Stories from Sunday, December 14, 2003

Edward J. Ostroski, 85, of Cape Girardeau died Friday, Dec. 12, 2003, at the Missouri Veterans Home in Cape Girardeau. He was born Feb. 2, 1918, at St. Joseph, Mo., son of Vincent and Isabel Potrofski Ostroski. He and Ann E. Boch were married May 11, 1946, at St. Joseph...

HOPKINTON, N.H. -- Wesley Clark had talked for nearly an hour about Iraq, nuclear energy, taxes, even windmills, fielding questions at a rat-a-tat rate from prickly New Hampshire voters. Finally, he threw his hands in the air and smiled. "You're a tough crowd to warm up!" the Democratic presidential candidate said as heads nodded in agreement throughout the cramped conference room. "I'm excited! What about you?"...

WASHINGTON -- President Bush's re-election campaign has quietly recruited a large media team, featuring some of the GOP's most renowned ad makers, in preparation for spending tens of millions of dollars on television advertising next year. The core group of media maestros involved in Bush's White House victory in 2000 is returning, bolstered now by consultants who have helped win tough congressional races or have made creative pitches for commercial products, according to Republican sources familiar with the team.. ...

FARMINGTON, Mo. -- A suburban St. Louis man has agreed to testify against his wife in an animal cruelty case in which cats were allegedly left to starve. James Sobelman, 50, of Olivette, pleaded guilty Friday to a misdemeanor charge. He was sentenced to two years of unsupervised probation...

WASHINGTON -- House Speaker Dennis Hastert of Illinois lit a 65-foot Christmas tree Thursday that had traveled 2,500 miles from Idaho to decorate the U.S. Capitol lawn. "This is a great season of joy, a season of reflection and a season of thanksgiving," said Hastert, R-Ill...

ST. LOUIS -- The St. Louis Zoo announced Thursday its latest addition: a female takin, a little-known goat-antelope native to Tibet and central China. The takin (rhymes with rockin') was born Nov. 24 at the zoo, where her sister Xie Xie (SHAY- SHAY) was born in August 2002. The baby, named Li, which means "beautiful" in Chinese, can be seen climbing about her yard with her family at the Zoo's Red Rocks area...

Halloween is past, but its still a good time for scarification. "Scarification" has nothing at all to do with "scaring." Scarification means "to scratch" and in the world of gardening scarification means "to scratch a seed." You scarify seeds whose seed coats are so hard that they are impervious to water and gases...

NEW YORK -- Any good gift-wrapper knows that a satin or velvet ribbon tied up into a perfect bow can elevate otherwise ho-hum wrapping paper. Why not apply this principle to holiday party clothes? Ribbons, bows and vintage touches are inexpensive, easy ways to add sparkle to any outfit, especially this year, when the runways are full of girlie-girl touches...

To many would-be homebuilders, construction documents -- blueprints -- are as close as they ever get to hieroglyphics. The snarl of intersecting lines and odd symbols usually are tidy and neat, but how to decipher this maze can make the untrained readers eyes glaze over...

WASHINGTON -- A diabetic in Ohio sends basic medical information each night to a nurse who may be a thousand miles away. If a significant condition change is detected, the nurse calls to find out why and contacts the patient's doctor and pharmacist...

Schwarzenegger signs budget amendment SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- With a fiscal recovery plan now in place, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said he was ready to push ahead on a variety of issues. He achieved his biggest victory since his election by getting the legislature on Friday to adopt bills that will put a $15 billion bond measure and new spending restrictions on the March ballot. ...

Ida Lee "Dee" Holbrook, 85, formerly of Salisbury, Mo. passed away at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau on Dec. 11, 2003. She was born Aug. 11, 1918, in Callaway County, Mo., daughter of Earl Hallie and Lydia Pearl Hildebrand Underwood. She and Lester Holbrook were married Sept. 25, 1937, in Mexico, Mo. They were divorced...

To the editor: It irritates the bejabbers out of me when self-appointed right-wing scolds like David Limbaugh ("Kerry's mouth") get on their high horses for the purpose of lecturing their fellow citizens. This time he's lecturing to U.S. Sen. John Kerry about using the F word. ...

To the editor: I was born in Cape Girardeau. My father graduated from Southeast Missouri State University over 50 years ago. Several high schools, colleges and universities have abandoned American Indian nicknames. In picking a new name, all of the common names should be avoided. Go for something from history, like the Mighty Druids with silver and blue colors...

To the editor: I am a member of the Theta Xi Fraternity. I feel that recent articles about our Redman activities are completely unfair to our organization. We do not paint ourselves up with the intention of acting like Indians. The only remotely Indian thing that we do is the stomp for victory, which was referred to by the paper as an Indian dance...

The house at 1732 Delaware reminds me a lot of a box of Cracker Jacks -- the outside of the home is attractive enough, with brick and vinyl, but it's not likely to be on the cover of Architectural Digest. What's great about the house is the inside, sort of like the surprise you find inside the Cracker Jacks box...

For many people, it just wouldn't be the holiday season without a performance of "The Nutcracker," the magical ballet with so much familiar music. It is particularly popular with children who identify with the characters and the toys on stage. This year, the Cape Girardeau area has two outstanding versions of the ballet. ...

When the Cape Girardeau City Council meets Monday night, it will -- based on the agenda put together last week -- discuss the possibility of asking taxpayers for help with funding for equipment at the fire department. That discussion possibly will also extend to similar needs at the police department...

Springfield News-Leader The National Park Service is seeking public comment on a proposed rule change that would require everyone floating down the Current, Jacks Fork and Buffalo rivers in an inner tube to take along a personal floatation device. Our comment: Let the air out of this unnecessary new plan...

No doubt, digital photography is "hot," or "way cool" as my 12-year-old son would say. Seems as if a day doesn't go by that I don't read about a new digital camera, scanner, inkjet printer (or inkjet paper or ink), new digital accessories or new digital-imaging software programs...

The Associated Press BAGHDAD, Iraq -- Faced with the desertion of nearly half the new Iraqi army, the U.S. military is thinking about raising the pay scale for Iraqi soldiers as it trains more to join the force, the commander of U.S.-led coalition forces in Iraq said Saturday...

OTTAWA -- A day after he was sworn in, Prime Minister Paul Martin met Saturday with his new Cabinet and said the first order of business would be creating an independent ethics commissioner to monitor his Liberal Party government's behavior. Martin, who served nine years as finance minister for outgoing Prime Minister Jean Chretien, also rejected a call from the leftist New Democratic Party to cancel several billion dollars in planned tax cuts in order to bolster health care and other social programs.. ...

ST. LOUIS -- Pavol Demitra and Eric Nickulas scored first-period goals and Chris Osgood made 21 saves to lead the Blues past the Los Angeles Kings 2-1 Saturday night. The Blues have not lost to the Kings at home since the 2001-2002 season and are 3-0 against Los Angeles this season. St. Louis is 10-2-1-0 at home, including a 4-1 win over Los Angeles on Dec. 2. The Blues also beat the Kings 1-0 on Nov. 15 in Los Angeles...

ST. LOUIS -- Back in September, the Rams coughed up a 13-point second-half lead at Seattle and lost by one. They've never forgotten that mistake against the Seahawks, nor have they repeated it. The Rams (10-3) have won nine of 10 since that early misstep and can clinch their third NFC West championship in five years with a victory in the rematch today...

NEW ORLEANS -- Needing run production and a right fielder, the Atlanta Braves were willing to part with pitching and take a chance on J.D. Drew. The Braves acquired the oft-injured outfielder from the Cardinals along with Eli Marrero on Saturday for former first-round draft picks Jason Marquis and Adam Wainright, and reliever Ray King...

SEATTLE -- In recent years, the Gonzaga Bulldogs have shown they can compete with the top programs in the NCAA tournament. Now they're doing it in the regular season. Ronny Turiaf scored 21 of his 23 points after halftime and Blake Stepp added 14 points and 10 assists in No. 17 Gonzaga's dramatic 87-80 overtime victory over No. 3 Missouri on Saturday...

NEW YORK -- The scars, the operations, the grueling rehab. It was all worth it for Jason White. A year after knee injuries almost ended his career, White capped his comeback by receiving the greatest individual honor in college football, the Heisman Trophy...

On Dec. 17, it will be the 100th year since Wilbur and Orville Wright made their famous first powered flight. For more than half of those years, Cape Girardeau resident and staunch aviation enthusiast J.T. Seesing also took to the skies on a regular basis...

BRUSSELS, Belgium -- The European summit to forge a constitution for a united, post-Cold War Europe collapsed Saturday after leaders failed to agree on sharing power within an expanded European Union. The deal-breaker was a proposal to abandon a voting system accepted in 2000 that gave Spain and incoming EU member Poland almost as much voting power as Germany, which has a population equal to those two countries combined...

LOS ANGELES -- A 78-year-old retired schoolteacher is coming forward after years of silence to claim she is the illegitimate mixed-race daughter of the late Sen. Strom Thurmond, her attorney said Saturday. Essie Mae Washington-Williams, who lives in Los Angeles, had long been rumored to be the daughter of the one-time segregationist, who died June 26 at the age of 100. She is coming forward now at the urging and encouragement of her children, attorney Frank K. Wheaton said...

Jackson honored longtime girls basketball coach Ron Cook before Saturday's game against Cor Jesu at home. Then the Indians players put on a show of their own blowing open a low-scoring game in the second half en route to a 68-33 win. First-year head coach and longtime assistant Sam Sides said Saturday's win was Jackson's strongest game this season...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Jackson's wrestling team squared off against top teams from Missouri and Illinois at the Missouri Duals and came away third with a thrilling 37-35 dual win over Blue Springs. Jackson finished pool play 4-2. The Indians faced four top-10 finishers in Class 2 in their pool. In its first dual of the two-day tournament Jackson fell 51-21 to Granite City (Ill.)...

MEXICO CITY -- Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao sought to assure Mexican leaders that their country's economy is not threatened by China's lower wages and cheaper goods, saying the two nations are partners, not rivals. On a two-day trip that ended Saturday, Wen went before Mexico's Senate to say the countries "are not in any way rivals or competitors." Almost every Mexican industry, from traditional handicrafts to assembly-for-export plants, has complained about an influx of low-priced Chinese goods and jobs lost to lower wages in China.. ...

After hunting for days, the Iraqi physicist finally checked a long-locked attic room. There he spotted a box, coated with decades of dust, and opened it. Sure enough, it was full of reams of data -- American data -- on how to make a nuclear bomb. "In it were the Manhattan Project books and reports," Imad Khadduri recalls, referring to the U.S. program that produced America's first atomic weapons during World War II...

MOSCOW -- Russia's constitution, drafted in 1993 after a bloody rebellion against then-President Boris Yeltsin, places overwhelming powers in the hands of the president. Ten years later, there are opposition fears that the constitution could be used to increase those powers even further by extending President Vladimir Putin's time in office...

LOS OLIVOS, Calif. -- Stand at the gates of Neverland and it's hard to tell Michael Jackson's property from any of the ranches and wineries stretching up the hills of northern Santa Barbara County -- until you see the handmade signs. "Michael is the victim," reads one, a few feet from the gate. "100 percent innocent" states another. "We Support Michael."...

The Ricky Clemons saga surrounding Missouri men's basketball apparently has nothing on Southeast Missouri State University football. Both programs have been rocked with their share of dissension in recent days. But as far as Southeast athletic director Don Kaverman is concerned, what has taken place with the Indians is basically much ado about nothing...

MU drama is no surprise THIS ORDEAL with Ricky Clemons shouldn't surprise anybody. If you didn't realize college sports have gotten to this point, you've obviously had your head in the sand. Don't fool yourself and think that Mizzou isn't guilty of it. The only thing left to determine now is how harsh Mizzou's punishment will be...

A big first half basically assured Southeast Missouri State University's Indians of running their all-time record against Oakland City to 17-0. The Indians shot 62 percent to pile up a 29-point halftime lead and coasted to a 79-67 victory in front of 3,332 fans at the Show Me Center Saturday night...

Baseball Free agent Mike Cameron and the Mets reached agreement Saturday on a three-year deal for about $19 million, ending the team's search for a center fielder with outstanding defensive skills. Cameron also had been courted by San Diego and Oakland. But the Mets were more desperate for an everyday center fielder, having tried without success to fill the full-time spot since trading Jay Payton during the 2002 season...

KABUL, Afghanistan -- Delegates assembling from every corner of Afghanistan on Saturday faced tough debate in hammering out the first post-Taliban constitution, the bedrock of what Afghans hope will be a better life after years of war. Under intense security, some 500 representatives -- from village mullahs to Western-educated exiles -- must work out the role of Afghan women, Islam's place in politics and the sharing of power in a nation accustomed to fighting over it...

ORAN, Mo. -- Gary August Ritz, 51, of Bloomfield, Mo., died Friday, Dec. 12, 2003, at Missouri Southern Health Care in Dexter, Mo. Ritz was born Dec. 23, 1951, at St. Louis, son of Charles and Clara Schlosser Ritz. Ritz was a laborer at the Stoddard County Workshop...

Got any ideas for how to wrap that set of golf clubs your husband wanted for Christmas? Unsure of how to disguise the CDs or gift certificates you got for the kids? Ask the experts what to do. Scotch brand tape is sponsoring a wrapping hotline Dec. 23 and 24 to help people with their gift-wrapping dilemmas. This is the first year for the hotline, but organizers are ready for any of the questions that might come their way...

Saturday's Bill Emerson Memorial Bridge dedication may have felt like an ending, but the project's true completion will come in fall 2004. Stan Johnson, area engineer for the Missouri Department of Transportation, said that's when he estimates the last piece of the old Mississippi River bridge will be hauled off. In the meantime, there's some detail work to be done on the new one...

Cape Girardeau's new Mississippi River bridge is named for the late congressman Bill Emerson, who sang off-key in the privacy of his car but was in tune with Southeast Missouri voters during his 16 years in office. Friends and co-workers say Emerson was a down-to-earth conservative who loved gospel and patriotic music and was a student of history. He was fond of quoting the legendary British Prime Minister Winston Churchill...

From the ant's-eye view, standing on the road some 300 feet below the top of the pillar, the Bill Emerson Memorial Bridge is more powerful than pretty, more prominent than poetic. From miles away, it may appear that each white cable was carefully painted on Cape Girardeau's skyline. From up close, the canvas turns into a working man's masterpiece, a staggering sculpture of concrete and steel, the end result of thousands of ideas, decisions, calculations and drops of sweat...

The nightmare of crossing the old bridge between Cape Girardeau and Illinois was a vivid one in the mind of many area residents. "I drive 18-wheelers, and I've had to go across that old bridge in them many times," said Bill Hayden of Cape Girardeau. "It was a tight squeeze, trying to stay over as close to the guardrails as possible."...

Editor's note: U.S. Rep. Bill Emerson's chief of staff Lloyd Smith delivered this eulogy on June 27, 1996, five days after Emerson died. Marie, Jo Ann, Liz, Abby, Tori, Katharine, Mr. Speaker, Colleagues and the many friends of Bill Emerson, both here in this beautiful sanctuary and around the area, today I have the distinct honor and pleasure to share a few words about the life journey of our friend Bill Emerson. This extraordinary journey makes this day a day of celebration...

Here is the prepared text of U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Emerson's speech for the dedication Saturday of the Bill Emerson Memorial Bridge in Cape Girardeau. By Jo Ann Emerson I am so happy to be here today as we begin a new chapter in the history of Southern Missouri and Southern Illinois. Thank you all for coming...

The Rev. and Mrs. Charles J. Lance of Scott City celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary Dec. 6, 2003, at Cape First. Hosts were their daughters and sons-in-law, Virginia and Gerald McCloud and Judith Buckingham of Scott City, and Cynthia and Christian Hamelman of St. Louis...

Paul and Doris Kidd of Cape Girardeau celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary with an open house at their home Nov. 23, 2003. Hosts were a son and daughter-in-law, David and Sarah Pickens, and grandchildren, Matthew and Tara. Other children are Brian and Julie Pickens, grandchildren Adam and Kayla; and Terry Kidd. A son, Tony Kidd, is deceased...

Changing stripes THE DICTIONARY definition of conservative as quoted in Speak Out confirms that today's conservatives have thrown caution to the wind and are in large part committed to change, even radical change. Two examples would be the Republican-led gargantuan expansion of Medicare and the desire to use virtually any means necessary to make the world safe for democracy. In other words, conservatives have become liberals and vice versa...

Cape Girardeau The following items were released by the Cape Girardeau Police Department. Arrests do not imply guilt. DWIs A suspect was taken into custody Friday pending filing of charges for driving while intoxicated, driving while restricted, leaving the scene of an accident, trespassing, property damage, driving without headlights and fleeing detention...

WICHITA, Kan. -- While some people's ovens are full of cookies this time of year, Rita Igo of Wichita is baking faces. Santa faces, to be exact. When Igo received a Christmas ornament that was a Santa head a few years ago, she was appreciative but immediately thought, "I can do better."...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- While a new state law lengthened the current terms for five of the six members of the State Highways and Transportation Commission, the Missouri Constitution generally forbids extending the terms of public officers. The extensions resulted from a last-minute overhaul of legislation intended to improve accountability at the Department of Transportation...

NEW YORK -- As bad as this year's flu season is, it hasn't brought the worldwide outbreak known as a pandemic. But experts warn that a pandemic is coming, it's just a question of when. "It's going to happen," said Dr. Greg Poland of the Mayo Clinic. "For the American public in particular, I think it will be horrific."...

Country star Rogers to play Jamaica festival KINGSTON, Jamaica -- Country singer Kenny Rogers will be one of the headliners for the Air Jamaica Jazz Festival and will perform on a night honoring late country legend Johnny Cash. Rogers, 65, best known for songs including "Lady" and "The Gambler," will appear on the second night of the festival, to be held Jan. 22 to 25 in Montego Bay. Cash, who owned a home in Montego Bay, died in Tennessee in September at age 71...

ST. LOUIS -- To the strains of a Shania Twain love song, Tina Dutzel walked down the short aisle of a hospital chapel Friday evening wearing a white strapless dress with a flowing train. She was greeted by the love of her life, Michael Riley, dressed in a tuxedo but wearing a surgical mask to protect his immune system...

"It will help the tourism industry. It will make people feel safer crossing the bridge." -- Vicki Schreiber, Cape Girardeau "It will make it a lot easier to cross the Mississippi. A lot of people think it's scary to cross the skinny bridge." -- Carla Anderson, Cobden, Ill....

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- Former point guard Ricky Clemons said allegations that he received illegal payments and academic help during his career at Missouri have not changed his feelings for coach Quin Snyder, who Clemons says is like a father to him. "I trust him," Clemons told the Columbia Daily Tribune in Saturday's editions. "Coach, he's like my dad forever. I'm like a son to him."...

Cape Girardeau Firefighters responded Friday to the following items: At 5:54 p.m., a request for medical assistance at 124 S. Lorimier, Apt. 3. At 5:56 p.m., a natural gas odor at 2136 William. At 10:30 p.m., a smoke odor at 2030 Allen. At 10:45 p.m., a carbon monoxide alarm at 3130 Westfield...

Mr. and Mrs. H. Keith Ruesler of Jackson announce the engagement of their daughter, Leah Ann Ruesler, to Bradley Joseph Lappe. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Robert J. Lappe of Cape Girardeau. Ruesler is a 2000 graduate of Jackson High School. She is a teacher at Christian School for the Young Years in Cape Girardeau...

Jan and Paula Parker of Jackson announce the engagement of their daughter, Heidi Elizabeth Ridings, to Sean Lee Adams. He is the son of Roger and Connie Adams of Jackson. Ridings is a 2000 graduate of Jackson High School. She expects to receive a degree in elementary education from Southeast Missouri State University in May 2004...

THEBES, Ill. -- Stacy Kennedy of Thebes announces the engagement of her daughter, Roberta Skaggs, to Christopher Miller. He is the son of Sidney and Cora Miller of Olive Branch, Ill. Skaggs is a 2002 graduate of Egyptian High School in Tamms, Ill. She is employed at Hardee's in Cape Girardeau...

Ginger Anderson and Rodney Weir of Cape Girardeau announce the engagement of their daughter, Hannah Jean Weir, to John Steven Gandt. He is the son of Donald and Virginia Gandt of Bloomfield, Mo. Weir is majoring in education at Southeast Missouri State University. She is a teller at First National Bank...

JONESBORO, Ill. --Duane Barker, 69, of Georgetown, Ill., formerly of Anna, Ill. died Friday, Dec. 12, 2003, at his residence. He was born May 1, 1934 at Anna, son of Raymond and Birdie Rendleman Barker. He and Celia Purcell were married Feb. 16, 1955, at Jonesboro...

Howardville, MO. -- JAMES FARR JR., 73, DIED FRIDAY, DEC. 12, 2003, AT HIS HOME. HE WAS BORN JUNE 13, 1930, AT ESSEX, SON OF THE LATE JAMES SR. AND MARY FARR. FARR WAS A RETIRED FARM WORKER. HE WAS A MEMBER OF THE PILGRIM REST MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH...

Patsy R. Parsons-Pullig, 61, of Jackson died Saturday, Dec. 13, 2003, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. She was born June 2, 1942, at Cape Girardeau, daughter of Joe and Thelma Barnett Walker. She and O. Richard Pullig were married Oct. 12, 2002, at Cape Girardeau. She was previously married to Kenneth R. Parsons, on Sept. 23, 1961...

ADVANCE, Mo. -- Bobby E. Conner of Advance died Saturday, Dec. 13, 2003, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. Funeral arrangements are incomplete at this time with Morgan Funeral Home in Advance.

Lane Twitmire, 80, of Webster Groves, Mo. died Thursday, Dec. 11, 2003. She was born Aug. 23, 1923, daughter of the late George and Grace Hughes Lane. Survivors include two daughters; Mary Kunce of Maplewood, Mo., and Ann Mowery of Gordonville; and five grandchildren...

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- Loretta R. Bohnert, 79, of Perryville died Friday, Dec. 12, 2003, at Missouri Baptist Hospital in Perryville. She was born March 30, 1924, daughter of Harry and Hilda Holtermann Tackaberry. She and Melbourne Bohnert Sr., were married May 2, 1942, at Perryville...

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- James Roger Moore, known to his family as Roger, was born in Bedford, Ind., on Dec. 8, 1926, the son of Judge Roscoe D. and Mildred Moore. He died on Dec. 13, 2003, at the age of 77. He was preceded in death by a brother, Charles, and a sister, Ruth (Robert) Flentge. He was married to Nancy Bierk on May 22, 1949...

10 years ago: Dec. 14, 1993 Southeast Missouri State University Foundation and University of Missouri have rescinded policies barring investment in corporations doing business in South Africa; policy changes stem from the dismantling of apartheid in South Africa...

Standard Democrat LILBOURN, Mo. -- A body was discovered Saturday in the ashes of New Madrid County business. Firefighters responded to a fire Friday night at Twitty Farm Equipment in Lilbourn and fought the blaze until after 3 a.m. Saturday. The body was discovered when fire officials were sifting through the building's remains...

BENTON, Mo. -- Becky Hennings and Ryan Wooldridge were married May 31, 2003, in Omaha, Neb. Joel and Rita Hennings of Omaha are parents of the bride. The groom is the son of Mary Urhahn of Benton and Ron Wooldridge of Chaffee, Mo. Maid of honor was Kim Hennings, sister of the bride. Bridesmaids were Wendy Cooper, sister of the groom; Lindsey Gardner, Carrie Little and Sarah Henry...

Bradley and Tina Graham of Cape Girardeau announce the engagement of their daughter, Jill J. Jungers, to Joshua M. LeGrand. He is the son of David and Diane LeGrand of Cape Girardeau. Jungers is a 1996 graduate of Central High School. She is pursuing a degree in anthropology from Southeast Missouri State University. She is employed at Royal N'Orleans Restaurant and Pier 1 Imports...

ALTENBURG, Mo. -- Sacred Heart Catholic Church in St. Louis was the setting Aug. 23, 2003, for the wedding of Jennifer Starek and Eric Danker. The Rev. Robert Rosebrough performed the ceremony. The bride is the daughter of Steven Starek and Kathleen Moore of St. Louis. The groom is the son of David and Rosetta Danker of Altenburg...

KELSO, Mo. -- St. Augustine Catholic Church was the setting June 14, 2003, for the wedding of Amy Beth Essner and Ryan Alan Mattes. The Rev. M. Oliver Clavin performed the ceremony. Organist was Karen Seiler of Benton, Mo. Vocalists were Teresa Givens of Cape Girardeau and Roger Seyer of Weehawken, N.J...

Erin Nichole Wehr and Darrin James Whaley exchanged vows July 5, 2003, at St. Mary Catholic Church in Ireland, Ind. The Rev. Don Ackerman performed the ceremony. Lectors were Brett Stenftenagel of Jasper, Ind., uncle of the bride, and Wanda Lorenz of Jackson, aunt of the groom. Sister Mary Louise was organist, and vocalists were Tracey Burke and Kevin Manley...

CHAFFEE, Mo. -- Cheryl Jackson and Ron Pruett exchanged vows Nov. 8, 2003, at the General Baptist Church in Chaffee. The Revs. Keith Price and Bob Murry performed the ceremony. Pianist and soloist was Deborah Lancaster of Delta, sister of the bride...

Patricia Svedberg and Craig Cosgrove exchanged vows Sept. 6, 2003, at Maryvale Castle in Brooklandville, Md. The Rev. Robert Deifel performed the ceremony. The bride is the daughter of Rolf and Gunnel Svedberg of Cape Girardeau. The groom is the son of Martin and Sandra Cosgrove of Waldorf, Md...

Amy Marie Green and Chad D. Barks were married July 5, 2003, at New Salem Baptist Church in Marble Hill, Mo. The Rev. Dan Tankersley and Ronnie Mouser performed the ceremony. Flutist was Gretchen Probst of Cape Girardeau, sister-in-law of the groom. Guitarist and soloist was Jared Rouggly of Jackson...

Amanda Rose Detring and Brian Christopher Bonfanti were married July 19, 2003, at Grace United Methodist Church in Cape Girardeau. The Rev. John Rice and the Rev. Richard Hanneke performed the ceremony. Pianist was Laura Bollinger, and soloist was Jane Oehl of Jackson...

Part 2 of a 2-part series By Trudy Lee director of planned giving Southeast Missouri State University Foundation If you're like most people, you do your major giving toward the end of the year. This probably occurs for several reasons. The closing of the tax season encourages itemizers to obtain income tax deductions; a barrage of earnest appeals by nonprofits increases awareness of financial need; and many are simply predisposed to end the year by making a charitable gift...

By Francis Ivanovich senior technician I.T. WerX Cape Girardeau The past 20 years have seen a personal computer placed on nearly every business desktop, and each of these eventually requires replacement. Properly maintained hardware should have a useful life of three to five years. Beyond this, maintenance costs increase exponentially due to normal wear and the scarcity of backwardly-compatible components...

Over the Thanksgiving weekend, area stores were packed with serious buyers as the start of the Christmas shopping season officially kicked off. Retailers are expecting their most profitable holiday season in four years. The Washington-based National Retail Federation predicts total holiday sales to be up 5.7 percent to $217.4 billion from last year. That compares with a modest 2.2 percent increase in 2002...

By Joe Driskill director Department of Economic Development Jefferson City We have been tracking economic trends and data very closely both on the national level and here in Missouri, and we continue to see strong signs of the economy making a resurgence...

Looking for a way to make permanent life insurance a more affordable and valuable financial security and estate conservation tool for your family? Try sharing -- both premium payments and certain rights to the policy -- through private split dollar life insurance arrangements. Many individuals have to their advantage...

The weather is cooling, the leaves have turned and gone. So what is the question on everyone's minds? Where is the best beach? Finding the best beach for yourself is not as simple as it may sound. Each destination is different and unique. So here are some quick questions to ask yourself...

There is a lot of information concerning customer service, professional dress and even telephone etiquette for the workplace. There is little information concerning basic workplace etiquette. Workplace etiquette for some of us is just old-fashioned professionalism and manners, right? I thought some of us might need a quick reminder or two...