Stories from Tuesday, January 2, 2001

MARION, Ill. -- A major manufacturing facility is considering a move to Marion, Ill., according to Mayor Robert Butler. Butler told the Marion City Council last week that a company, which remains anonymous, is considering three sites in the Marion area for a new 200,000 square foot manufacturing plant that would employ 350 people...

John Monteith, a road driver for ABF Freight Systems Inc., has been selected for the 2001 ABF Road Team. Monteith, of Cape Girard-eau, is based out of the Cape Girardeau ABF terminal and joins a 12-man team that will travel throughout the country as spokesmen for the trucking industry, speaking to schools, civic groups, transportation organizations and other groups...

Kevin G. Greaser, a registered representative with Commerce Brokerage Services Inc., in Cape Girardeau, has earned one of PLANCO's highest honors -- membership in the 2000 Captain's Club. PLANCO, a wholesaler of financial products, honors representatives who produce $1 million or more during the calendar year in the Hartford investment products, with a Captain's Club membership...

FedEx Corp. announced a 4.9 percent increase in U.S. air express shipment rates effective Feb. 1. Rates for shipments abroad will increase an average of 2.9 percent. FedEx, headquartered at Memphis, Tenn., said last week it has implemented cost controls to combat historically high fuel prices, and the company warned that earnings will be hurt by a slowing economy...

As many as 8,000 to 10,000 people are expected to attend the 16th annual Ag Expo 2001 to be held Jan. 19-20 at the Black River Coliseum in Poplar Bluff, Mo. More than 120 booths will display items relating to all aspects of agriculture and natural resources in Southeast Missouri and northeast Arkansas. ...

Noranda Aluminum Inc., of Marston, Mo., producer of aluminum for sale throughout the United States, Canada and Mexico, and its employees have combined to surpass its goal of $30,000 to the United Way. Noranda and its employees in Marston are the largest contributor to that area's United Way agency...

"Looking 10 years into the future" and "Nutrition and forages for maximum milk production" are primary topics for four dairy profit seminars to be held in Missouri in February. A local seminar will be held Feb. 8 at the Cape Girardeau County Extension Center in Jackson, Mo...

Workforce Inc., with offices in Farmington, Mo., Cape Girardeau, Perryville, Mo., and Ste. Genevieve, Mo., has announced a new partnership, with St. Louis-based Workforce College, an employee development company. "Our individual candidates, as well as employees of many small and mid-sized companies, can now access more than 2,500 online and offline courses," said David Braun, chairman of Workforce Inc...

Global warming will be the topic at the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce's First Friday Coffee, 7:30 a.m. Friday at the Show Me Center.

We're a month away from a new Small Business of the Year and a new Rush H. Limbaugh Sr. award, a pair of elite awards presented annually by the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce. Last year, J. Ronald Fischer, a native of Cape Girardeau who served more than three decades in city and county government before his retirement as Cape Girardeau city manager in 1995, was the 12th recipient of the award named for the late Rush H. ...

Kandee Metje and Rich Payne have been appointed executive coordinators for the Cape Girardeau Public School Foundation. Metje, a part-time secretary at L.J. Schultz, has been with the school district eight years. She will work with alumni services and special fund-raising events...

Stephen Meier of Jackson, Mo., president of the Missouri Christmas Tree Producers Association, recently attended a ceremony at Jefferson City, Mo., to present Gov. Roger Wilson with a 10-foot Scott pine tree. A number of Christmas tree producers attended the special ceremony a few days before Christmas...

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- Office Depot has opened at 401 Vine St., in Poplar Bluff. The store features basic office supplies, business machines, office furniture and computer hardware, software and accessories. The new business also offers business services such as printing, copying, faxing, personalized checks and business forms. Office Depot, based in Delray Beach, Fla., has more than 920 branches, including 18 in Missouri...

JACKSON, Mo. -- Rosa Doberenz, 81, of Jackson died Monday, Jan. 1, 2001, at the Lutheran Home in Cape Girardeau. Arrangements are incomplete at McCombs Funeral Home in Jackson.

CHAFFEE, Mo. -- Lester W. Carlin, 88, of Chaffee died Monday, Jan. 1, 2001, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. Funeral arrangements are incomplete at Amick-Burnett Funeral Chapel in Chaffee.

PUXICO, Mo. -- Carrie Walker, 93, of Puxico died Monday, Jan. 1, 2001, at Puxico Nursing Center. She was born June 21, 1907, at Brownwood, Mo., daughter of George and Elizabeth Stewart Carlton. She married Orville Walker Feb. 27, 1926. He died July 4, 1987...

Michael C. Jones, who has worked with State Farm Insurance more than seven years, has assumed the company's agency at 1900 Broadway in Cape Girardeau. Jones, of Cape Girardeau, worked as a claims adjuster State Farm four years, and served as an agency field specialist a year and a half, before taking a post as agency head...

ADVANCE, Mo. -- Advanced Learning Centers has opened in the Advance Industrial Park. The centers provides education and a structured learning environment for preschool age children. The center is owned by Shannon and Sara Garner of Advance. Sara Garner is a graduate of Southeast Missouri State University's Graduate Program for Early Childhood Developments...

Bob Crosnoe has been promoted to local/regional sales manager for WPSD-TV in Paducah, Ky. Crosnoe has 13 years sales experience with the station. Other WPSD promotions include Andrea Underwood, who was promoted to news director, and Mike Mallaroy, a news anchor, promoted to the 5 p.m. news show co-host. Underwood has been with WPSD nine years, and Mallory joined the station two years ago...

Timothy J. Schwent, CPA with Schott & Van de Ven, Certified Public Accountants, recently attended and educational seminar in St. Louis, entitled "Fraud: The Corporate Con." Schwent, a member of the Missouri Society of CPAs, has been a CPA since 1976...

David and Leslie Herbst of Chaffee, Mo., have been named to the American Farm Bureau's Young Farmers and Ranchers Committee. The Herbsts will join 15 other farm couples on the committee. Earlier this year, the Herbsts were winners of the 2000 Young Farmers and Ranchers Achievement Award, presented at the American Farm Bureau Federation annual meeting in Houston. The Herbsts won a Dodge Ram 3500 4x4 Club Cab pickup truck and an Artic Cat ATV...

Think there might be a king or queen lurking in your family closet? Even a pirate or Civil War hero would make for interesting conversation. Tracing you family ancestry can be an exciting adventure, and until recently a very time-consuming and sometimes costly one...

Across the south-central United States, ice storms have cut power to more than 600,000 homes and businesses since Christmas Eve. Trees and power poles alike have snapped under the weight of the ice. Because even natural gas heating systems use electric ignition systems or electric blowers, those without electricity probably have no heat as well. Water supplies also have been affected by the lack of electricity to run pumps...

Oh baby. Samantha Leigh Ferguson, 8 pounds, 15 ounces, is the first baby of the new millennium born in Cape Girardeau. Mother Jessica Ferguson delivered her at 3:53 p.m. Monday at Southeast Missouri Hospital after 11 hours of labor. The birth was without complications...

Local social service agencies are worried they may run short of money for utility assistance this spring, a problem inflamed by the winter's unusually high bills for natural gas. A string of bitterly cold December days coupled with a nationwide increase in the cost of natural gas has Southeast Missouri natural gas customers facing bills that are double, or even triple, what they have been in previous Decembers...

The stack of Christmas trees in the southeast corner of Arena Park in Cape Girardeau is growing larger. The area, marked off with ropes, is the drop-off point for old Christmas trees, and will remain open through Jan. 30. The special site opened Dec. 20 to allow some tree vendors to drop off trees which didn't sell...

7:30 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 2 City HallAction Items Street Committee n Consider a bill proposing an ordinance accepting Deed of Dedication from Savannah Ridge Partners, L.P. Power and Light Committee n Consider a bill proposing an ordinance authorizing mayor to sign depository agreements with Bank of America, Peoples Band and Bank of Missouri...

The 56th annual University High School Christmas Tournament that concluded Saturday night will go down as the year of balance. In all, there were 13 games where a lower seed defeated a higher seed, including champion Advance and consolation champ, Chaffee who beat higher seeds three times...

Southeast Missouri State University's women's basketball team will look to make it four wins in a row tonight when Arkansas-Little Rock pays a visit to the Show Me Center. The tipoff for the Otahkians' final non-conference game of the season will be at 7 p.m...

PARMA, Mo. -- Funeral for Faith Anne Miller, 45, of Parma will be 1 p.m. today at Watkins & Sons Funeral Chapel in Parma, with Brother Frank Townsend officiating. Burial will be in Parma Cemetery. Miller died Saturday, Dec. 30, 2000, at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis...

THEBES, Ill. -- Jeanette Juanita Jordon, 73, of Thebes died Jan. 1, 2001, at her home. She was born March 31, 1927, at Thebes, daughter of Henry Lee Sr. and Gertrude Mansfield Storm. She married Bert Jordon. He died in 1978. She was a lifelong resident of Thebes and a homemaker...

ANNA, Ill. -- Funeral for Lucille Robins, 98, of Anna, will be 1 p.m. today at Crain Funeral Home in Anna. Dr. Rick Hertenstein will officiate. Burial will be at Anna Cemetery. Friends may call after noon today until time of the funeral at the funeral home...

ADVANCE, Mo. -- Orin Phillips, 78, of Advance died Sunday, Dec. 31, 2000, at Dexter Hospital. Arrangements are incomplete at Morgan Funeral Home in Advance.

MALDEN, Mo. -- Wayne Cross, 72, died Saturday, Dec. 30, 2000, at his home near Malden. He was born Feb. 18, 1928, at Malden, son of Lloyd Waylen and Violet Mae Brickeen Cross. He married Betty Jo Rowley Aug. 5, 1949, at Piggott, Ark. He was a farm service agent for Co-Op Fertilizer Plant at Dexter, Mo., and delivered fuel to a large area of people for many years before his retirement. He was a veteran of World War II, serving in the U.S. Navy...

ANNA, Ill. -- Mary Sinks, 54, of Anna died Saturday, Dec. 30, 2000, at City Care Center in Anna. She was born Dec. 21, 1946, in Biloxi, Miss., daughter of Bill and Tessie Bolden Thomason. She married Edward Sinks Oct. 11, 1968, in Mount Vernon, Ill. He died Feb. 3, 1990. She was also preceded in death by her parents...

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- Mildred L. Paulus, 95, of Perryville died Monday, Jan. 1, 2001, at Perry County Nursing Home in Perryville. She was born Sept. 29, 1905, in Chester, Ill., daughter of Jasper Franklin and America E. Bradshaw Claussen. She married Leo B. Paulus July 25, 1923, at Chester. He died May 11, 1962...

JACKSON, Mo. -- Rodney James VanGennip, 37, of Jackson died Saturday, Dec. 30, 2000, at Jefferson Memorial Hospital in Festus, Mo. Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. today at McCombs Funeral Home in Jackson. Funeral will be 11 a.m. Wednesday at the funeral home. The Revs. Mike Huffman and Barry Winders will officiate. Burial will be in Bollinger County Memorial Cemetery near Marble Hill, Mo...

The Rev. S.S. Borum of Cape Girardeau, 96, died Monday, Jan. 1, 2001, at Southeast Missouri Hospital. Borum was born near Marion, Ill., on May 30, 1904, the son of John Borum and Martha Arms Borum. He graduated from Union University in Jackson, Tenn., and the Southwest Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas. He was ordained in 1928...

Hazel Moore Smith Bucher, 93, died Sunday, Dec. 31, 2000, at her Fort Myers, Fla., residence. She was born May 21, 1907, in East St. Louis, Ill., the daughter of John Bert and Addie Mae Weeks Moore. Bucher had been a resident of Gallatin, Mo., and St. Joseph, Mo., before moving to Florida in 1993. She was married to Raymond Smith from 1925 to 1954. She later married James Bucher. He also preceded her in death...

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- Vernard E. Yamnitz, 83, of Perryville died Sunday, Dec. 31, 2000, at Perry County Memorial Hospital in Perryville. He was born Nov. 2, 1917, in Perry County, son of Frederick F. and Hilda C. Hoehn Yamnitz. He married Grace Long Sept. 23, 1944...

Laura Crews Lewis, 79, died Monday at the Lutheran Home of Cape Girardeau. Arrangements are pending at Ford & Sons Mount Auburn Funeral Chapel.

CAIRO, Ill. -- Robert J. "Bob" Stout Sr., 74, of Mount Vernon, Ill., formerly of Cairo and Mounds, Ill., died Sunday, Dec. 31, 2000, at Meridian Manor Nursing Home in Mounds. He was born April 6, 1926, in Cairo, son of Harry Michael and Mary Eileen Ryan Stout...

Lannis "Kitty" Cook, 64, of Sedgewickville, Mo., died Monday, Jan. 1, 2001, at Southeast Missouri Hospital. Cook was born on December 31, 1936, in Millersville, Mo., the daughter of the late Zeddie and Mary Crafton Young. She was a technician for P&G in Cape Girardeau and was a member of the Millersville Baptist Church. She married Carroll Cook on May 5, 1954, in St. Louis. He died April 13, 1993...

PULASKI, Ill. -- Funeral for Alberta McClellan, 73, of Pulaski will be 11 a.m. today at Mount Pleasant Baptist Church in Pulaski. The Revs. Terry Kern and Herman Painter will officiate. Burial will be in Rose Hill Cemetery in Pulaski. Friends may call from 10 a.m. until time of funeral at the church...

MILLERSVILLE, Mo. -- Lillie Celess Fulton, 93, of Millersville died Sunday, Dec. 31, 2000, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. She was born Sept. 28, 1907, in Marble Hill, Mo., daughter of Frank and Emma Patton Fulbright. She married Chester Fulton Nov. 21, 1936. He died April 27, 1986...

SCOTT CITY, Mo. -- Berniece Wise, 88, of Scott City died Jan. 1, 2001, at Beverly Health Care in Cape Girardeau. Funeral arrangements are incomplete at Amick-Burnett Funeral Chapel in Scott City.

JOHN ASHCROFT has been appointed attorney general to the dismay of abortion groups, homosexual groups and civil-rights activists and liberals in general because, of all things, of his Christian beliefs. It's all right to have Janet Reno who has disgraced herself in public and personal choices as her boss did, but to have a decent man of God in office is so terrible to some groups in our society. I support Ashcroft 100 percent. They couldn't have found a finer human being for this position...

The executive power to pardon, dating as it does from the powers of kings, is among the most interesting in our governmental system. The Framers of our Constitution placed it there, alone and majestic, subject to virtually no check save that of the ballot box, the limits of reasoned judgment and the chief executive's own conscience...