Stories from Thursday, September 30, 1999

To the editor: The mindlessness of capitalism strikes again. Every now and again, something happens with our beloved economic system, something so egregious that I am filled with wonder that our working class has put up with it for so long. Often it is an announcement that a factory is closing down in the United States and re-opening somewhere in the Third World. ...

For male Midwestern teen-agers in the early 1960s, California was the Promised Land where life was an endless summer filled with surfing, cruising and girls in bikinis. How did they know that? The Beach Boys told them so. "We often have people tell us we were the reason they moved to California," says Mike Love, one of the band's founding members...

I HAVE a neighbor that started a fire out on County Road 444. She was a grown woman and knew better than to burn. I was wondering if someone could publish this. You can lose everything you own to a fire. I WAS just wondering when we started allowing bus drivers' mothers to go on trips with them when none of the children's parents are allowed to ride the bus...

After abortion, there are few issues that can raise the ire of newspaper readers in this area faster than the topic of prayers in public schools. Keep in mind that folks in many other parts of the country don't see prayers at school as much of an issue at all. ...

We have, in this scientific age, come to expect so much from medical science. As controversial as it is, the ability to test and manipulate human genes holds so many promises. As a result, there are thresholds through which many are willing to pass without knowing the consequences...

To the editor: Last fall I wrote a letter to the Southeast Missourian which was published. I suggested that it would evoke a response. It did. I expressed my opinion that because of his reprehensible behavior, President Clinton should resign. Immediately upon publication, my income taxes were audited for 1996, 1997 and 1998. I have been audited once previously in 1988. I have filed a federal tax return every year since 1958...

Eight employees of M&W Packaging and one rural firefighter were taken to a hospital as a precaution against smoke inhalation following a fire at the M&W plant on Highway 177 north of Cape Girardeau Wednesday night. At least two rural fire departments responded to the fire, which was contained by M&W's own fire brigade, said Diane Bauman, human resources manager at the plant...

Weed and Seed will regain its funding in Southeast Missouri now that a new executive director has been hired. Lisa Lane of Sikeston was selected Wednesday to head the regional Weed and Seed effort. Michael W. Reap, the U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Missouri, made the announcement in a press release Wednesday afternoon...

The new River Campus could preserve the heritage of old St. Vincent's Seminary by establishing a center for Catholic studies, two members of the River Campus Board of Managers suggested Wednesday. The suggestion was made at the first meeting of the six-member board, which recently was established by the Cape Girardeau City Council and Southeast Missouri State University's Board of Regents...

Sept. 30, 1999 Dear Leslie, You know you've married an uncommon woman when she nearly swoons the moment she realizes the anniversary gift you've presented her is a shiny red chain saw. "I've always wanted a chain saw," she said. I know. What I don't know and tremble to consider are the many uses this woman I've been married to for six years now might have for a chain saw...

CAIRO, Ill. -- Cairo Riverboat Days, which started 10 years ago as a one-day event, will open today for a four-day run. The festival started in July 1990 and featured a competition between the crews of the Mississippi Queen and Delta Queen steamboats, which docked at Cairo during the annual New Orleans-to-St. Louis "Race of the Queens."...

Southeast Missouri State University's fund-raising foundation will present Guy and Claudine Pinckley of Allardt, Tenn., with the 1999 "Friends of the University" award. The Southeast Missouri University Foundation will present the award Oct. 9 at the annual Copper Dome breakfast at 7:30 a.m. in the Student Recreation Center...

H.R. Stoneback, a Hemingway and Faulkner scholar, will visit Southeast Missouri State University Oct. 11-12 for the school's Hemingway Centennial Celebration. Stoneback is an English professor at State University of New York as well as a former director of the American Center for Students and Artists in Paris, France...

Hundreds of people are expected to flock into downtown Cape Girardeau Sunday for the annual "Outdoor Tailgate Flea Market," to be held on the Main Street parking lot across from Hutson's Furniture. More than 100 dealers will display items for sale. "This is the biggest year yet," said Evelyn Boardman, owner of Madder Rose Antiques Mall, which is sponsoring the day-long market. "We had to turn down about 50 requests for space."...

The 14 new court appointed special advocates sworn in Wednesday almost doubles the number of these volunteers who are advocates for abused or neglected children in the area. "As you work with these children, you will help lift up these victims who are suffering through no fault of their own," said state Rep. Mary Kasten, who was guest speaker at the luncheon to swear in the new and honor the current volunteers with CASA of Southeast Missouri...

The junior high students squeezed under the poop deck of the Nina on Wednesday had been asked to think about what Columbus' sailers would do for fun on long ocean voyages. "Sleep?" "Fish?" "Read" "Play Nintendo?" Their comments were answered when their tour guide Thomas Hastay began to play a tiny flute-like instrument hanging from a leather strap around his neck. ...

The Cape Girardeau School District will host a state educational conference Oct. 7 at Central High School. The conference, sponsored by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, will be held from 1 to 4 p.m. It is the seventh of 10 meetings being held throughout the state in September and October...

CAIRO, Ill. -- Cairo High School students are receiving an unexpected early vacation this week. Students will be out of school the remainder of this week because of roof repair work at the high school building on Sycamore Street. Starting Monday, high school students will attend classes at the Cairo Junior High building, 2403 Walnut...

The schedule-makers sure haven't done Eastern Illinois University's football team any favors so far this season. For the third time in five weeks, the Division I-AA Panthers will facing a Division I-A squad when they head to the sunshine state to play Central Florida Saturday...

Rebecca Bieser School: Cape Central Sport: Tennis Coach: Annette Slattery Week Report: Bieser, Central's No. 4 singles player, won four singles matches and four doubles matches last week as Cape Central won the Parkway Quad title for the first time in school history Saturday. She posted wins over Parkway Central, Parkway West, Farmington and Sikeston...

G.P. Glueck School: Chaffee Sport: Football Coach: Allan Horrell Week Report: Glueck, a senior fullback/tailback and linebacker, attacked Portageville from all angles last Friday night, scoring four touchdowns -- one rushing, one receiving and two on kickoff returns -- as Chaffee improved to 2-2 for the first time in a long time with a 38-32 win. ...

Last season, all three high school softball district tournaments involving area teams were captured by local squads. Beginning Friday, the area will once again try to make it a clean sweep in 1999. Jackson, Perryville and Kelly will serve as hosts for district tournaments, with the winners earning berths in next week's sectional rounds...

Cape Central's Amber Voerg hit a home run over the rightcenter field fence in the bottom of the seventh inning to lift the Lady Tigers to a 5-4 win over Jackson Wednesday. It was the first of two home runs on the day for Voerg, who also homered the following game against Egyptian...

ANNA, Ill. -- Funeral for Ethel P. Glover of Anna will be held at 1 p.m. Friday at Crain Funeral Home in Anna. The Revs. Richard Sullins and Jack Wolfe will officiate. Burial will be in Anna Cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home from 5-8 p.m. today...

Margaret B. Lauxman, 84, of Colorado Springs, Colo., died Sunday, Sept. 26, 1999, at her home. She was born June 22, 1915, in Saline County, daughter of Ed and Margaret Bricker Gardner. She and William Fredrick Lauxman were married Nov. 15, 1934. He died Sept. 27, 1997...

SIKESTON -- Funeral for Mildred E. Marks of Sikeston will be held at 2 p.m. today at Nunnelee Funeral Chapel. The Rev. Mary McCord will officiate. Burial will be in Garden of Memories Cemetery. Marks, 79, died Tuesday, Sept. 28, 1999, at Clearview Nursing Center...

WYATT -- Ruth Ellen Crenshaw, 64, of Wright City died Wednesday, Sept. 29, 1999, at her home. She was born April 3, 1935, at Wyatt, daughter of J.D. and Gertrude Terrell Skinner. She and Billie W. Crenshaw were married Dec. 17, 1954. Crenshaw lived at Warrenton from 1993 until moving recently to Wright City. She was a member of Weslyn United Methodist Church at Warrenton...

MARBLE HILL -- Anna Marie Robbins, 78, of Marble Hill died Tuesday, Sept. 28, 1999, at NHC Health Care Center in Maryland Heights. She was born Aug. 8, 1921, in Osceola, Ark., daughter of Alfred and Chaney Simmons King. She and Thomas Edward Robbins were married April 16, 1938. He died April 28, 1985...

JACKSON -- Oscar "Jack" Hoffmeister, 81, of Jackson died Wednesday, Sept. 29, 1999, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. He was born Aug. 27, 1918, in Jackson, son of Matilda "Tillie" Hoffmeister. He and Betty Masters were married Jan. 3, 1947...

OLIVE BRANCH, Ill. -- Lloyd Earl Bledsoe, 66, of Olive Branch died Wednesday, Sept. 29, 1999, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. He was born July 30, 1933, at Thebes, son of Amos Franklin and Lucy Shaver Bledsoe. He and Clara Mae Ollis were married Jan. 26, 1960...

ORAN -- Naomi McCallister, 84, of Oran died Tuesday, Sept. 28, 1999, at Skaggs Community Health Center in Branson. Amick-Burnett Funeral Chapel at Oran is in charge of arrangements.

Son to Shannon Timothy and Jennifer Lou Smith of Scott City, Southeast Missouri Hospital, 10:09 a.m. Friday, Sept. 3, 1999. Name, David Timothy. Weight, 6 pounds 2 ounces. Second child, first son. Mrs. Smith is the former Jennifer Weiss, daughter of Paul and Marion Weiss of Cape Girardeau. Smith is the son of David and Vicki Smith of Scott City. He is employed at Ford Groves...

James Gregory, 76, of St. Louis died Wednesday, Sept. 29, 1999, at his home. He was born May 19, 1923, in Scottsville, Ky., the son of D.M. and Myrtle Gregory. He married Lillian Gregory. He was an accountant for the National Park Service at the St. Louis Arch and was a graduate of Southern Illinois University. He was a member of Concord Trinity United Methodist Church in St. Louis...