Stories from Sunday, January 5, 1997

As Missouri lawmakers prepare to head back to Jefferson City this week, near the top of their agenda will be tax cuts. Some form of refunds are owing to taxpayers this year, due to the fact that Gov. Mel Carnahan has exceeded the constitutional tax lid imposed by voters back in 1980...

Cody Rouse, 10, (front) and Derrick Biri, 10, both of Jackson work on wrestling moves during practice. Jackson AAU/USA Wrestling Club worked hard during practice. The Jackson AAU/USA Wrestling Club is preparing to host a home meet to raise money for the high school and youth wrestling programs on Jan. 12...

Americans can, and do, readily disagree on many issues, but they are of a single mind about last fall's presidential and congressional elections: they didn't change much and resolved even less. As for Missourians, it is deja vu all over again. The same six statewide officers will be holding forth for the next two or four years and not many incumbents in the General Assembly were kicked out of office. Shucks, we may not even have to print a new Official Manual of Missouri next year...

For some years, the vanguard of true educational reform has been something called charter schools, a precise definition of which will follow. It may just be that this promising educational reform, of potentially huge impact for Missouri schools, is about to appear on the horizon right here in the Show Me State. ...

Lawmakers who back concealed weapons legislation have signalled their intention to try yet again to extend to Missourians this responsibility, a right guaranteed to citizens of more than 30 other states. As with previous proposals, applicants would submit to the sheriff proof, together with other requirements, that they:...

A dozen riverboat gambling casinos will be operating in Missouri by the end of the 1996 fiscal year in June. None of those 12 will be in the immediate Southeast Missouri area -- Cape Girardeau or Scott City. Station Casino, a giant gambling complex in Kansas City, is expected to open this month. A Maryland Heights gaming complex, a combined effort of Harrah's Corp. and Players International, consisting of four riverboat casino operations, will open during the first quarter of this year...

The television ratings system arrived with the New Year, but it hasn't had much of a bang with local viewers. The system is intended to help parents control the content of the network television programs their children watch. Special symbols on each broadcast indicate what audience the program is appropriate for. Many local viewers said they believe the rating system is a good idea in theory, but it probably won't be effective...

The Cape Girardeau City Council will consider imposing a 5 percent increase in water rates during its first meeting of the year Monday. The proposed increase, which if approved would be effective Feb. 1, is expected to produce $190,000 annually in additional revenue...

As more than 5,000 people descended on the Show Me Center this weekend to attend the biggest indoor youth soccer tournament in the state, local businesses saw that those coming from out-of-town brought their wallets with them. The annual St. Francis Indoor Soccer Invitational attracts players and their families from all over Missouri, Kentucky and Illinois to Cape Girardeau, according to David Ross, tournament director...

All across America, girls are going prematurely bald thanks to this voracious Cabbage Patch doll. We never intended to bring a monster into our home. Joni and I thought a Cabbage Patch Snacktime doll would be a perfect Christmas present for our 4-year-old daughter, Becca...

I generally tend to brag when I'm right. So now it's time to eat a little crow when I'm wrong. Cape Girardeau Central High basketball fans who gave me plenty of good-natured grief last week -- along with their team, which put together such a tremendous performance -- deserve as much...

CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. -- Southeast Missouri State University basketball coach Ron Shumate said prior to his team's Ohio Valley Conference opener that he would rather face Austin Peay with Bubba Wells on the court. Shumate got his wish. But you kind of doubt that he still feels that way...

CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. -- Southeast Missouri State University women's basketball coach Ed Arnzen knew it would be difficult for his team to beat defending Ohio Valley Conference champion Austin Peay. But not even Arnzen could have envisioned things going as bad as they did for the Otahkians in their OVC opener...

With her quickness and overall athletic ability, Cape Girardeau Central High senior guard Nichole Thiele has been in a league of her own in many of the Lady Tigers' games this season. On Saturday, Thiele wasn't alone. Central's game at the Tiger Field House against DeSoto featured another Thiele-type player -- Lady Dragons senior guard Jaime Miller...

CLINTON -- The much-borrowed phrase, "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times," could well be applied to the current waterfowl hunting season. While Missouri hunters have been blessed with an abundance of ducks and geese this year, they've also been cursed with a remarkable number of accidents involving the deadly combination of wind, cold and water. ...

During a good part of the Conservation Departments formative years, employees whiled away extra hours at night or on weekends fighting wildfires. Early on people realized that uncontrolled wildfire increased soil erosion, reduced water quality, degraded log value and did not do a whole lot for wildlife habitat. This is besides the rural building reduced to ashes and foundations...

CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. -- In one of Southeast Missouri State University's best shooting games of the season, the defense lagged. And that, said Southeast coach Ron Shumate, spelled the difference Saturday as the Indians lost their Ohio Valley Conference opener to Austin Peay 96-85...

The St. Louis Cardinals Caravan will visit Cape Girardeau Wednesday, Jan. 15. A 6 p.m. program will be held at the Show Me Center, which will be followed by a children-only autograph session. Cardinals who are tentatively scheduled to participate include Brian Jordan, Ray Lankford and Dmitri Young. Cardinals mascot Fredbird and announcer Al Hrabosky are also traveling with the Caravan...

ST. LOUIS -- Jackson High's boys rolled up a 19-point first-half lead and defeated Rockwood Summit 71-48 Friday night. Jeff Walter led three Indians in double figures with 17 points. Michael Gross netted 13 points and Travis Wilson finished with 10...

ADVANCE -- Betty LaBatt, 89, died Saturday, Jan. 4, 1997, at Advance Nursing Center. She was born May 21, 1907 in Advance, daughter of the late Samuel and Mary Jane Strange Hedge. She was a homemaker and member of the First Baptist Church in Advance...

DEXTER -- Irene Susan Hanner, 87, died Saturday, Jan. 4, 1997, in Dexter. She was born Oct. 10, 1902, in McGee, Mo., daughter of John and Virginia Dennis McLeary. She spent most of her life in Bloomfield, where she was a member of the Assembly of God Church...

Ullin, Ill. -- Charles Raymond "Chuck" Miller, 71, of Ullin, died Saturday, Jan. 4, 1997, at his home. He was born May 10, 1925, at Elco, Ill., the son of Raymond Charles and Bertha Rhymer Miller. He married Betty Campbell on Oct. 23, 1943. He was a member and deacon of First Baptist Church in Ullin for nearly 50 years. He was co-owner/operator of Ullin Auto Body since 1952. He was an Air Force veteran of World War II and a member of the Mounds VFW...

IDALIA -- Ruth Reed, 88, died Saturday, Jan. 4, 1997, in St. Louis. She was born June 26, 1908, in Idalia. She spent most of her life in Sikeston, and retired from International Shoe Factory in 1969 after having worked there for over 30 years. On July 26, 1927, she married William Reed...

Raymond Ziegert, of Fisk, Mo., died Saturday, Jan. 4, 1997, at the V. A. Hospital in Memphis, Tenn. He was 74 years old. Arrangements are incomplete at Ford and Sons Sprigg Street Chapel.

Howard J. Suedmeyer, 2825 Bloomfield, died Saturday, Jan. 4, 1997, at the Lutheran Home. He was 86 years old. He was born Jan. 10, 1910, in St. Louis, son of William and Katherine Kern Suedmeyer. In 1939 he married Jewel Champion. He and his family lived in St. Louis, where he shared ownership of Suedmeyer and Sons Funeral Home and was a member of Friedens Evangelical Church of Christ. He also held memberships in the Moose Lodge, Paramount Club, and the Central Rowing Club...

SILVA -- Alfred Bennett Breedlove of Silva died Saturday, Jan. 4, 1997, at Doctor's Regional Medical Center in Poplar Bluff. He was 90 years old. He was born Nov. 5, 1906, in Johnson County, Ark., son of Walter and Mem McFadden Breedlove. He lived in Gideon, Mo., before moving to Silva, Mo. Here he met Lydia Greener Breedlove, whom he married on Nov. 6, 1927. He was a member of New Hope General Baptist Church in Silva...

CAIRO -- Raymond H. Hughes died Friday, Jan. 3, 1997, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. He was 74 years old and a long-time resident of Cairo, Ill. He was born in Cairo on July 21, 1922, the son of Harry and Lynette Swoboda Hughes. He was a U.S. Navy veteran who served during World War II. He was also a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church and Cairo V.F.W. Post 2649...

ZALMA -- Roy Lingle died Jan. 4, 1997, at his home in Zalma. He was 83 years old. He was born April 26, 1913, son of Guy and Bet Berrong Lingle. On Jan. 8, 1932, he married Geneva Nichols on Jan. 8, 1932. She preceded him in death in 1985. He served the Zalma community for 35 years as the owner of Lingle Store. He was a member of the Body of Christ church...

MCALLEN, Texas -- Lloyd S. Olson, formerly of Illmo, died Friday, Jan. 3, 1997. He was 97 years old. He was born Jan. 5, 1899, in Fort Dodge, Iowa, the son of Charles and Ida Adams Olson. He married Avilde Andresen, who survives him. He worked until retirement as a railroad engineer for Southwestern Railway...

UNION CITY, Ill. -- A traffic accident in Anna resulted in the death of an Alto Pass, Ill., resident early Saturday morning. Berry Pearson, 26, died as a result of injuries suffered when he lost control of his car on Illinois Route 146 in Anna just after midnight on Saturday. The car struck a guywire and overturned, and Pearson was ejected from the car. He was the only passenger...

Martha Sue Millikan, 84, of Cape Girardeau died Saturday, Jan. 4, 1997, at the Lutheran Home. She was born Aug. 10, 1912 at Corsicana, Texas, daughter of James A. and Tommie Sue Breckeen Waller. She and Homer E. Millikan were married at Illmo June 14, 1936. He preceded her in death March 23, 1996...

AURORA -- Bessie McLain, 97, of Marionville died Friday, Jan. 3, 1997, at Aurora. McLain was born Aug. 20, 1899, at Bloomfield, the daughter of Edgar and Lydia Sifford Chasteen. She and Arthur Skelton were married. He preceded her in death in 1958. She later married H.A. Morlan and he preceded her in death in 1973...

Raymond D. Barks, 82, of Cape Girardeau died Friday, Jan. 3, 1997, at Southeast Missouri Hospital. He was born Aug. 11, 1914, at Sedgewickville, son of Frederick and Nettie Conrad Barks. He and Wilma Marie Heider were married June 3, 1939 in Cape Girardeau...

ALTO PASS, Ill. -- Berry Ray Pearson, 26, of Alto Pass died Saturday, Jan. 4, 1997, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. He was born Nov. 30, 1970, in Carbondale, Ill., son of Anita Gaye Pearson. He married Elizabeth Bramlett, who survives in Alto Pass...

ST. CLAIR -- Grace Inez Coffman, 66, of St. Clair, died Saturday, Jan. 4, 1997, at her home. She was born Sept. 10, 1930, at Linden, Tenn., daughter of Sidney and Vera James Hensley. She and George Goodon were married July 8, 1946, in Bloomfield. He preceded her in death Feb. 1, 1967. She later married Howard Leo Coffman on Sept. 19, 1969...

SCOTT CITY -- Samuel J. Hitt, 90, of Scott City, died Friday, Jan. 3, 1997, at his home. He was born Sept. 7, 1906 at Arbor, son of Walter and Alice Adkins Hitt. He and Alfredia Berklund were married Dec. 3, 1935 in Jackson. Hitt was a mills operator at Marquette-Lonestar Cement Plant until he retired in 1971. ...

A badge and two-way radio are both essential pieces of equipment for a police officer. A policeman's pistol is critical equipment. Lt. Dale Ratliff displayed the equipment that a police officer needs, including a bullet-proof vest. No matter how much experience a police officer might have, Lt. Dale Ratliff said a good officer can be no greater than the sum of his parts...

I have a fine stack of calendars for 1997, plus a copy of the Old Farmer's Almanac. If a person studied all the information given in various calendars, he could acquire a Tangential Degree in Education, TDE. For example, from the Missouri Heritage calendar, published by the Conservation Department of Missouri, one finds nature facts printed on certain days, not that it actually happened on that day, but just for your general information. ...

The Cape Girardeau County Chapter of American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) will meet at 1:30 p.m. Monday at Grace United Methodist Church, Broadway and Caruthers. Information will be given on free paper work services for Cape Girardeau County residents concerning Medicare, insurance, taxes, and more...

The Cape Girardeau County Christian Women's Club luncheon and meeting will be Jan. 13 from noon to 2 p.m. at Holiday Inn. The theme is "A New You For the New Year." A special feature will be on "A New Look: Is Your Face In Style?" Speaker will be Brenda Witter of Holts Summit. Her topic is "A New Beginning."...