Stories from Thursday, April 1, 2004

April 1, 2004 Dear sir, I am forwarding this information because the person who sent it to me, Mr. Ponzi, is a good friend and does not send me junk. A little girl is going to die from a form of cancer that occasionally is fatal. She probably has six months to live. Since she will never get to kiss a boy, never get to wear a prom dress, never get to win a Nobel Prize, you owe it to her to pass this letter along. Please send it to everyone you know...

VIENNA, Austria -- OPEC will cut its production target by 4 percent, several oil ministers said Wednesday -- a move that could drive prices past the psychologically important threshold of $40 per barrel at a time when U.S. customers are already enduring high gasoline prices...

Farmers plan increased crop planting this year COLUMBIA, Mo. -- Missouri farmers reported planting more winter wheat this year and also intend to plant more soybeans, corn, cotton and rice than last year, according to the first survey of farmers' plans for the upcoming growing season. ...

10 years ago: April 1, 1994 Southeast Missouri State University Board of Regents hiked tuition Thursday and approved other fee changes while holding line on room charges for 1995 fiscal year. Five Cape Girardeau educators have been selected as first Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce Educators of the Year; honorees are Carol Reimann, Tammy Sue Brotherton, Joseph "Bud" Thompson, Marjorie Engleman and Sister Mary Ann Fischer...

DETROIT -- Kmart has taken aim at several hundred towns, cities and counties nationwide in a lawsuit that claims the communities overcharged the discount retailer millions of dollars in property taxes on stores and other facilities. Some of those being sued have agreed to settlements over the disputed tax assessments, which range in value from a few thousand to tens of thousands of dollars. ...

Rice to be asked about Clinton information WASHINGTON -- When she testifies before the commission reviewing the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, Condoleezza Rice will face pointed questions about what outgoing Clinton administration officials told her about terrorism -- and how urgently the new Bush administration regarded al-Qaida's threat. She also may face questions about her credibility. Rice may testify publicly and under oath before the 10-member panel as early as next week...

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Rosaura Navarro picked strawberries in the fields near Watsonville until she wrenched her back and leg while lifting the baskets of fruit four years ago. Back injuries are notoriously hard to diagnose, and Navarro says doctors could not pinpoint the source of her pain. Nevertheless, the 30-year-old woman she has been getting $110 a week in workers' comp instead of the $420 she made picking crops...

NEW YORK -- Wall Street edged modestly lower Wednesday, closing a turbulent quarter on a down note as the government reported weaker-than-expected growth in the manufacturing sector and OPEC signaled it would move ahead with a planned production cut...

Judge issues international warrants for Spain bombers MADRID, Spain -- A Spanish judge issued five international arrest warrants on Wednesday for suspects in the Madrid train bombings and re-arrested a released Moroccan suspect, a court official said. Another suspect identified as Otman El Gnaout was also arrested. Judge Juan del Olmo was forwarding the warrants to authorities in Britain, Morocco and France...

THE HAGUE, Netherlands -- The International Court of Justice ruled Wednesday that the United States violated the rights of 51 Mexicans on death row and ordered their cases be reviewed. The United Nations' highest judiciary, also known as the world court, was considering a suit filed by Mexico claiming 52 convicted murderers weren't given their right to assistance from their government...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Teachers could get more pay for performing extra duties, and districts would have leeway to offer bonuses for hard-to-fill jobs under legislation approved by the House passed Wednesday. The measure by Rep. Jane Cunningham, R-Chesterfield, passed the House by an announced vote of 110-24 and now moves to the Senate...

TASHKENT, Uzbekistan -- An Uzbek official said early today that a lone militant who had been holed up in a house blew himself up, ending a standoff in the Uzbek capital that has been rocked by four days of violence. The official said there had been no hostages in the house and contradicted police who claimed several assailants had taken a large number of captives...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- As the House of Representatives debated a proposed state constitutional ban on same-sex marriages on Wednesday, even some supporters questioned the need for the measure. "We are wasting a lot of time for something that doesn't even need to be brought up," said state Rep. Ed Wildberger, a St. Joseph Democrat who voted for the legislation...

Opera does not have to be intimidating, at least that is what those involved with Southeast Missouri State University's latest opera production are trying to get across. "Opera has an uphill climb from the get go," said voice professor Christopher Goeke. "I'm hoping to get the word out that it's accessible."...

It's hard to believe that anyone could miss a day filled with the clamor of 18 boisterous 2-year-olds. But Sharon Goff is afraid that her time of negotiating a balance between play time and nap time for the toddlers is nearing an end. Even worse, she's worried about where they will go...

STILLWATER, Okla. -- Southeast Missouri State University pitcher Ryan Forsyth graduated from Edmond (Okla.) Memorial High School, less than an hour's drive from Oklahoma State. He was not recruited by the Cowboys, and decided to make a statement to them Wednesday at Allie P. Reynolds Stadium. The junior right-hander gave up just five hits in 8 2/3 innings en route to a 4-2 win for the Indians. He struck out four and walked four...

Even though Southeast Missouri State University's softball team struggled in non-league play, coach Lana Richmond is hopeful the Otahkians will fare much better against Ohio Valley Conference competition. The Otahkians will begin to learn more about their league fate today as they open OVC play against visiting Eastern Illinois in a 3 p.m. doubleheader...

The Kelly boys and the Scott City girls were led by some dominating performances to win team titles Wednesday in the Kelly Open. Tyson Glaser and Michael Glastetter each won three individual events for Kelly in the boys competition. The Hawks, who also won all three relay events, rolled to the team championship with 156 1/2 points. Runner-up Chaffee scored 58 1/2 and Saxony was third in the five-team meet with 49 points...

Brandon Gendron homered in the 10th inning Wednesday to give the Jackson baseball team a 1-0 win at Hillsboro. Tyler Beussink picked up the win in relief after a strong performance by Jason Meystedt. Meystedt threw nine innings, allowed only two hits and struck out 15 for Jackson (2-1)...

Charity may begin at home, but that doesn't stop out-of-state organizations from calling and soliciting donations. Charities often reach out and touch contributors for donations over the telephone; donors should be aware of who they're giving money to...

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- Reducing the length of buck season and requiring hunters to shoot a doe before taking a buck are among the suggestions being considered as Missouri prepares to launch a pilot deer management program. Conservationists estimate there are 1 million deer in the state...

Dale Watkins has been around rodeos and other horse-related events all his life. It took him 46 years to discover his favorite: polo. In 1990, the Cape Girardeau resident witnessed his first polo match in Carbondale, Ill. It turned out to be love at first sight...

This is the first part of a two-part look at the rationale for fighting the war on terrorism in Iraq. By George P. Shultz ~ From The Wall Street Journal We have struggled with terrorism for a long time. In the Reagan administration, I was a hawk on the subject. ...

CHARLESTON, W.Va.-- Jessica Lynch is trying to work it all out. A year after the Army supply clerk's wounding and rescue made her the Iraq war's most famous soldier, she grapples with questions both personal -- going to college; getting married -- and philosophical -- Why did she survive when others didn't?...

FALLUJAH, Iraq -- In a scene reminiscent of Somalia, frenzied crowds dragged the burned, mutilated bodies of four American contractors through the streets of a town west of Baghdad on Wednesday and strung two of them up from a bridge after rebels ambushed their SUVs...

When Bill Needle draws a loaf of bread or a royal falcon, he's not just doodling. He's creating hieroglyphics, the picture script of ancient Egyptian priests. "I am one of 11 Egyptologists in the United States that can read hieroglyphics," he said, a smile of pride etched on his face...

CHESTER, Ill. -- The death of a Menard Correctional Center inmate who succumbed to hypothermia in an unheated cell was an accident, a coroner's jury has ruled. Charles Platcher's death on Christmas Day was an accident because the heat in the building had malfunctioned, the six-member Randolph County coroner's jury declared Tuesday...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Electricity customers of AmerenUE will have their bills drop by a total of $30 million starting today under an agreement negotiated in 2002 by the Public Service Commission. The commission also approved rate decreases this week for natural gas customers in seven northeast Missouri counties, and rate increases for gas customers in the town of Sullivan...

JUPITER, Fla. -- Matt Morris pitched seven strong innings to give the St. Louis Cardinals their eighth one-run win of the spring, 2-1 over the Montreal Expos on Wednesday. Morris, slated to start the opener Monday, ran his string of scoreless innings to 15 1/3 before Matt Cepicky hit a home run to dead center in the sixth. In all, Morris scattered seven hits and had two strikeouts...

To the editor: I was listening to the Kidd Kraddick show. There was a segment on a high school in North Dakota. An 18-year-old female student was seen smoking a cigarette off campus by a community member who told the principal. She was subsequently banned from attending the prom. ...

Superb production MY HAT goes off to all of the students, faculty and others who were involved in the Central High School production of "South Pacific." What a superb job. From the gorgeous sets and wonderful music to the beautiful singing and great acting, this is a show you wouldn't want to miss. Whether you are a fan of musicals or not, this show is so much more...

Carole W. Clayton, 69, died at 12:45 a.m. Tuesday, March 30, 2004, at Life Care Center in St. Louis, after a brief illness. She was born Aug. 12, 1934, in Breakbell, Ark., daughter of Lawrence Clayton and Cathran Irene McCord Wilson. Mrs. Clayton graduated from Charleston High School in 1951...

JONESBORO, Ill. -- Robert L. "Bob" Davie, 65, of Jonesboro died Monday, March 29, 2004, at his home, following an extended illness. He was born Jan. 12, 1939, in Jonesboro, son of Winstead R. and Edith Graham Davie. He and Adalee McPherson were married July 21, 1962, in Springfield, Ill...

CAIRO, Ill. -- Kermit Burris, 51, of Cairo died Saturday, March 27, 2004. He was born Nov. 14, 1952, in Cairo, son of Thomas F. and Ida Ray Burris Sr. Burris was a graduate of Cairo High School. He was a truck driver more than 20 years with city of Cairo Street Department. He also was an on-call fireman from 1992 to 1994, worked at Burkart and Union Carbide, and various self-employment jobs...

STURDIVANT, Mo. -- Glendale Ladd, 69, of Sturdivant died Tuesday, March 30, 2004, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. He was born Jan. 30, 1935, at Como, Mo., son of Finis and Thelma Whitehead Ladd. He and Shirley Kennedy were married Feb. 7, 1953, at Marble Hill, Mo...

SIKESTON, Mo. -- Landon Garvin Sterling, 88, of Sikeston died Tuesday, March 30, 2004, at Missouri Delta Medical Center. He was born Sept. 4, 1915, in Camden, Tenn., son of Matthew Thomas and Leona Smith Sterling. Sterling lived in Mississippi County most of his life, moving to Sikeston in 1995...

ALTENBURG, Mo. -- Eleonora Mueller, 96, of Altenburg died Tuesday, March 30, 2004, at Perry County Nursing Home in Perryville, Mo. She was born March 23, 1908, at New Wells, Mo., daughter of Herman and Clara Schneider Perr. She and Herbert G. Mueller were married Oct. 25, 1931. He died Aug. 13, 1984...

SIKESTON, Mo. -- Wyatt Tyson Smith, 22, of Sikeston died Tuesday, March 30, 2004, at his home, following an extended illness. He was born May 30, 1981, in St. Louis. Smith was a 2002 graduate of New Dawn State School. Survivors include his foster parents, Mike and Melissa Stewart of the home; mother and stepfather, Jane Smith and Mark Jones of St. ...

Bell Son to Wesley Joseph and Letitia Lea Bell of Perryville, Mo., St. Francis Medical Center, 5:15 p.m. Saturday, March 20, 2004. Name, Luke Thomas. Weight, 6 pounds 5 ounces. Second son. Mrs. Bell is the former Letitia Moore, daughter of Jerry and Diane Moore of Perryville. She is a registered nurse. Bell is the son of Robert and Lawana Bell of Perryville. He is a K-9 police officer...

NEW YORK -- Here's a children's show that still boasts plenty of street credibility. Now beginning its 35th season, "Sesame Street" remains a daily destination for millions of preschoolers, an evergreen cityscape as much a part of their world as any other play space...

To the editor: The story on shoplifting was incomplete. About one-quarter of the stealing offenses that occur are committed by juveniles. Dr. John Wade was right. Some juveniles see this as a right of passage. I have seen as many children encouraged by relatives to steal as I have by their peers. I recall with some pleasure the times our police have filed charges for endangering the welfare of a minor when parents have been fleecing businesses by using their children to grab the goods...

To the editor: This letter is in response to Robert Polack Jr.'s March 25 letter. Polack stated that his organization has delivered petitions to U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Emerson's office containing 60 signatures against war with Iraq. Does he realize Emerson represents over 400,000 people?...

Last week I admitted to my profligate ways with vitamins: I never met one I didn't like. To the rescue came Dr. John La Puma, a nutrition-focused medical doctor. He admonished me to "supplement wisely," not promiscuously. This week, Dr. John gives me an earful about minerals and water-soluble vitamins...

The Rose Hill Garden Club of Cape Girardeau has been awarded a $2,600 grant from the Principal Financial Group Historic Gardens Project. Funds will be used to create the gardens at the Red House Interpretive Center in downtown Cape Girardeau. Established by the The National Garden Clubs Inc. the grant program is under the sponsorship of the Principal Financial Group aiming to enhance gardens at historic sites in communities across the nation...

County chapter of AARP meeting on Monday The Cape Girardeau County Chapter of AARP No. 4041 will meet at 1:30 p.m. Monday at Grace United Methodist Church, Broadway and Caruthers. The program, "The River Campus," will be presented by board member Ruth Knote. There will be a drawing for a door prize...

Cape Girardeau Community Caring Council Aging Committee Receives Donation Alliance Bank recently donated $1,500 to be used for the Community Caring Council Aging Committee Senior Resource Directory. The directory will include listings for services offered by non-profit agencies and other service providers that have representatives on the Aging Committee. Free of charge, it will be available to senior citizens living in Cape Girardeau County while supplies last...

Greater Dimensions plans annual fish fry for April 9 An annual fish fry will be held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 9 at Greater Dimensions Church, 723 Hackberry, Cape Girardeau. The menu includes fried catfish fillets, spaghetti, cole slaw, dessert and drink. Dine-in, carryout or delivery. Those wanting to place delivery orders should do so by 10 a.m. Call 334-0616...

The United Way of Southeast Missouri and the Volunteer Intergenerational Center, VIC, will announce April as community volunteer month at a news conference set for today. The announcement is set for 3:30 p.m. at the Boys and Girls Club at 232 Broadway...

Cape Girardeau The following items were released by the Cape Girardeau Police Department. Arrests do not imply guilt. Arrests James T. Doughten, 43, 407 E. Rodney, Cape Girardeau, was arrested Wednesday on suspicion of telephone harassment. Ladawn M. Hogan, 24, 531 S. Hanover, Cape Girardeau, was arrested Wednesday on suspicion of resisting arrest and interfering with an arrest...

Cape Girardeau Firefighters responded to the following call Tuesday: At 6:21 p.m., an alarm sounding at 1000 Towers Complex. Firefighters responded to the following calls Wednesday: At 1:10 a.m., an emergency medical service at 3008 Themis. At 7:23 a.m., a still alarm at 16 S. Pacific...

The Boonville (Mo.) Daily News Most University of Missouri fans assumed the new sports arena would be named after the Laurie name, knowing the family had donated $25 million to the project. The realization of calling the new sports venue "Paige Sports Arena" has Tigers fans buzzing with conversation. .....

A pack of 20 candidates is running in the race for two associate commissioner seats in Cape Girardeau County. They appear already to have set a record for sheer numbers. Rodney Miller, longtime Cape Girardeau county clerk, can't ever remember such a big field...

As health-care procedures change and once-delicate surgeries become more routine, the need for a stable blood supply increases. A new building for the American Red Cross blood services division in Cape Girardeau will help make that possible. The building at 20 S. Mount Auburn Road more than tripled the amount of space the center once had and allows it to hold regular blood drives and open donation times...

Today Blood drive from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Central High School in Cape Girardeau. Blood pressure screening from 10 to 11:30 a.m. at the Cape Senior Center, sponsored by the Generations Resource Center at Southeast Missouri Hospital. For information, call 651-5825...

The Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3838 color guard assembled on Saturday at Cape County Park North as volunteers began installing the 500 new flag pole holders along Old Glory Lane in the park. Standing at attention, from left: Clemon Crain, Elmer Schearf, Herb Nance, John Bertrand, Bob Wade and Melvin Kuehle...