Stories from Sunday, October 1, 1995

PERRYVILLE -- Kerry D. "Boo" Wingerter, 34, of Perryville died Friday, Sept. 29, 1995, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. He was born Aug. 20, 1961, at Cape Girardeau, the son of Dale and Marian Jo Plemmons Wingerter of Perryville. He was a riverboat deckhand and a tree trimmer...

Cape Girardeau's new city manager, Michael Miller, will be guest speaker at the October meeting of the West End Merchants Association. Miller, who was named city manager in mid-August, will start his new duties here Oct. 16. He will address the West End Merchants Oct. 24 at 5:30 p.m. at the Drury Lodge...

JACKSON -- It's slogan is "City of Beautiful Homes, Churches, Schools and Parks," but Jackson becomes the City of Bands for one day every fall. On Tuesday, 19 high school bands will descend on Jackson for the 51st annual Jackson Band Festival. The bands are from big schools like Cape Central and little ones like Delta; some musicians march and others stand still...

There are no slot machines or blackjack tables at the Cape Girardeau Regional Airport. But if Cape Girardeau gets a riverboat casino, gamblers could be flying into town on 100-seat, DC-9 airplanes. Airport Manager Greg Chenoweth said such a scenario is a real possibility...

The Tracy Lawrence-Rick Trevino concert scheduled for Oct. 29 at the Show Me Center has been postponed. Tickets for the show were to go on sale Saturday. The concert is being postponed because of the performers' previous commitment to appear in Murray, Ky., in early November...

At long, long last the Simpson case is before the jury. Down to the very end, when Simpson fooled Judge Lance Ito into letting him deliver his well-rehearsed, "extemporaneous" profession of innocence, the principal figures in the case came off as, for the most part, as colossal bumblers. This is not the first "Crime of the Century." This is not the first time that an inept judge was overwhelmed by the news media...

Have you overdosed on the O.J. Simpson trial yet? I am surely one of the rare columnists in America writing regularly over the last 16 months who hasn't had a word to say about it. And I still don't. Why, then, lead with a mention of a trial I won't be discussing? Simple. ...

Glad we could get together for this brief visit, just the two of us, with no one else around to interrupt. Would you mind turning down that TV just a tad, and then neither of us will have to raise our voice to be heard? Sometimes those commercials get extremely invasive. There, that's better. We won't have to raise our voices to be heard...

In response to your editorial of Sept. 27 concerning Colonial Cape Girardeau Foundation's request for motel/restaurant tax dollars to help operate the Old St. Vincent's College -- known to us as the Seminary -- as a historical museum and cultural arts center, it is important to review some factual information surrounding your position...

Help may be on the way for beleaguered taxpayers in their travails with the Internal Revenue Service. This month should see consideration by the full House of a tax measure that contains a major Taxpayer Bill of Rights. Approved last month by the House Ways and Means Committee and tucked into massive tax-and-spending legislation, the rights measure has more than 40 provisions. Among them are those:...

Jason Welker captured first place in the Most Creative category for this mounted turkey at a taxidermy competition he recently attended. Devin Amelunke has also won several awards. Amelunke won Best White Tail for the deer in the center at the competition...

One of the services that Mindy will offer as Bubbles the clown is story telling using puppets. (Photos by Scott Moyers) Self will also offer games such as this one, Pin the Nose on the Clown. Magic is a big part of any clown show. Here, Mindy demonstrates one of her tricks, which involves putting a torn handkerchief back together in her "magic bag."...

Robert A. Hawkins Jr., 21, of 9 S. Benton died Saturday, Sept. 30, 1995, at his home. Funeral arrangements are incomplete at Ford and Sons Funeral Home.

JACKSON -- Ellis O. Crain of 306 Neal St., Jackson, died at his home Saturday, Sept. 30, 1995. Funeral arrangements are incomplete and will be announced later by Crafcraft-Miller Funeral Home at Jackson.

MOUNDS, Ill. -- Clarence E. Droge, 75, of Marion, Ill., formerly of Mounds, died Saturday, Sept. 30, 1995, at Marion Memorial Hospital. He was born in Pulaski County, Ill., March 12, 1920, son of Edwin C. and Addie Lee Farley Droge. He was a produce broker in Villa Ridge and Anna and was owner of the Catch All Lure Co. in Marion before his retirement. He was former Democratic Party chairman of Pulaski County and was a member of First Baptist Church in Mounds...

CHAFFEE -- Paul Thomas Gibbons, 85, of Chaffee died Saturday, Sept. 30, 1995, at the Chaffee Nursing Center. He was born July 20, 1910, near Harrisburg, Ill., the son of Thomas Martin and Maude Raum Simpson Gibbons. He was a salesman for the St. Louis Paint Co. before retirement. He was a member of the First Baptist Church of Chaffee...

Everyone is entitled to one grouchy day a year. My day to be in a sulky mood from the time I get up until the time I go to bed is Sept. 23, the autumnal equinox. This day is scientifically explained as the point at which the ecliptic intersects the celestial equator, marking the beginning of autumn. In non professional's terms, it means the weather is fixing to be cold and ice and snow are on their way...

As the promise of truly revolutionary welfare reform comes closer to reality in the Congress, states such as Missouri have been taking promising steps as well. While it can't be said that Missouri has gone as far as truly pathbreaking states such as Wisconsin, glimmers of hope are nonetheless on the Show Me State horizon...

CAIRO -- The 26th Cairo Levee Foot Race in Cairo will be held rain or shine Nov. 11. The two races -- one 5K and one 10K -- will both begin at 11 a.m. at St. Mary's Park. Courses will be clearly marked and will mostly follow gravel roads along the Mississippi River levee...

Ruth Colyer Dockins, left, and Bernice Howard Ham of the class of 1944 talked about old times. Judy Jaco, left, Virgina Kies, and Esther Roberts talk during the evening. Harlas Siebert blew on the harmonica to the delight of the crowd during the reunion...

It took six years of therapy and medication, but in 1992, Sue Floyd reclaimed her life. These days, the Scott City woman works as president of the Depressive-Manic Depressive Association of Southeast Missouri to teach others suffering from depression that help is available...

For centuries, differing political philosophies have been dividing lines between groups, especially at the nation's colleges. Southeast Missouri State University is no different, having at least three political organizations: the College Republicans, the Conservative Club and the Young Democrats. All say their membership and community visibility are growing...

The residential housing market in Cape Girardeau, Jackson and Scott City areas so far in 1995 is not as good as the record year of 1994, but better than other previous years. Sales of existing homes and construction of new homes are down during the first three quarters of 1995, but "it's not that bad," contends Charles C. "Bud" Leming of Century 21 Ashland Realty. Leming is president of the Cape Girardeau County Board of Realtors...

There is little disagreement that law enforcement is often a dangerous and frustrating occupation. When its image is tarnished, the job becomes even more difficult. While officers in this region generally enjoy strong community support, nationally publicized scandals such as those which have plagued the Los Angeles Police Department in recent years are damaging to everyone who dons the badge...

A busy week is planned for the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce's "Industrial Appreciation Week." "We've had great response," said Linda Minner, marketing and special projects director for the Chamber. "Ticket sales have been good, and we should top the crowd of 850 people who attended last year's industrial dinner."...

Cape Girardeau's cable television committee wants to put more local programs on the cable access channel. The committee wants to oversee the operation of the access channel and serve as a watchdog to see that TCI Cablevision of Missouri, the local cable operator, lives up to the terms of a new franchise agreement with the city...

The 12th Annual His and Hers Bass Tournament will be held Saturday, Oct. 28., at Lake Wappapello from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Entry fee is $50 per boat and all contestants must be 16 years of age or over unless participating with a parent or guardian. Cash prizes will be awarded to the top 10 finishers, including 25 percent of gate and trophy for the overall champion and $100 and trophy for the largest bass...

Ducks Unlimited's Annual Banquet and Auction will be held Saturday, Oct. 14, at the Holiday Inn Convention Center in Cape Girardeau. The evening will consist of cocktails at 6 p.m., dinner at 7 and auction at 8:30. Auction items include shotguns, prints, decoys, knives, watches, clothing and more...

RIVERS: Castor (Above Zalma): Clear, low; bass good on artificial lures & topwater lures; all other species slow. Current: 57 degrees , clear, 1' below normal; all species fair on artificial & natural bait. Gasconade (Middle, near Waynesville): 70 degrees , slightly below normal, clear; black bass & goggle-eye good to excellent on spinner baits, crankbaits, top water lures & live baits; all other species good on all baits...

A tradition that dates back many thousands of years was continued this morning as archers across the state of Missouri set out in pursuit of white-tailed deer and wild turkey. The 1995 archery deer and turkey hunting season opened this morning and continues through Nov. 10. Following an 11-day closure for firearms season, it reopens Nov. 22 and runs until Jan. 15, 1996...

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- This past spring's cool and extremely wet weather has put a damper on Missouri's rabbit population. But Wildlife Research Biologist Thomas Dailey says most hunters who go afield won't be disappointed. MDC's 1995 Wildlife Harvest and Population Status Report on cottontail rabbits showed their population is down for the third consecutive year. Total rabbit numbers in Missouri dropped 12 percent from 1994...

Jay Southard patted his horses after they were given cookies, one of their favorite treats. Like many outdoor pursuits, horseback riding is popular not only because its good exercise and a chance to experience nature but as an opportunity to escape the pressures and entanglements of daily life...

In addition to mums, pumpkins, gourds and colored corn, in autumn, I think of lanterns, the old-fashioned kind that you filled with kerosene, stuck a match to its wick and carried by an arched bail. These preceded flashlights, and before all the old barns were torn, blown or fallen down, one could sometimes find such an old abandoned lantern hanging, uselessly, on some nail inside the barn...

The Cape Girardeau Public Library, 711 N. Clark, will hold several events this month. On Saturday, Oct. 14 at 10 a.m., families can learn to make haunted gingerbread houses. Registration begins Monday. Jon Colburn will give a slide presentation on historic garden preservation at 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 19...

Housing preservation funds are available for the elderly, handicapped and disabled residents of Cape Girardeau, Bollinger, Perry, Iron, Madison, Ste. Genevieve, St. Francois and Washington counties through East Missouri Action Agency. EMAA received a $125,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture for housing rehabilitation. Bill Tucker, EMAA's housing director, said the grant should cover work on about 30 homes...

Knights of Columbus Council 1111 in Cape Girardeau will hold its annual Tootsie Roll fund-raising drive Friday, Saturday and next Sunday. Funds will benefit more than 200 agencies serving the mentally retarded in the statewide fund drive. This is the 23rd year the Missouri Knights have conducted the drive...