game against Illinois State with a sprained ankle, was favoring the foot for most of Saturday's home contest against Western Kentucky...

JACKSON, Mo. -- Lauren Michelle Raney and Stephen Jeremy O'Neal were married June 3, 2000, at First Baptist Church. Dr. Rodney H. Travis of Ellisville, Mo., and Dr. Carson Bevil of Owensboro, Ky., performed the ceremony. Pianist was Laura Robinson of Jackson; organist was Dr. ...

CHARLESTON, Ill. -- Led by Amy Arteme of Benton, Mo., Southeast Missouri State's women's cross country team took fourth place among 11 teams at the Eastern Illinois Invitational Saturday. Southeast's men, meanwhile, Arteme took third place among 114 runners, completing the 5,000-meter course in 18:36. She was followed by teammates Kaci Pilcher (7th, 18:54), Jessie Thompson (16th, 19:28), Jen Brown (26th, 19:57), Jen Burke (29th 20:02) and Carmen Owen (39th, 20:42)...

Cassie Gross fired a one-hitter as Cape Central won its season-high sixth straight game with a 6-0 victory over Vienna, Ill., Saturday at Arena Park. Gross walked two and struck out three as the Lady Tigers improved to 16-5 on the season. "Vienna was a good hitting team. Pitching-wise we did a good job keeping the ball away, and we made defensive plays when we needed to," said Cape Central coach Amy Blattel...

FRESNO, Calif. -- Southeast Missouri State's volleyball team improved to 5-8 on the season after a four-set win over host Fresno State Saturday in the Fresno State Tournament. Southeast won the first two sets 16-14 and 15-13, fell in the third set 15-2 and rebounded in the fourth set 15-7...

The Industrial Appreciation Golf Tournament will be held Oct. 2 at Bent Creek Golf Course. The four-person scramble will have shotgun starts at 7:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. Entry fee is $70 per person. Numerous hole-in-one prizes will be available, including a new car...

A coed slow-pitch softball tournament will be held Oct. 14 at Hillcrest Park in Poplar Bluff. Entry fee is $100 per team. Entry deadline is Oct. 12. For more information, call 686-1155 (D).

The Jackson Parks and Recreation Department will hold its annual Youth Pizza Pace Race Oct. 14 in the parking lot of the swimming pool at Jackson City Park. Registration will begin at 8:30 a.m., with the race starting at 9 a.m. The event is open to boys and girls ages 4-13. Race sponsors are Pizza Pro, Super Video and Southeast Missouri Hospital/Main Street Fitness...

Next Sunday (Oct. 1), marks the start of Missouri's archery deer and turkey season. After 41 days, on Nov. 10, it will close for firearms deer hunting. On Nov. 22, it will reopen for another 55 days and close on Jan. 15, 2001. That means archers can pursue their quarry for a total of 95 days...

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- Elmer R. Killian, 76, of Perryville died Thursday, Sept. 21, 2000, at his home. He was born Jan. 10, 1924, in Perry County, Mo., son of Oscar L. and Georgia M. Rhodes Killian. He and Geraldine Sutterer were married June 10, 1951, and she died March 29, 1971. He then married Wilma C. Ruch Welker on June 14, 1975...

Harvey "Buzz" Somers, 62, of Morley, Mo., died Friday, Sept. 21, 2000, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. He was born Nov. 14, 1937, in Butler County, Mo., son of William Henry and Lillian Weaver Somers. He and Joyce Manies were married in June 1956, and she preceded him in death. He married Janet Somers in 1977, and she died in February 1992...

Brenda Fisher Baker of Benton, Mo., and formerly of Scott City, Mo., died Saturday, Sept. 23, 2000, at her residence. Arrangements are incomplete at Amick-Burnett Funeral Chapel in Scott City.

SCOTT CITY, Mo. -- Ruby A. Stevens, 78, of Scott City died Saturday, Sept. 23, 2000, at Fountainbleau Lodge in Cape Girardeau. She was born April 15, 1922, in Bollinger County, daughter of Charley and Polly Cook Hanners. She and Dale D. Stevens were married June 30, 1939, in Jackson, Mo. He died Dec. 2, 1997...

JONESBORO, Ill. -- Wanda Delois Tucker, 77, of Sneads Ferry, N.C., died Sunday, Sept. 17, 2000, at her home. She was born July 15, 1923, in Kay County, Okla., daughter of Barney and Thelma Turner Hopkins. She married Donald Tucker, and she worked as a hairdresser...

Ronald O. Weir, 65, of Desloge, Mo., died Friday, Sept. 22, 2000, at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis. He was born Aug. 1, 1935, in Lawrenceville, Ill., son of Herman O. and Mildred Bell Arbuthnot Weir. He was the former publisher of the Daily Journal in Park Hills, Mo...

SIKESTON, Mo. -- Lynda Lou Parker Davis, 58, of Sikeston and formerly of Charleston, Mo., died Saturday, Sept. 23, 2000, at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston. She was born Oct. 14, 1941, near East Prairie, Mo., daughter of James Floyce and Daisy Margaret Johnson Parker. She lived in Mississippi County most of her life, moving to Sikeston in 1998...

DEXTER, Mo. -- Betty Jo Fralick, 76, of Dexter died Friday, Sept. 22, 2000, at the Beverly Health and Rehabilitation Center in Dexter. She was born Sept. 3, 1924, in Dexter, daughter of Dallas S. and Bernice E. Markham Grubbs. She and Audry C. Fralick were married Aug. 20, 1965, in Kennett, Mo...

DONGOLA, Ill. -- Carolyn K. Maddox Crooks, 61, of Dongola died Saturday, Sept. 23, 2000, at her home. She was born March 5, 1939, at Centralia, Ill., daughter of Jack P. and Haskell (Sally) Goodman Maddox. Crooks had lived in San Diego, Calif., for 17 years before returning to Dongola. She was a retired registered nurse and held a degree in accounting. She had played professional softball...

I SEE in the paper Alec Baldwin has been quoted saying that if George Bush wins the election in November that the is moving out of the United States. I just wanted to know if the Southeast Missourian can get me an address where I can send a donation for his trip...

A big-time St. Louis gambling lawyer who has long been one of the state's top Democratic fund raisers has pleaded guilty and is probably headed to the penitentiary, after an Oct. 3 sentencing, for bilking his law partners out of a $500,000 bonus paid him by Station Casinos Inc. on top of $4 million in legal fees...

KENNETT, Mo. -- Even if the current crop of candidates seems bereft of its necessity, it is time for the rest of us to exercise honest maturity during the arguably worst three months of the year when wannabe presidents, senators and governors run up and down the countryside, often speaking gibberish...

Missouri, we hear again, is a "battleground state," a toss-up in this year's hotly contested presidential race. The term battleground refers to those states, mostly midwestern states between Jersey City and Kansas City, in which both parties are fighting fiercely over the same swing voters. The race for the White House, if you will recall, is really 50 separate contests to win each state's electoral votes...

To the editor: I read with great interest Marvin McMillan's Sept. 17 letter. He hit the nail on the head. He said the best way to stop the import deluge is to get rid of the politicians who support them. Let's do it. James Nall had a superb letter Sept. 19 in which he talked about the Republicans' not being a strong opposition to the Democrats anymore. Well, they have lost their way. Let's do it...

Much is made of a Newsweek poll issued Friday before last purporting to show Vice President Al Gore leading Texas Gov. George W. Bush 52 percent to 38 percent. You should know that this is the same poll -- the only one, by the way -- that showed Walter Mondale ahead of Ronald Reagan just after the 1984 Democratic convention. ...

Kelly Elizabeth Haubold and Robert Franklin Guard were married July 22, 2000, at Lynwood Baptist Church. The Rev. Gary Belcher performed the double ring ceremony. Pianist was Shane Steck, classical guitarists were Chip Sepulvado and Marshall Marietta, and vocalists were Jamie Becker and Sepulvado...

I'm not finished with the goldenrod. They will have an afterlife. Last autumn I purchased two baseball-sized Styrofoam balls. With the help of Samantha I collected pretty molted bird and chicken feathers. The bulk of the feathers came from the cages where the exotic chickens were displayed at the Southeast Missouri District Fair...

Amee Louise Erber and the Rev. Mark Allen Boettcher were married July 2, 2000, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Jackson, Mich. The Rev. Loren A. Boettcher, father of the groom, performed the double ring ceremony. Glenn Erber, father of the bride, was lector. Organist was Tim Frusti...

Stephanie Michelle Slaten and Jacob Micheal Shreve exchanged vows July 15, 2000, at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church. The Rev. Milton Ryan performed the double ring ceremony. Organist was Lenny Kuper of Cape Girardeau. Vocalists were Beth Sherman of St. Louis and Neal Boyd of Sikeston, Mo. Readers were Robert Stricker of Katy, Texas, and Carl Stricker of Charleston, Mo., uncles of the bride...

June Ann Pierce and George Anthony Craigmiles were married May 20, 2000, at Hanover Lutheran Church. The Rev. Mark Martin performed the double ring ceremony. Organist was Judy Foeste of Cape Girardeau, and soloist was Donna Hess of Chaffee, Mo. Parents of the couple are Roger and Sharon Pierce of Cape Girardeau, and George E. and Laura Craigmiles of Chaffee...

St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church was the setting April 28, 2000, for the wedding of Angela Jo Tanner and Steven William Logel. The Rev. Milton Ryan performed the double ring ceremony. Organist was Teresa Maurer and trumpeter was Marc Fulgham, both of Cape Girardeau. Vocalists were John Arata of St. Louis and Alan Bruns of Cape Girardeau...

BENTON, Mo. -- LaShea Suzanne Bohannon and John Alfred Worley Jr. were married Dec. 11, 1999, at La Croix United Methodist Church in Cape Girardeau. The Rev. Glen Bohannon, great-uncle of the bride, performed the double ring ceremony. Chris Nall of Cape Girardeau was organist, guitarist and soloist. Missy Curnell of Scott City, Mo., was also soloist...

Noelle Antoinette Sulser and Michael Christopher Gallivan were married Feb. 7, 2000, at Boscobel Beach in Ocho Rios, Jamaica. The Rev. Donald Williams performed the double ring ceremony. The bride is the daughter of Patrick and Susan Sulser of Cape Girardeau. The groom is the son of Nellie and Jules Levesque of Lake Havasu, Ariz., and Grand Bend, Ontario, Canada. He is also the son of the late Richard Gallivan...

JACKSON, Mo. -- Alyssa Katherine Kirk and Charles Drake Seabaugh were married Dec. 18, 1999, at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church. Msgr. Edward Eftink performed the double ring ceremony. Musicians were Andrea Seabaugh and Donna Kasten. Vocalists were Adrian True, Beth Roethemeyer and Julie Gerecke, all of Jackson...

David and Pat Jones of Cape Girardeau announce the engagement of their daughter, Tara Beth Jones, to David Michl McMullin. He is the son of John and Taffy McMullin of Cape Girardeau. Jones expects to receive a bachelor of science degree in chemical engineering from the University of Missouri-Columbia in December...

WHITEWATER, Mo. -- Jessica Louise Jones and Jeremy Michael Kinder announce their engagement. She is the daughter of Wayne A. Jones of Escondido, Calif., and Martha L. Blumenberg of Whitewater. Kinder is the son of Joan and Dick Bridgeman of Escondido, and the late Dan Kinder of Roseburg, Ore...

EAST PRAIRIE, Mo. -- Dickie and Shirley Carden of East Prairie announce the engagement of their daughter, Amber Lynn Carden, to Micheal William Manning. He is the son of Helen Manning of Jackson, Mo., and the late James Manning. Carden is a 1997 graduate of East Prairie High School. She is employed at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau...

BENTON, Mo. -- Robert and Josina Perez of Houston, Texas, announce the engagement of their daughter, Raquel Perez, to Jeremy Jason Kluesner. He is the son of Lt. Col. William and Teri Kluesner of Beaver Creek, Ohio, and formerly of Benton. Perez is a graduate of Mayo Creek High School in Katy, Texas. She is an assistant manager with Clothesline Department Stores in Houston...

Ralph and Verneda LeGrand of Cape Girardeau announce the engagement of their daughter, Linda Marie LeGrand, to Allan James Lawson, both of High Ridge, Mo. He is the son of Isaac and Alice Lawson of High Ridge. LeGrand received a bachelor of science degree in business administration from Southeast Missouri State University. She is an area sales manager with Famous-Barr at Crestwood Plaza...

Don and Barbara Bollinger of Benton, Mo., and Gerry and Donna VanMatre of Oran, Mo., announce the engagement of their daughter, Brandy Marie Bollinger, to Robert Joseph Luttrell, both of Cape Girardeau. He is the son of Phillip and Denise Luttrell of Scott City, Mo., and RonAnn Luttrell of Chaffee, Mo...

BENTON, Mo. -- Ken and Cindy Bollinger of Benton announce the engagement of their daughter, Carrie Ann Bollinger, to David Joseph Mack. He is the son of David and Marcella Mack of Benton. Bollinger is a 1994 graduate of Kelly High School, and 1998 graduate of Murray State University in Murray, Ky. She is employed at Alliance Blue Cross Blue Shield in Cape Girardeau...

You won't have kids fighting over bedrooms and baths in this Northfield Subdivision home. With three full and two half-baths along with four bedrooms, everyone will be able to claim his own space. The formal living room off the parquet-floored entry provides a peaceful setting for small friendly gatherings. Two sets of windows overlook the front porch and surrounding neighborhood...