Stories from Saturday, July 3, 1999

When Jack Wimp turns on the siren and drives his patrol car to a crime scene, he's Cpl. Wimp of the Cape Girardeau Police Department. When he returns to his desk at the judicial circuit's juvenile office, he focuses his attention on children. He is a juvenile police officer, a new type of law enforcement officer in Cape Girardeau...

GRAPIC -- LIVE BIRTHS TO TEENS Samantha Russell is determined she won't be a statistic. She won't be among the 100 or more Cape Girardeau County teenagers that give birth each year. The Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce Qualities of Life report shows the number of teen births on the rise after several years of steady decline. The report studied social aspects that impact the community...

JACKSON -- When Chad Birk graduated from Jackson High School last month, his family threw a surprise party. One-hundred-thirty people showed up to help him celebrate. Graduating from high school was a big accomplishment for Chad and for his family, friends and people whose lives are affected by muscular dystrophy. Few enough young men like Chad who have Duchenne's muscular dystrophy live to be 18. Because of the disease's debilitating effects, far fewer graduate from high school...

The multi-colored flecks of dried paint on Craig Thomas' hands hint at the occupation of a man who is close to being the region's only full-time free-lance artist. Thomas works one day a week at a photography studio. Otherwise, he engaged in the business of making art...

The Mississippi River bridge at Cape Girardeau won't close July 25, as earlier anticipated. The soonest the bridge could close for repairs is mid-August. On Friday, the Missouri Highway and Transportation Commission did not award a construction contract for improvements to the existing bridge. The project involves replacing the asphalt driving surface of the bridge deck...

Republicans thought they scored a victory when a court made a ruling requiring the traditional head count census for representation in Congress, but now President Clinton wants federal grant money to be based on a statistical survey. Last January the U.S. ...

The riches of this world will buy you a lot, but you don't need a nickel to give or receive a kindness." Remember the Beatitudes? For those who need a refresher course (as I did), the Beatitudes are part of a lesson taught by Jesus to describe what kinds of people make God happy. Even if you didn't remember what they were called, you can probably vaguely recall having heard them at one time...

WOLF LAKE, Ill. -- The Big Muddy River Bridge between Wolf Lake and Grand Tower will be closed Wednesday and Friday for repairs. The bridge will be closed from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. both days so that a contractor can replace steel beams. Warning signs will be erected. the Illinois State Police advises through traffic to use alternate routes...

PORTAGEVILLE -- A 5-month-old infant was killed Friday afternoon when he was ejected from a van that overturned on Interstate 55. The child was identified as Juan Russ of Dolton, Ill. He was a passenger in a van driven by Darrell Sanders, 20, of Dolton. He sustained minor injuries. Also riding in the van was Janice Sanders, 42, of Dolton. She also had minor injuries...

SIKESTON -- Gifts come in all sizes but the two Mission Missouri were given have left board members flabbergasted. The organization has received news that it is the recipient of a building and an adjacent vacant lot. The donors wish to remain anonymous...

To the editor: Like you, I would like to hear a debate on the rate of growth in state government in Missouri, but I question very seriously if the taxpayers could get a fair and honest debate from your paper because of your obvious partisan leanings...

What is Cape Girardeau's quality of life? A study released by the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce provides an overall positive picture with room for some improvement. This marks the second time the chamber has released such a detailed report. It is a good exercise that not only provides data to target local improvement projects, but it also represents a powerful sales tool for the city in attracting business and industry...

BALLWIN -- Ford & Sons Cape Legion dropped its opening two games in the Ballwin Tournament Friday night and was eliminated from title contention. Ford & Sons first dropped a 3-1 decision to Evansville, Ind., before falling 11-9 to Chesterfield. Cape Legion, which completes tournament play today against Kirkwood at 11 a.m., fell to 14-14 on the season. Only the top two teams in each four-team pool advance to elimination play...

ADVANCE -- Chaffee Junior Legion swept a pair of district games from Sikeston Friday. Chaffee won the opener 4-0 and the nightcap 10-9. Justin Simpher blanked Sikeston on two hits in the first game. He struck out eight and didn't walk a batter. Adam Rainey, Simpher and Travis Hanbeck all had two hits for Chaffee...

Dortha Elizabeth Johnson Sims of Advance, Mo., passed away at home on July 1, 1999 at 87 years old. She was born on June 11, 1912, 3 1/2 miles south of Advance to the late W.W. Johnson and Doretta Jane Johnson. She had one sister, Mildred P. Fisher and one brother Merrill Burford. Dortha resided in Advance all but eight years of her life when she lived in Sikeston, Mo...

Graveside service for Bobbe Arlene Church Caton of Spokane, Wash., will be held at 2 p.m. today at Cape County Memorial Park. The Rev. William Dickey will officiate. Ford and Sons Mt. Auburn Chapel is in charge of arrangements. Caton, 82, died Sunday, May 30, 1999, in Spokane...

SCOTT CITY -- Scott Edward Ussery, 26, of Springfield, Ill., formerly of Scott City, died Thursday, July 1, 1999, from an automobile accident near Salem, Mo. Arrangements are incomplete at Amick-Burnett Funeral Chapel in Scott City.

TAMMS, Ill. -- Martha Vick, 80, of Tamms died Thursday, July 1, 1999, at Franklin Hospital in Benton. She was born June 17, 1919, in Alexander County, daughter of Robert and Lou Ella Wallace Foster. She and Roy Vick were married Nov. 10, 1938. Vick was a member of Sandy Creek Baptist Church...

Alice M. Schnaare, 87, died Friday, July 2, 1999, at Maryville Manor in Maryville. Arrangements are incomplete and will be handled by the Barkett Funeral Home in Mounds, Ill.

Dr. Floyd King Wright Sr., 83, of Cape Girardeau died Friday, July 2, 1999, in St. Louis. He was born June 2, 1916, in Sabine County, Texas, son of Joseph Lambert and Emma Neal Wright. He was adopted by Ralph and Dollie Smith King. He and Janie Merle Muckleroy were married June 6, 1941, in Nacogdoches County, Texas...

EAST PRAIRIE -- Graveside service for Hope Elizabeth Pauline Husk will be held at 11 a.m. Monday at Calvary Cemetery near Charleston. The Rev. Gerald Brown will officiate. Shelby Funeral Home in East Prairie is in charge of arrangements. The infant died Monday, June 28, 1999, at St. Mary's Health Center in St. Louis...

Norbert John Popp, 50, of Cape Girardeau died Thursday, July 1, 1999, at Heartland Care Rehab Center. He was born Jan. 19, 1949, in Cape Girardeau, son of Edgar and Florence Popp. Popp lived in Cape Girardeau and Jackson all his life. He was a construction worker. Popp was a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church, VFW Post 3838, American Legion Post 63, and Eagles Aerie 3775. He served in the U.S. Navy...

ARCADIA -- Maude Verna Harrison, 73, of Arcadia died Friday, July 2, 1999, at Jackson. She was born Sept. 29, 1925, at Herculaneum, daughter of Jess Monroe and Mamie Vaugh Fears. She and Lonnie Harrison were married March 8, 1944. He died Dec. 4, 1995...

Daughter to Patty Ann Clowes of Cape Girardeau, Southeast Missouri Hospital, 5:45 p.m. Saturday, June 19, 1999. Name, Stacy Renee. Weight, 10 pounds 4 ounces. Third daughter. Ms. Clowes is the daughter of Chuck Clowes and Gloria Clowes of Marble Hill. She is employed at Fountainbleau Lodge...

SCOTT CITY - Robert W. Wadlington, 82, of Scott City, Mo., died Friday, July 2, 1999, at his home. He was born on December 30, 1916 at Blodgett, son of Robert Daniel and Laura Adell Dean Wadlington. He married Hazel Bollinger on July 1, 1938 at Fornfelt, Mo...

Remember when no one seemed to know how to set the clocks on their VCRs? But now, setting the clock on a VCR is about as easy as dialing the phone. It just takes some time to get comfortable with new technology, and ood Baptist Church is helping to alleviate some fears of computers and the Internet with an eight-week class for families...