Stories from Friday, August 22, 1997

This morning, Dianna Eldridge learns if she got the first job she has applied for in many years. Eldridge, a welfare recipient for more years than she cares to admit, celebrated her high school graduation Thursday night. The Advance woman is among 125 people this year who earned their high school equivalency degree through the Adult Basic Education program at the Cape Girardeau Area Vocational-Technical School. About 30 of the graduates attended the commencement ceremony Thursday...

JACKSON -- The late enrollment of 144 students has forced the last-minute hiring of three teachers to ease class sizes in Jackson elementary schools. Assistant Superintendent Fred Jones said there was an unexpected influx of students enrolled last week between Wednesday and Friday. The late-arrivals pushed already large class sizes to a point administrators were uncomfortable with, he said, so three elementary teachers were hired over the weekend...

The Cape Girardeau area has profited from an enterprise zone that has generated $191 million in new investment and nearly 2,400 new jobs, economic development officials say. The zone wins high marks from Mitch Robinson, executive director of the Cape Girardeau Area Industrial Recruitment Association...

The new doorbell is an electronic marvel that sounds like the latest technology mixed with a terrible mistake. We have a new doorbell on our front door, thanks to friends who were tired of banging until their knuckles were raw. While our front door is on the sidewalk level, we actually live on what most folks consider the second floor. ...

Southeast Missouri teams participating in the SlamFest '97 basketball tournament this weekend will be in the majority, but not by much. Organizer Scott Porter said teams from around the country have contacted him requesting information about the double-elimination tournament taking place Saturday and Sunday in Indian Park. Already, teams from Chicago, Atlanta and Milwaukee have confirmed their participation...

Some 28 Clippard Elementary School kindergartners will be bused temporarily to a nearby church until a mobile classroom ordered by the district arrives next month. Principal Stan Seiler announced Thursday that the students would attend school in the youth center at the First Assembly of God Church at 750 N. Mount Auburn Road, until an extra classroom is in place. Completion of the mobile classroom, which is necessary because of high enrollment at the school, isn't expected before mid-September...

To the editor: This letter is in response to the published article by the Associated Press as presented recently in the Southeast Missourian. Reacting to published reports by the media about failures of Omega fire sprinklers produced by Central Sprinkler Corp., I also was alarmed that this equipment may have been installed in our area. A survey of the sprinkler contractors that have worked in the Cape area shows that the Omega sprinkler head is not in use...

I SURELY think it's wrong for someone to smear the picture of Rush Limbaugh. I surely think he is wrong for him to smear the character of many people as he have over the airwaves. Maybe the wheel is turned. WE ARE going to find out if the welfare program worked. ...

A recent nationwide poll indicates a positive mood around the country. Almost half of the respondents to the poll say they are "satisfied" with the way things are going. Nearly two-thirds said congressional incumbents deserve re-election. And the respondents gave President Clinton a 59 percent approval rating, nearly as high as President Reagan's 62 percent at the same point in his second term...

One example of careful tinkering that has contributed to the overall positive mood of Americans, as registered in the recent nationwide poll, is the Federal Reserve Board's cautious attitude toward interest rates. This week, the Fed held off on any changes in interest rates. The rates were last adjusted in March, when key rates were nudged up by a quarter of a point...

Southeast Missouri State University has announced its 1997-98 men's basketball schedule which includes 15 home dates, including a Nov. 26 contest against the Bradley Braves of the Missouri Valley Conference. The road schedule looks most interesting with contests at Missouri and Colorado of the Big Twelve Conference, Louisville of Conference USA and Southern Illinois of the Missouri Valley...

With all the rolling hills and open fields of Missouri, it would seem the state would be full of young motocross cyclists But Max and Vince Friese, sons of Doug and Lisa Friese of Cape Girardeau, were the only two Missouri competitors in their age groups at the 1997 National Motocross Championships held Aug. 4-9 at Loretta Lynn's Ranch in Hurricane Mills, Tenn...

The Misfits men's slow pitch softball team topped a field of 43 teams to capture the Missouri ASA Class C State Championship. The Misfits compiled a 6-1 tournament record in winning the title. The squad advanced to the championship game with an 18-17 trimming of Megan Sports, a 10-5 win over Chicks Tap Room, a 17-10 victory over All-Star Gas, a 19-4 rout of Wave Computers and 13-5 win over Winners Edge...

The first week of high school football practice is over and now the focus of area teams has moved to scrimmages as they prepare for their first games. Central and Jackson will hold inter-squad scrimmages tonight on their home fields. Scott City and Chaffee will continue to practice in the coming week before holding their own scrimmages...

EAST PRAIRIE -- Jolly J. Grounds, 66, of Brighton, Ill., died Wednesday, Aug. 20, 1997, at Alton Memorial Hospital in Alton, Ill. He was born Aug. 21, 1930, at Cave-in-Rock, Ill., son of Jolly and Gertie Cruse Grounds. He and Bonnie J. Ray were married July 3, 1958...

SIKESTON -- Memorial service for Lula Dye of Sikeston will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday at Ponder Funeral Home. Friends may call from noon until service time. Dye, 72, died Wednesday, Aug. 20, 1997, at Missouri Delta Medical Center.

Funeral Mass for Jose H. Mireles of Houston, Texas, will be held at 10 a.m. today at San Jose Catholic Church in Hereford, Texas. The Rev. Domingo Castillo will officiate, with burial in St. Anthony's Cemetery. Rix Funeral Home in Hereford is in charge of arrangements...

WHITEWATER -- Norman Leo Blumenberg, 62, of Whitewater died Thursday, Aug. 21, 1997, at Barnes Hospital in St. Louis. He was born Sept. 23, 1934, at Whitewater, son of Emil Alvin and Ruby Amelia Schlimme Blumenberg. He and Sue McDougal were married July 5, 1953, in Iuka, Miss...

Diana Marie Seabaugh, 53, of Jones Creek, Texas, died Wednesday, Aug. 20, 1997, at her home. She was born Sept. 29, 1943, in Sweetwater, Texas, daughter of Clifton and Margaret Flynn. Seabaugh was a member of the Church of Christ. Survivors include her husband, Jerry; three sons, Kevin Burns of Sugarland, Texas, Lynn Seabaugh of Cape Girardeau, Chris Seabaugh of Pevely; two daughters, Christine Anderson of Jones Creek, Tammi Babcock of Poplar Bluff; her parents of Sweetwater; three sisters, Virginia Taylor of Altus, Okla., Frances Frizzell and Melanie Mills of Sweetwater; two brothers, Michael Flynn of Monroeville, Pa., Dalton Flynn of Sweetwater; and 10 grandchildren.. ...

PERRYVILLE -- Zella Flora Prost, 96, of Perryville died Thursday, Aug. 21, 1997, at her home. She was born Sept. 17, 1900, in Perry County, daughter of William F. and Rosa S. Klemp Hoffman. She and Elliott Prost were married Sept. 12, 1921. He died in 1952...

Son to Brett Eric and Denise Kay Hency, Benton Route 1, Southeast Missouri Hospital, 3:48 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 13, 1997. Name, Jordan Kayleb Aaron. Weight, 7 pounds 2 ounces. Third son. Mrs. Hency is the former Denise Grimes, daughter of Larry and Ann Grimes, Benton Route 1. Hency is the son of Ralph and Betty Hency of Cape Girardeau. He is a driver/salesman with Pepsi Cola...

SCOTT CITY -- A memorial service for William A. Hopper of Lakeside, Ore., formerly of Scott City, will be held at 2 p.m. today at Lakeside Senior Center. Inurnment will be in St. Joseph Cemetery in Scott City at a later date. Hopper, 83, died Tuesday, Aug. 19, 1997, in Monroe, Ore...