Stories from Monday, December 18, 1995

Each year in the United States, thousands of new businesses open their doors, selling everything from jeans to jeeps, skillets to skiwear and wingbacks to wingnuts. As a center of retail growth, Cape Girardeau annually welcomes more than 100 new businesses a year...

Wayne Brown cleaned the interior of a truck after taking out the seat at Clean Attitude Auto Detailing in Jackson. Everyone loves the look and feel of a new car. Not everyone likes expending the time and effort needed to maintain that condition. Fortunately, there are businesses which are more than willing to handle those tasks...

A Cape Girardeau woman says her 6-year-old daughter would like Barbie and Cabbage Patch dolls for Christmas this year. Medical expenses will make Christmas difficult for the family this year, the woman said. "We found out this summer that (the girl) is bi-polar (manic-depressive). We go back and forth to St. Louis Children's Hospital for appointments, and medication takes all the spare money," she wrote...

People debate the value of various forms of education. The American Dream dictates that hard work in high school will lead to acceptance into college, a four-year degree and then a well-paying job. But a growing number of people believe the path to a successful future is through a two-year technical school...

In early November, when about 20 community leaders and educators from Cape Girardeau County traveled to West Kentucky Tech, some looked like Alice in Wonderland. They toured the new buildings and state-of-the-art equipment. They saw a course schedule with 40 diploma-level offerings at relatively low prices. They heard about the school's 95 percent job-placement rate...

Charles Dickens notwithstanding, the ghosts of Christmas Past are usually friendly. Mine are anyway, and at a time of year when we're all remembering family and friends, I don't mind the occasional haunting. It's hard to predict what exactly will summon these spirits or what will scare them away, so when they make themselves known, they are especially welcome...

I AGREE with the caller who was talking about the lack of respect shown for the U.S. flag during a parade. I was at the recent commencement exercises at the Show Me Center, and during the "Star Spangled Banner" there were, I think, maybe half a dozen people as I looked around the auditorium who had their hand on their hearts. ...

JONESBORO, Ill. -- Orville "Preacher" Brown, 83, of Jonesboro died Sunday, Dec. 17, 1995, at Barnes Hospital in St. Louis. Arrangements are incomplete at Hileman and Parr Funeral Services in Jonesboro.

JACKSON -- Virginia Lee McPherson, 65, of Jackson and formerly of Scott City died Sunday, Dec. 17, 1995, at her home. She was born June 21, 1930, at St. Louis, daughter of Otho Forister and Rose Neil Cozort. On March 25, 1950, she married Billy McPherson, who died Sept. 4, 1959...

JACKSON -- Edna Catherine Kasten, 101, of Jackson died Saturday, Dec. 16, 1995, at Chateau Girardeau. She was born Aug. 17, 1894, at Columbia, Ill., daughter of William Langehennig and Emma Schmidt. On Aug. 12, 1939, she married Louis W. Kasten, who preceded her in death Jan. 10, 1990...

CHAFFEE -- Sarah Ellen Coomer, 72, of Chaffee died Sunday, Dec. 17, 1995, at the Chaffee Nursing Center. She was born Sept. 7, 1923, in Ripley County, daughter of Will Collins and India Acre. She was married to Clois Coomer, who died Jan. 19, 1994. Survivors include four brothers, Norman Collins of Farmington, J.R. ...

PERRYVILLE -- Ray Ervin Baldwin, 81, of Perryville died Sunday, Dec. 17, 1995, at Perry County Memorial Hospital. Funeral arrangements are incomplete with Miller Family Funeral Home in Perryville.

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. -- Willis E. Gowins III, 31, of Huntsville and formerly of Scott City died Saturday, Dec. 16, 1995, at his home. He was born July 29, 1964, at Rolla, son of Gene Elmer Gowins and Pearl Beatrice Martin. He was employed as a carpet layer...

McCLURE, Ill. -- Caroline McClure Smith Webb, 71, of McClure died Saturday, Dec. 16, 1995, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. Funeral arrangements are incomplete at Ford & Sons Funeral Home in Cape Girardeau.

KANSAS CITY -- Robert Marion Dietiker, 57, of Kansas City and formerly of Cape Girardeau, died Friday, Dec. 15, 1995, at his home. He was born Jan. 3, 1938, in Cape Girardeau. Dietiker was a steel worker for ARMCO Steel & Gst., an Air Force veteran, and a leader for Troops 88 and 269 of the Boy Scouts of America...

McCLURE, Ill. -- Earl L. Goodman, 87, of McClure died Sunday, Dec. 17, 1995, at his home. He was born April 3, 1908, at Gravel Hill, son of Sidney Walter and Lizzie B. Ward Goodman. On Dec. 24, 1934, he married Opal Ripple, who preceded him in death March 25, 1989. On April 14, 1991, he married Pauline Hooker...

Ever since the fall of communism a few years ago, I've had difficulty getting into the Christmas spirit. Not that the Commies ever advocated anything resembling Christmas, but when we once believed the Russians could be landing on U.S. shores at any moment, I could always rely on an organization known as the National Defense Committee. ...

Imagine the economic impact of a new industry in Cape Girardeau County with an annual payroll of nearly $7 million. In all likelihood, most of that payroll would be spent in stores, to purchase automobiles or to buy houses in the county. Sales-tax revenue from the increased spending would benefit city and county governments. ...

More good news at this holiday season: KRCU, the public radio station at Southeast Missouri State University, is joining the Public Radio International network, which means it will be able to add such popular programs as "A Prairie Home Companion" and "Whad'Ya Know?"...

This week the Southeast Missourian asked, "Do you think the Cape Girardeau School Board was correct in dismissing Dr. Neyland Clark?" Della Buckman, Cape Girardeau "No, I think he was doing a good job." J.W. Buckman, Cape Girardeau "No. He had a three-year contract. I thought he was a good man."...

Although the responsibilities of the Missouri Highway and Transportation Department include planning for all forms of transportation in the state, some feel the highway portion of the name overshadows all else. To eliminate that supposed perception in the minds of Missourians, a special committee of the Missouri House of Representatives last month suggested changing the department's name to better reflect its dedication to furthering aviation, waterways, railroads and mass transit as well as the highway system.. ...

Jackson Board of Aldermen Agenda, Monday, Dec. 18, 7:30 p.m. Approve the 1996 proposed budget. Adopt a drug and alcohol testing policy. Authorize a pay request in the amount of $69,660.14 to Penzel Construction Co. for renovation of the new City Hall...

Two weeks ago, the Cape Girardeau City Council voted to submit to voters a dozen proposed changes to the city charter. But City Manager Michael Miller wants the council to remove two of the amendments that were slated to be on the April 2 ballot. The council will consider the request tonight...

Cape Girardeau City Council Monday, 7:30 p.m., City Hall Consent Ordinances (Second and third readings) Execute a license and indemnity agreement to place a temporary gravel street on Dixie Boulevard right of way. Prohibit on-street parking on a section of South Sprigg...

The Spartech Corporation Board of Directors has authorized the repurchase of up to 5 percent of the company's outstanding common shares. The company will repurchase the stock from time-to-time in the open market, depending on market conditions over the next two years, said Bradley B. Buechler, Spartech president and CEO...

The Missouri Governor's Conference on Tourism, to be held Jan. 23-25 at Capitol Plaza Hotel in Jefferson City, will focus on changes in the travel industry. "Change Is in the Air" will be the theme for the annual conference, sponsored by the Division of Tourism and the Missouri Travel Council...

The Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce's "Business After Hours" will be held Tuesday at The Clubhouse. The monthly meeting is held the third Tuesday of each month from 5-6:30 p.m.

Shareholders of Boatmen's Bancshares Inc. and Fourth Financial Corporation have approved the merger of the two companies. Seventy-seven percent of Boatmen's outstanding shares were represented during a meeting at St. Louis where 95 percent of them voted in favor of the merger. In a similar meeting at Wichita, 80 percent of Fourth Financial shares were represented, with 98 percent voting iv favor of the merger agreement...

SEMO Port Railroad has moved its first carload of materials in conjunction with the Southern Pacific Railroad, aka Cotton Belt. The boxcar was loaded with 70 tons of specialty chemical powder in 2,500-pound bags, moving them from QC Corporation on Nash Road en route to a customer in California...

MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- French cosmetics giant L'Oreal SA says it will buy U.S. rival Maybelline Inc., the nation's third largest maker of beauty products, in a $660 million deal. The stock and debt transaction Sunday further solidifies Paris-based L'Oreal's position as the world's largest cosmetics maker and would catapult it ahead of No.1 Procter & Gamble Co.'s Cover Girl brands and No. 2 Revlon Inc. in the U.S. market...

The Students to Employment Program of Kelly High School near Benton recently toured facilities at Thorngate Ltd., the Cape Girardeau Police Department, the Missouri Division of Employment Service and the Mississippi River Wall of Fame. The purpose of the tour and other field trips is to make students aware of various employment opportunities in the area and to educate them to support services possibly needed in post-high school life...

BOSTON -- The Bank of Boston Corp. is buying rival BayBanks Inc. in a merger that will create one of the 15 largest banks in the country. Under the $2 billion deal reached last week, the two Boston-based banks will form a new bank with combined assets of more than $56 billion and more than 400 branches...

Copi-Rite Inc., 1526 Independence, has been named the Cape Girardeau agent for S.D. Warren Company's SpectraTech Business Papers. Truman R. Cole Jr., Copi-Rite Inc. president, said taking on the paper business was a logical progression for the company, which has been selling and servicing office machines for 28 years...

The Runway Restaurant at Cape Girardeau Regional Airport is under new management. Trevier Minton of West Frankfort, Ill. recently assumed operation of the restaurant. Minton has restaurant and grocery store management experience. New restaurant hours will be 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday, and 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday...

Rhodes Oil Co. has opened its newest Rhodes 101 Stop in Southeast Missouri. The newly-constructed service station/convenience store operation at 2111 Independence in Cape Girardeau opened last week, and replaces a former Rhodes service station adjacent to the new location...

Paula J. Waller of Cape Girardeau has joined Andrews Chiropractic and Acupuncture Center of Southeast Missouri, 3874 E. Jackson Blvd., as care and communications coordinator. Dr. Khonda Andrews announced Waller's appointment. In addition to coordinating inner-office activities with patients, Waller, a native of Jackson, also will be responsible for handling the community related educational activities at the center...