Stories from Sunday, January 14, 2001

LeeRowan's 19th annual Associate Appreciation and Awards Dinner was held Dec. 9 at the Arena Building in Cape Girardeau, Mo. Nearly 700 associates and guests were in attendance. This evening is set aside to say thank you to associates for all their hard work during the year and to recognize associates having milestone anniversaries of five, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, and 35 years. ...

Doctors warn we are still in the lingering days of the cold and flu season. But be on a special alert! We are still in the aftermath of one of the most contagious, highly influential epidemics in the history of humanity. A great many persons have already been exposed to this historic virus, and it is possible that people everywhere could become contaminated. ...

A change in printing schedules at the Southeast Missourian/Concord Printing has led to new news and advertising deadlines for the Jackson USA Signal. The Signal will be printed on Thursdays instead of Fridays. It will still be dated Sunday, each week...

Cape Girardeau existed solely as an administrative district during Louis Lorimier's Spanish regime. The actual village of Cape Girardeau did not come into true existence until the American era. Lorimier's "red house" trading post, built in 1799, was a well-known landmark to river travelers. Other settlers, though, were widely dispersed, in typical American frontier style...

The meeting was called to order by Commander Bill Sullivan; 30 members were present. The color guard advanced the colors, Chaplain Boyd Summers gave the invocation, members recited the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag, and Preamble of the American Legion Constitution in unison...

Nancy Howland began work Jan.1, as the new director of Riverside Regional Library. She moved here from Jefferson City where she worked at the Missouri State Library as the LSTA Federal Grants Administrator and State Data Coordinator. She received her bachelors and masters degrees in Library...

When President George W. Bush's administration takes office next week, there might have been a Cabinet member who is familiar with the Jackson and its business community. Jim Talent, 2000 Missouri gubernatorial candidate, was considered a leading candidate for secretary of labor until Bush tabbed former Peace Corps director Elaine Chao, Thursday. Talent's name had returned to the top of the list after Linda Chavez removed herself from the nomination for the position Tuesday...

Remember the tobacco lawsuit? Seems as part of the settlement the tobacco companies had to spend x amount of money on programs that would discourage teen smoking. Everyone shouted "Hurrah. Make them spend some money in a positive way." Phillip Morris had some book covers designed. What better way to reach teens than with a product used by children in a school environment...

Former Southeast Missouri resident Wade Stevenson has woven a tale of adventure, betrayal and intrigue in "The Salzdorf Wellspring." The 228-page novel was published this fall by Rodgers and Nelson Publishing Co. Stevenson is a retired special agent from the U.S. ...

In the river: Commerce, Mo. has one of the few accessible beach areas along the Mississippi River. Here a journalist cools his heels in "The Father of Rivers." Elephant Rocks: Elephant Rocks State Park, in Iron County, is a fun place to spend a summer day. Jackson USA Signal/Mark Evans...

Cape Girardeau founder Don Louis Lorimier's famous Red House may not have been red. That is just one of the uncertainties to be reconciled by the committee planning to build a cabin similar to the founder's trading post as part of the community's bicentennial commemoration of the Lewis and Clark expedition...

All but gone are the days when mothers regularly made baked goods in their homes to take to their children's classroom parties or spent hours sitting at home helping a child memorize his multiplication tables. Today's parents have precious little time to spare, thanks to increased hours spent at work or other activities outside the home...

For more than two years, Greg McGill's life only had two possible outcomes: Death from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to his head or prosecution for killing his former girlfriend. McGill's family could only do one thing: Wait for Greg's judgment day, either in court or before God...

Thanks to Mr. Blackwell, we now know the top fashion flops of 2000. Blackwell, a former fashion designer, recently unveiled his annual worst-dressed-women list. And the winner is -- pop singer Britney Spears. "Her bra-topped collection of Madonna rejects are pure fashion overkill," he notes...

Boy Scouts didn't complain about a lack of snow as they drove dog sleds around Cherokee Park on Saturday. They didn't have dogs for the sleds either. About 150 scouts and adult leaders participated in Klondike Days, typically a winter weekend campout that tests individual and group scouting skills...

Thelma Stone, left, of Chaffee gave appraised a 1930s medallion "kit" quilt for Vera Hall of Cape Girardeau. The quilt was made by Alma Erlbacher, the aunt of Hall's husband, John. He recalled that his aunt told him he had one of the quilt pieces in his mouth when he was a baby...

Cape Girardeau Mayor Al Spradling III will be the guest on KRCU's "Going Public" show today. Spradling will discuss the state of the city. The show will air at 3 p.m. on 90.9 FM, the region's Public Radio affiliate station. At 3:30 p.m., the station will rebroadcast an interview with John Hudak, executive director of the Community Counseling Center...

It's unlikely that the one season he spent as an assistant football coach at Southeast Missouri State University was the key in Jon Gruden getting to the point he is at today. But it's still kind of neat that a guy with at least some kind of ties to our area is just one step away from reaching the ultimate of his profession -- the Super Bowl...

With his team in an early funk Saturday night, Southeast Missouri State University men's basketball coach Gary Garner sent Tim Scheer in off the bench to try and provide a spark. Scheer did much more than that. The sophomore forward scored 11 points in just 10 first-half minutes to help the Indians build an eight-point halftime lead over Tennessee-Martin...

The Southeast Missouri State women's gymnastic team finished second overall in a four-team meet held at Houck Field House on Saturday. Illinois State -- coming off a team-record performance against Western Michigan last weekend -- captured the team championship with 193.975 points, followed by Southeast with 190.750 and third-place Centenary, 189.050. Wisconsin-Oshkosh finished last with 182.225 points...

It could have been even more routine than it was, but Southeast Missouri State University's women's basketball team finally picked up a relatively handy Ohio Valley Conference victory. After having played four straight OVC games that basically weren't decided until the closing minutes, the Otahkians were pretty much in control all the way Saturday night as they knocked off Tennessee-Martin 79-66 at the Show Me Center...

Their starting point guard quit. Their starting center was hurt. Coming in with a somewhat disappointing 6-4 record, the Cape Central Lady Tigers needed to find a way to win. What they found was perhaps their best game of the season. Central got stellar play from its five starters -- with four of them scoring at least 14 points -- as the Lady Tigers claimed a 72-69 win over a solid Rosary team that wouldn't go away...

With their 68-56 victory over the Scott City Rams Friday night, the Notre Dame Bulldogs didn't just snap a six-game losing streak to their fiercest rival. More importantly, the Bulldogs (11-3) have claimed the inside track of the top seed in the Class 2A, District 2 tourney...

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- Jackson's Brad Hilbert scored 37 points, but it wasn't quite enough as the Indians fell 89-86 in overtime to the Columbia Hickman Kewpies Saturday. Hilbert made four of Jackson's nine three-pointers. Seth McDowell added 20 points, while Nate Brown pitched in with 10...

Missouri has a crow hunting season beginning November 1 and ending March 3. Until recently I had no idea why anyone would want to hunt a crow. They are a wary, difficult prey and for pity's sake they eat dead things on the road! Those two things would seem to make crows a non-game animal for sure. Surprisingly enough there is good reason to eat crow . . . contrary to what the old saying might infer, crow is worth eating!...

Son to Jessica Nicole Evers and Jonathan Scott Meirndorf of Villa Ridge, Ill., Southeast Missouri Hospital, 8:41 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 6, 2001. Name, Joshua Lee. Weight, 9 pounds 6 ounces. First child. Ms. Evers is the daughter of Mary Evers of Mounds, Ill., and George Evers of Villa Ridge. She is a customer service manager at Wal-Mart Supercenter in Anna, Ill. Meirndorf is the son of Janie Meirndorf of Jonesboro, Ill. He is a police officer with city of Mound City, Ill...

STE. GENEVIEVE, Mo. -- Iva Irene Sparkman, 84, of Ste. Genevieve died Friday, Jan. 12, 2001, at Ste. Genevieve County Memorial Hospital. She was born Sept. 28, 1916, in Yount, Mo., daughter of Franklin John and Ethel Blanche Duvall Miller. She and Beuford A. Sparkman were married June 4, 1932. He died May 13, 1992...

SIKESTON, Mo. -- Arthur H. Hobbs, 60, of Sikeston died Friday, Jan. 12, 2001, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. He was born March 4, 1940, in Odessa, Mo., son of Harvey William and Edna Belle Lale Hobbs. He attended Missouri Valley College in Marshall, Mo., where he graduated in 1963 with a degree in accounting. He was a certified public accountant and was a partner with Spitzmiller, Hobbs, Bridger C.P.A.s for 35 years...

Donald E. Jacobs Sr. of Cape Girardeau died Saturday, Jan. 13, 2001, at his home. Funeral arrangements are incomplete at Ford and Sons Funeral Home.

ANNA, Ill. -- Don Charles Scivally, 81, of Anna died Friday, Jan. 12, 2001, at the City Care Center of Anna. He was born March 26, 1919, at Dodson, Texas, son of William Emerson and Chloe Sarah Van Amburg Scivally. He was a veteran of World War II, a survivor of Pearl Harbor and a member of the Carroll P. Foster VFW Post #3455 in Anna...

DONGOLA, Ill. -- The Rev. Gene Terbrak, 59, of Dongola died Friday, Jan. 12, 2001, at Union County Hospital in Anna, Ill. He was born June 2, 1941, at Detroit, Mich., son of Fred Sr. and Grace Cauhorn Terbrak. He was married to Dorothy Davis on June 2, 1961...

ESSEX, Mo. -- Virginia DeRousse, 63, of Essex died Saturday, Jan. 13, 2001, at her home. She was born Jan. 18, 1937, in Mound City, Ill., daughter of Leverett and Minnie Lela Harvey Sheppard. She was a former resident of St. Louis and Doniphan, Mo., before moving to Essex in 1986...

EAST PRAIRIE, Mo. -- Oscar Thomas Busby, 49, of East Prairie died Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2001, at the Missouri Delta Medical Center after suffering a heart attack. He was born Sept. 9, 1951, in Mississippi County, son of Benny Earl and Leona Wilson Busby. He had lived in East Prairie his entire life and was a member of the Freewill Baptist Church there...

JONESBORO, Ill. -- Zelma Inman, 91, of Jonesboro died Saturday, Jan. 13, 2001, at Jonesboro Health Care. She was born Oct. 6, 1909, in Union County, Ill., daughter of John and Eva Keller Lingle. Sheand Hubert Inman were married June 1, 1930, in Dongola, Ill. He died Oct. 15, 1982...

JONESBORO, Ill. -- Jessie Elnora Allen, 90, of Jonesboro died Friday, Jan. 12, 2001, at the Friendship Care Nursing Home in Herrin, Ill. She was born June 10, 1910, in Granite City, Ill., daughter of Samuel and Mattie Morgan Allen. She was a longtime resident of Jonesboro and was self-employed in food service. She was a member of the Land Mark Pentecostal Church...

WICHITA, Kan. -- Gertrude Holden, 93, of Wichita died Saturday, Jan. 13, 2001. She was born Feb. 24, 1907, in Jackson, Mo., daughter of John and Frieda Johanna Heyde Kies. She was a graduate of Washington University School of Nursing and was a member of the DX chapter of P.E.O...

SCOTT CITY, Mo. -- Alfred William "Pete" Raines, 77, of Scott City died Thursday, Jan. 11, 2001, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. Friends may call at Amick-Burnett Funeral Chapel in Scott City from 3-8 p.m. today and from 8-10:30 a.m. Monday at the funeral home...

LEXINGTON, Ky. -- Sue Burch Owen, 91, of Lexington died Saturday, Jan. 13, 2001, at Central Baptist Hospital. She was born in Cape Girardeau, daughter of Urban and Blanche Conrad Burch. She was married to Dr. Franklin Owen. She received her B.S. in music from Southeast Missouri State University and was a retired junior high school music teacher...

By now, most Americans have all but forgotten Linda Chavez and her short-lived nomination to be George W. Bush's secretary of labor. But they should remember her name, if for no other reason than it represents the notion that, in the Bush-Cheney administration, telling the truth is paramount. Even among Cabinet nominees...

KENNETT, Mo. -- Missouri's 53rd governor was inaugurated the other day in what was a relatively quiet ceremony, financed primarily by donations from his friends and supporters. The inauguration marked the beginning of the gubernatorial tenure of Bob Holden, who like his late predecessor, Mel Carnahan, has connections to Birch Tree, a small south-central Missouri community...

I AGREE with the Speak Out comments on the term African-American. If you're born in the United States or have become a naturalized citizen, then you are American. Forget the African prefix and be a real American, not just half of one. I'm not prejudiced when I say this. Black or white, we are only Americans. So why not act like one instead of forever saying you're African-American just to get noticed?...

U.S. Sen. Jean Carnahan will soon have to make a decision about the nomination of John Ashcroft to be U.S. attorney general. Her unwillingness to either give outright support to a fellow Missourian or to oppose his nomination on partisan or idealistic grounds leaves an unnecessary void...

So the budget won't be the relative garden party that it has been these last eight years. "State budget has $300 million shortfall," read the big black headline in Thursday's St. Louis Post-Dispatch. It is, one lawmaker on the budget committee said, the biggest hole in the budget in a generation...

Cape Girardeau lawyer John Oliver isn't sure exactly what happens during inaugural events but Donna and John Lichtenegger are fairly familiar with the schedule. Oliver, his wife and daughter, and the Lichteneggers will all attend inaugural events this weekend in Washington, D.C., for President-elect George W. Bush...

Dr. Gene A. and Delma J. Loftis of Cape Girardeau celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary with a banquet reception Dec. 28, 2000, at Enchanted Gardens in Jackson, Mo. Hosts were their children. The couple was married Dec. 22, 1950. They have lived in Cape Girardeau 35 years, and have been active members of Lynwood Baptist Church 32 years...

FROHNA, Mo. -- Immanuel Lutheran Church in Altenburg, Mo., was the setting Nov. 4, 2000, for the wedding of Erin N. Roth and David J. Wunderlich. The Rev. Charles Weber performed the ceremony. Pianist was Tyson Wunderlich and soloist was Brittany Moore...

Kerie Lynn Phillips and Matthew Seth Seabaugh exchanged vows Oct. 7, 2000, at Grace United Methodist Church. The Rev. Anselm Williams performed the double ring ceremony. Pianist was Laura Bollinger of Cape Girardeau, and vocalists were Chip Sepulvado of Cape Girardeau and Jamie Becker of Jackson, Mo...

Christina Kaye McCart and Kane St. John Cotton were married Oct. 14, 2000, in a private outdoor ceremony in Ocho Rios, Jamaica. The Rev. Wesley Higgins performed the double ring ceremony. The bride is the daughter of Charles James McCart of Cape Girardeau, and Jeep McCart of Jackson, Mo. The groom is the son of Fred and Dr. Catherine McGuire of Monument, Colo., and Hollister Cotton of Aspen, Colo...

JACKSON, Mo. -- Enchanted Gardens in Jackson was the setting Sept. 23, 2000, for the wedding of Sandy Braswell and Scott Duncan. Nathan Kuhlman performed the double ring ceremony. Parents of the bride are Tom and Judy Braswell of Kennett, Mo. The groom is the son of Steve and Judy Duncan of Jackson...

CHAFFEE, Mo. -- St. Augustine Catholic Church was the setting Sept. 9, 2000, for the wedding of Sarah Jane Morrow and B.J. Bruenderman. The Rev. Oliver Clavin performed the double ring ceremony. Organist was Betty Ressel and soloist was Renee Reinagel, both of Kelso, Mo...

Kimberly Rafferty Sowers and David Neal Tanner exchanged vows Sept. 2, 2000, at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Rolla, Mo. The Revs. John Hutchinson and I.C. Medina performed the ceremony. Lectors were the groom's father, Roger Neal Tanner; Michelle Heitz of St. Louis, cousin of the groom; and Becca Coggins of Chicago...

One of my treasured Christmas gifts is an updated edition of the "Guinness Book of Records." Treasured? Why? Partly because the effect it has on the whole room, lying there on the coffee table. The hardbound cover is in no way demure. Rather, with its psychedelic blue and silver coloring, it seems to move with a life of its own, inviting the observer to run a hand over the cover to see if it is, indeed, three dimensional as it appears to be. ...

Angela Nicole Juengling and Shawn Joseph Pemberton exchanged vows Aug. 12, 2000, at St. Paul United Church of Christ in Columbia, Ill. The Rev. Rob Page performed the double ring ceremony. Music was by Lori Morton of Waterloo, Ill. Soloist was Neal Boyd of Columbia, Mo...

JACKSON, Mo. -- Natalie Stein of Jackson and Mr. and Mrs. Dane Harpster of St. Peter, Ill., announce the engagement of their daughter, Amanda S. Harpster, to Ben L. Eller, both of Cape Girardeau. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Ron Eller of Salem, Ill...

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- Jaime Ann Winkler and David Christopher Craig were married Oct. 6, 2000, at St. Joseph Parish Shrine at Apple Creek, Mo. The Rev. J. Friedel performed the outdoor ceremony. The bride is the daughter of Craig A. Winkler of Perryville, and the late Janice A. Winkler. The groom is the son of Ralph and Wanda Craig Sr. of Cape Girardeau...

Tricia Gatto and Jason Smith were married May 27, 2000, at St. Mary's Cathedral. Msgr. Richard Rolwing performed the double ring ceremony. Organist was Leann Hendricks, violinists were Michelle Suhr and Robyn Koenig, violist was Melvin Gilhaus, cellist was Gary Miller, and soloist was Keith Allen...

JACKSON, Mo. -- Jessica Renee Koenig and Rodney Christopher Simmons were married July 1, 2000, at St. Paul Lutheran Church. The Rev. Robert Henricks performed the double ring ceremony. Violinist was Casi Krauss of Cape Girardeau and organist was Judy Aufdenberg of Jackson. Soloist was Beth Roethemeyer and accompanist was Connie Aufdenberg, both of Jackson...

THEBES, Ill. -- Shirley Tucker of Thebes announces the engagement of her daughter, Julie Anglin, to Jeff Williams. He is the son of Marion Williams and Margie Williams of Olive Branch, Ill. Anglin is also the daughter of the late Clyde N. Anglin. Anglin is employed at Taylor and Martin in Fremont, Neb...

Mr. and Mrs. Gary Simmons of Blytheville, Ark., announce the engagement of their daughter, Jennifer Marie Allen, to Tab Leon Easley, both of Avon, Ill. He is the son of George Easley Jr. of Chapin, Ill., and the late Shirley Easley. Allen is also the daughter of Raymond and Sheila Allen of Omaha, Neb...

MCCLURE, Ill. -- Mr. and Mrs. Chuck Hendry of Oakland, Ill., announce the engagement of their daughter, Christi Hendry, to Kyle Phillips. He is the son of Ken and Barbara Phillips of McClure. Hendry is a graduate of Indiana State University. She is a registered nurse in the Post-Coronary Critical Care Unit at Union Hospital...

UNIONTOWN, Mo. -- Gilbert and Donna Bock of Uniontown announce the engagement of their daughter, Dawn Nicole Bock, to James Andrew Walkup. He is the son of James and Phyllis Walkup of Peoria, Ill. Bock received a bachelor of science degree in finance from Murray State University, and is completing a master's degree in business at Maryville University. She is employed at Edward Jones in St. Louis...

MCCLURE, Ill. -- Mr. and Mrs. Roger Green of Cypress, Ill., and Mr. and Mrs. Roger Rudluff of McClure announce the engagement of their children, Angela Dawne Green and Roger Lee Rudluff. Green is a 1986 graduate of Vienna High School. She received a bachelor's degree in marketing from Northern Illinois University in 1990. She is employed at the family owned Green Implement...