Stories from Monday, December 22, 2003

This was something new even for Bill Parcells. He is used to making the playoffs in his second season with a team. He's always done it. This time, he did it in his first year with the Dallas Cowboys, clinching their first postseason spot since 1998...

OLIVEBRANCH, Ill. -- Taylor Coursey, 92, of Olive Branch died Sunday, Dec. 21, 2003, at the Lutheran Home in Cape Girardeau. Funeral arrangements are incomplete with the Jones Funeral Home in Tamms, Ill.

Edna Mae Allen, 91, of Jackson died Sunday, Dec. 21, 2003, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. She was born Oct. 9, 1912, at Gordonville, daughter of Otto and Lillie Harmon Miller. She and Cleo Allen were married on Aug. 5, 1946, at Jackson. He died Oct. 26, 1967...

SIKESTON, Mo. -- Ruby Pauline Jones, 77, of Crowder, Mo., died Saturday, Dec. 20, 2003, at DeSoto Baptist Memorial Hospital in Horn Lake, Miss. She was born Aug. 18, 1926, at Greenfield, Tenn., daughter of the late Ezra and Irene Robinson Cantrell. She and William Jones were married Jan. 11, 1945, at St. Louis. He died April 16, 1995...

CAIRO, Ill. -- Donnie Doublin, 63, of Cairo, died Saturday, Dec. 20, 2003, at Mount Vernon, Ill. He was born July 10, 1940, at Blandville, Ky., son of the late Shelton and Louise Barrow Doublin. He was married to Margaret Doublin. Doublin was a retired security guard at Bunge, Corp. in Cairo. He was a member of the Baptist faith...

ORAN, Mo. -- Evelyn Dirnberger, 86, of Oran died Sunday, Dec. 21, 2003, at Chaffee Nursing Center in Chaffee, Mo. She was born Nov. 2, 1917, at Oran, daughter of the late John and Elsie Alsup Sietman. She and Arthur Dirnberger were married Feb. 3, 1937. He died May 11, 1992...

Betty Davis, 63, of Cape Girardeau, died Saturday, Dec. 20, 2003, at Heartland Care and Rehabilitation in Cape Girardeau. Arrangements are pending with Ford and Sons Funeral Home.

10 years ago: Dec. 22, 1993 Although the December tax check wasn't quite as much as county officials had projected, Cape Girardeau County Auditor H. Weldon Macke is more than pleased with sales tax growth in 1993. Lenore Bierman has delayed her retirement as dean of College of Education at Southeast Missouri State University, as school continues its more-than-year-long search for new dean...

Cape Girardeau Firefighters responded Saturday to the following items: At 3:57 p.m., a request for medical assistance at 227 N. Middle. At 6:06 p.m., a request for medical assistance at 900 Normal. At 9:04 p.m., a request for medical assistance at 1120 N. Sprigg...

Cape Girardeau The following items were released by the Cape Girardeau Police Department. Arrests do not imply guilt. Arrests David Hunt, 21, 235 Lorimier, Apt. 1, Cape Girardeau, was arrested Saturday on a Cape Girardeau warrant for failure to appear...

The Southeast Missouri Area Agency on Aging, in cooperation with the Missouri Deparment of Revenue, will conduct training for volunteers to help fill out Missouri Property Tax Credit forms. This program, known as the Circuit Breaker program, offers eligible individuals a rebate for property tax or rent paid. ...

WASHINGTON -- Amid rising consumer confidence, President Bush gets good marks for his handling of the economy from a clear majority of voters for the first time in more than a year, an Associated Press poll finds. Many offered only qualified support, however...

WASHINGTON -- The logic is simple: If the arrest of Saddam Hussein takes the punch out of the Iraqi insurgency, security should improve. If security improves, more U.S. troops should come home. No one can reliably predict how long it will take the U.S. military to unravel fully the network of insurgents, even with new information gleaned from the capture of the ousted Iraqi leader. Also, the Pentagon does not want to raise early hopes of a U.S. troop withdrawal...

WASHINGTON -- The White House portrayed Libya's promise to abandon weapons of mass destruction programs as affirmation of President Bush's hard-line strategy on arms proliferation and suggested the U.S.-led war in Iraq helped convince Moammar Gadhafi that he should act...

Barbara Jean Bowen, 63, of Millersville died Sunday, Dec. 21, 2003, at Jackson Manor. She was born Dec. 15, 1940, at Cape Girardeau, daughter of Ernest and Helen Bowers Mayberry. She and Ed Bowen were married Nov. 19, 1992. Survivors include her parents; her husband; four stepsons, Arnold Bowen of Millersville, Lewis Bowen of Marston, Mo., Larry Bowen of Jackson and Bobby Bowen of West Plains, Mo.; three stepdaughters, Shirley Rhynes of Jackson, Betty Gracyus of Summit, Ill., and Joy Hill of Cape Girardeau; five brothers, Ronnie Mayberry of Perryville, Mo., Donnie Mayberry of Jackson, Leroy and Jimmie Mayberry of Gulfport, Miss., and Steve Mayberry of Topeka, Kan.; and four sisters, Peggy Hendrix of Carbondale, Kan., Rosemary Klifel of Topeka, Kan., Janet Woods of Scott City, and Katie Mayberry of Long Beach, Miss.. ...

Ronald Nelson Schumer, 67, of Sikeston, Mo., formerly of Scott City, died Sunday, Dec. 21, 2003, at Hunter Acres Caring Center in Sikeston. He was born Feb. 14, 1936, son of the late Buford and Ruby Gaither Schumer. He and Gloria Naes were married Jan. 21, 1967, at Cape Girardeau...

Columbia Daily Tribune Of all the revelations in the [Ricky] Clemons jailhouse phone tapes, nothing besmirches [University of Missouri president Elson] Floyd except perhaps news of his inability to control his wife, a weakness well known to most husbands. ... But nowhere is there any indication Floyd knew of or condoned what she was doing. .....

EL PASO, Texas -- Mike Price has been waiting seven months to try to rebuild his coaching career. Texas-El Paso is happy to give him a chance. The Miners hired Price on Sunday despite a reputation tarnished by a night of partying at a strip club months after being hired at Alabama. The longtime Washington State coach never coached a game for the Crimson Tide and has been trying to clear his image ever since...

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- All Missouri needed to end its streak of close calls was a hot streak from Rickey Paulding and scoring help from Jason Conley. Paulding, a preseason All-America, was held scoreless until the midway point of the second half, but he scored nine points in a late run to help No. 10 Missouri beat North Carolina-Greensboro 106-98 Sunday...

WASHINGTON -- The government on Sunday raised the national threat level to orange, the second-highest, saying attacks were possible during the holidays and that threat indicators are "perhaps greater now than at any point" since Sept. 11, 2001. "Extensive and considerable protections have been or soon will be in place all across the country," Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge said at a hastily arranged news conference at department headquarters...

By Jessica Farrow I swing the car into the tiny parking spot. Before the car completely stops, Leni jumps out and makes a dash to the door. Leni and I eat out for lunch four times a week. With limited choices in Jackson, we end up eating fast food...

Cape Girardeau native and Southeast Missourian Arts & Leisure editor Sam Blackwell has been named the newspaper's managing editor. In his new role, Blackwell will work closely with the editor and oversee the journalism professionals who produce the daily Southeast Missourian. He also will serve on the newspaper's editorial board...

LAUREL, Md. -- Eugene Obermier, who takes eight pills a day for high blood pressure and other ailments, offers a dim view of the new Medicare law and its prescription drug benefit. "I think it stinks," said the 78-year-old retired automobile service manager from Maryland City who also has a bad heart. He gets prescription drugs through his wife's state health plan...

Major cities and transportation hubs around the nation increased security patrols Sunday in response to the raising of the national terror alert to its highest level in months. The heightened alert prompted heavier security at buildings ranging from nuclear plants to shopping malls, and was expected to cause delays and many of the nation's airports and border crossings...

CAIRO, Egypt -- Libya hopes to reopen relations with the West and gain lucrative oil contracts blocked by U.S. sanctions as well as reap other economic benefits by abolishing weapons of mass destruction. Under the surprise disarmament agreement by Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi, Libya would allow U.N. and U.S. inspectors to monitor its nuclear program in addition to getting rid of its arsenal, moves it believes will return the country to the good graces of the international community...

LILOAN, Philippines -- Mud and floodwaters swept away villages across the eastern Philippines on Sunday, killing at least 80 people and blocking rescue workers from reaching victims -- including entire families buried alive. Of those killed, 61 were in the hard-hit central province of Southern Leyte, according to the National Disaster Coordination Center. ...

Democratic Rep. Karen McCarthy will retire after 10 years in Congress, her hometown newspaper reported Sunday. McCarthy, 56, told The Kansas City Star she seeks tranquility. "I want to focus on balance in my life," she said. "Too often, I've put my career and helping others ahead of my own needs. I made sacrifices willingly; it was what I did best."...

NEW YORK -- The American soldier, who bears the duty of "living with and dying for a country's most fateful decisions," was named Sunday as Time magazine's Person of the Year. A Missouri soldier was one of three chosen to personify the magazine's selection on the cover...

An Oran, Mo., teen received minor injuries in a traffic accident in Scott County Saturday night, according to the Missouri State Highway Patrol. The accident occurred as 16-year-old Amanda Hurst was traveling southbound on U.S. 61. A vehicle driven by 42-year-old Ricky Kelley of Bloomfield, Mo., traveling northbound, crossed the center line, striking Hurst head on. Hurst was taken by private vehicle to Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau and Kelley received no injuries...

Dr. Elson Floyd came to the University of Missouri system last year with enthusiasm and plans for innovation. Only months after he became president of the Missouri system, he was part of public discussions about expanding the University of Missouri to include Northwest Missouri State University in Maryville, the first such expansion since 1963. And he began aggressively handling a budget crisis...

Guinea's leader expected to win boycotted race CONAKRY, Guinea -- Guinea's longtime leader Lansana Conte was expected to easily win another term as president in elections Sunday after an opposition boycott left a little-known parliamentarian as the only challenger for the post. ...

MEXICO CITY -- Police are coming down hard on drunken drivers in Mexico City this holiday season, but not on Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve. The two exempted days may seem like good news for the over indulgent, but they add a fresh layer to the controversy that has surrounded the use of checkpoints and breath tests since they were introduced in the capital in September...

Name: Ellen Haskell Lives in: Cape Girardeau Family: Husband, Rick Haskell (married 22 years); two sons, Jim Haskell, 21, a junior at UM-Rolla majoring in computer programming, and Lee Haskell, 11, a fifth-grader at Central Middle School; and my dad, Milton Ellebracht, who lives eight houses away from me...

Salvation Army baskets to be distributed today The Salvation Army has announced that Christmas baskets will be distributed from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. today. To receive the basket, bring your yellow slip or picture identification if you have lost the slip. For more information, call 335-7000...

A rufous hummingbird frequenting the feeder of Rodney and Glenda Eddleman since Oct. 12 is still arriving for meals even in late December. He was sighted at 6:45 a.m. Saturday. "He came for a drink very early and when it warmed up a little he was back. Boy, he was really drinking then," said Glenda Eddleman...

Mary Burton the philanthropist award on behalf of Westfield Shoppingtown West Park is Joyce Hunter, Westfield Shoppingtown West Park Senior Marketing Director given to an individual, organization, corporation, or foundation that best exemplifies the spirit of charitable giving. The recipient, , Mary Burton presenting the award toSoutheast Missourian...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Preparing a household budget can be a tough, time-consuming task. How much can you afford to spend on entertainment each month? How much do you have to spend on home and car payments, electricity and such? Now imagine that you aren't sure how much money you will have monthly. Suppose you expect to earn $4,000 a month but your spouse budgets for a $3,000 income...

With Christmas only a few days away, temperatures were in the 50s Sunday with sunny skies. And temperatures aren't expected to drop much, said Jon Dissauer of the KFVS12 Storm Team, which means it's unlikely Southeast Missouri will get a white Christmas. Today, the first day of winter, forecasters are calling for highs in the 50s...

Shoppers jammed the nation's malls on the last weekend before Christmas, snapping up bargains and hunting for popular toys. Merchants are counting on heavy shopping this week to meet their goals. This past weekend, business was heavy at discounters and luxury stores. ...

CHINA, Maine -- Clark Granger stands in his snowy field, looking proudly upon thousands of budding Christmas trees. At five years old, they are bigger and thicker than a typical balsam fir, and when they hit the market in two years, Granger doesn't expect to see a sad-looking Charlie Brown tree in the bunch...

PAYSON, Utah -- Presents were saved from this city's dump just in the nick of time for one 5-year-old girl left without her parents this Christmas. The gifts were placed in a black garbage bag and meant to be shipped from Utah to the girl in Eugene, Ore. However, they were mistakenly given to the garbage collectors Friday...

ST. LOUIS -- Perryville's girls basketball team won its consolation quarterfinal game in the Visitation Christmas Tournament 52-42 over Kirkwood on Sunday at Visitation Academy. Amber Hacker had 16 points and April Lorenz 15 for the Pirates (4-3), who play Parkway South at 1:30 p.m. Thursday...

For Southeast Missouri State University's Indians to have a truly merry Christmas, they know what must happen tonight. "We don't want to go into the Christmas break with a loss," junior guard Derek Winans said. That means the Indians (5-3) need to beat North Texas (4-4) in tonight's 7:30 p.m. game at the Show Me Center. It will be the first-ever meeting between the squads...

ST. LOUIS (AP) -- The science complex at the University of Missouri-St. Louis was evacuated Monday because of a chemical leak. A custodian was overcome by fumes on the first floor of Benton Hall just before 8 a.m., according to stltoday.com, the Web site for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Officials said the gas was coming from a chemical storage closet near the chemistry labs...

BUFFALO, Mo. (AP) -- A 67-year-old woman was abducted from her southeast Missouri home and taken to Dallas County in southwest Missouri, where she was attacked and left for dead, authorities said Monday. The woman, whose name was withheld, was in stable condition at a Springfield hospital after being found about 3:30 a.m. Monday at a home near Buffalo...

Jackson High School students supplied enough canned food to the Elks Christmas basket program to meet the entire need. Students and staff also participated in Adopt-A-Family and Shoe Boxes for Southeast Missourian Jackson High School students and staff participated three ways in holiday giving this year. Their support for Adopt-A-Family, the canned food drive and Shoe Boxes for Soldiers will make Christmas a little brighter locally and overseas...

ST. LOUIS -- Playing for a first-round bye and at least one playoff game at home, where they've won a franchise-record 14 in a row, was more than enough incentive for the Rams. Marshall Faulk scored two touchdowns, Torry Holt had his 10th 100-yard receiving game and Grant Wistrom tied his career best with 2 1/2 sacks as the Rams avoided a letdown a week after clinching the NFC West. In the process, they knocked the Bengals from a first-place tie in the AFC North with a 27-10 win...

SAN FRANCISCO -- After three years of fear and loathing, are investors ready to embrace the initial public offerings of seductive startups again? As they do with so many other things in modern life, lots of people are counting on Google to supply the answer...

JERUSALEM -- About a dozen reservists from the Israeli army's top commando unit declared Sunday they would no longer serve in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, reflecting growing unease with Israel's hard-fisted policy in the Palestinian areas. Thirteen reservists, including three officers, from "Sayeret Matkal" made their declaration in a letter to Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, according to Israeli media...

BAGHDAD, Iraq -- It will be the biggest American attempt to change the face of Iraq since the invasion: $18.6 billion from U.S. taxpayers for rebuilding. Yet a U.S. bureaucratic squabble is holding up the money. The aid package approved by Congress last month amounts to nearly two-thirds of Iraq's annual economic output in 2002, estimated by the World Bank at $28 billion. By summer, the pipeline of dollars is expected to turn Iraq into one of the world's largest construction sites...

San Francisco outage leaves 120,000 in dark SAN FRANCISCO -- A third of San Francisco remained without power early Sunday after fire in an electrical substation triggered a massive outage that snarled traffic and forced frenzied holiday shoppers from malls. ...

Baseball Outfielder Jay Payton and reliever Braden Looper were among 58 players dumped onto the free-agent market Sunday after their teams failed to offer them 2004 contracts. The moves further glut a market that already has been soft -- a record 210 players filed for free agency after the World Series, and just 93 have agreed to contracts. ...

BERKELEY, Mo. (AP) -- Even 12 hours later, Jonese Gray couldn't shake from her memory the image of rescue workers working frantically in the darkness to save a small, still figure. "Lord, please don't let these kids die," Gray said she prayed as she stood watching in the early morning cold...

There's a hideous picture of Ricky Clemons floating around that makes the former University of Missouri guard look like a hardened criminal. You know the one I'm talking about -- where he looks like he just crawled out of that spider hole Saddam was hiding in...

Last week, the Missouri State Highway Patrol launched the "MTAC" public safety radio channel. MTAC is a Missouri tactical channel now available to public safety-related agencies so they can communicate during emergencies where interagency communication is necessary...

Cape Girardeau County may have $265,000 less in its general revenue fund by this time next year, depending on the 2004 economy. County officials say the financial situation for next year is a cause for concern, but not a cause for panic as the county will not have to dip into its reserves and will go ahead and give its employees a 3.5 percent raise...

Bumpy roadbed I JUST crossed the new bridge this morning and had breakfast across the river. The bridge is nice, but I was surprised at how bumpy and uneven the roadbed was. For a minute I thought I was on the old bridge. Assuming the risks IT WAS interesting to watch the French and German ambassadors to the United States on CNN after Saddam Hussein was captured. ...

GENEVA -- Rahul Dewan typed "India" into the search box of an online stock photo service, hoping to find digital images of his native country. He found only three -- all of flags. Dewan then typed "Switzerland," a country smaller than his, and found 33, while "USA" returned 72...

When Thomas L. Meyer was named as the recipient of the first Lifetime Achievement Award for his accomplishments as a real estate agent, he said he was surprised. No one else was. The 200 members of the Cape Girardeau County Board of Realtors -- a group he helped start 50 years ago -- gave him a standing ovation at the board's Christmas banquet on Dec. 5...

SEMO professor receives award for teaching Dr. Bruce Domazlicky, a professor of economics at Southeast Missouri State University, has been awarded the Governor's Award for Excellence in Teaching and was expected to receive the PRIDE Award during commencement exercises last weekend. ...

By the time executive John Stropki stepped to the podium, more than 200 employees of Lincoln Electric Holdings had crowded into the company cafeteria to hear him. Hundreds more gathered in an on-site auditorium and at a Lincoln plant a few miles away to listen via closed-circuit...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) -- Mayor John Landwehr has vetoed a ban on smoking in the city's restaurants, calling the issue one of fairness. "The city ... must not burden or restrict some businesses while others of the same kind remain unaffected," Landwehr said Monday...