Stories from Sunday, February 9, 1997

To the editor: This letter is in no way intended to defend terrorism. Terrorism is a crime and should be dealt with as any other crime. There are two main types of crime. Probably the most prevalent is crime for monetary gain. The other is crime for revenge. Terrorism comes under the latter...

25 years ago, 1972 Law enforcement agencies throughout Southeast Missouri are looking for Cape Girardeau County prisoner who apparently walked away from county jail early Tuesday night; Sheriff Ivan E. McLain said 24-year-old escapee was being held on charges of breaking and entering and parole violation...

Dr. Elizabeth James-Gallagher wants more attitude. So Dr. Christopher Goeke holds up cards with words like "blase" or "soothing" or "puzzled" on them. On stage, the cast members of "The Music Man" sing scales with feeling. Music directors James-Gallagher and Goeke are rehearsing the cast in preparation for the upcoming University Theatre production. The Meredith Willson musical opens Feb. 28 for seven performances at the Forrest H. Rose Theatre...

One woman was seriously injured, several others were slightly hurt and damage estimated at nearly $100,000 resulted when a tornado swept through the business section of Jackson early Sunday night. Striking first near the cemetery in the southern part of town, the tornado swept along toward the northeast, leaving in its wake a trail of debris...

The greater Cape Girardeau area, together with our neighbors to the south, may just be on the verge of some very positive announcements in the arena of economic development and job creation. Cape has long been buzzing with rumors of major announcements that could be in the offing later this year. ...

It may go down in history as the O.J. State of the Union. The juxtaposition of the President of the United States about to make an important address on the East Coast and the Simpson verdict being announced on the West Coast put the television networks in a quandary. Choosing between what the nation needs to know and what the nation wants to know annoys the television moguls. Almost always "wants to" prevails over "needs to."...

If you own an extremely thick copy of Webster's International Dictionary you will find the definition of a condition that creates as many problems in today's political world as Congress, Clinton and Gingrich combined. The word I have in mind is "pseudodoxy," which can be defined as the holding of erroneous beliefs or convictions, and it ranks as one of my favorites when discussions in Jefferson City or Washington get around to solutions of major political dilemmas...

For at least the fifth consecutive year, the issue of concealed weapons is before the Missouri General Assembly, this time in the form of a bill sponsored by Sen. Peter Kinder, R-Cape Girardeau. A similar House bill has been introduced by Rep. Wayne Crump, D-Potosi. As expressed in prior floor votes, both House and Senate, the proposal enjoys overwhelming bipartisan support. Lawmakers should fully debate the matter and pass the measure, daring Gov. Mel Carnahan to make good on his veto threat...

News that Gov. Mel Carnahan wants his staff to compile the home addresses of all state workers, the better to turn them over to union organizers, should alarm every Missourian who cares about basic human rights, not to mention economy in government. ...

To the editor: On behalf of the Cape Girardeau Police Department, I would like to extend our appreciation to the journalists and photographers from the Southeast Missouri who participated in the recent 24-hour ride-along. As a result of the articles, I have received many positive comments from officers and citizens...

Mike Gross works against the Charleston Press. Larico Coleman applies the pressure. It's been a roller coaster ride for the Jackson Indians basketball team so far this season. The team started off slow with a 3-3 record. Then the team went through a period of the season where they won nine and lost two, but this week's loss to Charleston and win over Farmington, Jackson stands at 13-8 on the year...

The apostle Paul in writing to the Corinthians said, "As for us, we proclaim the Crucified Christ." (Corinthians 1:23) These words develop a picture in our minds of Jesus Christ hanging on the cross. The picture goes another step and relates to us that Christ died there for you and for me...

Paul Simon, a former newspaper man from a small Southern Illinois community, is best known for politics and bow ties. But meet Paul Simon, the author. For the past 30 years or more, Simon has been dragging out his old manual typewriter from time to time and pounding out books -- 16 of them...

Higher assessments won't necessarily mean residents in Cape Girardeau and other counties will be paying higher taxes. The major reassessment in real estate values Cape Girardeau and other counties will undergo this year will have varying effects on residents...

The future of the Cape Girardeau-Bollinger County lake project could hinge on a bill introduced by state Sen. Peter Kinder. The Regional Commerce and Growth Association and other proponents say the bill could help refloat the lake project. The plan, which has been kicked around for nearly a decade, calls for developing a recreational lake by damming the Whitewater and Little Whitewater rivers...

Cape Girardeau and Bollinger counties would hook big economic gains from a proposed recreational lake, proponents say. "I am convinced this is another Arch in St. Louis, another I-55 going through this part of the world, another Show Me Center," said Cape Girardeau lawyer Don Thomasson...

Rosemary Nussbaum from Fruitland pumped water into a holding tank during the blaze. Nussbaum was passing by on Highway 25 and stopped to help firefighters. GORDONVILLE -- An early afternoon fire destroyed one of the area's old structures Saturday. Twenty firemen from Gordonville and Delta battled the blaze which engulfed a two-story, 76-year-old barn alongside Highway 25, on the farm of Mr. and Mrs. Henry J. Wessel, about two miles south of Gordonville, for more than two hours...

The sun's rosy glow spreads across the dining room. The children sit quietly at the breakfast table eating their cereal and bananas as the parents relax with the morning newspaper. Hold on. This isn't real life. This is pure fiction. Mornings are hurry-up disasters as Joni and I rush to get the kids dressed, fed and to the day care and babysitter, and still get to work by 9 a.m...

Robert G. Neff, vice president and managing partner of Ford Groves Co., has been honored by Time Magazine. Neff of Cape Girardeau has been selected as a finalist of the 1977 Time Magazine Quality Dealer Award. As a finalist Neff's business is one of the "Top 10" in the nation...

MOREHEAD, Ky. -- First looks can be extremely deceiving. Just ask Southeast Missouri State University's basketball team. The Indians scored the first six points of Saturday night's Ohio Valley Conference game against host Morehead State and they later led 10-2...

After struggling on its second and third events, bars and beam, Southeast Missouri State University's second performer on the final event, floor, reinjured a knee early in her routine. It was a big blow in an event that probably would decide the sixth annual Cap'n Crunch Invitational...

MOREHEAD, Ky. -- I've traveled with Southeast Missouri State University's basketball and football teams the past few seasons and let me tell you -- life on the road in the Ohio Valley Conference is not exactly glitz and glamour. Sure, you're probably thinking, hey, the guy has it made. Hanging out in motel rooms, eating in restaurants, watching ballgames. It's a great life...

MOREHEAD, Ky. -- Southeast Missouri State University's bid for its first two-game winning streak of the season in women's basketball fell short here Saturday, thanks to a six-minute burst by Morehead State to end the contest. The Otahkians and Lady Eagles were locked in a tight struggle, MSU holding a tenuous 59-58 lead with under seven minutes remaining...

ST. LOUIS -- Jackson High's wrestling team came away with two district champions, but did not encounter its usual success in the Class 4A, District 1 meet. As a team, Jackson placed fourth with 107 points. As expected, Fox won with 186 points, followed by Oakville 177, Lindbergh, 146.5, Jackson, Northwest House springs 84, Cape Central 71, Poplar Bluff 58 and Mehlville 49.5...

BELLEVILLE, Ill. -- Cape Girardeau Central High used an 8-0 spurt at the start of the fourth quarter to break a tie and went on to a 71-61 victory over Belleville Althoff Saturday night. Central improved to 17-4 while Althoff fell to 7-15. The Tigers rebounded from Friday's 23-point loss to Riverview Gardens...

CARBONDALE, Ill. -- Behind four first-place finishes, the Southeast Missouri women's indoor track team placed second in the 11-team field at the Saluki/McDonald's Invitational. Host SIU won both the men and women's competition. Carbondale's women accumulated 149 points to Southeast's 106.5. ...

Cape Girardeau County Doris and Lawrence Hammontree to Jenny L. King and Scott C. Shoemake; Charles L. Drury Trust to Gregory A. Tobin Trust; Target Media Consultants Inc. to Marilyn K. and Timothy J. Singleton; Druco Inc. to Gregory A. Tobin Trust; Robert W. ...

The Missouri Show-Me Big Bucks will help sponsor the Missouri Deer Classic March 1-2 at the Boone County Fairgrounds in Columbia. The event will contain 600 deer displays, 200 taxidermy displays, seminars by nationally known speakers and over 170 vendor booths...

Shadows or no shadows, Groundhog Day has come and gone. Whether or not we'll have six more weeks of winter or an early spring is debatable. However, nature affords us one certainty; the emergence of a groundhog (woodchuck) from its hibernation burrow is a sure sign that the mating season has begun...

The Ten-Mile Pond Conservation Area and Big Oak Tree State Park will host Winter's Wings today from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Observers are encouraged to bring binoculars to observe ducks, eagles and geese. Personnel will assist with identification of species and give event information...

SIKESTON -- Rita C. Hooker, 72, of Sikeston, died Saturday, Feb. 8, 1997, at the Sikeston Health Center. She was born May 31, 1924, at Oran, daughter of Adam Andrew and Dana Marie Eftink Hooker. She worked 24 years for Oran International Hat Co., as an inspector. She was a member of the Guardian Angel Catholic Church at Oran and a member of St. Ann Sodality...

ANNA, Ill. -- Kenneth E. Stute, 64, of Anna died Saturday, Feb. 8, 1997, at his home. He was born June 18, 1932 at Fort Wayne, Ind., son of Arthur Frederick and Nellie Esther Spaw Stute. He and Barbara D. Baslier were married April 7, 1956 in Anna. Stute was retired from Choate Mental Health Center where he was a mental health technician and a security officer. He was also a farmer and a school bus driver for the Lick Creek School District. He was a veteran of the Korean War...

Don R. Murray, 72, of Cape Girardeau, formerly of Wittenberg, died Friday, Feb. 7, 1997 at Cape Girardeau Nursing Center. He was born Sept. 13, 1924, at Chester, Ill., son of Ray and Olida Lungwitz Murray. He was a retired river towboat engineer. He is survived by a son, Donald Murray, of Gridley Calif.; two daughters, Candace Merritt and Sue Polley, both of St. Louis; a sister, Violet Fech, of Wood River, Ill.; five grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren...

PERRYVILLE -- Helen Irene Baylard Bush, 77, died at her home in Perryville Friday, Feb. 7, 1997. She was born Sept. 13, 1919 at Belgique, Mo., daughter of Joseph Lawrence and May Gertrude Miles Baylard. She married George E. Bush Sr. on Oct. 17, 1945 at St. Louis. He survives...

I don't quite know how this project started. One Sunday afternoon I was idly flipping through the classified section of the Southeast Missourian looking for a good used washer and dryer when a personal ad caught my eye. "SWF, attractive, well-educated, seeks S/DM for friendship, maybe more."...

There are two things that happen in February that always give me a thrill. They aren't big things, they're free, and they always come as a surprise. First are the stubby green shoots of the daffodils showing above ground along the flower border. Everything appears so shabby with twigs, broken limbs, little puddles and sweet gum balls all over, but there are those thick little green shoots to remind one that it won't always be thus. ...