Fair ~ 68°F   River stage: 36.54 Falling Saturday, November 7, 2009

Lifestyles Headlines Sikeston explores construction of city walking trail, authorizes improvements to Veterans Park (11/05/09) SIKESTON, Mo. -- An enhancement to Veterans Park may be the first step toward a community walking trail. During Monday's regular City Council meeting, council members approved pursuing funding for a walking trail project with an estimated cost of $139,000... FYI 11/1/09 (11/01/09) Registration open for annual Zoomday The second annual Hot Wheels Zoomday lets children ages 4 to 10 come out for snacks and prizes as they race their favorite and fastest Hot Wheels race car on specially built racetracks from the Cape Girardeau Parks and Recreation Department. The races will be from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Nov. 14. Registration ends Nov. 9. Cost is $12 for residents; $15 for nonresidents. Call 339-6340 or e-mail swelter@cityofcapegirardeau.org for more information... Even as time changes, we remain in God's care (11/01/09) In case you missed it, somewhere in the middle of the night you gained an hour of sleep. I'm not sure about you, but it seems to take me several weeks to physically adjust to the ending of daylight saving time. Sometimes the fall back seems more like a fall down... Efforts benefit three charities (11/01/09) Efforts benefit three charities The J.C. Penney Salon in Cape Girardeau has combined its efforts with the J.C. Penney retail store to raise money for two charities. The salon needed to clean out a stock room and decided to sell some of the products to employees to raise money for the United Way. ... Insurance agent Jeff Owens earns award (11/01/09) Jeff Owens, an Allstate Insurance agent, recently earned the Agency Hands in the Community award from Allstate for his commitment to community service through volunteer work in the local community. Owens, who operates in Jackson, received $500 from the company to donate to the Muscular Dystrophy Association where he volunteers... Navy promotes Cape Girardeau native (11/01/09) Brian Renaud, a quartermaster in the U.S. Navy, recently achieved the appointment of chief petty officer. The appointment carries with it the obligation that he will exercise increased authority, willingly accept greater responsibility and strive toward the valued ideal of service with honor. Renaud is the son of John Renaud of Cape Girardeau and Theresa Renaud of St. Louis, and the grandson of Cordelia Conn and Catherine Renaud, both of Charleston, Mo... 'All I do' (11/01/09) The Rev. Timothy Wade Lee first came to the Pentecostal church at age 17 in North Carolina. After that service, he changed his ways and joined the church. He spent many years holding revivals -- including one at The Apostolic Promise Church in Cape Girardeau. Now, at 40, Lee has been the pastor at The Apostolic Promise Church for six years. Being a pastor "is all I do," Lee said... Becoming part of nature (11/01/09) A walk through the woods can sometimes bring you into close contact with interesting man-made things. I believe these man-made things can be relevant and offer powerful and interesting photo opportunities. In this case I was directed by a friendly lady to get a closer look at an old, long-abandoned schoolhouse. ... Season of color (11/01/09) If people stop to smell the roses in spring, then fall is the time they stop and see the leaves. Provided last week's rain hasn't blown all the leaves off the trees, this week will be the perfect -- and possibly last -- time to enjoy the colorful palette of fall... Home matters (11/01/09) Editor's note: This is the ninth 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.... A frog in your pond (10/25/09) This picture shows an American green tree frog embracing a dandelion that has decided to bloom in autumn rather than spring. Home for this small climbing frog includes all of the U.S. Gulf Coast as well as along the southern half of the Atlantic seaboard. Southeast Missouri is at the northern edge of this small 2 1/2-inch frog's range... Good deed of the week 10/25/09 (10/25/09) Kim Stricker has been captivated by radio control, control line and free flight model airplanes since his uncle, Wayne Stricker, taught him to fly them in 1967 in his Boaz, Ill., backyard. Kim Stricker, now 55, decided recently to fulfill his childhood fantasy of flying a small radio plane from his home in Olmsted, Ill., to his uncle's field in Boaz, 15 miles away. ... Jackson, Bell City students graduate basic training (10/25/09) Army Reserve Pfc. Kevin T. White, currently a student at Jackson High School, and Army National Guard Pvt. Jason A. Hess, currently a student at Bell City High School, have graduated from basic military training at Fort Jackson in Columbia, S.C., under the Split-Option Enlistment Program to serve as a member of the Army National Guard or Reserve. ... Area native graduates Army basic training Army Reserve (10/25/09) Pvt. Joshua D. Seyer has graduated from basic combat training at Fort Sill, Lawton, Okla. During the nine weeks of training, the soldier studied the Army mission and received instruction and training exercises in drill and ceremonies, Army history, core values and traditions, military courtesy, military justice, physical fitness, first aid, rifle marksmanship, weapons use, map reading and land navigation, foot marches, armed and unarmed combat, and field maneuvers and tactics. ... FYI 10/25/09 (10/25/09) Jackson FBLA will trick or treat for cans Members of Jackson High School's chapter of Future Business Leaders of America will hit the streets Tuesday to trick-or-treat for canned food to be donated to the Jackson Ministerial Alliance. FBLA members will be going door to door for cans of food from 6 to 8 p.m... Patton, Mo., native spread his wings (10/25/09) Southeast Missouri is defined by its special people and special places. A person who is clearly deserving of special recognition is Ira Oris Biffle from Patton, Mo. On Dec. 1, 1927, the first commercial airplane landed at Chicago Air Park, which was dedicated as Chicago Municipal Airport the following week, and Midway Airport in 1949. ... Generous Community (10/25/09) Memory Walk moving toward goal The Alzheimer's Association, St. Louis chapter, raised $52,000 toward its SEMO Memory Walk goal of $60,000, with its walk Sept. 12 at Capaha Park. Donations will be accepted through the end of the year. More than 150 people showed up to walk in support of the Alzheimer's Association. ... Make the decision to kill a lion (10/25/09) In any given day we make a thousand decisions: Wear the blue tie or the orange. Black shoes or brown. Decaf, regular or stop off at the coffee shop and pick up a latte. Thousands of decisions, and that's before we walk out the door. When the day-to-day decisions become paralyzing, how in the world do we rise to challenge of making the life-altering ones?... Life is a kaleidoscope (10/25/09) We passed a Toyota car on the interstate. Another was a Ford. One automobile held a man, but a woman drove the next. Then a couple went by in a truck. Some of the passengers were talking, others looked silent. "How interesting," I thought. Life is filled with ever-changing variety, both mental and physical. How can anyone ever become bored?... Double duty (10/25/09) The Rev. David E. Schaffner maintains a double life. He works part time as a road salesman for Fisher Auto Parts and has served the St. John's United Church of Christ as its pastor for 18 years. Before his sales gig, he worked full time for the Jim Wilson Co. in Cape Girardeau. Before he became the full-time pastor, he substituted for St. John's pastor. Schaffner calls it "part of my training."...