Stories from Saturday, October 9, 2004

Congress could fuel expansion of the nation's ethanol industry, a top official of the Missouri Corn Growers Association said Friday. The House of Representatives on Thursday passed the America Jobs Creation Act of 2004, which includes provisions that would benefit ethanol manufacturers, said Fred Stemme, communications and marketing director of the corn growers association in Jefferson City...

Parents hearing that Jackson schools are using infrared technology to teach children how to read shouldn't fear for their children's health. The schools' use of phonemic sound-field amplification systems has few side effects, except perhaps improvements in attention spans, class participation and behavior problems...

BENTON, Mo. -- On Dec. 31, Ferrell will walk out of the sheriff's office for the last time. He isn't really retiring, he says, but leaving a job he's given his life to so he can do something else for a while and be with his family more. In November, Scott County voters will choose between Democrat Rick Walter and Republican Wes Drury to succeed Ferrell...

A Cape Girardeau man who caught the attention of the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals when he was charged with animal abuse in addition to three felony counts of domestic abuse was charged with another felony Friday. Paul Clifton Oakley, 43, in court for a preliminary hearing on the charges that he abused his live-in girlfriend and her kitten, reportedly escaped from custody and was captured minutes later in a doghouse on Bast Street in Jackson...

DALLAS -- Regional bragging rights, front-running status in the Big 12 South and a head start to possible conference and national championships -- all in one game. It's the second week of October and time for the Red River Shootout. With No. 2 Oklahoma and No. 5 Texas both undefeated and in the top five for the third time in four years, the game is even bigger...

J.L. Lewis shot a 9-under 63 to take the lead at 14 under midway through the Michelin Championship at Las Vegas. On another windless day in the desert, the 44-year-old Lewis took a one-shot lead over Chez Reavie, Olin Browne and Alex Cejka with a round that included an eagle, six birdies and no bogeys on a friendly Bear's Best course...

UNCASVILLE, Conn. -- Connecticut rookie Lindsay Whalen played with the guile of a veteran Friday night, leading the Sun to a 68-64 victory over the Seattle Storm in the opening game of the WNBA Finals. Whalen set a team playoff mark with nine assists, had 11 points, two steals, two blocked shots and helped shut down Seattle guard Sue Bird...

The Associated Press WASHINGTON -- House Republican leaders on Friday easily pushed through sweeping new law enforcement powers as part of a Sept. 11 anti-terrorism package, but the House now must negotiate a truce with the Senate on those measures to get President Bush's signature before the elections...

The prize was $25,000 when Charles Lindbergh made the first transatlantic flight in 1927. He named his plane Spirit of St. Louis because the head of the St. Louis Chamber of Commerce provided $15,000 to finance the venture. Lindbergh had convinced him that success would turn St. Louis into an aviation hub...

"All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the Lord, and all the families of the nations shall bow down and worship before You. For the kingship and the kingdom are the Lord's, and He is the ruler over the nations." Psalm 22:27, 28 (Amplified Bible)...

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- Southeast Missouri State University's important Ohio Valley Conference soccer road trip to Alabama did not start out well as the Otahkians suffered a 1-0 loss to Samford Friday night. Samford, the defending OVC regular-season champion, improved to 5-4 overall and 4-0 in OVC play to remain in first place. Southeast fell to 7-3-1 overall and 2-1-1 in the league...

To the editor: I am interested in preserving the Mississippi River Bridge because it was finished in 1929, the same year I was born. I can remember the first time that I crossed the bridge -- it was like going to a different country. I was around 11 or 12 years old. I went to Ware, Ill., my first time away from Missouri. Thanks for the memories...

To the editor: Many thanks to Callie Clark, Fred Lynch and Sam Blackwell for the excellent Missourian story pointing out the generosity of Southeast Missouri State University in providing every school and library in the county with a free copy of my documentary about the Civil War in Cape Girardeau. I hope exposure to the video makes history vivid for local students and spurs their interest in finding out more about the fascinating stories of our past...

To the editor: People have been moving into the Jackson area for many, many years; one of the reasons is the good reputation of the Jackson school system. We want to continue to prepare students, in adequate facilities, for their future. As enrollment continues to grow, we need to prepare for that growth...

KANSAS CITY, Kan. -- Dale Earnhardt Jr. is still smarting from the penalty that knocked him out of first place in the NASCAR's Nextel Cup series for cursing during a live TV interview last weekend. The sanctioning organization hit Junior hard, fining him $10,000 and, more important, docking him 25 points. The latter left him 12 points behind new leader Kurt Busch entering Sunday's Banquet 400 at Kansas Speedway...

KANSAS CITY, Kan. -- Joe Nemechek has rediscovered that old qualifying magic. "Front Row Joe" went four years without winning a pole, but now has two in a row after leading qualifying Friday for the NASCAR Nextel Cup race at Kansas Speedway. The eighth pole of his career wasn't easy, though...

Southeast Missouri State University's volleyball team has struggled much of the season, but the Otahkians finally gained their first Ohio Valley Conference victory Friday night -- and Jessica Koeper believes they just might be on their way now. "Finally, a win underneath our belts," said Koeper, a sophomore outside hitter from Jackson High School. "After this win, I think we turned the corner. We're ready to roll now."...

Missouri is coming off its first victory in a Big 12 opener in six seasons. The Associated Press WACO, Texas -- Missouri hasn't been in this position since 1998: undefeated in the Big 12. OK, so the Tigers have played only one conference game. But it's the first time in six seasons they won their Big 12 opener...

For those who enjoy the opinions of Victor Davis Hanson (in a recent column), I encourage you to read his book, "An Autumn of War," which is most informative and opinionated and will better enlighten you on some historic military actions from early Greece to date...

IHURURU, Kenya -- When Wangari Maathai got word she had won the 2004 Nobel Peace Prize on Friday, she was campaigning to protect Kenya's forests and distributing food to villagers suffering from drought -- the same work she's been doing for decades...

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Federal authorities said Friday they arrested an Iraqi-born Nashville resident on illegal weapons charges during a sting operation set up after he made threats about "going Jihad." Ahmed Hassan Al-Uqaily, 33, was arrested Thursday afternoon as he was putting weapons he had purchased from an undercover agent into his car...

ROSEMONT, Ill. -- The handwritten script appeared slowly at first, unspooling across the wide-screen video monitors inside the Allstate Arena as if scrawled by some giant, invisible hand. "Dear Fans, Thank you," it began, as the 23,000 people inside the suburban Chicago stadium cheered each word. ...

The Associated Press TABA, Egypt -- Israeli officials said Friday they believe al-Qaida was probably behind three suicide car bomb attacks targeting Red Sea resorts filled with Israeli tourists, as investigators searched for evidence and rescuers pulled bodies from the twisted wreckage of a five-star hotel and casino...

BAGHDAD, Iraq -- Kidnappers beheaded British hostage Kenneth Bigley after twice releasing videos in which he wept and pleaded with Prime Minister Tony Blair for his life. A U.S. official said Friday there was credible information that Bigley had tried to escape with the aid of one of his captors...

TIKRIT, Iraq -- When Iraq's 202nd National Guard Battalion faced insurgents six months ago, it simply, in the words of one American general, "evaporated." Now, the same outfit, tested in recent combat, is being touted as a vital building block of the force the United States says will increasingly replace its own troops on the front lines...

Missouri is coming off its first victory in a Big 12 opener in six seasons. The Associated Press WACO, Texas -- Missouri hasn't been in this position since 1998: undefeated in the Big 12. OK, so the Tigers have played only one conference game. But it's the first time in six seasons they won their Big 12 opener...

Mary Louise Stevens, 88, of Jackson died Thursday, Oct. 7, 2004, at Jackson Manor. She was born Dec. 6, 1915, at Dexter, Mo., daughter of Charles and Cora Jones Walker. Formerly of Dexter, Stevens had lived in Jackson the past eight years. Survivors include two sisters, Evelyn Teson of Jackson and Bertha Petty of Blountstown, Fla...

EAST PRAIRIE, Mo. -- Ruth Marie Greer, 93, of East Prairie died Friday, Oct. 8, 2004, at East Prairie Nursing Center. She was born Jan. 11, 1911, in New Madrid County, daughter of George and Flora Ann Duffy Schneider. She and William Earl Greer were married June 29, 1935, at Sikeston. He died Jan. 16, 1949...

Cape Girardeau The following items were released Friday by the Cape Girardeau Police Department. Arrests do not imply guilt. Arrests Mikell Dwayne Abraham, 27, 144 Lorimier St., Apt. 3, was arrested on a city warrant for failure to appear for probation revocation and possession of a controlled substance...

Cape Girardeau Firefighters responded to the following items on Thursday: At 3:51 p.m., an electrical call at 1744 Bessie St. At 10:30 p.m., emergency medical service in the 200 block of Mason Street. Firefighters responded to the following items on Friday:...

BOSTON -- This self-proclaimed band of idiots is going to play for the pennant. David Ortiz homered in the 10th inning to send the Boston Red Sox into their second consecutive AL championship series, completing a three-game sweep of the Anaheim Angels with an 8-6 victory Friday...

LOS ANGELES -- President Bush has unwittingly become a muse for a growing number of artists inspired by the war in Iraq and the upcoming presidential election to make political statements through their craft. Painters, sculptors, graffiti artists, guerrilla poster makers and aspiring artisans have been showing an unprecedented level of political outrage, said Carol Wells, director of the Center for the Study of Political Graphics in Los Angeles...

ALDERSON, W.Va. -- Martha Stewart exchanged her clothes for prison-issue khaki trousers and readied to sleep not on cotton linens, but on plain, military-grade sheets. Slipping all-but-unnoticed past supporters and TV crews in the darkness, Stewart reported to the Alderson Federal Prison Camp in rural West Virginia to begin serving her sentence for lying about a stock sale. ...

KANSAS CITY, Mo. For years, it was as if Rogers Strickland lived in two separate worlds. He started a successful construction business, but it never seemed to intersect with his spiritual, faith-driven side. Until he realized it had to. "I was good at it, and I was making money, but it wasn't enough," Strickland said. ...

LOS ANGELES -- He sings, he dances. He serves as the Dodgers' unofficial cheerleader, racing nonstop around the dugout and constantly pumping his teammates up. Most important, Jose Lima pitches -- and very well at Dodger Stadium. He'll pitch there tonight against the Cardinals in the most important start of his life...

ST. LOUIS -- In a testy debate rematch Friday, Sen. John Kerry derided President Bush as the first leader to preside over job losses in 72 years and said he had transformed huge budget surpluses into massive deficits with wartime tax cuts for the rich. Bush said Kerry would have to raise taxes on middle-class Americans to pay for $2.2 trillion in new spending programs...

Delta's softball team was eliminated from the Class 1 District 1 tournament 3-0 by host Naylor in Friday afternoon's championship game, thanks to two crucial errors and great pitching by Naylor's Meagan Young. Delta hurler Sarah Cook also dominated and allowed just four hits, but was done in by errors in the second and sixth innings. Sara Blattel was the primary offensive threat for the Bobcats, going 3-for-3...

Fans of small school volleyball should be in for a treat today with the eight-team Scott City Volleyball Tournament kicking into gear at the high school and middle school. Area schools Scott City, Oran, Chaffee and Saxony Lutheran will be joined by Twin Rivers, Malden, Marquand and Campbell. Scott City and Oran have both had strong seasons so far and could be favorites to make it to the tournament finals...

By early in the fourth quarter the sea of orange and black Central football fans packed into the visitors stands at Jackson on Friday night were making their way to the exit. It turned out about 40 minutes of watching the Tigers get dominated by rival Jackson was all some Central fans could take. Jackson took care of Central 35-6 in the 91st meeting between the two rivals...

Peoria, Ill., Journal Star Gov. Rod Blagojevich called former Congressman Glenn Poshard out of retirement last week to head the troubled Illinois Health Facilities Planning Board. Now Poshard should help the governor retire the board. The agency was created in 1974 to control health care costs by preventing costly overbuilding at the same time it ensured statewide access to care. ...

Today First Presbyterian Church in Jackson will kick off its "40 Days of Purpose" campaign at 6:30 p.m. Another kick-off celebration will be held a 4 p.m. Sunday. For information, call the church office at 243-4265 or coordinator Dawn Pourney at 243-1042...

SIKESTON, Mo. -- Dexter Alan Britton, 44, of Sikeston died Thursday, Oct. 7, 2004, at his home. He was born May 28, 1960, in Sikeston, son of Robert Dee and Carol Lemmons Britton. Britton had been a helicopter mechanic with DynCorp Inc. in Fort Campbell, Ky. He was founder of Silveregal Country and Western Band and was an Elvis impersonator. He formerly attended Crowder Church of Christ and Shady Acres Church of Christ. He was formerly of Woodlawn, Tenn...

BIEHLE, Mo. -- Herman B. Blechle, 89, of Biehle died Friday, Oct. 8, 2004, at Perry County Nursing Home. He was born March 29, 1915, in Perry County, son of Joseph and Ida Bahner Blechle. Blechle was a farmer, and member of St. Maurus Catholic Church...

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- Marilyn L. Pryor, 72, of Perryville died Friday, Oct. 8, 2004, at Perry County Nursing Home. She was born Nov. 1, 1931, in St. Louis, daughter of Harley and Vivian Marks Pryor. Pryor was a member of First Baptist Church. Survivors include a sister-in-law, Ann Watson of Perryville...

JONESBORO, Ill. -- Billy L. Travis, 80, of Jonesboro died Friday, Oct. 8, 2004, at Union County Hospital. Hileman Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Lottie L. Job, 92, of Cape Girardeau died Thursday, Oct. 7, 2004, at Fountainbleau Lodge. She was born Oct. 11, 1911, at Risco, Mo., daughter of Charles and Mattie Portis Rauh. She and Lawrence Job were married April 3, 1941. He died June 7, 1992. Job had been owner/manager of Cloverleaf Grocery Store in Kewaunee, Wis. She was a member of St. Mary's Cathedral and Council of Catholic Women...

25 years ago: Oct. 9, 1979 Howard E. Vander Clute Jr., the national commander in chief of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, declares, "Right now, the American armed forces are in a shambles -- we have no means of mobilization if we had to." TAMMS, Ill. -- On advice from the Illinois Farm Bureau that Alexander County illegally applied a farmland tax-multiplier this year, 75 county farmland owners meet here to organize payment of those taxes under protest...

Jody Neufeld has endured more tragedy over the past few years than most people would likely experience in five or six lifetimes. But when the Cape Girardeau native's son -- Tampa Bay Devil Rays right-handed relief pitcher John Webb, who was born and raised in Florida -- finally made it up to the major leagues last month, she took comfort in the fact that she was far from alone in being touched by his success...

Smith Daughter to Jason and Tricia Smith of Fort Wayne, Ind., Parkview Hospital in Fort Wayne, 10:15 a.m. Friday, Oct. 1, 2004. Name, Kylie Jane. Weight, 7 pounds 4 ounces. First child. Mrs. Smith is the former Tricia Gatto, daughter of Dick and Carol Gatto of Leitchfield, Ky. She is a speech pathologist. Smith is the son of Mac and Jayne Smith of Cape Girardeau. He is supervisor of special events with Fort Wayne Parks and Recreation Department...

Be preacher or politician TO THE person who put in Speak Out voting advice saying "thank God for the ministers and preachers for telling their flock and not being afraid of telling their flock, who to vote for." You know, I think a preacher that gets up and tells anybody in church who to vote for and who not to vote for should not be in the house of the Lord preaching the gospel. ...

Cycling n Two Belgian cyclists - a former world champion and a 2000 Olympic silver medalist - were suspended by their federation in separate doping scandals. Filip Meirhaeghe, a former world champion mountain biker, was suspended for 15 months after he tested positive this year for an endurance-enhancing substance...

Children's ministry party at Wesley United church Wesley United Methodist Church in Fruitland will hold a Kid's Zone Party from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Oct. 17. Children ages 4 to 11 are invited to attend and are encouraged to wear costumes for a contest. Master illusionist D.J. Edwards will be the special guest. For more information, call Pastor Kevin at 243-5948...

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- St. Vincent added to its stable of running backs Friday night with the first start for Kyle Kline, the leading rusher from last year. But quarterback Alex Armbruster and tight end Danny Rellergert stole the show in a 46-6 homecoming victory against Crystal City...