Stories from Sunday, October 19, 1997

To the editor: Why don't doctors take the time to listen to their patients anymore? And why isn't a physical exam a physical exam, consisting of a doctor examining a patient by touch? I recently went for an office visit as a new patient. The exam included very little physical contact and even less verbal contact...

Discouragement is a hindrance to our Christian walk. We cannot always be on the mountain top, but we must not dwell in the valley of gloom. One of my biblical heroes is Elijah. A word most descriptive of him is "intensity." This characterized his faith, his prayer life, his service to God, and his anger against sin...

25 years ago, 1972 Two acts of vandalism, both apparently occurring Tuesday night, are being investigated by Jackson police; vandals pushed over 13 monuments in Old City Cemetery; fortunately, only one of markers was broken; vandals also broke glass door to American Legion Hall with rocks...

The staff of Hotel Yell from left to right, Rebecca Golden, John Byrd, Roger Overbeck, Mark Elfrink, Rick Saupe and John Macke. Once again people will line up to be frightened out of their wits at the Jackson Jaycee Haunted House. The Haunted House opened this weekend and will be open again Oct. 24, 25, 26, 29, 30 and 31...

Michael Holigan doesn't understand why a home-buying course isn't offered as an educational curriculum. "Purchasing a home can be the biggest investment a person will ever make," said Holigan. "Yet, most schools do not offer courses on how to buy a home."...

They may not be doggie biscuits, but aluminum cans are the preferred treat of adoptable animals at the Humane Society of Southeast Missouri. Through Nov. 30, the shelter will recycle aluminum cans in a communitywide drive to raise money. The drive is part of a nationwide aluminum can recycling program called "Paws to Recycle." The local shelter will earn operating money and free Friskies pet food for participating. ...

It was an honor last Wednesday, during a busy week of travel and meetings, to join in as a host for the man who spearheaded the successful campaign for the California Civil Rights Initiative in the Golden State last year. Sacramento businessman Ward Connerly arrived in St. ...

Recent events in Missouri tend to confirm a postulation long held by this column that society's worst problems are most often found in efforts to resolve the problems created by government. To be sure, there are wise and controlled advocates among us who have an exemplary record of advancing seemingly logical solutions by means of governmental management for critical conditions or problems within society, and I hasten to confirm the correctness of these arguments. ...

Two, three and more years ago, State Auditor Margaret Kelly began sounding an alarm to all in state government -- indeed, to all Missourians. State government, Mrs. Kelly said, was on a taxing and spending course that would send revenue soaring through the lid mandated by Missouri's constitutional tax limitation amendment. ...

To the editor: The PTA of Franklin Elementary School would like to thank Peggy Scott, Fred Lynch and the Southeast Missourian for publishing a very positive article on Oct. 14 about Franklin school and the 70th anniversary. In a world of so many negative influences for our children, it is enlightening for our town newspaper to have an article for and about our children that is positive and informative. ...

At age 80, jazz performer Rufus Thomas spreads his arms, grins and says, "You're looking at the finished product." Years of practice and polish have gone into perfecting his performance. Yet, he said, being at the right place at the right time earned him the most fame...

Renee Brands and Kim Young drove from Portageville to Cape Girardeau Saturday evening for one reason: to see the hot air balloons glow. The two had never seen balloons up close, but had heard how beautiful a balloon glow is. At night, hot air balloons glow as a result of the propane heaters used to heat the balloons...

A man worked to test an underground tank. A once-distant deadline for upgrading Missouri's older underground storage tanks is now just over a year away. The upgrades are costing gas stations and other owners thousands of dollars and much more if a contamination cleanup is required...

When Chaffee farmer Frank Essner bought property at the northeast corner of Sprigg and Morgan Oak in Cape Girardeau in 1995, he knew the former Cutmart store had underground storage tanks that would have to be upgraded or replaced by 1998. What he didn't know, Essner says, was that a gasoline spill on the property previously had been reported to the Department of Natural Resources...

Boardings of Trans World Express flights at the Cape Girardeau Regional Airport have increased sharply through the first three quarters of 1997. TWE had 923 more boardings from January through September compared to the same period a year ago. The airline handled 3,093 passengers during the first nine months of the year, compared to 2,172 a year ago...

"Becca's having a baby." Not really, of course. It's just a verse in our 5-year-old daughter's growing repertoire of jump-rope songs. Besides, this "baby song" doesn't follow any doctor's advice that I know of when it comes to child birth. "Fudge, fudge, call the judge," Becca gleefully recited as she skipped rope the other day. "Becca's having a baby. What could it be?...

Granted, they haven't exactly played a who's who list of the region's top high school football teams, which means the jury is still out on just how good they are. But there's no denying one thing: Cape Girardeau Central and Jackson will enter their annual border war battle at Houck Stadium Friday night with the best combined record they've had in a long, long time -- and undoubtedly one of the best combined marks ever...

COLUMBIA -- Ashley Beggs said she closed her eyes when she swung, but what she felt gave her a hint of what she had done. "It felt really good," Beggs said. Beggs' account of her game-winning, two-run home run could have come from any of Kelly High's Lady Hawks and been an apt description of a number of aspects of their best season ever...

MURRAY, Ky. -- Corey Crume ran for two second-half touchdowns to lead Eastern Kentucky to a 29-8 victory over Murray State on Saturday, snapping the Racers' 19-game winning streak in the Ohio Valley Conference. Eastern Kentucky (3-3, 2-0 OVC) limited the Racers to a safety and two Rob Hart field goals in the first half and shut out Murray in the second half. Murray State (5-3, 3-1 OVC) mustered only 67 yards on the ground...

The Lady Tigers won their opening dual match over Ladue by default, but fell to three-time defending state champion St. Joseph's Academy in Class 4A sectional tennis play Saturday on the Southeast Missouri State University campus. "They've won state the last three years and everybody says they'll do it again," said Cape Central coach Annette Slattery. "St. Joseph's has a very strong team."...

The Southeast Otahkians gave a dominating performance Saturday morning in the Southeast Missouri State Cross County Invitational at Capaha Park. Janelle Quigley (18:22.5), Tammy Wenkel (18:31.3) and Leslie McNamara (18:48.4) finished 1-2-3 respectively in the women's 3.1 mile event to lead the Otahkians to a first-place total of 20 points. Murray State finished a distant second with 49 points, followed by Arkansas State (66) and Tennessee-Martin (87)...

The Charleston Blue Jays kept John Burroughs winless -- and scoreless -- with a 12-0 shutout victory Saturday afternoon at home. The Bombers, normally a Class 2A powerhouse, suffered their sixth shutout loss of the year in falling to 0-6. Charleston improved to 3-4...

Did you ever try to convince a bass angler to keep a bass to eat? Many of them would rather eat dirt than a bass. Most bass anglers release all bass they catch, regardless of size. The philosophy is that if you release bass they should grow larger. Catch-and-release is a practice that is now embedded in the hearts and minds of most bass anglers...

JEFFERSON CITY -- The Missouri Department of Conservation reminds motorists that deer are on the move. Drivers should be especially alert for deer on roadways early and late in the day. Be aware of what's out there in front of you while driving, says Conservation Department Wildlife Research Biologist Jeff Beringer. ...

WYATT -- James H. Terrell, 74, of Wyatt died Friday, Oct. 17, 1997, at the Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston. He was born Feb. 11, 1923, in Mississippi County to William D. and Ella Gertrude Medlin Terrell. He lived in Mississippi County most of his life where he was retired from farming. He also worked with the Ford Motor Co. in Sandusky, Ohio, retiring in 1982. He attended the New Covenant Pentecostal Holiness Church in Wyatt...

DEXTER -- Carnelia Lucille Ward, 75, of Dexter, died Friday, Oct. 17, 1997, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. She was born at Bernie Nov. 15, 1921. She retired from Elders Manufacturing Co. in Dexter. She is survived by a son, Charles Ward of Poplar Bluff; daughters, Carol Young and Joan Perry, both of Dexter; a sister, Loweta Smith of Aurora, Colo.; six grandchildren; and one great-grandchild...

KARNAK, Ill. -- Mrs. Mina E. Parrish, 100, of Grand Chain died Friday, Oct. 17, 1997, at Magnolia Manor Nursing Home in Metropolis. She was born Aug. 11, 1897 in Marion. She was a member of the Ohio Chapel United Methodist Church near Grand Chain. She was a homemaker...

DEXTER -- Bobby Dowdy, 40, of Gordonville, formerly of Dexter, died Friday, Oct. 17, 1997, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. He was born Dec. 2, 1958, at Dexter, son of Jerry Dowdy and Shirley Gaines Dowdy. He was a cook at Jer's Restaurant in Jackson...

DEXTER -- The Rev. Larry E. Long, 61, a Christian Church Deciples of Christ minister, died at St. Francis Hospital in Beech Grove, Ind., Friday, Oct. 17, 1997. Long was born Sept. 26, 1936, at Kirksville, son of Roy and Juanita Gilmore Long. He married Joyce Ann Ayers in Matthews on Sept. 4, 1962. She survives...

DONGOLA, Ill. -- Dick L. Smith, 43, of Highland Park, Ill., formerly of Dongola, died Thursday, Oct. 16, 1997, at his home. He was born Dec. 29, 1953, in Anna, Ill., He graduated from Waukegan High School and was employed at Sunset Foods in Highland Park. He was an avid fisherman...

ANNISTON -- Hattie Calhoun, 99, of Anniston died Saturday, Oct. 18, 1997, at the East Prairie Nursing Center. Funeral arrangements were incomplete at McMikle Funeral Home in Charleston.

LICK CREEK, Ill. -- Roberta Wiggs, 78, of Lick Creek died Saturday, Oct. 18, 1997, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. Funeral arrangements were incomplete at Lutz and Rendleman Funeral Home in Anna.

EAST CAPE GIRARDEAU, Ill. -- Alma M. Neff, 79, of Arnold, formerly of East Cape Girardeau, Ill., died Saturday, Oct. 18, 1997, at St. Anthony's Hospital in St. Louis. She was born April 19, 1918, in McClure, Ill., daughter of John and Zona Moore Matlock. On March 11, 1947, she married Jefferson Eugene Neff at Cairo, Ill. He died death Dec. 4, 1970...

PERRYVILLE -- Hubert V. Richardet Sr., 71, of Perryville died Friday, Oct. 17, 1997, at his home. He was born June 22, 1926, in Perry County, son of William J. and Rosa Stortz Richardet. He married Rita Winschel Sept. 9, 1950, at Perryville. She survives...

PERRYVILLE -- Aubrey L. 'Pete' Denton, 87, of Perryville died Saturday, Oct. 18, 1997, at Gracemont Care Center in Perryville. She was born March 5, 1910, at Poplar Bluff. She married Muriel E. Denton. He died in 1984. She is survived by a number of nephews and nieces...

EAST PRAIRIE -- Monica Lee Hutton, 88, of Fredericktown died Friday, Oct. 17, 1997, at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston. She was born Aug. 25, 1909, in Golden Pond, Ky., daughter of Joseph Pink and Betty Ann Lowery Mathis. She married Clyde Herman Hutton Feb. 21, 1959, at St. Louis. He died in 1989...

This state champion sugarberry tree is growing in Old Lorimier Cemetery in Cape Girardeau. Rocky Hayes, at right, stood by the state champion American beech tree which stands on the east side of St. Vincent's Seminary in Cape Girardeau. Rocky knows champions...

Jean Bell Mosley's new autobiography, "For Most of the Century," is only available in serialized form in the Southeast Missourian. Return each week for her continuing story. Continued from last week. While sitting there on the tree stump, I heard a bullfrog sound its primordial call. A far-off cow's bawl and a dog's bark told me that evening chores had begun somewhere. I knew I must move on and attend to mine but had no desire to do so. Enchantment had afflicted me. And something more...

JACKSON -- The St. Ann's annual craft fair will be held Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 1 and 2 at the Immaculate Conception School gym, 208 S. Hope, in Jackson. The fair will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Nov. 1 and from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Nov. 2. In conjunction with the craft fair, the Knights of Columbus will serve a sausage, pancake and egg breakfast in the Immaculate Conception School cafeterial on Nov. 2 from 7 a.m. to noon...