Stories from Thursday, December 2, 1999

IN ANSWER to the lady's problem with potatoes, she's buying potatoes from a new crop, and the best thing to do is to keep them from out of the light. That'll keep them from turning green. THIS IS a big thank you to a lady whose name I don't know who stood in line for me Friday morning for two hours just so my grandson could have a piano that he wants really bad for Christmas. She's an angel. I appreciate her. I hope God gives her a merry Christmas and a big thank you from me...

To the editor: I never cease to be impressed with the many attractive and even newsy advertisements that appear in the Southeast Missourian each day. What used to take only a few short moments to glance at has truly become attractive items that catch the eye as soon as one opens the paper. Not only are the advertisements attractive, they serve salesmanship...

It has been slow going on the Mississippi River bridge at Cape Girardeau this week, but motorists are taking it in stride. A Missouri Department of Transportation crew from Jefferson City began making more repairs to the bridge Tuesday. The work has reduced a section of the bridge to one lane during the day, creating traffic delays...

With 23,000 lights, 55 large Christmas yard ornaments and 200 candy canes in their yard, it's hard to miss the home of the Rev. John and Pat Rice near Oak Street and East Lane in Jackson.The front yard has a near life-size manger scene, a large "Keep Christ in Christmas" sign and light-bedecked wire outlines of a church and horse-drawn carriage. ...

It could be some time -- maybe never -- before local television channels broadcast via satellite. The timing depends on if and when satellite broadcasters offer local stations. President Clinton signed legislation Monday that lets satellite broadcast companies carry local stations."Since this isn't going to really change anything for three to five years, I think everybody will really stay the same," said Kathy Cowan, satellite relations manager for KFVS-TV in Cape Girardeau. ...

Dec. 2, 1999Dear Patty,Do you ever have the feeling you're being watched? I do. From awakening until they are put to bed at night, Hank and Lucy watch us with a kind of devotion that is humbling. They love the way I artfully eat a piece of toast, two pairs of brown eyes in tandem tracing the arc from plate to lips. If possible, they are even more enthralled by the way I consume a full sandwich. It's a Blimpie's commercial made to order...

Steve Ketelsen, who has been with Wood and Huston Bank since 1991, has resigned as president and chief executive officer. Ketelsen joined the bank at 111 S. Broadview as vice president in charge of consumer lending and was named president March 1996...

AIDS expert Dr. Richard Keeling urged a crowd of about 600 Southeast Missouri State University students Wednesday to fight indifference and care for their fellow man. Keeling spoke at a noontime Common Hour lecture at Academic Hall Auditorium as part of the university's observation of World AIDS Day...

SCOTT CITY -- Is your house decorated for Christmas yet? If not, come take a peek at some Scott City homes decorated for the holiday and come away with some inspiration for your own home.The Scott City Women's Club will sponsor a Christmas tour of homes from 5 to 8 p.m. ...

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. -- Reeling with four straight losses, Southeast Missouri State University's women's basketball team will begin Ohio Valley Conference play in about the most difficult fashion imaginable. First, the Otahkians take on host Tennessee Tech at 5:45 p.m. today. Then Southeast continues on the road for a 7 p.m. Saturday tipoff against Middle Tennessee State...

For the first time, Southeast Missouri State University volleyball coach Cindy Gannon believes her Otahkians have a legitimate chance of winning an NCAA Tournament match. Tonight, Gannon will find out if the Otahkians can indeed make school and Ohio Valley Conference history when they play Loyola Marymount in Santa Barbara, Calif., in the first round of the NCAA Pacific Regional. The match will start at 7:30 local time...

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. -- Gary Garner figures his Southeast Missouri State University men's basketball team could have picked a better opponent to start Ohio Valley Conference play against. That's because Garner regards Tennessee Tech as one of the top teams in the OVC. ...

Eight Notre Dame Regional High School soccer players were recently named to the Class 1A-3A district team.Seven of them made first team, including forwards Adam Obermiller and Chris Dirnberger, midfielders Oliver Sanders and Cory Elfrink, defenders Brian Glosemeyer and Wes Steele and goalkeeper Michael Gosche.Tommy Wencewicz was named second-team all-district as a defender...

Notre Dame's defense held visiting Sikeston to less than eight points in all four quarters -- including just two in the fourth -- and the Lady Bulldogs improved to 2-0 with a 56-20 drubbing of Sikeston Wednesday night."We played really well on defense," said Notre Dame coach Jerry Grim. ...

Omiegean W. Patterson, 81, of Fenton and a native of Blodgett, died Tuesday, Nov. 30, 1999, at St. Anthony Medical Center in St. Louis. She was born Feb. 13, 1918, the daughter of John William and Lillie Mae Morrow Randles. She married J. Arnold Patterson on April 18, 1942. He died Nov. 3, 1982...

MARBLE HILL -- Lillian Eveline Niswonger, 86, of Marble Hill died Sunday, Nov. 28, 1999, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. She was born March 20, 1913, at Perryville, daughter of Daniel and Margaret Barks Seabaugh. She and Joseph Ray Niswonger were married Oct. 8, 1933, in Cape Girardeau. He died June 11, 1970...

DESLOGE -- Verlon C. James, 77, of Desloge died Tuesday, Nov. 30, 1999, in an automobile accident in Jefferson County. He was born Sept. 16, 1922, in Floral, Ark., son of Ollie and Elsie Pierson James. He first married Dorothea Waller, who preceded him in death. He later married Joyce Sikes, who also preceded him in death...

Funeral for Sarah "Sally" Richmond will be held at 2 p.m. today at Fowler-Sullivan Memorial Chapel in Neelyville. Bill Porter will officiate.Friends may call at the chapel from noon until service time.Richmond, 78, died Monday, Nov. 29, 1999, at Lucy Lee Health Care Center in Poplar Bluff.She was born July 23, 1921, in Cape Girardeau, daughter of Pete and Daisy Kattes. She and Louie Richmond were married June 15, 1975. He died Feb. 15, 1998...

Esther Anna Blumenberg, 90, of Cape Girardeau died Wednesday, Dec. 1, 1999, at the Lutheran Home.Ford & Sons Mount Auburn Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.

KARNAK, Ill. -- Betty Miles Thomas, 68, of Karnak died Wednesday, Dec. 1, 1999, at Magnolia Manor Care Center in Metropolis.Wilson Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Sabrina Elston and Dr. Marc Strauss rehearsed for th 5th annual Fall Dance Concert. Friday night's fifth annual Fall Dance Concert will give the audience a rare opportunity to see dance performed to live music."It can bring a kind of electric feeling to the dance you can't get otherwise," says Dr. ...