Stories from Tuesday, November 10, 1998

Six-year-old Maddison Aslinger of Cape Girardeau giggles when she explains her reason for wanting to become an actress. "So I can meet Leonardo DiCaprio," she said. "He's cute." Aslinger has seen "Titanic" several times and has decided she wants to play the part of Rose, originally played by British actress Kate Winslet...

Up for a good mystery? Joni: Ever since I was a kid, I've loved mystery books. I'm not sure I would be a good detective, but I've always enjoyed reading a good puzzler. Agatha Christie is my favorite. Peggy: The Internet gives you a chance to read about your favorite mystery writers and try your hand at a few whodunits yourself...

It is more difficult for long-distance telephone providers to "slam" or "cram" their customers. Southwestern Bell Telephone Co. says telephone slamming complaints in Missouri have dropped over the past year and could drop more following introduction of a Southwestern Bell program to fight slamming...

Teaching second grade brings many rewards, said Jennifer Byrum, some more tangible than others. Last year, Byrum's family increased by one thanks to one of her students. The student knew that Byrum loved cats and had one pet cat. "When his mama cat gave birth to a litter of new kittens, he decided that one of them should be mine," Byrum said...

Roberts checked her makeup. Jason Merkler who plays Jesse Kiplinger kissed Rachel M. Roberts during the rehearsal of "Plaza Suite." Hours of rehearsal go into each scene on the set before the public sees a play. "If you work on one show, you'll never leave," Rachel Roberts said of her first love -- the theatre...

A swampy, tree-filled patch of ground no longer poses a problem for construction of Cape Girardeau's vocational-technical school. The Cape Girardeau School District has traded the 2.8 acres of wetlands on the school site for seven acres of wetlands on a farm north of Cape Girardeau...

JACKSON -- Only two people from the community attended a public forum Monday night at the Middle School cafeteria to discuss what qualities the public wants in a new school superintendent. Dr. Howard Jones, superintendent of the Jackson School District, announced his resignation last month. He will leave his post June 30...

High water has hampered construction of the Mississippi River bridge the past several months, putting the project behind schedule. It has caused delays on construction of the substructure of the Illinois approach span and jet grouting work on the bedrock at the Pier 3 site in the middle of the river...

BLOOMFIELD -- Supporters of the Stars and Stripes Museum and Library are excited and hopeful that having a new state veterans cemetery as a neighbor will draw attention to their efforts. The first of six planned buildings of the museum complex honoring the American military newspaper opened in June after years of planning and fund raising...

The federal government could pick up the entire tab for construction of two state veterans cemeteries if legislation approved by Congress is signed by the president. Under an existing grant mechanism, the federal government matches every dollar spent by states to build veterans cemeteries. The federal share would become 100 percent under the proposal Congress passed this year, said Ron Taylor, director of services and planning for the Missouri Veterans Commission...

It's just barely November and retailers are already trying to get shoppers into the holiday mood. Christmas comes but once a year, after all. And it arrives earlier each year, despite the fact that the calendar date remains the same -- Dec. 25. Christmas decorations arrived in most Cape Girardeau stores sometime near the end of October. In some retail stores across the nation, the decorations went up as early as August. I've even seen yard decorations on several area lawns...

Agenda, Tuesday, Nov. 10, 7:30 Board of Education office, 614 E. Adams Agenda Action Items -- Consider 1998-1999 Professional Development Plan. -- Consider request from teacher for son to attend South Elementary. Information Items -- Internet in education demonstration...

The Stars and Stripes Alumni will hold its annual convention in Cape Girardeau next October. Although the group usually stages the convention in large, metropolitan areas, it chose Southeast Missouri for its next gathering so members can visit the new Stars and Stripes Museum and Library in Bloomfield...

I'M A Christian lady from Scott City. I would like to tell all the parents, not only in Scott City, but everywhere, that if we'd raise our kids in church, they wouldn't have time or they wouldn't even have it in their hearts to vandalize homes. I don't cut faces on my pumpkins anymore because I don't believe in masks. ...

One consequence of the strong economy these last few years has been the incredible gusher of tax revenue to the federal government. Over the last year, the government has turned around 30 years of deficit spending to achieve a surplus. Last month President Clinton announced a surplus to the tune of $70 billion. Over the next five years, officials have spent much of the year saying, the budget may well see surpluses totalling $1.5 trillion...

To the editor: Clinton's lying under oath and the rest of the Monica mess must not be the whole content of the impeachment investigation. Clinton's continuing assault on property rights, national sovereignty, our Constitution and law must also be part of the impeachment hearing...

After several millions were spent on both sides, overall there will be very little change in the makeup of the Missouri General Assembly that will convene in January. As was the case last year, the House will consist of 86 Democrats, 76 Republicans and one Independent. ...

Southeast Missouri State University's basketball Indians claimed another routine exhibition victory Monday night, one that left Indians' coach Gary Garner feeling fairly good about his team. But Garner knows there is still so much more work to be done."I thought we were a little more consistent tonight than in our first (exhibition) game," said Garner following a 77-60 breeze past CSKA of Bulgaria in front of 3,678 fans at the Show Me Center. ...

Southeast Missouri State University football coach John Mumford would dearly love for his seniors to close out their college careers with a victory. In order to do that, the Indians must defeat Southern Illinois Saturday when both squads end disappointing seasons with a 12:30 p.m. kickoff at McAndrew Stadium in Carbondale...

It was only an exhibition game -- but Southeast Missouri State University women's basketball coach Ed Arnzen couldn't help but be excited. The Otahkians, trying to bounce back from two straight disappointing seasons, were impressive Monday night in beating a team from Latvia 78-76 at the Show Me Center...

JACKSON -- Last year, Jackson High boys soccer coach Bonnie Knowlan thought her team was simply happy to be in the playoffs after winning the school's first district title. But this time around, Knowlan believes the Indians -- who last week won their second straight district championship -- want much more...

JACKSON -- James "Jim" Malone, 72, of Jackson died Sunday, Nov. 8, 1998, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. He was born Oct. 10, 1926, at Dyer County, Tenn., son of James and Earl Burnes Malone. He and Mildred "Millie" Goodrum were married Jan. 18, 1947...

Funeral for Brenda Joyce Eakin of Cape Girardeau will be held at 10 a.m. today at Lynwood Baptist Church, with the Rev. Mark Anderson officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Gardens at Sikeston. Ford and Sons Mt. Auburn Chapel is in charge of arrangements...

SIKESTON -- Edith M. Capron, 92, of Sikeston died Sunday, Nov. 8, 1998, at Missouri Delta Medical Center. She was born Dec. 4, 1905, in Randolph County, Ind., daughter of Christopher and Rosa Mae Conyers Kaufman. She and Paris R. Capron were married Sept. 4, 1926, in Union City, Ind...

Memorial service for Betty C. Sambrook of Gardiner, Maine, will be held at 11 a.m. today at Gardiner Congregational Church. Staples Funeral Home in Gardiner is in charge of arrangements. Announcement courtesy of Ford and Sons Funeral Home. Sambrook, 75, died Saturday, Nov. 7, 1998, at her home...

ANNA, Ill. -- Ruby A. Lacy, 86, of Anna died Sunday, Nov. 8, 1998, at Jonesboro Healthcare Center. She was born Feb. 9, 1912, in Union County, daughter of John T. and Nova Cox Brown. She and George R. Lacy were married Sept. 22, 1928, in Paris, Ill. He died Dec. 8, 1945...

ADVANCE -- Charlie "Larry" Rackley, 63, of Tucson, Ariz., died Saturday, Nov. 7, 1998, in Tucson. Morgan Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

ADVANCE -- Gerald "Mike" Bird, 55, of Advance died Monday, Nov. 9, 1998, in Poteau, Okla. Morgan Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Jerry Grant Hillemann, 48, of Cape Girardeau died Monday, Nov. 9, 1998, at his home. He was born March 5, 1950, in Cape Girardeau, son of Albert and Kathryn Lois Ellis Hillemann. He and Nancy Pearl Towery were married Jan. 28, 1989, at Gordonville. Hillemann was employed at Foamex. He was a member of Teamsters Local 574, and former member of UAW...

JONESBORO, Ill. -- Richard Corzine, 81, of Florissant, Mo., died Sunday, Nov. 8, 1998, at Christian Northeast Hospital in St. Louis, Mo. He is formerly of this area. Hileman and Parr Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

JONESBORO, Ill. -- Florence Sutliff, 92, of Jonesboro died Monday, Nov. 9, 1998, at Jonesboro Health Care Center. Lorberg Memorial Funeral Chapel in Cape Girardeau, Mo., is in charge of arrangements.

COBDEN, Ill. -- Rosie Vonch, 82, of Cobden died Saturday, Nov. 7, 1998, at City Care Center. Burial was in Pleasant Grove Memorial Park. Crain Funeral Home in Anna is in charge of arrangements.

Daughter to Willie Jean and Debbie Lynne Deck Jr. of Glen Allen, Southeast Missouri Hospital, 12:25 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 3, 1998. Name, Anna Nicole. Weight, 7 pounds 2 ounces. Third child, first daughter. Mrs. Deck is the former Debbie Dry, daughter of Charles and Goldie Dry of Glen Allen. Deck is the son of Bill and Delores Deck of Glen Allen. He is employed by Installation Technicians Inc., contractor for Sprint...

Heavy competition for broadcasting frequencies and red tape are holding up public radio station KRCU-FM's plans to transmit its signal to the Poplar Bluff and Park Hills areas. Last year, KRCU applied to the Federal Communication Commission for permission to install broadcasting transmitters at Three Rivers Community College and at Mineral Area College, but after KRCU made its application, other noncommercial groups also applied to broadcast over the same or adjacent frequencies...

MARBLE HILL -- Melvin L. Sitze, 57, of Marble Hill died Monday, Nov. 9, 1998, at his home. He was born March 31, 1941, at Bessville, son of Luke "Jed' and Beulah Butler Sitze. He and Diana Long were married Aug. 8, 1970. Sitze was a member of the Liberty Congregational Methodist Church and the Bessville Neighborhood Watch. He worked for many years as a clerk for the Peters Co. and Bollinger County Builders Supply in Marble Hill...