Stories from Wednesday, April 23, 1997

The job of educating children is essential. Too often, people don't stop and pat teachers on the back for important job they do. That's why Educator of Year awards in both Cape Girardeau and Jackson are noteworthy. It offers a chance to showcase some of the best educators in the region...

It doesn't take much to plant a seed. Such is the case with Random Acts of Kindness Week, which is scheduled for May 11-17 in the Cape Girardeau area. Already, more than 50 participants have signed up for the week representing more than 2,000 people. ...

When discussing the building growth in Cape Girardeau, I was reminded that the explosion of new and enlarged CHURCHES should not be overlooked. Also their increased attendance. State Sen. PETER KINDER had a rare week of legislative accomplishments for a member of the minority party (minority members historically do not get bills passed that they handle)...

The Cape Girardeau City Council has decided it will seek help from experts on community matters involving youths: Council members unanimously passed a resolution Monday night appointing eight students to an advisory board to the Council. Ben Edwards, Matt Fisher, Jean Meyer and Thuy Ha, all from Notre Dame High School; and Christy Hey, Holly Brantley, Neal Totton and Caroline Giles, all from Cape Girardeau Central High School, were named to the advisory board...

All stops along the way should prove to be beautiful during the seventh annual Mississippi River Valley Scenic Drive. Dr. Frank Nickel, director of the Center for Regional History at Southeast Missouri State University and an organizer of the drive, said he hopes for good weather and a good crowd for the multicommunity event set for Saturday and Sunday...

After five years in the making, Sam's Club opens today in Cape Girardeau with a full round of festivities starting at 9 a.m. The festivities begin with a ribbon-cutting and end tonight with a free concert by country and western singer Rick Trevino. In between, grand-opening-day events at the newest Sam's Club, a 114,000-square-foot building that features more than 3,500 items for businesses and home use, include merchandise and food demonstrations, a Texaco NASCAR show car, and giving of a number of gifts, including a $2,500 cruise, color television, two sets of tires, and a $500 Sam's Club Shopping spree.. ...

Complaints from three Southeast Missouri State University students prompted a judicial committee to order another election for some student government candidates. Loren Rullman, director of the University Center and faculty adviser to student government, said an election for only student senate positions will be held in Group Housing and Towers on May 7...

Political leaders from the governor on down remain optimistic that state lawmakers will approve funding for construction of a vocational-technical school in Cape Girardeau. Optimism was afloat Tuesday even after lawmakers cut it from a bill appropriating operating funds for the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education...

A study of graduation requirements at Cape Girardeau Central High School recommends a change in what courses students need to earn a diploma. A committee that looked at requirements said the number of credits required for graduation should stay at 23; but the courses required would be altered under the suggested change...

BURFORDVILLE -- Jack Smoot doesn't know what will happen to the covered bridge at Bollinger Mill State Historic Site if the bridge isn't restored soon. "I don't know how to answer that," historic-site administrator Smoot said when asked. "It's impossible to say."...

To many people, spring means the blossoming of flowers, fresh warm breezes, picnics and cookouts, and long evening walks. And while all of that is great, what spring really means is golf. Now that the mornings aren't bitterly cold, notice I'm not going so far as to call them warm, I've hoisted the bag onto my shoulders, cleaned the dust from my spikes and fitted the cracked and worn golf glove to my hand...

The driver of one of the cars involved in a head-on collision in Perryville died Monday night at Southeast Missouri Hospital. John Fernow, 44, of Route 3 Perry County, died on the operating table, said Herb Miller, the Perry County coroner. Three others were injured in the accident Monday afternoon on Highway 61 north of Perryville. ...

When Charlotte Dirnberger helped daughter Rita type an essay for school, she didn't realize it would win a state writing award. Last Saturday the Dirnberger family received a telephone call telling them Rita had won. "I thought I was just helping her type her homework paper," said Dirnberger. ...

Foot-in-mouth is a disease that afflicts everyone. As an alleged language columnist, I am among the most vulnerable. After boasting in my last column that I could write a whole essay on the pronunciations of the letter "o," I became an immediate target...

Monday, April 21, 1997 Power and Light Committee Passed ordinance amending the residency requirements of full time employees which allows employees to live outside of the city limits. Passed ordinance designating the assistant city attorney to assume city collector duties...

Students at Immaculate Conception Catholic School have the option of wearing school uniforms. The Southeast Missourian asked them about their preferences. Sarah Nenninger: "I think that wearing regular clothes to school is more comfortable and cooler. I wore uniforms to school when I was in kindergarten and first grade. I like to have more of a choice of clothes."...

JACKSON -- School renovation projects were among agenda items during a Jackson Board of Education meeting Tuesday night. Board members approved bids for four capital projects that will begin this summer. More than $50,000 will be spent on improvements to the R.O. Hawkins Junior High School gymnasium. A bid of $21,909 was accepted from R.L. Jackson to replace bleachers, and a $30,096 bid from Martin Surfacing Inc. to replace the gym floor was accepted...

One of the more familiar faces on the area baseball coaching scene will be moving across the state in the next couple of months. Bob Coons, an assistant baseball coach at Cape Girardeau Central High School for the past six seasons and also the head coach of Cape's Junior American Legion baseball team the past several summers, has accepted a teaching and coaching position at Logan-Rogersville High School near Springfield...

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Morehead State saw a 3-stroke lead shrink to a single shot Tuesday in the second round of the Ohio Valley Conference golf tournament at the Springhouse Golf Club. The Eagles shot an even-par round of 288 for a two-day total of 2-under-par 574. Eastern Kentucky is in second place with a 1-under 575 team total. The Colonels shot a 2-under 286 on Tuesday...

Southeast Missouri State University's scheduled Tuesday night game against Missouri Baptist at Capaha Park was canceled because of wet grounds. The Indians (17-21) will host Memphis today in a 3 p.m. doubleheader.

Six Southeast Missouri State University gymnasts have been honored by the United States Gymnastics Association as U.S. Collegiate National Team members. Kate Farrington, Erin Chenier, Kristin Frohlich, Malia Roberts and Ericka Harrison earned first-team honors while Cristie Logan made the second team...

Southeast Missouri State University's softball team can clinch its third straight Ohio Valley Conference regular-season championship today at Tennessee-Martin. The Otahkians need to win only one game of the 3 p.m. doubleheader to wrap up another OVC title...

Cape Girardeau Fire Chief Dan White found more than firefighters at his command this past weekend. Playing his third round ever at Jaycees Municipal Golf Course, White commanded his tee shot on the No. 12 hole to find the cup. Using a four-iron, White aced the 169-yard par 3...

Notre Dame High's girls soccer team picked up a thrilling 1-0 victory over visiting Poplar Bluff Tuesday in a game that was decided by penalty kicks. The squads failed to score through regulation and two 10-minute overtime periods. The Lady Bulldogs then converted four of their five penalty kicks while the Lady Mules managed just three of five...

MOREHOUSE -- Funeral service for Frieda Cambron of Morehouse will be held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at Watkins and Sons Funeral Home in Morehouse. The Rev. Randy Thomas will officiate, with burial in Taylor Cemetery near Essex. Friends may call at the funeral home from 4-8 p.m. today...

SIKESTON -- Larry E. Stewart, 54, of Sikeston died Monday, April 21, 1997, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. He was born Dec. 3, 1942, in Wabash, Ind., son of Perry E. and Geneva A. Ramer Stewart. He and Bonnie E. Brinkman were married Dec. 27, 1970, in Indianapolis, Ind...

ULLIN, Ill. -- Funeral service for Cecil Mowery of Ullin will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday at Crain Funeral Home in Ullin. The Revs. William Gholson and Mark Best will officiate, with burial in St. John's Cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home after 4 p.m. today...

ARBOR -- Funeral service for Lanson W. Cox of Arbor will be held at 2 p.m. today at Morgan Funeral Chapel in Advance. The Revs. Bob Bradford and Naamon Eaker will officiate. Burial will be in Morgan Memorial Park, with graveside rites by Advance VFW Post 7750...

ADVANCE -- Betty Jean Owens, 70, of Advance died Monday, April 21, 1997, at her home. She was born Jan. 18, 1927, in Marianna, Ark., daughter of David and Bertha Sample Owens. Owens had been a nurse for Dr. E.C. Masters in Advance, and was a cook on a river boat...

Dorothy Penzel, 77, 1844 Woodlawn, died Tuesday, April 22, 1997, at Ratliff Care Center. She was born Oct. 5, 1919, at Jackson, daughter of Edwin L. and Alma Gockel Kies. She and George A. Penzel were married June 5, 1944, at Camp San Luis Obispo, Calif...

CHARLESTON -- Funeral service for Lillian V. Johnson of O'Fallon will be held at 10 a.m. Friday at McMikle Funeral Home in Charleston. The Rev. Michael Ryan will officiate, with burial in IOOF Cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home from 5-8 p.m. Thursday...

MATTHEWS -- Leta S. Settles, 85, of Matthews died Tuesday, April 22, 1997, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. She was born March 22, 1912, in New Madrid County, daughter of William Gardner and Maudie Beck Hastings. She and Joseph Samuel Settles were married Dec. 25, 1930, in New Madrid County. He died April 28, 1972...

ANNA, Ill. -- Betty Lou Shelton, 61, of Anna died Tuesday, April 22, 1997, at her home. Lutz and Rendleman Funeral Home in Anna is in charge of arrangements.

Bernadine Marie Ray, 65, of Orange City, Fla., formerly of Cape Girardeau, died Monday, April 21, 1997, at her home. A native of Pinckneyville, Ill., she resided in Cape Girardeau from 1960 until moving to Florida in 1983. Ray had been an optometry assistant for Dr. Harold Buxton. She was a member of Grace United Methodist Church...

Hi! My name is Lydia Lid. I'm a funny little multi-functional necessity, whose primary purpose is to protect the products you purchase. But beyond that, I get little respect. I'm here today to share my sense of self-worth and how I can help you and your children learn to love me too as I help you grow and learn! First, a little "Rhyme Time," to tell you how I feel:...

As sure as bulbs bloom and grass greens, come April gardeners, novice or not, feel the tug to put hand to soil. "The winter is so long, by the first of April you're definitely ready to get out there and start planting some things," said Helen Hawkins, an intern in the Master Gardener program sponsored by the University of Missouri Extension...