Stories from Sunday, October 26, 1997

Vice President Al Gore is praising the producers of ABC's "Ellen" for the star of that program's having "come out" and announced that she is a lesbian. Speaking to an audience at the Radio and Television Society in Beverly Hills, the vice president gushed: "And when `Ellen' came out, millions of Americans were forced to look at sexual orientation in a more open light." (One wonders: "... ...

The mayor and members of the city council made their annual tour of city facilities this week. The tour is designed to allow for communication between city employees and city officials. "I try to get around to every department every few weeks, but wealso have a formal tour every year," Mayor Paul Sander said...

Front row from left to right, Dorothy Rose Palisch, Ann Harllee Schade, Minnie Zimmer Diefenbach, Loretta Wilkinson Dockins, Hilda Mae Abernathy Trimble and Rosebud Call. Back row from left to right, Robert Hartle, Norman Landgraf, Martin Piepenbrok, Marian Nothdurft, Raymond Kuecker, Bill Eakins, Ben Rudert, Ralph Greene, Rev. Earl G. Statler, Evelyn Kiehne Sewing, Louis Whitler, Lloyd Abbott, Mildred Lowes Schreiner, Arnell Godwin and Anna Louise Overbeck Adams...

In many, even most I suppose, Christian traditions we pray the Lord's Prayer (Our Father) every time that we gather together. The prayer that Jesus gave to his disciples as a model teaches us to "hallow" God's name whenever we pray. What is hallowed is holy and sacred. It is not too much of a stretch to imagine the word "halo: as a derivative of hallow...

Judith Ann's gift shop, 103 N. Main, will raffle off the chance to purchase one of 10 "Spooky" Beanie Babies this week. Two ghosts will be sold each day, starting Monday. Customers may enter the drawing by bringing a canned good or other donations for the Women's Safe House...

Cape Girardeau resident Andrew Ostrowski said Saturday he will challenge Missouri Attorney General Jay Nixon for the Democratic nomination in the U.S. Senate race next year. The 35-year-old Ostrowski said he will run on an anti-abortion platform. Ostrowski ran last year's congressional campaign of Republican Richard Kline of Gipsy...

GARY RUST recently wrote that he spends the better part of each day reading. I can vouch for that because that's what he's doing virtually every time I see him. I can also testify that he doesn't like to be interrupted when he's doing so. However, I'm going to continue to try to distract him until the day comes when I see him seriously concentrating on reading some left-wing literature such as The Nation or Mother Jones. I think I'm safe in saying that day will never come...

In ongoing notes from the culture war, this week offered a dramatic contrast. Which side do you want your government on? What was it, three weekends ago, that somewhere between 500,000 and 1 million men converged on the mall in Washington, D.C., to confess their shortcomings as husbands and fathers, banish racism, worship God and declare their intention to do better?...

Southeast Missouri State University officials are pushing ahead with plans to construct a polytechnic institute at the university. The plans are part of a far-reaching effort to boost technology training as part of the university's enhanced mission and the strategic plan adopted by the Board of Regents last year...

No serious analysis of the way our democratic form of government works and performs can be concluded these days without at least passing reference to the term "special interests." No political speech worth its salt misses the opportunity to discuss the pejorative effects of special interests, often accompanied with such clarifying terms as "selfish" or "out of control."...

Southeast Missouri State University has few blacks in full-time jobs and those who are employed make less, on average, than white employees. Women also lag behind men in average pay at the Cape Girardeau school, salary records show. University officials said the differences aren't the result of race and gender bias, but rather of years of service and job experience...

If the Middle Ages had a publicist, it would have been Megwyn Sanders. The Southeast Missouri State University sophomore from Carthage loves to talk about the Middle Ages. As a member of the Society for Creative Anachronism, she even dresses the part of a 12th century Welsh noblewoman...

JACKSON -- Until a few years ago, a firefighting workshop titled "Introduction to Clandestine Drug Labs" was unknown in these parts. But 30 firefighters from around the region attended the workshop Saturday at the 20th annual Southeast Missouri Regional Fire School...

The city of Cape Girardeau has received more than $400,000 for a neighborhood rehabilitation project, and it needs property owners to sign up to help spend it. The funding will be used to renovate substandard housing in the Jefferson-Shawnee Parkway neighborhood, said Steve Williams, the city's housing assistance coordinator...

Twelve Southeast students hosted a Cyberspace party Saturday morning for Cape Girardeau sixth-graders, with the intention of introducing them to the Internet. Afterward, one of the university students admitted that "Some of these kids know more about the Internet than I do."...

PUXICO -- A Sikeston woman died early Saturday when the car she was driving ran off the road and struck an embankment. The victim was identified as Mary Gillum, 40. The Missouri Highway Patrol said the accident occurred at 4:45 a.m. on Route T, four miles west of Puxico...

Summary: I grew up in a pet-challenged household. My wife grew up in a zoo. You just never know what you'll get in the mail. The other day, I received an advertisement that promised to fix me up with an aquarium, fish and all. I wouldn't even have to clean out the tank. The aquarium service would handle it...

Don't look now, but Kelly High appears to be on a fast track to putting together one of the state's best overall small-school athletic programs. Consider what Kelly's sports teams have accomplished in a little more than a full school year. First off, think back to last fall. The boys cross country team won the Class 1A-2A state championship while the softball team advanced all the way to the Class 2A state championship game before losing in extra innings...

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. -- Revenge was oh so sweet for Middle Tennessee State University's football team Saturday afternoon. Last season, MTSU blew a 13-0 fourth-quarter lead and fell to Southeast Missouri State University 16-13 in overtime in Cape Girardeau. It was the Blue Raiders' first-ever loss to the Indians after seven straight wins...

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. -- Southeast Missouri State University's women's volleyball team won a four-set OVC match Saturday against Tennessee Tech to stay on the heels of conference leader Murray State. After dropping the first set 5-15, Southeast rebounded to win 16-14, 15-11, 15-7...

SPRINGFIELD -- Cape Central's No. 1 doubles team of Lisa Ahstrom and Summer Chaudhari completed a successful tennis season by reaching the Class 4A consolation semifinals at the state tournament Saturday. Playing indoors because of inclement weather, Ahstrom and Chaudhari were defeated by Joplin's Deepa Mangalet and Lissa Skelley 10-6. Mangalet and Skelley won their next match to claim fifth place. Ahstrom and Chadhari went 2-2 at the meet and finished 13-10 this season...

JACKSON -- She can't drive a car, but she has no trouble navigating a cross country layout. And if in a few months Julie Wunderlich drives as fast as she runs, the good people of Jackson might need to seek cover. Wunderlich, a sophomore at Jackson High and still over five months shy of her 16th birthday, placed second in the Class 4A district meet at Jackson City Park on Saturday...

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. -- Southeast Missouri State University's football team was a bit shorthanded Saturday -- not that it likely had all that much to do with the Indians' embarrassing 55-6 loss at Middle Tennessee State. Linebacker Zuri Buchanan and wide receiver Marcus McKinley did not make the trip to MTSU after being suspended indefinitely for violation of team policy...

RICHMOND, Ky. -- Eastern Kentucky's Derick Logan and Corey Crume combined to rush for 190 yards and four touchdowns Saturday as the Colonels beat Tennessee Tech 26-7. Logan ran 25 times for 107 yards and scored on runs of 1 and 5 yards. He also caught two passes for additional 50 yards...

As the month of October draws to an end, I am reminded of the upcoming holiday season. If you hunt in Missouri, you might very well compare this time of year to having dinner in a fancy restaurant. October hunting seasons such as archery deer and turkey, rabbit, grouse, woodcock and fall firearms turkey are merely appetizers for the banquet of hunting seasons that open in the month of November. ...

The first night of district gridiron action didn't provide any shocking upsets around the area Friday night. In fact, things went pretty much as expected with several teams picking up the maximum 13-points in the district scoring format. Of the 12 district contests with local relevance, only two ended with a margin of victory less than 13 points...

SIKESTON -- Larry Wayne Hensley, 56, of Sikeston, formerly of Springfield, Mo., and Charleston, died Friday, Oct. 24, 1997, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. He was born Jan. 9, 1941, in Springfield, the son of Cecil Wayne and Audrey Rosalee Endecott Hensley. He married Vanette Noisworthy on Aug. 26, 1967. She survives...

BLOOMFIELD -- Joseph Henry Hendley, 81, died Saturday, Oct. 25, 1997, at his home north of Bloomfield. He was born Oct. 2, 1916, and married Vaneta Proffer on July 3, 1943, He was a well-known third-generation farmer and a registered Angus cattle breeder...

GORDONVILLE -- Helen Clara Hennecke, 88, of Gordonville died Saturday, Oct. 25, 1997, at the Beverly Health and Rehabilitation Center in Cape Girardeau. She was born Oct. 7, 1909, at Whitewater, the daughter of Henry and Mary Ulrich Wendel. She married William Henry Edward Hennecke at Gordonville on Sept. 7, 1938. He died June 30, 1978...

DONGOLA, Ill. -- Violet Groner, 77, of Dongola died Friday, Oct. 24, 1997, at Western Baptist Hospital in Paducah, Ky. She was born May 18, 1920, at Perks, Ill., daughter of Edgar and Bessie Robertson Beasley. She married Howard Groner on March 23, 1947...

Larkin A. McKinnis, 92, of Lemay died Tuesday, Oct. 21, 1997. He was the father of William R. McKinnis of Cape Girardeau. He was employed by Bi-State Transportation in St. Louis for 50 years. He also is survived by two daughters, Betty R. David and Sharon M McKinnis; and another son, Lyle C. McKinnis...

EAST PRAIRIE -- Pearl Marie Abner, 83, of East Prairie died Friday, Oct. 24, 1997, at the East Prairie Nursing Center. She was born Dec. 28, 1913, at Hornersville, daughter of Earl and Bertha Brotherton Simpkins. She lived in Mississippi County most of her life. She operated a restaurant for years and was a member of the First Baptist Church in East Prairie...

EAST PRAIRIE -- Charles Paul Parr, 69, of East Prairie died Friday, Oct. 24, 1997, at his home. He was born June 22, 1928, at East Prairie, son of Andy and Monica Lee Lowery Hutton Parr. He was a lifelong resident of Mississippi County. He was a retired truck driver and of the Baptist denomination...

JACKSON -- Opal A. Seabaugh, 83, of Jackson died Saturday, Oct. 26, 1997, at the Heritage Garden Nursing Home in Jackson. She was born Jan. 13, 1914, in Burfordville, daughter of Harrison "Harry" and Elizabeth Allen Reynolds. On Dec. 1, 1932, she married Elmer H. Seabaugh. He died Nov. 8, 1973...

BIRCH TREE -- Anderson M. Davis, 98, of Birch Tree, formerly of Charleston, died Friday, Oct. 24, 1997, at Birch View Manor following an extended illness. He was born June 6, 1899, in White County, Ill., son of David M. and Minnie Hill Davis. On Nov. 8, 1923, he was married to Opal Oliver. She died Nov. 10, 1963...

Son to Michael I. and Donna Sue Eftink, Perryville Route 8, Southeast Missouri Hospital, 5:40 p.m. Friday, Oct. 17, 1997. Name, Ryan Michael. Weight, 7 pounds 15 ounces. First child. Mrs. Eftink is the former Donna Whittley, daughter of Loretta Whittley of Advance and Gerald Whittley of Essex. She is a self-employed electrologist. Eftink is the son of August and Marje Eftink of Marble Hill. He is a teacher at Ste. Genevieve Schools...

PERRYVILLE -- Wilhelmina C. Clifton, 83, of Perryville died Friday, Oct. 24, 1997, at the Perry County Nursing Home. She was born Sept. 6, 1914, near Apple Creek, the daughter of Martin and Anna Schneier Unterreiner. She married Bernard L. Clifton on April 20, 1940. He died June 23, 1992...

A walk through the maze of sandstone and granite monuments in an old cemetery is enough to cause the flesh to crawl or chills to run up the spine of even the most stalwart individuals. But for Tom Tucker, the idea of a "tombstone tour" was a natural...

Jean Bell Mosley's new autobiography, "For Most of the Century," is only available in serialized form in the Southeast Missourian. Return each week for her continuing story. Later on, when it became apparent that my role would be to use the written word in an attempt to hold up before readers a gentler way of life, to make them aware of the little things they might miss if they aren't looking and that these things are His arrangements, His silent speech to us, I wrote the following article. ...

Central High School will hold their Fall Choral Concert 7 p.m., Tuesday in the old gym at the high school. The concert will feature all high school choirs. The Chamber Choir will perform "Exultate Deo" by Alessandro Scarlatti, "Highland Mary" by James Mulholland, and "Agnus Dei" by Peter Williams, featuring David Nall, son of Bruce and Susie Nall of Cape Girardeau, as soloist...