Stories from Saturday, July 29, 1995

To the editor: There seems to be a great deal of apprehension regarding the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms these days. I am one of those who has questioned the bureau's activities, but there had been no reasonable response from U.S. representatives and senators. Let me add one more of my concerns...

With the Senate's vote this week to lift the arms embargo in Bosnia, fighting between government forces and rebel Serbs is bound to escalate. So too will the death toll mount. But the alternative, genocide and acquiescence in slavery, demand the embargo's end...

It sounds a little gimmicky: Operation Weed and Seed. But it isn't the name that matters but rather the help that the city of Sikeston hopes to receive in combating drugs and violence. The effort, announced recently, is the result of combined efforts from several local, state and federal agencies...

The Area Wide United Way has announced its goal for the 1995-96 campaign: $500,000. While slightly less than last year, organizers feel the goal is both reasonable and attainable. United Way does so much good in Cape Girardeau, Jackson and Scott City. The reason last year's goal wasn't obtained had nothing to do with United Way's mission or merit. It is just that businesses and people are so inundated by fund raisers these days...

To the editor: The city of Cape Girardeau would like to express its sincere appreciation to the Southeast Missourian and area media for keeping our citizens informed during the recent pump failure at the Cape Rock Water Treatment Plant. Your four-day coverage of the situation kept residential and commercial users up to date and informed...

To the editor: I find it quite repulsive that my congressman, Bill Emerson, voted to retain taxpayer subsidies to tobacco farmers and the industry in general. Is he not aware that tobacco causes cancer and is responsible for thousands of deaths annually? Is he not aware that even the cigarette manufacturers admitted secretly in the early 1970s that tobacco was addictive? Is he not aware that the FDA is in the process of declaring cigarettes as being addictive? Is the Congress in some kind of time warp without a clue as to what is going on?. ...

Southeast Missouri State University's 14 presidents have led Southeast from an upstart school to train high school teachers in 1873 through 122 years of changes. The university is gearing up for another transition as President Kala Stroup leaves Southeast to become Missouri's commissioner of higher education and a search begins for the 15th president of Southeast Missouri State University...

City manager finalist Jim C. Allan sized up Cape Girardeau's city facilities on the run Friday. "I saw them at about 50 mph," he quipped after being interviewed for two hours by the City Council. The interview took place behind closed doors at City Hall...

The Board of Regents Friday chose blunt-talking Cape Girardeau native Dr. Bill L. Atchley as Southeast Missouri State University's interim president. He will officially begin his job Sept. 1, although Atchley expects to be on campus the last week of August...

As president of Clemson University from 1979 to 1985, Bill Atchley didn't like what he saw at the South Carolina school. The Division I school of 12,000 students symbolized what was wrong with college sports in the 1980s. Clemson was cited with 75 NCAA violations. The school suffered through a sports probation, drug problems and steroid scandals...

The Other Half and I celebrated our three-month anniversary Friday. So far, neither of us has hit the other in anger or used butcher knives in ways the manufacturer never intended. We came close at the beginning of the week, however, when Mr. Half had to attend a seminar in Kansas City and invited me to come along...

I'M GLAD you asked what I think about Mike Royko. Interestingly enough he was on the front page of The Wall Street Journal last week, and many other readers are concerned about whether or not he is appropriate. Thanks for asking. I would just as soon you got rid of him...

When drug dealers want to set up shop, they look for the same qualities in a town any other big businessmen look for. Location, location, location. And the things that make Southeast Missouri so attractive to the industries here make it attractive to the dealers. Interstates 55 and 57 run through -- perfect drug corridors north and south. There's a large customer base in towns like Cape Girardeau, Sikeston and Charleston...

The Cape Girardeau chapter of American Business Women's Association will meet at 6 p.m. Thursday at the Drury Lodge. The speaker for the dinner meeting will be Mike Soellner with Logic Plus Corp. He will talk about using the Internet and choosing a personal computer...

Son to Stanton and Kristi Ash of Sikeston, Southeast Missouri Hospital, 12:53 a.m. Tuesday, July 18, 1995. Name, Dylan Christopher. Weight, 8 pounds 5 ounces. First child. Mrs. Ash is the former Kristi McKnelly, daughter of Darryl and Vicki McKnelly of Sikeston. Mr. and Mrs. Ash are employed at Choice Brands USA Inc. He is the son of Janet Beeson and Jimmy Ash of New Madrid...

SCOTT CITY -- Anna Marie Roth, 82, of Scott City died Friday, July 28, 1995, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. She was born March 2, 1913, in Ancell, the daughter of Otto Frederich and Ann Agatha Sander Walter. On Sept. 5, 1936, in Illmo, she married Ernest Theodore Roth. He died Dec. 30, 1989...

ESSEX -- Funeral service for Mary E. King of Essex will be held at 1 p.m. today at Watkins and Sons Funeral Chapel in Dexter. The Rev. Doyle Corlew will officiate, with burial in Hagy Cemetery at Dexter. King, 55, died Thursday, July 27, 1995, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau...

NEW MADRID -- Funeral service for Mary Virginia Hunter of New Madrid will be held at 11 a.m. today at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church. Burial will be in Evergreen Cemetery. Richards Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Hunter, 74, died Thursday, July 27, 1995, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau...

MARBLE HILL -- Raymond M. Ariola, 35, of Marble Hill, died Thursday, July 27, 1995, at his home. He was born April 29, 1960, in state of California, son of Monte R. and Evelyn McDonald Ariola. Ariola was a member of Marble Hill United Pentecostal Church...

CAIRO, Ill. -- Wendell T. Stevens, 75, of Waterloo, formerly of Cairo, died Friday, July 28, 1995, at Monroe County Nursing Home in Waterloo. He was born Mar. 15, 1920, in Cairo, son of Americus and Fleecy Bowers Stevens. He was a retired employee of the Illinois Power Co. He was a veteran of the Marine Corp., serving during World War II...

SIKESTON -- Graveside service for Daniel Glen Bewley of St. Louis, formerly of Sikeston, will be held at 4 p.m. today at Garden of Memories Cemetery. The Rev. J.D. McClard will officiate. Bewley, 57, died Thursday, July 27, 1995, at Compton Terrace Care Center in St. Louis, following an extended illness...

SIKESTON -- Kevin Elsperman, 23, of Sikeston, died Thursday, July 27, 1995, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau from injuries received in a motorcycle accident. He was born Oct. 18, 1971, in Oklahoma, son of Gary and Jean Elsperman. He and Rhonda Hendrix were married Aug. 22, 1992...

PERRYVILLE -- William Harvey Norrington, 90, of Perryville, died Thursday, July 27, 1995, at John J. Pershing VA Medical Center in Poplar Bluff. He was born Dec. 30, 1904, in Perry County, son of David Walker and Dela Burns Norrington. Norrington was retired from the U.S. Post Office. He was a member of Calvary Baptist Church, and served in the U.S. Army during World War II...

MARBLE HILL -- Clyde F. Willis, 80, of Marble Hill, died Thursday, July 27, 1995, at his home. He was born Nov. 22, 1914, at West Frankfort, Ill., son of John M. and Lula Pyles Willis. Willis was author of the "Country Lane" column that ran in several area newspapers, and also authored a book by the same title. He was a charter member of Bollinger County Historical Society...

Carolyn Peer-Hammonds, 39, 1829 Weissinger, died Friday, July 28, 1995, at St. Francis Medical Center. She was born July 11, 1956, in LaGrange, Ark., daughter of Turner and Eula Noel Peer Sr. She and Jerry Hammonds were married May 11, 1985, in Cape Girardeau...

TAMMS, Ill. -- Leota Miller, 78, of Tamms, died Thursday, July 27, 1995, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau, Mo. She was born June 20, 1917, near Tamms, daughter of John and Ruth Honey Nelson. She and Charles F. Miller were married Nov. 14, 1936. He died July 19, 1991...

Georgia Maloney talked about breast-feeding her daughter, Hali Rodgers. Hali is 11 months old with blonde curly hair, six teeth and an easy smile. Hali is a happy baby, her mother, Georgia Maloney, says, because she is breast-fed. Mothers who breast-feed their babies agree breast-milk and the bonding breast-feeding promotes make for happier, healthier babies...

Children and adults can have their vision screened free of charge at the third annual All-American Eye Check Day Aug. 6 from noon to 4 at the Sears Optical Center. Sears will donate $1 for every screening performed to support the programs of Prevent Blindness America, co-sponsor of the event with Sears Optical...

One of the benefits of growing older is the prospect of becoming a grandparent. But, like the times, grandparenting changes. Updating expectant grandparents about changing trends in infant care is the focus of Southeast Missouri Hospital's Grandparents Class...

The United Ostomy Association will meet Aug. 9 in Classrooms A and B of the Regional Cancer Center at Southeast Missouri Hospital. The meeting begins at 7 p.m. The program will be "ET Nurse Night: Discussion about GI Ostomies." It will be presented by ET Nurses Susan Dry of St. Francis, Dennis Gardner from VNA of Southeast Missouri and Linda Wessel from Southeast Missouri Hospital...

Members of the La Leche League will meet at 10 a.m. Thursday to talk about the arrival of a new baby. The meeting will be 3 at 737 N. Ranney in Sikeston. "The family in relationship to the breastfed baby" is the topic for the meeting and members will talk about how to manage the first hectic weeks home with a new baby and tips for mother and baby...