Stories from Saturday, May 25, 2002

In Southeast Missouri, dozens of industrial buildings stand empty, abandoned by manufacturers in an era of downsizing, recession and enticing foreign markets. In fact, there is almost 1.5 million square feet of available warehouse and industrial space from Cape Girardeau to Sikeston, according to an informal study by Cape Girardeau commercial broker Tom Kelsey...

SCOTT CITY, Mo. -- Marian Stubbs, 83, of Scott City died Thursday, May 23, 2002, at her home. She was born June 18,1918, in Stoddard County, Mo., daughter of Thomas Wilson and Mettie Pack Midgett. She married Henry Stubbs, who preceded her in death...

Vigilance still needed ANYONE WHO thinks we were more safe and secure during the Cold War needs a reality check. I remember fallout shelters and atomic-bomb drills in school and bad dreams about nuclear holocaust. We were in danger then, and we're in danger now. The best we can do is to be vigilant...

Along with American flags and barbecues, Memorial Day weekend marks the opening of black bass fishing season. Called "the unofficial start of fishing season" by Ken Westof the Missouri Conservation Department, black bass fishing season starts today and lasts until the end of February. Anglers will hit local waters today looking for largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass, all common to Missouri...

PADUCAH, Ky. -- Southeast Missouri State University is alive and well after all in the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament. The top-seeded Indians bounced back from Thursday's loss to fourth-seeded Murray State by winning twice Friday. First, the Indians eliminated third-seeded Austin Peay 7-5 in a late morning start, then came back at night to hammer fifth-seeded Tennessee Tech 9-2 and hand the Eagles their first tournament defeat...

LEADWOOD, Mo. -- Notre Dame reached the Class 2A final four for the third time in four years on Friday with a 9-6 victory over West County. Notre Dame rolled into the semifinals behind the 11-strikeout performance of sophomore Blake Urhahn (5-3), who allowed just four hits before being lifted after six innings with a 9-3 lead...

ADVANCE, Mo. -- It won't be hard to find the Oran Eagles in Columbia, Mo., at the 1A final four next week -- just follow the trail of exclamation points. On Friday, the Eagles took their final step in the quarterfinal round, and they laid down their final bit of punctuation...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Jackson senior Mario Whitney demonstrated to the rest of the state a major reason why he was a coveted running back recruit by Division I colleges on Friday. He's fast. Whitney turned in the top times in both the boys' 100 and 200 meter preliminaries at the Class 4A track and field championships...

Sunday Homecoming services at Allenville Baptist Curch, with worship at 10:45 a.m. and a meal at 12:30 p.m. Special guest Marlyn "Bud" Schott of Jackson, Mo., will speak at the 10:45 a.m. and 6 p.m. services at Fellowship Baptist Church. Guests are invited...

The Roman Catholic Church, which considers homosexuality a disorder and gay sex a sin, has quietly struggled for years with the growing presence of gays in the priesthood. Now that conflict has gone public. Under siege over clerical sex abuse, church leaders are pledging to clean house. And with some blaming gays for the crisis, the debate over whether homosexuals should continue to serve has gained urgency...

New pastor to start at Clearview Baptist SCOTT CITY, Mo. -- Keith Green is the new pastor of Clearview Baptist Church in Scott City, Mo. Green is currently enrolled in the American Bible and Theological Seminary in Oklahoma City, Okla., and expects to finish his degree next year...

It's inspiring to see school administrators, classroom teachers and students come together for a good idea. That happened at Oak Ridge High School this year. Technology teacher Wayne Bock wanted a way to teach students about light, heat and energy and, at the same time, raise their Missouri Assessment Program test scores on the subject. ...

Cape Girardeau County Sheriff's Department Saturday, May 25 DWIPhillip L. Birk, 34, Jackson, Mo., was arrested May 18 for driving while intoxicated. Nicolette D. Husk, 22, Cape Girardeau, was arrested May 18 for driving while intoxicated. Christopher R. Stubbs, 19, Cape Girardeau, was arrested May 18 for driving while intoxicated...

Cape Girardeau Saturday, May 25 Firefighters responded to the following calls Thursday:At 6:30 p.m., an emergency medical service at 429 Emerald. At 7:41 p.m., burning at 603 Sycamore. Firefighters responded to the following calls Friday:At 12:36 a.m., an emergency medical service at 523 Cape Meadows...

Cape Girardeau Saturday, May 25 ArrestsMichael Eugene Green, 25, 2833 Themis, was arrested Thursday for possession of marijuana and traffic offenses. Delbert George Clover, III, 605 N. Sprigg, was arrested Thursday for domestic assault. Carol Elizabeth Purkey, 36, 1721 Cape Meadow Circle, was arrested Thursday for possession of methamphetamine with intent to manufacture and possession of marijuana...

The monthlong Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce membership blitz will end next week. "We won't have any new numbers until after May 31," said John Mehner, president of the chamber. "With the economy like it is, members are waiting until the final day to rejoin."...

WASHINGTON -- The deadliest firefight for the United States in the Afghan war -- a mountain battle that killed seven Americans -- was beset by communications problems, the Pentagon said Friday. The war commander, Army Gen. Tommy Franks, attributed the problems to the harsh weather and equipment failures, such as broken radios and shot-up helicopters, rather than to human error...

Holly C. Marchildon Jr., 87, of Cape Girardeau died Thursday, May 23, 2002, at the Lutheran Home. He was born Feb. 12, 1915, in Thebes, Ill., son of Holly C. and Emma Roeser Marchildon Sr. He and Mary Lyndale Swann were married Aug. 26, 1937, in Cape Girardeau. She died Sept. 8, 1983. He later married Georgia Tenkhoff March 28, 1987, in Cape Girardeau. She died March 6, 2002...

ORAN, Mo. -- Ethel Schlosser, 81, of Oran died Thursday, May 23, 2002, at Monticello House in Jackson, Mo. Amick-Burnett Funeral Chapel in Oran is in charge of arrangements.

JACKSON, Mo. -- Lois Kelsey, 89, of Clinton, Mo., died Thursday, May 23, 2002, at Golden Valley Memorial Hospital. She was born March 22, 1913, at Cameron, Mo., daughter of Roy and Evelyn Madison Ballinger. She and Ross Kelsey were married May 28, 1937. He died in 1999...

LABEL: Money markets AP Graphic MONEY MARKET FUNDS By Lisa Singhania ~ The Associated Press NEW YORK -- A lot of money market mutual fund owners are feeling frustrated these days. Fund yields are at some of the lowest levels ever -- as little as 1 percent in some cases -- and many shareholders are looking for alternatives...

LABEL: number of suits tripled By Simon Avery ~ The Associated Press LOS ANGELES -- Through 45 years of legal battles, tobacco companies have made only one payment to an individual smoker. But plaintiff lawyers, citing an unprecedented level of cooperation, say they are close to breaking that streak and forcing the industry to change its ways...

Police offer reward for videotape of shooting CHARLESTON, Mo. -- Investigators have developed information that there may have been a videotape of the May 5 shooting at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Charleston. A reward is being offered for the videotape of the shooting. If there is a videotape, people are urged to contact Sgt. Don Windham of Missouri State Highway Patrol at (573) 840- 9500 or (573) 472-5200...

DEXTER, Mo. -- Some people may have to change their plans this Memorial Day weekend because of the recent flooding in the area. Typically the busiest weekend for Lake Wappapello, Memorial Day will bring fewer visitors to the camping areas than usual because many of the campgrounds are under water...

10 years ago: May 25, 1992 Memorial Day. About 250 people turn out for annual Memorial Day observance at Cape County North Park under heavy, gray clouds; guest speaker is retired Air Force Lt. Charles Woodford of Cape Girardeau. Sikeston - Speaking to Memorial Day audience at dedication of veterans' park, Navy Capt. ...

Hill Son to Greg and Joy Hill of Cape Girardeau, Southeast Missouri Hospital, 5:25 a.m. Friday, May 17, 2002. Name, Collin Michael. Weight, 9 pounds 5 ounces. Twelfth child, fifth son. Mrs. Hill is the former Joy Bowen, daughter of Ed Bowen of Millersville, Mo. Hill is the son of Betty Hill of Sikeston, Mo. He is service manager at Ozarc-Gas Equipment and Supply Inc...

Bennett Hall Johnson, 85, died Friday, May 24, 2002, at Chateau Girardeau Health Center. Ford and Sons Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Evelyna A. Gravelle, 75, of Evans, Colo., died Wednesday, May 22, 2002, at North Colorado Medical Center. Lorberg Memorial Funeral Chapel is in charge of arrangements.

John Calvin Wagner of Fredericktown, Mo., died Thursday, May 23, 2002, at ClaRu Deville Nursing Center in Fredericktown. He was born Nov. 6, 1942, at Fredericktown, son of Alfred and Louise Wagner. He and Marcia Mercier were married Dec. 25, 1964, at Fredericktown...

WHITEWATER, Mo. -- Glenn C. Chandler, 74, died Friday, May 24 2002, at his home in Whitewater. Arrangements are pending at Amick Burnett Funeral Chapel in Chaffee, Mo.

SCOTT CITY, Mo. -- Gary Lynn Poyner, 57, of Scott City, formerly of Charleston, Mo., died Thursday, May 23, 2002 at Barnes-Jewish North Hospital in St. Louis. Born Oct. 5, 1944, in Success, Ark., he was the son of Fremon H. and Ozella Bellah Poyner...

SEDGEWICKVILLE, Mo. -- Arno L. Schubert, 80, formerly of Sedgewickville, died Friday, May 24, 2002, at Perry County Nursing Home. He was born Oct. 2, 1921, in Perry County, Mo., son of Otto and Lena Rohde Schubert. He and Lydia C. Bohnert were married April 10, 1948...

MARBLE HILL, Mo. -- Doyle June Burton, 57, of Marble Hill died Friday, May 24, 2002, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. She was born Aug. 4, 1944, at Marble Hill, daughter of Leroy Bryan and June H. Henderson Burton. Survivors include two sisters, Jean Ezzell of Whitewater, Mo., and Melba Ray of Paducah, Ky...

CAIRO, Ill. -- Charles H. McCowen, 79, of Cairo died Thursday, May 23, 2002, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. He was born Sept. 25, 1922, in Cairo, son of Charles and Lular Mae Bevill McCowen. He married Illeana McCowen, who died in 1994...

SCOTT CITY, Mo. -- Emmett Leroy McBride Jr., 78, of Scott City died Thursday, May 23, 2002, at the Lutheran Home in Cape Girardeau. He was born Dec. 18, 1923, in Cape Girardeau, son of Emmett and Bertha Cato McBride. He and Freda Sanders were married Aug. 9, 1942, at Chaffee, Mo...

Funeral for Ethel Jewell Ford Bolen of Cape Girardeau will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday at First Pentecostal Church. The Rev. Darrell E. Faire Sr. will officiate. Burial will be in Cape County Memorial Park. Friends may call at Ford and Sons Mount Auburn Funeral Home from 4 to 8 p.m. today...

WASHINGTON -- President Bush flashed a warning to the Senate on Friday to contain the costs of its $31 billion anti-terrorism bill, a sign that a partisan struggle still lies ahead for a measure both parties say they support. The Senate's Democratic leaders criticized Republicans for delaying the bill, which they argued bears money needed to combat terrorists at home and overseas...

WASHINGTON -- The Pentagon said Friday it is ready for any assignment, anywhere, despite the strain from the war on terror. Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld said there are no plans to invade Iraq or any other country. Within the Bush administration, no decision has been made on how best to deal with the threat the administration sees in Iraqi President Saddam Hussein. Some officials advocate military action, some covert action, others continued diplomatic efforts...

JERUSALEM -- Israeli soldiers on Friday raided a West Bank refugee camp -- a stronghold of Palestinian militants -- following back-to-back attacks on Israel's largest fuel depot, a pedestrian mall and a nightclub. As fighting persisted, an adviser to Yasser Arafat said the Palestinian leader will hold general elections this winter, but only if Israeli troops pull back to positions they held before the outbreak of fighting in September 2000...

UPPSALA, Sweden -- Global supplies of crude oil will peak as early as 2010 and then start to decline, ushering in an era of soaring energy prices and economic upheaval -- or so said an international group of petroleum specialists meeting Friday. They hope to persuade oil-dependent countries like the United States to stop what they view as squandering the planet's finite bounty of fossil fuels...

NEW DELHI, India -- India warned the United States, Britain and Russia on Friday that it was losing patience with Pakistan in the impasse over Kashmir, as Islamabad said it would conduct "routine" missile tests this weekend. The international community scrambled to avert a potential war between the nuclear-armed South Asian neighbors, with a visiting European Union official urging Pakistan to reduce attacks by Muslim militants in Kashmir...

At a secret plant in Pakistan's northern hills, nuclear technicians are believed to be working overtime in these days of crisis, producing bomb uranium around the clock, specialists say. Next door in rival India, they say, atomic warheads may already be coming out of storage...

KATMANDU, Nepal -- A 66-year-old Italian man scaled Mount Everest on Friday, becoming the oldest person to climb the world's highest mountain, according to the China Tibet Mountaineering Association. Mario Curnis reached the 29,035-foot summit Friday morning. His feat breaks the record set by Japanese climber Tomiyasu Ishikawa, 65, who scaled the peak last week...

TEHRAN, Iran -- They've been denounced as decadent, un-Islamic and a symbol of the oppressive West. But neckties are slowly coming back into fashion in Iran. The reappearance of the tie confirms that the strict social code imposed after the 1979 Islamic revolution is giving way to moderation and variety...

Five people wounded as fistfight ends in gunfire SAN FRANCISCO -- Five people were wounded Friday when a fistfight escalated to a gunfight, authorities said. Police said the fight involved two people, who were both wounded. How the others were injured wasn't immediately determined...

ST. LOUIS -- Time was, car rentals were for air travelers or people whose own cars were in the shop. These days, people are renting for everything from class reunions to trips to the doctor. "People have found that renting a car is like changing clothes," said Michael Marsden, a provost at Eastern Kentucky University who for 22 years taught an "automobile and American society" course at Bowling Green State University in Ohio...

PORTLAND, Maine Outside, prosecutors were building their case against a priest accused of molesting hard-luck children along the city's seedy waterfront. Inside, behind the brick walls of the chancery, the leaders of the Roman Catholic diocese were plotting a bare-knuckle legal defense...

TOKYO -- Boyz II Men, Sheryl Crow and other American artists joined such Japanese stars as Rip Slyme and rapper Zeebra on Friday for the first MTV Video Music Awards Japan. The awards, chosen by MTV's Japanese viewers, were given in 15 categories, ranging from dance to hip-hop and rap...

MANCHESTER, Ky. -- Two candidates for sheriff were shot to death, a county clerk narrowly escaped a barrage of gunfire, and absentee voting in one county had to be suspended after the crowds became rowdy and the sheriff suspected vote-buying. It has been a bloody campaign season in the hills of eastern Kentucky -- one that has voters wondering whether it's safe to go to the polls on Tuesday...

WAUSAU, Wis. -- When Wisconsin wildlife officials first asked hunters to kill hundreds of deer to test for a fatal brain disease found in southern Wisconsin, more than 600 people volunteered for the job. But now the state wants to destroy all the deer in a 361-square-mile area starting in June, and hunters are balking, saying authorities are moving too fast and going against long-held hunting traditions...

LOW-INCOME ASSISTANCE By Marc Powers ~ Southeast Missourian JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- The state's largest not-for-profit health foundation, a product of a lengthy court fight over the assets of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Missouri, is preparing to issue $20 million in grants for programs to help low-income and underinsured Missourians...

"If there's a vapor cloud, or something else blocking their vision, it's imperative these guys always know where their partners are." -- firefighter Glenn P. Jerka By Andrea L. Buchanan ~ Southeast Missourian...

RAISING A STINK By Bob Miller ~ Southeast Missourian Bob and Julie Pastrick and their neighbor, Norval Friese, say they are upset about possibly having to pay for what they see as someone else's septic problem...

TSA'S MONEY By Heidi Hall ~ Southeast Missourian The Missouri National Guard pulled out of airport security duty a month ago. The new federal Transportation Security Administration hasn't had time to train and place agents in the nation's airports...

TOKYO -- Working less, dying more may be the latest trend in Japanese labor. The ranks of weary Japanese businessmen, red-eyed shop owners and worn-out professionals being worked to death reached a record high last year, according to government figures released this week...

MOSCOW -- Beneath the Kremlin's gleaming domes, President Bush and Russian President Vladimir Putin signed the biggest arms-reduction treaty in history on Friday, writing a friendly postscript to their nations' Cold War rivalry. But before the ink had dried on their 10-year pact, the leaders were struggling to keep Russia's nuclear ties to Iran from straining their new partnership. ...

KANDAHAR, Afghanistan -- Coalition soldiers got into a shootout early Friday after they raided a compound intelligence sources said was a refuge for senior Taliban and al-Qaida leaders. One person was killed and some 50 others were captured, U.S. military officials said...

WASHINGTON -- Police said Friday they still do not know whether Chandra Levy died where her remains were found or someone dumped her body there. Investigators scoured the steep slope in Rock Creek Park, where Levy's remains were discovered Wednesday, in a search for evidence that could tell how she died, how her body got there and, perhaps, who killed her...

A low-flying plane dropped a container of a man's cremated ashes over the Mariners' ballpark Friday, prompting a hazardous materials scare. The container was dropped from a Cessna operated by a company four miles from Safeco Field. The object was seen hitting the stadium roof shortly after 10 a.m., said Seattle Fire Lt. Harold Webb...

ATLANTA -- Vinny Castilla had a three-run double in Atlanta's seven-run third inning, helping the Braves ruin Ken Griffey Jr.'s return with an 11-2 victory over the Cincinnati Reds on Friday night. Griffey went 1-for-4 in his return after missing seven weeks with a torn tendon in his right knee. He singled sharply in the first inning off Kevin Millwood (3-5) in his first action since April 7. The Reds went 25-16 in his absence and lead the NL Central...

DUBLIN, Ohio -- Justin Leonard had an eagle and a tap-in birdie on consecutive holes for a 7-under 65 to surge past University of Texas roommate Harrison Frazar and take a one-stroke lead into a suddenly soggy weekend at the Memorial. Tiger Woods is nowhere near the lead in the tournament he has won the last three years. He had a 70 and was 10 strokes out of the lead, a long shot to become the first player in 75 years to win the same event four years in a row...

BOSTON -- Carlos Baerga's sacrifice fly in the 11th inning gave the Boston Red Sox a 9-8 win Friday night after they pounded Roger Clemens before squandering a six-run lead over the New York Yankees. With the bases loaded, Baerga hit a liner on an 0-2 pitch from Steve Karsay (1-2) to medium center field and Rickey Henderson scored easily as Bernie Williams' throw hit the mound and went to the first-base side...

RALEIGH, N.C. -- North Carolina sports fans have had a rough six months. The Carolina Panthers went 1-15, the North Carolina basketball team lost 20 games for the first time in school history and the Charlotte Hornets packed up and moved to New Orleans...

PITTSBURGH -- A heated exchange in the dugout didn't keep the Pittsburgh Pirates from cooling off the NL's hottest team. Kip Wells limited St. Louis to three singles over 6 2/3 shutout innings as the Pirates ended the Cardinals' five-game winning streak with a 5-2 victory Friday night...

LOS ANGELES -- Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers looked terrible until it was too late -- and this time, nobody can blame a Sacramento cheeseburger. Chris Webber had 26 points and nine rebounds, and Mike Bibby scored 24 points as the Sacramento Kings grabbed a 2-1 lead in the Western Conference finals Friday night, beating the Lakers 103-90...

INDIANAPOLIS -- Robby Gordon gets a little irritated when he hears people saying he hasn't really done the Memorial Day weekend double yet. "They don't have me listed as doing the double in 2000," said Gordon, who has been hampered by weather in his two previous attempts to run both the Indianapolis 500 and the Coca-Cola 600 in Charlotte, N.C., on the same day...

March 1994 -- TONY GEORGE, PRESIDENT OF THE INDIANAPOLIS MOTOR SPEEDWAY, ANNOUNCES THE FORMATION OF A LOWER-COST, AMERICAN-BASED OVAL SERIES THAT WILL INCLUDE THE INDY 500. July 1994 -- INDY RACING LEAGUE IS NAMED. ...

INDIANAPOLIS -- Ten years ago, CART was a dominant force in the world of motorsports. Mario Andretti, Emerson Fittipaldi and Bobby Rahal had not yet faded into retirement. Al Unser Jr. and Michael Andretti didn't see many wrinkles when they looked in the mirror. Formula One champion Nigel Mansell was poised to make the jump to America. People actually watched the races on TV, and no one argued about whether the Indianapolis 500 was the world's greatest event...

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- A group of students and parents has filed a motion to decertify the class in the decades-old desegregation class-action lawsuit against the Kansas City School District. The motion, filed Thursday in U.S. District Court in Kansas City by a group called Plaintiffs for African-Centered Education, PACE, is to decertify the plaintiff class because it doesn't serve the interests of children receiving African-centered education...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- A decision to end Medicaid coverage for adult dental care has raised concerns about how poor Missourians will receive treatment after July 1. And the head of the Missouri Dental Association fears there may be a rush by patients to have teeth removed before their benefits end...

ST. LOUIS -- A woman who said she went crazy when she spotted two men driving down a St. Louis street in her daughter's stolen car chased it down and got it back. The tactic was not exactly endorsed by police, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported, but it came to a peaceful ending when the thieves she confronted on a parking lot fled without harming her, though one did steal her purse...

ST. LOUIS -- A former guard at the Farmington State Correctional Center was sentenced to five months in prison for attempted cocaine possession with intent to distribute it to inmates, the U.S. Attorney's office said Friday. Michael Dale Rowland, 25, of Fredericktown, also was sentenced to five months of home confinement...

ROCHEPORT, Mo. -- Katy Trail State Park is open this weekend, but two portions of the hiking and biking trail damaged by floodwaters and rain have collapsed and could be trouble for those hoping to traverse it. About 150 feet of trail caved in between McBaine and Rocheport in central Missouri, the Department of Natural Resources said. ...

On the evening of May 15, vehicles backed up on Interstate 55 from the Diversion Channel bridge all the way north to U.S. 61. It was a traffic jam to more than rival a St. Louis rush hour. The problem: Only one southbound lane of I-55 was open over the Diversion Channel bridge due to reconstruction work. That project had been causing minor traffic problems for months anyway...