Stories from Friday, January 21, 1994

While there is no way to authenticate this, short of having the pressmen smudge ash on each copy off the line, this is a bona-fide, guaranteed-never-to-tarnish, written-by-the-fireplace column. No extra charge. For writer types like me, there is supposed to be a degree of occupational romance in this. ...

The opening of the newest section of Lexington Avenue -- connecting the arterial between Perryville Road and Cape Rock Drive -- has been a welcome improvement to traffic flow in the northern end of Cape Girardeau. After several delays, the road officially opened Jan. 14...

The Rev. O. Otto Steinhaus Jr., senior pastor at New McKendree United Methodist Church in Jackson, is a native of Bolivar. He graduated from Southwest Baptist Methodist College in 1951, Garrett Evangelical Theological SEminary in 1954 and Northwestern University in 1960. He has served new McKendree since 1989...

The February meeting of the Missouri Conservation Commission will be held in Southeast Missouri. The meeting will be held Feb. 10 at Sikeston. Commission members are Jerry P. Combs, Kennett, Chairman; Andy Dalton, Springfield, Vice Chairman; John Powell, Rolla, Secretary; and Anita B. Gorman, Kansas City...

DE SOTO -- Spotted bass have invaded the Big River, and smallmouth bass may be paying the price, according to Kevin Meneau, fisheries management biologist with the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC). But hard times for smallmouths could spell good times for anglers who want to put more fish in the frypan...

Heavy ice floes on the Mississippi River has prompted the Coast Guard to restrict the size of barge tows on the river between Cairo, Ill. and St. Louis. In addition, the Coast Guard is making arrangements for a "helper" boat to be stationed below the Thebes, Ill., railroad bridge to assist towboats and their as they pass several sunken barges near the navigation channel south of the bridge...

A complaint filed late last month against Lady Luck Gaming's Tunica, Miss., operation has been dismissed. Lady Luck Cape Girardeau Inc. this week became the second riverboat casino operator to vie for a gaming license in Cape Girardeau. The Cape Girardeau City Council on March 7 will recommend either a $51.2 million proposal by the Boyd Group or Lady Luck's $58.3 million development offer...

JEFFERSON CITY - A decision on a legal challenge to Missouri's riverboat gambling law that was argued before the supreme court on Nov. 2, could be handed down on Tuesday. The Missouri Supreme Court releases cases it has heard once a month. There is considerable speculation in the state capital that the high court will include that case in opinions released Tuesday...

CHAFFEE -- Burlington Northern Railroad employees believe a broken rail caused nine cars of a freight train to derail north of Chaffee early Thursday. Lee Bollinger, track supervisor in Chaffee for Burlington Northern said Thursday afternoon it appeared that the severe cold weather had caused the track to become brittle and break under the weight of the 79-car freight train passing through the Chaffee area at about 8 a.m...

The Cape Girardeau City Council this week gave first-round approval of a new subdivision on the east end of Lexington Avenue. G. Keith Deimund had requested the rezoning of a portion of the subdivision from single- to multiple-family residential. The city's planning and zoning commission last month recommended approval of the request, but not until Deimund and neighbors of the proposed development agreed to a compromise...

Kathy Swan, a board member in the Cape Girardeau School District, has achieved the advanced certification designation in the Missouri School Boards Association's Certified Board Member Program. Swan was among graduates of the program's inaugural class and was the only one from Southeast Missouri...

The Rev. Jerry Falwell, a nationally known religious leader who is founder and chancellor of Liberty University in Lynchburg, Va., will be the keynote speaker at the sixth annual banquet of the Regional Commerce and Growth Association. Originally, the banquet had been planned this week, but in order to accommodate Falwell's schedule, it has been moved back to Feb. 24...

MARBLE HILL -- A portion of the old railroad hotel in former Lutesville was damaged by fire early Thursday. No one was injured. Marble Hill Fire Chief Jim Bollinger said all of the occupants had fled the building, now known as the Rainbow Hotel, by the time firefighters arrived...

Son to Mr. and Mrs. Michael Fairbank of Midway Park, N.C., 7:41 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 5, 1994. Name, Michael Blake. Weight, 8 pounds 3 ounces. First child. Mrs. Fairbank is the former Jennifer Martin, daughter of Kenneth and Linda Martin, 2604 Gardenia. She is a nurse assistant at Onslow Memorial Hospital in Jacksonville, N.C. Fairbank is serving in the U.S. Marine Corps, and is the son of Edward and Patricia Fairbank of Baker, Ore...

ADVANCE -- Hansel H. James, 49, of Arbor, Mo., died Wednesday, Jan. 19, 1994, at his residence. He was born April 29, 1944, at Arbor, Mo., son of Harl and Grace Lee Steven James. James worked in the roofing business. Survivors include his mother of Cape Girardeau; and two sisters, Wanda Palmore of Gainesville, Texas, Rosemary Brown of Cape Girardeau...

Flora Bergmann Phillips, 85, of the Lutheran Home in Cape Girardeau died Wednesday, Jan. 19, 1994, at the Lutheran Home. She was born Oct. 25, 1908, at Perry County, the daughter of Ferdinand and Louise Fassold Bergmann. On Aug. 23, 1977, she married Homer L. Phillips of Potosi. He preceded her in death on March 29, 1981. She also was preceded by three brothers and six sisters...

Ricky L. Chamness, 35, of Cape Girardeau, formerly of Jonesboro, Ill., died Wednesday, Jan. 19, 1994, at St. Francis Medical Center. He was born Nov. 20, 1958, in Cape Girardeau, son of Richard and Vicki Dillow Chamness. Chamness attended Murray State University, and had been a motel manager in St. Louis. He was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Anna, Ill...

OAK RIDGE -- Funeral service for Gladys Hazel Lilly of Oak Ridge was held Wednesday at Ford and Sons Mt. Auburn Chapel in Cape Girardeau. Art Kelley officiated, with burial in St. Mary's Cemetery there. Lilly died Monday, Jan. 17, 1994, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau...

JACKSON -- Woodrow Wilson Seabaugh, 80, of Jackson, died Wednesday, Jan. 19, 1994, at the Veterans Home in Cape Girardeau. He was born Jan. 6, 1914, at Sedgewickville, son of Francis Emerson and Nancy Jane Seabaugh. He and Jean Smith were married Aug. 20, 1942, at Sedgewickville...

SCOTT CITY -- Charles William "Chuck" Cox, 34, of Scott City, died Thursday, Jan. 20, 1994, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. He was born June 20, 1959, at Chanute, Kan., son of Dr. Robert L. and Betty Scott Cox. He married Deborah Curse, April 3, 1993, at Cape Girardeau...

The 1994 Southeast Missouri Honors Wind Ensemble, comprised of high school students, presented a concert on Jan. 8 in Rose Theatre. The musical group consists of 50 students and 10 alternates chosen by audition from among several hundred young people representing 40 Missouri school districts...

KRCU, Southeast Missouri State University's National Public Radio affiliate station, has boosted its power to 6,000 watts. The power boost, which took effect Jan. 14, means the station at 90.9 FM can now reach a potential audience of about 75,000 people within a 30-mile radius of Cape Girardeau, university officials said...

A meeting is planned Tuesday for parents of gifted students enrolled in Cape Girardeau public schools. The meeting will be held in the L.J. Schultz School library at 7 p.m. Helen Nevitt, assistant professor of gifted education at Southeast Missouri State University, will speak. She will discuss how parents can help their gifted child and suggest family activities and experiences...