Stories from Saturday, December 2, 2000

The Cape Girardeau Ministerial Alliance seeks nominations for its annual Martin Luther King award. The award is presented to a person each year who helps better the community through acts of unselfishness and who best models the ideals of justice and freedom while using nonviolent principles...

Christians today are bringing the Gospel message with them everywhere -- from the baseball field to the boardroom -- in an attempt to share that message with the world. "We're admonished to go into the whole world and bring the values of the Gospel. And that includes the corporate world," said the Rev. Michael Crosby, a Capuchin Franciscan friar from Milwaukee...

BENTON, Mo. -- After serving in nearly every professional job available in a school system during a career that's spanned three decades, Kelly School District Superintendent Don Abner says he's ready to try going home and doing nothing for awhile. Abner will retire next summer from the district where he began his career in 1970 as a science and physical education teacher. He notified the Kelly Board of Education late last month...

Local pianists are bringing the spirit of the season to Southeast Missouri Hospital. Marty Roth, who works in the accounting department at Southeast Missouri State University, played Christmas carols Thursday afternoon on the hospital's new grand piano, to the delight of patients, visitors and hospital employees...

Vice President Al Gore should concede he has lost the election, U.S. U.S. Sen. Christopher "Kit" Bond, R-Mo., said in Cape Girardeau Friday. "As far as I am concerned, the election is over," he told reporters during a visit to Cape Girardeau. "The votes have been counted and recounted and recounted."...

You just never know where the bumps on the road of life will take you. The path I chose as an 18-year-old had me on my way to being a foreign correspondent for a major news agency. I studied the Russian language and culture in preparation for my career and immersed myself in the international communities that were so prevalent at the University of Missouri-Columbia...

Southeast Missouri State University's capital campaign has raised $25.4 million toward its new goal of $35 million, school officials announced Frida at the annual President's Council dinnerby Michael Dambach, campaign co-chair. Council membership is open to people and businesses whose gifts and pledges to the Southeast Foundation have surpassed the $10,000 and $25,000. This year a record 77 new members were added...

There is a simple solution to agriculture's problems today, says state Rep. Peter C. Myers -- "better prices." "Getting better prices is the hard part," said Myers, guest speaker at the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce's First Friday Coffee. Myers, a former U.S. deputy secretary of agriculture under President Ronald Reagan's administration, discussed agriculture issues at the meeting...

Photographer-record company owner Hank O'Neal was a member of the New York artists community back when he would yell up to poet Allen Ginsberg's fourth-floor tenement apartment and Ginsberg would throw down a sock with a key in it. When he quotes legendary photographer Walker Evans, it's from a conversation the two had...

BENTON, Mo. -- Several burglaries, mostly involving gun thefts, have been reported in rural Scott County, the sheriff's department reported. "These burglaries are a little early this year," Sgt. Jerry Bledsoe said. "Usually they wait until the Christmas presents are out."...

SCOTT CITY, Mo. -- Without leads or a good description, police have ended their search for a man said to have kidnapped a woman and forced her to drive from St. Louis to Scott City this week. "We don't have anyone besides the victim who has seen this man," said sheriff's Sgt. Jerry Bledsoe...

Of all the information contained in the Cape Girardeau School District profile released Friday, Dr. Dan Steska said he is most concerned about minority student achievement levels and the district's financial outlook. The annual report, a snapshot of the district's financial, instructional and student achievement levels for the 1999-2000 school year, is being printed and will be available to area residents next week at the Board of Education office, 61 N. Clark St...

10 years ago: Dec. 2, 1990 The Rev. Patricia Williams, who was ordained to priesthood at Advent Episcopal Church in Crestwood on Friday, celebrates Eucharist at Christ Episcopal Church in Cape Girardeau in morning; she was active lay member for many years at Christ Church...

A new partnership between Southeast Missouri State University and Three Rivers Community College could provide area students with greater access to community college classes, school officials said Friday. Three Rivers Community College at Poplar Bluff, Mo., is looking at offering two associate-degree programs on at Southeast. Final approval rests with the Missouri Coordinating Board for Higher Education...

The federal government has earmarked $11 million for Highway 60 improvements and the operation of a transit service in Southeast Missouri. Ten million dollars will go to widen Highway 60 from two lanes to four lanes in Shannon and Carter counties. The Southeast Missouri Transportation Service will receive $1 million in federal funding in the new fiscal year that began Oct. 1...

ORAN, Mo. -- Considering that the teams were the top two seeds, it seemed only fitting that Twin Rivers and Notre Dame would battle to the wire Friday night in the championship game of the Oran Invitational boys basketball tournament. Top-seeded Twin Rivers wound up emerging with the title by holding on for a 54-53 victory over the second-seeded Bulldogs...

Had Cape Central shot a mere 25 percent from three-point range and 50 percent from the free throw line, it would have won the game. But below-zero shooting negated an otherwise solid performance by the Tigers Friday night as De Soto defeated Central 69-51 at Tiger Field House...

GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- One day after notching the program's first NCAA Division I Tournament victory, Southeast Missouri State University's volleyball team was brought back down to earth by powerful Florida, which is ranked 10th nationally. The host Gators rolled past the Otahkians 15-1, 15-7, 15-5 Friday night in a second-round match. Florida (29-4) moves on to regional play next week as one of 16 teams remaining from the original NCAA field of 64...

Southeast Missouri State University's softball team has announced the signing of two California high school players: Christine Knobbe and Rachel VanFleet. Knobbe is a catcher at Brea Olinda High School in Brea, Calif. Last season Knobbe batted just .250, but had a .986 fielding percentage and an on-base percentage of .581...

MARBLE HILL, Mo. -- Top-seeded Advance lived up to its seed Friday night as it knocked off No. 2 Woodland 69-52 to claim the Woodland Tournament title. Advance's Adrew Jenkins led all scorers with 22 points, followed by Adam Rainey with 11. Chris Masters led Woodland with 17 points in a game that Woodland coach Jennings Wilkinson said was closer than the final score indicated...

Anntoinette Haman, 66, of Fenton, Mo., and formerly of Scott City, Mo., died Friday, Dec. 1, 2000, at St. Anthony's Hospital in St. Louis. Arrangements are pending at the Amick-Burnett Funeral Chapel in Scott City.

Daughter to Latoya Samara Miles of Tamms, Ill., Southeast Missouri Hospital, 11:18 p.m. Friday, Nov. 24, 2000. Name, Makeda Lashae. Weight, 6 pounds 15 ounces. Third daughter. Ms. Miles is the daughter of Leatrice Wood and Carl Wood of Tamms. Son to Charles Steven and Tina Arlene Brugger of Jackson, Southeast Missouri Hospital, 7:10 p.m. ...

ADVANCE, Mo. -- Mary Croswhite, 89, of Advance died Friday, Dec. 1, 2000, at Advance Nursing Center. She was born March 19, 1911, in Cape Girardeau County, daughter of Comelous and Althea Zimmerman. She married Ralph Croswhite, who died Feb. 1, 2000...

SIKESTON, Mo. -- Edwin B. Wood, 80, of Sikeston died on Friday, Dec. 1, 2000, at Missouri Delta Medical Center. He was born April 18, 1920, in East Prairie, Mo., to Jesse and Ida Daugherty Wood. He and Eunice Chism were married Oct. 9, 1948, in Sikeston...

BERNIE, Mo. -- Ruth Nell Lovins, 79, of Bernie, Mo., died Friday, Dec. 1, 2000, at Dexter Memorial Hospital. She was born Sept. 29, 1921, at Marble Hill, Mo., daughter of Elsworth and Nora Edna Teeters Leadbetter. She and James Alex Lovins were married Oct. 12, 1933, at Kennett, Mo...

Toney Levill, 83, formerly of Cairo, Ill., died Friday, Dec. 1, 2000, at his residence in Carterville, Ill. Arrangements are pending at Barkett Funeral Home in Cairo.

PUXICO, Mo. -- Lloyd Elledge, 78, of Puxico died Friday, Dec. 1, 2000, at Three Rivers Healthcare North Campus in Poplar Bluff, Mo. He was born Nov. 13, 1922, at Wappapello, Mo., son of Postle P. and Ada Hodgeson Elledge. He and Lorna Templeton were married July 13, 1953, in St. Louis...

BELL CITY, Mo. -- John G. Cockrell, 93, of Bell City died Friday, Dec. 1, 2000, at Beverly Health Rehabilitation Center in Bloomfield, Mo. Morgan Funeral Home in Advance, Mo., is in charge of arrangements.

Nina Faye Jaco, 51, of Cape Girardeau died Friday, Dec. 1, 2000, at Southeast Missouri Hospital. Ford and Sons Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Lynn Welch, 84, of Cape Girardeau died Thursday, Nov. 30, 2000, at St. Francis Medical Center. He was born Nov. 9, 1916, at Scopus, Mo., son of Oscar and Nellie Pierce Welch. Welch was a retired farmer and formerly of Advance, Mo. Survivors include six sons, Lynn Welch Jr. ...

COBDEN, Ill. -- Graveside service for Patsy June Poucher of Cobden will be held at 11 a.m. today at Alto Pass Cemetery instead of Walnut Grove Cemetery. The Rev. Danny Miller will officiate. Lutz and Rendleman Funeral Home in Cobden is in charge of arrangements...

DELTA, Mo. -- Ben L. Brown, 81, of Delta died Thursday, Nov. 30, 2000, at his home. He was born March 27, 1919, in Terry, La., son of Ben and Lula J. Roberts Brown. Brown was a retired construction worker, having built dams and highways. He was formerly of Bell City, Clines Island and Idalia, Mo., communities. He lived many years in New Hall, Calif., returning to Missouri in 1990...

ALTENBURG, Mo. -- Eileen M. Lueders, 73, of Altenburg died Thursday, Nov. 30, 2000, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. She was born Sept. 19, 1927, at Perryville, Mo., daughter of Raphael and Elta Sutterer Emmenderfer. She and Wilbert H. Lueders Sr. were married June 22, 1946. He died Nov. 5, 1996...

KARNAK, Ill. -- Flora Mae Canada, 90, of Karnak died Friday, Dec. 1, 2000, at Magnolia Manor Health Care Center in Metropolis, Ill. Wilson Funeral Home in Karnak is in charge of arrangements.

James Louis Morrow, 96, passed away Dec. 1, 2000, at the Lutheran Home. Visitation will be Sunday, noon to 1 p.m. at Ford and Sons Mt. Auburn Chapel. Funeral service will be Sunday at 1 p.m. at the chapel, with the Rev. S.S. Borum officiating. Burial will be in Lorimier Cemetery...

On another planet? TWO COMMENTS for Joe Sullivan. First, if he keeps a motionless clock in his office so that he can look at it from time to time and know that somewhere in the world it is accurate, I don't know what planet he's on. I'm not familiar with time zones that are a minute off from each other. ...

Al Gore is seeking to perpetuate a number of myths in furtherance of his obsessive quest to fulfill his childhood dream. He is speaking with forked tongue because the truth does not benefit his presidential ambitions. These myths are the foundational currency of Gore's post-election propaganda campaign, and must be continually debunked, even if some of them have been around for weeks...

Dr. Dan Steska, superintendent of Cape Girardeau's public schools, showed refreshing candor this week when he called together community leaders who have helped in the past to deal with school finances and improvement planning. Steska told them the district needs a tax increase for students to continue to be educated in the manner to which parents have become accustomed, which means their kids perform well above the national average...

To the editor: The Christmas Parade of Lights this year looked fantastic. There were so many floats, many of them with wonderful religious themes from area churches. Happy people were walking along with these floats handing out candy to the children assembled there to watch this fantastic display of good cheer...

To the editor: From the beginning, the Bush campaign has been committed to court proceedings designed to prevent the accurate hand count of ballots that the machines either failed to count or counted incorrectly. The essence of this position seemed clearly to be demanding that the election count stop while George W. ...