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Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2012

Local News

Opponents of urban deer hunting in Cape not allowed to speak at meeting (02/08/12)
Opponents of urban deer hunting crowded into the Cape Girardeau deer management committee meeting Tuesday night but weren't given much of an opportunity to express their concerns. Before the meeting began, assistant police chief Roger Fields, who is serving as the staff liaison to the committee, told the crowd that the meeting was not the time for debate...
Waller given extra time to file appeal in federal case (02/08/12) 2
Clay Waller has been granted three more weeks to file the appeal of his five-year sentence for his federal Internet threatening conviction.
Jackson annexation goes down in defeat (02/08/12) 3
After four months that saw heated board of aldermen meetings, paid advertisements and two lawsuits, Jackson residents overwhelmingly voted against the annexation of a Fruitland quarry Tuesday.
Santorum wins 'beauty contest' primary in Southeast Missouri counties (02/08/12)
Rick Santorum should have a warm welcome when he comes to Cape Girardeau next month. The Republican presidential candidate swept aside front-runner Mitt Romney in the statewide presidential primary Tuesday, capturing zero delegates in the nonbinding election but perhaps a bit of momentum...
Nixon proposes softening colleges' budget cut (02/08/12)
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Gov. Jay Nixon said Tuesday that he wants to soften a proposed budget cut to the state's colleges and universities by tapping money from a possible legal settlement with some of the nation's largest mortgage lenders.
Audit report gives good marks to Southeast Missouri State, flags some problems (02/08/12) 1
Missouri State Auditor Tom Schweich released an audit of Southeast Missouri State University today at 2 p.m. The audit covers certain operations of the university by using financial statements for years ended June 30, 2010, 2009 and 2008. According to a release from the auditor's office, various audits of state government offices, public school districts, municipal governments and other offices will also be released this year...
Former Jackson football coach to run for House seat (02/08/12) 1
Saying he still has some "fight left" in him, former Jackson football coach Van Hitt announced his intentions Tuesday to run for the Missouri House seat occupied by Rep. Donna Lichtenegger. Hitt's decision, which surprised his fellow House hopefuls, sets up a possible three-way Republican primary with Lichtenegger and Jackson School Board member Gerald Adams...
Students practice earthquake safety (02/08/12)
Alma Schrader fourth-graders scoot under their desks to practice the proper drop, cover and hold on techniques that are vital during an earthquake as part of the Great Central U.S. ShakeOut event on Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2012.
Fire forces evacuation of Southern Illinois school (02/08/12)
MCCLURE, Ill. -- About 80 students at Shawnee Elementary School South in McClure were rushed outside after a fire began in a trash can in the building Tuesday morning. Shawnee school district superintendent Shelly Clover-Hill said smoke was reported in the building and school staff worked quickly to clear the building because there had been a gas leak in the school over the weekend. ...
Ill. man faces child pornography charges (02/08/12)
ANNA, Ill. -- A Union County, Ill., man was arrested Monday on child pornography charges stemming from an investigation that involved the FBI and Illinois State Police, according to a news release from Union County State's Attorney Tyler Edmonds. ...
Matthews man charged with molestation (02/08/12)
SIKESTON, Mo. -- A Matthews, Mo., man is charged with five counts of child molestation following an investigation by the Sikeston Department of Public Safety. Jewel Gross, 65, is charged with five counts of first-degree child molestation. Charges were filed by Scott County prosecutor Paul Boyd...
Ramps on I-57 reduced for repairs (02/08/12)
SIKESTON, Mo. -- North- and southbound ramps on Interstate 57 in Mississippi County will be reduced to one lane with a 10-foot width restriction as Missouri Department of Transportation crews make pavement repairs. The work will be on all four ramps at Route B and I-57 at Bertrand, Mo. ...
Indoor marijuana grow operation found in Ellsinore home (02/08/12)
ELLSINORE, Mo. -- Acting on a tip, Butler County authorities seized nearly 40 suspected marijuana plants from an indoor grow operation found at a rural home. The suspected grow operation was found inside Ronald Gayl Sheedy's mobile home on County Road 415...
Precinct vote totals: Jackson annexation question (02/07/12)
In the Feb. 7, 2012 election voters within the Jackson city limits were asked if the city should accept the voluntary annexation of certain parcels in the Fruitland area of the county. Below are votes in each precinct? Yes -- xx No -- xx...
Ferry that connects Kentucky, Missouri reopens (02/07/12)
HICKMAN, Ky. (AP) -- A ferry that provides the only direct route between Kentucky and Missouri has reopened after being out of service nearly three months. The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet says the Dorena-Hickman Ferry resumed service Tuesday. It had been closed since Nov. 17 while the boat was taken to a St. Louis shipyard for installation of two new engines and other equipment upgrades...
Expensive Missouri primary won't mean much (02/07/12) 3
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) -- The political maxim "every vote counts" may ring pretty hollow in Missouri on Tuesday. A series of political squabbles has rendered the state's Republican vote merely symbolic, turning the $7 million primary into a glorified public opinion poll that will play little to no role in determining the party's nominee...
Cape moving forward with Broadway plan that includes promenade (02/07/12) 10
Cape Girardeau officials are driving forward with the $3.85 million Broadway corridor plan that eliminates 64 parking spots on the north side of the street to make way for a 15-foot-wide "pedestrian promenade." But if plans discussed Monday night progress, the project's year-end completion date could come with more parking on Broadway, not less...
Preschools in Cape area struggling to meet demand (02/07/12) 3
Leaders of local public and private preschools are happy to see a demand for early childhood education, due in large part to more parents being knowledgeable about benefits of early education, they say. Piles of research show children do better during the rest of their time in school, from kindergarten all the way through college...
South Cape convenience store closes after nearly four decades (02/07/12) 16
Don Caldwell has had a gun waved in his face and watched as the trigger was pulled. He mostly worked midnights, despite the fact that he owned the place. And, until recent years, he had to call the cops on a regular basis -- once even to clear his own store...
Court records say Bollinger County man admitted trying to burn dog's body (02/07/12)
MARBLE HILL, Mo. -- One of the two Marble Hill men accused of killing a pit bull and disposing of its body in October admitted to trying to burn the body to shield the dog's owner from its death, court records say. Levi Snider, 24, is charged with animal abuse for having allegedly killed the dog under circumstances not allowed by law. Travis Reed, 28, is charged with littering for having improperly disposed of the carcass by allegedly placing it upon premises that were not his...
Earthquake drill being held across central U.S. today (02/07/12) 2
Students at Alma Schrader Elementary will be among those in 396 schools statewide who drop, cover and hold on during an earthquake drill today. The Great Central U.S. ShakeOut event is a day of earthquake safety awareness promotion for nine central U.S. states...
Poplar Bluff man stabbed in buttocks, goes to hospital, goes to jail (02/07/12)
POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- A Poplar Bluff teenager coming to his mother's aid Sunday afternoon during what authorities describe as a domestic dispute soon found himself in need of aid when his stepfather allegedly turned the violence on him. The teen's mother protected her son by allegedly stabbing her husband, Jeremy Ellis, twice in the buttocks, sending him initially to the hospital and then to jail...
Santorum to speak at Cape Lincoln Day next month (02/07/12) 3
Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum has scheduled a trip to Cape Girardeau next month, where he is to be the featured speaker at the local GOP's Lincoln Day event. Santorum, a former senator from Pennsylvania, was invited by U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Emerson, R-Cape Girardeau, who confirmed Monday that he had accepted...
Jackson man accused in Cape Girardeau stabbing pleads not guilty (02/07/12) 7
A Jackson man charged with murder in a fatal stabbing outside a downtown Cape Girardeau bar pleaded not guilty to the charge Monday. Ryan Harkey, 23, allegedly stabbed Jerry Conrad in the heart following an altercation that began inside Rumors, 36 N. Spanish St., in the early morning hours of Dec. 9...
Missouri House member plans to run for lieutenant governor (02/07/12)
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- A Democratic House member from southwestern Missouri plans to run for lieutenant governor. Sara Lampe, of Springfield, announced Sunday that she intends to enter the lieutenant governor campaign while citing her experience serving on the House Budget Committee, running a small business and working in public education. She has served in the Missouri House since 2005. Lampe plans to announce her candidacy officially Monday morning in Springfield...
Caruthersville, Mo., woman badly injured when hit by reported drunken driver (02/07/12)
CARUTHERSVILLE, Mo. -- A woman is in serious condition after being hit by a man accused of drunken driving Saturday. At 11:50 p.m. Saturday, Caruthersville police responded to a report of a vehicle accident involving a pedestrian. According to a news release from the Caruthersville Police Department, at the scene they found Krissie Payne, 40, of Caruthersville lying in the street unresponsive...
Cape County Commission approves vacating part of county road (02/07/12)
Michael Wessel, a resident who owns land adjacent to the road, petitioned the commission in December for residents to take over jurisdiction of the road because he suspected there are illegal activities, including drug-related activities, happening in the area...
Section of U.S. 61 reduced to one lane (02/07/12)
Northbound U.S. 61 from South County Park Drive to Interstate 55 in Cape Girardeau County will be reduced to one lane as Missouri Department of Transportation crews perform pavement repairs. Weather permitting, work will be from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. ...
Highway 51 in Bollinger Co. reduced for edge rut repairs (02/06/12)
SIKESTON, Mo. -- Highway 51 in Bollinger County will be reduced to one lane today, as Missouri Department of Transportation crews make edge rut repairs. This section of road is from Route C to Highway 34. Weather permitting, the work will be done from 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m...
Jackson annexation may be decided in Tuesday's vote (02/06/12) 3
Tuesday's voting could bring a resolution to an issue that has divided Jackson for months. But neither side of the campaign over an annexation ballot measure expressed confidence that they'd win. On Tuesday, Jackson voters will be asked to decide whether to allow the city to annex a Fruitland quarry owned by Heartland Materials. ...
Cape police more efficient with in-car laptops (02/06/12) 10
Until two weeks ago, the Cape Girardeau police station was a staple in Officer Cary Dunavan's route no matter where he was patrolling. For every report Dunavan had to file, he had to make a trip back to the station, sit at a desk, log into a computer, type and print the report. Reports typically took Dunavan -- who has been on the force for about five years -- 45 minutes to complete, and he would write at least three during a shift...
GOP caucuses will determine presidential delegates (02/06/12) 7
Dee Cookson was excited about the presidential primary in 2008. Four years later, not so much. Cookson, the chairwoman of the Scott County Republican Committee, says the GOP's move to a caucus system this year has rendered Tuesday's primary irrelevant...
City official to discuss Broadway parking options tonight (02/06/12)
At tonight's Cape Girardeau City Council meeting a city official will talk about options to address parking concerns in the Broadway corridor project. The city has plans to renovate Broadway from Pacific Street to Water Street to coincide with the opening of the Isle of Capri casino. However, some business owners have recently raised concerns about a lack of parking in the current Broadway corridor plan, which went through weeks of public hearings and review...
On 75th anniversary, flood of '37 draws parallels to, questions about last year's high water (02/05/12) 4
"You can drown downtown, when the water is high It's been happening here, since I was a child There ain't nothing you can do to stop it Just hope for the best, and mop up the rest." -- "Get Down, River," by the Bottle Rockets...
Ameren Missouri seeks 14.6 percent rate increase (02/05/12) 23
ST. LOUIS -- Customers of Ameren Missouri would see their average monthly electric bills rise about $14 under a rate increase proposal filed Friday with the Missouri Public Service Commission. Ameren Missouri asked regulators to raise electric rates by $376 million, or 14.6 percent. ...
Community Counseling Center to break ground on housing for people with mental health problems (02/05/12) 7
A new apartment complex in Cape Girardeau will provide affordable housing for people struggling with mental illness. The Cape Girardeau Community Counseling Center will break ground at 1 p.m. Friday at 549 N. Silver Springs Road on the $1.4 million project funded by a U.S. Housing and Urban Development grant...
Missouri attorney general authorizes new lawsuit contesting Jackson annexation (02/05/12) 4
With the election set for Tuesday, a new lawsuit has been filed with the blessing of Missouri Attorney General Chris Koster to contest Jackson's annexation of a strip of land along Interstate 55 and U.S. 61. If it is eventually successful, whatever voters say about the proposed Fruitland annexation Tuesday won't matter...
Director of Missouri Department of Agriculture speaks to Cape Chamber of Commerce members (02/05/12)
Many people underestimate the reach of agriculture, according to Dr. Jon Hagler, the director of the Missouri Department of Agriculture, who spoke to the Cape Girardeau Area Chamber of Commerce on Friday morning at the Show Me Center. "Everything that feeds, fuels or clothes the world -- that's agriculture. We impact every single thing in your life in almost every way," Hagler said...
Hundreds take plunge at Trail of Tears on Saturday for Special Olympics (02/05/12)
More than 300 people took a dip in Trail of Tears State Park's Lake Boutin on Saturday to help raise money for a good cause. The sixth annual Cape Girardeau Polar Plunge was part of a statewide fundraising effort for the Special Olympics. Before Saturday nights' Post Plunge Party, which included dinner and a silent auction, $39,265 had been raised toward the goal of $50,000. ...
Two charged in Bollinger County pit bull death (02/05/12) 12
MARBLE HILL, Mo. -- Two Marble Hill men have been charged with misdemeanor offenses related to the death and disposal of a pit bull. Levi Snider, 24, is charged with animal abuse for having allegedly killed the dog under circumstances not allowed by law. Travis Reed, 28, is charged with littering for having improperly disposed of the carcass by allegedly placing it upon premises that were not his own...
Three honored by highway patrol for rescue efforts (02/05/12)
SIKESTON, Mo. -- The motto of the Missouri State Highway Patrol is "Service and Protection." On Thursday, the Patrol honored not their own but three citizens for the service they rendered. Capt. George E. Ridens, commanding officer of Troop E, presented Larry Thresher of East Prairie, Mo., with an Honorary Trooper certificate and Bill E. ...
Cape naval reserve center reports burglary (02/05/12) 2
They don't know exactly when or how much was taken, but Naval Reserve Center officials have reported a money bag stolen from their offices at 2530 Maria Louise Lane in Cape Girardeau. The burglary and stealing report was made to the Cape Girardeau Police Department at 8:20 a.m. Tuesday, said department spokesman Darin Hickey. The center's commander told police he had arrived at the center Monday and found that a money bag that contained an undetermined amount of money was missing...
75 students attend Camp Enterprise (02/05/12)
Dr. T. Wayne Lewis, right, guides players' work on a business game Friday during Camp Enterprise at the Career and Technology Center in Cape Girardeau. From left are Bethany Miget from Eagle Ridge Christian School, Haley Reed from Ste. Genevieve High School and Kyle Tenkhoff from Oran High School. ...
Club news 2/5/12 (02/05/12)
St. Mary Council of Catholic Women held their meeting on Jan. 19 in the Huels Room. Dr. K.S. Andrews and Wanda Leimer presented the program on arthritis. Thank-you notes were read from the Rev. Patrick Nwokoye for the Christmas gift and invitation to the dinner; from Mary Meyer for the quilt; Lucille Zerr for the expressions of sympathy on the death of her sister and for the Christmas gift. ...
Former Cape Girardeau County sheriff dies (02/03/12) 2
Former Cape Girardeau County Sheriff Herman F. "Bob" Gribler, 69, of Jackson passed away Feb. 2, 2012 at his home. Gribler served as sheriff from 1981 to 1985 and was a lieutenant for the Jackson Police Department before being elected sheriff. He was also on the original board of directors for the Cape Girardeau County-Bollinger County Major Case Squad, which formed in 1983...
Parent group opposed to Cape schools dress code will speak before board vote (02/03/12) 43
A committee of parents plans to highlight details of its own proposal for changing the dress code in Cape Girardeau public schools before the school board votes on a proposed policy Feb. 27. The Dress Code Enforcement Committee sent the school board a request last week to speak during the portion of the meeting reserved for public comment. So far, the committee is the only group to reserve time...
Weird weather sets record high for Feb. 2, follows 5th warmest January (02/03/12) 1
In the Tot Lot, more than a few children horsed around in short sleeves. Families strolled around the lagoon. A laughing toddler -- sans coat -- chased after a disinterested dog.
Missouri State Highway Patrol: Prescription laws have had effect on meth production (02/03/12) 7
Statistics kept by the Missouri State Highway Patrol indicate that methamphetamine-related incidents have gone down in some parts of Southeast Missouri since many cities began requiring a prescription to purchase pseudoephedrine. Nearly 60 Missouri communities have adopted laws that require prescriptions to get pseudoephedrine, a primary ingredient in meth. ...
Teacher accused of choking Cape student plans to plead not guilty, lawyer says (02/03/12) 5
The Cape Girardeau Central High School teacher accused of choking a student in a downtown parking lot last month asserted his innocence for the first time Thursday via a statement from his attorney. Roman D. Smith, 32, is charged with misdemeanor third-degree assault stemming from what court documents called a "play fight" with the student in a downtown parking lot...
Republican AG candidate visits Cape (02/03/12) 1
Ed Martin, who announced his intentions last month to run for Missouri attorney general, made a stop in Cape Girardeau on Thursday to host an hourlong discussion with fellow Republicans that largely centered on President Obama's health care law. Martin, the St. Louis lawyer who dropped a congressional campaign to run against Democrat Chris Koster, said Thursday that Koster has not led the fight against what Republicans popularly deride as ObamaCare...
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