Stories from Friday, July 24, 1998

To the editor: This is in response to a July 13 Speak Out caller. I don't know where he is getting his facts, but according to the information I can gather, we could cut out the federal income tax without replacing it with any new tax. According to the Office of Management and Budget, the federal government collected $740 billion from individual income taxes in 1997. ...

Several years ago I met a college student who told me this story: He was a cross-country runner in high school and college and he took a job as a laborer working to repair roads near his home. It was a sweltering July afternoon and he and his workmates were repairing some potholes on a small bridge...

POPLAR BLUFF -- An Arkansas woman was killed and three people injured in a three-vehicle accident on U.S. 67 Thursday afternoon. Pattie Duncan, 63, of Swiston, Ark., was killed when her car struck a pickup truck driven by Danny Anderson in the rear, then traveled across the highway and struck a second truck head-on, said the Missouri State Highway Patrol...

The Cape Girardeau Board of Education will organize a committee to name the school district's newest elementary school within the next month. During a meeting Thursday, superintendent Dr. Dan Tallent told board members contractors had begun work at the elementary school site near the intersection of Bertling and Sprigg streets. Tallent told board members district policy requires the board to form a committee to solicit suggestions and make a recommendation regarding the naming of any building...

Sunblock lotion comes in various strengths for both children and adults, from a protection factor of 8 to factor 50. The summer sun still sends many people in search of tanning oil and beachwear even though medical officials and the media continue to hype skin protection as a preventative to skin cancer...

Find happiness in Costa Rica? IF DR. Alan Journet is so impressed with how many light years ahead of us Costa Rica is, I would suggest he get a teaching position down there so he can live somewhere he would be happy. I am so sick of reading his garbage in the paper I could barf...

No matter what the news of the day is, everyone is talking about the weather. That's pretty normal. Even when the weather is ordinary, it tends to find its way into most civilized conversations. And when the weather is hotter, colder, wetter or windier than normal, it becomes THE topic of conversation...

Even though most Americans find ways to avoid the extremes of weather, they rely more and more on weather forecasts and reports about current conditions. They look at the Weather Channel and say to themselves, "It's as hot as blazes outside." Instead of watching a TV program beamed by satellite from Atlanta, they could step outdoors and check the weather for themselves...

To the editor: Just read the letter to your newspaper from my state representative, Gene Copeland, and almost shed crocodile tears. Evidently, Copeland has spent too much time under the hot sun on the beach at Gulf Shores, Ala. His charge against U.S. ...

To the editor:A photograph of someone who has since passed away. A recording of someone's voice now silenced by the stillness of death's sting. Beneath the soil their bodies lie, yet their presence is ever so with us. The writings of an author. Film clips of an actor. ...

To the editor: I am writing in response to state Rep. Gene Copeland's July 16 letter to the editor. Charged were made, and a conviction was handed down. Instead of apologizing to his constituents and his political party for having an overzealous, paid campaign worker, he is once again accusing everyone else, especially the Republican Party...

To the editor: When I drove down my driveway at the corner of Bellevue and Sprigg and looked again as I do every morning at the elegant Bellevue Street houses built years ago by Nehans and Hecht and now maintained and lived in by residents who are as concerned as the builders themselves must have been, I asked myself, "Gee, if these are the ugliest houses in our city, what must the others be like?"The writer who urges the City Council to chastise us makes a sweeping indictment of everything from "Pacific on east," apparently not impressed by the double-wide rose gardens. ...

MORLEY -- Today, Vince and Julie Draper will try to salvage the remnants of their manufacturing plant, which was destroyed by fire early Thursday. But they already know what the biggest loss was: decades of records that burned inside the buildings that housed the firm's offices...

The potential damage of chip mills is a disturbing one to a number of scientists in Missouri and other southeastern states. "My concern is protection of forests and wildlife," says Southeast Missouri biology professor Alan Journet, who is among more than 100 scientists who are asking President Bill Clinton's administrator for a ban on new chip mills...

Suddenly Aug. 18 has become a "red letter" date for Missouri gambling interests. That's the day local election officials will complete the voter verification process on initiative petitions on a constitution amendment to make it legal for gambling facilities to operate in artificial water surfaces...

Cape Girardeau's new Convention and Visitors Bureau director is looking for ideas. Terri Clark-Bauer, who started her new job Monday, told the CVB advisory board Thursday she wants to meet one-on-one with board members over the next week or so and "listen to you about your hopes and aspirations" for the CVB...

Maybe you never heard any sermons about this, but who cared until Melvin Gateley got in the sights of Speak Out callers? Don't get anyone who grew up on a farm -- which is just about everyone in these parts, it turns out -- started on which side is best for milking a cow...

U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Emerson said she wanted to "shout out loud" at times during debate in the House Thursday over the issue of partial-birth abortion. Emerson presided over the debate, serving as speaker pro tem. She is one of about 20 to 25 House Republicans who regularly preside over House sessions. She is the only woman who handles the duties...

After hosting last year's Girls Babe Ruth National Tournament, Benton will play host to the Midwest Plains Regional this weekend. Winners in the two age groups competing in the regional starting today advance to the national tournament held in Huma, La. Four teams will be competing in each of two age groups -- 13-15 year-olds and 12-and-under...

Jackson's upset magic ended Thursday night in the winner's bracket finals of the District 14 American Legion baseball tournament. And earlier in the evening, host Cape Girardeau's hopes of climbing out of the tournament loser's bracket ended as Ford & Sons was eliminated...

BALLWIN -- Chaffee's Junior American Legion baseball team got its state tournament off on the right foot Thursday with an 8-2 victory over Sedalia. Brian Obermann pitched all seven innings of the win and added two hits at the plate as Chaffee improved to 32-15. On the mound, Obermann fanned seven, walked none and allowed just six hits...

Seven female high school track and field athletes have signed national letters of intent to attend Southeast Missouri State University. Heading the group of signees is Hannah Stuckenschneider of Helias High School in Jefferson City. She is one of the most decorated Missouri Class 3A athletes in history, leading her team to three straight state titles and winning the maximum 12 all-state medals...

The annual Special Olympics Track & Field Meet held in Cape Girardeau has gotten so popular, Penny Blanford doesn't see why the same can't hold true for softball. Saturday, 10 teams will gather at the Shawnee Park Sports Complex for the first annual District Special Olympics Softball Tournament. Opening ceremonies will be at 9:15 a.m., with play beginning at 10 a.m. and running until about 4 p.m...

Cape Girardeau Central's football camp will be held July 27-31 at the practice field near the high school. The junior high camp, for grades 8-9, will be from 9-11 a.m. while the varsity camp, for grades 10-12, will be from 6-8 p.m. The camp is free of charge...

The McDowell Capahas' annual benefit raffle will be drawn Sunday during the baseball team's final home action of the season. McDowell will take on Fairview Heights, Ill., in a 1 p.m. doubleheader at Capaha Field. Raffle tickets are still available at Howard's and Auto Tire & Parts and they can also be purchased from manager Jess Bolen and his wife Mary...

COBDEN, Ill. -- Lettie F. Basler, 88, of Cobden died Wednesday, July 22, 1998, at the home of a son. She was born Nov. 13, 1909, daughter of Roscoe and Millie Peterman Pearson. She married Frank "Beck" Basler Jan. 21, 1932, in Cobden. He died Nov. 10, 1984...

SIKESTON -- Funeral for George G. Story of Sikeston will be held at 2 p.m. today at the United Methodist Church in Charleston. The Rev. Rick White will officiate, with burial in IOOF Cemetery. McMikle Funeral Home at Charleston is in charge of arrangements...

PERRYVILLE -- Funeral for Roy Lee Moll of Perryville will be held at 2 p.m. Friday at Young and Sons Funeral Home. The Rev. Kevin Fausz will officiate, with burial in Mt. Hope Cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home from 11 a.m. until service time...

ANNA, Ill. -- Mary Seals Stokes, 81, of Anna died Thursday, July 23, 1998, at City Care Center. She was born Sept. 23, 1916, at Villa Ridge, daughter of W.L. and Bertie Whitehead Holderfield. Stokes was retired from Florsheim Shoe Co., and was a member of First Baptist Church in Ullin...

McCLURE, Ill. -- Audrey Maggie Pulley, 85, of McClure died Thursday, July 23, 1998, at her home. She was born Nov. 27, 1912, in Bollinger County, Mo., daughter of Lorrance and Elizabeth Eaker James. She and J.D. Pulley were married July 29, 1950, in Piggott, Ark...

LIXVILLE -- Helen G. Statler, 76, of Lixville died Wednesday, July 22, 1998, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. She was born Aug. 18, 1921, in Bollinger County, daughter of Ferdinand and Polly Ann McGraw Propst. She and Dewey E. Statler were married March 16, 1940...

CHARLESTON -- Clarence Edward Simpkins, 52, of Indianapolis, Ind., died Sunday, July 19, 1998, from injuries received in an automobile accident. He was born Oct. 3, 1946, at Dorena, son of George and Hattie Wilson Simpkins Sr. Simpkins was a self-employed mechanic and towing operator. He was a 32nd Degree Mason. He had lived in Indianapolis 19 years...

BENTON -- Daniel E. Byrd, 64, Benton Route 1, drowned Wednesday, July 22, 1998, at Wappapello Lake. He was born Nov. 24, 1933, in St. Louis, son of Ira and Naomi Faulkner Byrd. He and Bonnie Sue Houchins were married June 30, 1993. Byrd served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War, and also served 21 years in the U.S. Air Force, retiring as a senior master sergeant. He had worked at Noranda Aluminum in New Madrid...

SIKESTON -- Rodney Jackson, 30, of Sikeston died Wednesday, July 22, 1998, in a motorcycle-automobile accident near Sikeston. Ponder Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

SIKESTON -- Odell Miller, 70, of Sikeston died Thursday, July 23, 1998, at Missouri Delta Medical Center. Ponder Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Son to Leon and Amanda Sides of Cape Girardeau, St. Luke's Hospital in St. Louis, 10 a.m. Thursday, July 9, 1998. Name, Teddy Austin. Weight, 2 pounds 11 ounces. First child. Mrs. Sides is the former Amanda Ing, daughter of Ted and Ricki Ing of Cape Girardeau. She is a student at Southeast Missouri State University. Sides is the son of Nancy Rener of Cape Girardeau. He is a route salesman with 1st Tire and Wheel...

DEXTER -- Pete Kiger, 84, of Dexter, died Wednesday, July 22, 1998, at his home. He was born March 22, 1914, in Jonesboro, Ark., son of Will and Cardezia Grooms Kiger. He and Kathleen Reeves were married Oct. 7, 1940, at Wardell. Kiger was retired from Malden Wholesale Co. He had lived at Dexter since 1956, and was a member of Apostolic Pentecostal Church...