Stories from Friday, October 13, 2000

Photographs that suggest the mystery of nature and the exciting combination of elements will be exhibited at Gallery 100 beginning today. "Nature's Moments," the work of Jean-Paul Bourdier, will be on display through October at 119 Independence St. A reception for the artist will be held from 5-8 p.m. today...

Opening a kiln after ceramic objects have been fired evokes the same feelings in Amy Kephart as opening presents on Christmas morning does for a young child. "You want that red fire truck and you get the yellow Tonka," she said. "It's always a surprise."...

Downtown streets will be alive with the sound of music tonight. The fourth annual City of Roses Music Festival begins at 7 with a full moon, warming temperatures and music at four outdoor stages and at downtown nightspots. (See schedule) The music continues Saturday afternoon and Saturday night...

While Vi Keys talks in her music store uphill from the Mississippi, her fingertips graze the strings of her red fiddle. She pauses and picks a scratchy melody that sounds like an engine revving. She plays and remembers her husband. "I remember he sang like nobody else. He sang sort of blues-like. He was like BB King, only better," said Vida Keys of her late husband, Eddie. "He could sing all styles, from country to Frank Sinatra."...

Thirteen people -- mostly associate and circuit judges in the region -- attended a public hearing of the Missouri Citizens' Commission on Compensation for Elected Officials at the Holiday Inn in Cape Girardeau Thursday night. Most who spoke said elected officials should be paid more...

I've been watching the travel ads and looking at some brochures and searching the Internet for some place to go. That's an itch I get every year when the weather turns nice. And you know how it is in Missouri: Nice weather is about as sure a thing as the stock market...

City and school officials in Cape Girardeau want to speed up an interchange redesign at Silver Springs Road and Kingshighway so they are going to pay for survey work that might help convince state highway officials about the necessity of the project...

Private investigators need to be watched more closely, said Jerry Wolsey, a private investigator. After 11 years operating Wolsey Investigative Service Inc. in Southeast Missouri, Wolsey has seen enough private eye wanna-be's to believe that regulation by the state is necessary...

ST. LOUIS -- The chairman of Anheuser-Busch Cos. Inc. is drawing criticism for suggesting it might be time to rethink the legal age for drinking. August A. Busch III broached the sensitive topic in a speech last month at a convention of beer wholesalers in New Orleans. His comments have since appeared in industry newsletters...

The Cape Girardeau Central High School Marching Tigers have participated in three competitions this season. In the latest competition last weekend, the band placed first in the Class B division at the 32nd Annual Washington Marching Band Festival in Washington, Mo. The Cape Central Auxiliary received the Outstanding Auxiliary trophy...

MARBLE HILL, Mo. -- Woodland High School Principal Debby Poindexter has been reassigned to undefined administrative duties, but the Woodland superintendent and School Board attorney are keeping mum on the reasons. They confirmed the Woodland Board of Education voted unanimously Monday to "reconsider the appointment" of Poindexter, who held the position just over one year before being reassigned to "other duties and responsibilities as secondary principal."...

Plans for a five-building, 45-unit apartment complex, to be constructed at 801 Good Hope St., moved smoothly through the Cape Girardeau Division of Inspection Services. Plans for the multi-family rental apartments at the site of old St. Francis Hospital, which covers about a half-block area along Pacific Street, between Good Hope and Morgan Oak, were submitted to the city Aug. 14 and everything was ready to issue the permit by Sept. 26 and the permits were picked up Oct. 5...

Another St. Louis charter school group wants Southeast Missouri State University to grant it a charter even though the university's Board of Regents has expressed reluctance to approve a third application this year. The regents approved a second charter school application two weeks ago, but said it likely won't approve any more in the immediate future...

LAKE OZARK, Mo. -- Legislative leaders from both parties agree on at least one thing: None of them is sure what the 2001 session of the General Assembly will have in store for Missourians. "I don't know if anybody has a clue what will happen in January, but there are some opportunities," said state Rep. Denny Merideth, D-Caruthersville. "Nobody is thinking about January yet. They are thinking about Nov. 7. But obviously we will see some changes come January."...

It's time for Jackson to start playing like the fourth-best team in the state. Sure the Indians have been winning, but they've been winning ugly. Save one exception -- their 43-14 win over Dyersburg, Tenn. -- the Indians have not played with the dominance I expected them to at the beginning of the season...

JACKSON, Mo. -- Cape Central's Arthur Pilsner netted an unassisted goal with one minute left in regulation Thursday to tie Jackson at 2-2. That would prove to be the final score as neither team could find the net in two five-minute overtime periods...

As Southeast Missouri State University's women's basketball team prepares to begin practice Saturday, veteran coach Ed Arnzen is confident that the Otahkians will be able to put a much-improved product on the court during the 2000-2001 season. The Otahkians slumped to an 11-17 overall record last year, which included a 7-11, seventh-place mark in the 10-team Ohio Valley Conference...

JACKSON, Mo. -- Cape Central's cross country team made a clean sweep of the SEMO Conference meet Thursday, winning all of the varsity, junior varsity and junior high races. The closest race was the varsity girls, where the Lady Tigers edged the Lady Indians 28-30. Notre Dame took third with 89 points, followed by Kelly at 112. Neither Sikeston nor Poplar Bluff had complete teams...

Southeast Missouri State University basketball player Monte Gordon, a touted junior-college transfer who is expected to challenge for the Indians' starting power forward position, has been cleared to begin practice Saturday after experiencing what is commonly referred to as a "racing heart" during a recent workout...

At the beginning of the year when looking at Scott City's schedule, there were a certain number of games which appeared to be automatic wins for the Rams. After Scott City beat Hayti 38-0 last year, the Indians looked to be one of those vending-machine victories for the Rams -- put in a quarter or two and get a nice, hot cup of victory in return...

Several big guys. One big challenge. Indian coach Carl Gross was disappointed in the way his offensive and defensive lines played in last week's 34-24 win over Cape Central, and he's hoping for improvement in that area when Jackson plays host to Hillsboro (2-4) tonight at 7:30 p.m...

(7:30 p.m. kickoffs) Hillsboro at Jackson Poplar Bluff at Springfield Hillcrest Roosevelt at Sikeston (7 p.m.) Hayti at Scott City Chaffee at Malden East Prairie at Charleston Dexter at Caruthersville Windsor at Perryville (7 p.m.) Crystal City at St. Vincent (7:15 p.m.)...

EAST CAPE GIRARDEAU, Ill. -- Fred A. Rieck, 75, of East Cape Girardeau died Wednesday, Oct. 11, 2000, at his home. He was born Sept. 12, 1925, in Cape Girardeau, son of James U. and Marie Leimbrook Rieck. Rieck owned and operated Associated Realty in Cape Girardeau. He was a member of St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church, VFW Post 3838, and Rotary Club, and former member of Knights of Columbus Council 1111...

EAST PRAIRIE, Mo. -- Clarence Woodside, 89, formerly of East Prairie died Thursday, Oct. 12, 2000, at Sikeston Health Care Facility in Sikeston, Mo. He was born June 8, 1911, in Du Quoin, Ill. He and Ada May Wamble were married Aug. 15, 1944. She died Jan. 15, 1978...

Arlee Q. McClard, 70, of Cape Girardeau died Thursday, Oct. 12, 2000, at the Beverly Health Center in Cape Girardeau. Arrangements are incomplete at McCombs Funeral Home in Cape Girardeau.

ANNA, Ill. -- John H. Dirden, 75, of Carbondale, Ill., formerly of Union County, died Thursday, Oct. 12, 2000, at The Abbey of Carbondale. He was born April 19, 1925, in Paragould, Ark., son of Ervin and Mildred Wineham Dirden. He married Myrtle Taylor...

Richard K. Spalding, 74, of Cape Girardeau died Thursday, Oct. 12, 2000, at St. Francis Medical Center. He was born Nov. 13, 1925, in Cape Girardeau, son of Richard H. and Dora Marie Hager Spalding. He and Edith Page were married Jan. 2, 1946, in Cape Girardeau...

Son to Timothy Prichard and Chrys Martin-Prichard of Atlanta, Ga., Emory Eastside Medical Center in Snellville, Ga., 6:07 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 5, 2000. Name, Sawyer Aeden Martin. Weight, 4 pounds 14 ounces. First child. Ms. Martin-Prichard is the daughter of Glenda Martin of Cape Girardeau. She is a real estate agent with Remax Greater Atlanta. Prichard is the son of George and June Prichard of Sarasota, Fla. He is an IT security analyst with Motorola...

If a thrill is what you seek, the fourth annual Skydiving Boogie at the Cape Girardeau Regional Airport might just be the event for you this weekend. The Frog Fest skydiving boogie will be held from 10 a.m. to dusk both Saturday and Sunday at the airport...

TO THE grandparents: The next time you see your grandchildren, please give them a hug and a kiss. Tell them how much you love them. I do not have mine today. Mine were beaten and bruised by their mother. The court, after seeing physical and visible abuse and hearing the children say their mother repeatedly beat them, gave the children back to her. ...

It's a good thing Southeast Missouri State University and KFVS TV-12 were able to organize a debate between the Republican and Democratic candidates for governor of Missouri. Otherwise, anyone in Southeast Missouri who is interested in such debates would have been out of luck for this political season...

Get ready for more than 50 hours of music in downtown Cape Girardeau starting tonight and continuing Saturday night. It's time for the 2000 City of Roses Music Festival. This year's theme, "You can't have too much music," will be abundantly evident at four outdoor stages and eight clubs and restaurants...

To the editor: Unfortunately, the city of Cape is failing to show the same leniency towards the Taste Lounge as it is doing for other bars and taverns here in Cape. I've been residing in Cape for approximately two years, and all I hear about is the Taste Lounge. ...