Stories from Saturday, January 10, 2004

WASHINGTON -- Pentagon lawyers have determined that Saddam Hussein has been a prisoner of war since American forces captured him on Dec. 13, a Defense Department spokesman said Friday. Despite that determination, top press aides to Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld were grappling Friday with what to say publicly about the issue. A senior defense official who insisted he not be named said Saddam's legal status was still under review...

WASHINGTON -- The possibility of a terrorist attack has diminished enough to reduce the nation's terror alert, Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge said Friday, but he warned the threat was not over. "Critical resources and locales" will remain on heightened alert, and there still is concern about al-Qaida's interest in using commercial planes to mount an attack, Ridge said...

WASHINGTON -- The Supreme Court agreed Friday to hear the case of a U.S.-born man captured during fighting in Afghanistan and held without charges, the latest setback for the Bush administration and its assertion of broad new powers to prosecute the war on terrorism...

Suspected kidnapper won't stand trial SALT LAKE CITY -- The homeless woman arrested along with her religious-zealot husband on charges of kidnapping teenager Elizabeth Smart was ruled incompetent to stand trial Friday and was committed to a mental hospital. ...

FBI to help investigate attack in Guatemala GUATEMALA CITY -- The FBI is sending a team to Guatemala to help investigate an attack on a busload of American Mormon tourists that killed a man from Utah, the U.S. Embassy said Friday. Thirteen members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints were headed from the mountain city of Quetzaltenango to the Mexican border on Wednesday when five men with automatic weapons opened fire. ...

Cape Girardeau The following items were released by the Cape Girardeau Police Department. Arrests do not imply guilt. Arrests Corrine S. White, 24, of 509 S. West End Blvd., Cape Girardeau, was arrested Thursday on a Cape Girardeau warrant for failure to appear...

Cape Girardeau County Sheriff's Department The following items were released by the Cape Girardeau County Sheriff's Department. Arrests do not imply guilt. DWIs Karl F. Gokenbach, 20, of Potosi, Mo., was arrested Tuesday on suspicion of driving while intoxicated...

Cape Girardeau Firefighters responded to the following item Wednesday: At 7:11 p.m., a medical assist at 3003 Themis. Firefighters responded to the following items Thursday: At 9:59 a.m., a smoke scare at 2811 Wintergreen. At 10:43 a.m., an alarm at 211 St. Francis...

The (Cedar Rapids, Iowa) Gazette America's beef supply should be the world's safest, and, ironically, it will be made safer because of the first U.S. case of mad cow disease. As cattle producers, meatpackers and the U.S. Department of Agriculture scramble to shore up consumer confidence at home and abroad, the nation's mad-cow testing program is coming under the microscope, and rightfully so...

When it was a lounge serving liquor during the 1990s, the Taste compiled a history of violent incidents on Good Hope Street, including a melee pitting police officers against people who were leaving the Taste at closing time. Because of the continuing problems, the Cape Girardeau City Council pulled the Taste's liquor license in 2001, and owner Michael Pryor closed the doors...

San Jose (Calif.) Mercury News From upholding the death penalty to narrowing the Fourth Amendment protections against illegal searches, Supreme Court Chief Justice William Rehnquist has long championed the interests of law enforcement. So Congress should listen hard to his warning that it has gone too far in forcing judges to impose long and harsh sentences...

Imagine that alongside Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, your New Testament includes a fifth Gospel where "seven Powers of Wrath" interrogate the human soul, accusing it of being a "human-killer" and "space-conqueror." And how about a Jesus who says "matter gave birth to a passion which has no Image" and that "there is no such thing as sin"?...

The last thing Southeast Missouri State University women's coach B.J. Smith wanted was for his team to immediately fall behind in the Ohio Valley Conference race. But that's what has happened after the Otahkians dropped Thursday's OVC opener to visiting Austin Peay 64-54...

To the editor: We wish to thank Westfield Shoppingtown for allowing us to set up the Tree of Lights and for allowing the Tree of Lights kickoff to take place there. We also wish to thank all the stores that allowed our kettle workers to ring outside their locations; the groups, stores, companies and individuals that donated food items and toys; volunteers for assisting in raising funds by ringing bells; and the groups and individuals who contributed by putting money in the kettles and sending donations.. ...

To the editor: For the past year I have been the victim of thieves who came into possession of checks from an account closed in 1998. The thieves used these checks at restaurants in Cape Girardeau, Sikeston and Farmington. One restaurant in Cape Girardeau accepted a check with the signature printed...

WASHINGTON -- Adobe Systems Inc. acknowledged on Friday it quietly added technology to the world's best-known graphics software at the request of government regulators and international bankers to prevent consumers from making copies of the world's major currencies...

WASHINGTON -- The nation's unemployment rate dropped to 5.7 percent in December, the lowest level in 14 months, as frustrated jobseekers gave up their searches with hiring at a near standstill. The anemic report, released Friday by the Labor Department, raised new fears about the strength of an economic recovery that is producing so few new U.S. jobs. Businesses overall added just 1,000 new American jobs last month, the department reported, far fewer than economists had expected...

Last year, a historical World War II ship brought 6,000 people to Cape Girardeau's riverfront. This year, Convention and Visitors Bureau director Chuck Martin hopes a luxury yacht offering Mississippi River cruises will enjoy similar tourism success...

Southeast Missouri State University's Indians squandered their chance to start Ohio Valley Conference play with a bang, thanks to Thursday's 52-48 home loss to defending champion and preseason favorite Austin Peay. But the Indians (7-5, 0-1) know it's important for them to salvage at least something out of their opening conference homestand, making tonight's 7:30 game against Tennessee Tech (6-6, 0-1) vital...

By Don Soifer The federal No Child Left Behind Act enters its terrible twos this week, and already the tantrums have begun. Signed by President Bush in January 2001, this massive education reform has resulted in much criticism from entrenched teachers unions, enemies of the Bush administration and even some skeptical conservatives. ...

NEW YORK -- Flamboyant fashionista Steven Cojocaru is leaving People magazine after a decade to focus on his television career. The magazine's West Coast style editor, who regularly appears on the "Today" show and "Entertainment Tonight" to discuss the latest trends, is developing a talk show with Paramount The 41-year-old -- known for his stick-straight highlighted hair, denim-and-fur wardrobe and outrageous sense of humor -- made his name as a fixture at red-carpet events...

Anne Hjelle was bicycling along a wilderness trail when a mountain lion sprang from the brush, pounced on her back and dragged her off by the head as fellow bikers threw rocks at the animal and tried to pull her away. The cougar finally ran off, leaving Hjelle -- a former Marine who works as a fitness instructor -- bloody and near death...

HOUSTON -- A judge moved ahead with trial plans for the wife of former Enron finance chief Andrew Fastow after a Friday deadline for her to accept his conditions on a plea deal passed with no word from her attorneys. Without a deal for Lea Fastow, a separate plea agreement for Andrew Fastow seemed unlikely. ...

ATHENS, Greece -- Saddam is behind bars. Libya is shedding its outlaw image. India and Pakistan resumed air links Friday as part of peace overtures. Syria is warming to U.S. ally Turkey and there's talk in Israel of opening a dialogue with Damascus and Tripoli...

PARIS -- Libya signed a $170 million compensation accord Friday with families of people who died in the 1989 bombing of a French jetliner, its latest overture to the West after decades as an international pariah. As about 20 relatives of victims sat quietly nearby, their top negotiator and the director of a foundation run by the son of Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi signed the deal at a Paris law office...

TALLINN, Estonia -- Estonian prosecutors said Friday they have launched an investigation into whether an 80-year-old former U.S. resident took part in the massacre of 3,000 Jews during World War II. Michael Gorshkow, formerly of Panama City, Fla., returned to Estonia in 2002 just before a federal court stripped him of his U.S. citizenship for lying about his war record...

BAQOUBA, Iraq -- An explosion ripped through worshippers streaming from a Shiite mosque Friday, killing five people and wounding dozens, and police defused a car bomb outside another nearby mosque. The apparently coordinated attacks came amid rising tensions between Shiite and Sunni Muslims following the collapse of Saddam Hussein's regime...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- A school district superintendent convicted of stealing school money lost his teaching and administrative licenses Friday. The state Board of Education took a voice vote, without discussion, to revoke the license of Brian Kirk, a former superintendent of the Osage County School District in Linn. He led the district from 1992 to 2001...

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Richard Montgomery, a cancer stricken Kansas City man who turned his chance to receive a gift from the Elves of Christmas Present into an opportunity to give instead, has died. He was 20. "Richard's sharing heart touched off a ripple that we can't know the full effects of yet," said one man who worked with him on a Christmas Eve project for the Elves of Christmas Present...

FOXBORO, Mass. -- Break out the parkas and hand-warmers: The NFL playoffs are returning to Foxboro. Two years after the snow-covered "Tuck Rule" game helped propel New England to the Super Bowl title, the Patriots will host another prime time postseason game...

Perry County man charged with sex crimes PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- Bradley L. Doll, 28, of 2387 Perry County Road 928 was charged Thursday with felony counts of statutory sodomy, incest and child molestation. A deputy served the arrest warrant at Doll's home Thursday evening. He remains in custody on a $100,000 cash-only bond...

To the editor: My grandfather was Clyde Vandivort. I believe he was treasurer of the commission that built the old Mississippi River bridge in Cape Girardeau. I grew up coming home over that bridge from the many places my parents lived. As a child, I viewed it as my granddaddy's bridge as if he had personally erected it rivet by rivet -- a miracle of achievement, a marvel to behold...

ORAN, Mo. -- H.F. "Jim" Clare, 90, of Oran died Thursday, Jan. 8, 2004, at his home. He was born Sept. 16, 1913, in Montgomery City, Mo., son of John Sallee and Julia Augusta See Clare. He and Hazel Phillips were married March 23, 1935. She died Sept. 11, 1975. He later married Mary Elizabeth McElyea Sept. 15, 1980...

ZALMA, Mo. -- Freeda Leona Gaines, 85, of East Alton, Ill., died Thursday, Jan. 8, 2004, at Eldercare of Alton, Ill. She was born Dec. 30, 1918, at Zalma, daughter of Jasper and Mattie Whitenburg Rea. She and Noah William Gaines were married Aug. 29, 1942, in East Alton, Ill. He died May 13, 2002...

PERRYVILLE, Mo. In the same location where she prayed for a sense of energy and enthusiasm to wash over the area's Catholic youth, Cathy Peirick will gather with dozens of others Sunday for the kickoff of a new youth Mass. The Vincentian Marian Youth is an international association of youth and young adults first formed in the 1830s that gives young Catholics a chance to grow in their faith and form new friendships. ...

At 5 feet 11 inches and 155 pounds, Central senior Ryan Delph is not physically imposing. But when Delph laces up his shoes and hits the court for the Tigers' boys basketball team, he displays all the physical attributes of an all-district guard. Delph's speed, agility and leaping ability helped him score nearly 15 points a game last season, making him one of the top guards in Southeast Missouri...

ST. LOUIS -- Marciano Garcia fears he might be one of a dying breed: the old-time barber who cuts hair with clippers, gives shaves with a straight razor and maintains a supply of men's magazines for his customers. "Out of this chair, I raised six kids," said Garcia, 64...

SALT LAKE CITY -- Guns in the house of God? Unsurprisingly, clergy in Utah aren't fond of the idea. But nearly four dozen leaders of Utah churches and synagogues say they also don't want to be forced to have a notice posted on a state-run Web site that announces they've placed a ban on firearms in their church buildings...

FRUITLAND -- Inside the Fruitland livestock auction barn Thursday night, the usual sounds of cattle lowing and horses neighing were replaced by a band playing music you'd expect to hear in a honky-tonk -- steel guitars and a Western twang. But the songs weren't about rodeos or getting your heart broken. They were Sunday morning songs like "Amazing Grace" and "Power in the Blood."...

Associated Press ST. LOUIS -- Second baseman Marlon Anderson reached a preliminary agreement with the St. Louis Cardinals on a $600,000, one-year contract, and the team announced it has agreed to terms with free agent right-hander Julian Tavarez. Veteran outfielder Ray Lankford -- a former Cardinal -- also has signed a minor-league deal with an invitation to spring training...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Gov. Bob Holden told the state Board of Education on Friday that he supports the more than 240 school districts that filed a lawsuit this week challenging the state's school funding formula. Holden, a Democrat, said lawmakers left districts with no choice but to go to court because they have not sufficiently funded education...

Nearly half of Missouri's 524 school districts have joined a lawsuit against the state's funding system, but Cape Girardeau public school officials are worried the suit may hurt their district. The Cape Girardeau School District is the only K-12 school district in Cape Girardeau, Bollinger and Scott counties that hasn't joined the Committee for Educational Equality, a group challenging the equity and adequacy of the state's current method of funding public education...

ST. LOUIS -- Kyle Turley's frown warns everyone not to go there. Too late -- someone has mentioned that hated word in St. Louis. Finesse. Turley, the rugged right tackle in his first year with the Rams after five seasons in New Orleans, knew it was coming. ...

BEIJING -- Last year, when what would become SARS first appeared, you couldn't pry information loose from China's secretive government. Now, as the virus edges back into the spotlight, the country's leadership has a different message: Operators are standing by...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- State health officials are cautiously optimistic that the worst of Missouri's flu season may be coming to an end, citing a significant decline in the number of new flu cases recently reported. "Missouri is still seeing record numbers of flu cases," Dick Dunn, director of the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, said Friday. "However, the numbers of cases reported for the past two weeks have begun to decline."...

The city of Cape Girardeau could stockpile $450,000 in motel and restaurant tax money over a seven-month period for tourism and economic development projects after it pays off bonds this spring that have financed improvements in Shawnee and Osage parks...

WASHINGTON -- While state officials nationwide say they need more money to educate children, newly released figures show states are returning millions to the federal Treasury rather than spending it. Last year, states returned $124 million to Washington that was to have gone toward large education programs such as special education and aid to poor children, according to Education Department data...

The Jackson girls basketball team put up a valiant effort, but their comeback bid fell short against St. Joseph's. The Angels used tough defense in the first half to pull out a 56-48 victory in front of a near capacity crowd in the old Jackson gymnasium...

Ever wonder why things are called what they are? Why are some flying insects called wasps and others bees? Why are some animals called cows and others horses? Why are newspapers titled with names such as Chronicle, Journal or Courier? Why is this column titled "Good Thinking?"...

OLYMPIA, Wash. -- Foiled again, and again, and again. Chris Kirk returned to his apartment in Olympia and found everything in it covered with foil. The walls, ceiling and cabinets were covered. Each CD was wrapped, as was all his spare change. Even Kirk's toilet paper was unrolled and wrapped in foil. ...

ORAN, Mo. -- Clark Dale "Corky" Duke, 64, of Oran died Friday, Jan. 9, 2004, at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston, Mo. He was born Feb. 8, 1939, in East Prairie, Mo., son of George Emeriel and Etta May Roberts Duke. He and Russell Ann "Rusty" Hatfield were married Dec. 20, 1969, in Sikeston...

CHAFFEE, Mo. -- William Daugherty, 71, of Chaffee died Friday, Jan. 9, 2004, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. Amick-Burnett Funeral Chapel in Chaffee is in charge of arrangements.

Roy Lee Huffman, 58, of Jackson died Friday, Jan. 9, 2004, at his home. Friends may call from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday, at King Lynk Funeral Home in Fort Madison, Iowa. Funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday at the Denmark Congregational United Church of Christ in Denmark, Iowa, with the Rev. Daniel Moore officiating. Burial will be in Denmark Cemetery...

SIKESTON, Mo. -- Molene V. Childers, 85, of Sikeston died Friday, Jan. 9, 2004, at Missouri Delta Medical Center. She was born Feb. 1, 1918, in Unity, Ill., daughter of Thomas and Phoebe Ann Phillips Hagler. She and Orville Glenn Childers were married June 26, 1937, at Charleston, Mo. He died Oct. 24, 1996...

UNITY, Ill. -- Gertie Mae Smith, 84, of Unity died Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2004, at St. James Hospital in Chicago Heights, Ill. She was born Nov. 19, 1919, in Palestine, Ark., daughter of Marcus and Nancy Watkins Rogers Sr. She and Sellie S. Smith were married Feb. 28, 1937. He died March 13, 2002...

GRASSY, Mo. -- William Norman Leinger, 74, of Grassy died Thursday, Jan. 8, 2004, at Missouri Veterans Home in Cape Girardeau. He was born June 3, 1929, in St. Louis, son of Eugene and Mamie Strubelt Leinger. Leinger had been a boilermaker with Combustion Engineering...

MARBLE HILL, Mo. -- George H. Statler, 90, of Marble Hill died Friday, Jan. 9, 2004, at his home. He was born Dec. 8, 1913, near Sedgewickville, Mo., son of Joseph and Mary Statler. He and Ethel M. Eaker were married Sept. 7, 1940, near Lutesville, Mo...

Velma C. Surgant, 69, formerly of Scott City, died Thursday, Jan. 8, 2004. She was born April 23, 1934, in Scott City. Visitation will be at 9:30 a.m. Monday at Kutis South County Chapel in St. Louis, Mo. The funeral will follow at 1:30 p.m. Burial will be in National Cemetery...

10 years ago: Jan. 10, 1994 Narvol A. Randol Jr. is presented Distinguished Service Award and Cord Polen is named Boss of Year during Cape Girardeau Jaycees Distinguished Service Award banquet. With only news media representatives and several county officeholders in attendance, Cape Girardeau County Commission approves its 1994 budget...

Cowell Son to Luke Henry Cowell and Danielle Jean Waites of Jackson, Southeast Missouri Hospital, 8:15 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 3, 2004. Name, Elliot William. Weight, 8 pounds 7 1/2 ounces. Ms. Waites is the daughter of Daniel Waites of Marble Hill, Mo. She is employed by Nip Kelley Companies. Cowell is the son of Anthony and Manota Cowell of Marble Hill. He is employed by Physical Enhancement Group...

Show concern GOOD LUCK to the fire department in getting a tax passed. It is about time we show concern for the people who are there for our safety and not about saving a few dollars come tax time. Stolen decorations THE THIEVES won out. The people on Missouri and Dunklin streets are no longer going to put up Christmas decorations. ...

Baseball Don Zimmer is happy to be back in baseball -- if not the dugout -- after leaving the New York Yankees because of a strained relationship with owner George Steinbrenner. Zimmer was hired Friday as an adviser by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, who will have him in uniform as a coach for spring training and pregame workouts at home games and on select road trips during the regular season...

SundayThe Rev. Damon Thompson will be guest speaker at Christ Church of the Heartland through Wednesday. Service is at 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. Weekday services are at 7 p.m. nightly. TuesdayPresentation by the Rev. Oscar Lukerfahr at 7 p.m. in the Seton meeting room at St. Vincent de Paul parish in Perryville. Lukefahr will speak about his new book on the Mass. For registration information, phone (573) 547-4591, extension 204...

Trinity Lutheran Church plans German service for Jan. 25 Trinity Lutheran Church is planning a German service Jan. 25 to mark the church's 150th anniversary. The service will include Old World customs when men sat on one side of the church and women on the other. There will be a catered German dinner and a band. The guest pastor is the Rev. Mark Gerken...

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- After winning 11 straight games and climbing to a No. 4 ranking in Class 5, Jackson's boys basketball team lost its second straight game Friday night in a 69-41 rout against district-rival Poplar Bluff. "For some reason the last couple of games we haven't shot with as much confidence as we did in the Christmas Tournament," Jackson coach Mike Kiehne said...