Stories from Thursday, March 31, 1994

Gene Crader, 65, of 1616 Mississippi died Wednesday, March 30, 1994, at his home. Funeral arrangements are incomplete at Ford and Sons Mt. Auburn Chapel in Cape Girardeau.

Dear Editor: I am glad that we as a state and as a city are going to vote again on gambling. Since gambling was first discussed a couple of years ago, I have seen nothing but corruption, bribery and the spoils system at work. The Boyd Corporation and Lady Luck came to town and started spreading money around to all who expressed an interest...

Dear Editor: I was very pleased and, frankly, somewhat surprised to see the excellent article by Jay Eastlick on the front page about Dr. Robert Goodman's two year study on the aspects of casino gambling. You know full well my feeling about what a threat casino gambling is regarding not only Cape Girardeau but the entire Southeast Missouri area. ...

This region rightfully takes pride in its role helping feed the nation and beyond. Our agricultural endowment -- rich land, suitable climate, hard-working people -- contributes mightily to the way we lead our lives in these environs, giving us an appreciation of our natural resources, helping pay the bills and defining us as a people. ...

The life of a road deputy, who patrols isolated, rural areas, isn't too far removed from that of a late-1800s U.S. marshal or Texas ranger, who brought law and order to the West. The federal marshal and Texas ranger were usually the only "law" for miles around. Those early peace officers had to be fast on the draw, quick thinking, and able to handle some tight situations ... with little or no backup from other peace officers...

MURRAY, Ky. -- Ronald J. Kurth, who succeeded Kala Stroup as president of Murray State University, will step down today after leading the university for the past four years. Today is Kurth's last working day at the school, but he will retain the title of president until June 30, when his contract expires, under an agreement worked out with the Board of Regents...

JACKSON -- Jack Piepenbrok, a four-term Jackson alderman and the former Cape Girardeau County treasurer, filed Tuesday for election to the Cape Girardeau County 1st District Associate Commissioner. The commission seat is held by Larry Bock, a Republican, who is challenged in the GOP primary by Fred Wilkinson of Millersville...

To the Editor: Citizens of Missouri, and our area in particular, have another chance on April 5 to rectify the mistake we have made as a state in recent elections. The mistake I make reference to is the approval, expansion and promotion of various forms of gambling now present in our state. We need to vote no to the broken promises from the gambling industry...

SIKESTON -- Jack Lynn Spears, 42, of Los Angeles, Calif., died Tuesday, March 29, 1994, at his home, following an extended illness. He was born Nov. 19, 1951, in Sikeston, son of Eugene J. and Mae Kornegger Spears. Spears was a 1969 graduate of Sikeston High School, attended Southeast Missouri State University, and attended the New York School of Interior Design...

Funeral service for Clarence Harold Schilling of Missouri Veterans Home will be held at 2 p.m. today at Ford and Sons Mt. Auburn Chapel. The Rev. Walter Fehrmann will officiate, with burial in Memorial Park. Friends may call at the funeral home from 8 a.m. to service time...

PATTON -- Wellman J. Woodfin, 79, of Patton, died Tuesday, March 29, 1994, at his home. He was born June 10, 1914, at Lutesville, son of Jasper W. and Rebecca Mansker Woodfin. He and Lola Mae Yount were married June 10, 1960. Woodfin retired from All-Die in St. Louis. He was a member of Mt. Carmel Baptist Church near Marquand...

CAIRO, Ill. -- Funeral service for Alice Maud Hogendobler of Cairo will be held at 1 p.m. today at Jones Funeral Home in Villa Ridge. The Rev. Joseph N. Suitor will officiate, with burial in Beechwood Cemetery at Mounds. Friends may call at the funeral home from 8 a.m. to service time...

Three Rivers Community College at Poplar Bluff soon might take on more of the appearance of a four-year institution. Southeast Missouri State University's Board of Regents today will consider expanding its Bootheel Education Consortium agreement with Three Rivers Community College (TRCC)...

Clean, safe neighborhoods, alternatives to lower trash collection fees, minimum standard building codes and the crime rate receive the most attention from Ward 2 City Council candidates Tom Neumeyer and Brenda Dohogne. Both Neumeyer and Dohogne are against public housing. "We've already got programs like Habitat for Humanity that would do more for the need for low to moderate income housing than federal government-run programs," said Neumeyer...

PATTON -- Missouri's deputy state auditor told about 80 taxpayers in the Meadow Heights School District Wednesday that although the school records are not perfect, they found no evidence of serious wrongdoing. "We didn't find anyone stealing your lunch money," said Deputy State Auditor Chuck Pierce. "We found nothing we believe is evidence to warrant bringing in the county prosecutor...

March 31, 1994 Dear Grandma, Tens of orange and red and yellow tulips are growing in the round brick planter that takes up half our front yard. They're still clenched this morning against the chill but by the time DC arrives for lunch they'll be welcoming the sun with open petals...

JEFFERSON CITY -- For Dennis Ziegenhorn the decision not to challenge 8th district U.S Rep. Bill Emerson this year boiled down simply to a desire to spend more time with his family. Ziegenhorn, who two weeks ago announced he would not seek an 8th two-year term in the Missouri House, received encouragement to seek the Democratic nomination of Congress...

MILLERSVILLE -- A pancake supper is planned April 9 at the Millersville Masonic Hall. In addition to pancakes, whole hog sausage and home made maple syrup will be served. The meal will be held from 4-7 p.m. and costs $4.50 for adults and $2 for children ages 6-12...

BENTON -- Scott County officials face a plethora of competition from Democratic challengers. With no Republicans vying for county offices, the races will all be decided in the Aug. 2 primary election. The filing period ended Tuesday. All three county commissioners face opposition, with the high profile race being the one for presiding commissioner between incumbent Durward Dover and Bob Kielhofner, the longtime county clerk...

PERRYVILLE -- Perry County's commissioners face a crowded field of challengers in their re-election bids. All three incumbents are Republicans. Presiding Commissioner Karl J. Klaus, who is seeking re-election to a third four-year term, faces opposition in the August Republican primary from Richard H. Brickhaus and Roger Lynn Hoff, both of Perryville...

Elections are scheduled Tuesday in Nell Holcomb and Oak Ridge school district despite the fact that no races exist. Incumbents in both districts are running unopposed. Oak Ridge Superintendent Roger Tatum said Missouri law allows several governmental entities to forgo an election if candidates are unopposed. But school boards are specifically excluded...

JACKSON - If you think getting your car or van ready for the annual state license renewal inspection is a hassle, consider what Jean Kurre of the Jackson school district has to go through. Kurre is the bus transportation coordinator for the school district. She's responsible for making sure the district's fleet of 43 buses are ready to pass the stringent state inspection each March...

NEW MADRID -- Six cattle died when the trailer they were being hauled in struck another tractor-trailer truck at 1:20 p.m. Tuesday in the northbound lanes of Interstate 55, about two miles south of New Madrid. A spokesman for the Missouri Highway Patrol said Matthew Popejoy, 32, of Richland, Iowa, was hauling a cargo of 41 cattle north when his tractor-trailer truck hit a National Guard tractor-trailer truck driven by Leonard Peer, 37, of Belleville, Ill...

It's as American as apple pie, hot dogs or the New York Yankees, yet somehow jazz continues to be perceived as a foreign art form. "I asked a grade school class in Utah to tell me what they knew about jazz and someone said it was one of the teams that played basketball in the NBA," said Carol Comer, who is a Kansas City-based composer, teacher, writer, pianist and singer of jazz. ...

The Southeast Missouri State University Theater will stage the production of "Matilda" for school matinees and a public session April 15 at 7 p.m. There will be a matinee performance on Saturday, April 16 at 10 a.m. "Matilda" is a children's show based on the best-selling novel of the same title by Roald Dahl. It has been adapted for the stage by Sharon Bebout, who is assistant professor of speech communication and theater at Southeast...

An art students annual juried assessment exhibition will take place April 5-29 at the Southeast Missouri State University Museum Gallery. The public is invited to the opening celebration on Tuesday evening April 5 at 7 p.m. The art students will receive awards for Best of Show and place awards...