Stories from Saturday, July 19, 1997

It's 12:40 p.m. With sweat beads building up under the brim of his hat, Randy Loberg, an employee for the parks and recreation department, steps off his Groundsmaster 322-D. He walks toward the 7-UP machine behind Capaha Municipal Swimming Pool for a soda break...

New contracts are on the way for Cape Girardeau school teachers, but the district's technology coordinator was put on hold for at least another week. The district's Board of Education met in a special meeting Friday to consider several agenda items for the 1997-98 school year. ...

It is taps for the Army ROTC at Southeast Missouri State University, which shut its doors for the last time this week. The Army made the decision to close the unit due to limited resources, declining enrollment and a far-reaching effort to downsize the number of U.S. Army officers, officials said...

Whether he's performing his favorite rope trick, turning a balloon into Alex the rabbit or charming his pet snake, David Copperhead, Rob Huff keeps his audience captivated. Now the Caruthersville School Board hopes Huff will have the same magical touch with his new audience, the students, parents and teachers of Caruthersville High School...

When City Councilman Melvin Gateley asked Southeast Missouri State University officials whether they would consider expanding the university shuttle system to serve other parts of Cape Girardeau, he didn't know about Carbondale. When he found out, he was pleasantly surprised...

People who pursue "bad guy" careers in their communities deserve admiration rather than animosity. An old adage that is very true claims that you shouldn't do business with friends or family. That's a prophetic concept; one which Patrick and I have learned the hard way...

ON MY way to work, I drive on West End Boulevard everyday, I always see this sign: "Pray to end abortion." It always seems to jump out at me. I think we should not be praying to end abortion. I think we should be praying for young teens and young adults to get smart to use some form of birth control so there wouldn't be any abortions in the future...

Municipal bands once were part of the community fabric of virtually every town in the land. Some larger towns boasted more than one band, and the concerts were as much a part of summer evenings as muggy weather. The tradition continues today, although fewer and fewer towns have municipal bands. Nowhere is the interest and support higher than in Jackson and Cape Girardeau. Both towns have bands, and they are among the jewels that both communities can boast about...

You see the ads from time to time in magazines devoted to historic preservation or trade journals for highway contractors: Bridge available for removal and restoration. Contact the Missouri Department of Transportation. The old bridge over the Mississippi River here at Cape Girardeau has been advertised. The transportation department will give it away to anyone who can afford to remove it, which is a major consideration...

To the editor: Cape Girardeau and its environs are a treasure trove of fascinating things to see and do. An example is the agribusiness tour sponsored by the Jackson Chamber of Commerce. We've just returned from visits to Jerry Siemer's dairy and the Don Heisserer farm where we saw highly innovative technology transforming agriculture production economics while helping to make our groundwater safe...

To the editor: Doe Run Co.'s mineral prospecting permit should be approved immediately. Mineral exploration drilling does no longterm damage to its surroundings. By opening areas of dense forest cover to sunlights ad roads and drill pads are cleared, drilling operations diversify the environment and benefit local plants and animals...

Have kayak will travel could be the motto of two Royal Marines from the United Kingdom who are traveling the length of the Mississippi River this summer. They have been assisted by two other Royal Marines, who have served as advance men, traveling by road...

Early widespread screening and a lower cut-off point for clinical diagnosis of diabetes should cut costs in health care by decreasing costly complications. Diabetes, a chronic non-curable disease affecting the body's ability to produce insulin that controls blood sugar levels in the body, can produce complications such as blindness, kidney disease, heat disease and stroke. It is the nation's fourth leading cause of death by disease...

New Southeast Missouri State University basketball coach Gary Garner feels like he hit the jackpot with the two assistant coaches who will join him for the 1997-98 season. Garner announced Friday that he has filled two of his three assistant coaching positions and the pair will certainly bring impressive credentials to the Indians' program...

Daughter to Christopher Thomas Clemons of Cape Girardeau and Jennifer Lynn Gribler of Glen Allen, Southeast Missouri Hospital, 1:01 p.m. Monday, July 14, 1997. Name, Taelyn Rhai. Weight, 6 pounds 7 ounces. Ms. Gribler is the daughter of Lydia Stull of Marble Hill. She is employed at Stull's Self Serve in Marble Hill. Clemons is the son of John and Flora Clemons of Cape Girardeau. He is employed at Lee-Rowan in Jackson...

COBDEN, Ill. -- Helen B. Dodd, 88, of Cobden, Ill., died Friday, July 18, 1997, at the City Care Center in Cobden. She was born Aug. 24, 1908, daughter of Florence and Alice Axley Brown in Union County, Ill. She and Paul Dodd were married in 1926 in Granite City, Ill. He survives...

PERRYVILLE -- Louise B. Buchheit, 89, of Perryville died Friday, July 18, 1997, at Perry County Memorial Hospital. She was born May 6, 1908, in Perry County, daughter of Joseph N. and Theresa B. Sauer Buchheit. She and Thomas A. Buchheit were married May 3, 1934. He died Aug. 11, 1980...

Graveside service for Emil C. "Peanuts" Phillips, 3973 County Road 645, will be held at 4 p.m. today at Hanover Lutheran Church Cemetery. The Rev. Jeffrey Sippy will officiate. There is no visitation. McCombs Funeral Home in Cape Girardeau is in charge of arrangements...

DEXTER -- Ida Boone Kennedy, 96, of Dexter died Thursday, July 17, 1997, at Mark Twain Caring Center in Poplar Bluff. She was born April 18, 1901, in Essex, daughter of Emery and Julia Ann Trotter West. She and Albert Boone were married May 7, 1916. He died March 21, 1958. She later married E.F. Kennedy Jan. 8, 1960. He died Feb. 17, 1976...

SIKESTON -- Joe T. Southard, 66, of Ozark, Ala., died Thursday, July 17, 1997, at the home of a daughter in Ozark. He was born March 10, 1931, in Stone County, Ark., son of George and Becky Presnell Southard. He and Jewell Glass were married Feb. 27, 1950. She died Dec. 1, 1995...