Stories from Friday, November 24, 2000

With the First Edition, Kenny Rogers was a rock n' roller who "just dropped in to see what condition my condition was in." Then he became a country and western star begging Ruby not to take her love to town and creating an image of himself based on the song and TV movie "The Gambler." In three decades he recorded more than 58 albums and sold more than 100 million records...

A team from the federal Nuclear Regulatory Commission plans to inspect Southeast Missouri State University's Magill Hall next week to determine if radioactive contamination of the science building has been successfully cleaned up. The cleanup gutted much of the building's basement and a second-floor laboratory and some equipment will have to be replaced, officials said...

A widower spending his first Thanksgiving alone since his wife died had a meal delivered to his door by Salvation Army volunteers Thursday afternoon. A 95-year-old woman who doesn't often cook for herself just wanted a slice of pumpkin pie, so another volunteer filled her request...

So. Are you hungry? If you're like the rest of us, you're way too stuffed to think about any serious topic. Plus, you've got to keep your head clear so you can understand what's happening in Florida. You do understand, don't you? It's hard to describe what's going on down there. ...

JACKSON, Mo. -- The city of Jackson is considering shrinking the size of its central business district, a move intended to recognize the city's recent growth trends and to protect the residential quality of the area. The issue was brought to the fore with the construction this year of the Cape Girardeau County Archive Center at 112 E. ...

Sam McVay has been named executive director of the Missouri Veterans Commission. McVay, who serves as administrator at Cape Girardeau Veterans Home, will be moving to the Jefferson City area in his new position. "I'll probably commute for a while, until a new administrator is named at the veterans home here." said McVay, who officially takes on his new duties Dec. 1...

Their defenses have been as unforgiving as Astroturf. Their offenses have soared through the roof. And their special teams have been as steady as the temperatures inside the TransWorld Dome. What else would one expect from the No. 1 and No. 2 ranked teams in the state?...

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Picking a favorite in the eight-team Energia Systems Thanksgiving Tournament isn't easy, but Creighton probably wouldn't be a bad place to start. The Bluejays, who have made the NCAA Tournament the past two seasons, went 23-10 a year ago. With three starters and several other experienced players returning, they are regarded as solid preseason favorites in the Missouri Valley Conference...

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- The preliminaries for Southeast Missouri State University's men's basketball team are over. Now it's time for a few main events. Southeast, after barely working up a sweat during victories over two Division II squads to open the 2000-2001 season, will definitely do some perspiring over the next three days...

Cape Girardeau Central High School boys swimming coach Dayna Powell hopes she doesn't ever again have to experience a season like the Tigers had last year. Things started off bad when a problem with the bubble at the Cape Central Pool forced the Tigers to practice elsewhere for much of the preseason. Then during the campaign, the Tigers went just 2-7 in dual meets for their first losing record in the previous 11 years of the program...

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- Ashley Millham scored 21 points as Notre Dame opened its season by winning the Perryville Tournament, defeating the Lady Pirates 58-43 in the championship game Wednesday night. The victory improved Notre Dame's record to 3-0 on the season...

Fast-growing Notre Dame High School has added various sports in recent years and the latest is swimming for both boys and girls. While the girls won't have their season until the spring, the boys are getting ready for their inaugural campaign. And the Bulldogs are apparently excited...

SIKESTON, Mo. -- Robert H. Simmons, 50, of Sikeston, died Tuesday, Nov. 21, 2000, at the Heartland Care Rehab Center in Cape Girardeau. He was born May 15, 1950, in Twist, Ark., son of Buford and Easter Mae Venzant Simmons. He was an Army veteran and member of the Baptist faith...

WENTZVILLE, Mo. -- Leona Pearl Tuschhoff, 88, formerly of Old Appleton, Mo., died Wednesday, Nov. 22, 2000, at the Wentzville Park Care Center in Wentzville. She was born Dec. 9, 1911, in Old Appleton, daughter of Oscar Hays and Roxie Kurre Lang. She was married to Julian Tuschhoff, who died in 1953...

PULASKI, Ill. -- Melvin T. Laws, 59, of Chaplin, Conn., formerly of Pulaski, died Wednesday, Nov. 22, 2000, at the Windham Hospital. He was born July 4, 1941, in Detroit, son of Tobin H. Laws and Helen Parmly Laws Creacey. He was married to Shirley VanDeusen Laws...

WHY WOULD anyone run on the GOP ticket again for president after this election? It looks like Gore and his buddies want to run the county forever. Why vote if the courts decide who wins? We are headed for one-party rule. It makes me sick to think we have lost our freedom to vote...

The twists and turns in Florida are as slippery as a blacktop road in Southeast Missouri after a freezing rain. While most Americans are following the crashes and pile-ups, a good many of us are discovering that it is more and more difficult to keep track of everything at once...

To the editor: In my opinion, there should be a holiday for Election Day, especially for the presidential election. There were such long lines, and voters had to go to work. Some kept looking at their watches and then gave up and left for work. They didn't get to vote...

To the editor: The Jackson Public Library wishes to thank all the kind and generous people who donated reading materials to us this year. We and, in turn, our patrons are the proud beneficiaries of many delightful books for both adults and children. ...