Stories from Tuesday, January 30, 2001

Hungry? The Internet is a great resource for cooking ideas and recipes. I am one of those chef wannabes. Hey, it looks so easy if you're watching the Food Channel on cable. Of course, if I started yelling "bam" like Chef Emeril it might frighten my family away...

Forget everything you have heard about teachers' lounges being rooms filled with school gossip -- it's just not true, area teachers and administrators say. A teachers' lounge is often the place educators blow off some of the classroom-induced steam, but it's also the place where they come for encouragement, said Martha Nothdurft, technology coordinator at Scott City, Mo., High School...

Editor's note: This is a chapter in Jean Bell Mosley's book "Wide Meadows" that was first published in 1960. Near the close of a cold November day, old Mr. Scroggins stopped in to warm himself by our kitchen fire. He had been chopping wood up in Gold Mine Hollow and was on his way home to his shack down by the river...

City officials want to carry out about $83.8 million in capital improvements in Cape Girardeau by 2006, including fire and police station improvements, a new public works facility, water and sewer system upgrades, street construction and park renovations...

Members of the council of the Western Cherokee Nation of Arkansas and Missouri who recently were banned from the tribe say the action was taken illegally. An elder of the nation said Monday that the banning has been overturned. John Duke, an elder of the nation, said he in consultation with two other elders rescinded the lifetime banning of the tribal members. ...

It's irritating. It's not ladylike. It's nothing any woman wants to admit. But apparently, I snore. Big time. Of course, I don't have any direct evidence of the problem. I think maybe I woke myself up with my own snoring once while sunning at a swimming pool in Fort Lauderdale, but maybe it was people laughing at my two-piece bathing suit...

JACKSON, Mo. -- Cape Girardeau County commissioners want a nuisance abatement law to regulate unwanted trash dumps, junk cars and rubbish that pose a threat to human health and safety. But First District Commissioner Larry Bock warned Monday against making a nuisance law too restrictive...

A Poplar Bluff, Mo., man pleaded guilty Monday to charges of drug trafficking. Deron F. McClinton, 24, pleaded guilty to three felony counts of distributing crack cocaine, said a representative of the U.S. District Attorney's office. During the summer, a confidential informant allegedly purchased crack cocaine from McClinton in Poplar Bluff. Because McClinton had been convicted of two prior felony drug convictions, he faces a maximum punishment of 30 years in prison and a $2 million fine...

A former fast-food restaurant employee and another man have been arrested for their role in a Jan. 17 robbery of the store. Brandon A. Harris, 18, of Cape Girardeau and Scott W. Pierce, 19, of Jackson, Mo., have been charged with first-degree robbery of Blimpie Subs and Salads, 3036 William St...

A spring trial date was scheduled Monday for Robert Moore, 19, of Cape Girardeau, who faces a second-degree murder charge stemming from an October gunfight in Indian Park that killed Jesus Sides, also 19 and of Cape Girardeau. Moore's jury trial will be June 12 before Circuit Judge John Grimm...

The East Missouri Action Agency has received an additional $341,000 for its energy crisis intervention program to help low-income families in its eight-county service area pay utility bills. Several changes have been made to the program. Income eligibility was increased to 150 percent of federal poverty guidelines. ...

The Salvation Army has always been an expert at making a little go a long way. This year, however, in the throes of one of the coldest Cape Girardeau winters in history and a substantial increase of cases for assistance, the Army budget is stretched...

A South Pacific Street apartment building burned Monday night after a tenant's cat apparently knocked over a candle, firefighters said. Tenants in a second-story apartment at 519 S. Pacific St. alerted the fire department around 8:45 p.m. after they saw smoke coming through their floor...

RICHMOND, Ky. -- Southeast Missouri State University sophomore center Daniel Weaver made the most out of just his second start of the season. Weaver scored the game-winning basket Monday night, grabbing an offensive rebound and depositing a short bank shot with 38 seconds remaining as the Indians survived a major scare and defeated Eastern Kentucky 65-59...

RICHMOND, Ky. -- Eastern Kentucky's women's basketball team ranks second in the nation in scoring at just over 88 points per game. Southeast Missouri State University coach Ed Arnzen figured it would be difficult for his squad to beat the Lady Colonels Monday evening if they were able to get even close to their season average...

JACKSON, Mo. -- In a heated rivalry between two of the state's top Class 4A girls teams, the Jackson Lady Indians, hold the latest bragging rights. In a marquee matchup of state-ranked teams, Jackson avenged an earlier season loss to No. 1 ranked Poplar Bluff, handing the Lady Mules a 55-46 loss Monday night at Jackson High School...

BRENTWOOD, Tenn. -- Lori Chase of Southeast Missouri was named Ohio Valley Conference women's player of the week Monday. Chase, a sophomore forward, had 20 points and 10 rebounds in a 67-66 victory over Morehead State. Synisha Smith of Eastern Kentucky was chosen newcomer of the week for coming off the bench and scoring 10 points and grabbing three rebounds in an 84-60 victory over Eastern Illinois...

ORAN, Mo. -- Brenda "Susie" Brucker, 54, of Oran died Monday, Jan. 29, 2001, at Southeast Missouri Residential Service in Sikeston, Mo. She was born July 13, 1946, in Cape Girardeau, daughter of Herbert Michael and Loretta Vetter Brucker. Brucker was a member of Guardian Angel Catholic Church and St. Ann Sodality...

Son to David Gerard and Jennie May Webb of Jackson, Mo., Southeast Missouri Hospital, 7:53 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 20, 2001. Name, Tyler Monroe. Weight, 5 pounds 7 ounces. Second child, first son. Mrs. Webb is the former Jennie Hahs, daughter of Greg and Sharon Hahs of Cape Girardeau. She is a teacher at South Elementary in Jackson. Webb is the son of Theresa Webb of Perryville, Mo. He is manager at Payless Shoes in Cape Girardeau...

VILLA RIDGE, Ill. -- Jerry Martin "Jay" Webb, 76, of Villa Ridge died Monday, Jan. 29, 2001, at Casey Care Nursing Home in Mt. Vernon, Ill. He was born Oct. 21, 1924, in Villa Ridge, son of Bauda W. and Bera Rose Webb. Webb served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. He retired as a technical sergeant from the U.S. Air Force in October 1965...

COBDEN, Ill. -- Rodney Kee, 52, of Cobden died Sunday, Jan. 28, 2001, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. He was born June 9, 1948, in Anna, son of Jesse and Betty Broadway Kee. Kee was employed at the J.R. Center in Anna. Survivors include his mother and stepfather, Betty and Bill McDonald of Cobden; father and stepmother, Jesse and Sue Kee of Granite City, Ill.; two brothers, Patrick McDonald of Tulsa, Okla., Jeff Kee of Granite City; two sisters, Melodie and Nancy of Granite City.. ...

ANNA, Ill. -- Rosey Winn, 92, died Sunday, Jan. 28, 2001, at Florissant Skill Care Center in Florissant, Mo. She was born Jan. 19, 1909, in Anna, daughter of Jeremiah and Nora Speck Volner. She and Charles Robert Winn were married Oct. 25, 1928, in Anna. He died Nov. 6, 1987...

FROHNA, Mo. -- Funeral for Hilmer Ottomar Lorenz of Frohna will be held at 1:30 p.m. today at Young and Sons East Perry Chapel in Altenburg, Mo. The Rev. Wayne Palmer will officiate. Burial will be in Immanuel Lutheran Cemetery at Perryville, Mo., with graveside rites by American Legion Post 133...

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- Sadie I. Weibrecht, 77, of Perryville died Monday, Jan. 29, 2001, at PerryOaks Manor. She was born Aug. 28, 1923, in Perry County, Mo., daughter of Ezra and Bessie Penny Abernathy. She and Elmo Weibrecht were married Sept. 17, 1938. He died March 15, 1966...

EAST PRAIRIE, Mo. -- Funeral for Roxie Lee DeField of East Prairie will be held at 1 p.m. today at Shelby Funeral Home in East Prairie. The Rev. Jerry Willer will officiate. Burial will be in IOOF Cemetery near Charleston, Mo. DeField, 90, died Sunday, Jan. 28, 2001, at East Prairie Nursing Center...

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- Marie E. Schindler, 80, of Perryville died Monday, Jan., 29, 2001, at PerryOaks Manor. She was born April 19, 1920, at Perryville, daughter of Joseph P. and Clara Balsman Elder. She and Edgar C. Schindler were married June 19, 1946. He died April 13, 1959...

JACKSON, Mo. -- Lydia A. Klaus, 98, died Monday, Jan. 29, 2001, at Heartland Care Rehab Center in Cape Girardeau. She was born June 8, 1902, in Arnsberg, Mo., daughter of Charles and Mary Dambach Dickmann. She and Alvin F. Klaus were married Feb. 1, 1922. He died Aug. 12, 1965...

Ola Nathaline Bates, 74, of Cape Girardeau died Monday, Jan. 29, 2001, at Ratliff Care Center. She was born Jan. 27, 1927, at Whitewater, Mo., daughter of John Riley and Dessie Langston Bates. Bates and her sister were self-employed many years buying and selling antiques and collectibles, until she became ill. She was of the Protestant belief...

Memorial service for Warren McClellan Sarff of Kirkwood was held Jan. 25 at First Presbyterian Church in Kirkwood. Burial was in Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery. Sarff, 88, died Saturday, Jan. 20, 2001, at his home. He was born Nov. 13, 1912, at Gideon, Mo., son of John Wilford and Mae Shaw Sarff. He and Nancy Glick were married Dec. 8, 1945...

EAST PRAIRIE, Mo. -- Pauline P. Keeton, 78, of Palmetto, Fla., formerly of East Prairie, died Monday, Jan. 29, 2001, at her home. She was born Oct. 28, 1922, in East Prairie, daughter of Dave and Henry Houston Pool Parker. She and Charlie F. Keeton were married April 18, 1943, at Pinhook near East Prairie. He died Sept. 29, 1981...

EAST PRAIRIE, Mo. -- Louis Vernon "Sonny" Pritchett, 67, of East Prairie died Sunday, Jan. 28, 2001, at Beverly Health Care in New Madrid, Mo., following an extended illness. He was born Aug. 12, 1933, in East Prairie, son of Curt and Mae Vaughn Pritchett. He and Shirley J. McKinnie were married Jan. 18, 1953, at Charleston, Mo...

To the editor: Regarding the Jan. 26 letter, "Jackson schools need decisions made locally": I am a member of the steering committee to which the writer referred. We are not a decision-making group but have been trained by Dr. Alan Rowe of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, to facilitate a process whereby students, parents, faculty, school board members and citizens collaborate in identifying appropriate goals for the Jackson School District in the immediate and long-range future...

To the editor: As a collector of clocks, I tend to agree with Joe Sullivan in his plight to put an end to the never-ending changing of the clocks. It's time to let them tick away without interference. Did you know the life span of a battery is in direct relation to how many clocks you have? If you change the battery in one clock, the battery in another clock instinctively knows this and will die. ...

Many of us have been surprised, actually shocked, to open our gas bills this winter and see the price we are being charged. Some citizens have questioned whether the increases are justified, and recently Missouri Attorney General Jay Nixon has indicated he will look into the situation to confirm that there is no evidence of price gouging by either utilities or the suppliers that service them. These investigations will require access to the utility companies' financial records...

A week ago, Byron De La Beckwith died while serving life in prison. In 1994, Beckwith was convicted for assassinating civil rights leader Medgar Evers, 30 years after pulling the trigger. Why did it take so long to convict Beckwith? Two all-white juries deadlocked in trials in 1964, voting the wishes of much of Mississippi's ruling political establishment at the time...

While Missouri's legislature wrangles with pay increase recommended by a citizens commission for statewide officials, judges and legislators, here is something to keep in mind: In his State of the State Address today, Gov. Bob Holden is expected to discuss the state's anticipated $300 million-plus shortfall in the current budget...

NOW, IF the trend of environmental issues is toward decay, should government policy be balanced regarding public policy and environmental issues, or should it be more weighted toward the environmental issues in order to counteract the decay of the environment?...

To the editor: I must respond to Paul J. Allee's letter. Conservatives are the ones uniting people. Look at President Bush's picks for his Cabinet. He has appointed the first-ever black man as secretary of state and first-ever black woman as national security adviser. This is hardly the work of a divider...