Stories from Wednesday, April 28, 2004

A rural Cape Girardeau County man was found drowned on a farm pond on his property at 2:35 a.m. Tuesday. The death of Ronald Farrow, 39, has been ruled accidental. According to Lt. David James of the Cape Girardeau County sheriff's department, deputies were called to Farrow's residence on County Road 532 near Pocahontas around midnight Monday...

The Southeast Missouri State University women's basketball recruiting class increased to eight Tuesday, when coach B.J. Smith announced the signing of two more junior college players. Committing to the Otahkians were Bliss Roberson, a 5-7 sophomore guard at Three Rivers Community College in Poplar Bluff, Mo.; and Natalie Purcell, a 6-foot-1 sophomore forward at Hutchinson (Kan.) Community College. Both players will have two seasons of eligibility at Southeast...

Southeast Missouri State University's push to qualify for the Ohio Valley Conference softball tournament broke even Tuesday afternoon as the Otahkians and Tennessee-Martin split a tight doubleheader. After Southeast scored a run in the bottom of the seventh inning to win the opener 5-4, visiting UTM held on for a 3-2 victory...

The Kansas City Star Almost everyone understands the need to pay taxes. But the government shouldn't make it so difficult for many ordinary Americans to figure out how much to pay. Every politician in Washington, from the president on down, claims to want a simpler income tax system. Yet it remains ludicrously complicated...

Fancy lettuces are showing up in area restaurants, replacing the iceberg mainstay. Ever heard of a "honeymoon salad?" It's lettuce alone. While that might be good for newlyweds, it's usually not good for salads, especially if your idea of greens is iceberg lettuce, the kind most of us grew up on...

At the Cape Girardeau Senior Center, where I am employed, we are blessed to have the most wonderful group of volunteers in the city. All the loyal and dedicated volunteers give selflessly of their time and energy, and many give of their personal resources. Each one is a valuable part of the day-to-day operation of the center and is greatly appreciated...

It's a popular notion that shopping for bathing suits is a demoralizing activity for women, one that makes them loathe their figure flaws even more and perhaps turn to a tub of Ben & Jerry's to drown their sorrows. Not so for all of us. It doesn't even bother me that every suit in my size bears some tag that explains the problem it's supposed to hide. ...

Ask a mother what it's like raising an autistic child and the emotional shadow clouding her face momentarily lifts. After years of battling the debilitating neurological disorder, many parents are relieved just to have someone listen to their stories...

States are steadily moving toward financial health, a new survey found, with nearly two-thirds expecting to finish the current fiscal year in the black. That's the best showing since the economy took a turn for the worse four years ago. Stronger revenue is driving the trend, the National Conference of State Legislatures found in its new report. ...

HYDE PARK, N.Y. -- In recognition of Cinco de Mayo, The Culinary Institute of America suggests serving huevos rancheros, or ranch-style eggs. They're colorfully appropriate as well as tasty. Cinco de Mayo, a major Mexican holiday, is the anniversary of the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862, when Mexican forces under General Ignacio Zaragoza defeated French invaders at Puebla...

Syrian security clashes with 'terrorist band' DAMASCUS, Syria -- Gunmen attacked a former United Nations office in a diplomatic quarter of Damascus on Tuesday, setting off a battle with police that pelted nearby buildings with bullets and grenades. ...

SASABE, Mexico -- After a four-year decline, illegal immigration from Mexico is spiking as several thousand migrants a day rush across the border in hopes of getting work visas under a program President Bush proposed. Many also are trying to beat tighter security to come in June...

Sikeston has only two losses in its last 16 games dating back to last year. Both of those have come at the hands of Notre Dame Regional High School, with the second loss coming on Tuesday in a 5-3 decision at Notre Dame. "Any time you beat a team like Sikeston, which is a big program and No. 1 in the state, that's a huge win for our program," Notre Dame coach Jeff Graviett said...

The Jackson girls set three meet records and ran away with the crown at the Perryville Invitational on Tuesday, while Perryville's boys just missed a first-place finish. The Indians set records in the 400-, 800- and 1,600-meter relays. Melanie Essner, Rebecca Martin, Jenna Holten and Rachel Kahle ran the 400 and 800 relays. Rachel Lowes, Holten, Essner and Martin were on the 1,600 relay...

Wet weather is delaying work on Jackson's unborn soccer project, but city and local soccer representatives are beginning to finalize the details on the 16-field complex. An advisory committee has been formed to discuss the specifics of the park as well as long-term coordination. The committee met for the first time Tuesday, discussing topics like what kind of turf will be best suited for the park...

FALLUJAH, Iraq -- U.S. warplanes and artillery attacked Sunni insurgents holed up in a slum in a thunderous show of force that rocked Fallujah Tuesday, sending huge plumes of black smoke into the night sky. The assault came after American troops killed 64 gunmen near the southern city of Najaf...

Wherever he went, Ted Hoener had a plan and he stuck to it. He was an architect. When he and his wife, Shirley, came to Cape Girardeau in 1974, Ted applied his vision to a largely dilapidated downtown and riverfront, though he did not stay long enough to see it fully realized. In 1992, the Hoeners left the river city for Menomonie, Wis. It was there that an 80-year-old Ted succumbed to Parkinson's disease on Sunday...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- After vetoing legislation Tuesday that would overhaul Missouri's civil justice system, Gov. Bob Holden urged the Republican-led Missouri Legislature to quickly pass a scaled-back bill that would focus on providing relief to doctors being squeezed by rising medical malpractice premium costs...

The Missouri Tigers were in contention for the Big 12 North title until late in the regular season. They played in a bowl game. But this weekend, they had no players selected in the NFL draft. Southeast Missouri State and Central Missouri State had the only draftees from the state. Baltimore selected defensive end Roderick Green from Central Missouri in the fifth round. In the seventh round, the Tennessee Titans picked Southeast Missouri center Eugene Amano...

Shaquille O'Neal shook his head, frowned slightly and shrugged when asked whether he'll play at the Athens Olympics. "I'm still not sure," the Los Angeles Lakers' center said. He's not the only one. There are more questions than answers right now for the USA Basketball selection committee, with only six players considered locks to show up in Greece: Jermaine O'Neal, Tim Duncan, Allen Iverson, Tracy McGrady, Mike Bibby and Richard Jefferson...

ST. LOUIS -- Pat Burrell had four hits with three RBIs and made two nice defensive plays in the Philadelphia Phillies' 7-3 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals on Tuesday night. Mike Lieberthal hit a tiebreaking two-run home run in the sixth for the Phillies, who are 3-1 with two games to go on a six-game trip. They lost five of their first six on the road, but have averaged 5.5 runs on this trip and got to Matt Morris (3-2) for two homers and two doubles...

Here are some facts about the human brain: It weighs, on average, 3 pounds, or about 2 percent of a person's body weight; has about 100 million cells; and has three parts, the cerebrum, the cerebellum and the brain stem. It is facts like these that the Cape Girardeau-based International Brain Foundation wants to make known to the public...

Although Missouri's population of autistic children has grown by more than 800 percent in the past 13 years, large numbers of students aren't identified as autistic in local school districts. Ten out of 600 special education students in Jackson and nine out of 700 special education students in Cape Girardeau have the educational label of autistic. That averages out to one of every 450 school-age children being diagnosed by those school districts as autistic...

Editor's note: On Day 3 of the series, Ben, who had to learn how to talk again at age 4, still showed signs of autism but began catching up with his peers, both physically and academically. By Bob Miller and Callie Clark ~ Southeast Missourian...

Physicians use criteria from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders to diagnose autism, while school officials use criteria from the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. Here's a look at how the two sets of criteria compare...

BRUSSELS, Belgium -- Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi, once considered one of the world's most dangerous men, came to Europe for the first time in 15 years Tuesday, offering business deals and an olive branch -- along with a veiled threat to return to the "days of explosive belts" if provoked by "evil" from the West...

ST. LOUIS -- The U.S. government on Monday rejected a minister's bid to transform a sprawling federal building into a nexus of homeless services -- a plan the city's mayor termed "warehousing" detrimental to downtown. Hours after the decision, the Rev. Larry Rice said he would take the matter to the courts, stalling developer Donald Breckenridge's city-backed plan to use the building for a parking area next to the Kiel Opera House, which Breckenridge wants to rehab...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Hours after scores of motorcycle riders rallied at the Capitol, the House gave first-round approval Monday to a bill repealing Missouri's mandatory motorcycle helmet law for riders 21 and older. "I look at this as a matter of personal freedom," said sponsoring Rep. Larry Crawford, R-California. "This is an issue that has well outlived its life."...

To the editor: Thank you for your coverage of the vaccine issue. I am the mother of a 12-year-old-boy who is labeled autistic. I received RhoGam in the 28th week of my pregnancy to compensate for my rhesis negative blood type. RhoGam contained 150 micrograms of thimerosal...

To the editor: In a stunning report released by the Program on International Policy Attitudes of the University of Maryland, we find an incredible percentage of Americans just don't follow the news and hold completely false opinions based on their misinformation...

Student artists MY CHILDREN attend Jackson schools. Last weekend was the annual district art show. The student work was wonderful. The high school art teacher's work was phenomenal. I had no idea that such talent was teaching our kids. Kudos to all the Jackson teachers as well as all the young artists...

Ronald G. Farrow, 39, of Jackson passed away Tuesday, April 27, 2004, as a result of a tragic accident near his home. He was born Aug. 24, 1964, in Cape Girardeau, son of John W. and Fannie B. Abernathy Farrow. He and Cheryl Reisenbichler were married March 12, 2004...

Theodor Mann "Ted" Hoener died peacefully in his sleep Sunday, April 25, 2004, at his home in Menomonie, Wis., surrounded by members of his family. He was 80. Ted was born Feb. 24, 1924, to Percival J. and Frieda W. Mann Hoener in St. Louis, where he spent most of his life. Ted graduated from high school in 1941. He served in the Army Air Corps during World War II...

HAYTI, Mo. -- Shirley Jean Mack, 66, of Hayti died Thursday, April 22, 2004, at the home of a daughter in Fruitland. She was born April 19, 1938, in Tupelo, Miss., daughter of Otis and Mary Caradine. She married John Ethan Mack. Mack was a member of True Light Church of God II...

SIKESTON, Mo. -- Ira Brummett Gillean, 78, of Sikeston died Monday, April 26, 2004, at Missouri Delta Medical Center. He was born Nov. 11, 1925, in Jasper, Ark., son of Grant and Lucinda Weston Gillean. Gillean had worked at Inland Steel and U.S. Gypsum...

SERENO, Mo. -- Cletus O. Walter, 81, of Sereno died Tuesday, April 27, 2004, at Perry County Memorial Hospital. He was born Sept. 1, 1922, at Sereno, son of Frank O. and Julie Huber Walter. He and Eileen Marie Klobe were married June 15, 1946. Walter was a retired truck driver, farmer and carpenter. He was a member of Our Lady of Victory Catholic Church and its Holy Name Society in Sereno, and American Legion Post 133 in Perryville, Mo...

LEOPOLD, Mo. -- Leola Bernadetta Tenholder, 82, of Leopold died Monday, April 26, 2004, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. She was born Sept. 20, 1921, at Leopold, daughter of Martin P. and Johannah A. Vandeven Tenholder. Tenholder received bachelor's and master's degrees from DePaul University, and received a nursing diploma in 1946...

Jo Ann Sadler, 72, of Cape Girardeau died Tuesday, April 27, 2004, at Life Care Center. She was born July 12, 1931, in Advance, Mo., daughter of Clarence and Sadie Gibbs May. She and James Sadler were married Feb. 23, 1952, in Piggott, Ark. Sadler was a 1950 graduate of Advance High School...

Roberts Homemakers Club Members of Roberts Homemakers Club gathered at Riverside Regional Library in Jackson for their April meeting following lunch at Wib's Drive In. Judy Bryant, president, presided. Note cards and stationery were auctioned as a fund raiser. It was voted to donate $25 for mailing costs to send items to servicemen in Iraq...

To the editor: In response to the article "The thimerosal debate: The vaccine preservative contains mercury": We have two children, and we have chosen for them not to receive vaccines. We believe that research has shown enough evidence that the risks outweigh the benefits. ...

To the editor: I have read the first of your articles about autism on the Internet. My family lives in Oklahoma. I have to say that I am awed by the dedication and compassion shown so far by this newspaper and its reporters. I will always have a soft spot in my heart for Missouri from reading this. ...

ST. LOUIS -- Former Southwest Missouri State defensive back Kailan Williams is among 21 rookie free agents to agree to terms with the St. Louis Rams, the team announced Tuesday. Those players -- and the seven drafted by the Rams last weekend -- are to attend the team's rookie minicamp Friday through Sunday at the Rams' practice site in Earth City, a St. Louis suburb...

WASHINGTON -- The Supreme Court appeared troubled Tuesday by the prospect of letting the public have a look into private White House policy meetings, a hopeful sign for the Bush administration's aggressive defense of secrecy in the case of Vice President Dick Cheney's energy task force...

Maps do more than help people who are lost and tell them how to get from one location to another. They can also serve as invaluable historical documents, a means of entertainment and may simply be aesthetically pleasing. All of the above are currently on display at the Missouri State Archives' "Mapping Missouri" exhibit...

Employees at the Food Giant Market at 1120 N. Kingshighway learned the hard way that some ways of getting rid of a bird's nest are better than others. According to the Cape Girardeau Fire Department, some employees of the store were burning an old bird's nest in a drain pipe at the rear of the building around 12:45 p.m. Tuesday when embers flared up and caught the edge of the roof over the loading dock on fire...

Three people were sentenced and one man pleaded guilty in federal court in Cape Girardeau Tuesday, all on methamphetamine-related charges. U.S. District Judge E. Richard Webber sentenced Wanda Bullock 43, and Farel Holder, 29, both of Southern Illinois to 57 and 49 months, respectively, for conspiracy to unlawfully possess pseudoephedrine knowing it would be used to manufacture methamphetamine...

Southeast Missourian The first 17 applicants for a concealed weapon have been notified that they can come to the Cape Girardeau County Sheriff's Department Thursday to pick up their permit. Sheriff John Jordan announced that the first completed background checks have been returned from the Missouri State Highway Patrol. The sheriff's office has accepted over 125 applications since March 17...

It's been two weeks since Easter Sunday and nearly 2,000 years since Jesus Christ's birth, but people are just as curious about his life today as they were centuries ago. And Dr. Paul L. Maier offers to give them a new look at Christ. Maier, a professor of ancient history at Western Michigan University, travels the country speaking at churches and seminars about the life and teachings of Christ...

Ben Petzoldt, 7, of Fruitland Ben, who loves to hug and be hugged, is one of very few children in Southeast Missouri going through applied behavioral analysis, or ABA. A handful of Skittles urged Ben one day finally to make the long "O" sound on command. ...

Cape Girardeau The following items were released by the Cape Girardeau Police Department. Arrests do not imply guilt. Arrests Gene L. Douthit, 26, 5352 Lotus, St. Louis, was arrested Monday on three city warrants for failure to appear for various traffic offenses...

Cape Girardeau Firefighters responded to the following items on Tuesday: At 7:28 a.m., an emergency medical service at 510 W. Highland. At 7:41 a.m., an emergency medical service at 531 Boxwood. At 12:20 p.m., an emergency medical service at 1404 Lexington...

It has been calling itself Southeast Public Radio, but an expansion of its coverage area will truly make KRCU, 90.9 FM, a station that serves much of Southeast Missouri. The public radio station affiliated with Southeast Missouri State University will soon be able to reach 100,000 people in the region with the addition of a radio tower near Farmington, Mo...

10 years ago: April 28, 1994 Clarence Bahner is shaken but uninjured when dirt walls of sewer trench collapse on him while installing sewer line at 2517 Saddleridge. Mid-South Steel and Cape Girardeau's sewer system are direct beneficiaries of $75,000 worth of state emergency flood aid awarded by Department of Economic Development...