Stories from Tuesday, November 26, 2002

A Florida man was sentenced Monday in federal court to six months in prison and a year of probation for illegally selling two black leopards to an Illinois buyer through a Cape Girardeau couple in 1998. Timothy D. Rivers, owner of Animals in Motion Animal Park in Citra, Fla., was sentenced in U.S. District Court in Cape Girardeau by Judge Richard E. Webber for a misdemeanor violation of the Lacey Act, a federal wildlife protection law. Rivers will serve his sentence in Florida...

LANDSTUHL, Germany -- A Kuwaiti police officer accused two U.S. Army reservists of speeding in their unmarked car before pulling out his gun and shooting them for no apparent reason, the two soldiers said Monday. "There was no reason to expect anything," Master Sgt. Larry Thomas of Lake Charles, La., said at a U.S. military hospital in Germany, where he is recovering from a gunshot wound to his arm...

BOGOTA, Colombia -- Attackers dynamited Colombia's largest oil pipeline, causing a spill and forcing the brief evacuation of 280 people, officials said Monday. The Central Colombian Pipeline, known by its Spanish acronym Ocensa, had to be shut down after the attack Sunday near Aguazul, 100 miles northeast of Bogota, the company said. It was still closed early Monday...

Miss World contestants relieved to exit Nigeria LONDON -- The organizers of the Miss World beauty pageant said Monday they were not to blame for the Muslim-Christian bloodletting in Nigeria touched off by a debate over the morality of the contest. More than 200 people have died in riots that erupted last week, forcing the relocation of the contest from Abuja, the Nigerian capital, to London...

LAMPE, Mo. -- Investigators suspect an injured teenager seeking help and warmth from the cold may have started the fire that gutted the lodge at Dogwood Canyon Nature Park, a popular resort in southwest Missouri. The 19-year-old, whose name was being withheld pending further investigation, failed to negotiate a curve on Missouri 86, near Dogwood Canyon, and was injured in the wreck, Stone County Sheriff Richard Hill said Monday...

MOUNT VERNON, Mo. -- Two sisters from California have been charged in what authorities believe is one of the state's largest seizures of a cold medication used to make methamphetamine. Evelia Sanchez, 40, and Irma Alvarez, 31, both of Moreno Valley, were arraigned on felony charges of possession of ephedrine and child endangerment during their Monday appearance in Lawrence County Associate Circuit Court...

Marshall Faulk is a question mark for the third straight game as the St. Louis Rams prepare for Sunday's game at Philadelphia. Faulk missed the Rams' 20-17 loss to the Redskins with a high sprain on his right ankle after not practicing all week, and a victory over the Bears Nov. 18. He's missed only nine games in eight-plus seasons, but coach Mike Martz said the ankle hasn't improved with rest...

ST. LOUIS -- Owen Nolan downplayed any notion of a rivalry between the San Jose Sharks and the St. Louis Blues. "It's just two good competitive teams playing hard hockey," he said. "Both teams are built similarly with a lot of checkers. It makes for an entertaining game."...

Baseball The Pittsburgh Pirates filled a long-troublesome spot in their lineup Monday, acquiring first baseman Randall Simon from the Detroit Tigers for three minor leaguers. The Tigers, apparently wary of a possible large salary increase Simon could get this winter in arbitration, acquired Australian-born left-hander Adrian Burnside and two prospects to be named...

WASHINGTON -- Sales of previously owned homes registered their third-best month on record in October and are on track for an all-time high this year, as the beacon of low mortgage rates turns house hunters into home buyers. The National Association of Realtors reported Monday that existing-home sales climbed to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 5.77 million in October, representing a 6.1 percent jump from the previous month...

WASHINGTON -- Former Wisconsin congressional hopeful Bill Arndt told his wife they'd have to "live on love" when he took time off from his insurance job to campaign. Election officials decided Monday that candidates need a bit more than that. The Federal Election Commission agreed to let candidates pay themselves salaries using campaign donations, aiming to encourage people who otherwise couldn't afford to give up their jobs to run. ...

WASHINGTON -- Progress the Department of Veterans Affairs has made in slashing a huge backlog of benefit requests could be threatened if Congress fails to approve a federal budget by February, VA Secretary Anthony Principi said. Principi said he increased the agency's compensation and pension work force over the past year by 1,200 people and they helped cut the backlog of claims from 600,000 in March...

WASHINGTON -- President Bush signed legislation Monday creating a new Department of Homeland Security devoted to preventing domestic terror attacks. He promised it "will focus the full resources of the American government on the safety of the American people."...

WASHINGTON -- Muslims and people who are or appear to be of Middle Eastern descent were reported as victims of hate crimes more often last year than ever before, a consequence of the fear and suspicion that followed the Sept. 11 terror attacks, the FBI said Monday...

WASHINGTON -- State budgets are in their worst shape since World War II, prompting legislatures to institute the largest tax increases in a decade, the National Governors Association said Monday. Soaring health care costs and a sputtering economy that hurt tax collections were blamed for the budget problems...

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- A Poplar Bluff woman remains in jail facing involuntary manslaughter charges in connection with the death of 6-month-old Starla Hollis. An autopsy performed Friday morning by Dr. James Costin, a certified child death pathologist, showed that blunt trauma caused the infant's small intestine to tear from her abdominal wall, leading to internal bleeding and death, said Butler County Coroner Larry Cotrell. ...

The Christmas gift-buying season is shorter than usual this year, and a mother with five children to buy gifts for this holiday has asked Toybox for help with the presents her family wants. Toybox is a joint program of the Cape Girardeau Jaycees and the Southeast Missourian that provides gifts to children up to age 12...

UNITED NATIONS -- Chief U.N. weapons inspector Hans Blix said Monday he warned Iraq that it must provide convincing evidence if it maintains -- as it did last week -- that it has no illegal weapons programs. Iraqi officials said they intend to cooperate fully with U.N. inspectors who will resume work on Wednesday after nearly four years, Blix told the U.N. Security Council. Inspectors arrived in Iraq Monday...

JERUSALEM -- Israeli and Palestinian moderates are close to a draft peace treaty, both sides said Monday, but at least one potential deal-breaker remains unresolved: the fate of Palestinian refugees. Even if completed, the 40-page document would have largely symbolic value since those negotiating it are not in positions of real power. However, it could serve as a guideline in future formal negotiations...

MADRID, Spain -- Storms abated along the northwest coast of Spain, enabling ships on Monday to vacuum some of the oil that spilled from the tanker Prestige before it sank. One anti-pollution ship, the French vessel Ailette, had already sucked more than 90,000 gallons from the sea since it began work Sunday, a government statement said. The oil was deposited at a refinery in the northwestern port of A Coruna...

Members of the River Campus Board of Managers got their first look at the most recent revisions to the project's conceptual design Monday during a meeting with Jacobs Facilities, the architectural firm hired by Southeast Missouri State University to design the campus...

Tax officials nationwide increasingly view the Internet as a massive tax dodge that annually costs state and local governments billions of dollars in lost sales taxes. Missouri and 31 other states are fighting to streamline state and local sales tax laws as the first step in an effort to get Congress to require remote sellers to collect sales taxes...

The Meier family's giant Norway spruce won't be making any appearances in Peanuts cartoons. Sure, it began humble: a 3 1/2-footer in 1976, its roots wrapped in a burlap sack, sitting in a rural Jackson living room with some little red bows and cloth strawberries hanging off of it...

After nine years of making life-changing decisions for those in his courtroom, Circuit Judge John W. Grimm announced Monday he will leave the bench Feb. 28 to return to private practice. Grimm, 40, will return to the Cape Girardeau law firm of Limbaugh, Russell, Payne & Howard as a partner...

Jason Laster checked out the charred remains of his cabinet-making business around noon Monday. The Jackson Fire Department -- which called for backup support from Cape Girardeau and Millersville in fear that a large wood supply could cause a huge flame -- had watered down and gained control of the inferno. The firefighters managed to save the white shell of the work shed, and Laster was taking inventory while the fire chief conducted a television interview...

University of Wyoming athletic director Lee Moon said Monday that, while he is impressed by the job Tim Billings has done as Southeast Missouri State University's football coach, Billings is not a candidate to take over Wyoming's program. Billings has been mentioned in several media outlets in Wyoming as a potential candidate primarily because of his connection to Moon. Billings was an assistant coach at Marshall at the same time Moon was that school's athletic director...

It was only a win over an NAIA school, but for a team intent on not repeating last year's struggles, it was an important victory nonetheless. Southeast Missouri State University's workmanlike 82-63 triumph over Central Methodist College in front of 2,863 fans at the Show Me Center Monday night evened the Indians' record at 1-1...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- While getting in and out of a car to fill up at gas pumps may seem like a pretty safe activity, there's some evidence that it can be dangerous. With thousands of Missourians hitting the roads this week during the Thanksgiving holiday, the state Department of Agriculture and the Missouri Petroleum Marketers and Convenience Store Association want people to be aware of the potential for static electricity fires...

ST. LOUIS -- Mike Martz was still kicking himself Monday over the slow-developing pass play that knocked the St. Louis Rams from dangerous contender status to just another 5-6 team. With 17 seconds to go, the ball on the Redskins 6 and the Rams trailing by three points with no time-outs left, Martz decided against a quick shot at the end zone. ...

BOSTON -- The Boston Red Sox made 28-year-old Theo Epstein the youngest general manager in baseball history Monday, ending a long search for a front-office leader by promoting one of their own. The Red Sox had been without a permanent general manager since Florida financier John W. Henry bought the team in spring training and fired Dan Duquette...

ST. LOUIS -- Woody Williams became the first of the 157 major league free agents to re-sign with his team, agreeing Monday to a $14.9 million, two-year contract with the St. Louis Cardinals. Williams gets $6 million in 2003 and $8 million in 2004, and the Cardinals have an $8 million option for 2005 with a $900,000 buyout. He made $6.25 million in 2002, the final season of an $11.25 million, two-year deal...

GARDINER, N.Y. -- Dismayed by the practices of large commercial turkey farms, animal-welfare groups are intensifying their appeals to consumers to reconsider their Thanksgiving menus. Options can range from vegetarian meals -- including turkey-shaped tofu loaves -- to free-range turkeys that roam pastures of small, family-run operations like Four Winds Farm in the Catskills town of Gardiner...

CHICAGO -- It was her first credit card application, or so she thought, prompted by an offer on her Ohio college campus for a free T-shirt. But a rejection letter uncovered troubling news -- someone had already opened four credit cards in her name and racked up $50,000 in debt...

Churchill named greatest Brit of all time LONDON -- Winston Churchill, the resolute prime minister who led Britain to victory in World War II, has been named the greatest Briton of all time in a popular vote conducted by the British Broadcasting Corp...

NEW YORK -- Federal authorities broke up what they called the biggest identity theft case in U.S. history and charged three men Monday with stealing credit information from more than 30,000 people, draining victims' bank accounts and ruining their credit...

HONOLULU -- The last three po'ouli birds known to exist will be taken into captivity in a last-ditch effort to save the species from extinction. "If we do not bring them in now, they may never be seen again," said Michael Buck, administrator of the state Division of Forestry and Wildlife...

JACKSON SCHOOL BOARD Regular Meeting 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 26 at the board office, 614 E. Adams St. Action Items: Consider approval of participation in MSBA Natural Gas Consortium program. Consider filing dates and times for candidates to file for school board member positions...

Mrs. C is 81 years old, lives alone and has few visitors. She has some serious health problems that require medication. She has had three heart attacks and suffered from cancer. She also has osteoporosis and is prone to falling. She would like some simple gifts for Christmas and likely will receive them through Christmas for the Elderly, a joint program of the Cape Girardeau Jaycees and the Southeast Missourian...

Daily American Republic POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- Authorities are searching for a man suspected of shooting a Charleston, Mo., man over a gambling dispute at a party early Sunday morning. "They were having a large party with several individuals coming and going," said Poplar Bluff police Detective Gary Pride. "No one can say who was there and not there."...

Gladys Rasche Taylor, 94, of Cape Girardeau died Monday, Nov. 25, 2002, at the home of a daughter in Cape Girardeau. Ford and Sons Mount Auburn Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

SIKESTON, Mo. -- Bell Lovell Lane, 88, of Sikeston died Thursday, Nov. 21, 2002, at Missouri Delta Medical Center. She was born Dec. 16, 1913, in Hoxie, Ark., daughter of Charles and Lela Bell Goman Dyer. She and Harry D. Lane were married Nov. 7, 1936. He died May 5, 1992...

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- Uva M. Brown, 84, of Perryville died Sunday, Nov. 24, 2002, at Perry County Memorial Hospital. She was born July 16, 1918, at Kaskaskia Island, Ill., daughter of Frank and Alma Porrman Klein. She and Jack G. Brown were married Nov. 21, 1936, at Kaskaskia Island...

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- Willard C. Bergman, 83, of Perryville died Sunday, Nov. 24, 2002, at Perry Oaks Manor. He was born Sept. 11, 1919, at Friedenberg, Mo., son of Carl and Oneida Ochs Bergman. He and Thelma Springer were married Jan. 3, 1943. She died Oct. 8, 1963...

THEBES, Ill. -- Harold D. Baugher, 61, of Thebes died Monday, Nov. 25, 2002, at Barnes/Jewish Hospital South in St. Louis. Ford and Sons Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

ANNA, Ill. -- Mark S. Farris, 50, of Anna died Sunday, Nov. 24, 2002, at his home. He was born Sept. 19, 1952, in Fort Monmouth, N.J., son of Billy J. and Marjorie Louise Singleton Farris. He and Janell Browning were married June 20, 1986, in Cobden, Ill...

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- Juanita Brown, 68, of Perryville died Monday, Nov. 25, 2002, at Perry County Nursing Home. She was born Feb. 22, 1934, in Jasper, Ala., daughter of Erwin and Winnie Bush Jones. She and Lester J. Brown were married May 10, 1954. He preceded her in death...

Parrish Son to Matthew and Christy Parrish of Jackson, Germantown Methodist Hospital in Memphis, Tenn., 4:01 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 6, 2002. Name, Chase Kassel. Weight, 6 pounds 11 ounces. Second son. Mrs. Parrish is the former Christy Rhodes, daughter of Melvin and Charolette Rhodes of Jackson. Parrish is the son of Mickey and Russ Parrish of Birmingham, Ala. He is regional sales manager with CYTYC...

1st Quarter A Honor Roll 4th grade - Siobhen Castro, Kayla Jones, Michael Nguyen, Wesley Smith. B Honor Roll 4th grade - Starshia Cendroski, Rashea Crittenden, Kristina Cruse, Bridgett Doby, Candace Dodd, Stephanie Farrar, Kierston Fulgium, Chasity Garner, Harley Hamlett, Danielle Harader, Andrew Harold, Nicholas Hines, Cynthia Ide, Shatiquea Johnson, Amy Kinnison, Alexys Long, Olivia McCarty, Takira McClellon, Kyle McCormack, Kiefer Mecham, Ladrez Randle, Adrian Robinson, Charmonique Robinson, Jacob Seabaugh, Aaron Soto, Tiffany Warren.. ...

Clippard Elementary 1st Quarter A Honor Roll 4th Grade - Matt Deisher, Ellen Garrett, Jessi Hagerty, J.T. Kratochvil, Jeremy Lamb, Roy Leighton, Blake Ozbun, Sydney Ozbun, Evan Ritter, Katherine Rollins, Maddi Sigler, Kirstan Snider, Ben Weiner, Andrew Williams, Angelo Wilson...

Nell Holcomb School 1st Quarter A Honor Roll 8th Grade - Hannah Kinder, Jasen Price, Megan Ruth, Kate Stovall. 7th Grade - Courtney Cagle, Lyndsay McNeely, Jesse Schenimann, Allison Smith, Michael Smith. 6th Grade - Jessie Hahn B Honor Roll...

10 years ago: Nov. 26, 1992 Thanksgiving Day. Conveying spirit of holiday, Salvation Army hosts its 10th annual community Thanksgiving dinner; Salvation Army Capt. Elmer Trapp estimates that about 220 people eat at Army center. Jefferson City -- Governor-elect Mel Carnahan has appointed 33-member education advisory group to provide him with insight on educational matters facing state as he prepares to become chief executive; among members serving with group will be Bekki Cook, Cape Girardeau lawyer who is presently serving on State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education.. ...

Cape Central Middle School 1st Quarter A Honor Roll 6th Grade - Rachel Berry, Ross Brannock, Jaron Brennecke, Chantel Brooks, Jacob Buckenmyer, Brittany Burnett, Destiny Burns, Caitlin Cannon, Edward Cheung, Sylvia Christy, Olivia Crain, Sara Diemer, Garrett Duncan, Christian Dunnavant, Christen Edmonds, Joshua Egbuka, Kristen Fondren, Jason Glastetter, Murray Grace, Joseph Graham, Jared Green, Samantha Gross, Jamie Hillier, Amanda Kaverman, Abigail Kiefner, Frances Kinder, Taylor Kirn, Victoria Knox, Jesse Lawrence, Heather Leible, Kent Manley, Brittany Moreland, Angela Morton, Christian Murakami, Andrew Nall, Nathan Nall, Amanda Nicols, Nicole Ottersburg, Tyler Payne, Stormy Peeler, Robert Penny, Jamie Popp, Elizabeth Propst, Mallory Rhodes, Preston Rhodes, Chelsey Sample, Hilary Schulman, Kristopher Seib, Antonia Seyer, Jonathan Siemers, Trey Simpson, Sebastian Starrett, James Stuckey, Carley Summers, Erica Swindle, Sarah Uptmor, Kelly Vanfleet-Glas, Cole Viers, Tara Volkerding, Rita Walter, Whitney Watson, Adam Wendel, Stephanie White, Alexis Williams, Alison Yuen.. ...

There will be a new conference joining the area winter sports realm. No, it won't be for basketball or wrestling. For the first time, boys' swimming will have a conference. With the addition of a swimming program at Poplar Bluff, the Southeast Missouri Swimming and Diving Conference was formed. The conference will consist of Poplar Bluff, Notre Dame and Central...

Before getting her bachelor's degree in business and accounting last June from the College of Charleston, Alicia Valentino took a look at the private-sector job market -- and opted for graduate school. But barely six months later, Valentino may change course. With federal agencies stepping up campus recruiting because of openings in the Homeland Security agency and an anticipated wave of retirements, Valentino is considering getting a job with the government while pursuing her degree...

Southeast Missouri State University conferred degrees on 266 students following the summer session. Area students, as listed by hometown, who graduated with advanced degrees or honors: Cape Girardeau -- Olivia Beel, bachelor of science in business administration, cum laude; Jodie Berkbigler, master of arts in human environmental studies; Susan Budslick, master of science in public administration; Asanka Dissanayake, master of business administration, academic distinction; Mary Ann Ha, master of natural science, academic distinction; Sam Hite, master of arts in community counseling; Michael Ketcherside, master of business administration, academic distinction; Tina Mansker, bachelor of science in mass communication, cum laude; Brenda McCowan, specialist in education degree, academic distinction; Erica McQuay, bachelor of science in chemistry, cum laude; Aron Meystedt, bachelor of science in mass communication, cum laude; Juhi Rohatgi, master of business administration; Amy Lappe Seabaugh, master of arts.. ...

Betty Lou Wiggins, 74, of Jackson died Monday, Nov. 25, 2002, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. She was born Dec. 16, 1927, at Neelys Landing, daughter of Jason and Lillian Williamson Craft. She and Roscoe Eugene Wiggins were married July 5, 1946. He died June 30, 1980...

Douglas L. Loeffel, 46, of Columbia, Mo., died Sunday, Nov. 24, 2002, at his home. He was born Sept. 13, 1956, in Memphis, Tenn., son of Walter and Bernadette Vodra Loeffel. He was a 1975 graduate of Central High School. Survivors include his mother and stepfather, Bernadette and Robert V. Hoffman of Cape Girardeau; a brother and sister-in-law, Mark and Marilyn Loeffel of Cordova, Tenn.; three nieces, Ginger Comstock of Lakeland, Tenn., Robin Loeffel and Cosette Loeffel of Cordova...

Ruby Brown, 96, of Cape Girardeau died Monday, Nov. 25, 2002, at St. Francis Medical Center. She was born Nov. 20, 1906, in Providence, Ky., daughter of Charles A. and Katherine McNeely Winstead. She and Oscar B. Brown were married Dec. 23, 1923, in Evansville, Ind. He died March 22, 1971...

Cape Girardeau Tuesday, Nov. 26 The following items were released by the Cape Girardeau Police Department. Arrests do not imply guilt. DWI Scott C. Blakey, 22, of 302 Southbrook, Chaffee, Mo., was arrested Sunday on suspicion of driving while intoxicated.Arrests...

Cape Girardeau Tuesday, Nov. 26 Firefighters responded Sunday to the following item: At 11:48 p.m., alarm at 900 Towers.Firefighters responded Monday to the following items: At 12:19 a.m., smoke scare at 1822 Dunklin. At 6:40 a.m., extrication at Lexington and Sprigg...

You're trapped in a ruined sewer system. A constant parade of enemy soldiers is firing at you from above and below, aided by killer machines which follow your every move and shoot the second they see you. Such is your lot in life when you're playing "Red Faction II" from THQ and Volition for the PlayStation 2. It's a game backed with entertainment and bloodshed that amps up one of last year's most popular first-person shooters, "Red Faction."...

Tiger Pride has overwhelmed Cape Central High School. The building of the new campus has made the determination and dedication to sports even greater as the students usher in a continued tradition of a will to win. The athletes of CHS strive to go above and beyond what is expected of them mostly due to the positive encouragement from the various coaching staffs, fellow students, Tiger fans, and the faculty, staff, and administration of CHS. ...

Author to speak about Mississippi kayak trip Author Ron Severs will speak at Central High School at 2:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 4, in the library. Severs traveled down the Mississippi River in a kayak and wrote of his adventure in "One Good Story." His presentation will include slides. The public is invited to attend. For more information, contact Julia Jorgensen at Central High School...

When the Cape Girardeau City Council meets next Monday, it is likely to give final approval to financial arrangement for the city's share of the funding for the River Campus, which within four or five years could be ready for its first students. The River Campus is the informal name given by officials at city hall and at Southeast Missouri State University to a new campus for the university's visual and performing arts programs. ...

When you try to think of what Southeast Missouri must have looked like before European settlers began clearing fields and building homes and businesses, one thing that comes to mind is forests full of immense trees. Some of those trees are still around, and four state record holders have been added to an already lengthy list of big trees...

Delta's girls took advantage of a Kelly foul-fest and posted a 50-37 home victory in the season opener for both teams. Delta scored 17 points from the free-throw line, and got 16 points from Sarah M. Cook. Rebecca Cook and Rebecca Below added 15 each...

Southeast Missourian Most high schools might have trouble pinpointing the exact moment their athletic programs officially debuted. Not Saxony Lutheran. It's precise moment of debut is 7 p.m. tonight. The school, which was accepted to the Missouri State High School Activities Association in the summer, will hold its first athletic event when its junior-varsity basketball team hosts Notre Dame's freshmen boys...

Saxony Lutheran has helped clear its way for varsity basketball by gaining acceptance to the Mississippi Valley Conference. Saxony will join the existing seven teams next season when it fields a varsity team. Saxony will play each school -- Chaffee, Delta, Leopold, Marquand, Meadow Heights, Oak Ridge and Zalma -- once in a JV-varsity doubleheader. Saxony will also participate in the Mississippi Valley Conference Tournament...

Beating Henderson State was nice, but B.J. Smith knows his Southeast Missouri State University women's basketball team will need a much stronger performance in its second game of the season. The Otahkians, fresh off Friday's 85-55 rout of Division II Henderson State, hit the road to take on perennial powerhouse Southwest Missouri State in a 7:05 tipoff tonight in Springfield, Mo...

Coming off the program's most successful season on the Division I level, Southeast Missouri State University baseball coach Mark Hogan has announced the signing of eight junior-college players during the NCAA's early signing period. The eight players -- who include four pitchers -- will join the Indians for the 2003-2004 school year...

To the editor: The Nov. 21 article on Lisa Craft's probation doesn't sit well with me at all. The theft of premium funds harmed not only the policy owners, but the victims of accidents that should have been covered by the insurance she pretended to sell. ...

To the editor: In response to the letter "Cape Girardeau jogger hears racial slurs": How can Saad el-Hamish be a proponent for something, but when it happens to him, he wants to write a letter to the editor? Racial slurs and derogatory comments are a form of profiling. When you look a certain way or fit a profile, people may treat you in an offensive way. Does that make it right? Of course not...

To the editor: I was dismayed to read the Speak Out titled "Slap in the face." It seems that the individual submitting the comment was unaware of the real reason for the Samaritan's Purse Operation Christmas Child Shoe Box Ministry. The Shoe Box Ministry makes it possible for children throughout the world to have a Christmas to remember. ...

Corps of Engineers' fault THE REASON the St. John's Bayou and New Madrid floodway project has taken so long is because the Corps of Engineers refuses to recognize the environmental threats posed by the project, refuses to address them and refuses to consider alternatives that would be less damaging...

By Laura Johnston ~ Southeast Missourian Today's high school students have plenty to do after school besides homework. Nearly half the students at area schools participate in clubs and sports and other organizations, administrators say. Some are even involved in several clubs and play sports...