Stories from Thursday, July 8, 1993

While the words "fire department" conjure a singular image in the minds of most people that of fighting fires these agencies are actually multi-faceted, customer-intensive public services. The Cape Girardeau Fire Department is taking steps to promote itself in this latter sense, aiming its efforts at rescue work, fire prevention and education as complements to its more traditional duties. ...

Industrial development may be the most soporific issue on the political agenda for Missouri. It stirs neither strong objection nor vigorous action. It merely puts people to sleep. In recent weeks, the prospects for implementing some kind of effective and workable program in Missouri have brightened, if only because the state has the right kind of individual heading the Department of Economic Development: former state representative Joe Driskill, whose legislative career was focused largely on initiatives that would provide new employment around the state.. ...

Carl Ben Bidewell of Poplar Bluff, whose term on the Southeast Missouri State University Board of Regents expired recently, has been named development liaison for the Harry L. Crisp Bootheel Education Center in Malden. The development liaison is responsible for attracting resources for the Bootheel Education Center, said Robert Foster, executive director of the Southeast Missouri University Foundation...

The National Weather Service says July could be much warmer and a little wetter than normal in Southeast Missouri and Southern Illinois. The 30-day outlook calls for temperatures in the region to average much above normal and precipitation above normal...

A unique approach to funding tourism promotion in the state of Missouri, sponsored by two Southeast Missouri legislators, was signed into law Wednesday. Under the measure, the Missouri Division of Tourism budget can increase beyond the current level of about $6 million if the division is successful in promoting tourism in the state and generating more tax dollars from visitors...

The Missouri National Guard's 1140th Engineer Battalion in Cape Girardeau has been placed on alert and its Company D at Farmington activated to assist flood-fighting along the Mississippi River. In addition, U.S. Rep. Bill Emerson is trying to corral assistance from President Clinton, Secretary of Agriculture Mike Espy and Gov. Mel Carnahan to help victims of the Midwest's current flooding...

The Cape Girardeau City Council Wednesday gave first reading approval of an ordinance that will place on the Nov. 2 ballot the question of whether to legalize riverboat gambling in the city. The measure now awaits final approval July 19, and it's unlikely any effort will be made to thwart final passage of the ordinance...

(First of a two-part series) Welcome to Smelterville, former home of industries, mom and pop grocery stores, a tavern, churches, a bait shop, a popular barbecue restaurant, a brothel and many of Cape Girardeau's poorest people. Today, most people know this small strip of land east of South Sprigg Street simply as South Cape. The stores and most of the industries are gone, and the population might be less than 50 people...

JACKSON -- The Jackson Planning and Zoning Board asked for comments on a proposed plan that would add several new zoning class~ifications to the zoning ordinance. "Basically, we've done a pretty extensive study on a zoning ordinance and want to hear what the public has to say," said Larry Hall, chairman of the board. "This is in no way set in concrete; we'd like to hear your questions and comments."...

With the right people and financing, a group of high school students believe they could open an amusement park near Benton and make it profitable. Students from Southeast Missouri attending the Missouri Freedom Forum created new businesses based on need and profitability...

A number of local students have been named to the deans list at the University of Missouri-Columbia for the winter semester. The following names of students from Cape Girardeau were not included in a list provided the Southeast Missourian by the university...

Students at Cape Girardeau Junior High School received awards at the end of the school year. Receiving American Legion Awards were Laura Lukens and Ben Chisman. Emily Hall earned the Paul Schnare Spirit Award. Wade Russell received the DAR Award. Emily Hall and Laura Sheets received the Special Service Award...

Shawn Batten of Brosley was named Miss Southeast Missouri, USA at a pageant held recently in Cape Girardeau. April Spain of Kennett was named Miss Southeast Missouri-Teen, USA at the same competition. This first ever preliminary pageant for the Miss Missouri USA and Miss Missouri-Teen USA competition to be held in Cape Girardeau was June 26 at Drury Lodge...

John H. Cochran IV, of Cape Girardeau, was among students attending American Legion Boys State of Missouri June 12-19 on the campus of Central Missouri State University At Warrensburg. Those attending learned about the workings of government through hands-on experience. It is run as a democracy, and all participants may vote and are eligible to hold office...

SIKESTON -- Kathy J. Clark, a first-grade teacher at Sikeston Elementary School, is among delegates to the 131st annual meeting of the National Education Association this week. Nearly 9,000 education employees around the country were elected as delegates to this year's representative assembly in San Francisco...

LEOPOLD -- The American Red Cross and Leopold Knights of Columbus are holding a blood drive Sunday from 8:30 a.m. to noon at the Knights of Columbus Hall. Donations are especially needed during the summer because donations go down as the temperature goes up. Most blood drives do not collect as many donations because of employee vacations and school locations do not hold drives during the summer...

James E. Walter, 77, of Cape Girardeau, died Wednesday, July 7, 1993, at Southeast Missouri Hospital. He was born Aug. 19, 1915, son of Edward and Amelia LaPlant Walter. Walter was a retired inspector with United States Department of Agriculture. He was a member of St. Vincent's Catholic Church here, and VFW in Chicago. He was a veteran of World War II...

JACKSON -- Private graveside service for Leona A. Mantz of Jackson was held Wednesday at Russell Heights Cemetery. The Rev. David Schaffner officiated, with McCombs Funeral Home in charge of arrangements. Mantz, 77, died Tuesday, July 6, 1993, at her home...

Graveside service for Marian W. Genuit of Cape Girardeau will be held at 2 p.m. today at Sunset Burial Park in St. Louis. The Rev. E.C. Brasington will officiate. Ford and Sons Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Genuit, 89, died Sunday, July 4, 1993, at Chateau Girardeau Health Center...

Thomas Jefferson Freeman, 61, of Flat River, died Wednesday, July 7, 1993, at Desloge Health Care Center. He was born July 29, 1931, in Ayden, N.C., son of Ernest K. and Evelyn Bloodgood Freeman. He and Betty Blackwell were married June 23, 1951, in Piggott, Ark...

Daughter to Mr. and Mrs. Stan Turner, 537 Albert, Southeast Missouri Hospital, 2 p.m. Friday, June 25, 1993. Name, Emily Lynne. Weight, 6 pounds 2 ounces. Second daughter. Mrs. Turner is the former Margaret Brady, daughter of Marcella Arbogast of Cape Girardeau, and Bernie Brady of Columbia. She is a receptionist at Mercantile Bank. Turner is a field engineer with PBS Inc., and is the son of Karen Rhyne of Whitewater, and Stan Turner of Millersville...

PERRYVILLE -- Leo H. VanDeven, 80, of Perryville, died Tuesday, July 6, 1993, at Perry County Memorial Hospital. He was born Oct. 15, 1912, at Leopold, son of John and Josephine Fels VanDeven. He and Trula C. Meyer were married Oct. 14, 1939. Survivors include his wife; a son, Leo A. ...

SIKESTON -- Mancel H. McCoy, 74, of Walker, La., and formerly of Morley, died July 6, 1993, at the Baton Rouge General Medical Center. He was born March 31, 1919, in Ripley, Miss., to the late Abner and Josephine Gates McCoy. He served in the U.S. Army in World War II, and was a retired maintenance worker for the Missouri Highway Department...