Stories from Saturday, May 31, 2003

WASHINGTON -- First responders in Missouri and other states are watching closely as Congress prepares to assemble a budget for the newly created Department of Homeland Security, Rep. Jo Ann Emerson said. Emerson, R-Mo., serves on the House Appropriations subcommittee that will make funding decisions for the agency, which Congress created in November...

ROISSY, France -- Passengers dined on caviar and foie gras Friday as the Concorde, the world's fastest and most luxurious passenger jet, flew from Paris to New York for the last time. The Sierra Delta -- Concordes have names, not numbers -- took off from Charles de Gaulle airport at 10:38 a.m. As the wheels left the tarmac, it was already doing 236 mph. Seconds later, it was a point on the horizon...

BEIRUT, Lebanon -- The United States reopened its consulate Friday in Beirut, nearly 20 years after the office was closed following a bomb attack. The consulate in a heavily fortified embassy compound in Aukar, a suburb of Beirut, will spare Lebanese from having to travel to Syria or Cyprus to apply for visas...

BRANSON, Mo. -- The most popular day-use area on Table Rock Lake is getting a new look at a new location. Visitors to the Moonshine Beach area on Table Rock Lake will find new restrooms and a less rocky beach among the new features after a $7.4 million renovation. A covered picnic pavilion also is in the plan if there is enough money to pay for it...

STOCKTON, Mo. -- Mike Campbell was skeptical the 8-foot square steel structure could have protected him and his family from the tornado that destroyed their home earlier this month. "I just don't know about this," Campbell said as he examined the outer walls of the room on display Thursday at the Stockton Disaster Recovery Center. "I could poke my pocketknife through that."...

JACKSON, La. -- After two days of digging up concrete slabs, police did not unearth the body of a missing woman they believed might have been buried by the man suspected in the south Louisiana serial killings. East Feliciana Parish Sheriff Talmadge Bunch called off the search Friday after splitting open parts of two driveways and inspecting a third concrete area. ...

ST. LOUIS -- St. Louis Cardinals closer Jason Isringhausen threw to hitters for the second time this week on Friday, taking another step toward what may be a brief rehab stint. Isringhausen threw about 30 pitches and felt better and in more command that he had on Tuesday. He's scheduled to throw one more time, either Sunday or next Tuesday, depending on how he feels, and after that will go on a rehab assignment...

DUBLIN, Ohio -- A grinder throughout his career, Kenny Perry is starting to make golf look awfully easy. One week after winning Colonial with a record score, Perry surged into the lead Friday at the Memorial with a 4-under 68, capped by a birdie on the final hole that showed just how much everything is falling his way...

WASHINGTON -- A new postage stamp commemorating the Purple Heart, the nation's oldest military award, was released Friday by the Postal Service. First-day of issue ceremonies were held at Mount Vernon, the suburban Virginia estate of George Washington, who ordered the Purple Heart in 1782...

WASHINGTON -- They've been through months of spit-in-your-eye rhetoric, snubs and warnings of "consequences." President Bush and European leaders have a lot of patching up to do after straining relations almost to the breaking point over the Iraq war...

WASHINGTON -- After 11 days at orange, the national terrorism alert level was dropped one notch to yellow Friday after officials determined that the threat of imminent al-Qaida strikes had diminished. The alert level was changed after various intelligence sources noted a modest decrease in terrorist threats. Officials were also worried about a possible attack on Memorial Day, which passed without incident...

Sketch made from man's bones found in Illinois The investigation of skeletal remains found in Pulaski County, Ill., April 11 continues. Anthropological and forensic exams have determined the victim to be a white male, 45 to 65 years old, 5 foot 5 inches to 5 foot 11 inches tall, with no teeth...

Cape Girardeau Saturday, May 31 The following items were released by the Cape Girardeau Police Department. Arrests do not imply guilt. DWI A person was placed in custody Friday pending the filing of formal charges for driving while intoxicated. Arrests Jason A. Ponder, 25, of 122 S. West End Blvd., Cape Girardeau, was arrested Thursday on a Cape Girardeau warrant for failure to appear...

Cape Girardeau Saturday, May 31 Firefighters responded Thursday to the following items: At 3:50 p.m., alarm sounding at 211 St. Francis. At 5:30 p.m., medical assist at 323 S. Hanover. At 8:01 p.m., illegal burn at 612 Locust. At 8:57 p.m., still alarm at 15 Village Drive...

Members of the Missouri Legislature obviously were thinking about motorists' safety when they passed a catch-all bill that includes several measures having to do with driving and traffic. The good news: In his statewide pre-veto tour this month, Gov. Bob Holden didn't mention anything about nixing it...

UNITED NATIONS -- The U.N. Security Council on Friday unanimously authorized the deployment of a French-led international force in northeastern Congo, where ethnic fighting has killed more than 400 people. The international force will be made up of 1,400 troops, France's Defense Minister Michele Alliot-Marie said. The exact composition of the force was being discussed Friday at a meeting of contributor nations...

JERUSALEM -- Israelis and Palestinians neared agreement Friday over disarming Palestinian militants ahead of a summit with President Bush, but security remained a key issue -- as underscored by a U.S. Embassy warning that it has received "credible reports" of plans to kidnap U.S. citizens in Gaza...

A softball coach suspended from her coaching duties earlier this year will retain her promotion to high school athletic director. By a vote of 3-3, the Scott City School Board quashed a move to take away Sally O'Brien's promotion to athletic director...

Want to go? What: Regional handbell concert When: 7 p.m. June 7 Where: Notre Dame Regional High School. Cost: Free. Area church choirs showcase their sounds in upcoming concert By Laura Johnston ~ Southeast Missourian Whether it's with the tinkling sounds of a high note or the low boom of the bass, music performed by handbells can add a new dimension to worship services...

Serious crime took a 20 percent dip in 2002 on the campus of Southeast Missouri State University in Cape Girardeau over the previous year, according to the university's Department of Public Safety. With more than 9,000 students -- about 2,400 of living on campus -- Southeast historically ranks among the lower 25 percent for crime among schools its size, DPS director Doug Richards said...

submitted photo The LST-325, which served in several key World War II conflicts including D-Day, will dock in Cape Girardeau on Friday June 20, offering guided tours to help raise funds to repair the historic battleship. It will dock here for four days.By Scott Moyers ~ Southeast Missourian...

Pittsburgh's Lofton extends his hitting streak to 26 games. By R.B. Fallstrom ~ The Associated Press ST. LOUIS -- Kenny Lofton extended his streak and helped Jeff Suppan snap one of his own. Lofton homered to extend his hitting streak to 26 games and Jeff Suppan snapped his five-game losing skid as the Pittsburgh Pirates beat the St. Louis Cardinals 7-3 Friday night...

The Cape Girardeau City Council fired city manager Michael Miller on Friday, citing differences in management style and the desire to hire someone who will take a more visible leadership role. Mayor Jay Knudtson said it's part of the council's effort to clean house and get rid of city staff who don't work well with the public...

Jackson's Stuart McIntosh emerged from a tight pack to capture the Class 4 pole vault title as the Missouri Track and Field Championships got under way in Jefferson City. McIntosh was among four vaulters who all cleared 14 feet, but he was awarded the crown based on fewer misses...

Southeast Missourian Southeast Missouri State University baseball players Tim Alvarez and Justin Christian have been rewarded for their impressive senior seasons. Alvarez, a left-handed pitcher, and Christian, a second baseman, were named to the third team of the TPX/Collegiate Baseball Newspaper All-American Team, the organization announced Friday...

By Tim Goodman In your May 28 editorial regarding the current proposed tax-increment financing district in Cape Girardeau, the last sentence of the first paragraph says it all: "... basic infrastructure needs that Cape Girardeau can't afford."...

NEW YORK -- A judge has barred the Procter & Gamble Co. from claiming that its new tampon is superior to a product from rival Playtex Products Inc., forcing the giant consumer products company to recall its advertising and display campaign. U.S. District Judge William Pauley's order, issued late Thursday and filed in court Friday, followed a jury verdict last week that awarded $2.96 million in damages to Westport, Conn.-based Playtex. ...

NEW YORK -- John Casazza's widow would wear a locket around her neck with a speck of his remains -- if they were ever found. Tim Reilly's remains would be buried next to his father's. And Richard Gabrielle's would be cremated and placed in an urn, so his loved ones could take him along if they moved...

MODESTO, Calif. -- A judge ruled Friday that an autopsy report on the deaths of Laci Peterson and her unborn son should remain sealed along with other search warrant and arrest records. Superior Court Judge Al Girolami said releasing the information could hamper the murder investigation and prejudice public opinion before a trial begins...

BRUSSELS, Belgium -- As President Bush begins a European tour to patch up trans-Atlantic relations, comments from senior defense officials about Iraq's weapons have revived controversy in Europe over whether the war was justified. Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz cited bureaucratic reasons for focusing on Saddam Hussein's weapons of mass destruction, and said a "huge" result of the war was to enable Washington to withdraw its troops from Saudi Arabia...

EVIAN, France -- Surface-to-air missile batteries point to the sky over Evian and radars are poised along Lake Geneva. Soldiers patrol the Alps for terrorists on paragliders. Security for the upcoming Group of Eight summit is turning this quiet French resort town -- known for mineral water and peaceful landscapes -- into a sprawling militarized zone...

Cape Girardeau County Sheriff's Department Saturday, May 31 The following items were released by the Cape Girardeau County Sheriff's Department. Arrests do not imply guilt. DWI Craig M. Smith, 21, of Jackson was arrested May 25 on suspicion of driving while intoxicated...

For most of today's adults, study hall was a routine part of the school day when they were in high school. Central High School is changing that trend, and many would say rightly so. Instead of giving all student grades 9 through 12 an hour free each day for study hall, administrators are limiting the opportunity to the school's highest performing students: those who are juniors or seniors, take at least one advanced-placement course and two high school honors courses, have a grade point average of 8.0 or higher on an 11-point scale, have a 95 percent attendance rate, are involved in one or more extracurricular activities and are endorsed by a former teacher, a guidance counselor and a school administrator.. ...

After going overtime in Class 2 sectional game victories, Jackson and Lafayette face the prospect of another long evening in tonight's quarterfinals. Jackson (22-2) got a nice long look at Lafayette (19-1-3) earlier this year, playing to a two overtime draw that ultimately was decided in a shootout in a first-round game in tournament in Springfield, Mo. Lafayette won the shootout 3-0 to account for one of the Indians' two losses this season...

VATICAN CITY -- Secretary of State Colin Powell and Pope John Paul II are to meet Monday for the first high-level U.S.-Vatican talks since the pontiff criticized the U.S.-led war on Iraq. The church and the Bush administration see the meeting as a sign their relationship was not damaged by the disagreement on the war...

MADRID, Spain -- A car bomb allegedly placed by Basque separatists exploded in northern Spain on Friday, killing two police officers and prompting the prime minister to cancel plans to attend a summit in Russia. A third police officer was severely wounded and five civilians were wounded in the early afternoon attack that shattered windows and set cars ablaze in the town of Sanguesa in Navarra province...

NEW YORK -- Wall Street notched its third straight month of gains Friday -- a feat not seen in nearly two years -- after investors cheered a pair of reports showing a rise in consumer sentiment and Midwest manufacturing. "We have more positive economic data that's got investors heartened the economy is continuing to improve," said Stephen Massocca, president of Pacific Growth Equities. "Investors are pretty optimistic."...

OAKLAND, Calif. -- The former president of a Goodwill Industries chapter pleaded innocent Friday to leading a ring that embezzled $26 million in donations over his nearly 20-year tenure. Andrew Liersch, who led the Santa Clara County branch from 1976 to 1993, was arrested May 23 at Los Angeles International Airport on charges of money laundering and wire fraud...

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- California lawmakers advanced a bill to limit use of cell phones by drivers, requiring headsets or other hands-free devices. The bill was approved 41-26 by the state assembly on Thursday and now goes to the Senate. If it becomes law, California will follow New York, which in 2001 became the first state to bar drivers from using hand-held cell phones...

LOS ANGELES -- A man seized control of a construction crane towering above downtown for more than eight hours, rotating the cab and throwing objects at rescue teams before finally surrendering early Friday, authorities said. Kevin Donaldson, 43, was arrested about 4 a.m. after he peacefully climbed down from the cab. Police said he will likely face vandalism charges...

ATLANTA -- American-made cigarettes such as Marlboros contain up to twice as much of a cancer-causing chemical as foreign brands, federal health officials said Friday. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention compared the levels of the carcinogen nitrosamine in Marlboros, chosen because of their wide availability, and local brands in 13 other countries...

EL PASO, Texas -- Former prisoner of war Spc. Joseph Hudson has re-enlisted in the Army for another two years and said he hopes to teach other soldiers how to survive captivity. Fort Bliss commander Maj. Gen. Stanley Green administered the oath Thursday while Hudson's wife, daughter, mother and sister-in-law stood beside him...

The Associated PressSEATTLE -- AOL Time Warner and Microsoft have called a truce in their battle over Internet browsers, with the software giant paying AOL $750 million in a deal heralded as the start of a new era of cooperation between the longtime rivals...

FENTON, Mo. -- One more victory and Notre Dame Regional High School's girls soccer team will join its male counterpart as state champion. The Bulldogs defeated Kansas City O'Hara 1-0 Friday night in a Class 1 semifinal at the Anheuser-Busch Conference & Sports Centre...

ORAN, Mo. -- After scoring only six runs in its last two games, Oran High School's potent offense came to life Friday afternoon, trouncing visiting Ellington 12-3 in a Class 1 quarterfinal game. With the win, the Eagles earned their second consecutive trip to the final four in Columbia. Oran (21-2) will face Concordia (17-2) Wednesday at 5 p.m. Concordia advanced with an 8-2 win over Leeton...

LONDON -- Ozzy Osbourne will share a bill with his daughter, Kelly, for the first time this summer, the musician's Web site says. Osbourne will perform two shows in England as part of a European tour this fall. Kelly Osbourne, 18, will open for her father at both shows...

WASHINGTON -- The government lifted a ban on air service between the United States and Iraq on Friday after nearly 13 years. Economic sanctions were imposed on Iraq in August 1990 as punishment for its invasion and occupation of neighboring Kuwait. Honoring the sanctions, the Transportation Department prohibited air carriers from offering commercial flights in the United States that included stops in Iraq and barred aircraft of Iraqi registry from flying to or from the United States...

WASHINGTON -- The top commander of U.S. Marines in Iraq said Friday he is surprised that extensive searches have failed so far to discover any of the chemical weapons that American intelligence had indicated were supplied to front line Iraqi forces at the outset of the war...

VILNIUS, Lithuania -- The remains of some 3,000 soldiers who died during Napoleon Bonaparte's catastrophic invasion of Russia nearly two centuries ago will be laid to rest in a cemetery in Vilnius this weekend. The ceremony includes re-enactments of battles during the ill-fated French attack on the Russian Empire in 1812. ...

TORONTO -- Test results on three more cattle herds linked to a lone case of mad cow disease in Canada came back negative Friday, and a government inspector said the investigation into the infection could be over by the end of next week. Brian Evans, chief veterinary officer of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, said two herds that received calves from the infected cow's last herd tested negative for bovine spongiform encephalopathy, or BSE...

Briefly Baseball Outfielder Jermaine Dye was activated from the 15-day disabled list on Friday by Oakland, which optioned catcher Mark Johnson to Triple-A Sacramento. Dye had been on the disabled list since April 25 because of torn cartilage in his right knee...

A helpful hand JUST A few words to express my thanks again to the young woman in white pickup who helped me start my truck on the Lowe's parking lot. She would not accept any pay. I did not get her name, but thanks again for helping a senior citizen when he needed help. You've proved there are still nice people in this troubled word...

MOUNDS, Ill. -- Bruce C. Jones, 72, of Mounds died Friday, May 30, 2003, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. He was born Nov. 10, 1930, in Mounds, son of Bruce and Mildred Horner Jones. He was a retired teamster and a member of the Teamsters Union in West Frankfort, Ill. He was a member of Caledonia Masonic Lodge 47 AF&AM at Olive Branch, Ill...

James Lemie Gibbar Jr., 77, of Scott City died Thursday, May 29, 2003, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. He was born Jan. 16, 1926, at St. Mary, Mo., son of James Lemie and Birdie Lorene Henderson Gibbar Sr. He and Wanda Louise Cox were married Oct. 12, 1946, in Piggott, Ark...

ULLIN, Ill. -- Mary L. Friedman, 75, of Ullin died Friday, May 30, 2003, in Ullin. She was born April 20, 1928, at Diehlstadt, Mo., daughter of Dave and Gertrude McClure Everett. She married Lloyd Friedman. Friedman worked 22 years at the former Snower's Co. in Cairo, Ill. She was formerly of Unity and Anna, Ill...

CARDWELL, Mo. -- Roger Dale Clark, 49, of Cardwell died Thursday, May 29, 2003, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. He was born June 2, 1953, at Mount Carmel, Ill., son of James Ervin and Anna Mae Florence Clark. Clark was formerly of Cape Girardeau and Sikeston, Mo. He was a painter with Loyd Slinkard Painting Co. Inc. in Cape Girardeau and also for Truss Specialist Inc. in Cardwell...

MARBLE HILL, Mo. -- Charlotte Faye Moore, 61, of Forsyth, Mo., died Thursday, May 29, 2003, at St. John's Regional Health Center in Springfield, Mo. She was born March 13, 1942, in St. Louis, daughter of Buford and Elva Cook Lincoln. She and Gordon Moore were married April 3, 1965, in St. Louis...

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- Byron Burdell Todd, 72, of Perryville died Thursday, May 29, 2003, at Perry County Nursing Center. He was born Sept. 5, 1930, at Gibson, Mo., son of Chester and Mamie Stearns Todd. He and Wilma Willard were married Aug. 19, 1982, in Ste. Genevieve, Mo...

SIKESTON, Mo. -- Victor Shaver, 74, of Sikeston died Thursday, May 29, 2003, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. He was born Jan. 25, 1929, in Ingram, Ark., son of Joe and Edna Meredith Shaver. He and Louise Smith were married April 17, 1954, in De Soto County, Ark...

10 years ago: May 31, 1993 Several hundred people brave biting, blustery chill at Memorial Day ceremonies in Cape Girardeau and Jackson to honor nation's more than 1.1 million war dead; about 200 people turn out for 11 a.m. service at Cape Girardeau County Park North; earlier in day, about 125 attended ceremony at entrance to Jackson's Russell Heights Cemetery...

P Craftsman Union to host Valmeyer (Ill.) in doubleheader. By Marty Mishow ~ Southeast Missourian It never seems to be a question of whether the Craftsman Union Capahas will field a good team. It's usually just a matter of how strong the Capahas turn out to be...

P Jackson opens its season today against Imperial. By Marty Mishow ~ Southeast Missourian Tom Reinagel doesn't want to get too carried away, but the Cape Girardeau Ford & Sons American Legion baseball coach believes his third season with the team has the makings of a big one...

Neace Daughter to Edward Lee and Laura Ann Neace of Jackson, Southeast Missouri Hospital, 7:51 a.m. Friday, May 16, 2003. Name, Chaylea Marie. Weight, 6 pounds 3 ounces. Fifth child, third daughter. Mrs. Neace is the former Laura Garner, daughter of Theresa Robbins of Jackson. She is employed at Rhodes 101 Cash Only. Neace is the son of Deloris Neace of Jackson. He is employed by Rick Shipman Construction Co...

ST. LOUIS -- Black motorists in Missouri are 40 percent more likely to be pulled over by police than whites, according to a report released Friday by Attorney General Jay Nixon. Under state law enacted in August 2000, police must record the age, gender and race of motorists stopped and note if a search was conducted, alleged violations and whether charges were filed. Nixon compiles the information in a report to the governor and legislature...

WASHINGTON -- The Supreme Court is edging toward its most anticipated statement on race in a generation in affirmative action cases that are overshadowing other important rulings expected before the court takes a summer break. The unfinished business includes a Texas sodomy law and the question of whether the government can force public libraries to filter the Internet. And after that: the possibility the court will see its first retirement in nearly a decade...