Stories from Saturday, January 6, 2001

An entourage of Christians riding on camels bedecked in colorful saddlebags and rugs traveled more than 1,000 miles through Iraq, Syria, Jordan and the West Bank to recreate the biblical journey of the Three Wise Men, who came from the East to pay homage to baby Jesus nearly two millenniums ago...

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- When domestic violence uproots families, sometimes women and children aren't the only ones looking for shelter. A woman and her children recently escaped from an abusive situation in Perryville and had to abandon six puppies, not allowed in their new home...

Cape Girardeau could be home to two sitting Missouri Supreme Court judges if retiring Secretary of State Bekki Cook is named to the state's highest court later this year. Cook said she will apply for a coming vacancy created by the resignation of Ann Covington...

I've always considered myself a lucky person. Not because I win athletic contests or lotteries with regularity, and not because I make chance meetings with people who can help me professionally or financially. Those kinds of happenings are reserved for truly lucky people and are once-in-a-lifetime events...

The Southeast Studio Jazz Ensemble will perform Sunday at a pre-inaugural show narrated by actor Martin Sheen and to include remarks by Gov.-elect Bob Holden. The two-act, two-hour show will present a tribute to the late Gov. Mel Carnahan and vignettes covering the state's history from the fur trade to the civil rights movement. ...

SIKESTON, Mo. -- For a Sikeston couple, a blue light special wasn't worth the wait. The two persons were arrested after a four-month stealing spree from K-Mart that resulted in over 900 items taken from the store at 1110 S. Main St., Sikeston police said...

Cape Girardeau student Alex Spradling hasn't regretted his decision to skip his junior year at Central High School this year to enroll at the Missouri Academy of Science, Mathematics and Computing. Spradling, 17, is one of 41 students who enrolled for the first year of the Missouri Academy, which is the 14th residence high school academy in the nation. ...

OTTAWA, Ill. -- Scheduling of a murder trial for a Scott City, Mo., man was put off again Friday, the LaSalle County state's attorney's office said. Richard Meyer's case will be brought before a judge again in February as lawyers continue to hammer out details...

Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce members attending the First Friday Coffee session, amidst freezing temperatures and snow and ice from a pre-Christmas storm, learned some things about global warming. And by the time the coffee disbanded an hour later, a warming trend, which was to reach at least 40 degrees during the day, was on its way...

Michelle Dimarob has rejoined the staff of U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Emerson as communications director. Dimarob served as communications director for the congresswoman prior before taking a job as press secretary to U.S. Rep. Jim Talent for the House Committee on Small Business. She later served as communications director for Talent's gubernatorial campaign...

SIKESTON, Mo. -- A traffic accident in December led two brothers to kidnap and threaten to kill another man this week, Sikeston police said. Tyrone Sheron, 25, and Michael Sheron, 27, were charged with felonies of kidnapping and armed criminal action after allegedly abducting an acquaintance Tuesday...

The Tiger Showcase, Cape Central's annual one-day basketball bonanza, has dropped the X chromosome this year. Unlike years past where the Showcase featured three boys and three girls games, this year's event will feature four boys games, which will include Cape Central, Jackson, Notre Dame and New Madrid County Central...

CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. -- Trenton Hassell is unquestionably the Ohio Valley Conference's most talented basketball player. And the All-American candidate and hot NBA prospect is without a doubt Austin Peay's leader. But Southeast Missouri State University coach Gary Garner points out that the Governors are far from a one-man show, which is the main reason they have been tabbed as the favorite to capture the OVC championship...

JACKSON, Mo. -- The Indians caused just a little bit more snow to melt Friday night. Jackson was hot from the free-throw line, hot from the three-point line -- hot from just about everywhere -- as Jackson defeated the visiting Poplar Bluff Mules 90-83 to improve to 7-4 overall and 1-0 in the SEMO Conference...

Kennett, led by a 30-point effort by Dustin Pritchett, dealt a 64-49 loss to Cape Central Friday night at Tiger Field House. Pritchett, the only Kennett player in double figures, scored 12 of hits points in the first quarter when the Indians took a 22-8 lead...

Daughter to Joel Patrick and Deborah Lynn Wilmarth of University City, Mo., St. Mary's Health Center in St. Louis, 7:19 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 12, 2000. Name, Meghan Lynn. Weight, 9 pounds 2 ounces. First child. Mrs. Wilmarth is the former Deborah Burch, daughter of Lynn and Pat Burch of Rock Hill, Mo. She is a middle school teacher at Our Lady of Presentation. Wilmarth is the son of George and Melba Wilmarth of Cape Girardeau. He is purchasing analyst with Graybar Electric...

DEXTER, Mo. -- Funeral for Esther Irene Wheelis of Dexter will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday at Watkins and Sons Funeral Home. The Revs. Walter Spence and James Hook will officiate. Burial will be in Garden of Memories Cemetery at Sikeston, Mo. Friends may call at the funeral home from 5-8 p.m. today...

ORAN, Mo. -- Dorothy Ann Borchelt, 59, of Montgomery City, Mo., died Friday, Jan. 5, 2001, in New Florence, Mo. She was born July 9, 1941, in Oran, Mo., daughter of Anthony Francis and Mary Geneva Wanger Hulshof. She and Dale Alfred Borchelt were married July 14, 1962. He died Sept. 13, 1991...

Mary Basalone, 90, of Cape Girardeau died Thursday, Jan. 4, 2001, at The Lutheran Home. She was born Jan. 16, 1910, in LaCrosse, Wis., daughter of Neimer and Tamame Swayden Haddad. She married Rocco Basalone Jan. 21, 1926, in Los Angeles, Calif. He preceded her in death Jan. 14, 1987...

BENTON, Mo. -- Joe Willard "Bill" Hopper, 85, of Benton died Thursday, Jan. 4, 2001, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. He was born June 17, 1915, at Benton, son of Joel and Ersa Simmons Hopper. Bill was an active farmer until the age of 72. He was a member of Unity Baptist Church in Benton, and of Eagles Aerie 3319 in Sikeston, Mo...

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- Mary A. Zoellner, 87, of Perryville died Friday, Jan. 5, 2001, at Independence Court in Perryville. She was born March 5, 1913, at Leopold, Mo., daughter of Martin and Wilhelmina Holzum Van Doren. She and Marion "Tony" A. Zoellner were married June 10, 1931. He died May 22, 2000...

MATTHEWS, Mo. -- Louis Lesley Condict Sr., 80, of Matthews died Friday, Jan. 5, 2001, at his home. He was born Nov. 24, 1920, in Mattoon, Ill., son of Arthur and Frances White Condict. He and Jean Myres were married Dec. 7, 1945, at Malden, Mo. Condict was a self-employed heavy equipment operator. He was a member of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in New Madrid, Mo...

Wanda C. Vanderpool, 81, of Cape Girardeau died Friday, Jan. 5, 2001, at her home. Lorberg Memorial Funeral Chapel is in charge of arrangements.

Funeral for Janice Ann Matthews of Cape Girardeau will be held at 7 p.m. today at Ford and Sons Mt. Auburn Chapel. The Revs. Barry L. Pfanstiel and William Matzat will officiate. Graveside service will be at 1:30 p.m. Sunday at Meyers Cemetery in Herrick, Ill. The Rev. Tom Davis will officiate...

Beatrice Anna Williams, 96, of Cape Girardeau died Friday, Jan. 5, 2001, at St. Francis Medical Center. She was born Aug. 5, 1904, in Hohenwald, Tenn., daughter of Thomas B. and Ada Brewer Pollock. She and Clarence Williams were married in February 1945. He died in April 1975...

JOHN ASHCROFT is being tried in the media before he even has the job of attorney general. President-elect Bush is going to have a hard time putting any good men in office. I think it's a terrible shame. I WAS pleased to see that Broadway was opened up. I made it downtown without having to take a detour. For those who complain, it could always be worse. I'm just glad Broadway has been open as long as it has...

Happy New Year 2001: Like every year, 2000 had its plusses and minuses, but "always look on the sunny side of life" (as the song goes). Hopefully, this will be the year of reality ... of dealing with facts ... not myths or spins. I don't just blame the media for carrying, unchallenged, the spins of politicians, but also a public that is too willing to believe or be cynical of what others say without taking the time to "trust but verify," as RONALD REAGAN always said...

Some of you have suggested a more positive approach to the column occasionally, so I'll try to oblige. But it's only fair to warn you that my positives may be your negatives. Here are some things to be sanguine about: Do you feel better?...

Oat bran is God's gift for good health, but too many carbohydrates aren't good. Margarine is better for you than butter -- oh, wait, margarine is dangerous too. Don't drink at all, or drink one glass of red wine a day. A study recently printed in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association found that the nation is sick of conflicting diet advice. More than 40 percent surveyed said they were tired of being told what they should and shouldn't eat...

The nation's potential organ-transplant recipients should be following the Tommy Thompson confirmation hearings with great interest. At stake is the way the medical facilities in the United States divvy up organs from donors. As it stands right now, they're distributed by community, then by prescribed regions and then nationally...