Stories from Saturday, May 5, 2001

New churches that can break through denominational strongholds and traditions are the wave of the religious community's future, an area pastor says. Less worried about loyalty to a specific church than about individual spirituality, people are more open about what other religions teach, pastors and religious leaders say. The Rev. Grant Gillard said churches today have to become more fluid as people move about and use non-traditional means to communicate...

Southeast Missouri State University's Board of Regents Friday hiked tuition and other student charges for the 2001-2002 school year but refused to impose a fee to study the feasibility of renovating and expanding Parker Hall for use as a student union...

An Internet archive of Ellis Island immigration records is invaluable, genealogists say. "If your ancestors came here in the late 1800s, it's a wonderful research tool," said Margaret Harmon, a registered genealogist in Cape Girardeau. "But the thing is, in Southeast Missouri most people here are fourth to sixth generation, so they were here long before Ellis Island was even thought of."...

ANNA, Ill. -- Tears stream down Denise Bone Goins' face when she reads the letters from her mother so full of love, hope and an abiding faith in God. She clings to the letters, written on scraps of paper, as she does to family photographs and memories all too fragile. They tear at her heart...

The Southeast Missouri State University Board of Regents approved plans Friday for construction of a new residence hall on Henderson Avenue and expansion of the Show Me Center and polytechnic building. The board also pushed ahead with plans to develop hiking and biking trails on the downtown River Campus, a former Catholic seminary that the university plans to turn into an arts school...

A friend of mine told me this week she's losing a daughter ... and gaining a teen-ager. I'm withholding their names to protect the innocent, but all you really need to know is this: The daughter in question, at the tender young age of 12, has joined the ranks of pubescence, and Momma -- sorry, it's Mom now -- is not at all sure how she should be handling it...

Missouri is making the most of its MO$T program, according to state treasurer Nancy Farmer. "I was delighted to learn this week that the MO$T program was evaluated in the May issue of Money Magazine as one of the top five plans in the nation," said Farmer, who was guest speaker at the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce's First Friday program at the Show Me Center Friday...

Jay Goff, admissions director at Southeast Missouri State University, has been hired for the new position of dean of enrollment management at the University of Missouri-Rolla. Goff's appointment was approved by the UMR Board of Trustees this week and he will begin his new duties on June 1. He will be responsible for the offices of admissions, financial aid, registrar, orientation, testing and assessment...

Dr. Irene Ferguson was promoted to dean of students at Southeast Missouri State University Friday. Ferguson has served as interim dean since last August when Dr. Kimberly Barrett resigned. The Board of Regents announced the promotion Friday. She will make a salary of $74,500...

BENTON, Mo. -- Scott County deputies made two unanticipated drug arrests when they served a warrant for probation violation in Haywood City, Mo., on Thursday, the sheriff said. Deputies were searching for Thomas Wiley Jr., 39, who was wanted on a warrant for probation violation and for escaping from custody. He was found and arrested Thursday night at a Haywood City residence...

CHAFFEE, Mo. -- Little Brennan Miller, age 2, waddled past the dugout, a black leather ball glove on his left hand, a rag ball in his right, and a baseball cap pulled over his brow. "Let's play ball," he said as his all-state uncle, G.P. Glueck, tossed some warmups on the pitching mound Thursday as Chaffee prepared for a game with Jackson High School...

A sweep of Austin Peay last weekend at least kept Southeast Missouri State University's baseball team in the running for the Ohio Valley Conference regular-season title. This weekend, a pair of series will determine if the Indians can continue to hold out OVC championship hopes...

PADUCAH, Ky. -- Southeast's men's and women's track teams sat in second place after the opening day of the Ohio Valley Conference Outdoor Track and Field Championships on Friday. Eastern Illinois led the men's competition with 97 points and was followed by Southeast (76), Murray St. (35), Morehead St. (9), Tennessee St. (7.5) and Eastern Kentucky (7.5)...

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. -- The Southeast Missouri State softball Otahkians dropped their first game of the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament Friday, but rebounded for a win in the loser's bracket. No. 3 seed Eastern Kentucky (39-15) knocked off No. 2 Southeast 2-0 in the opening round. Southeast (25-24) then beat No. 5 Tennessee State 1-0...

LONE OAK, Ky. -- Cape Central's tennis team finished its regular season with a perfect 16-0 mark with an impressive 8-1 win over Lone Oak, Ky. Friday. "I Didn't expect this," said Central coach Bud Craven. "We won districts last year, but we've played some talented St. Louis teams and this Lone Oak team was pretty good too. We did very well this year. I'm proud of these boys."...

DONGOLA, Ill. -- Anita Phillips, 69, of St. Louis, formerly of Dongola, died Friday, May 4, 2001, at the Rosewood Healthcare Center in St. Louis. Funeral arrangements are incomplete at Crain Funeral Home in Dongola.

OLMSTED, Ill. -- Oma E. Evans, 86, of Olmsted died Friday, May 4, 2001, at Good Samaritan Care Center in Metropolis, Ill. She was born May 4, 1915, in Phillippy, Tenn., daughter of Liston and Laura Owen. She married Frank Evans, who died in 1982. Evans and her husband owned Evans Shoe Store in Mounds, Ill., and Metropolis many years. She was a member of Caledonia Baptist Church...

SIKESTON, Mo. -- Dennis Michael Steven "Dee" Carlisle, 53, of Sikeston died Thursday, May 3, 2001, at Missouri Delta Medical Center. He was born Aug. 27, 1947, in Cairo, Ill., son of Martin and Pearl Hargan Carlisle. He and Myrna Phillips were married Aug. 6, 1966...

BERNIE, Mo. -- John W. "Punk" Palmer Jr., 79, of Bernie died Thursday, May 3, 2001, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. He was born April 11, 1922, at Dexter, Mo., son of John Wesley and Earmin Iduma Greer Palmer Sr. He first married Dorothy Beatrice Robinson April 1, 1939, in Piggott, Ark. She died March 2, 1955. He later married Annie Lee Farr Read Feb. 10, 1956, in Hernando, Miss...

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- Fred C. Hughey, 87, of Perryville died Friday, May 4, 2001, at Perry County Memorial Hospital. He was born Nov. 16, 1913, at Seventy Six, Mo., son of Joseph Frank and Bertha Triutt Hughey. He and Geraldine Bangert were married April 5, 1947...

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- Funeral Mass for Iola F. Weiss of Perryville will be held at 10 a.m. today at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church. The Rev. Kevin P. Fausz will officiate. Burial will be in Mt. Hope Cemetery. Friends may call at Miller Family Funeral Home from 6:30-9:50 a.m. The rosary will be recited at 9...

SIKESTON, Mo. -- Dora Thatch, 93, of Sikeston died Thursday, May 3, 2001, at Clearview Nursing Center. She was born July 23, 1907, in Collierville, Tenn., daughter of Jessie and Mattie Waldren Fowler. Thatch had lived in Missouri since 1948. She was a member of Cornerstone Baptist Church, its Mother Board and Missionary Society...

I JUST want to share an experience that I have recently encountered. Being one of those pesky people who always finds something to complain about, I have made myself start writing 30 things, one thing a day, that I am grateful for. Yesterday I had a wonderful experience, and I hope I can encourage others to do the same. ...

Whether you believe skateboarders are just youngsters having fun or genuine hazards for motorists and pedestrians, one thing is clear: Skateboarding isn't going away. So the quandary becomes where skateboarders should be allowed to participate in their chosen hobby...

Everybody likes to save a couple of bucks -- especially hard-working Missouri parents -- but a complicated plan to have a few sales-tax-free days sounds more troublesome than filling out IRS tax forms. A bill to that end, sponsored by state Sen. Peter Kinder of Cape Girardeau, is moving through the Legislature. It would suspend state and local taxes on the purchase of clothing and school supplies Aug. 4-7...

Two years ago I was given the opportunity to move to Southeast Missouri to advance my education at Southeast Missouri State University. Although I have thoroughly enjoyed my days here and now realize how much I will truly miss this area for a multitude of reasons, I also feel inclined to leave one last mark before departing...