Stories from Monday, November 6, 1995

Russ Felker received his first computer, an Apple II+ when he was 8. It was a match made in computer heaven. By the age of 12, Felker was an instructor for Pro Computer Center. Each Saturday, Felker, a student at Cape Central Junior High School, taught a group of children, many his own age, how to use the IBM PCjr., expected to be the home computer of the future...

SCOTT CITY -- With only five days left until a special election, a citizen's committee in Scott City is busy distributing information to voters about a proposed half-cent sales tax increase. In August, the Scott City Council unanimously approved a special election for the sales tax which will fund street improvements...

JACKSON -- County Clerk Rodney Miller said he isn't expecting a huge voter turnout Tuesday. But the issue voters decide will have a huge affect on library patrons, no matter how the vote goes. About 18,000 Cape Girardeau County voters in the Jackson Public Library District and the Riverside Regional Library District will be eligible to vote Tuesday. They will decide whether or not to increase their taxes to pay for a $1.5 million combined library in Jackson City Park...

The Cape Woods Conservation Area is a 37-acre, state-owned tract of bottomland forest and grass that borders Osage Park. Surrounded by ever-expanding urban growth, the area is home to deer, turkey and other wildlife. The city of Cape Girardeau plans to improve this pocket of nature so it will be accessible to the public. The work will be done largely at state and federal expense...

The stars were out Sunday afternoon at West Park Mall in Cape Girardeau. About 30 people competed in a celebrity look-alike contest at center court. The contest drew entries ranging from spinach-eating cartoon character, Popeye, a television chef, Mr. Food. Other favorites were Marilyn Monroe and country music stars Alan Jackson and Reba McEntire...

"Clothes make the man." Shakespeare said it first, and a few centuries later, "Dressing for Success" hit bookstores. We are a nation obsessed with image. We have fashion magazines, self-help books and consultants by the score, all dedicated to making sure that if a hair's out of place, it's an artistic statement achieved through judicious use of styling product...

Albert Lacy, 80, of Jackson died Sunday, Nov. 5, 1995, at his home. Arrangements are incomplete at McCombs Funeral Home in Jackson.

CHARLESTON -- Joseph Willis Layton Sr., 62, of Charleston died Saturday, Nov. 4, 1995, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. He was born April 19, 1933, at Charleston, son of Carl and Grace McCracken Layton. He and Patricia Howlett were married Dec. 3, 1949...

COBDEN, Ill. -- Willie T. Eads, 72, of Cobden died Sunday, Nov. 5, 1995, at his home. He was born Dec. 13, 1922, at Tallapoosa, son of Mack and Lilly May Warren Eads. He and Juanita Mae Walls were married Sept. 1, 1944, at Corning, Ark. Survivors include his wife; two daughters, Betty Warden and Judy Guffey, both of Anna; two sisters, Jennie Raney of Anna and Ruby Jackson of Puxico, Mo.; four brothers, Edward Eads and Richard Eads, both of Carbondale, Charles Eads of Rockford and Robert Eads of Cobden; four grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.. ...

SIKESTON -- Lynn Peeler, 18, of Sikeston died Saturday, Nov. 4, 1995, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. He was born Jan. 29, 1977, in Paducah, Ky., son of Charles Peeler and Debbie Ross McKinney. He was a student at Kelly High School in Benton and formerly attended Goreville, Ill., grade school and high school...

Agenda Monday, Nov. 6, 7:30 p.m. City Hall, 401 Independence Public Hearings Request of Jeffery and Julie Briney for historic landmark zoning for their house at 25 N. Fountain. Request of Judith Ann Crow for historic landmark zoning for her house at 323 Themis...

SIKESTON -- Marvin R. Brown Sr., 54, of Sikeston died Saturday, Nov. 5, 1995, at Missouri Delta Medical Center. He was born Feb. 5, 1941, at Sikeston to Charles and Iva Sherwood Brown. He was a carpenter at Bud Lewis Construction in Sikeston. He is survived by his mother, a son, Marvin R. ...

No, dear reader, Willie Nelson did not write the Official Anthem of the Missouri General (Getaway Assembly. Willie's classic ditty, "On the Road Again," which even the tone-deaf among us can sing, is merely an apt description of how some of the 197 members of the General Assembly spend their off-session moments. On the road. Again. And again. And again...

It has never been all that difficult to become a registered voter in Missouri. Anyone genuinely interested in becoming a participant in the balloting process simply had to go to a voter registration office and sign a form. In many instances, registration opportunities were made available at shopping malls and at special community events. On occasion voter registrars would set up shop at other special locations to make the sign-up process as convenient as possible...

The U.S. military happens to have surplus helicopters it wants to give away. The Stoddard County Sheriff's Department also happens volunteer helicopter pilots, former military pilots who are interested in lending a helping hand. Put these two together, and you have a sensible plan. ...

My congratulations to Perry Hazelwood and the Jackson and Cape Girardeau police departments for their efforts to enforce the law regarding the sale of cigarettes and alcohol to minors. However, I am not surprised regarding the results and findings that they have had in their experience with the sting operation. ...

This week the Southeast Missourian asked, "How do you feel about the proposal that would demolish turn-of-the-century homes to build a new federal courthouse?" Bill Presser, Cape Girardeau "As it is proposed here in town, I am against it. I would prefer they look at the old St. Francis Hospital and build it there."...

Walter B. Wildman has joined Thomas L. Meyer Realty Co. as a sales associate. Wildman, who previously served as executive director of the Regional Commerce and Growth Association (RCGA), is graduate of Southeast Missouri State University with bachelor's degrees in psychology and business and a master's degree in public administration from Northern Illinois University...

The Small Business Development Center will conduct counseling sessions in four areas this month. The counselor, Gil Degenhardt, will be available Nov. 15, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce office. The counseling sessions (about one hour) are free. Call (314)-335-3312 for appointment...

McDonald's Corp. and Amoco Corp. have announced they are expanding plans to open joint food and gasoline outlets throughout the country. The two companies currently operate 12 locations throughout Illinois, Indiana and Michigan and plan to open more in the Midwest, mid-Atlantic, north central and southeastern United States, the companies said...

RJR Nabisco plans to cut costs and bolster sales of its cigarettes by eliminating about 5 percent of its domestic tobacco jobs and moving its international tobacco headquarters to Switzerland. Virtually all of the 575 job cuts announced Friday will be in Winston-Salem, N.C., where RJR's R.J. Reynolds Tobacco business is based...

The Mississippi County Industrial Development Association, Poplar Bluff Chamber of Commerce, SEMO Regional Planning Commission and the city of Fredericktown were among groups receiving funds from Southwestern Bell Telephone of Missouri. The company presented 28 checks totaling $100,000 to winners of its Economic Excellence Awards. ...

The date has been changed for the Special Railroad Ceremony at Southeast Missouri Regional Port Authority, 10 a.m. The ceremony for the dedication of the SEMO Regional Port Railroad Inc./Harbor Lead Track, will be held Wednesday at the port. The ceremony was originally scheduled last week, but rains forced the postponement...

Boatmen's Bancshares Inc., headquartered in St. Louis, has completed the previously announced acquisition of Citizens Bancshares Corp., of Jonesboro, Ark., with assets of about $220 million. Boatmen's Bancshares, with assets of approximately $33 billion, is one of the 30 largest U.S. bank holding companies, operating more than 500 locations in nine states...

Wednesday -- Special Railroad Ceremony, SEMO Regional Port Railroad Inc. -- Harbor Lead Track, at Southeast Missouri Regional Port Authority, 10 a.m. Nov. 15 -- SBA counseling session (about one hour), Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce office, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m...

The contest is designed to recognize advertising in the greater Cape Girardeau Market area and in the Paducah, Ky., and Harrisburg, Ill., areas. The local competition is the first level of three-tiered competitions known as the American Advertising Awards, conducted annually by the American Advertising Federation. Local winners compete in district competitions and district winners compete in the national Addy competition...

Charleston Manor Nursing Center has received two special recognition honors from Americare Systems Inc. in the categories of community services and fiscal responsibility. Awards were presented during the company's annual meeting recently at Lake Ozarks...

Commerce Bank of Southeast Missouri will observe the grand opening of its newest branch at Poplar Bluff today. The new branch is located at 2586 N. Westwood Blvd. (Highway 67 North), adjacent to Hefner's Furniture Store. The facility has four lobby teller stations, three drive-up lanes and a 24-hour Automtic Teller Machine (ATM)...

Plaza Tire, 2301 William in Cape Girardeau, has expanded its operations in the Cape Girardeau area. "We've opened a second location here," said James Brock, retail store operations manager. The new location is at 1634 N. Kingshighway, and will provide tire and wheel service only...

Designers & More, a consignment shop at Jackson, has moved to a new location, at 1225 Old Cape Road. The shop specializes in new and used clothing for all ages, including name brands such as Levi's, Nike and Nautica. Store hours are 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday...

TNT Dugan, a subsidiary of TNT Freightways Corp., is expanding its operation in Cape Girardeau. The new, 18-door, facility, at 4178 Route K, will replace the company's previous five-door terminal in the Nash Road Industrial Park area which has been in use since 1993...

K's Merchandise Store will open at the University Mall in Carbondale, Ill., Thursday. The family-owned business, founded in 1957, is located in the former Venture location of the mall. K's, headquartered in Decatur, Ill., offers brand name general merchandise, including furniture, electronics, sporting goods, office needs, housewares, small appliances and other merchandise...

R. Clifford Smith and Jeffrey G. Baer, have announced the formation of Smith & Baer, Certified Public Accountants, The new company, at 416 S. Kingshighway, will perform accounting, bookkeeping, tax and management advisory services. Smith and Baer combine to provide almost 25 years experience in accounting. Smith has more than 20 years experience and Baer has four years experience...

Fruitland Livestock Sales Inc. has a new name and new owners. Steve and Shirley Preusser, Jeff and Karen Preusser and Mark and Mary Preusser, along with the Preusser brothers' mother, Marian Preusser, recently purchased the former Fruitland Livestock Auction Co...

The River Ridge Christmas Tree Farm and Yule Log Cabin have officially opened for the 1995 Christmas holiday season. The tree farm and Yule Log Cabin giftshop opened the final weekend of October and will be open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., with Sunday hours from 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m...

The Lutheran Home will open its Lutheran Home Health Agency in early 1996. "This will allow the Lutheran Home to expand its services to outlying areas and to fully serve the retirement community," said Janice Unger, administrator of the Lutheran Home...

SIKESTON -- A new Sears Roebuck & Co. retail dealer store opened recently in Sikeston. Owners of the store are William D. and Vivian Johnson. The store, at 1016 Linn St., offers appliances, home electronics and lawn and garden equipment. The store is one of 31 retail dealer stores opened by Sears since June of 1993, when it was announced that Sears would no longer have product catalogs. Many of the new retail dealer stores were previously catalog stores...