Stories from Wednesday, October 11, 2000

Southeast Missouri residents will be able to view Sunday's debate between U.S. Senate candidates John Ashcroft and Mel Carnahan, but not on local live television. C-SPAN may air it later that night. At the very least, it will be shown one day next week, said Sara Sicks, associate producer for the cable channel in Washington, D.C...

Cape Girardeau residents could be watching more educational news programming if the city and school district finalize an operating agreement for a new public access channel. The city already operates Cable Access Channel 5 and could add another channel by spring 2001 for educational programming. The additional channel is part of a franchise agreement with Charter Communications, which operates the city's cable service...

JACKSON, Mo. -- There will be no shoving matches, name calling or interruptions allowed when Jackson voters and high school students debate major ballot issues on the Cape Girardeau County Courthouse lawn Saturday. In fact, debaters won't even address each other during the outdoor debate, which begins at 1 p.m. ...

Sometimes Riki Erlbacher's puppy behaves rather devilishly, yet Erlbacher plans to bring her 18-month-old cairn terrier to a pet blessing Saturday. The Celebration of Creation service will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at the lawn of Old St. Vincent's Church. In case of bad weather, the service will move to the Family Life Center at Centenary United Methodist Church...

Tom Neumeyer, a candidate for the 158th District in the Missouri House of Representatives, will sponsor a Democratic candidate forum for area residents. Neumeyer faces opposition from Republican Jason Crowell in a race for the seat being vacated by Rep. Mary Kasten...

Barbie isn't a toy anymore! She's big business. Barbie, introduced to the toy world in 1959, made some big headlines in Cape Girardeau in 1990. A St. Louis woman attending an Arena Building Antique and Collectibles Show, purchased a first-edition Barbie, complete with the original swimsuit and original box, for $2,300...

More than 40 vendors and exhibitors will meet Saturday in Cape Girardeau to showcase technology, equipment and services available to people with disabilities. "Abilities Expo," an annual exhibit coordinated by Semo Alliance for Disability Independence, will begin at 9 a.m. at the Osage Community Centre, 1625 N. Kingshighway. The Osage Centre is handicap accessible...

BENTON, Mo. -- A Sikeston, Mo., man was charged with selling narcotics from the drive-through window of a fast-food restaurant, the Scott County Sheriff's Department reported. Robert L. Mollice, 22, had been the target of a 3-month investigation where undercover officers purchased narcotics at the drive-through window of Taco Bell at 1413 E. Malone St., sheriff's Sgt. Jerry Bledsoe said...

A Sikeston man was sentenced Tuesday for manufacturing methamphetamine, a Charleston man was sentenced for trafficking cocaine and a Hayti man pleaded guilty to a charge of illegal possession of a gun, according to the U.S. Attorney's office. Travis Jackson, 31, of Sikeston, was sentenced to 24 months in jail on one felony count of manufacturing methamphetamine...

If the rematch between Cape Girardeau Central and Seckman is anything like the first game, then those two high school softball teams should be in for quite a battle today. Central's Lady Tigers and Seckman's Jaguars will hook up in a Class 4A sectional contest at House Springs-Northwest, which comes a little more than two weeks after the Lady Tigers posted a thrilling 1-0 regular-season victory in Cape Girardeau...

We need to make plays. After watching tape of our game at Tennessee Tech on Saturday, it is evident that we didn't play that bad. In fact, we showed improvement both offensively and defensively, but we didn't make plays when we needed to. On offense, we moved the ball up and down the field but we couldn't make the plays to score a touchdown. When we did make a play for a score, we had mistakes that led to penalties that kept us from getting the touchdown...

The mutton chops of St. Louis Cardinals reliever Mike James are new, but when Southeast Missouri State University baseball coach Mark Hogan looks at the mound, he can't help but see the same old arm. As the rest of the baseball world becomes more familiar with James as the Cardinals progress in the postseason, Hogan can recall his first look at the hard-throwing right-hander 14 years ago in surroundings far removed from Busch Stadium...

Southeast Missouri State University freshman linebacker Ricky Farmer has been named the NCAA Division I-AA National Newcomer of the Week by Teamlink/CFAA after his impressive performance during Saturday's 31-6 loss at Tennessee Tech. Farmer, a true freshman seeing the first action of his college career, had 19 tackles, including one tackle for a loss, as he helped the Indians' defense hold the Golden Eagles to only 262 total yards...

The Kohlfeld Scorpions Rugby Club won Saturday's Bootheel Tournament it hosted at Arena Park, beating Scott Air Force Base 39-12 in the championship game. Kohlfeld will host the St. Louis Royals on Oct. 14 and face the St. Louis Bombers at Forest Park in St. Louis on Oct. 21. The Scorpions need to win one of those matches to play in the Missouri Rugby Union Championship on Oct. 28...

The Cape Girardeau Parks and Recreation Department will sponsor its 13th annual Basketball Hotshot Contest on Saturday, Nov. 11, at the Osage Community Centre. The event, which is free, begins at 10 a.m. and will be preceded by registration from 9-9:30 a.m...

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...

ST. LOUIS -- St. Joseph's Academy appears poised for a run for the Class 4A state tennis championship as it ended a memorable Jackson High School season Tuesday with a 5-0 sectional victory. Jackson had won all 13 of its dual matches during the regular season, but St. Joseph's, which finished second in the state last year, came into the match with two-time state singles champion Kiki Stastny and her impressive entourage...

Anna Izattia Ervin Luton, 85, of Cape Girardeau died Monday, Oct. 9, 2000, at 8:40 a.m. at St. Francis Medical Center. She was born Dec. 23, 1914, in Pulaski County, Ill., daughter of John Wesley Ervin and Viola Isabelle Corzine, who preceded her in death...

COBDEN, Ill. -- Robert E. "Bob" Wolfe, 61, of Cobden died Monday, Oct. 9, 2000, on his farm. He was born Sept. 11, 1939, in Cobden, son of Robert G. and Helen Kendall Wolfe. Wolfe was a food service manager at Menard Correctional Center in Chester, Ill. He was a member of First Baptist Church and a Republican precinct committeeman...

Mary Julia Harrison, 81, of Columbus, N.C., died Thursday, Oct. 5, 2000, at her home. She was born in Belleville, Ill., daughter of Dr. Alonzo and Marie Krebs Fitzporter. She married Charles Luce Harrison Jr., who died in 1971. Harrison lived at Hilton Head Island, S.C., 20 years, moving to Polk County in 1998. She was a lifetime member of the Catholic Church...

MILLERSVILLE, Mo. -- Funeral for Sherman Anderson Smith of Grand Blanc, Mich., was held Oct. 3 at Hill Funeral Home in Grand Blanc. Burial was in Crestwood Memorial Cemetery. Smith, 82, died Sunday, Oct. 1, 2000, at his home. He was born Aug. 5, 1918, at Millersville, son of Samuel R. and Rilli I. Hartle Smith. He and Euga Elsie Wallis were married May 24, 1935, at Benton, Mo...

JONESBORO, Ill. -- Clarence Edward Kennedy, 63, of Jonesboro, formerly of Thebes, Ill., died Monday, Oct. 9, 2000, at Jonesboro Health Care Center. He was born March 3, 1937, at Morehouse, Mo., son of Dewey and Ella Marie McCane Kennedy. Kennedy was a farm laborer...

DONGOLA, Ill. -- Funeral for Gary Smith of Dongola will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday at Crain Funeral Home in Dongola. The Rev. Dare Aden will officiate. Burial will be in Friendship Cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home from 5-8 p.m. today, and Thursday until service time...

MATTHEWS, Mo. -- Clyde Wesley Conley, 68, of Matthews, Mo., died Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2000, at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston, Mo. He was born Feb. 7, 1932, in Luxora, Ark., son of Merritt and Nell James Conley. He and Mary Bourland were married Feb. 27, 1960, in Luxora...

SIKESTON, Mo. -- Wayne Greer Limbaugh Jr., 51, of Sikeston died Monday, Oct. 9, 2000, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. He was born Aug. 23, 1949, in Sikeston, son of Wayne G. and Bobbie Ann Dover Limbaugh Sr. Limbaugh was a journeyman instrument technician with Sikeston Power Station 18 years. He was a member of First Christian Church...

Mary Ann Masters, 56, of Paducah, Ky., died Monday, Oct. 9, 2000, at her home. She was born Dec. 12, 1943, in Cape Girardeau, daughter of Lyman and Maxine Morton Stevens. She and Charles E. Masters were married Oct. 6, 1961, in Sikeston, Mo. Masters was a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Paducah...

To the editor: The Jackson school bond issue is indeed a controversial one, with both sides adamant in their views. Unfortunately, during the course of presenting opinions, some facts may become distorted. Such is the case with Richard Bruce's letter to the editor in Monday's edition of the Southeast Missourian...

The Cape Girardeau School District is looking at some lean months ahead. Teachers are being asked to forgo minor maintenance or extra supplies, unless they want to pay for it themselves. Unfortunately, they often must do that. The plan to air condition aging Cape Central High School is on hold indefinitely...

Twenty-seven days until ELECTION DAY. Like an athletic event that changes leads on a regular basis, the polls have been as unreliable as long-term weather forecasts for predicting the outcome of many of the races. And ... for those whose emotions soar or descend on poll numbers ... this election cycle (again like an athletic game) has shown us it's not over until the closing of the polls on Election Day...

Why do you print Associated Press stories in the main section of the paper as though they were facts that say things like in the debates Bush is tough, Gore is nice. Anybody who actually watched that first debate knows Gore was impolite. He kept interrupting. ...

To the editor: Folks, did you see the 8,000-plus fans last Friday at the Jackson-Cape football game? If you did, you understand what we talk about when we talk about Jackson pride. Can you believe 8,000-plus fans went to a high school football game? Most small colleges and several big universities would be more than happy to have 8,000-plus on a Friday evening watching a college game, let along a local high school game. That's Jackson pride pride in our school system...

Ever been in a sticky situation? We all have. But probably none as sticky as the Great Molasses Flood, sometimes called the Molasses Massacre, which hit Boston in 1919. The tragedy occurred when over two million gallons of molasses stored in a 50-foot tall tank at the Purity Distilling Company burst forth, probably as a consequence of a rapid rise in temperature from below zero one day to 40 degrees the next...

My readers are really on the ball. Last week after the column ran, I already had a few responses to recipe requests the next morning. It is fun when mail comes in so quickly. I have a chance to try some of them before they go into the paper the following week. Keep up the great work...