Stories from Tuesday, January 24, 1995

SCOTT CITY -- Students in Scott City schools had a surprise inspection Monday morning by Grande, a drug-sniffing dog. The German shepherd didn't find any drugs, but Superintendent of Schools Douglas Berry said he plans to check again. The search wasn't announced; even the school's principals were unaware of it...

A few tickets are still available for tonight's performance of the Air Mobility Command Band of Mid-America, and a capacity crowd is expected. The band will perform at 7:30 at Cape Girardeau Central High School Auditorium. Tickets are free and available at the Southeast Missourian office, 301 Broadway...

An eight-year span between budgets submitted by two governors graphically illustrates the rapid growth of Missouri's state government. The eight-year period, starting with the third budget submitted by Gov. John Ashcroft and spanning the recommended spending outlined last week by Gov. Mel Carnahan's third budget, shows a remarkable increase in state programs and spending...

Much of the junk mail, office paper, envelopes and cereal boxes now deemed solid waste in Cape Girardeau could be recycled soon. Cape Girardeau Environmental Services coordinator Steve Cook said the city is negotiating with a company to become the first in Southeast Missouri to enter into the mixed-paper recycling business...

Jail sentences for some lawbreakers have been delayed because of overcrowding in the Cape Girardeau County Jail. People sentenced to shock time or other short jail sentences have been asked to wait about a month before serving their time. Jeffrey Hamilton was sentenced Monday to serve 13 days in the Cape Girardeau County Jail after pleading guilty to a having a semiautomatic handgun during an argument, a misdemeanor...

Even though Missouri's economy is growing and state revenues are on the rise, growing needs in many areas of state government and increased federal mandates will make this year's budget process challenging. State legislators will begin this week digging into the details of a $12.836 billion budget proposed by Gov. Mel Carnahan last week...

This Sunday is Super Bowl Sunday, a day in which Americans -- mostly males -- gulp beer, eat peanuts and stare for hours at The Televised Game. Not only do you have to watch the game, you have to view the pregame and post-game shows as well. You also have to catch the commercials, which are often better than the game and cost more than the national debt...

I WAS wondering when Cape Girardeau is going to get a horse race track or dog race track. I've heard we've got one coming. I think it's a very good thing, because we need to get all kinds of gambling and gaming devices here in the city. I HOPE the West Park Mall will be truly smoke free Feb. 1 as the signs in the hallways state. If the many eating establishments there still permit smoking, that smoke is also in the hallways and the mall will not be smoke free...

Hershel Price watched as a couple of bald eagles buzzed over the Mississippi River. The eagles were keeping a close watch on some activity near a slackwater harbor at the marina parking lot in the Trail of Tears State Park area. "They were watching for fish," said Price. superintendent of the park. "They're pretty good at it, too: I've watched them catch shads several times."...

Voters in Missouri and across the nation sent a message to politicians last November: They are tired of the status quo. But status quo of the worst kind is just what occurred in the Missouri House when Bob Griffin was narrowly elected to an eighth term as speaker. His 14 years already served is unprecedented in state history He is tied as the second-longest-serving House speaker in the nation. It is a dubious honor...

It's been two years since zoning was abolished in Cape Girardeau County. Dire consequences predicted by some zoning supporters haven't come to pass. People are tired of too many government regulations. It intrudes in all areas of our lives, even in the most unexpected places. No doubt this anti-regulatory sentiment helped to oust zoning...

To the editor: The Jan. 23 editorial suggests the city council, in dealing with the liquor license application for Regina's House of Dolls, should have deliberately rejected or postponed a decision so the city could enact ordinances to prohibit or regulate the conduct in the nightclub. ...

To the editor: Since 1988 Missouri has led the nation in the decline of abortions -- down 29 percent. Missouri has more Birthright centers per capita than any other state. These centers are located as far north as Kirksville, as far south as Kennett and as far west as Kansas City, with our own Cape Girardeau center being the farthest east. ...

Tonight's redistricting committee meeting for the Cape Girardeau public schools, which was supposed to be conducted at the school board office, will be at 7 p.m. in the L.J. Schultz School library, 101 S. Pacific. Steve Wright, co-chairman of the committee, said the group decided to move the meeting, expecting a larger-than-normal crowd to attend...

Betty S. Jenkins, 73, 646 Whitelaw, died Monday, Jan. 23, 1995, at Southeast Missouri Hospital. She was born Jan. 28, 1921, in Kansas City, daughter of Elbert and Alice Irey Stark. She and George Jenkins Jr. were married Nov. 22, 1940, in Cape Girardeau...

CHARLESTON -- Funeral service for Lois Shaw of Kirkwood will be held at 11 a.m. today at McMikle Funeral Home in Charleston. The Rev. Richard Combs will officiate, with burial in IOOF Cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home after 9 a.m. Shaw, 85, died Saturday, Jan. 21, 1995, at her home...

ADVANCE -- Funeral service for Lottie P. Skinner will be held at 1 p.m. today at Morgan Funeral Chapel, with the Rev. Ray Placher officiating. Burial will be in Morgan Memorial Park. Skinner, 87, died Saturday, Jan. 21, 1995, at her home. She was born Feb. 23, 1907, at Leora, daughter of Thomas and Virginia Crews Dublin. She married Archie Berry Jan. 23, 1923, who preceded her in death. She later married Carl Skinner Aug. 2, 1972. He also preceded her in death...

WINFIELD -- Funeral service for Marlin Victor Sleet of Winfield was held Monday at Carter-Ricks Funeral Home. The Rev. Marc Miller officiated, with burial in New Salem Cemetery near Winfield. Sleet, 74, died Saturday, Jan. 21, 1995, at his home. He was born Jan. 14, 1921, in Winfield, son of Victor Earl and Hazel Dean Overall Sleet. He and Daisy Irene Potter were married Nov. 27, 1943, in Hannibal...

SIKESTON -- Funeral service for H. Harrison Tanner will be held at 2 p.m. today at Wesley United Methodist Church. The Rev. Jerry Reynolds will officiate, with burial in Sikeston City Cemetery. Ponder Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Tanner, 82, died Saturday, Jan. 21, 1995 at Missouri Delta Medical Center...

ADVANCE -- Lee J. Cox, 68, of Warren, Mich., died Saturday, Jan. 21, 1995, in Warren. He was born Nov. 5, 1926, in Advance, son of Comelous and Althea Zimmerman Cox. He married Mary Eakins. Cox was a retired tool and die worker. Survivors include his wife; two sons, Jim Cox of Las Cruces, N.M., Jeff Cox of Warren; two daughters, Rita Harris of Lapeer, Mich., Liz McNiff of East China, Mich.; a brother, C.G. ...

CHAFFEE -- Ronald E. Dowd, 69, of Chaffee, died Monday, Jan. 23, 1995, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. He was born Oct. 6, 1925, at Hayti, son of Sidney Lee and Sarah Beatrice Rafferty Dowd Sr. He and Ella N. Culbertson were married Nov. 26, 1947...

JACKSON -- This year's public hearing for the city of Jackson's proposed budget took less than a minute. Mayor Paul Sander, who opened the hearing Monday night, noted that no-one was there to comment and he closed it. He said the city has a history of little public input on budgets, probably a sign that constituents are happy...

CAIRO, Ill. -- Mary C. McGruder, 77, of Carrollton, Texas, formerly of Cairo, died Saturday, Jan. 21, 1995, at the Twin Pines Nursing Center in Carrollton. She was born Feb. 16, 1907, to Robert and Amy Atkinson White. She married Joseph McGruder, who died in 1982...

ADVANCE -- Michael Joseph Costello, 58, died Friday, Jan. 20, 1995, in Galway, Ireland. He was born Jan. 23, 1936, in Galway. Survivors include a son, Stephen Costello; two daughters, Maura Ranschburg and Kathleen Slagley, all of Advance; two grandsons, and a stepgranddaughter...

PIEDMONT -- Funeral service for Aaron K. Ellinghouse of Piedmont was held Sunday at Ruegg Funeral Home. The Revs. Ken Gray and Allen Calkins officiated, with burial in Masonic Cemetery. Ellinghouse, 26, died Thursday, Jan. 19, 1995, in Jefferson County...

JACKSON -- Margaret "Maggie" Smith, 90, of Jackson, died Monday, Jan. 23, 1995, at her home. She was born Aug. 25, 1904, at Jackson, daughter of Henry and Mary Baugh Koehler. She and Dewey Smith were married Dec. 24, 1924, in Jackson. He died March 17, 1980...

Perry County schools begin a new Drug Abuse Resistance Education program today, while DARE classes begin another semester in Scott County this week and in Cape Girardeau County next week. Sgt. Stephen King, Perry County's new DARE officer, said he expects to be nervous as he begins the 17-week program with about 385 fifth-graders in 14 classes at seven public and parochial schools...

NEW HAMBURG -- Tracy Holland has a "can-do" attitude she is trying to teach to her students. Holland teaches third-grade at Kelso C-7 Elementary School in New Hamburg. "I strive everyday to have a classroom full of energy, excitement and a positive attitude toward learning," Holland said. "I want all my children to think they can do it. This type of attitude helps in creating respect and success."...

Jamie Marie Johnston and Terra Dawn Wright, both of Cape Girardeau, have been awarded the Regents' Scholarship at Southeast Missouri State University. The award covers full-time fees per semester and is renewable for four years if students maintain a 3.5 grade point average...

An article written by Stephen S. Owen, a junior at Southeast Missouri State University, has been published in the winter issue of Law Enforcement, a publication of the Missouri Peace Officers Association. Entitled "Capital Punishment and Missouri," the article deals with the capital punishment system as it exists in Missouri. ...