Stories from Sunday, January 21, 2001

Barring something totally unforeseen, George W. Bush should have been sworn in as the 43rd president of the United States by the time this column is read. For me, a "'tweener," President Bush represents my ninth president and the seventh I actually remember...

A year ago St. Paul Lutheran School made its long-awaited move across Russell Street to its new $2.5 million facility. Today, Principal Al Lipke doesn't see how the school got along before. "We're getting used to the building and certainly appreciate the additional space," he said. "I don't know how we operated without it."...

For John M. Thompson and his staff, the mission of The Bank of Missouri and its banking ideals have proven to be a perfect match. So has the new facility at 233 W. Jackson Blvd. in Jackson. "The neat thing for me, personally, is that those values match what I think banking values should be," said Thompson, former president of Community Bank of Jackson...

Alice: "Can you tell me which path I should take?" Cheshire Cat: "That depends a good deal on where you want to go." Alice: "I don't really know." Cheshire Cat: "Then, clearly, any path will do." As you can see from the above "Alice in Wonderland" conversation between Alice and the Cheshire Cat, if you aren't sure what you want, or where you're going, then you're liable to end up somewhere else and not even know it. ...

Although Nancy Howland has not seen Jackson without a thin layer of snow cover, the new Riverside Regional Library director has been pleased with the community. "I like it very much," she said Tuesday. "It has a nice hometown feel. It's small enough for you to get to know people. Of course it's also a beautiful area around here."...

Ashley Carlton and Jack Puisis have qualified for the Elks State Hoop Shoot Contest to be held Jan. 27 in St. Louis. The Elks Hoop Shoot is a free throw contest for boys and girls, ages 8-13. Each contestant shoots 25 free throws, with the winner advancing to the next round...

Four Jackson High School students have been selected to the Missouri All-State Band, the top honor band in the state. Only 104 of nearly 1,000 students auditioning were accepted in the ensemble, which will perform at the Missouri Music Educators Association Conference held Wednesday through Saturday at Tan-Tar-A Resort, Lake of the Ozarks...

The snow was coming down, covering everything like a heavy blanket. Through the storm, I saw the mailman making his appointed rounds. As I opened my mailbox, what should I find? Several seed catalogs! What are seed catalogs doing in my mailbox in the middle of winter? This has to be a sign from God, I thought. A sign of hope in the midst of the winter blahs...

Article 13 The GRACE of God Webster's Dictionary defines this character of God as: "unconstrained and undeserved divine favor or goodwill." Another preacher of old declares: "Divine grace is the sovereign and saving favor of God exercised in the bestowment of blessings upon those who have no merit in them and for which no compensation is demanded from them. ...

Do your children need health coverage? They may be eligible for MC+ for Kids if they meet the following requirements: Younger than 19, have been uninsured for six months or more, and your family's income must be within the eligibility guidelines. The maximum monthly family incomes are: Two in the household, $2,813; three in the household, $3,538; four in the household, $4,263; five in the household, $4,988...

MALDEN, Mo. -- A new value-added agriculture-based company has announced plans to enter the growing ethanol market and provide significant economic opportunities for the southeast Missouri community of Malden. The Missouri Department of Economic Development (DED) approved a $298,240 grant through the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program requested by the city of Malden. ...

Give the state senator from Sedalia credit for coming up with a plan to pay for highways and other transportation needs in the years to come. Without a doubt, Sen. Jim Mathewson's plan will see considerable change before it's all over. But at least Missourians now have something to talk about that moves us closer to the goal of funding transportation...

I JUST finished watching "Boston Public." It had a story on it about a girl student who was being sexually abused by her father. I've seen movies and TV shows about this, and I hear it's happening to one in every four girls. This has to come to a stop. ...

KENNETT, Mo. -- America has entered a new era, a new age if you will, in a new century, a new millennium and a new president. Regardless of your political, economic or social beliefs, I hope you will pray to your God that each of these is successful, that each survives into the next moment of history. I am a firm enough believer in prayer to know that these goals need the voice of every one of us, every last one of us...

News of Jesse Jackson's extramarital affair is what folks in newsrooms around the country call a water-cooler story, one that will be the main topic of conversation the next day. The Jackson story has all the necessary ingredients: A powerful and sometimes controversial public figure, political trappings, religion and, of course, sex. And don't forget he's called "the Rev."...

No appointment by this president could possibly have sent a better signal than the selection of former U.S. Sen. John Ashcroft for attorney general. For sheer gutsiness, as evidenced by the hysterical outcry it has prompted on the left, it is unsurpassed...

POTOSI, Mo. -- No one disputes that shortly after 5:40 p.m. on March 2, 1985, Jerome Mallett grabbed the sidearm of Missouri Highway Patrolman James Froemsdorf and opened fire at point-blank range. And fired. And fired. The first .357 Magnum round blasted out the driver's window of the patrol car. ...

The last Indian war, the war between the U.S. government and the Apache, ended in the 1890s. Just over a century later, Indian tribes are still struggling with the federal government for recognition and sometimes fighting among themselves for control of the tribe...

It's not every day that our 5-year-old cuts her own hair. But her red bangs were becoming bothersome, so Bailey grabbed a pair of scissors and did her own barbering last weekend. Of course, this impromptu haircut occurred on my watch. Joni wasn't home at the time...

The remains of the coffee shop inside the old Marquette Hotel provide a glimpse of an earlier era in Cape Girardeau. Judging by the amount of shutters snapping at the open house of the Marquette Hotel, the interior of the old, downtown Cape Girardeau building is of high interest to area photographers...

When photos of Jerome Mallett and three other Missouri death row inmates appeared in the January 2000 "We, On Death Row" anti-death penalty campaign sponsored by the Benetton clothing company, Missouri Attorney General Jay Nixon filed suit. Benetton representatives, Nixon said, deceived the Missouri Department of Corrections to access Missouri's Potosi Correctional Center, claiming to be Newsweek magazine journalists on assignment when really obtaining material for what some considered a shocking advertisement.. ...

JACKSON, Mo. -- Jack Piepenbrok can round up troublesome animals, but there's nothing he can do about junk cars, litter and weeds in rural Cape Girardeau County. "We have all kind of turned a blind eye and a deaf ear to junk cars and illegal dumping and that kind of thing because we can't do anything about it," said Piepenbrok, an animal-control officer since September for the city of Jackson and rural Cape Girar-deau County. ...

CHARLESTON, Ill. -- Southeast Missouri State University's men's basketball team still has 10 Ohio Valley Conference games remaining. But the Indians' hopes of repeating as OVC regular-season champions received yet another severe jolt here Saturday night with a loss to host Eastern Illinois...

CHARLESTON, Ill. -- In Southeast Missouri State University's men's basketball coach Gary Garner's estimation, the Indians played a pretty good game here Saturday night. But Garner believed Eastern Illinois played exceptionally well and that was the main reason the Panthers were able to break a six-game losing streak against Southeast, prevailing 83-71 in front of 4,860 enthusiastic fans at Lantz Gym...

Cape Central, Jackson and Poplar Bluff, the Class 4A giants in Southeast Missouri, were all anxious to see exactly how good Parkway West was. It turned out that the top-ranked team in Class 4A -- a team which has two Division I recruits -- is not that much better than an injury-riddled Cape Central squad...

CHARLESTON, Ill. -- Southeast Missouri State University women's basketball coach Ed Arnzen can't explain why his team has a better record on the road than it does at home this season. But Arnzen isn't about to argue with the success, particularly after the Otahkians' latest road conquest, a 77-71 Ohio Valley Conference victory over Eastern Illinois Saturday evening...

OK, we know the answer. We can stop playing the song now. McCluer let the 'Dogs out. McCluer posed no threat to Notre Dame Saturday as the Lady Bulldogs crushed the Comets 71-18 in the final game of the first annual Lady Bulldog Shootout. Notre Dame suffocated McCluer and didn't allow a field goal until the 4-minute mark of the second quarter and that was only after four of the five starters were pulled. The Lady Bulldogs led 35-1 until the Comets' Nishelle Thompson scored to make it 35-3...

The Jackson Lady Indians totally dominated the outclassed Seckman Lady Jaguars 75-35 at the Lady Bulldog Shootout on Saturday. Seckman (8-6) was doomed from the opening tip as Jackson (10-2) ran out to a 20-2 first-quarter lead and cruised to the easy win...

JACKSON, Mo. -- A night after falling by 25 points to Notre Dame, Jackson picked up the pieces and picked up a huge 73-63 victory over Doniphan Saturday. Jackson led 17-9 after the first quarter and 42-29 at halftime. The Indians were able to neutralize Doniphan's 6-foot-11 center Adam Crader. Jackson got Crader in some early foul trouble and held him to 14 points...

Our wetlands, flood plains and rivers are all connected and all of these comprise a river system. If any of these components are interrupted, abused or changed, it will affect all other components of the system. Since European settlement, wetlands, flood plains and rivers have taken a back seat to urban development, river navigation and agriculture. Wetlands and flood plains were viewed as places of little value until they were altered for agriculture or development...

Mona Pulliam Kaiser, 68, of Cape Girardeau died Saturday, Jan. 20, 2001, at St. Francis Medical Center. Funeral arrangements are incomplete at Ford & Sons Mt. Auburn Chapel.

DEXTER, Mo. -- Lucy Smith, 90, of Dexter died Jan. 19, 2001, at Dexter Memorial Hospital. Smith was born Jan. 17, 1911, in Cattlesburg, Ky. She was a member of the Emmanuel Baptist Church in Dexter and was the former owner of the Mid-Town Restaurant in Dexter...

Victor H. Taylor, 66, of Olmsted, Ill., died Saturday, Jan. 20, 2001, at his home. Funeral arrangements are incomplete and will be announced at a later time by Barkett Funeral Home of Mound City, Ill.

KARNAK, Ill. -- Erma Rimer Hill, 89, of Karnak died Saturday, Jan. 20, 2001, at Southgate Care Center in Metropolis, Ill. She was born July 7, 1911, at Karnak, daughter of Don and Elizabeth Miller Beyke. She and her first husband, Hugh Rimer, were married 47 years...

DEXTER, Mo. -- Nora Jackson, 87, of Dexter died Friday, Jan. 19, 2001, at Pine Lawn Residential Care Center in Puxico. Jackson was born July 13, 1913, in Puxico, daughter of Walter Daniel Shrum and Mittie Wren Shrum. She and Lon Jackson were married Nov. 26, 1938, in Bloomfield, Mo. He died July 2, 1995...

BURFORDVILLE, Mo. -- Alma Elvira Lange, 86, of Burfordville died Saturday, Jan. 20, 2001, at her daughter's home in Burfordville. She was born July 14, 1914, at Tilsit, Mo., daughter of Henry C. and Bertha Nagel Ahrens. She and Paul H. Lange were married Nov. 30, 1941. He died Aug. 22, 1990...

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- Howard L. Schnurbusch, 77, of Perryville died Friday, Jan. 19, 2001, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. Schnurbusch was born Aug. 13, 1923 in Perry County, Mo., son of William L. and Theresa Gebhardt Schnurbusch. He and Alice Biri of Perryville were married Aug. 23, 1944, at Perryville...

ANNA, Ill. -- Jerry R. Rosson, 54, of Anna died Thursday, Jan. 18, 2001, at Southeast Hospital in Cape Girardeau. Rosson was born Nov. 8, 1946, son of Glenn and Dorothy McDonald Rosson. Rosson entered into the Illinois State Police Academy on Jan. 25, 1974. ...

Herbert G. Bonney, 53, of Cape Girardeau died Friday, Jan. 19, 2001, at St. Francis Medical Center. Bonney was born Sept. 18, 1947 in Los Angeles, Cal., son of Boyd Vernon and Dorothy Elizabeth Milliton Bonney. He and Kandius Martin were married Aug. 28, 1979, in Phoenix, Ariz...

SHAWNEETOWN, Mo. -- Edgar R. Lorenz, age 80, of Shawneetown passed away unexpectedly Saturday, Jan. 20, 2001, at the Lutheran Home in Cape Girardeau. Friends may call Sunday, Jan. 21, from 4-8 p.m. at the McCombs Funeral Home in Jackson, Mo. Funeral service will be Monday, Jan. ...

WYATT, Mo. -- Thomas Greer, 45, of Wyatt died Thursday, Jan. 18, 2001, at the Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston, Mo. He was born on July 6, 1955 in Wyatt, son of Thomas and Gearline Treadwell Greer of Wilson City, Mo. He attended public school in Charleston, Mo...

JACKSON, Mo. -- Herbert Jackson Garner, 95, of Jackson and formerly of Bell City, Mo., died on Friday, Jan. 19, 2001, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. Garner was born Dec. 2, 1905, in Ardiola, Mo., son of George and Ada Summers Garner. He and Clara Ford were married, and she died March 17, 1980...

Alvin J. Lohman, 98, of Jackson, Mo., died Saturday, Jan. 20, 2001, at his daughter's home in Jackson. Friends may call at McCombs Funeral Home in Jackson from 4-8 p.m. Monday. Funeral will be 1 p.m. Monday at the funeral home. The Rev. David Johnson will officiate, with burial in Russell Heights Cemetery in Jackson...

Daughter to Todd Alan and Debra Margaret Alexander of Cape Girardeau, Southeast Missouri Hospital, 11:25 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 11, 2001. Name, Payton Elizabeth. Weight, 7 pounds 15 ounces. Third daughter. Mrs. Alexander is the former Debra Groshong, daughter of Charles M. ...

It takes more than clown makeup, frilly costumes and dancing elephants to put on a circus. It's a centuries-old show of amusement and entertainment that requires planning and organization prior to any performance. The setup takes twice as long as the show and usually begins five to six hours prior to the first performance. Putting on a circus is organized chaos, said Dutch Crawford, show manager for the Sterling and Reid Brothers Circus...

Jennifer Susan Smith and James Rhett Hendrickson were married Nov. 25, 2000, at the Shrine of St. Joseph in St. Louis. The Rev. Thomas Keller performed the double ring ceremony. Vocalists were Heather Schumaker of St. Louis and Brian Johnston of DeSoto, Mo...

Gerald and Pearl Keller were honored on their 50th wedding anniversary with a dinner Jan. 6, 2001, at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Dave Illers. The event was hosted by their children and grandchildren, Dave, Gloria, Julie and Kelly Illers; and Ron, Carlen, Amber and Jared Keller. Thirty guests attended...

Hanover Lutheran Church was the setting Nov. 18, 2000, for the wedding of Joan Lynn Pierce and Daniel Loyd Windeknecht. The Rev. Mark Martin performed the double ring ceremony. Organist was Marty Roth, harpist was Patricia Cheung, flutist was Carrie Finch, niece of the groom, and soloist was Mike Dumey...

Laurie Ann Ingram and Neil Thomas Birchler exchanged vows Nov. 25, 2000, at Centenary United Methodist Church. The Rev. Clayton Smith performed the double ring ceremony. Flutist was Heather Wissore of Patton, Mo. Mike and Linda Ingram of Cape Girardeau are parents of the bride. The groom is the son of Phil and Debbie Birchler of Sparta, Ill...

Sheila Lynn Millburg and Matthew Kenneth Hood were married Sept. 30, 2000, at Garden of the Gods Club in Colorado Springs, Colo. The Rev. Harvey Karlsen performed the double ring ceremony. Violinist and pianist Don and Janell Robinson were accompanied by a string quartet...

Sasha Marie Glasscock and Shaun Michael Gohn exchanged vows Oct. 21, 2000, at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church. The Rev. Milton Ryan performed the double ring ceremony. Pianist was Catherine Martin of Jackson, Mo. Parents of the bride are Sashi and Suzy Glasscock of Cape Girardeau. The groom is the son of Mary Lou Gohn of Cape Girardeau, and the late Herbert L. Gohn...

SEDGEWICKVILLE, Mo. -- Mr. and Mrs. Joe Bollinger of Sedgewickville celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary at a reception Dec. 23, 2000, at Patton Presbyterian Church. Hosts were their children. Bollinger and Myrtle Weibrecht were married Dec. 23, 1950, at Ste. Genevieve, Mo...

James and Teresa Maurer of Cape Girardeau announce the engagement of their daughter, Melissa Renee Maurer, to Nathan McGuire. He is the son of Jay and Theresa McGuire of Cape Girardeau. Maurer expects to receive a bachelor of science degree in child development from Southeast Missouri State University in May...

JACKSON, Mo. -- Mr. and Mrs. Ryland "Dutch" Meyr of Jackson and Drs. Charles and Judy Wiles of Cape Girardeau announce the engagement of their daughter, Cynthia Charlene Wiles, to Gary Alan Wrigley, both of St. Louis. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Gary Wrigley and Pam Wrigley, all of Collinsville, Ill...

QULIN, Mo. -- Abundant Life Christian Church in Poplar Bluff, Mo., was the setting Sept. 9, 2000, for the wedding of Melissa Dawn Dockins and Michael Joseph Armstrong. David Thomas performed the ceremony. Music was by Charlotte Vandiver of Dexter, Mo., pianist; and Sarah and Anna Patterson of Qulin, sisters of the bride...

St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church was the setting Sept. 23, 2000, for the wedding of Tracey Lynn Garner and Kevin Lance Akers. The Rev. J. Friedel performed the double ring ceremony. Organist was Jeffrey Oberbey and soloist was Alan Bruns. The bride is the daughter of Bob and Ann Garner of Barnhart, Mo., and Charles and Carolyn Bradford of Goose Creek, S.C. The groom is the son of Tom and Anna Belle Akers of Higden, Ark...

January is the traditional month to take inventory. Also it is a time to tie up what seems to be loose ends and explain some things about your modus operandi that you fear others might misunderstand. In regard to the latter, I quite often hear the statement addressed to me, "You have a good memory."...

JACKSON, Mo. -- Mr. and Mrs. Douglas Sebaugh of Jackson announce the engagement of their daughter, Joni Lynn Sebaugh, to Jaeson Michael Fraser. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Ronald Eichhorn of Chaffee, Mo. Sebaugh is a 1998 graduate of Jackson High School. She is employed at Hobby Lobby in Cape Girardeau...

Debbie Huckabee of Cape Girardeau and John Huckabee of Raytown, Mo., announce the engagement of their daughter, Kelly Marie Huckabee, to Kenneth Ray Gardner. He is the son of Ray and Wanda Gardner of Matthews, Mo. Huckabee is an administrative assistant at Mac Con Co. in Gordonville, Mo...

JACKSON, Mo. -- Gerald Ray and Judith Lea Mudge of Jackson announce the engagement of their daughter, Sunny Rae Mudge, to Farris Wayne Adams. He is the son of Robert Wayne and Alice Jane Adams of Millersville, Mo. Mudge is a 2000 graduate of Jackson High School. She is a child care provider...

JACKSON, Mo. -- Steve and Suzanne Schneider of Poplar Bluff, Mo., announce the engagement of their daughter, Kelly Suzanne Schneider of Jackson, to Christopher Duane Crawford of Kirksville, Mo. He is the son of Rick and Nancy Russell of Anna, Ill., and Nova and Peggy Crawford of Fruitland, Mo...

Cristie Lee Logan and Aaron Michael Bruening were married July 8, 2000, at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Springfield, Ill. The Revs. Robert Franzen and Howard Hilsabeck performed the double ring ceremony. Organist was Ruth Boehne of Hoyleton, Ill., aunt of the groom; trumpeters were David Griesemer of Illinois, uncle of the bride, and Jon Boehne of Hoyleton, cousin of the groom. Soloist was Jennifer Phelps of Springfield, Ill...

CHAFFEE, Mo. -- Renee Caroline Vandeven and Thomas Marion Burnett Jr. were married Aug. 12, 2000, at St. Ambrose Catholic Church. The Revs. Ralph Duffner and James Seyer performed the double ring ceremony. Organist was Bethany Vandeven and vocalists were Danny Finley and Jessica Smith, all of Chaffee...

OAK RIDGE, Mo. -- David and Kathy Borgfield of Oak Ridge announce the engagement of their daughter, Brandy Jo Boyd, to Bryan Jerome Keith. He is the son of David and Linda Keith of Jackson, Tenn. Boyd is also the daughter of the late Stewart Boyd. Boyd is a 1997 graduate of Oak Ridge High School, and 2000 graduate of the respiratory therapy program at Cape Girardeau Career and Technology Center in Cape Girardeau. ...