Stories from Monday, November 29, 1999

Chris Neff is only 26 years old, but he's been waiting a lifetime for the opportunity before him. Neff, who coached Notre Dame High School's boys JV team the past two years, has taken over the reins of the varsity squad from Chris Janet. But Neff's coaching experience goes well beyond his two years at Notre Dame. It began somewhere around the womb...

Leopold's veteran basketball coach Carlton Thoma expects his players to play as big as their muscles have gotten this year."I expect we'll have a pretty good ball club," Thoma said. "I would like to exceed last year's 14-12 record. We have fair size, more maturity than last year and we've been working out in the weight room; we're definitely stronger." The Wildcats improved drastically last season, rising above the 6-18 record the team had earned the year before. ...

To get a good read on this year's edition of the Lady Black Cats, Fredericktown coach Lonny Sheldon only has to look back at last year's squad. Fredericktown returns eight of its top nine players from a 13-10 team. Last year's team was not particularly tall, which will repeat itself with basically the same cast of players. But the Lady Cats can better combat the shortcoming with experience, including four returning starters...

Marquand's first-year basketball coach, Ed Ikemeier, is optimistic about rebuilding the team after graduating seven seniors from last year's 15-12 squad."We're young," said Ikemeier. "We have an awful lot of young players. There are only four seniors on the varsity roster and two of those are foreign exchange students. ...

Zalma's basketball team graduated six senior players from last year's squad and will begin this season without any returning starters. The lack of experience doesn't bother first-year coach Dwyght Ford as much as how others view his team, which was 8-15 last year."Not a lot of respect gets put out there when people talk about Zalma basketball," said Ford. "I look forward to turning it around."Ford comes to Zalma after coaching basketball for West St. Francis County last season...

The Chaffee boys basketball team returns two players from last year's varsity squad, while hoping to improve a team that has only won three combined games over the past two seasons. First-year coach Tim Corley isn't as much concerned with wins and losses as he is with his team's work ethic. ...

Tammy Brock, the new coach of the Chaffee girls basketball team, may have no basketball coaching experience, but she certainly has a history of heading up winning programs. Before coming to Chaffee, Brock took the Woodland volleyball team to the state championships, bringing home a fourth-place finish. ...

The Kelly boys basketball team has had an impressive two-year run, capped by last season's 19-9 record that featured a Class 2A district championship. This year, however, the Hawks face plenty of question marks as they will be without several of the standouts from the past two seasons, including Jim Hulshof and Jason Glastetter, who were two of the top players in Southeast Missouri."There's no doubt that some questions need to be answered. ...

The Kelly girls basketball team forged a 17-10 record last season despite having a roster void of seniors. It's no surprise, then, then second-year coach Curtis Finley is looking for more good things from the Lady Hawks this season -- especially once they regain the services of two key players who have been out with injuries suffered playing for Kelly's highly successful softball squad that made the state's final four."We had a very young team last year and I think we overachieved. ...

The Oran Lady Eagles could've had the best small-school junior varsity girls basketball team in Southeast Missouri last year. But there was no JV team. Instead, Oran's team, which consisted mostly of freshmen and sophomores, posted a varsity record of 11-12."We're going to have a bit more experience," said first-year coach Tom Anderson who is also the school's superintendent. ...

First-year Oran boys basketball coach coach Larry Boshell hopes this year's seniors took some notes last year. Because all last year's group of Eagles did was win. Oran went to the state sectionals last year and ended the season with a 23-9 record. Many of those basketball players also played on a baseball team that went to the final four...

The Meadow Heights boys basketball team better not get into foul trouble this season. Panthers coach Jeff Gravon has only seven varsity players at his disposal in what could be another rough year for Meadow Heights. On top of the lack of depth, the Panthers don't have any dominant players either."We don't have any superstars," Gravon said. ...

Charleston boys basketball coach Danny Farmer knew the Blue Jays would have their work cut out for them last season if they were to continue the tradition of outstanding Charleston squads of the past. And, even though the Blue Jays had their moments including winning the University High School Christmas Tournament their 12-13 final record was Charleston's first sub-.500 mark for about as long as anybody can remember."We didn't have any starters returning last year and we knew the record would not be great, because we play such a tough schedule," said Farmer. ...

With an extremely experienced team featuring a whopping nine players who saw some form of varsity experience last season, Charleston girls basketball coach Bev Wright is looking for good things from the Lady Blue Jays this year."We have a lot of girls who played varsity, so we should be a lot better than last year," said Wright, whose squad posted an 11-13 record last season. ...

The Perryville boys basketball team has an interesting dilemma this season: tall guards but short post players. In other words, of the 15 varsity members everybody is about the same height."We have a lot of kids the same size," said first-year coach Jeff Steffens. "There's a lot of quickness with them and some of them are good athletes. We have one big kid who is 6-6, other than that they're all 6-1 or 6-2."Michael Downen is the only returning starter from last year's team...

Last year, Perryville's Tiffany Perkins emerged from relative obscurity to become one of the best girls basketball players in Southeast Missouri. Lady Pirates coach Vicki Lohman has been hoping that obscurity would provide another star scorer, but so far that seems unlikely."I've already put that challenge up and so far nobody is stepping up in that role," Lohman said...

If the Woodland girls basketball team can ever get everybody healthy, then coach Harley Eddleman believes the Lady Cardinals can eventually field a competitive squad this season. But getting people healthy was one of the Lady Cardinals' primary problems through much of the preseason."It's been kind of the walking wounded for us I guess," said Eddleman with a laugh. ...

At the beginning of any basketball season, no coach knows exactly what to expect. But Scott City girls coach Randall White is at the extreme end of uncertainty."We're still looking for our strengths and weaknesses," White said of his team which has no returning starters from a year ago and has just two seniors on this year's team. ...

Just what does the premier high school baseball player in Southeast Missouri do when baseball is not in season. This winter he will be moonlighting as possibly the premier basketball player in Southeast Missouri. The athlete in question is Advance's Garrett Broshuis, who recently signed a letter of intent to pitch for the Missouri Tigers...

Notre Dame girls gave their fans a glimpse of the future at the end of last year, and the view was impressive to say the least. When last seen, the Lady Bulldogs were standing in the Class 2A quarterfinals with three freshmen on the floor. They now boast three talented sophomores, five seniors with varsity experience, two juniors off a strong JV team and one optimistic coach in Jerry Grim...

FREDERICKTOWN -- First-year Fredericktown boys coach Chad Starkey shouldn't get too accustomed to the physical state of this year's Black Cat squad. Thanks primarily to a junior class that must have been brought up on water from elsewhere, Fredericktown has a rare opportunity to cast shadows over opponents...

"The big rush of holiday mail is already under way, with a stream of catalogs and sales circulars."This small paragraph, concerning the heavy deluge of mail expected for the Christmas holidays, caught my eye. From two to four catalogs a day can be found in my mailbox. Count 'em up since Nov. 1, and you have a stack of about 100 of the wish books, ranging in pages from 20 to 50...

Farm families from four counties were recognized at the Sikeston Area Chamber of Commerce's Farmers Recognition Banquet, held recently at the Ramada Inn at Sikeston. Awards presented:Scott County: David and Paula Diebold; Joe and Barbara Diebold; and Barbara and Laura Evans.* Mississippi County: Craig and Jennifer Sutton.* Stoddard County: Stan and Sue Flowers.* New Madrid County: Doug and Tina Scott...

Westvaco Corp., a manufacturer of paper, packaging and chemicals, has reported fourth-quarter and audited year-end sales and earnings for fiscal 1998. Westvaco, headquartered in New York, reported sales of $771.5 million in the fourth quarter, with earnings of $57.6 million, or 58 cents a share, up from $36.2 million and 36 cents share a year ago...

POPLAR BLUFF -- Briggs & Stratton, a manufacturer of air-cooled gasoline engines for outdoor power equipment, has observed two landmarks at its Poplar Bluff facility.n Briggs & Stratton, which opened its Southeast Missouri facility in October 1989, observed its 10th anniversary at Poplar Bluff.n The company also celebrated the production of its 25th million small engine during the decade span...

A number of awards were presented during the recent Regional Commerce and Growth Association (RCGA) Banquet recently. Three awards were presented:Regional Spirit Award, given to state legislators from 18 counties covered by the RCGA. Rep. Marilyn Williams of Dudley and Rep. ...

James W. Wente, Southeast Missouri Hospital administrator, has been elected an at-large trustee with the Missouri Hospital Association Board of Trustees. He will serve as board member through Dec. 31, 2002. Wente was first elected to the MHA Board of Trustee in 1994, as a representative of District 6. He has served as board secretary, a member of the executive committee, chairman-elect and from 1997 to 1999, served as chairman of the statewide body...

The existing location of Cape Electrical Supply is about to become a branch location. Cape Electrical Supply will open a new primary location and distribution center early next month."We're expanding," said Bob Garrett, vice president of the company, which will open a new 41,000-square-foot facility near the intersection of Interstate 55 and Highway 74 Dec. ...

Southeast Missouri State University women's basketball coach Ed Arnzen is always excited about the start of a new season. But this year, there is perhaps an extra bounce in Arnzen's step. That's because the Otahkians are coming off their best-ever Division I season and have more high hopes for the coming campaign."We're excited," said Arnzen. ...

Southeast Missouri State University men's basketball coach Gary Garner believes the Indians will have more talent than they had last season, which is certainly a big statement. That's because Garner's second Southeast team a year ago had the school's best-ever Division I season, going 20-9, finishing second in the Ohio Valley Conference and coming within seconds of gaining its first NCAA Division I Tournament berth...

Cape Central will have offensive threats on the inside and the outside this season. It's the middle ground that worries Tigers coach Brett Reutzel."We can hit from under the basket and we can hit from the 3-point line," said Reutzel. "But I don't know about in between and I think that's an important aspect of basketball."Taking care of matters in the paint will be last year's SEMO Conference Player of the Year Ross Conner, an athletic 6-5 post player...

Over the past several years, Jackson and Poplar Bluff have been the Class 4A girls basketball powers in Southeast Missouri. Cape Central, going 18-7 last season, gained a lot of ground on those two schools last year and is looking to finally catch up with the Lady Mules and Lady Indians...

The goals for the Jackson boys basketball team never change, but some seasons it's more difficult to attain them than others. Coach Steve Burk figures the Indians, with only one returning full-time starter, will face some big challenges this year as they try to reach their goals, but he's not about to count his squad out."Our goal always is to have a winning season and compete for the conference and district championships," said Burk. ...

Could this be the season where the Jackson girls basketball team finally returns to the ranks of the mere mortals. Coach Ron Cook isn't going to say for sure, but he suggests that there's a pretty decent chance of it."We're going to be really young and inexperienced this year, and we won't have a whole lot of height, not like we've had in the past," he said. ...

SCOTT CITY -- There is life after Beck. But, according to Scott City coach Derek McCord, basketball life without a two-time all-stater may be a bit rocky, at least at first. It's not like the Rams don't have any talent coming back, but Scott City can't replace two-time all-state guard John Beck, who is getting a lot of playing time at Arkansas State University as a freshman this year...

The Woodland boys basketball team lost its leading scorer from last season, but that's about the extent of the bad things that graduation did to the Cardinals. Taking that into account, Woodland coach Jennings Wilkinson expects the Cardinals to field a solid team, since five of the top seven players are back from last year's squad that compiled a 15-11 record."We lost David Massa, our leading scorer, and we'll miss him, but with the players we have coming back, I expect us to be competitive," said Wilkinson. ...

If the Maytag repairman got into coaching, he may draw a striking resemblance to St. Vincent boys basketball coach Bruce Valleroy. With the Indians football team playing well into November for the second straight year, Valleroy has had a little idle time on his hands...

Jennifer Hazel, left, is manager of Europa's with owners John Wyman and Jerrianne Wyman. John and Jerrianne Wyman, purveyors of fine food and drink in Cape Girardeau since 1989, have opened Europa's Gourmet Market in downtown Cape Girardeau. A market and cafe, Europa's combines shopping for unique and gourmet food items with a casual dining menu of selected soups, salads, sandwiches and quiche...

This "Financial Focus" column is prepared by Edward Jones Investments, headquartered in St. Louis. Jones includes branches throughout the nation, including Cape Girardeau and Jackson. As another year draws to a close, you may be asking yourself a couple of questions. ...

The Missouri Cattlemen's Association will hold its 32nd annual convention and trade show Dec. 9 through 12, at Mariott's Tan-Tar-A Resort in Osage Beach.Primary topics on the agenda include the "U.S. Position of World Beef in the Next Millennium," "Current and Future Genetics and How They Fit the Beef Industry," and the "USDA Update -- Grain Inspection and Packers and Stockyards Act."Additional information is available by contacting the cattlemen's group at (573) 499-9162...

The University of Missouri Center for Agroforest will sponsor a dinner for Scott County landowners who participated in a survey about land management and issues more than a year ago.The invitation-only dinner will be held at the Scott City Knights of Columbus Hall Dec. ...

The Missouri Agricultural Statistics Services will survey farmers and ranchers today through Dec. 15.The annual fall agricultural survey prepared by MASS provides facts about the final 1999 crops and livestock and future 2000 crops and livestock.Farmers rely on the data to reach production, marketing and investment decisions, and industry analysts, extension agents and agriculture lenders use the information in a variety of ways that benefit farmers...

Ross Austin of RE/MAX Achievers recently received the Accredited Buyer Representation (ABR) designation from the Real Estate Buyer's Agent Council of the National Association of Realtors.Requirements for the designation include a comprehensive course in buyer representation, written examination on legal and practical aspects of client representation and experience in the field...

Patsy Ellis, Amy Jones, Rebeckah Miller and Lori Friese of Century 21 Dutch Realty recently attended the Century 21 St. Louis Broker Council Annual Fall Conference, held recently at Lake of Ozarks.Various seminars focussed on sales and technology.

Linda D. Puchbauer of Bank of America, Jackson, recently attended the Missouri Bankers Association (MBA) Bank Leadership Conference, held at the Lake of the Ozarks.Topics discussed at the conference included banking management, leadership, technology and human resource issues...

Sandy Like and Pat Carter of the Easter Seals Child Development Center, 1912 Broadway in Cape Girardeau, recently completed the CDA program.

Midwest Cash Advance L.L.C. recently opened at 1335 Old Cape Road at Jackson. The small loan office specializes in short-term cash and advances against personal checks.The new business is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday.Mitch Mayberry, who has been in the financial services business 23 years, and Chad Hartle, a real estate developer, are co-owners.Mayberry serves as managing officer...

Cheryl Morris and Lonnie Lusk of Schott & Van de Ven, Certified Public Accountants recently attended educational classes. Lusk, a CPA, attended the Missouri Society of CPA's Fall Tax Institute. Changes in tax laws and new developments in tax preparations and planning were discussed...

Buster, a 7-month-old St. Bernard was drooling for the start of the annual Parade of Lights Sunday evening in Capaha Park. Buster walked with his owners in the parade. Ginger Havell and her daughter, Chy, of Jonesboro, Ill., watched downtown as floats passed by on Main Street during the Parade of Lights Sunday evening. Crowds of people began lining the parade route early in the afternoon to get the best view...

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St. Vincent girls coach Terry Wengert is hoping last year's tribulations will help this year's cause. In a 4-19 season, the Squaws encountered their share of tough luck."We started strong and then had a couple of ankle injuries," said Wengert. "At one time we had three girls out, and then we got the flu. ...

A record of 18-10 is a wonderful season for ordinary basketball programs. But Scott County Central is not an ordinary basketball program. After winning 13 state championships -- the most of any school in Missouri history -- the Braves have failed to win a district championship in the past five years...

Scott County Central girls basketball coach coach Semona Penrod hopes quality will be more beneficial than quantity is detrimental. The Bravettes have just nine players in the entire program -- there will be no junior varsity team -- but Penrod does have some talent returning from last year's squad which went 16-10 and went to the state quarterfinals...

First-year coach Nate Crowden may have picked a difficult year to take over the reins of the Delta girls basketball team. "The biggest difference between this year and last is how young we are," said Crowden. "Last year they started four seniors; this year we only have one."That lone senior is guard/forward Laura Reiminger. ...

With only two starters returning to play for the Delta boys basketball team this season, second-year Bobcats' coach Jim Gloth is keeping his expectations guarded and realistic."Our only team goals this season are to finish with a better record than last year and play better defensively," said Gloth...

As far as Paul Lynch is concerned, there is no place for his Oak Ridge basketball team to go but up. Lynch, the Blue Jays' first-year coach, inherits a squad that went just 2-21 last season. His goals for this year are realistic."We're going to be young and expectations aren't really high as far as wins and losses," he said. ...

After a season to get used to coach Jeff Funston's system and style, Funston expects his second Bell City basketball team to improve upon last year's 5-18 record. "The players are a lot more used to me now and things are going a lot smoother," said Funston. ...

JACKSON -- A 60-acre industrial park the City of Jackson proposes to build might include a recreational park within its boundaries. Soccer fields and a biking and hiking trail are being considered for a 10-acre parcel of the property on the east side of North High Street between Harmony Lane and State Route Y. ...

If you can't find any lights for your Christmas decorations this year, it's because they were needed to adorn the floats entered in the annual Christmas Parade of Lights Sunday. More than 130 entries, embellished with lights and blaring out the sounds of Christmas carols and hymns, paraded down Broadway Sunday evening. The parade began at dusk at Capaha Park and ended nearly two hours later at Main and Broadway streets...

CHARLESTON -- Several shiny new buildings bear Clara Drinkwater Newnam's name in Charleston, but the benefactress has touched many more buildings and lives since her death. Newnam, a native Charlestonian, left a $5 million estate with instructions that a large portion of it be issued from a community trust to benefit her hometown. ...

C. F. Bowden Civic Center provides several programs for students after school that have been funded through grants. CHARLESTON -- Community leaders agree social programs have played a main role in Charleston's recent progression from an economic and educational decline. In particular, programs at work in the town's economically deprived west side are promising to uplift the community...

It's hard to spend much time around the Scott County Sheriff's Department and not see Cheryl Ann Scherer. Although she has never walked in the door, photographs of the 19-year-old girl who would be 39 this year are taped to the glass at the reception area, hanging in Sheriff Bill Ferrell's office and available at any computer that can access the sheriff's new Internet site...

Motorists driving north on Cape La Croix Road Sunday and seeing the nearly completed Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses might comment: "I don't remember seeing that last week," and they would be right. It didn't quite happen in the blink of an eye, but almost. About 300 volunteers spent the Thanksgiving weekend on the construction of a Kingdom Hall that ended Sunday, complete with carpeting, wallpaper and even landscaping...

U.S. Sen. John Ashcroft says it's too early to begin any campaigning against Gov. Mel Carnahan for next year's Senate race. It's a relief to know the unrelenting attacks by both men haven't been about politics. There is a period of time between Thanksgiving and Christmas when things seem right with the world: The kids are still in school, and there's still enough turkey for sandwiches...

WHAT A surprise and wonderful treat on CBS last Sunday night. No violence, sex, murder, rioting or filthy, foul language. Maybe there's hope for TV after all. It sure is few and far between though. America needs more moral entertainment. There has been too much degradation in our nation. This movie was more like America used to be before the devils and the perverts took over. We look forward to more Hallmark Hall of Fame presentations...

The waiting game ended for Southeast Missouri State University's volleyball squad Sunday night when the NCAA released its bracket for the 64-team Division I Tournament. Southeast will be headed to California for the second straight year as the Otahkians take on Loyola Marymount Thursday night at the University of California-Santa Barbara...

COBDEN, Ill. -- Rosina Ihle, 88, of Chester and formerly of Cobden, died Sunday, Nov. 28, 1999, at St. Ann's Health Care Center in Chester. She was born Oct. 19, 1911, in Cobden, daughter of William and Annie Flamm Ihle. She was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Cobden and was a retired housekeeper at St. Ann's Health Care Center...

Roy Ralph Huber, 79, of Cape Girardeau died Saturday, Nov. 27, 1999, at the St. Francis Medical Center.He was born Sept. 18, 1920, at Egypt Mills, son of William Pete and Ida Lange Huber. He and Eva Mabel Nabe were married Sept. 27, 1941, at Benton.He worked as a farmer and was a member of Trinity Luthareran Church Cemetery in Egypt Mills...

SIKESTON -- William Frank Parker, 86, of Sikeston died Saturday, Nov. 27, 1999, at Clearview Nursing Center in Sikeston. He was born May 29, 1913, at Morley, son of William Albert and Ella Raglan Parker. He and Ruby C. Hitt were married Nov. 3, 1951. ...

ULLIN, Ill. -- Theresa Ziemba, 88, of Ullin, formerly of Marion and Morton Grove, died Saturday, Nov. 27, 1999, at her home. She was born June 26, 1911, at Chicago, daughter of Joseph and Anne Lakner. She and Edward Pete Ziemba were married. He died Dec. 3, 1982...

Bonnie June Vincent, 71, of Cape Girardeau died Wednesday, Nov. 24, 1999, at her home. She was born June 13, 1928, at Sabetha, Kan., daughter of Harry D. and Emma L. Haynes Lockhart. She and Clifford J. Vincent were married April 26, 1946. He died Feb. 15, 1991...

Nelson E. Martin, 78, of Cape Girardeau died Sunday, Nov. 28, 1999, at his home. He was born March 14, 1921, at Jackson, son of John Anthony and Daisy Alma Garner Martin. He and Florence Lena Schlimme were married Oct. 27, 1946, at Old Appleton. She died Oct. 16, 1994...

SCOTT CITY -- Robert John "Bob" Albrecht, 72, of Scott City, died Sunday, Nov. 28, 1999, at Southeast Missouri Hospital. He was born Aug. 19, 1927, at Illmo, son of Louis and Edna Roth Albrecht. He and Mabel Clara Meier were married Sept. 3, 1950, at Cape Girardeau...

MARBLE HILL -- Lillian Niswonger of Marble Hill died Sunday, Nov. 28, 1999, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau.Funeral arrangements are incomplete at Hutchings Funeral Chapel in Marble Hill.

BLOOMFIELD -- Kermit Alvin Smith, 91, of Bloomfield died Sunday, Nov. 28, 1999, at Beverly Healthcare Center. He was born Sept. 1, 1908, at Bloomfield, son of Thomas and Pearl Green Smith. He and Myrtle Matthews were married Nov. 9, 1935. She survives...