Stories from Sunday, December 27, 1998

To the editor: I love the way liberals make war, a kind of make-believe war in which nobody -- well, almost nobody -- gets hurt but we win by blowing up empty buildings. Of course, Saddam Hussein says he won. Which liar shall we believe? Hussein or Bill Clinton?...

To the editor: In response to Mr. Gephardt's comments in the Dec. 20 edition of the Southeast Missourian, I don't believe we are asking anyone to pass a puritanical test of purity. However, I do not feel that it is too much to ask that our leaders, especially our president, to have some basic moral standards. ...

Missouri is one of 46 states that reached an agreement with the tobacco industry last month, subject to court approval. The deal is part of a national settlement offered by four tobacco companies that would pay those states about $206 billion. (Four other states have already reached their own settlements.) Pursuant to that agreement, Missouri stands to receive $6.7 billion over 25 years beginning in 2000...

This is the season for New Year resolutions which, Thoreau once observed, have a way of disappearing "as fast as the last snowfall upon arrival of Spring's warm sunshine." In the foreseeable future, we're not going to enjoy Spring sunshine, so perhaps a few resolutions here and there will hang around, at least until we make it to Groundhog Day or Easter...

Paul Johnson, the internationally renowned British historian, is one of the great wonders of our time. Previous works by this amazing author include "History of Christianity," "A History of the Jews," "Intellectuals," "The Quest for God," "Modern Times," as well as "Enemies of Society," the 20-year-old work that introduced me to him during my student days...

I WAS so happy to read in your paper about the historical building going to Frohna. My great-grandfather was the one who built that barn in the 1830s. I appreciate Mr. Strom getting it to be restored some place. THE LETTER written by Matthew Younghouse makes more sense than anything I've heard or read over the past month from Republican or Democrat. ...

JACKSON -- Cape Girardeau County's 1999 budget reflects new expenses connected with a $6.8 million jail expansion and new computer technology. The County Commission has approved a $9.5 million general operating budget for 1999. The commission also approved a $2 million budget for road and bridge projects...

Area lawmakers have no shortage of issues and ideas on their legislative agenda next year. State Sen. Peter Kinder, R-Cape Girardeau, will renew his efforts to get the state to ban partial-birth abortion. Kinder once again has filed a bill to outlaw the late-term abortion procedure...

Two committees studying Cape Girardeau public schools curriculum and finances say the school district has the best offering of high school courses in the region. However, it's also the most expensive. In order for the school district to fund the program and suggested improvements, it needs more money, the Finance Committee concluded...

'Twas the night after Christmas when all through the house, everyone was exhausted, even the mouse. OK, we don't have a mouse, but if we did, he would be exhausted too. The stockings weren't hung by the chimney with care. We don't have a chimney. And the children weren't nestled all snug in their beds. They were still excited about all those presents they got...

Three of the four top seeds in the 54th annual University High School Christmas Tournament had virtual byes in the first round Saturday. Only Kelly, the No. 3 seed, survived a scare, but the Hawks were able to pull away in the fourth quarter to manage a 74-63 win over No. 14 Oak Ridge...

In the days leading up to the 54th annual University High School Christmas Tournament, the word "parity" was tossed around perhaps like never before. Some longtime observers deemed this year's tournament the most balanced in memory. Bell City did its best to show that those in the know really did know...

Regardless of what happens in the next two games, Southeast Missouri State University's basketball team is guaranteed of entering the new year in first place in the Ohio Valley Conference. But that doesn't mean the Indians won't have a couple of interesting tests to close out the 1998 portion of their schedule...

ST. LOUIS -- Perryville High's girls basketball team was eliminated from the Visitation Christmas Tournament Saturday by losing to Parkway North 59-47 in consolation action. The Lady Pirates (4-6) had lost last week to John Burroughs in the first round...

LEOPOLD -- Fred Joseph Elfrink, 60, of Leopold died Friday, Dec. 25, 1998, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. He was born Feb. 12, 1938, at Laflin, son of Fred W. and Louise Anger Elfrink. He was a member of St. John's Catholic Church at Leopold, St. Isidore Council Knights of Columbus 5898, Teamsters St. Louis Local and the National Rifle Association...

VILLA RIDGE, Ill. -- Orville L. Billingsley, 82, of Villa Ridge died Friday, Dec. 25, 1998, at his home. He was born on Jan. 31, 1916, at Buncombe, son of Owen and Ruth Elkins Billingsley. He resided in Richmond, Calif., for many years. He was a retired police captain for the Richmond Police Department. He was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Mounds...

Etta Lee Fox, 80, of Cape Girardeau died Wednesday, Dec. 23, 1998, at St. Francis Medical Center. She was born March 28, 1918, at Devol, Okla., the daughter of Tilbert B. and Maude Winton Kimes. She married Thomas U. Fox July 31, 1937, at Franklin, Ky. He preceded her in death May 30, 1991...

Ida Kathleen Polen, 81, of Waterloo, Illinois, formerly of Cape Girardeau, died Thursday, Dec. 24, 1998, at Monroe County Care and Rehab in Waterloo, Illinois. She was born Oct. 2, 1917, in Essex, Missouri, the daughter of Jason Felix and Iva Galloway Armes...

PUXICO -- Hazel Cooper Crites, 76, of Puxico died Thursday, Dec. 24, 1998, at her home in Puxico. She was born April 3, 1922, at Rock Point, daughter of Earl and Viola Bradshaw Cooper. She was a homemaker and had worked at the Inland Shoe Co. and at Ralph Edwards Sportswear in Puxico...

SIKESTON -- Billie L. Arnold, 61, of Sikeston died Thursday, Dec. 24, 1998, at the Missouri Delta Medical Center. He was born on Dec. 11, 1937, at Sikeston. He had lived in the Sikeston and Morehouse areas most of his life. He was a Navy veteran. He was a member of the Christian Tabernacle United Pentecostal Church in Sikeston...

Clara Minnie Stoll, 78, of Cape Girardeau, died Wednesday, Dec. 23, 1998. She was born April 27, 1920, at Dutchtown, daughter of John H. and Amanda Springer Frank. She married John Probst in 1943. He died in 1960. On Jan. 19, 1963, she married Walter H. Stoll in Cape Girardeau. He died Sept. 17, 1991...

DEXTER -- Arvell Lawrence, 86, of Dexter died Friday, Dec. 25, 1998, at his home. He was born on July 7, 1912, at Essex, son of Isaac and Bertha Chandler Lawrence. He lived in the Dexter area most of his life. He was a retired gravel truck driver. He married Sybil Harper on Dec. 21, 1935, at Bloomfield...

SIKESTON -- Tommie M. Hawkins, 61, of Sikeston died Tuesday, Dec. 22, 1998, of an apparent heart attack. He was born Oct. 4, 1937, at Fort Worth, Texas, son of Emmitt and Myrtle Hawkins. He was employed as a truck driver for James Charles Trucking of McClure, Ill...

Leonard D. Dodd, 91, of Plainsboro, N.J., died Friday, Dec. 25, 1998, at Princeton Medical Center in Princeton, N.J. He was born on Jan. 23, 1907, at Mexico, Mo., son of Charles William and Ina Viola Sims Dodd. He worked for 35 years as a chemist for PPG Industries, beginning in 1937. ...

Lillian Hulda Popp, 90, of 2825 Bloomfield died Thursday, Dec. 24, 1998, at the Lutheran Home in Cape Girardeau. She was born on April 17, 1908, at Tilsit, daughter of Charles and Emma Bistig Werner. She was a housewife. She married Edwin Vogle. He died Sept. 15, 1962...

Lola Suphar Guffey, 84, of 2525 Boutin Drive died Thursday, Dec. 24, 1998, at Southeast Missouri Hospital. She was born on April 15, 1914, at Marble Hill, daughter of James Madison and Rada Stephens Mungle. She was a housewife. She was a member of Foursquare Church. She worked at the Dixie Cream Donut Shop for a number of years...

Richard D. Gould, 83, of 2825 Bloomfield died Friday, Dec. 25, 1998, at Southeast Missouri Hospital. He was born on Nov. 13, 1915, at Schenectady, N.Y., son of Louis Ammon and Bessie Draime Gould. He was a building products salesman. He worked at John's Manville for 42 years before retiring in 1978...

GLEN ALLEN -- Harry Frederick Wells, 83, of Glen Allen died Tuesday, Dec. 22, 1998, at Cottage Hospital in Santa Barbara, Calif. He was born on Nov. 13, 1915, in Hackney, London, England, son of George and Lydell Yendll Wells. He worked for 35 years as a shipping director for Alexander Howden Import and Export...

Robert O. "Bob" Minner, 78, died Friday, Dec. 25, 1998, at the Missouri Veterans Home in Cape Girardeau. He was born Feb. 29, 1920, at Morley, son of Robert Otto and Lillie Bynum Minner. He married Louise Nienstedt on Aug. 6, 1944 at Blodgett. She died July 5, 1998...