Stories from Friday, July 26, 1996

Cape Girardeau schools lag a generation behind other districts in offering up-to-date technology and modern buildings for its students, a facilities committee says. "The students deserve better, the staff deserves better and the taxpayers deserve better," said Jim Drury, a committee member who studied the vocational/career needs for the district...

Although she isn't a professional educator, Chris Cook knew how the grant-writing process worked. She just never imagined that she'd go from a career in computer sales to computer education. Cook, a technology coordinator for the Cape Girardeau school district, received a $50,000 grant which will enable her to connect all six elementary schools and Louis J. Schultz School to the Internet. The district must match 30 percent of the project cost, which brings the total to $65,000...

The governors of Missouri and Illinois belong to different parties. But both get low grades from a conservative Washington think tank for not cutting taxes. Both Missouri Gov. Mel Carnahan, a Democrat, and Illinois Gov. Jim Edgar, a Republican, received grades of D...

This is my public apology to my wife, who has been accused of knicking roadside blossoms -- falsely. My wife remarked, during a recent drive on I-55, that she was glad the highway department couldn't afford to mow along the highways anymore. This is because my wife is a big fan of wildflowers, particularly those that flourish along the verges and medians of our byways...

There will soon be an alternate service club for Southeast Missourians to attend. The Pachyderm Club is a Republican-oriented club open to Democrats and Independents seeking information. "The Pachyderm Club is grass-roots, an opportunity for those people who want to participate in politics and need somewhere to go." said Skip Smallwood, interim president for Pachyderm Clubs...

The District E Gifted Association of Missouri Parents meeting and picnic will be held Sunday from 6-8 p.m. at Cape County Park North, shelter 6. Children are welcome. Each family should bring food, beverages and utensils. Students from Drury College who were involved in the Summerscape program will be the featured speaker...

McCLURE, Ill. -- Since the destruction of their home, Bill and Ann Spraggs live in two rooms of their own motel. On July 15, an electrical short started a fire that burned down their mobile home near Bill's Motel. The Spraggs used the front of that home for an office and lived in the rest...

I SURELY appreciate you horoscope column. It gives me a place to crank up my ballpoint pen before I work the crossword puzzle. THIS IS in response to the person who thinks Jackson school officials are trying to fool us and that we don't need to be burdened by larger property taxes. ...

"If this initiative passes, next year in St. Louis ACORN will seek signatures to increase the minimum wage to $7.60 per hour." -- Craig Robbins, executive director of the Association for Community Reform Now, quoted in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch June 29...

For George Russell, it was obvious that the time had come to step down as president of the vast University of Missouri system. The reason he gave in his letter of resignation was that job had "ceased to be enjoyable." Certainly there were other reasons as well, including the fact that the university system's curators have recently become split over major issues, including the recent firing of the chancellor at the Columbia campus, Charles Kiesler...

Thousands of hours have gone into the investigation of the disappearance and presumed homicide of Roger Miller of Zalma in 1993. Now authorities in Bollinger County will rely on the latest forensics technology to determine if bones found in a drained quarry near Graniteville are Miller's...

Son to Timothy J. and Tara L. Lutes, 2604 Leroy, Southeast Missouri Hospital, 6:51 p.m. Thursday, July 18, 1996. Name, Nathan Alan. Weight, 6 pounds 6 ounces. Second son. Mrs. Lutes is the former Tara Warren, daughter of Phil and Betty Warren of Bonne Terre. She is an accountant with Hendrix, Schwab, Garner, Schermann and Co. P.C. Lutes is the son of Earl and Julie Lutes of Marble Hill. He is manager of Kidd's Inc...

Goldie Alene Allen, 78, of Cape Girardeau, died Wednesday, July 24, 1996, at Heartland Care Rehab Center. Lorberg Memorial Funeral Chapel is in charge of arrangements.

ANNA, Ill. -- Funeral service for Bobby Lee Mixen, Anna Route 1, will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at Lutz and Rendleman Funeral Home in Anna. The Revs. Scott Harner and Kenneth Mixen will officiate, with burial in McGinnis Cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home after 5 p.m. today...

DEXTER -- Gladys Eaton, 92, of Dexter, died Wednesday, July 24, 1996, at Lucy Lee Hospital in Poplar Bluff. She was born March 10, 1904, in Pocahontas, Ark., daughter of Minture and Minnie Jane Birmingham. She and Jake Alvis Eaton were married in 1936. He died in 1975...

MOREHOUSE -- Myrtle Mae Spurlin, 87, of Morehouse, died Thursday, July 25, 1996, at Dexter Memorial Hospital in Dexter. She was born June 14, 1909, at Crowder, daughter of Barney and Martha Cook Pennington. She and Marion M. Spurlin were married in November 1926, at Morehouse. He died in 1975...

DEXTER -- Graveside service for Jessie L. Johnson was held Thursday at Dexter Cemetery. Marsh Watkins officiated. Watkins and Sons Funeral Home at Dexter was in charge of arrangements. Johnson, 69, died Thursday, July 25, 1996, at Lucy Lee Hospital in Poplar Bluff...

ANNA, Ill. -- Rosalie Minton, 65, of Anna died Thursday, July 25, 1996, at Union County Nursing Home. She was born March 10, 1931, at Cobden, Ill., daughter of Lee Charles and Henrietta Rudert Bartsch. She was a lifelong resident of Union County. She was employed by the Union County Hospital as a nurse's aide for 20 years. She was a member of the Anna Eastern Star Chapter 522 and a member of Mount Moriah Lutheran Church...

PERRYVILLE -- A. Marie Miget, 81, of Perryville, died Thursday, July 25, 1996, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. She was born Dec. 30, 1914, in Perry County, daughter of Gilbert and Cecelia Gibbar Henderson. She and Lenn C. Miget were married Sept. 16, 1935, at Perryville...

The dog days of summer are here -- in more ways than one. In addition to muggy weather, canines and their owners are "dogged" by pesky fleas. Pet owners in America spend about $900 million a year on flea-control products. That's almost $2.5 million a day. Well, actually it's $2,438,353.44 a day...