Stories from Monday, December 19, 1994

There's some good news and bad news in the forecast for Missouri manufacturers. The good news? During 1994, employment has been fairly steady and sales have been strong. Some industries saw more fluctuations than others, with printing, construction-related manufacturing and food products making substantial gains. Motor vehicles, aircraft and chemical industries had slight downturns...

Jewelry, cosmetics and toys are hot, but major league baseball and hockey items are not during this record-breaking holiday shopping season. Chuck McGinty, a downtown jewelry store owner, said sales in his store are up 35 percent from last year. "The traffic has been incredible," McGinty said. "We're still experiencing a lot of cautious shoppers, but after we talk to them and get them to look at the merchandise, they seem more inclined to buy something."...

Volunteers hurried between rows of simple black trash bags Sunday, as they made 11th-hour preparation for Tuesday's Toybox deliveries. The bags were full of new toys for 400 Cape Girardeau families, who will receive the gifts this Christmas thanks to the generosity of others...

The Salvation Army bell ringers' jobs last only about a month each year, but the memories from those hours spent in the cold last much longer. Each has an anecdote or two about their time spent ringing their bells beside bright red kettles. Most mention the children who eagerly rush to the pot, clutching a few pennies to drop in...

There is no such thing as an inexpensive driving while intoxicated arrest. In Missouri, as in most states, the offender pays dearly for the crime. The legal and administrative fees, along with the increased insurance rates, can leave a person with a bill as high as $4,500...

The Southeast Missourian asked children what they knew about Santa Claus. Adam Parker: "Santa is really fast. He puts magic powder on his reindeer to make them fly." Kristin Barrett: "Santa has a list of good boys and girls, and he checks it before he leaves."...

Cape Girardeau County David E. and Barbara Jo Philipps to Greg E. and Christy L. Withers; Eric D. and Darlene J. Dunning to Keith A. and Debra S. Wright; Gail A. Daniel to Andrew Gustav and Gail Anna Auer. Collin L. and Floy M. Neumann to Jeffrey G. and Melissa J. Baer; Randol Farms Development Inc. to P. David and Jerrie L. Gerlach; James B. and Amy J. O'Rear to the Clarene M. Schlimpert Trust...

CAPE GIRARDEAU -- Gary A. Emmenderfer, 51, of Cape Girardeau died Sunday, Dec. 18, 1994, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. He collapsed Sunday afternoon while cutting wood at a farm in north Cape Girardeau County. He was born March 10, 1943, in Perryville to August and Elta Sutterer Emmenderfer...

ORAN -- Mary M. Russell died Sunday, Dec. 18, 1994, at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston. Arrangements are incomplete with Amick-Burnett Funeral Chapel in Oran.

CLEVELAND -- Jesse Lee Verble, 84, formerly of Union County, Ill., died Saturday, Dec. 17, 1994, in Cleveland. Survivors include one son, Donald Lee Verble of St. Louis; three daughters, Laura, Diane and Lynn, all of Cleveland; two sisters, Mary Womick of Anna, Ill., and Maude Stotlar of Carbondale, Ill.; and one brother, Harry Verble of Anna, Ill...

PERRYVILLE -- Verda Clifton, 97, of Perryville died Saturday, Dec. 17, 1994, at Perryoaks. She was born June 19, 1897, in Perry County, the daughter of Robert and Buelah Young Dempster. She married Chalmer F. Clifton on March 5, 1916. He preceded her in death Sept. 26, 1969...

ORAN -- Clessie Marie Mason, 61, of Oran died Sunday, Dec. 18, 1994, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. She was born Jan. 8, 1933, to Robert Lance and Ada Thompson in Marshall, Ark. Mason married Carl Mason of Oct. 25, 1952, in Sikeston. He survives...

ROCKVIEW -- John Albert Shackles, 83, of Rockview died Saturday, Dec. 17, 1994, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. Shackles was born March 13, 1911, to Everett and Iva Dunning Shackles. He married Virgie Cecelia Griffin Shackles on Jan. 19, 1932. She survives...

GRAND CHAIN, Ill. -- Blanche Curry Baker, 82, of Grand Chain, formerly of Pulaski, died Sunday, Dec. 18, 1994, at the Magnolia Manor Nursing Home in Metropolis. She was born Nov. 5, 1912, near Olmsted, the daughter of Arthur Olen and Martha Mattie Caudle Curry. She married Norman Lee "Rex" Baker, who preceded her in death June 14, 1992...

To the editor: the latest wholesale price index figures indicate a continuing potential inflation problem. these figures raise the likelihood of further interest-rate increases by the Federal Reserve. the purpose of the previous six interest increases this year was to dampen inflationary pressures. by raising the cost of borrowing money, people will tend to buy less. Research indicates the burden of this action falls upon the middle class, which tends to be the largest net borrowers...

William George Clinton-Bailey had never intended to spend his entire life in Hope Falls. He had always dreamed of larger cities, foreign locales, exciting challenges that would make him world famous, and even as a youngster growing up he had seemed destined for greater things. ...

When officials in Orange County, Calif., discovered investments made by the county treasurer were headed south, they declared bankruptcy to allow time to sort out the financial mess. In doing so, shock waves were sent across the country as governments began examining their less-flamboyant investments...

To the editor: On behalf of the Greater St. Louis Council of the Boy Scouts of America, I wish to extend our heartiest appreciation for your coverage of the 1994 Scouting for Food campaign. This year's campaign resulted in a record collection of 1.65 million cans and has brought relief to the all-too-many citizens of our community who go hungry each year...

The Missouri Department of Economic Development is searching for products to be showcased and sold on QVC, the world's largest cable television shop-at-home network. Missouri Gov. Mel Carnahan and economic development director Joe Driskill announced the search for unique Missouri products last week...

Lonnie Mobley of Cape Girardeau has been certified to fit Mirage, an ultra-small hearing instrument that fits completely in the ear canal. Mobley, a hearing aid specialist with Miracle-Ear, 1465 N. Kingshighway, recently completed a Miracle-Ear sponsored training program and competency examination to receive certification...