Stories from Friday, May 28, 1999

To the editor:I owe Ms. McCoy a sincere and heartfelt apology. As I said in my letter, I think her graduating from high school with a 5-month-old baby is an accomplishment. I am not in a position to judge her nor cast any stones and feel that her baby is not a "mistake." On the contrary, the baby is a gift from God, and I hope and pray he is brought up in an atmosphere where he is made to feel that way. ...

For the thousands of Riverfest fans who enjoy the street-fair atmosphere and the live entertainment, it was good news to hear that the two-day event will be held again, thanks to generous supporters who came through with much-needed funding. For the past 21 years, Riverfest has been a downtown staple each June in Cape Girardeau. There were concerns that this year's event, slated for June 11-12, might have to be scrapped due to a lack of funds...

There are still signs of last week's windstorm almost everywhere you look around Cape Girardeau. But now that the worst of the aftermath is over, there are some good things to consider. For example, no one died as a result of the storm. That certainly could have been the case, what with trees falling on houses and cars and huge limbs spearing into the ground...

As much as certain politicians don't want to admit it, the Chinese Communist regime is no friend of America. And no amount of goodwill on America's part toward China will make her our friend. The harsh reality is that Red China is inherently incapable of enjoying a mutually trusting relationship with the United States. ...

I WAS delighted to learn that Dr. Nitzschke is resigning as president of the university but terribly dismayed to learn that he is staying on as a fund raiser. He will bankrupt everyone in the city before we can get rid of him. THE SWEETHEART contract and backroom secrecy of the recent Nitzschke-Dobbins arrangement is characteristic of Democratic machine politics, not the administration of a comprehensive, regional university. ...

It's been nearly 10 years since Irene Murphy sat in her car in the Show Me Center parking lot fighting back tears before going to her first Pep Up Your Life fitness class. She was so intimidated, she said of that experience. It was around the time her husband, Dan, died, and she had signed up for the class after reading about it in the newspaper...

JACKSON -- Voters in Cape Girardeau County won't see planning and zoning on the August ballot, but the proposal could come up for consideration in November. A committee has spent the last two years drafting planning and zoning regulations for the county, but John Dudley, chairman of the committee, said the plan isn't quite ready...

Jack Pettet is in a precarious business for an allergy sufferer: He operates Arena Park Golf, a driving range where he often mows acres of grass. Pettet, who has had allergies all his life, said his run in cycles. "The first two weeks you can't breathe and your head is clogged. The next two weeks you can't talk for blowing your nose."...

Troubleshooters, field and line, tree-cutting and light-repair crews worked many hours to restore power to Cape Girardeau and the area following the May 17 windstorm. About 90 percent of customers served by AmerenUE in the Cape Girardeau area were affected in some way by the storm, which uprooted trees, downed power lines and left many homes and businesses without power...

The Missouri Mentoring Partnership program in Cape Girardeau has been singled out for its efforts to help Mingo Job Corps students get a solid start in the work force. The state-funded program will receive an Alpha Award from the National Job Corps Association...

Municipal bands in Cape Girardeau and Jackson are preparing for annual concerts which have been summer tradition in both communities since the 1920s. The Cape Girardeau Municipal Band season begins with a patriotic salute to area veterans on Memorial Day. The concert will be at 7 p.m. Monday at the Capaha Park bandshell...

DORENA -- The Dorena-Hickman toll ferry resumed operations recently after being out of service for several months. Improvements ranging from reconstructed landings with innovative ferry signaling to hydraulic loading ramps on the barge were made on the toll ferry operation -- one of the few remaining riverboat ferries in the nation and the only operating ferry crossing the Mississippi River between Missouri and Kentucky...

Business owners can tell the Internal Revenue Service just what they think about all those federal tax forms thanks to the Internet. U.S. Sen. Christopher S. "Kit" Bond on Wednesday unveiled a high-tech window through the Internet that will allow business owners to vote for the IRS form that is most in need of being rewritten and simplified...

BLOOMFIELD -- Economic Developer Gary Capps is hoping to begin laying the groundwork for a long-range blueprint for growth in Stoddard County. The first of four "visioning" sessions is set for 7 p.m. Tuesday at Dexter's First Baptist Church. The group of community members from throughout the county are being recruited by the directors of the Stoddard County Industrial Development Authority...

Southeast Missouri State University has granted emeritus status to eight retiring faculty members. They have a combined 255 years of service at the school, led by English professor Henry Sessoms who was on the faculty for 38 years. Besides Sessoms, the list includes accounting and finance professor John Crampton, foreign languages associate professor Richard Kump, art professor Grant Lund, agriculture professor William Meyer, music associate professor Jerry Richardson, history assistant professor B. ...

Kenny Richardson, a sixth-grader at St. Vincent de Paul School in Cape Girardeau, repeated as a state math champion at the Missouri Council of Teachers of Mathematics state finals May 1. Richardson won the first place trophy in sixth-grade math concepts at the state competition. He also finished seventh in problem solving. Last year, Richardson won first place at the state finals in fifth-grade math concepts...

Notre Dame's Wes Steele was hoisted by teammates after his two-out, two-run hit extended the Bulldogs' season. STEELE -- Notre Dame High's third baseman was the man of Steele. Playing in a small town that is the same as his last name, Wes Steele bore the proverbial "S" on his chest and rescued Notre Dame's season from the South Pemiscot Bulldogs Thursday...

MALDEN -- It was evident from the outset that Oran High's baseball team would have its way here Thursday. The Eagles scored five runs in the first inning and never looked back as they crushed Bernie 10-0 in a Class 1A sectional game that was stopped in the bottom of the sixth inning by the run rule...

FAIRVIEW HEIGHTS, Ill. -- The McDowell Capahas got their 1999 baseball season started in impressive fashion Wednesday night as they rolled past host Fairview Heights 20-9. The contest actually began on something of an ominous note. Action started late because of a lights failure at the Fairview Heights field, then the host squad jumped on top 6-2 after two innings...

FREDERICKTOWN -- Fredericktown High School made the most of its first district baseball title in 30 years Thursday as it posted a 6-0 victory over conference rival Potosi in 3A Sectional play. Jeremy Parson surrendered just four hits as the Black Cats moved into Saturday's quarterfinal round. Fredericktown (13-10) will play host to Herculaneum at 3 p.m...

SIKESTON -- Funeral for Albert Applewhite, 83, of Sikeston will be held at noon today at St. John Missionary Baptist Church. The Rev. Flem E. Bronner Sr. and Leon Applewhite will officiate. Burial will be at Sunset of Memories Cemetery at Sikeston. Applewhite died Thursday, May 20, 1999, at Missouri Delta Medical Center...

SIKESTON -- R.T. "Rooster" Woods, 72, died Wednesday, May 26, 1999, at the Sikeston Health Care. He was born Nov. 18, 1926, at Lambert, Miss., son of Felton and Annie Belle Henderson Woods. He moved to Missouri in 1945 and was a farmer. He was of the Baptist faith...

BERNIE -- Arkie Mae Baker, 97, died Wednesday, May 26, 1999, at Piggott Hospital at Piggott, Ark. She was born Jan. 23, 1902, at Atkins, Ark., daughter of Horace and Susan Bell Nichols. She and Seth Simon Baker Sr. were married Aug. 4, 1918, at Blackwell, Ark. He died Sept. 18, 1975...

JACKSON -- Dorothy J. Burrowes, 67, died Thursday, May 27, 1999, at Heartland Care Rehab Center in Cape Girardeau. She was born June 21, 1931, in Pontotoc, Miss. She married I.D. Burrowes, who died May 27, 1979. Burrowes had been at the care center since earlier this month...

BURFORDVILLE -- Scott Fuller, 45, of Burfordville died Wednesday, May 26, 1999, at St. Francis Medical Center. Ford and Sons Mt. Auburn Chapel is in charge of arrangements.

Loyal Marvin Anderson, 48, of Cape Girardeau died Wednesday, May 26, 1999, in a vehicle accident on Interstate 95 near Yemassee, S.C. He was born Aug. 30, 1950, in Clinton, Iowa. He and Sharon Kay Sanders were married April 9, 1977, in Salem, Ill. Anderson was a truck driver with J.B. Hunt Transport Inc...

PERRYVILLE -- Hazel Idel Lyles, 79, of Perryville died Thursday, May 27, 1999, at Perry Oaks Healthcare. She was born April 1, 1920, at Mayfield, daughter of William Lee and Dora Elizabeth Lincoln Masters. She first married Tivis Eldred Green in 1935. He died Sept. 29, 1942. She then married Raymond Green June 26, 1946, who preceded her in death. She and Omer Claude "Sunney" Lyles were married July 10, 1961...

MARQUAND -- Helen P. Barks, 84, of Marquand died Thursday, May 27, 1999, at her home. She was born Jan. 17, 1915, at Patton, daughter of John and Kitty Dolle. She and Dewey E. Barks were married June 13, 1936, at Fredericktown. Barks was a member of the United Methodist Church at Marquand...

SCOTT CITY -- Lois Eva Ruder, 84, of Scott City died Thursday, May 27, 1999, at Heartland Care Rehab Center in Cape Girardeau. She was born July 20, 1914, at Ancell, daughter of Otto and Emma DePew Summers. She and Edwin George Ruder were married Nov. 30, 1934. He died Oct. 23, 1971...

WHITEWATER -- Gene Paul Stroder, 83, of Whitewater died Thursday, May 27, 1999, at his home. He was born Oct. 24, 1915, at Crump, son of Daniel Franklin and Alice Simpson Stroder. He and Thelma Strong were married July 29, 1935, at Benton. She died Aug. 31, 1992...

STE. GENEVIEVE -- Memorial service for Stephen M. Davidson of Ste. Genevieve will be held at 1 p.m. today at Cracraft-Miller Funeral Home in Jackson. The Rev. Scott Lohse will officiate. There is no visitation. Davidson, 38, died Wednesday, May 26, 1999, in a motorcycle-tractor trailer accident on Interstate 55 in Scott County...

Daughter to Timmy Othen Heflin and Holly Nicole Richardson of Jackson, Southeast Missouri Hospital, 7:36 a.m. Tuesday, May 11, 1999. Name, Ashlynn Marie. Weight, 5 pounds 6 ounces. Third child, first daughter. Ms. Richardson is the daughter of Sandra Goodwin of Fredericktown. Heflin is the son of Carl and Joe Heflin of Cape Girardeau. He is employed at TJ's Auto Detailing...

SCOTT CITY -- Katheryn Dale McDowell, 44, of Rochester, Ill., died Tuesday, May 25, 1999, at Hermann Hospital in Houston, Texas. She was born April 9, 1955, in St. Louis, daughter of Walter and Bonnie Rose Link Johnston Jr. She and Neal Aron McDowell were married Dec. 25, 1983, in Jackson...