Stories from Sunday, February 4, 2001

"Dear Ruth," a comedy by Norman Krasna, will hit the Jackson High School stage April 6 and 7. The cast of "Dear Ruth" is already at work on the play, directed by JHS teacher Sharon Ramdial. Chris Shank and Blake Burress are student directors. "Dear Ruth" is set during and after World War II. ...

FRUITLAND -- Friends who feel sympathy for Susan Todt are misplacing those emotions. While her new role as owner and director of Big Stuff Preschool and Child Care is hectic, she finds the setting invigorating. "When I tell people this is the least stressful job I've ever had, they look at me like I'm crazy," Todt said, "but that's the truth. ...

Cape Central High School in Cape Girardeau will sponsor the Show-Me State Queen Pageants March 9 and 10. Girls ages of 2-12 can compete for the titles of Tiny Miss, Little Miss, Petite Miss and Jr. Miss Show-Me State Teen on March 9, while teens ages 13-18 can compete for the state title of Miss Show-Me State Teen on March 10...

My wife and I have become grandparents. Grandparents. The very word makes me think of old age, of walking with a cane. It makes me think of gray (or white) hair, of driving real slow and telling stories to little children. I'm too young to be a grandpa! Of course, these ideas about grandparents are what I experienced as a child with my grandparents...

Ancient history records that people through the ages have changed time to suit themselves. Once there were only 10 months in the Calendar Year, beginning with the month of March. Some Roman Emperor decreed that there be two additional months. He named them "Januarius" and "Februarius" and placed them at the end of the Calendar Year...

Like the U.S. mail, members of the Jackson High School Spear-It Dancers were not kept from their appointed rounds by bad, winter weather. One of only a handful of high school dance teams to brave December's snow and ice and take part in a Muscular Dystrophy Association fund-raising effort in conjunction with the University High Christmas Tournament, the Jackson group claimed the first-place trophy...

Pizza party: Most families brought blankets to spread on the Immaculate Conception gym floor Wednesday for the all-school lunch. This family enjoyed hot pizza together. Big bite: Both Immaculate Conception students and parents displayed big appetites at the all-school lunch Wednesday...

MORLEY, Mo. -- Ron Cookson takes a long drag off his Vantage and gestures to the trophies and game balls and team pictures that crowd shelves in his basement, a humble shrine to an amazing career. He knows the boys in the pictures -- framed photos snapped at state tournaments in the moments before they tested their mettle on the hardwood floor. ...

SCOTT CITY, Mo. -- Ten years ago, Derek McCord came to Scott City with a vision: He wanted to develop a successful basketball program. And while realizing a vision is always a challenge, McCord's task was all the more daunting by the fact that the community's eyes were focused elsewhere...

Jackson High School's Jason Mott, the National PBL North Central vice president and Missouri PBL state reporter, installed the 2000-2001 officers at Chaffee High School Future Business Leaders of America recently. The Chaffee FBLA recently installed new officers and inducted 22 new members to bring its membership to 57...

Although it wasn't sweet victory for the home team, the Jackson High School Scholar Bowl team put on a strong tournament Jan. 27, with several of the region's top academic teams taking part. In the end, Cape Central nudged cross-town rival Notre Dame in the varsity finals. Cape Central topped host Jackson in the junior varsity final round...

Jackson Junior High School freshman, Justin Gibbs attended the Jan. 8 inauguration of Missouri Gov. Bob Holden. Gibbs was a member of the children's delegation that served as grand marshals of the inaugural parade. Gibbs represented the junior high as well as the school district...

Former Jackson High School Principal Warren McClellan Sarff of Kirkwood, Mo., died Jan. 20, at age 88. Sarff received a bachelor's degree in education from Southeast Missouri State University in 1934, where he was an athlete. He received a master's degree in education from the University of Missouri at Columbia...

Jackson was a much smaller town when Mysie Keene and her husband, the late F.E. Keene, moved here in 1954. During the intervening 47 years, Mysie Keene served the community in virtually every imaginable capacity. She was recognized for her many years of service Saturday night at the Jackson Heritage Association's 24th annual meeting and awards banquet. Keene was the 2001 winner of the Jackson Heritage Association Heritage Award, unofficially known as the Joyce Peerman Award...

Playing checkers was fun for all ages at Family Math Night. Spending quality time together for families was one of the goals at West Lane Elementary's Family Math Night. Pennies can make a great board, as this Family Math Nigh participant discovered...

Friends of Walt and Sally Pierce and friends of the Jackson Public Library gathered at the Kirk and Marybeth Williams home Monday night, to honor the Pierces. The couple recently made a $30,000 donation to the library where Sally Pierce has served 12 years as director. The money -- along with a smaller match from the city of Jackson -- will go toward automating the library...

Vice President Dick Cheney and wife, Lynne, waved to the crowd at one of the eight inaugural balls in Washington, D.C. Donna and John Lichtenegger visited with old friend Paul DeGregorioi, longtime St. Louis County election supervisor, during inauguration festivities. DeGregorioi, now a professor at the University of Missouri-St. Louis, helped oversee elections in Yugoslavia and El Salvador in recent years. (Photo courtesy of John and Donna Lichtenegger.)...

A dilapidated mobile home sits abandoned along County Road 657 just north of Cape Girardeau, its front door wide open. The back yard is littered with trash, an eyesore for neighboring homeowners. A burned out, brick apartment building blights County Road 635, not far from homes that have turned one-time farm land into residential outposts. The front yard is littered with the burned wreckage of a car and a discarded refrigerator with the door still on it...

THE READERS' PICKS In Southeast Missouri, where even the smallest high schools have basketball teams, coaches wield tremendous power. They can be the most beloved or despised people in their communities. They determine where thousands spend Friday evenings. They have more influence on many boys and girls than the players' own parents...

Too much time on the job can lead to a teen-ager's academic failure and cause a number of social problems, including rips in family ties and substance abuse, according to a recent national study. The study, conducted by the National Academy of Science's National Research Council and the Institute of Medicine, said working less than 20 hours a week can be beneficial for students because it promotes responsibility and discipline and provides pocket money and role models...

NEW MADRID, Mo. -- Adorned in a light brown suit, brown shoes and wire-rim glasses, the 51-year-old coach emerges from the locker room and calmly walks past his bench. He's been here hundreds of times. He is small in stature but intimidating. He looks experienced, intelligent and, more than anything, confident...

Buddy Bear had seen better days. After 5 years, he was worn ragged. His stuffing was bulging and threatening to spill out. Once blue, white yellow and pink, Buddy Bear had faded to a dismal gray. It's not that he wasn't loved. In some ways, he was loved too much. For her first few years of life, Bailey carried her Buddy everywhere. Even now as a 5-year-old, Bailey still likes to cuddle with him...

A 19-year-old woman reported that she was attacked on Broadway by an unknown man early Saturday morning, Cape Girardeau police reported. The woman was in the vicinity of Houck Stadium at about 12:30 a.m. when she was approached by a man, police said. Her attacker grabbed her and forced her into a parking lot, but she was able to break free of him and run away...

Southeast Missouri State University's university relations office won five awards in the 2001 Council for Advancement and Support of Education District Six Awards Competition. The awards were presented on Jan. 16 in Kansas City, Mo. The competition attracted 1,060 entries submitted by 89 institutions...

JACKSON, Mo. -- An off-campus disciplinary policy and methods to improve communication with the community were among items discussed by several Jackson school board members during a planning session Saturday. The school board holds at least one planning session annually to discuss issues of concern and district goals and to prioritize needs. Board members Vicky McDowell, Darrell Hanschen and Jeannette Bollinger were absent from the meeting...

Southeast Missouri State University will celebrate Black History Month in February with various events, ranging from lectures to a cultural fair. The fair will be held on Feb. 7 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in the University Center. The event will feature vendors, exhibits and speakers...

If they were playing horseshoes instead of basketball, Southeast Missouri State University's Indians would be building a heck of an Ohio Valley Conference record. But close doesn't count in hoops. As a result, the Indians are right now on the outside looking in as far as an upper-division OVC finish goes...

Fouling Lori Chase is generally not a wise move at any time. The sophomore forward on Southeast Missouri State University's women's basketball team shoots an impressive 85 percent from the free-throw line on the season. But sending Chase to the charity stripe was particularly foolish Saturday night. Tennessee State, however, kept doing it and the result was a record-breaking performance by Chase during the Otahkians' 95-84 victory at the Show Me Center...

Home has been anything but sweet for Southeast Missouri State University's men's basketball team during Ohio Valley Conference play this season. In fact, it's been downright sour. And as a result, the Indians keep falling deeper and deeper toward the bottom of the OVC standings...

JACKSON, Mo. -- The word satisfaction is not in Ray Goodson's vocabulary. Even after pushing his record to 35-0 and even after dominating every wrestler he faced in the 215-pound class at the Class 4A, District 1 Tournament, the Jackson wrestler thought he could do better...

Notre Dame center Deana McCormick scored 18 points and pulled down 14 rebounds as the Lady Bulldogs picked up an impressive 59-38 win over Piggott, Ark., on Saturday Piggott (21-2) defeated Notre Dame last year. "I was worried about this game," said Notre Dame coach Jerry Grim. "We went down there last year and they beat us and I think the kids remembered that trip."...

Sometimes a winning record is not the only true test of a winner. The Cape Central Tigers (5-14) don't have a glowing won-loss record. They don't have exceptional talent, height or size. But they have heart. Heart was the key for the Tigers as they held on to defeat Riverview Gardens 62-55...

A storm can leave trees looking like there's no tomorrow. Major limbs may be broken or damaged, foliage can be shredded or stripped or the bark may be torn or gouged. But what at first glance may look like mortal wounds are not necessarily fatal to a tree. Trees have an amazing ability to recover from storm damage...

BUNCOMBE, Ill. -- Martha Arnold Woods, 64, of Buncombe died Saturday, Feb. 3, 2001, at the Union County Hospital. She was born Oct. 13, 1936, in Mill Creek, Ill., daughter of Clyde and Sarah Wright Arnold. She and Lawrence Woods were married Feb. 1, 1953, in Jonesboro, Ill. She was a member of New Hope Baptist Church...

CAIRO, Ill. -- Edwin C. Klein, 70, of Cairo died Saturday, Feb. 3, 2001, at the Daystar Care Center in Cairo. He was born Sept. 29, 1930, at Cairo, son of George and Doris Bucher Klein. He and Peggy Beeler were married. Klein was a lineman for Ameritech before retiring. ...

Ruhe Rudd Pringle, 78, of Cape Girardeau died Friday, Feb. 2, 2001, at Chateau Girardeau Health Center. She was born Jan. 15, 1923, at Belpre, Kan., daughter of Herbert and Mayrella Windhorst Rudd. She and Douglas Pringle were married Dec. 7, 1943, at Tribune, Kan...

DONGOLA, Ill. -- C.J. Keller, three months old, of Dongola died Friday, Feb. 2, 2001, at Union County Hospital in Anna, Ill. He was born Oct. 14, 2000, at Carbondale, Ill., son of Barry and Jennifer Holderfield Keller. Survivors include his parents; a sister, Whitney of Dongola; grandparents, Larry and Linda Keller of Dongola, and Linda Friedman of Olive Branch, Ill.; great-grandparents Duane and Mary Simpson of Lincoln, Ill...

Traditionally, the Salvation Army generates most of its annual budget during the Christmas season. It didn't make its goal for 2000, but that doesn't mean it still can't. An unusually cold December is being blamed for a shortage in contributions to last year's local drive. The Army had set a goal of $220,000 and has received $191,960 to date...

THE SPINELESS Democratic senators speak of what a wonderful person John Ashcroft is with his decency, honesty, character and dignity. Then their last breath is they don't agree with his judgment and can't support his nomination. Why can't these hypocrites tell it like it is? If they vote their conscience, they are promised to lose the campaign money. Everyone knows this. Why not tell the truth one time?...

From its humble beginnings in 1980, Dunklin County Transit Services Inc. had progressed by 1998 to gain a reputation among state officials as the best rural transportation service in the state. It continues to operate in a fashion that any public transit system would be proud of in meeting the needs of people who rely on public transportation to get around...

To the editor: We have listened for several weeks as liberals have described their version of bipartisanship and have talked about how President Bush should compromise. They have pointed to the nominations of John Ashcroft and Gale Norton as signs that Bush really has no interest in bipartisanship or compromise...

Last Wednesday I was handed a message that John Ashcroft had called and would like me to return the call to him in Washington. I began wondering whether he was asking me to do something to support him, such as get a resolution of support through the new Republican-majority state Senate, as several other states had done...

Cindy McCormick has found a secret weapon for feeling great and relaxing alone: indoor tanning. "It's one of the few times where you can be by yourself without a phone and nobody to bother you for 20 or 30 minutes," said the Cape Girardeau mother. McCormick and hundreds of like-minded, bronze enthusiasts visit area tanning salons, usually a couple times a week, in search of a little color, a little shot of self-esteem and a little peace and quiet...

The only thing I can say now about my back yard, front and side yards is that they look drab. After leaf raking in the autumn when all the neighbors are tidying their yards, I have mine cleaned up too, testifying that I want the neighborhood to always look clean and neat. ...

Mr. and Mrs. Harry Ivester of Cape Girardeau recently celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary with a dinner at Cedar Street. Hosts were their children and spouses: Julie and Jerry Finley of Scott City, Mo., Fran and Pat Johnson of Carterville, Ill., and Greg Ivester of Cape Girardeau...

Mr. and Mrs. Wayne Nesslein of Cape Girardeau celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary Jan. 6, 2001, at the Elks Lodge. Hosts for the reception were Wendy Lincoln and Beth Buttrey. Nesslein and Connie Weber were married Jan. 7, 1961, at the Assumption Church in Perryville, Mo., by the Rev. George Brennan...

JACKSON, Mo. -- Emanuel United Church of Christ was the setting Nov. 18, 2000, for the wedding of Melanie Denise McCormack and Mark Edward Lutes. The Rev. Samuel Roethemeyer performed the double ring ceremony. Pianist was Christy Shinn and soloist was Danny Schott, both of Jackson...

GLENNON, Mo. -- Tina Marie Eeftink and Arthur Wayne Bodenstein Jr. were married Nov. 4, 2000, at St. Anthony's Catholic Church. The Rev. Frederick Lutz performed the double ring ceremony. Organist was Sara Nenninger of Cape Girardeau, and soloist was Carrie Lesch of Allenville, Mo...

FRIEDHEIM, Mo. -- Amelia Renee "Amy" McMillan and Jared Paul Cattoor were married Oct. 14, 2000, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Friedheim. The Revs. David Burge and Adam Mueller performed the ceremony. Pianists were Dianne and Elizabeth Meyr, organist was Susan Ludwig, and soloist was Holly Thomas. Readers were Sally Roth, aunt of the groom, and Beverly Koenig, aunt of the bride...

Leslie Hegan Church and Michael Eric Buck were married June 3, 2000, at Wesley United Methodist Church in Charleston, Ill. The Revs. Dale A. Beck and Mark L. Prevo performed the double ring ceremony. Music was by the LeVeck String Quartet of Mattoon, Ill...

GORDONVILLE, Mo. -- Jane Ellen Hileman of Gordonville and Samuel Cheney Grear of Cape Girardeau were married Sept. 23, 2000, in Eureka Springs, Ark. The Rev. Lyla O. Allison performed the ceremony. The bride is the daughter of Warner and Nevada Hileman of Anna, Ill. The groom is the son of the late Samuel J. Grear of Jonesboro, Ill., and the late Constance Grear of Carbondale, Ill...

DELTA, Mo. -- Cornerstone Church in Cape Girardeau was the setting May 20, 2000, for the wedding of Amanda Rae Hester and Adam Wesley Farmer. The Rev. Kim Ferguson, uncle of the groom, performed the double ring ceremony. Pianist was Debbie Lancaster, violinist was Casey Cook, and vocalists were Shonda Burnett and Dennis Browning...

Dave and Gaye Mizell of St. Louis announce the engagement of their daughter, Rebecca Lee Mizell, to Carl William Bone. He is the son of Jim and Donna Bone of Cape Girardeau. Mizell is a 1996 graduate of Parkway North Senior High School, and a 2000 graduate of Southeast Missouri State University. She is the receptionist at Rhodes 101 Stops home office in Scott City, Mo...

JACKSON, Mo. -- Kristin Dawn Owens and Travis Michael Perr were married May 6, 2000, at St. Paul Lutheran Church. The Rev. Robert Henrichs performed the double ring ceremony. Organist was Orville Perr Jr. of Jackson, and soloist was Karen Cunningham of Lincoln, Ill., cousins of the groom...

Amy Lynn Lappe and Shawn Christian Seabaugh were united in marriage April 29, 2000, at St. Mary's Cathedral. The Revs. Richard Rolwing and Gerald Huff performed the double ring ceremony. Organist was Leann Hendrix of Cape Girardeau. Parents of the couple are Bob and Maryln Lappe of Cape Girardeau, and David and Paula Seabaugh of Marble Hill, Mo...

Dr. James and Candy Garb of Columbia, Mo., announce the engagement of their daughter, Amy Leigh Garb of St. Louis, to Jeffrey Michael Riley of St. Peters, Mo. He is the son of Don and Marty Riley Sr. of Cape Girardeau. Garb is a 1996 graduate of Rock Bridge High School in Columbia. She received a bachelor's degree in English from the University of Missouri-Columbia. She is a project manager for The Zipatoni Co. in St. Louis...

BURFORDVILLE, Mo. -- Richard W. and Judy Aufdenberg of Burfordville announce the engagement of their daughter, Amy Marie Aufdenberg, to Michael Andrew Cracraft. He is the son of S.M. "Mike" and Nancy Cracraft of Jackson, Mo. Aufdenberg is a 1997 graduate of Jackson High School. She expects to receive a bachelor of science degree in business administration from Southeast Missouri State University in May. She is employed at Innovative Idea Integration in Jackson...

Laura Dalton of Cape Girardeau and Barry Hovis of Jackson, Mo., announce their engagement. She is the daughter of Janet Dalton of Cape Girardeau and Max Dalton of Whitewater. Hovis is the son of Tom and Judy Hovis of Hiram, Mo. Dalton is a graduate of Southeast Missouri State University. She is an assistant human resources manager with Ralston Purina...

Butch and Connie Eichhorn of Cape Girardeau announce the engagement of their daughter, Jodie Louise Eichhorn, to Thomas Paul Berkbigler Jr. of Jackson, Mo. He is the son of Thomas and Kathy Berkbigler Sr. of Cape Girardeau. Eichhorn received a degree in child development from Southeast Missouri State University in May 2000, and is pursuing a master's degree in child and family relations at the university. She is employed at the University Child Enrichment Center...

Debbie Benton of Cape Girardeau and Tom Benton of Jackson, Mo., announce the engagement of their daughter, Sarah Jane Benton, to Jason Charles Trickey. He is the son of Tom and Karen Mogelnicki and Jim and Tina Trickey, all of Cape Girardeau. Benton is a 1996 graduate of Central High School. She is a senior at Southeast Missouri State University, majoring in technical graphics. She is a student graphics assistant in printing and duplicating at the university...

JACKSON, Mo. -- Leabert and Ann Fields of Jackson announce the engagement of their daughter, Christina Fields of Desloge, Mo., to Capt. Laird Abbott of Renton, Wash. He is the son of Clarence and Carlene Abbott of Egg Harbor Township, N.J. Fields received a bachelor of science degree in psychology from Southeast Missouri State University. She received a master of science degree in counseling from Southwest Missouri State University. She is an RTEC coordinator at Mineral Area College...

SCOTT CITY, Mo. -- Mr. and Mrs. Gary Jones of Scott City and Donald Shelton of Kelso, Mo., announce the engagement of their daughter, Lesli Dawn Shelton, to Tim Alan McConnell. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Merlin McConnell of Scott City. Shelton is a graduate of Scott City High School, and a 1998 graduate of Southeast Missouri State University. She is employed at Progressive Insurance Co. in Cape Girardeau...

JACKSON, Mo. -- Linda J. Thompson of Jackson announces the engagement of her daughter, Brenda Lou Thompson, to Aaron Thomas Gleason, both of Chesterfield, Mo. He is the son of Tom and Carol Gleason of Sikeston, Mo. Thompson is also the daughter of the late Glen H. Thompson...