Stories from Tuesday, September 24, 1996

To the editor: Reading the Associated Press article headlined "President to use teens in smoking sting" caused me to mentally speculate about parallels between the rise of governmental control in Central Europe during the 1930s and in the United States today...

The city of Portageville will hold its 49th annual National Soybean Festival next week. The theme for the week is "The Good 'Ol Days." Events begin Saturday at 8 a.m. with a 3-mile walk-run at Meatte Park. Participants should check in between 7 and 7:45...

The Jacksonian Chapter of the American Business Women's Association will hold its annual Business Associates Night Thursday. The meeting will be held at the Knights of Columbus Hall, Highway 61 North. The social hour begins at 6:30 and dinner begins at 7. Joe Sherenski, a local gardening expert and humorist, will be the guest speaker...

Elishia Heiden of Jackson has won a merit award in art in the 1996 Pre-Teen Missouri scholarship program. The event was held in Jefferson City and was open to girls age 7 to 12 based on their academic records, awards and honors. Finalists were judged on volunteer service, school activities and personal skills...

The 52nd annual Cotton Carnival will be held in Sikeston Saturday. The event is sponsored by the American Legion. All Cotton Carnival Queen contestants will ride in floats or convertibles during the Cotton Carnival Parade, which is held prior to the crowning...

Cybertip: Keep up-to-date with the presidential debates and Cape Girardeau's participation in the Debate Watch '96 process at http://www.debates96.org. Last week we talked about movies on the Internet: This week television. Like the movie studios, some television networks have discovered the value of the Internet. This is especially true because surveys show that much of the time spent surfing the Internet comes from time spent watching television...

Matthew Hoffman of Cape Girardeau was recently awarded the J.C. Garmon Sr. Memorial Endowed Scholarship from Southern College of Optometry in Memphis. Hoffman graduated from Truman State University and is a 1992 graduate of Central High School. He is the son of Dr. James E. Hoffman and Linda D. Hoffman...

Brenda J. Long-Brown graduated recently from the California Institute of the Arts in Valencia, Calif. She received a master's degree in music composition. Long-Brown is the daughter of Bonnie Pucket of Cape Girardeau and James and Deanna Long of Jackson. She is a 1993 graduate of Southeast Missouri State University...

American College Testing announced that student s can use calculators on the ACT mathematics test beginning this fall. Exminees have the option of brking their calculators to the tests. Calculators will be permitted, but not required. The ACT math problems will continue to require skills and knowledge as those on prior tests, and all questions can be answered with the aid of a calculator...

The Cape County Women of Law Enforcement will hold their next meeting at 7 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 1 at First Presbyterian Church, 235 Broadway in Cape Girardeau. A program on self defense will be presented by Bridget Huff, an officer with the Cape Girardeau Police Department...

Although it's her first year to teach at May Greene Elementary School, Gail Lowrance is no stranger there. Lowrance, a behavior disorder teacher, finished her student teaching at the school in the same classroom she uses now. She teaches in a self-contained classroom for students in kindergarten through third grade...

Most high school seniors consider programs and degree offerings as a top criteria for selecting a college, but others base their decision strictly on lifestyles and nearby attractions. Even without any distinct attractions like ski resorts or beach-front campuses, Missouri attracts 22 percent of its first-time freshman from other states and countries...

I believe strongly that guns and knives in schools should be banned. There is enough violence in the world. Let schools be a safe place for children to learn and have fun. But administrators, principals, parents and teachers have to keep an eye on the children. If they see violence start, one thing leads to another and someone could get badly hurt or die. Violence in schools is growing more and more nowadays, and fighting does not solve anything. It only creates more problems...

Regarding the 8th District (that's us) congressional debates, our recent news article omitted one very major fact ... that Jo Ann Emerson was the candidate who initially proposed the debates nine weeks ago. Saturday, Aug. 3, 1996 -- Team Emerson proposed a series of five debates with local media members as panelists to establish a format, designate a moderator and execute the debate event. ...

Life seems unfair. Ross Perot wasn't invited to take part in the presidential debates, but the CIA attended his daughter Nancy's wedding without an invitation. Just when Americans needed something to take their minds off the presidential campaign, the second O.J. Simpson trial is declared off limits...

The new Dempster Hall of Business at Southeast Missouri State University was dedicated with great fanfare last week in a ceremony attended by Gov. Mel Carnahan, former university presidents Bill Stacy and Kala Stroup and other dignitaries. It was fitting that such a fine, state-of-the art building opened to such a splendid ceremonial dedication...

Southeast Missouri State University's president, Dr. Dale Nitzschke, continues to impress observers with his forthright, open approach to even the most difficult issues facing the university. The latest example is his release of the results of two independent surveys of faculty morale. In a nutshell, it is bad...

JACKSON -- Cape Girardeau County Sheriff John Jordan said aiming high and being persistent landed the county a record award of $1.5 million from the U.S. Marshal's Service to help expand the overcrowded county jail. Jordan announced the grant at a press conference Monday morning...

Thanks to a $150,000 grant through the Missouri Division of Youth Services, 20 more students will be accepted into Cape Girardeau's Alternative Education Center. Part of the public school system, the center has 26 students from Cape Girardeau and Jackson with openings for 30. Two teachers and a program director work in the mornings, primarily teaching core subjects...

The Midwest Forest Industry Show returns to Cape Girardeau Friday and Saturday at the Show Me Center. The show will feature more than 150 exhibitors of new machinery, supplies and equipment used in the forest industry. The two-day exposition will showcase new forest and wood product technology, said Eric Peters, executive director of the Missouri Forests Production Association, show sponsor...

A mural is more than splashing paint on walls. "Murals are postcards of the community," said J. Tim Blattner of the River Heritage Mural Association, which has painted six outdoor murals in Cape Girardeau, including the "Wall of Fame," a giant, 14-x-500-foot mural on the city's Mississippi River wall...

With all the intrigue and intensity of an episode of the fantastically written "Law & Order," the murder trial of Steven Shelby begins today. For those of you who groaned as you pulled the yellow card from your mail box last week, I am ethically forbidden to taint your impartiality by going over the details which may sway your vote to convict or acquit...

Adults, preschoolers and kindergarteners are the focus of special classes offered during the fall semester by the Southeast Missouri Music Academy. The academy is a non-profit organization under the auspices of Southeast Missouri State University's music department...

Vision 2000 will sponsor its second annual "Lunch at the Seminary" from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Oct. 9 at Old St. Vincent's Seminary. Bob Robins, Vision 2000 president, said the menu will include grilled hamburgers and hot dogs, potato chips and a light dessert. Participants may tour the seminary and see the site for the new Mississippi River bridge...

Missouri Treasurer Bob Holden will speak Oct. 12 at the Cape Girardeau County Democrats' annual Fall Festival. The event will be held at the Deerfield banquet hall. As treasurer, Holden oversees the state's banking and unclaimed property, manages the state's $2.5 billion investment portfolio and administers Missouri First Linked-Deposit programs. He is running for reelection in November...

Dana Corporation employees will continue voting today on whether to have United Auto Workers (UAW) representation at the Cape Girardeau manufacturing facility. The local plant which opened in 1989 produces axle components and employs about 350 workers...

SIKESTON -- A group of about 35 Southeast Missouri Democrats Monday endorsed independent/Republican candidate Jo Ann Emerson for the 8th District congressional seat. The group, Democrats for Emerson, includes current and former elected officials as well as agriculture, small business and civic leaders...

The Southeast Missouri Area Pachyderm Club will meet Friday at noon at Bessie's Restaurant in Cape Girardeau. State Sen. Peter Kinder will be the guest speaker. Kinder, a Republican, is the incumbent for the 27th District and is seeking reelection. The meeting is open to the public. The Pachyderm Club is an official auxiliary organization of the Republican National Committee...

The Arts Council of Southeast Missouri tops the list in community arts programs receiving money from the Missouri Arts Council, but the city ranks 12th on the list of cities when all Missouri Arts Council grants are totalled. Cape Girardeau received $21,200 to fund the Arts Council and its programs. In all, the city got $31,300 from the Missouri Arts Council...

Agenda Tuesday, 7:30 p.m., Jackson Middle School Library Action items Consider district testing plan. Consider admission and attendance policies. Consider student discipline policies and other student policies. Appoint representative to the Tax Increment Financing Commission...

Dale Gene Springer, 54, 541 Landis, died Monday, Sept. 23, 1996, at his home. He was born June 1, 1942, at Menfro, son of Louis C. and Isabell A. Mehner Springer. Springer was a 1960 graduate of Central High School. He had worked at Florsheim Shoe Co. 36 years. He was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church, and served in Missouri National Guard...

JACKSON -- Grace M. Gallup, 88, of Jackson died Monday, Sept. 23, 1996, at Jackson Manor. She was born Sept. 8, 1908, at Patton, daughter of Ferdinand and Ida Brotherton Crites. She and John "Virgil" Gallup were married June 19, 1928. He died Nov. 15, 1989...

SIKESTON -- Louis "Mike" "Peanut" Griffin, 38, of Sikeston died Friday, Sept. 20, 1996, at Missouri Delta Medical Center. He was born March 10, 1958, in Sikeston, son of Robert and Mary Dixon Griffin. Griffin was a 1978 graduate of Sikeston High School. He served in the U.S. Army...

ALTO PASS, Ill. -- Ernest D. "Wayne" Hubbs, 44, of Alto Pass, died Sunday, Sept. 22, 1996, at Union County Hospital in Anna. He was born Dec. 22, 1951, at Anna, son of William E. and Dorothy Clutts Hubbs. He and Donna Diane Harris were married July 25, 1970, in Alto Pass...

SIKESTON -- Graveside service for Candiece Anton will be held at 2 p.m. today at Mounds Park Cemetery in Lilbourn, with the Rev. Bob Burns officiating. Ponder Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Anton, 55, died Sunday, Sept. 22, 1996, at Missouri Delta Medical Center...

ORAN -- Ragon Pearson Harris, 85, of Oran, died Sunday, Sept. 22, 1996, at Sells Rest Home in Matthews. He was born March 25, 1911, in Clarksville, Ark., son of Robert and Effie Mae Pearson Harris. He and Christeen Ryan were married May 22, 1938. She died Feb. 25, 1994...

Wealta Hunt, 62, of Cape Girardeau died Monday, Sept. 23, 1996, at St. Francis Medical Center. Ford and Sons Sprigg Street Chapel is in charge of arrangements.

Millicent Ann Dean, 54, formerly of Cape Girardeau died Sunday, Sept. 22, 1996, at St. Luke's Hospital in St. Louis. Ford and Sons Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

OLMSTED, Ill. -- Pernecia R. Ramsey, 83, of Olmsted died Monday, Sept. 23, 1996, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. She was born Dec. 24, 1912, in Paducah, Ky., daughter of Byron and Clara Ramsager Shelton. She married Chilton Ramsey, who died in July 1995...

Son to Todd William and Penny Gail Blattel, 175 S. Forester, Southeast Missouri Hospital, 12:26 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 17, 1996. Name, Wyatt Andrew. Weight, 8 pounds 1 ounce. First child. Mrs. Blattel is the former Penny Huckabee, daughter of Betty Huckabee of Scott City and the late Gale Huckabee. She is office manager at Sincerely Yours Secretarial. Blattel is the son of Gerald and Joyce Blattel of Gordonville. He is a utility operator at Biokyowa...

MOUNDS, Ill. -- John C. Goodlin, 75, Mounds Route 1, died Sunday, Sept. 22, 1996, at his home. He was born March 12, 1921, in Richmond, Ind. Goodlin retired as a truck driver with ServiceMaster Industries. He attended First United Methodist Church. Survivors include his wife, Betty; a daughter, Lisa Goodlin of Syracuse, N.Y.; his mother, Mary Goodlin of Knights Town, Ind.; a sister, Patricia Vallee of Springfield, Ore.; and a grandson...