Stories from Sunday, November 2, 2003

PADUCAH, Ky. -- President Bush campaigned Saturday for Republicans in tight races for governor in Kentucky and Mississippi, where at one event a car evaded police and slammed into the arena hosting a political rally. Bush was lending support to Republicans ahead of Tuesday's vote, seen as an indication of his popularity a year before his own re-election...

DURHAM, N.H. -- Today's consecration of the first openly gay Episcopal bishop will be a watershed moment for American religion that will crystallize severe divisions over homosexuality among Episcopalians and their fellow Anglicans worldwide. With the elevation of the Rev. V. Gene Robinson, the Episcopal Church will become the first major Christian denomination anywhere to choose a bishop living openly with a same-sex partner...

CLEVELAND -- Bicyclists are demanding that the nation's largest radio group be punished because disc jockeys at three stations made on-air comments they say encouraged drivers to throw bottles at bike riders or hit them with open car doors. They say the morning show hosts at Clear Channel Communications stations in Cleveland, Houston and Raleigh, N.C., also suggested motorists blast horns at cyclists, and speed past them and slam on their brakes in front of them...

SOUTHAVEN, Miss. -- A car ran a police checkpoint outside an arena where President Bush had spoken and rammed the building Saturday. Authorities swarmed the car with weapons drawn and took away the driver and her three children who were with her. Bush was in his limousine when the car rammed the arena in Southhaven, Mi, but the limo had not left the building and he was not hurt, a senior Bush administration official said. ...

NEW YORK -- CBS is pitching its 75th anniversary bash as "your favorite stars all in one room for one night only!" And here is that room, where scores of CBS stars ranging from Alan Alda and Loni Anderson to Betty White and Tom Wopat (and even Lassie IX) will convene: the Hammerstein Ballroom on Manhattan's West 34th Street, site of "CBS at 75," a three-hour live special airing at 7 p.m. today...

RAMALLAH, West Bank -- Ramallah, the bustling heart of Palestinian life in the West Bank, is rapidly becoming surrounded by Israeli settlements, from the trailer homes of hilltop outposts to the cookie-cutter apartment buildings on the nearby outskirts of Jerusalem...

UNITED NATIONS -- The Security Council will evaluate a list of 225 suspected al-Qaida members handed over by Iran and decide whether to impose sanctions on the terror suspects, a U.N. ambassador said. The U.N. committee monitoring sanctions against al-Qaida and the Taliban expects to circulate the list on Monday, the committee chairman, Chile's U.N. ambassador Heraldo Munoz...

MOSCOW -- With the resignation of his veteran chief of staff, President Vladimir Putin bade farewell to the old Kremlin elite that engineered his meteoric rise to power and played a pivotal role in setting his policy during the last four years. Alexander Voloshin's departure, which closely followed the jailing of Russia's richest tycoon, stirred broad fears that Putin's fellow ex-KGB officers are crowding out Kremlin liberals and laying the groundwork for a redistribution of property that was privatized after the 1991 collapse of the Soviet Union.. ...

BERLIN -- About 100,000 people took to the streets of Berlin on Saturday to demonstrate against Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder's plans to trim Germany's generous welfare state, the biggest show of public opposition so far to his drive to revive Europe's largest economy...

HONG KONG -- Yang Liwei sang a duet with action star Jackie Chan as Hong Kong lavished a superstar's welcome on China's first astronaut Saturday -- a visit derided by critics as a veiled attempt by Beijing to boost the troubled government. Beijing hopes the trip will shore up patriotism in a territory whose residents remain suspicious of Beijing's Communist regime since becoming part of China six years ago -- despite promises that Hong Kong can keep its own administration and Western-style freedoms.. ...

Let's see, what's on the menu today? Tasty black oil sunflower served in a multi-tube feeder of hand-blown glass? Or sumptuous peanut suet slung from a custom-designed tray of stained wood? Oh, the decisions. Backyard birds have never had it so good...

Saying "I do" before assembled relatives and friends is a thrill for any bride or groom. And increasingly couples are opting to recite their vows in their own home or in the home of parents or friends. At-home ceremonies offer charm and intimacy for small- to medium-size gatherings...

CARBONDALE, Ill. -- Three people were arrested and police had to don riot gear to help disperse a crowd at a Halloween party Saturday morning after officers were pelted with beer bottles. The three were arrested on charges of mob action and reckless conduct and one officer suffered minor injuries, said Sgt. Mike Osifcin...

ST. LOUIS -- A fire confined to the roof of the St. Louis Science Center's Omnimax Theater dome prompted the evacuation Saturday of about 200 people from the popular tourist site. Officials said no injuries resulted from the fire, reported about 5 p.m. after a patron spotted flames on the center's roof while he tended to a disabled car outside the site...

SELIGMAN, Mo. -- A woman has been arrested in the fatal shooting of the man she shared a home with in this southwest Missouri town, authorities said. Officers found Charlie Hickman, 41, of Seligman, dead on Halloween night while responding to a call of a shooting. Hickman had been shot at close range with a .22-caliber rifle, the Barry County Sheriff's Department said in a news release...

WASHINGTON -- For older Americans wondering how much help they would get from a Medicare prescription drug benefit, the answer depends on their income and annual pharmacy bills. And, it seems, on who's asked. President Bush says the proposal being negotiated in Congress would cut those bills in half...

WASHINGTON -- The chief of the Capitol Hill police says his security personnel will take cues from airport security screeners and sacrifice speed to slower passage through X-ray machine posts. Lines to enter the Capitol complex will likely move more slowly as police try to avoid repetition of a scare over a toy gun that made it through security and into a House office building...

A comment by Howard Dean about Confederate flags and pickup trucks has embroiled the leading Democrats in Iowa's presidential caucuses in a name-calling donnybrook. "I still want to be the candidate for guys with Confederate flags in their pickup trucks," the former Vermont governor was quoted as saying in Saturday's Des Moines Register. "We can't beat George Bush unless we appeal to a broad cross-section of Democrats."...

NEW YORK -- More than 30 accidents on Staten Island ferries since 1978 have been attributed to negligent captains or other ferry workers, according to a review of safety records from the U.S. Coast Guard . Passengers or crew members were hurt in at least 50 accidents, the review found, but some of those were due not to crashes but to falls and other mishaps...

NEW YORK -- Like other athletes preparing for the New York City Marathon, Zoe Koplowitz knows the usual tips: Dress for the weather, pace yourself, start out slow. But slow for Koplowitz, who takes to the 26.2-mile course every year with two fuschia crutches that match her eye shadow, can mean a race that stretches well into the next day...

LIHUE, Hawaii -- The water was clear and there was no indication of danger when a 13-year-old surfing star went out on the waves with her best friend and her friend's father. But as Bethany Hamilton was lying on her board off Kauai's North Shore, a shark bit once and then disappeared, taking off her left arm below the shoulder...

BAGHDAD, Iraq -- Nervous Baghdad parents kept children home from school on Saturday, but warnings of terror attacks and anonymous calls for a general strike otherwise had limited impact across Iraq, as U.S. authorities moved to counter an intensifying insurgency...

Just hours after a shooting in the parking lot, bar patrons and staff returned to Players Lounge to remember their slain friend and mourn the tragedy that took his life. Terry Vernon Lynn, 26, of Cape Girardeau was found dead of a single gunshot wound to the head shortly before 2 a.m. Saturday behind Players at 632 Broadway...

The first trout ever caught in Rotary Lake, and quite possibly in Cape Girardeau County, was caught by a retired man with his right arm in a sling. Lee Roderick of Jackson, still recovering from rotator cuff surgery a little more than a week ago, didn't let that keep him away from his new favorite fishing hole on opening day...

Just hours after Cape Girardeau police responded to a handgun murder Saturday morning in the parking lot behind Player's Bar on Broadway, they were called to a local hospital where a man said he had been shot his yard in the 900 block of College Street...

PHOENIX -- Kobe Bryant heard mostly boos, but more than a few cheers, as he made his return to the Los Angeles Lakers on Saturday night, and wound up playing more than he expected. Bryant made three of four free throws in the final 66 seconds, finishing with 15 points in the Lakers' 103-99 victory over the Phoenix Suns. He scored 15 points on 4-for-12 shooting in 37 minutes...

The AssociatedPress ST. LOUIS -- Jocelyn Thibault made 31 saves, and Steve Sullivan scored the go-ahead goal in a three-goal second period of the Chicago Blackhawks' 3-2 victory over the Blues on Saturday night. Travis Moen had his first career goal, and Nathan Dempsey also scored in the second for the Blackhawks, who totaled three goals in the previous three games. Chicago is 4-1-2 in its last seven games...

SAN FRANCISCO -- If the San Francisco 49ers hope to stay in the NFC West race, their quarterback change probably must work out just as well as the Rams' move did. Jeff Garcia isn't expected to play in today's game against St. Louis. His sprained ankle got significantly worse during the week leading up to San Francisco's biggest rivalry game, and team doctors ruled him out Thursday...

AVONDALE, Ariz. -- The closer he gets to winning his first Winston Cup championship, the harder it is for Matt Kenseth to ignore the pressure. Kenseth has earned the nickname "Mr. Consistency" this season, leading the season standings since the fourth race...

ADVANCE, Mo. -- After three tries, Bell City's volleyball team finally beat rival Advance in the district finals. Now, after two dramatic wins Saturday at the Advance sectional, the Cubs are three matches away from a chance to play for the Class 1 state title...

FESTUS, Mo. -- Notre Dame advanced to the final four of the Class 3 state tournament for the first time in school history and exacted revenge along the way. The Bulldogs defeated St. Francis Borgia, the team that knocked Notre Dame out of the first round of the playoffs last year, 26-24, 20-25, 25-14 in the quarterfinals at Festus High School on Saturday...

Area teams in Class 1, 2 and 4 will send runners to the state cross country meet after they qualified through Saturday's round. Saxony Lutheran's boys and Notre Dame's boys will go as teams after they finished in the top two of their events. Class 1: Saxony's first-year varsity program outscored runner-up Clopton by 19 points to win its sectional. ...

MARTIN, Tenn. -- Andrew Goodenough made his first start at quarterback for Southeast Missouri State University on Saturday. And although far from spectacular, Goodenough was solid in helping the Indians post a 20-7 road victory over Tennessee-Martin...

MARTIN, Tenn. -- For once, Southeast Missouri State University didn't have to pile up gaudy offensive numbers to beat Tennessee-Martin. The Indians, after outscoring the Skyhawks in wild shootouts the past two years, posted a more conventional 20-7 road victory Saturday...

The AssociatedPress ST. PAUL, Minn. -- John Gagliardi tied Eddie Robinson as college football's career victory leader Saturday, guiding Division III St. John's to a 15-12 victory over St. Thomas. Gagliardi, celebrating his 77th birthday, is 408-114-11 in 55 years as a college coach, the last 51 at St. John's. He can break the record next week in St. John's home game against Bethel...

The games won't count on their records, but Southeast Missouri State University's basketball teams will face outside competition -- and put themselves on public display -- for the first time this week. I'm sure Southeast fans are anxious -- I know I am -- to get a look at both squads in Thursday's home exhibition games when the men play Truman State and the women face Union University...

Halloween's over, but the horror of interior decorating remains. We're still in the middle of painting Becca's room. Last weekend, we put on a coat of white, oil-based primer paint after stripping the circus-design wallpaper from the walls with the aid of a steamer that turned the room into a primitive sauna...

The Missouri Public Service Commission will hold a public hearing Tuesday to help determine whether AmerenUE should be allowed to increase its revenue by raising natural gas rates. The hearing will be at 6 p.m. at the Show Me Center and will begin with a 30-minute information session. Customers are welcome to bring service problems with AmerenUE before the commission as well as comment on the proposed rate increase...

Cape Girardeau Sunday, Nov. 2 The following items were released by the Cape Girardeau Police Department. Arrests do not imply guilt. DWI Harold Edgar Oberndorfer, 39, of 12275 Highway A, Frohna, Mo., was issued a summons Friday for driving while intoxicated, driving with no headlights and for being an unlicensed driver...

Cape Girardeau Sunday, Nov. 2 Firefighters responded Saturday to the following items: At 1:25 a.m., a still alarm at 123 N. Main. At 2:57 a.m., a sounding alarm at 1710 N. Sprigg. At 7:11 a.m., a police assist at Broadway and North Sprigg. At 9:41 a.m., a medical assist at 611 S. West End...

Baseball Barring an unforseen snag, Bobby Valentine is likely to be named manager of a Japanese baseball team on Monday. Valentine arrived in Japan on Saturday to discuss whether he will manage the Lotte Marines of Japan's Pacific League...

Iraq's neighbors discuss war's impact on region DAMASCUS, Syria -- Iraq's neighbors opened a conference Saturday on the impact of the U.S.-led war that ousted Saddam Hussein, but Baghdad's interim government -- insulted by a last-minute invitation -- snubbed the talks and vowed to reject any decisions made there...

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Moving a state's courts into the online, high-tech world is fairly straightforward. All it takes is money, time, and the right people and equipment. But that's only half the task the nation's state courts are confronting. The rest -- for which no technical manuals or prewritten programs exist -- consists of anticipating and addressing the perplexing legal issues that technology can create...

NEW YORK -- ABC News correspondent Elizabeth Vargas concedes her network is stepping into a theological minefield with its one-hour exploration of whether Jesus Christ had a wife. The ABC News special, "Jesus, Mary and DaVinci," is scheduled to air at 7 p.m. Monday...

Plus-size model weds rock band drummer LAS VEGAS -- Plus-size model Mia Tyler wed Papa Roach drummer David Buckner in front of thousands of people during an Aerosmith concert at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. Tyler, 24, and Buckner, 27, tied the knot Saturday on stage, according to an MGM Grand hotel official. A marriage license for the couple was filed at the Clark County Recorder's Office...

Leah Myers and Todd Allen Pobst were married Sept. 27, 2003, at Chapel of the Doves in Branson, Mo. The bride is the daughter of Kathy Panagos of Jackson and Michael and Joyce Panagos of Fenton, Mo. Terry and Rose Pobst of Oran, Mo., are parents of the groom...

Alana Kay Perkinson and Lucas Michael Rouggly were united in marriage July 19, 2003, at First Christian Church of Florissant in Florissant, Mo. Shan Moyers performed the ceremony. Music was by Sharlene Henderson, Valerie Cantrell, Matt Campbell and Jared Rouggly, brother of the groom, all of Florissant. Vocalists were Campbell and Rouggly...

CHAFFEE, Mo. -- Kimberly Ann Hinkebein and Ryan Charles Rueseler exchanged vows Aug. 2, 2003, at St. Ambrose Catholic Church. The Rev. Ralph Duffner performed the ceremony. Organist was Bernice Kern of Benton, Mo., and vocalists were Chris Scherer of Oran, Mo., and Lorianne Reishman of Chaffee...

Julia Cowsert and Ty Thrower were married Sept. 29, 2003, at Common Pleas Courthouse in Cape Girardeau. Judge Peter Statler performed the ceremony. The bride is the daughter of Dr. Grace Duff of Tamms, Ill., and the late Lawrence Duff. The groom is the son of Rose Thrower of Jackson, and the late Charles Thrower...

Megan Anne Wagner and Brett DeWayne Richardson exchanged vows Aug. 16, 2003, at Arlington United Methodist Church in Bridgeton, Mo. The Rev. Keith W. Morgan performed the ceremony. Organist was Karen House and soloist was Sam Horne, both of Bridgeton...

Celeste and Clyde Nenninger of Cape Girardeau and Richard and Teresa Gemeinhardt of Anniston, Mo., announce the engagement of their daughter, Christina Gemeinhardt, to Mike Berwin, both of St. Louis. He is the son of Charles and Vivian Berwin and Judy Rose, all of St. Louis...

Rob and Becky Shaw of Edwardsville, Ill., announce the engagement of their daughter, Cari Shaw, to Tommy Wencewicz. He is the son of Tom and Dotty Wencewicz of Cape Girardeau. Shaw is a 2000 graduate of Edwardsville High School. She is majoring in early childhood education at Southeast Missouri State University...

BENTON, Mo. -- Carl Ray and Patsy Miller of Benton announce the engagement of their daughter, Cindy Carol Miller, to Eric Wayne Dow. He is the son of Flossie Dow of Jackson, and the late Clinton Dow. Miller is a graduate of Kelly High School. She is employed at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Missouri...

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- Rick and Brenda Tisher of Perryville announce the engagement of their daughter, Richelle Marie Tisher, to Adam Wesley Bohnert. He is the son of Jim and Brenda Bohnert of Perryville. Tisher is a 1999 graduate of Perryville High School. She is a self-employed daycare provider...

Clemon and Naomi Crain of Cape Girardeau will celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary with a reception from 2 to 4 p.m. Nov. 9 in the Family Life Center at Centenary United Methodist Church. Host is their daughter, Carolyn Crain. Mr. and Mrs. Crain were married Nov. 9, 1943...

She's trying to fulfill her role as a productive citizen -- holding down a sales job and saving for a better future. But a weak economy has left many college grads and young professionals such as Yaremko slowing their march to independence from the folks at home. But experts who track human development will tell you: The financial downturn is only the most recent factor pushing the start of adulthood later and later...

Elmer and Dorothy Palisch of Jackson will celebrate their 65th wedding anniversary next week. An open house will be held from 2 to 5 p.m. Nov. 9 in the multipurpose room at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Jackson.

TO THE individual who argued that high menu prices hold tips down: If prices are so outrageously high, why are the restaurants in Cape Girardeau constantly filled with patrons day in and day out? Your argument does not hold up to the facts. Restaurant prices are reasonable. Competition between restaurants is helping the customer...

10 years ago: Nov. 2, 1993 Motorists crossing Mississippi River into Cape Girardeau on planned bridge and relocated Highway 74 will have one less eyesore to bear; city council has refused to grant special use permit to Lester Sample for automotive salvage company at Giboney and Maple...

Five years ago, preparing a budget for most taxing entities was a fairly simple process of deciding how to spend more money than the year before. The robust economy pretty much guaranteed that taxpayers would be paying bigger tax bills. Indeed, spending in many areas of government more than doubled during the good times...

With so much bitter division and strife in our world, it is uplifting to see the process unfold in Jackson as the First Baptist Church evolves into two churches. Crossroads is the new church's name. Baptists, like many other denominations, have a long history of splits that have been less than harmonious. And creating two churches out of one in Jackson wasn't an entirely easy process, or one without its own measure of sadness and pain...

A vote of confidence THANK YOU to all of the supporters of high school sports. We appreciate how the newspaper covers the events and how they give us some attention. Thank you for covering the soccer season and keeping the general public how well they are supported. We thank you for everything...

To the editor: Isn't a tip supposed to be a bonus for extra service? At least that's what it started out as. Then it evolved to a specific figure: 10 percent of the bill for giving good service, then 15 percent for just doing the job adequately. Now diners are expected to tip 20 percent regardless of the service...

To the editor: It's interesting to read some of the opinions on "One nation under God." To be less interested, one would have to be callow, war-hungry and money-happy, because all have a god of some sort. History tells us that. I suggest some of you read "John Adams." In the book, there are many religious groups. All had their god in mind. As you can understand from history, their god didn't always pertain to Jesus, as some of us profess. Romans had idols. Others had sun-gods...

To the editor: On Sept. 1, Medicare imposed a $1,590 cap on its coverage for outpatient physical and speech therapy services in all settings except hospitals. Anyone who reaches this cap is required to pay out of pocket for needed therapy. When a person is in a Medicare-certified bed in a skilled nursing facility, he is not permitted to go to a hospital-based clinic and have further therapy paid by Medicare...

Jennifer G. Radetic, 48, of Jackson died Saturday, Nov. 1, 2003, at the Lutheran Home in Cape Girardeau. She was born Oct. 8, 1955, in Cape Girardeau, daughter of Roy W. and Carrie McNeely Darter. She and Tom Radetic were married Aug. 19, 1988, at Cape Girardeau...

Jerry D. Castleman, 68, of Normal, Ill., died Thursday, Oct. 30, 2003, at his home. He was born Sept. 19, 1935, in Union City, Tenn., son of William E. and Velma Maddox Castleman. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Multiple Sclerosis Society or the American Lung Association...

Daniel Webster "Bud" Watkins, 64, of Bertrand, Mo., died Saturday, Nov. 1, 2003, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. He was born on Jan. 27, 1939, at Lilbourn, Mo., son of William Jasper "Jack" and Edith Rae Brown Watkins. He and Brenda Vance were married June 11, 1960, in St. Louis...

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- Ida M. Niemeyer, 88, of Perryville died Friday, Oct. 31, 2003, at the Perry County Nursing Home in Perryville. She was born Nov. 27, 1914, in Perry County, Mo., daughter to William Lee and Mary Schemel Lee. She and Robert Niemeyer were married 1936 in East St. Louis, Ill. He died in 1995...

Jill Ann Rhodes, 64, of Jackson died Friday, Oct. 31, 2003, at Southeast Hospital in Cape Girardeau. She was born March 2, 1939, in Cape Girardeau, daughter of James and Flora Fox Abernathy. She married Terry Cora and later married Lester Rhodes. They preceded her in death...

Blanche Huff, 92, of Cape Girardeau died Saturday, Nov. 1, 2003, at Chateau Girardeau. Funeral arrangements are incomplete at Ford & Sons Funeral Home.

ALTO PASS, Ill. -- Lula F. Bryant, 90, of Elkville, Ill., and formerly of Alto Pass, died Saturday, Nov. 1, 2003, at Oak Grove Nursing Home in Carbondale. She was born April 13, 1913, daughter of Walter and Velma Helm Meadows. She and Clifford G. Bryant were married Sept. 1, 1928. He died Sept. 1, 1979...

MOREHOUSE, Mo. -- Verbal Lorine Selph, 69, of Morehouse died Saturday, Nov. 1, 2003, at her home. She was born Sept. 23, 1934, daughter of Elmer and Lucie Bradford Leek. She was formerly married to Charles Edward Selph. Selph was employed at the International Shoe Factory in Sikeston, Mo., and worked as a cook at Missouri Delta Medical Center and the Miner Nursing Center...

William David Townsend, 61, of Dexter, Mo., died Friday, Oct. 31, 2003, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. He was born Feb. 3, 1942, at Fisk, Mo., son of James and Myrtle Williams Townsend. He and Barbara Holyfield were married July 1, 1967...

Terry Vernon Lynn II, 26, of Cape Girardeau died Saturday, Nov. 1, 2003. Amick-Burnett Funeral Home in Chaffee, Mo., is in charge of arrangements.

ELCO, Ill. -- Larry Dickerson, 62, of Elco died Friday, Oct. 31, 2003, at his home. He was born Aug. 13, 1941, at Elco, son of James Monroe and Mary Marie Neace Dickerson. He and Janet Kunsman were married June 12, 1964. Dickerson was a driver employed by Willis Trucking and Jordan Trucking. He was a member of Trinity Pentecostal Tabernacle in Jonesboro, Ill...

While at least 60 drug and biotech companies are working on medicines to improve memory, a healthy lifestyle can slow the onset of Alzheimer's disease, according to a Washington University professor. Dr. Anne Fagan, of the Department of Neurology and Alzheimer's Disease Research Center at Washington University School of Medicine, was the keynote speaker at the 15th annual Alzheimer's Association Research Update at Southeast Missouri State University on Saturday...