Stories from Friday, October 20, 2000

For those who lived through the tumultuous 1960s, the 1950s seem a time of carefree fun in America. It wasn't true, of course. Americans were fighting and dying in Korea at the beginning of the Cold War. The specter of nuclear annihilation hung like a darkening cloud on the horizon, and Commies were an enemy suspected to be among us...

Three people were arrested in the shooting death of a 19-year-old Cape Girardeau man on Thursday following an apparent argument at Indian Park. Jesus Sides died from a gunshot wound to the chest, coroner John Carpenter said. Police took three men, ages 18, 17 and 16, into custody Thursday evening, Cpl. Kevin Orr said. Their cases will be reviewed by the Cape Girardeau County prosecutor's office before charges are filed and their names are released...

JACKSON, Mo. -- Cape Girardeau County's emergency-911 system has a million dollars in the bank. Financed by a tax paid by Cape Girardeau County telephone customers, the system has generated the massive reserve fund in its first eight years of existence...

County courthouses and some city offices are closed across the region today in observance of the funeral of Gov. Mel Carnahan, who died Monday in a plane crash. County and city offices in Cape Girardeau and Jackson, Mo., are closed with the exception of the Cape Girardeau County clerk's offices...

There is a sadness that follows the death of a family member or friend who has lived a long and full life. But there is another emotion, more like outrage, that comes over those of us left to mourn the unexpected death of someone whose life is in no way finished...

Shirley Ramsey, the woman credited by many for being a driving force behind the success of the Community Caring Council, will retire at the end of October and spend her last day on the job Friday. Ramsey, 62, said she has been planning for more than a year to retire early as executive director to spend more time with family and enjoy a recently purchased home in the Bell City area...

SIKESTON, Mo. -- Voters in the 160th legislative district likely will find their candidates for state representative share many of the same philosophical and political ideas. The difference lies primarily in the candidates' political experience and in their view of conceal and carry laws...

Using simulated tornadoes as a starting point, Cape Girardeau County was tested Thursday to see how it might respond to a disaster. With participation from businesses and others growing each year, county residents will have a better idea of what to do if a real disaster occurs, said Dave Hitt, coordinator for the county Emergency Management Agency...

The proposed planning and zoning regulations for Cape Girardeau County can be read on the Southeast Missourian's Web site at www.semissourian.com/ news. The documents on the Web site include the proposed master plan, subdivision and mobile home park regulations and zoning requirements...

Tonight's scheduled Southeast Missouri State University Jazz Bands concert has been canceled. The concert, planned for the University Center Ballroom, was canceled due to scheduling problems, school officials said. A performance has been rescheduled for Oct. 31 at the University Center for the first Jazz at Noon concert of the fall semester, officials said. The program will begin at noon and end around 1:30 p.m. Admission is free...

Southeast Missouri natives Earl and Marjorie Holland, who live in Fort Myers, Fla., have been named the 2000 Friends of the University by the Southeast Missouri University Foundation. School officials announced the award winners Wednesday. The award will be presented Saturday at the annual Copper Dome breakfast at the Student Recreation Center as part of Southeast Missouri State University's homecoming celebration...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Republican Jason Crowell was winning the financial race in the campaign for 158th District legislative seat, campaign finance disclosure reports show. During the latest reporting period, Crowell raised better than three times more money as his Democratic opponent, Tom Neumeyer, and nearly twice as much for the whole general election. Crowell had approximately $4,300 more in the bank than Neumeyer...

JACKSON -- Ask Ray Goodson, and it took several months to be accepted as an Indian. Ask Jackson coach Carl Gross, it was about five minutes. Though the hour of acceptance may be perceived differently by player and coach, this fact remains: Goodson wasn't given respect...

Sporting a record of 1-6, the Vianney Golden Griffins may not be a very good football team. But they won't be intimidated. Vianney will play host to third-ranked Jackson tonight when district play is kicked off statewide. The kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m...

Runs could very well be at a real premium today when Kelly and Lawson hook up in a semifinal game of the Missouri Class 2A state high school softball tournament. The Lady Hawks (20-2) and Lady Cardinals (22-2) will square off at 11:30 a.m. at the Rainbow Softball Complex in Columbia, Mo...

Both Cape Central and Sikeston have their own reasons to think they should win tonight. Cape Central has more speed, but Sikeston has more size. The Tigers have more momentum, but the Bulldogs have home-field advantage. Sikeston has a former Cape Central coach on its side, but the Tigers have a former Bulldog coach on theirs...

Worth County is in the Missouri Class 1A Final Four of high school softball for the first time, which naturally has the school and community excited. But the Lady Tigers have nothing on Delta's Lady Bobcats, who are in the 1A Final Four not only for the first time but also fielded a fall softball team for the first time this year...

Southeast Missouri State University's Ohio Valley Conference-leading volleyball team will hit the road for a pair of matches as the Otahkians try to give coach Cindy Gannon her 300th career victory. The Otahkians (12-8 overall, 8-0 OVC) face Tennessee-Martin (14-4, 8-2) at 7 p.m. today and Murray State (7-10, 5-4) at 2 p.m. Saturday...

Southeast Missouri State University's women's tennis team will have its first home match on its new courts when Harding (Ark.) University visits today for a 2 p.m. contest. It will be the first dual match of the fall practice season for the Otahkians, who previously competed in tournaments at Eastern Illinois, Evansville and Western Illinois...

The Class 3A, District 1 appears to be the deepest district in Southeast Missouri this year. Though fifth-ranked New Madrid County Central is the heavy favorite to win the district, Fredericktown (5-2) opens up with an interesting matchup with Kennett (5-1)...

LEOPOLD, Mo. -- Just last Saturday, Notre Dame High School's volleyball team knocked off Leopold in two sets to win the Meadow Heights Tournament. Thursday night, the Lady Wildcats returned the favor with a 15-13, 15-3 victory over the Lady Bulldogs in the final regular-season match for both squads...

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- Gladys E. Schemel Roy, 67, of Perryville, died Thursday, Oct. 19, 2000, at Missouri Baptist Hospital in St. Louis. She was born May 25, 1933, at Biehle, Mo., daughter of Arthur and Bertha Berkbigler Schemel. She and Robert L. Roy were married July 3, 1954. He died July 29, 1993...

BELL CITY, Mo. -- Clauedia Inetha Henderson, 79, of Jackson, Tenn., died Thursday, Oct. 19, 2000, at Jackson County Memorial Hospital in Jackson, Tenn. She was born Sept. 1, 1921, at Painton, Mo., daughter of Gus and Ruby Pennington Swan. She and James Henderson were married in 1938. He died March 26, 1986...

JACKSON, Mo. -- Dorothy M. Schlimme, 82, of Jackson died Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2000. Friends may call today, Oct. 20, from 3-8 p.m. at McCombs Funeral Home in Jackson. Funeral service will be Saturday, Oct. 21, at 10 a.m. at the funeral home. The Rev. Sam Roethemeyer will officiate. Interment will be in Russell Heights Cemetery...

MARION, Ill. -- Albert P. "Phil" Asbury, 66, of Marion died Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2000, at St. Luke's Hospital in Chesterfield, Mo. He was born July 28, 1934, in Rockwood, Ill., son of Albert Anderson and Thelma Vivian Frazer Asbury. He and Mary Kathleen Mighell were married Nov. 11, 1955, in Randolph County, Ill. He later married Anita Metcalfe Dec. 17, 1976, in Cape Girardeau...

EAST PRAIRIE, Mo. -- Terry Jackson, 50, of East Prairie died Thursday, Oct. 19, 2000, at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston, Mo. He was born Dec. 11, 1949, in Mississippi County, Mo., son of Joe L. and Effie Mae Morgan Jackson. He and Linda Summerlott were married Aug. 30, 1969, at East Prairie. She survives...

SIKESTON, Mo. -- Patricia Ann Poole, 69, of Sikeston died Thursday, Oct. 19, 2000, at her home. She was born Sept. 12, 1931, in Ohio, daughter of Harry and Louise Bierch Bachman. She worked as a medical records transcriptionist at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston. She was a member of Wesley United Methodist Church...

MARBLE HILL, Mo. -- Idell Kirkpatrick, 87, of Marble Hill died Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2000, at Eldercare of Marble Hill. She was born Nov. 6, 1912, at Marble Hill, daughter of Malachi and Carrie Alma Allen Baker. She and Murrell Kirkpatrick were married July 18, 1934. He died Nov. 13, 1996...

PUXICO, Mo. -- Funeral service for Christopher Dale Sifford of Jefferson City, Mo., will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday at Puxico High School gymnasium. The Rev. Kem Lumley of Memorial Baptist Church in Jefferson City will officiate. Eulogies will be given by Gov. Roger Wilson and Roy Temples. Burial will be in Puxico City Cemetery, with the Rev. John Buttry and the Rev. Ray Placher conducting the committal service...

JACKSON, Mo. -- Dorothy A. Glueck, 87, of Jackson died Thursday, Oct. 19, 2000, at the Lutheran Home in Cape Girardeau. She was born Nov. 15, 1912, at Wittenberg, Mo., daughter of Martin C. and Clara Boehme Ahner. She and Charles A. Glueck were married July 18, 1939. He died Nov. 12, 1995...

William Joseph "Billy Joe" Schaffer, 65, of Cape Girardeau died Thursday, Oct. 19, 2000, at Southeast Missouri Hospital. He was born Nov. 6, 1934, at Lilbourn, Mo., son of Alva "Joe" and Emma Long Schaffer. He and Barbara Dees were married Nov. 24, 1989...

CANALOU, Mo. -- Bobbie Jo Lasters, 65, of Canalou died Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2000, at Three Rivers Health Care North Hospital in Poplar Bluff, Mo. She was born Jan. 13, 1935, at Osceola, Ark., daughter of Vernon and Lillie Mae Beck Walker. She and Fred T. Lasters were married March 22, 1960. He died March 5, 1980...

ANNA, Ill. -- Blanche G. Anderson, 91, of Thomasville, Ga., died Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2000, at Camilia Gardens Nursing Center in Thomasville. She was born Feb. 11, 1909, in Cobden, Ill., daughter of Bismark and Alpha Bain Griffith. She and F.G. "Andy" Anderson were married Oct. 25, 1928, in Cobden. He died Aug. 27, 1962...

PUXICO, Mo. -- Roberta "Bobbie" O'Neal, 73, of Puxico died Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2000, at Puxico Nursing and Rehab Center. She was born Nov. 23, 1926, at Bonne Terre, Mo., daughter of Ralph and Violet E. Mayberry Duren. She and Donald G. O'Neal were married July 25, 1959, in St. Louis...

BERNIE, Mo. -- Alfred Ray Gratz, 70, of Bernie died Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2000, at his home. He was born Sept. 13, 1930, at Parma, Mo., son of Elmer and Letha Leona Brown Gratz. Gratz lived in Parma many years. He moved to Bernie 10 years ago. He owned and operated a furniture store at Parma prior to retiring. He was a member of Parma United Methodist Church...

SIKESTON, Mo. -- Velma M. Davenport, 83, of Sikeston died Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2000, in Sikeston. She was born Sept. 3, 1917, at Kewanee, Mo., daughter of Claude and Oma Blanche Ready Mays. She and James Davenport were married March 14, 1935, at Sikeston. He died May 6, 1972...

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- Irma C. Armbruster, 84, of Perryville died Thursday, Oct. 19, 2000, at Perry County Memorial Hospital. She was born July 7, 1916, at St. Mary, Mo., daughter of Henry and Philomina Wengert Armbruster. Armbruster had worked at Prince Gardiner...

SURE THE rich create jobs -- strictly for their benefit. Most of the jobs they create are minimum wage, and most of the rich are against raising the minimum wage, so their employees can make them richer. If it weren't for the poor, the rich wouldn't be rich. ...

For several years there has been persistent coffee-shop grumbling that Cape Girardeau's building-permit process was a deterrent to development. Similarly, over the years the Southeast Missourian has repeatedly tried to document those complaints -- but with little success. Efforts to follow up on complaints about the permit process usually fizzled when the complaining contractors couldn't -- or wouldn't -- provide specific information...

Over a period of a little more than two weeks in mid-1998, a series of 11 arson fires were reported in a Cape Girardeau neighborhood. The fires were deliberately set in vehicles, outbuildings, trash bins and even a boat stored in an alley. Last week, the Cape Girardeau Police Department said it has taken a juvenile into custody. Police say the youth is responsible for the longest string of illegal fires in memory...

The Community Caring Council has been hard at work for more than 12 years and has been a catalyst for the cooperative efforts to improve the lives of families and children. The council's primary role has been to empower families and individuals to become more self-reliant, resourceful and responsible. The secondary objective has always been to avoid duplication of efforts and to fill in the gaps in services...

To the editor: How can we believe we are Christians and vote for candidates who hold anti-Christian beliefs? With moral and ethical problems taking center stage in our country's cultural and political conversation, I believe we Christians must answer the question: What would Jesus do?...

To the editor: The undersigned Realtors of Jackson are asking the community to band together in support of the bond issue for the Jackson School District on Nov. 7. The phenomenal growth of Jackson and the increase in property values are due in large part to our school system. Our children are our future, and the increase of $10 per $100,000 of assessed valuation would be money well-spent...