Stories from Sunday, December 17, 2000

Probably the most familiar of Aesop's fables is the story of The Boy Who Cried Wolf. The boy'who was shepherding the flocks for the townspeople sounded so many false alarms that when a wolf really did come and attack the flock, no one came to help, and the flocks were decimated by the ravenous beast. ...

A few good men: Jennifer Smith, human resourse manager at LeeRowan, said to always be looking for a few more good individuals to hrie, was given a bagful by Santa. Jackson USA Signal/Mark Evans Chatting: The annual Jackson Chamber of Commerce Christmas party was a time to renew aquaintances or meet new people. Jackson USA Signal/Mark Evans...

Workers: Volunteers spent most of the day Thursday distributing food, toys and clothing to families in need of some Christmas cheer. Jackson USA Signal/Mark Evans Potatoes: Fresh produce was among the food items available for families at the Christmas Basket Project. Jackson USA Signal/Mark Evans...

The Jackson Chamber of Commerce prides itself on our ability to not just do things, but on our ability to get things done. Anyone can do stuff, we strive to make things happen. A lot of what the Chamber of Commerce does is behind the scenes, things that most people think just occur naturally...

Queen's song: Queen Isabelle (Erika Beasley) entertained guests with a song, while Sophie Gathman played the harp. In trouble: This guest found hismelf in trouble with guards of the king's court. Irish jig: Christmas traditions froma roudn the world were represented, including this Irish jog...

FRUITLAND -- Guests were taken back to a 16th century castle, Dec. 7-9, at the Jackson High School Choral Department's sixth annual Ye Olde Madrigal Feaste. The production featured more than 100 JHS students, who sang, acted, played period instruments and served a Medieval-style meal to guests...

How we perceive snow days certainly changes from childhood to adulthood. From a joyous time of freedom and adventure, to a stressful time of uncertainty and concern, it makes quite a turn. Yet, if we're honest, many of us still have just a smidgen of that little kid excitement left...

At long last we have what the lawyers call "state-specific finality" in Missouri's tobacco litigation. With this week's unanimous ruling by the Missouri Supreme Court, Missouri becomes the last of the 46 states to reach this finality, which means all appeals and litigation have been exhausted. Such finality is a necessary pre-condition before money from the national tobacco settlement can start flowing into state coffers...

Big Crowd: The large crowd at the Senior Citizen Christmas Dinner seemed to enjoy themselves Tuesday night. Jackson USA Signal/Mark Evans Santa's helpers: Santa's elves were ready to provide any assistance at the dinner. Jackson USA Signal/Mark Evans...

Editor's note: Following last week's decision by the Missouri Supreme Court that all of the money from the tobacco settlement must go to the state, state Sen. Wayne Goode sent the following letter to state Sen. Peter Kinder of Cape Girardeau and others...

Nobody can be certain, but it seems logical to assume Al Gore won't be retiring to Florida anytime soon. Most of us hate going to a doctor's office as much as failed political candidates hate going to a vocational counselor. The negative effect of making no campaign promises is that winning candidates suddenly must start thinking...

No one ever claimed citizenship in a democracy was easy, which should come as no surprise to many Americans, including myself, who have weighed in against this or that turn of changing events during what will certainly go down as one of our nation's most memorable, if not lovable, elections...

The State of Missouri and its citizens are the attorney general's clients and, through their duly elected representatives in the General Assembly, they may control the payment arrangement provided in the Master Settlement Agreement, regardless of whether the funds come from the state treasury. ...

THE POST office in Jackson is awesome. My husband put 21 Christmas cards in the mail by mistake. He forgot to put stamps on them. I called the post office, and the man there went and picked all 21 cards out. Then my husband went back to the post office and put stamps on them. No place I know would do that. You are great, Jackson Post Office. Merry Christmas...

Southeast Missouri State University is a two-hour drive from St. Louis County, but it's recruiting hundreds of students in the area it increasingly views as its own backyard. The university gained considerably in the enrollment of St. Louis County students from 1996 to 2000. But at the same time, the school has experienced enrollment declines in some Southeast Missouri counties and the city of St. Louis, a university analysis released this month shows...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- After weathering a decline in membership that meant the loss of units in the 1990s, the Missouri National Guard is again nearing 100 percent strength. That decade's membership peaked in 1991 at 9,681, but five years later, the number of men and women serving in the state Army National Guard dropped to a decade low of 7,163...

"SNOW DAY!" Becca screamed those words with sheer joy. And why not? Mother Nature was giving our 8-year-old an early Christmas present, a day off from school. Our youngest daughter, 5-year-old Bailey, liked it too. After all, it meant a day camped out at home...

CAIRO, Ill. -- They called it "Millionaire's Row." The Civil War was over, reconstruction was starting, and Cairo, Ill., a city located at the confluence of two of the nation's greatest rivers -- the Mississippi and Ohio -- was part of the boom. Riverlore, a stately, three-story, 11-room, brick mansion, with a special "captain's walk" on the roof, was constructed under the guidance of a river-loving businessman, Capt. William Parker Halliday...

Ice- and snow-covered roads throughout the region sent cars spinning out of control late Saturday, leaving local law enforcement officers to respond to traffic accidents one after the other. The Cape Girardeau Police Department closed Mount Auburn Road for a time until city road crews could clear it...

Several organizations in Perryville got their Christmas gifts early on Saturday, thanks to over $40,000 in donations from Perry County's largest employer. Auto parts maker TG Missouri Corp. passed out checks to educators, police and others at its company Christmas party at the Osage Center in Cape Girardeau in what has become an eight-year tradition...

SIKESTON, Mo. -- On Aug. 17, 1942, "Carlson's Raiders," United States Marines from the 2nd Raider Battalion under the command of Col. Evans. F. Carlson, arrived just before dawn off the shores of Butaritari Island, the main land feature on Makin Atoll in the South Pacific...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Like the active components of the military, the Missouri National Guard is expected to perform a variety of missions. From the 135th Engineer Group in Cape Girardeau to the 1137th Military Police Company in Kennett, Mo., to the 1221st Transportation Company in Dexter, Mo., the Guard is trained to fulfill a a number of military functions...

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The blazon of Cape Girardeau's Missouri National Guard Engineer Brigade, 35th Infantry Division carries battle honors for the bloody Meuse-Argonne Offensive of World War I. Mustered into state service in Cape Girardeau under the command of Capt. Ray Seitz in June 1917, what would become the administrative element of the brigade was originally designated Headquarters Company, 6th Missouri Infantry...

The primary duty of Cape Girardeau's Missouri National Guard Engineer Brigade, 35th Infantry Division is assisting its country. Period. The unit has a time-honored tradition of fulfilling this duty, beginning with its inception -- when the predecessor to the brigade's headquarters company formed as an infantry headquarters company during World War I. ...

Parity is a word that seems to be thrown about almost too easily in sports circles these days. People talk about parity in the NFL, about parity in college football, about parity in college basketball. Well, now let's talk about parity in area high school basketball, specifically the 56th annual University High Christmas Tournament that will be held Dec. 27-30 at the Show Me Center...

Southeast Missouri State University basketball fans certainly can't say they haven't gotten their money's worth over the past 11 days. For the third time in less than two weeks, a game at the Show Me Center went down to the wire, with things not decided until virtually the final buzzer...

Just like the frigid gusts and the pelting snow invaded Cape Girardeau, a pair of Jackson freshmen stormed onto the local wrestling scene Saturday, taking two of the Indians' four individual titles in the Tiger Classic. But the Indians' four individual titles which included seniors Mark Wade at 171 pounds and Ray Goodson at 215 pounds weren't enough to take the team crown as Ste. ...

BROSELEY, Mo. -- Kelly's and Scott City's girls won opening round games Saturday as the Twin Rivers Tournament began play. Kelly, the third seed, improved to 8-0 with a 61-31 victory over No. 14 Naylor. Scott City, seeded ninth, pulled off a mild upset with a 60-43 win over No. 7 Charleston...

OAK RIDGE, Mo. -- Elsie A. Friedrich, 91, of Jackson, Mo., died Saturday, Dec. 16, 2000, at Jackson Manor. She was born July 2, 1909, in Oak Ridge, daughter of Charles and Edith Greable Cotner. She and Robert W. Gass were married in 1929. He died Dec. 25, 1965. She then married Raymond Friedrich Feb. 3, 1970. He died Aug. 12, 1996...

SIKESTON, Mo. -- Marjorie Snider, 78, of Sikeston died Friday, Dec. 15, 2000, at her residence. She was born May 15, 1922, in Sikeston, daughter of Louis C. and Maude Davis McCoy. She and Dr. Nat M. Snider were married Oct. 10, 1988, in Las Vegas, Nev...

JERSEYVILLE, Ill. -- Tressa Marchidon, 87, of Jerseyville died Saturday, Dec. 16, 2000, at Jerseyville Community Hospital. Arrangements are incomplete at Ford & Sons Mt. Auburn Chapel.

PIEDMONT, Mo. -- Jack Lane, 59, of Piedmont died Friday, Dec. 15, 2000, at his home. He was born Nov. 26, 1941, at Marston, Mo., son of William Earl and Geraldine Fausett Lane. He and Barbara Huddleston were married June 24, 1962, at Hanley Hills, Mo...

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- Etheline Jannin, 74, of Perryville died Friday, Dec. 15, 2000, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. She was born Dec. 16, 1925, at Silver Lake, Mo., daughter of Louis and Mary McLain Gibbar. She and Lester Jannin were married Oct. 18, 1944...

Tammy D. Phillips, 38, of Cape Girardeau died Thursday, Dec. 14, 2000, at her residence. She was born Dec. 10, 1962, at Cape Girardeau, daughter of Robert R. and Lucille M. Ekquist Phillips. She and Stephen H. Franklin were married Oct. 19, 1989, at St. Louis...

SIKESTON, Mo. -- Howard Hopkins Caudell Jr., 55, of Rockford, Ill., died Saturday, Dec. 16, 2000, at his daughter's residence in Bell City, Mo. He was born Jan. 23, 1945, in Mound City, Ill., son of Howard Hopkins Caudell Sr. and Dollie Hendrix Caudell. They preceded him in death...

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- Olga Schaupert, 85, of Perryville died Friday, Dec. 15, 2000, at St. Anthony's Medical Center in St. Louis. She was born Jan. 19, 1915, in Perry County, daughter of Alvin and Sophia Horn Lintner. She and Elmer Schaupert were married Oct. 18, 1941. He died July 21, 1989...

Cape Girardeau Sunday, Nov. 17 Firefighters responded to the following calls Friday: At 4:59 p.m., an emergency medical service on Interstate 55. At 5:54 p.m., a vehicle fire at 431 S. Ellis St. At 8:53 p.m., a smoke scare at 3020 Boutin. At 10:37 p.m., smoke in the building at 2850 Whitener...

SCOTT CITY, Mo. -- Joseph Ireland Pettit, 64, of Scott City died Saturday, Dec. 16, 2000, at John J. Pershing Veterans Hospital in Poplar Bluff, Mo. He was born Feb. 25, 1936, in Messler, Mo., son of Thomas Theodore and Freda Kennedy Pettit. He and Linda Younette Holmes were married Nov. 1, 1963, in Doe Run, Mo...

GORDONVILLE, Mo. -- Kristin Nicole Wessel and Gregory Wayne Farmer exchanged vows Oct. 28, 2000, at First Baptist Church in Jackson, Mo. The Rev. Carter Frey performed the double ring ceremony. Organist and pianist was Pat Palisch of Jackson, and soloist was Linda Mahy of Cape Girardeau...

JACKSON, Mo. -- Starla Jean Lincoln and William Jonathon Colman were married Oct. 14, 2000. The bride's father performed the double ring ceremony. Parents of the couple are the Rev. and Mrs. Jesse Mills of Patton, Mo., and Mr. and Mrs. William H. Colman of Jackson...

JACKSON, Mo. -- Kaci Leigh Brant and Nicholas Anthony Guttilla Jr. were married Oct. 28, 2000, at Emanuel United Church of Christ. The Rev. Sam Roethemeyer performed the double ring ceremony. Organist was Christy Shinn and soloist was Beth Roethemeyer, both of Jackson...

JACKSON, Mo. -- Erin Patricia Friedrich and Dennis Robert Wilson exchanged vows Oct. 7, 2000, at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church. Msgr. Edward Eftink performed the double ring ceremony. Guitarist was Jim Keusenkothen, keyboardist was Geri Beussink, and soloist was Jane Oehl...

St. Mary's Cathedral was the setting Aug. 11, 2000, for the wedding of Jessica Jo Smith and Craig Joseph Elfrink. The Revs. Jim Seyer and Randy Tochtrop performed the double ring ceremony. Cantor was Mary Richards of Cape Girardeau. Organist was Leann Hendrix of Cape Girardeau, and soloist was Jim Simmons of Benton, Mo...

JACKSON, Mo. -- Kristina Lynn Uelsmann and Robert Bradley Stout were married Aug. 19, 2000, at Lynwood Baptist Church in Cape Girardeau. George Brewer performed the double ring ceremony. Pianist was Jeremy Smith of Scott City, Mo., and soloist was Connie Aufdenberg of Burfordville, Mo...

ADVANCE, Mo. -- Kenneth and Mary Gayle Westbrook of Advance announce the engagement of their daughter, Jennifer Renee Westbrook, to Stephen Matthew Welch. He is the son of Stephen and Debbie Welch of Advance. Westbrook is a 1996 graduate of Advance High School, and 2000 graduate of Southeast Missouri State University. She is a sixth grade teacher at Advance Elementary School...

Kimberly Kay Buchheit and Mark Spencer Van Matre were married Aug. 12, 2000, at St. Andrew Lutheran Church. The Rev. Paul Short performed the private double ring ceremony. Parents of the bride are Jerry L. and Mary Schlegel and Dorothy L. Schlegel, all of Jackson, Mo. Van Matre is the son of Lynn and Donna Van Matre of Cape Girardeau and Sue Van Matre of Columbia, Ill...

Enchanted Gardens in Jackson, Mo., was the setting Sept. 9, 2000, for the wedding of Lisa Ann Estes and Christopher Waide Baker. The Rev. Sam Roethemeyer performed the double ring ceremony. Robert and Linda Estes of Cape Girardeau are parents of the bride. The groom is the son of Keith Baker and Mike and Cindi Miller, all of East Prairie, Mo...

CHAFFEE, Mo. -- St. Ambrose Catholic Church was the setting June 17, 2000, for the wedding of Amy Renee Sanders and Todd James Essner. The Rev. Ralph Duffner performed the double ring ceremony. Mass reader was Tamara Glastetter of Kansas City, sister of the groom. Organist was Betty VanDeven of Chaffee, and soloist was David Glastetter of Kansas City...

Kathleen Elizondo of Cape Girardeau announces the engagement of her daughter, Rachael Leigh Schaefer, to Lynn Carlton. He is the son of Roger and Debbie Carlton of Jackson, Mo. Schaefer is a 2000 graduate of Jackson High School, and is attending Southeast Missouri State University. She is employed at Commerce Bank...

Vanessa Lowell of Cape Girardeau and Steve Atchison of Benton, Mo., announce their engagement. She is the daughter of Ruth Ladd of Chaffee, Mo., and the late Elvin Earl Ladd. Atchison is the son of Gordon Atchison of Jackson, Mo., and the late Virginia Farrar...

Lawrence and Tina Bill of Jackson, Mo., announce the engagement of their daughter, Melinda Ann Bill, to Eric Glenn Allred of Cape Girardeau. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Harold Allred of New Madrid, Mo. Bill is a 1998 graduate of Jackson High School. She is employed at Wal-Mart Portrait Studios in Cape Girardeau...

Few persons will remember when they first heard the term swaddling clothes. The best bet is that it was when they first heard the Christmas story read from Luke. Did they wonder and stop to ask of the reader? I'm sure I didn't, but as the years went by and I heard that term over and over I asked Mama, "What are swallowing clothes? "Swaddling clothes," she corrected. ...