Mostly Cloudy ~ 62°F   River stage: 33.18 Rising Friday, November 20, 2009

Lifestyles Headlines Better than a bee (11/15/09) The insect in this photo is not a bee. It is an American hover fly, and a member of a larger group of pollinator insects. The unsuspecting person may easily misidentify this bee impostor as it goes from flower to flower just like a bee. Quite possibly its color and markings evolved as a defensive measure to help deter hungry birds and frogs... Don't let go of faith in times of despair (11/15/09) Life has a way of roughing us up. Sometimes by the decisions we make, often by the decisions others have made. Sometimes we get roughed up by things beyond our control that dramatically affect the course of our lives, like a call from the doctor to come see him his office or being rear-ended on a beautiful Tuesday afternoon... FYI 11/15/09 (11/15/09) Genealogical society selling books The Cape Girardeau County Genealogical Society will have several book sales at the Cape Girardeau County Archive Center, 112 E. Washington St., in Jackson with a variety of new and used books for genealogists to purchase. The book sales will be from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday and Friday, and 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Nov. 24... Living a life of faith (11/15/09) The Rev. Shawn Wasson first became pastor at Bethany Baptist Church in Cape Girardeau in October 2003. He is originally from St. Louis, and he enjoys playing golf. Wasson said he loves to see the beauty of a well-maintained golf course. He said he finds it helps him to relax and forget about the cares of the world. ... The gift of giving (11/15/09) Before long, when the leaves have fallen and the weather turns cold, several organizations in town will ask that people spread some holiday cheer by giving to those who may not be able to afford Christmas presents or even daily meals. The Jaycees' Toybox, among other programs, provides toys for children in the city of Cape Girardeau... Donation drop off locations (11/15/09) Jaycees Toybox To donate: Drop new, unwrapped toys at AAA Travel, Alliance Bank, Bank of America, Capaha Bank, Commerce Bank, Osage Center, Southeast Missourian, Montgomery Bank, Regions Bank, US Bank, Wehrenberg Theaters, First Missouri State Bank, Hastings Town Plaza, Paula Huggins Accounting, Bank of Missouri, Westfield Shopping, Kelly Services, Wal-Mart, Healthpoint, Sears, Fitness Plus, Elite Travel, Realty Executives, First State Community Bank, Christian School for the Young Years, Elements Salon, Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield.. ... Jackson graduate completes basic training (11/15/09) Army Pvt. Tylor Floyd has graduated from basic infantry training at Fort Benning, Columbus, Ga. During the nine weeks of training, Floyd received training in drill and ceremonies, weapons, map reading, tactics, military courtesy, military justice, physical fitness, first aid and Army history, core values and traditions. ... Toy drives present opportunity to help those in need (11/15/09) Before long, when the leaves have fallen and the weather turns cold As the holiday season approaches, there are many opportunities to donate toys and other items to those in need. The Salvation Army is currently accepting food items for Thanksgiving dinner and Christmas food baskets. Individuals wishing to donate turkeys or other food items may take them to the Salvation Army at 701 Good Hope St., in Cape Girardeau during regular business hours. Monetary donations are also accepted... More than 100 meals served at year's first Empty Bowls Project dinner (11/09/09) Man hours put into preparing for the annual Empty Bowls Project charity dinner began as early as February, and until late Saturday all went as planned. However, as organizers and volunteer university students found, serving the masses can quickly turn unpredictable... Friends of Saint Francis honor Mary Spell (11/08/09) Friends of Saint Francis honor Spell The Friends of Saint Francis honored Mary Spell as its 24th Honorary Lifetime Member at the October banquet dinner. Spell retired from Saint Francis in 2005 after more than 20 years. She serves as the Saint Francis Auxiliary president and devotes many hours a week as a volunteer at the medical center... Saint Francis Foundation names Lisa Newcomer Rookie of the Year (11/08/09) The Saint Francis Foundation named Lisa Newcomer Rookie of the Year. Newcomer received the new award for being a new board member of The Friends who shows great leadership skills. She is the director of the Sleep Disorders Center and Home Medical Services at Saint Francis Medical Center... FYI (11/08/09) Parenting class at MU extension center The University of Missouri Extension has planned a free Conscious Discipline Parenting Workshop to explore and explain the methods of Conscious Discipline, which teaches that if you make life predictable for your toddler and set limits to make him or her feel secure, he or she will know what to expect and what is expected. Learn more at the free workshop from 7 to 9 p.m. Nov. 16 at the MU Extension Center in Jackson. Register at 334-9634 by Monday... Elmo explores (11/08/09) The United States had a banner year in 1969. NASA put a man on the moon. Hundreds of thousands of music lovers gathered at Woodstock and "Sesame Street" made its television debut Nov. 10. During the show's season opener Tuesday, celebrating its 40th anniversary, a rapping real estate agent convinces Big Bird to find a new habitat (the show's word of the day). Big Bird tours different areas and ultimately comes to his senses and finds his way back to Sesame Street... Dealing with pesky squirrels (11/08/09) A friend of mine has been losing sleep. Not because of the economy and not because of violence on the news. He's kept awake by the squirrels that seem to be winning the territorial battle for his attic. Other than the bothersome clatter of squirrel movements throughout the evenings, squirrels can be destructive when they get into an attic because of their gnawing habits and the collections of nest materials they leave behind... Being an advocate (11/08/09) Editor's note: This is the 10th in a series of stories with an introduction from Nancy Jernigan at the United Way highlighting volunteers and agencies who are active in or funded by the United Way of Southeast Missouri. To get involved, visit the United Way online at www.unitedwayofsemo.org, at its offices at 430A Broadway or by phone at 334-9634. ... Sharing truths (11/08/09) Jonathan Paul Hendren has been ministering in churches in some form of a pastoral role since about the age of 18. He came to Cape Girardeau in summer 2008 and now serves the congregation at Cornerstone Assembly of God in Cape Girardeau as the senior pastor... Reflecting on the power of sacrifice (11/08/09) Wednesday is Veterans Day. A day set aside to remember men and women of every generation who have served our great nation in the military. They have sacrificed much -- some their lives -- for each of us to enjoy and savor the freedoms that we enjoy on a daily basis... Keep trying to love the unlovable (11/08/09) Life can be strange and hard to understand sometimes. What makes people treat others the way they do? Is it tradition, what you've been taught or what you genuinely want to do? Most people make it a point to visit relatives, observe certain holiday traditions and get along with those they don't even like. ... An impression of autumn (11/08/09) This is a photo I shot focusing upon the reflected limbs of a soft maple tree in the clear water of a pond. Various kinds of fallen leaves had accumulated in the water and wind was making them drift. Being someone who loves impressionist paintings, I am especially drawn to colorful autumn scenes such as this. Although this is a photograph taken in real time and not enhanced or manipulated, it could pass for a well-painted impressionist landscape... Homemade wedding cake topper adds a personal touch (11/08/09) Weddings often are costly affairs, but with enough advance planning and a little homegrown ingenuity, you can make things instead of shelling out for them. Wedding magazines and Web sites help, too. "There's nothing you can't craft for your wedding," says Darcy Miller, editorial director of "Martha Stewart Weddings" magazine. Among other items, she mentions gifts, decorations, flowers and the cake...