Stories from Thursday, May 13, 1999

To the editor: In the May 10 Southeast Missourian, you published a picture of me receiving an award from the Breakfast and Evening Optimist clubs. The caption reflected the Optimist clubs were presenting me with a law-enforcement award. However, the Optimist clubs were actually presenting the Cape Girardeau Police Department with a plaque to demonstrate their appreciation for law-enforcement officers within our community. ...

Procter and Gamble Paper Products in Cape Girardeau donated 320 cases of diapers to the Oklahoma tornado victims. Relief supplies are being collected at the Cape Girardeau Wal-Mart store through the week. Iris Zelle called to thank the person who purchased her groceries at Schnucks Tuesday. "I am 87 years old and I have to use a walker and shopping can be a chore," she said...

When someone looks at Charlotte Lanpher, she wants them to see a wife, a mother, a business owner, a friend and a breast cancer survivor. Her battle with breast cancer 16 years ago opened a new door for Lanpher. She volunteers with the American Cancer Society's Reach to Recovery program...

Charles E. Woodford shares some of the same qualities as the Missouri mules he so admires: determination, loyalty and even stubbornness when it comes to getting a project done. The 74-year-old Cape Girardeau man has worked hard for veterans and other projects throughout the region. His retirement from 26 years in the military has been less than retiring as he continues to work with the local American Legion...

I SAW something today that deserves a special comment. I appreciate the flag that's flying at the Huck's Convenience Store at Bloomfield and Kingshighway. It really makes me feel good to know that some people respect our flag in such a manner. It is a beautiful flag, and I commend these people at Huck's for flying this flag. It looks so proud today flying in this wind. Keep up the good work, and I hope other people do the same...

Last week, the foreign ministers of the Group of Seven nations and Russia agreed upon an outline for a "political solution to the Kosovo crisis." The plan is intentionally vague and ambiguous on a number of very important issues. On its face the plan appears to call for the withdrawal of Serb forces from Kosovo, the deployment of an international peacekeeping force, the safe return of all refugees, self-government for Kosovo under the sovereignty of Yugoslavia and the disarming of the Kosovo Liberation Army.. ...

The issue of public transportation continues to receive more and more attention, but less and less seems to get done. The latest discussions have focused on Cape Girardeau's taxi coupons. This service provides heavily subsidized transportation for individuals who can't afford full taxi fares and rely on low-cost coupons for taxi service...

It is hard not to give a hearty thumbs up to Jesse Jackson for his recent trip to persuade Slobodan Milosevic to give up three American soldiers being held hostage as NATO troops bomb Yugoslavia. Goodness knows there are family members and friends of the released hostages who are overjoyed...

Natalie Goyette of Jackson headed to West Park Mall to shop for baby items and to pass a few hours. But her visit to the mall brought an unexpected treat when volunteers with Southeast Hospice gave away more than 600 hand-crafted sunflower pins in hopes of brightening someone's day...

Paul Schniedermeyer recently admitted to his young son that he was a geek when he was in school. The son was amazed. "You're popular," he said. Schniedermeyer wondered why he thought so. It was because his father was invited to go to work every day. "To him it was a social event," Schniedermeyer says...

Area movie enthusiasts and helpful relatives had light sabers and jovial attitudes in place Wednesday as they waited for advance tickets to the newest "Star Wars" movie. Some 300 people began lining up outside the Cape West 14 Cine as early as 8:30 p.m. Tuesday to be the first to purchase advance tickets for the newest "Star Wars" movie, "The Phantom Menace." Some brought light sabers and other props, a couple dressed as characters, others brought books and toys...

JACKSON -- Paul Wilson helped get the Timothy J. Ruopp Award started 14 years ago. But the Cape Girardeau County bailiff never would have imagined that one day he would receive the award. Wilson, who is retiring at the end of August, received the award Wednesday at a ceremony at the Cape Girardeau County Sheriff's Department...

May 13, 1999 Dear Pat, Reading of your cross-country trip to the Star Wars convention in Denver and hearing a man on "All Things Considered" say Star Wars was his religion growing up reminded me of a Pulitzer Prize winner's comment at a workshop. "I hate Ewoks," he said...

PERRYVILLE -- When Glenn Graham looks at the Perry Park Center he sees art and culture coming to Perryville. But Jeff Glenn sees something different. He wants to be the first person down the 109-foot-long water slide that shoots into the pool. Whether it's a water slide, swimming pool, aerobics room, a play, movie or a concert pianist's performance, you'll find it all at the Perry Park Center. And don't forget the public library...

Construction could begin on a new grocery store in Cape Girardeau sometime this year, said a representative of Piggly Wiggly Mid-South Inc. The grocery chain asked the city's Planning and Zoning Commission Wednesday for approval to rezone a 10.76 acre tract along North Kingshighway...

MINER -- The Miner Board of Aldermen has yet another new face on the panel -- sort of. Mayor Terry Cole presented the resignation of alderman Mitch Thompson, who was appointed to fill a vacancy last month. Thompson's resigned because he has been called for active duty with the military and would be unable to serve as alderman...

The River Campus isn't the only project on Southeast Missouri State University's drawing board. Although the university's plan to develop a former Catholic seminary into a River Campus for the visual and performing arts has garnered the public's attention, Southeast's administration also has other projects in the works for fiscal 2000...

Southeast Missouri State University would give students a fresh start and wipe out bad grades under a plan being pitched to the Board of Regents, who are scheduled to meet at 1:30 p.m. Friday in the University Center Ballroom. Dr. Dale Nitzschke, Southeast's president, and the Faculty Senate have recommended the board approve the "Academic Fresh Start" policy...

As Dexter's fifth-grade students began a new chapter of their lives armed with confidence gained through the Drug Alcohol and violence Resistance Education program, is was the closing of a chapter for longtime Dexter DARE officer Cpl. Shirley Alexander...

BRADENTON, Fla. -- With any luck, Steven Cecil will find himself on top of the world early next week. Or at least some 14,000 feet above the rest of us. A Bootheel native and former Sikeston resident, Cecil will be part of the May training seminar hosted by Recreational Equipment Incorporated, REI...

Irises, azaleas and poppies, perennial spring favorites, highlight gardens on this year's Garden and Kitchen Tour from 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday. Six homes are featured on the tour to benefit Cape Christian School. Tickets for the self-guided tour are $10 in advance and $12 the day of the tour...

Jane McClain starts a new job next week as a family nurse practitioner, one of a dozen nurses who will graduate from Southeast Missouri State University's new program. McClain will go to work as a family nurse practitioner with Dr. Jan Seabaugh, an ear, nose and throat specialist in Cape Girardeau...

NCAA Division I athletic programs all over the country will be taken a major hit in the pocketbook -- and that includes Southeast Missouri State University. Tuesday's announcement that the NCAA would pay more than $54.5 million to settle its dispute with former restricted-earnings coaches means that every one of the nation's more than 300 Division I schools will take a share of the hit...

You're five years old and your daddy places the ball on the tee. You lug the 24-inch aluminum bat on your shoulder and, while Dad retreats to the pitcher's mound, you spend the next 30 seconds gauging your swing. Back and forth, back and forth. You're trying to get that perfect angle to send a ball all the way past the dwarfed infield...

Chris Wallace School: Advance Sport: Baseball Coach: Chuck Powers Week Report: Wallace -- Southeast Missouri's home run leader -- hit four home runs last week, one in every game he played. The 6-foot-1, 215 pound first baseman provided 10 RBIs and was 7-for-15. As a pitcher, he suffered a loss in six innings despite striking out 12, walking one and giving up no earned runs. He gave up six hits and all five of the runs scored against him were unearned...

Heather Jenkins School: Cape Central Sport: Track Coach: Lawrence Brookins Week report: Jenkins -- after her worst performance of the season a week earlier -- rebounded with a pair of impressive throws to take firsts in the SEMO Conference track meet. In the discus, Jenkins boasted a toss of 137 feet, 9 inches. She threw the shot 38-9. Her discus toss was 38 feet farther than the runner-up and her throw in the shot beat second place by three feet...

The McDowell Capahas baseball team will hold tryouts tonight at 6:30 o'clock at Capaha Field. No high school, American Legion or college player whose season is currently going are eligible to participate in the workout. For more information, call 334-7327...

ADVANCE -- Chris Wallace -- the area's home run leader -- continued his amazing hitting Wednesday with another home run, a grand slam that, at the time, tied Bloomfield at 4-4. Two batters later, Garrett Broshuis belted a two-run shot which gave Advance a 6-4 cushion that lasted until the game's conclusion...

The teams had already taken the field and were ready to play -- but then the rains came, wiping out Wednesday night's scheduled college baseball game between Southeast Missouri State University and visiting Memphis. "We could have probably waited longer, but it's a non-conference game and the benefits of playing the game just didn't outweigh the negatives," said Southeast coach Mark Hogan. "Both teams have big conference series this weekend."...

Funeral for Patricia Johnson of Ellington, formerly of Cape Girardeau, was held May 6 at McSpadden Funeral Home in Ellington. The Revs. Carlton Mathes and Tom Johnson officiated. Burial was in Ellington Memorial Cemetery. Johnson, 81, died Monday, May 3, 1999, at Brent B. Tinnin Manor in Ellington...

Dorothy B. Sprenger, 78, of Cape Girardeau died Wednesday, May 12, 1999, at Southeast Missouri Hospital. She was born March 22, 1921, in Cape Girardeau County, daughter of George F. and Pauline E. Held Schwab. She and Paul W. Sprenger were married June 10, 1951, in Cape Girardeau...

JACKSON -- JerLee Irene Eggimann, 60, of Jackson died Tuesday, May 11, 1999, at her home, following an extended illness. She was born June 27, 1938, in Cape Girardeau County, daughter of Lee Gus and Irene Boren Steeg Sr. She and Glen Eggimann were married Oct. 13, 1956, at Christ Lutheran Church in Gordonville...

JONESBORO, Ill. -- Pluma Esther Womack, 94, of Jonesboro died Tuesday, May 11, 1999, at her home. She was born June 13, 1904, in Goreville, daughter of Robert and Carrie Malaer Ragain. She and Amel "Ralph" Womack were married July 13, 1929, in Gary, Ind. He died Feb. 27, 1995...

PERRYVILLE -- Wilbert J. "Wib" Brewer, 71, of Perryville died Tuesday, May 11, 1999, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. He was born Nov. 24, 1927, in Perry County, son of Edgar and Clorcie Wingerter Brewer. He and Letha M. Moranville were married Oct. 8, 1949, in Perryville...

CAMPBELL -- A graveside service for B.W. Barkley of Campbell will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Dunklin County Memorial Gardens Cemetery in Kennett. Tom Wall will officiate. There is no visitation. Landess Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements...

BELL CITY -- James Warfield, 88, of Chicago and formerly of Bell City died Tuesday, May 11, 1999, in Chicago. He was born Feb. 11, 1911, in Natchez, Miss., son of Emma Harris and Walter Warfield. He attended school in Bell City and later moved to Chicago where he worked for Walgreen's until his retirement. He was a veteran, serving in World War II from 1940 to 1945...