Stories from Sunday, May 4, 1997

JACKSON -- Several years ago when Lorrie Christman became a widow her home became very quiet. Then, she made a phone call that changed her life and the life of her daughter, Karen Forgette. They became foster parents. "They brought a little boy to me ... that's all I needed," said Christman. Since being approved by the Division of Family Services, many children have passed through the women's home. Up to five foster children have lived with them at a time...

covering week of April 27-May 3 25 years ago, 1972 Kenneth J. Unnerstall of Cape girardeau has been appointed chairman of Cape Girardeau County Welfare Commission by County Court; welfare commission acts in advisory capacity to Division of Welfare office in Jackson; serving with Unnerstall are Delos Sebaugh of Daisy, Clarence Schlimpert of Jackson and Dr. R.C. Holliday of Cape Girardeau...

Beginning at 11:30 a.m. at Cox Memorial Hall today, the artwork of Herb Wickham can be viewed and purchased at the Pretty-Big Small-Town Biennial Art Show. Part of the money will be used to help New McKendree United Methodist Church refurbish the console of an organ that they have had since the 1970s...

The Summit has come and gone now. I watched the television coverage and read the newspaper accounts. Ret. Gen. Colin Powell called together the living presidents of the United States for a summit. Gen. Powell believes, along with many other persons in this country, that more Americans need to be in service, to each other, and for the greater benefit of all...

Lawmakers will return to Jefferson City tomorrow to begin the final two weeks of the legislative session that ends with adjournment for the year on Friday, May 16. As is usual at this point, most of the major issues are yet to be determined, with action building toward a last-week climax...

A few years ago I spent a 12-hour workday with the then-mayor of St. Louis, the purpose of which was to detail for column readers the hectic and demanding schedule followed by the chief executive of one of Missouri's large cities. The long day started uncomfortably early and proceeded well past the evening dinner period, far earlier and far later than 99 percent of the mayor's constituents...

Cape County Land Transfers Craig M. Morgan Trust to Hugh E. and Matilde M. Stone; Betty L. Hitt to James L. Drury; Dena and Mark Brewington to Sue N. Hawthorne and Lloyd S. Pierce; Tamara R. Hoffmeister to Norma M. Stricker and Mark Joseph Weber; M&W Development Co. ...

Affordable housing is almost nonexistent for families with low and moderate incomes in Cape Girardeau County and other counties in Southeast Missouri. Families with household incomes between $25,000 and $35,000 are having a tough time finding a home with affordable rent or mortgage payments, and many are turning to government agencies for help. Most are going unserved, though, because the agencies do not have the supply necessary to meet the demand...

Thirty percent of Southeast Missouri teens say teens should wait until marriage to have sex. Only 2 percent of teens in a national survey felt the same way. More than 100 teens from this region responded to the national poll about teens and freedom. ...

For the second year in a row, the Cape Girardeau Police Department has agreed to issue special warning tickets during Random Acts of Kindness Week, May 11-17. But don't go crazy. These special kindness warning tickets will be only issued at officers' discretion for such offenses as equipment repair or minor traffic infractions. They will replace written or verbal warnings that typically would be issued...

Private and public agencies are working together in Cape Girardeau to help combat the shortage of affordable family housing. A cooperative effort over the last two years between Cape Girardeau city government, the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce and eight private investors has resulted in the construction of 15 new three-bedroom homes throughout the city to accommodate low- and moderate-income families...

Even at 16 months of age, Bailey knows that some things are just yucky It's amazing how many words a 1-year-old knows and how well they can communicate without using full sentences. Our 16-month-old daughter, Bailey, can talk all day in one-word sentences...

Dr. Chris McGowan, chairman of the chemistry department at Tennessee Tech, has been named dean of the College of Science and Technology at Southeast Missouri State. McGowan replaces Dr. J.O. Snowden, who became dean of the College of Science and Engineering Technology at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock last year. McGowan will begin at Southeast in August...

SIKESTON -- John Bernard Edyvean Jr., 15 months, of Sikeston died Friday, May 2, 1997, at Cardinal Glennon Children's Hospital in St. Louis. He was born Jan. 4, 1996 in Cape Girardeau, son of John and Crystal Bewley Edyvean Sr., and they survive him...

More than $19,000 was raised during KRCU 90.9 FM's spring membership campaign, the station's most successful membership drive, said Greg Petrowich, station manager. The drive, which began in March, had members mail in nearly $4,500 in renewals. The on-air campaign generated more than $14,500 in pledges from 181 telephone calls. Sixty-nine new members pledged...

A fast-moving storm from the south blew through Southeast Missouri Friday causing hail, a funnel cloud, gusting winds and accidents. Twenty-three accidents, involving 49 vehicles, were reported in Cape Girardeau in a nine-hour period. That's one of the busiest nights for accidents the Cape Girardeau Police Department has had since Feb. 6, 1995, when 50 accidents were caused by snow and ice...

Many people have forgotten what a semaphore is, and most never knew how monkey bridges were used, but area Boy Scouts displayed their knowledge of both during an event Saturday. About 70 Shawnee District Boy Scouts displayed their building and teamwork skills during Pioneering Show and Do Day at Arena Park. Scouts, age 11 to 17, spent the day working with knots and lashings as members of the community and adult Scouters looked on...

On paper, it's hard to gauge just where Southeast Missouri State University's football team stands entering a critical 1997 season that comes on the heels of last year's 3-8 record. There is no guarantee, even with a hotshot quarterback transfer from the Division I-A ranks, that the Indians will be considerably better than they were a year ago...

The University of Tennessee-Martin baseball team has been a model of consistency this season, but that wasn't really a good thing. While putting together a 6-12 Ohio Valley Conference record, the Skyhawks had gone 1-2 against all six of their OVC opponents...

MCCLURE, Ill. -- Gerald Lee Smithey, 61, formerly of Jonesboro, died Saturday, May 3, 1997, in Decatur. He was born March 25, 1936, in McClure, son of Lester and Violet Johnson Smithey. He was a veteran and worked as a barber. Survivors include one son, Gilbert Lee Smithey; one sister, Katherine Womack of Jonesboro; and one niece and family, Yavonne, Billy, Chad and Erika Eads of Cobden...

MOREHEAD, Ky. -- Southeast Missouri State University's Kim Palmer, a senior from Dongola, Ill., was selected Ohio Valley Conference softball Player of the Year by OVC head coaches. Southeast's Lana Richmond was voted Coach of the Year, and three Otahkians joined Palmer on the all-OVC first team -- sophomore shortstop Jenny Oermann, junior outfielder Chris Shetley and sophomore pitcher Christine Engelhardt...

SPRINGFIELD -- Led by Grace Freeman, Cape Girardeau Central High's girls swimming team placed fifth out of 24 teams in Saturday's Springfield Invitational. Columbia Hickman won the meet while Blue Springs was second. Freeman set a new meet record in the 200 freestyle with a time of 1:58.07. She was also second in the 500 freestyle (5:28.38)...

MOREHEAD, Ky. -- Top-seeded Southeast Missouri State University won two games, both by a score of 2-1, here in the first round of the Ohio Valley Conference softball tournament Saturday. Southeast edged last seed Austin Peay in its first game before beating the No. 5 seed, Tennessee-Martin, despite gaining only three hits...

There are certain moments when it hits Buck McNeely exactly how much his little venture has turned into a real adventure. One of those moments will air today when McNeely, a native of Cape Girardeau, fishes for sharks with special guest Chuck Yeager in the Tazman Sea near New Zealand...

You don't have to go outside to enjoy the great outdoors. If you are looking for something to do during your spare time in May, why not come to the Missouri Department of Conservation's Regional Service Center where you're sure to find something of interest for all ages this month...

LAKES Binder: Normal, clear; crappie good in early morning and late evening; all other species fair. Bull Shoals (East): 7.8' above normal, slightly dingy; black bass good on lizards and spinnerbaits; crappie good on Roadrunners and minnows; white bass good on Rooster Tails and dark Rapalas; all other species slow...

Velo Girardeau, a local recreational bicycling club, will hold a meeting on Monday, May 12, at 7 p.m. in the Hirsch Community Room at the Cape Girardeau Public Library. The meeting is for current and new members interested in recreational bicycling. There will be a presentation, door prizes and refreshments will be served...

JACKSON -- Tryouts for Jackson's American Legion baseball program will be held Saturday, May 10 in the Legion field at Jackson City Park. Junior Legion tryouts will be from 10:30 a.m. until noon while Senior Legion tryouts will be from 2 p.m. until 4:30 p.m...

SCOTT CITY -- Dustin Cauble parlayed an all-state basketball career at Scott City High School into a college scholarship. Cauble, the Rams' two-time all-stater, recently signed a letter of intent with Southwestern College, an NAIA school in Winfield, Kan...

Ozzie Smith will be the featured instructor at the third annual Capaha Field Baseball Camp that will be held June 12 and 13 at Capaha Field. Youngsters between the ages of 6 and 16 are eligible to participate. Smith will be attending the camp Friday, June 13. Camp hours will be from 8 a.m. until 1 p.m. both days...

The Capaha Swimming Pool will open May 24 at 1 p.m. It will be open the entire Memorial Day Weekend. Central Pool will close Friday, May 23 at 8 p.m. and reopen June 9 at 5 a.m. for regular summer hours. Summer Municipal Pool hours: Central Pool: M-F 5-7 a.m. fitness swim; M-F 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. noon swim; M-F 1-8 p.m. public swim; SA 9-11 a.m. fitness swim; SA-SU 1-8 p.m. public swim...

SCOTT CITY -- Alma "Doris" Kinder, 75, of Scott City, died Friday, May 2, 1997, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. She was born Dec. 23, 1921, in Illmo, daughter of Thomas and Mable Brooks Kinder. She worked for many years at Emerson Electric Company, where she wired motors. She was of the Baptist faith...

Julia R. Schmid, 90, a resident of The Lutheran Home at 2825 Bloomfield Road, died Saturday, May 3, 1997. She was born April 21, 1907, in Zanesville, Ohio, daughter of Albert and Edith Bauer Frick. On Aug. 19, 1925, she married the Rev. Walter H. Schmid in Zanesville. He preceded her in death Feb. 9. 1973. She was a homemaker and member of Trinity Lutheran Church...

PERRYVILLE -- Frances Brewer, 100, of Perryville, died Saturday, May 3, 1997, at the Perry County Nursing Home. She was born Jan. 19, 1897, in Claryville, daughter of George and Teres Riney Esselman. On Aug. 19, 1919, she married Elvis Brewer, who preceded her in death Jan. 27, 1965...

ORAN -- Funeral Mass for Martha Clara Scheeter, formally of Oran, was held Saturday at Guardian Angel Catholic Church with the Rev. Lewis Hejna officiating. Amick-Burnett Funeral Chapel at Oran was in charge of arrangements. Scheeter, 82, died Thursday, May 1, 1997, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. She was a resident of Fountainblue Lodge, 2001 N. Kingshighway, in Cape Girardeau...

PERRYVILLE -- Leonard A. Cornelius, 83, of Perryville died Friday, May 2, 1997, at Perry Oaks Nursing Center. He was born Nov. 27, 1913, in Belgique, son of Alphonse and Mary Melton Cornelius. He married Luella Kirn on July 18, 1936, in Belgique and she preceded him in death on Sept. 22, 1988...

GIDEON -- Danny Wade McCallister, 45, of Gideon died Thursday, May 1, 1997, at Dexter Memorial Hospital. He was born July 3, 1951, in Gideon, son of Hubert and Martha Hill McCallister. He married Sharon Henson on May 1, 1971, in Gideon, and she survives him...

COBDEN, Ill. -- C. Walter Casper, 88, of Cobden died Friday, May 2, 1997, at Jonesboro Health Center. He was born May 7, 1908, in Cobden, son of Walter and Minnie Humphrey Casper. He married Gladys Bennett on Oct. 29, 1932, in Jackson County, Ill., and she survives him...

Cape County Land Transfers Cynthia D. and Randy S. Kellogg to Suzanne and Jerome D. Townsend; Wayne K. Rowland to Nancy McIntyre and Viola Surface; David G. and Donna L. Terry to Michael W. and Brenda J. Ates; Carletta Marie Bohnert to Carletta M. Bohnert Trust; Gary H. ...

-- Encourage students and children to write notes and bring flowers or goodies to their teachers and remember the people who don't normally receive any recognition, like the janitor, the school nurse or the principal's secretary. -- Give out hot cocoa to people on their way to work in the morning...

The phrase "Practice Random Kindness and Acts of Senseless Beausty" was first penned by California writer Anne Herbert in 1982. Almost a decade later, around the time of the Persian Gulf War in 1991 when people were feeling pessimistic and disconnected over the growing violence in the world, a woman noticed the phrase scrawled on a warehouse wall. ...

The local celebration of Random Acts of Kindness continues to spread -- stretching south to Charleston, north to Perryville and east to Cairo, Ill. Nearly 120 businesses, churches, organizations and schools have already signed up to participate. The observance begins next Sunday, May 11 and runs through May 17...

It isn't often that one can trace his introduction and subsequent relationship with a certain flower. They just come upon you naturally. Weren't you born knowing clover and dandelions? Here's my affair with lilacs. Mrs. Schmidt, who lived about a mile down the rocky road from us, made the best yeast bread one ever tasted. Once in a while Mama would send me over to buy a loaf...

The Cape Senior Center, 921 N. Clark, will sponsor a chicken and dumpling and ham dinner Sunday. Tickets will be sold at the door, and cost $5 for adults, $2.50 for children 6-11. The meal is free for those under age 6. Serving will be from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m...