Stories from Tuesday, December 19, 2000

Although they are only youngsters, Ariel, 6, and Taylor Dumars, 4, are learning to invest. Their mother, Clorinda Richards, has set up savings and investment accounts through a program at Greater Dimension Church of God in Cape Girardeau. The program teaches young children and parents about the value of money...

Can you believe it? The Year 2000 is drawing to a close. And what a year it was in terms of the World Wide Web. It was a year of political uncertainty -- and people turned to the Web in record numbers to follow the winners. It was a year of music turmoil -- as Napster became infamous in the music swapping business. ...

LEAD IN: Hank and Eddy have found a way to open the gourd and Hank has started tasting it. It's awful Hank decides. What a taste! But he decides he needs to keep tasting the awful gourds just to make sure ... Eddy the Rac had just asked if we should continue our scientific studies into the, uh, nature of watermelons and gourds...

City officials voted 4-3 Monday to renew the Taste Lounge liquor license for three months after spending an hour intensely questioning bar owner Michael Pryor about his security practices. The vote came in spite of a police recommendation to revoke the license, which will be up for renewal again in March. If there are no serious incidents of violence, city officials will renew it again and then review it in July when all city liquor licenses come up for yearly renewal...

Considering the area has been coated with snow for nearly a week and there's no thaw in sight, I can only conclude I've done something horribly wrong and the Lord is punishing me. Why else would He send days and days of cold and ice when this Missourian-turned-Floridian-turned-Missourian has had absolutely NO chance to readapt? I can't even button my five-year-old coat, which just came out of storage. ...

Progress on the Cape Girardeau School District's new high school is proceeding on schedule, with construction bids to be open to contractors in mid-January. At Monday night's meeting, the Cape Girardeau Board of Education reviewed a proposed site plan of the $23 million project slated for Silver Springs Road. ...

Procrastinators who want their Christmas cards to be delivered by Saturday need to hurry to their local post office today. Those who have packages to be mailed should send them by priority or express mail to ensure delivery by Saturday, local postal officials say...

JACKSON, Mo. -- Jackson residents will pay higher deposits to hook up utility services and more to reconnect if service is interrupted. Jackson aldermen approved the changes Monday while OK'ing a $16 million budget for next year. The deposit for homeowners and renters to hook up water and sewer service was raised from $20 to $50. The deposit for homeowners connecting to the city's electric utility was raised from $100 to $150. For renters, the electric deposit goes up from $100 to $200...

Sam Johnson hopes Missouri's new "No Call" law will keep annoying telemarketers at bay and save him the trouble of hanging up on them. "It's a bother," said Johnson, 78, who jumped at the chance to sign up for Missouri's No Call list. Attorney General Jay Nixon personally signed up Johnson on a laptop computer during a Monday visit to the Cape Girardeau Senior Center. Johnson was one of several senior citizens to sign up...

Three Scott City men and a juvenile have been arrested for allegedly making methamphetamine, the Scott County sheriff said. James E. Howell, 41, is in the Scott County jail, with bond set at $300,000. He is charged with manufacturing a controlled substance, possession of chemicals, possession of ephedrine, two counts of possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute, possession of drug paraphernalia with intent to distribute and endangering the welfare of a child...

JACKSON, Mo. -- Troy E. Marlow of Poplar Bluff, Mo., found guilty of four separate charges last month from an attempted theft of anhydrous ammonia to make methamphetamine, has been sentenced to 20 in prison. Circuit Judge William Syler imposed the sentence on Monday...

JACKSON, Mo. -- The Cape Girardeau County Transit Authority will get a consultant to help develop a plan for county transportation services. The Cape Girardeau County Commission agreed Monday to hire a transit consultant for six months at a cost of about $7,500. The contract could be extended for another six months, if necessary, commissioners said...

JACKSON, Mo. -- Robert D. Moore of Cape Girardeau, charged with second-degree murder and three other felonies in the Oct. 19 shooting death of Jesus Sides in Cape Girardeau, will appear before Judge John Grimm for arraignment. Moore, 18, who appeared in court Monday for arraignment, was granted his request for a new judge. Moore, however, was denied a request for a change of venue. Although a firm date was not established, Moore may appear before Grimm as early as next week...

Monday, Dec. 18 Council Chambers, City Hall, 401 Independence Consent ordinances (Second and third readings) n Approved an ordinance amending Chapter 19 of the city code relating to employee political activities. n Approved an ordinance for a quit claim deed for excess land from the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission for right of way for the Cape La Croix Creek/Walker Branch Flood Control Project...

With weather outside more suitable for ice skating, Cape Central and Notre Dame found an oasis to hold their first ever dual swim meet between the two schools. Cape Central's boys emerged from the heated waters of the Central pool with a 108-77 victory over Notre Dame, which competed in the first dual meet of its first-year program...

Eight teams. Forty wins, five losses. One HealthSouth Holiday Classic. That adds up to one of the most competitive high school girls basketball tournaments in the state. The tournament will showcase some of the area's best teams and players and will begin today at 6 p.m. Games will also be played Wednesday, Thursday and Friday...

After playing three straight down-to-the-wire home games against strong opponents, Southeast Missouri State University men's basketball coach Gary Garner will be trying to guard his team against a letdown this week. The Indians are gearing up for the final contest of a four-game homestand as Campbell pays a visit to the Show Me Center Wednesday (7 p.m. tipoff)...

JACKSON, Mo. -- Private graveside service for Bertha E. Wolfe of Chaffee, Mo., formerly of Jackson, will be held today at City Cemetery. The Rev. Raymond McAfee will officiate. McCombs Funeral Home in Jackson is in charge of arrangements. Wolfe, 81, died Sunday, Dec. 17, 2000, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau...

Son to Gregory Lee and Amy Michelle Yamnitz of Perryville, Mo., Southeast Missouri Hospital, 6:41 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 10, 2000. Name, Eli Gregory. Weight, 7 pounds 3 ounces. Second child, first son. Mrs. Yamnitz is the former Amy Schubert, daughter of Harold and Virgie Schubert of Perryville. She is employed at TG Missouri. Yamnitz is the son of Eddie and Diana Yamnitz of Patton, Mo. He is employed at Union Planters Bank...

CHARLESTON, Mo. -- Donnie Lynn Buttry, 25, of Charleston died Sunday, Dec. 17, 2000, at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston, Mo. He was born Feb. 26, 1975, at Charleston, son of Rosie Buttry. A lifelong resident of Charleston, he was a 1993 graduate of Charleston High School. He was a member of First General Baptist Church...

SIKESTON, Mo. -- Delores Ann Walker, 32, of Sikeston died Saturday, Dec. 16, 2000, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. She was born Dec. 6, 1968, in Sikeston, daughter of Aaron Calvin Walker and Mary Ellen Scott Walker. She graduated from Sikeston High School in 1987 and was employed by Wal-Mart in Sikeston. She was a member of Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses...

COBDEN, Ill. -- Funeral for James Leroy Hoyle of Cobden will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Lutz and Rendleman Funeral Home in Cobden. The Rev. Clifford Heil will officiate. Burial will be in Alto Pass Cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home after 9 a.m. Wednesday...

FROHNA, Mo. -- Omar T. Steffens, 73, of Frohna died Monday, Dec. 18, 2000, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. He was born April 2, 1927, at Farrar, Mo., son of Claus and Frieda Koenig Steffens. He and Mabel L. Petzoldt were married Feb. 27, 1954...

BUNCOMBE, Ill. -- Funeral for Dale Williams of Buncombe will be held at 7:30 p.m. today at Crain Funeral Home in Anna, Ill. The Rev. Ken Wilson will officiate. Friends may call at the funeral home from 6-8 p.m. today. Williams, 54, died Saturday, Dec. 16, 2000, upon arrival at Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Marion, Ill...

PATTON, Mo. -- Graveside service for Jenna Marie and Kelsey Page Mayberry will be held at 11 a.m. today at Post Oak Cemetery near Patton. The Rev. Jim Dowd will officiate. Liley Funeral Home at Patton is in charge of arrangements. The twins died after birth Sunday, Dec. 17, 2000, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau...

Naomi G. Garner, 82, of Cape Girardeau died Monday, Dec. 18, 2000, at Ratliff Care Center. Ford and Sons Mt. Auburn Chapel is in charge of arrangements.

JACKSON, Mo. -- Frieda Nora Grosswiler, 88, died Thursday, Dec. 14, 2000, at the Lutheran Home in Cape Girardeau. She was born Jan. 6, 1912, at Oak Ridge, Mo., daughter of Arthur and Matilda Kaufman Petzoldt. She and George Ray Grosswiler were married Sept. 11, 1940. He died March 21, 1996...

BLOOMFIELD, Mo. -- Gertrude Bennett, 92, of Bloomfield died Monday, Dec. 18, 2000, at Dexter Memorial Hospital in Dexter, Mo. She was born Sept. 9, 1908, at Canalou, Mo., daughter of Albert and Ella Hickson Tucker. She and George Bennett were married Sept. 1, 1925. He died Nov. 22, 1973...

BLOOMFIELD, Mo. -- Walter Edward Grim Sr., 88, of Bloomfield died Friday, Dec. 15, 2000, at Beverly Healthcare. He was born Dec. 19, 1911, near Parma, Mo., son of Elmer and Georgia Culbertson Grim. He and Mary Dell Darby were married Dec. 25, 1935. She died Feb. 21, 1986. He and Wilma Glenn were married Dec. 6, 1986, at Bloomfield...

Funeral for Dolly Ruth Snyder of Cape Girardeau will be held at 1 p.m. Wednesday at Ford and Sons Sprigg Street Chapel. The Revs. Howard Anderson and Wes Rider will officiate. Burial will be in Trinity Lutheran Church Cemetery at Egypt Mills, Mo. Friends may call at the chapel from 4-8 p.m. today...

To the editor: A Speak Out commentator has suggested an IQ test for Speak Out callers. Coincidentally, I have just completed a decades-long computer-assisted study of Speak Out comments. It has allowed me to accurately determine the average IQ of Speak Out callers and a variety of others who are in some way connected to the forum. The results have been scientifically validated and are not subject to challenge...

An ailing American businessman who had been convicted of espionage by a Moscow court received a pardon from Russian President Vladimir Putin after pleas from President Clinton and others. Edmund Pope has suffered from a rare form of bone cancer, which was in remission when he was arrested in April. Now, his family fears it has returned, as indeed he is known to be under treatment for skin cancer as well. Moreover, Pope's father is dying from cancer...

Sadly, Missouri has emerged this last decade among the leading states in production, distribution and usage of methamphetamines. This amounts to a terrible scourge on our people, devastating lives and overwhelming both local law enforcement and the Missouri State Highway Patrol...

AREN'T THINGS going to be wonderful after George W. Bush takes office? I can hardly wait. If he can pull it all off, he'll be the first Republican president to do so. I THINK the great seal of the Democrats should say, "In God, welfare, Social Security and whatever else we can get without having to work very hard we trust." Their mantra: We're not willing to do what it takes to get ahead, but others should be willing to give us some of theirs. ...

To the editor: Shortly after the finalization of the election, the news media began to highlight the statements in the speeches made by Al Gore and George W. Bush. The most important statements made in President-elect Bush's speech, to my knowledge, were not mentioned by TV, radio or newspaper. Bush said, "Pray for me. Pray for Al Gore and his family."...