Stories from November 2004

If you have a question, e-mail factorfiction@semissourian.com or call Speak Out (334-5111) and identify your call as a question for "Fact or fiction?" Q: When I was in high school in the late 1970s, some friends took me to the cemetery by the (then) Notre Dame high school so I could see the legendary "green eyes" that glow on a certain headstone at night. ...

In Taiwan in the 1980s, tea vendors began mixing fruit flavoring with tea. To get the flavor right, they shook the mix of tea and flavoring, causing bubbles to form in the drink. "Bubble tea" was born. Over time, the term has come to also represent cold tea with flavored pearls of tapioca and chocolate. In either incarnation, the drinks have taken Asia by storm...

While some in Southeast Missouri may hesitate about traveling to St. Louis to catch a show because of the distance, Susan Evans thinks nothing of traveling seven hours from her home in Point Pleasant, W.Va., to Cape Girardeau in order to catch a concert at the Show Me Center...

About 20 Southeast Missouri State University alumni and local residents learned Sunday just how much Cape Girardeau has changed. The Office of Extended and Continuing Education coordinated a tour that highlighted the most recent developments in downtown Cape Girardeau as part of the university's schedule of events for homecoming...

Brooke Gill is on a roll, even in the classroom. The Southeast Missouri State University senior relies on a Segway -- a high-tech, two-wheel, seatless scooter-like device -- to get around the hilly Cape Girardeau campus. For Gill, it's not a luxury. The 24-year-old from Dexter, Mo., has difficulty walking -- the result of a traffic accident in July 1996 shortly after she turned 16...

In August, a near-death experience for 2-year-old Nick McAdams prompted his parents to investigate options to help their autistic son. "Apparently the door downstairs to the garage was left unlocked and the garage door was open," said Nick's mother, Michelle McAdams. ...

The United Way of Southeast Missouri has raised 40 percent of its 2004 campaign goal of $1 million. The following employee campaigns reported significant increases: Biokyowa Inc.: $13,654.08, an 18 percent increase. Union Planters Bank: $12,932, a 14 percent increase...

Changes have been made to the upcoming Nov. 13 Miss Jackson pageants. Contestants will now be grouped according to their age, and the names of the groups have also been changed. The changes conform to rules and regulations of the state pageant sponsored by the Miss Missouri local pageants each summer...

n Name: Barbara Lueder Lives in: Egypt Mills Family: Husband, Rick; son, William, 14; daughter, Emily, 11. Job: Office manager at Contrend Inc. in Cape Girardeau. What do you like most about the area? Country life atmosphere offering city activities close by...

The Silver Haired Legislature, an elected body of volunteer residents from all over the state, 60 years of age and older, met in Jefferson City recently for its 31st annual legislative session. Delegates promote conscientious legislative advocacy for Missouri's older adults...

Scott County Women in Agriculture to meet The Scott County Women in Agriculture will meet at 7 p.m. Thursday at the USDA office on Highway 77 in Benton, Mo. Members should bring recipes for the second edition of the group's cookbook. All women who share an interest in gardening, cooking, farming, family activities and helping the community are invited to attend. For more information, call Kay Dover at (573) 545-9027...

Church in Advance holding chili supper Advance United Methodist Church will hold an all-you-can-eat chili and soup dinner from 3 to 6 p.m. Saturday at the church. A children's store will be open during dinner; children can shop for a nominal fee. Hobbs Chapel holding annual holiday dinner...

Six new boys coaches will hold their first practice with their team. By Jeremy Joffray ~ Southeast Missourian It has been a busy offseason for Southeast Missouri basketball teams. When the season begins on the third week of November, fans will have to study their programs just to keep up with the numerous player and coaching changes...

25 years ago: Nov. 1, 1979 Opposition to the proposal of the Coordinating Board for Higher Education that laboratory schools be phased out in the state has caused that advisory board to re-examine its position; one of the four lab schools in Missouri that would be in jeopardy is University School in Cape Girar-deau...

ST. LOUIS -- Marie Fulton, 86, of St. Louis, formerly of Patton and Marquand, Mo., died Saturday, Oct. 30. 2004, at the Dutchtown Care Center in St. Louis. She was born Aug. 25, 1918, in Madison County, Mo., daughter of Elijah and Martha Laughary Tripp. She and Palmer Fulton were married Feb. 4, 1940, at Fredericktown, Mo. He died in March 1986...

Virginia Buffey, 84, of Elizabethtown, Ill., died Saturday, Oct. 30, 2004, at her home. Cox Funeral Home of Rosiclaire, Ill., is in charge of funeral arrangements.

Lillian Louise Rogers, 81, of Scott City died Friday, Oct. 29, 2004, at the Lutheran Home in Cape Girardeau. She was born Aug. 13, 1923, at Jacks Creek, Tenn., daughter of Robert and Lillie Cochran Gillespie. She and Donald Bryan Rogers Jr. were married Jan. 10, 1948, at Hernando, Miss. He died Sept. 11, 1969...

Spending priorities THE TOURISM tax is not paid by citizens of Cape. It is paid by overnight visitors. The money generated is supposed to be spent to encourage more overnight visitors. The committee did a very good job of organizing priorities. If folks want a water park, ice-skating rink, ski resort or poodle palace, they should try to pass a special tax. ...

Massive logistics NOW THE New York Times and CBS want you to believe that a group of insurgents sneaked into a weapons depot and, under the very noses of our troops and President Bush, walked off with almost 380 tons of explosives. Come on, people, do the math. ...

Soccer n New England goalkeeper Matt Reis saved two Columbus Crew penalty kicks, helping the Revolution advance to the MLS Eastern Conference finals with a 1-1 tie Sunday night. New England will face D.C. United for a berth in the MLS Cup after eliminating the Crew, who entered the playoffs on an 18-game unbeaten streak...

Southeast Missouri State University's 35-7 win over Tennessee-Martin Saturday has netted the program a pair of Ohio Valley Conference honors. Junior cornerback Kellin White is the OVC defensive player of the week and sophomore punter David Simonhoff is the conference special teams player of the week, the league announced Sunday...

Special to the Southeast Missourian ST. LOUIS -- Notre Dame boys cross country coach Bill Davis was focused on Ste. Genevieve the last couple of weeks. That was the team Davis figured his Bulldogs had to beat to make it back to the Class 2 state meet...

7 p.m. today City hall, 401 Independence St. Study session at 5 p.m. Public hearings A public hearing regarding the request of VIP Vocational Services Inc. for a special-use permit for the proposed development of 32 rental residential apartment units and one on-site manager's unit in the 1000 block of Hackberry Street...

For most of his adult life, people addressed Al Spradling Jr. as "Senator." The 6-foot-4-inch Democrat with the sonorous voice was proud to represent Cape Girardeau in the Missouri Senate, and Cape Girardeau was proud of the man who became known as the father of the state's modern mental health system...

Capital Insurance in Cape adds associate Wendy Groening has joined Capital Insurance and Associates in Cape Girardeau. She is licensed to write auto, homeowners, commercial, life and health insurance. She has been in the industry for more than 10 years...

Automation Services Co. nets special designation Cape Girardeau networking company Automation Services Co. has met the requirements necessary to become a designated Cisco SMB Select Partner. The designation indicates that the company has completed an effort to increase the level of Cisco sales and support capabilities...

A Jackson man received moderate injuries Saturday in a one-vehicle accident on County Road 553, five miles east of Fruitland. The Missouri State Highway Patrol said Kyle Gribler, 34, was driving north when his truck ran off the road and struck an embankment. Gribler was taken to Saint Francis Medical Center...

Cape Girardeau Firefighters responded to the following calls Saturday: At 3:54 p.m., alarm sounding at 2323 Earleen Drive. At 4 p.m., medical service in the 600 block of Boxwood Drive. At 8:12 p.m., emergency medical service in the 2500 block of Ranchito Drive...

Cape Girardeau The following items were released Sunday by the Cape Girardeau Police Department. Arrests do not imply guilt. DWIs A subject was taken into custody, pending filing of formal charges of driving while intoxicated, driving while revoked and resisting arrest...

MARBLE HILL, Mo. -- Verona Loveda Davis, 76, of Marble Hill died Saturday, Oct. 30, 2004, at the Elder Care Center of Marble Hill. She was born March 4, 1928, daughter of Leo and Leona Randall Brown. She and Charles Davis were married in 1947. He died Feb. 2, 1992...

WASHINGTON -- For all the talk about Iraq in the presidential campaign, a crucial question largely has gone unanswered: What would it really take for either President Bush or a President Kerry eventually to bring home U.S. troops? Both candidates say they are committed to defeating the insurgents, building an Iraqi force that can defend the country and putting Iraq on the road to democracy...

WASHINGTON -- A top government counterterrorist official says the new videotape of Osama bin Laden appears to contain no specific threat but is aimed instead at showing al-Qaida remains active and effective. John Brennan, director of the government's leading terror-threat analysis unit, the Terrorist Threat Integration Center, told reporters Saturday that bin Laden was likely attempting to "demonstrate that al-Qaida, as an organization, is still effective, even though they have not, in fact, been able to do something here in the states.". ...

WASHINGTON -- The World Health Organization has called an unprecedented summit meeting of flu vaccine makers and nations to expand plans for dealing with the growing threat of a flu pandemic. Sixteen vaccine companies and health officials from the United States and other large countries already have agreed to attend the summit next week in Geneva, Switzerland, on Nov. 11, said Klaus Stohr, influenza chief of the United Nations' health agency...

WASHINGTON -- A new vaccine against rotavirus, the diarrheal infection that kills millions of children worldwide, doesn't appear to raise the risk of serious bowel blockages that caused a previous vaccine to be pulled from the market five years ago, doctors reported Sunday...

Eagles 15, Ravens 10 Terrell Owens had an 11-yard TD catch and David Akers kicked three field goals, leading Philadelphia to victory over the Baltimore Ravens to reach 7-0 for the first time. Owens, who made a few enemies in Baltimore after he spurned the Ravens and forced a trade to the Eagles in March, had eight catches for 101 yards. ...

Vijay Singh became golf's first $10 million man, winning the Chrysler Championship by five strokes on Sunday at Palm Harbor, Fla. Singh closed with a 6-under 65 to win his ninth tournament this year, matching Tiger Woods for the most victories in a season on the PGA Tour since 1950...

MIAMI -- In the closing hours of their campaign, President Bush and challenger Sen. John Kerry charged through the critical battlegrounds of Florida and Ohio on Sunday, going from hushed church services to raucous campaign rallies in search of last-minute support with promises to keep America safe...

CARTHAGE, Mo. -- A former southwest Missouri pastor was sentenced to 15 years in prison after changing his plea to guilty on two counts of sexual abuse. Donald Peckham, 71, former pastor of Jubilee Christian Fellowship Church in Sarcoxie, pleaded guilty last week to one count of first-degree sodomy and one count of second-degree sodomy in a plea agreement with Jasper County prosecutors...

INDIANAPOLIS -- The head of the Drug Enforcement Administration's Indiana office was among three people killed in a single-engine plane crash in northeast Missouri, officials confirmed Sunday. There were no survivors when the four-seat Beechcraft A-36 crashed Friday night in treeless pasture land near Bible Grove in Missouri's Schuyler county...

BAGHDAD, Iraq -- Iraq's interim prime minister on Sunday warned that efforts to resolve the standoff in Fallujah peacefully have entered their "final phase" and said he will not hesitate to launch "a military solution" to end Sunni insurgents' hold over the city...

TEHRAN, Iran -- Defiant lawmakers -- shouting "Death to America" -- unanimously voted Sunday to approve the outline of a bill requiring the government to resume uranium enrichment, a move likely to deepen an international dispute over Tehran's atomic activities...

The Associated Press MONROVIA, Liberia -- Armed U.N. troops arrested dozens of men Sunday in a sometimes bloody conclusion to a countrywide disarmament program, days after a fresh burst of violence in the war-battered West African nation. In one neighborhood, about 80 men and boys lay on the ground surrounded by U.N. ...

PARIS -- Yasser Arafat telephoned colleagues in the West Bank, read telegrams from well-wishing world leaders, ate cereal and sipped tea Sunday, his aides said -- signs that the Palestinian leader's health may be on the upswing following three days of urgent treatment for an undisclosed illness at a French military hospital...

VIENNA, Austria -- From the deserts of the south and west to the outskirts of Baghdad, Iraq is awash in weapons sites -- some large, others small; some guarded, others not. Even after the U.S. military secured some 400,000 tons of munitions, as many as 250,000 tons remain unaccounted for...

JERUSALEM -- Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said Sunday he would never let Yasser Arafat be buried in Jerusalem but would honor a commitment to allow the Palestinian leader to return to the West Bank when he finishes medical treatment in France...

The Associated Press KABUL, Afghanistan -- Militants released a video Sunday showing three frightened foreign U.N. hostages pleading for their release and threatened to kill them unless United Nations' and British troops leave Afghanistan and Muslim prisoners are freed from U.S. jails...

LOS ANGELES -- Halloween spirit possessed movie-goers as Sarah Michelle Gellar's fright flick remained the top draw for the second straight weekend with $22.4 million. The film biography "Ray," which has drawn Academy Awards buzz for Jamie Foxx as Ray Charles in the movie's title role, debuted in second place with $20.1 million, according to studio estimates Sunday...

CHICAGO -- They are often thought of as toys, but BB guns and other nonpowder guns are sometimes lethal and injure as many as 21,000 Americans each year, according to a new report. Nonpowder guns kill an average of four Americans yearly, and from 1990 to 2000, there were 39 such deaths -- 32 of children younger than 15, according to the report in November's issue of Pediatrics...

So now the Zogby poll, which had seen more Kerry strength than most, is picking up a Bush surge -- while the Rasmussen poll, which trended for Bush, is seeing a Kerry bump. I'm glad that I am out of the business of polling U.S. elections. The difficulties of accurately surveying presidential prospects have become ever more daunting with each new election cycle. The growing difficulties account for the wide fluctuations in survey data...

By the time many Cape Girardeau County voters begin to line up Tuesday morning to cast their ballots, County Clerk Rodney Miller and his staff will already have put in several hours on the job. Like county clerks throughout the country, Miller and his staff have been working long days for most of the week preceding Election Day...

DULUTH, Minn. -- The battle for Bob James' front yard has been venomous, rancorous, vicious -- a small-scale replica, in other words, of America in the jaws of Campaign 2004. It started when James, an Army veteran of the Gulf War, planted Bush-Cheney yard signs -- many, many such signs -- on his corner lot on London Road in Duluth, along with two 4-by-8-foot plywood signs of his own pro-President Bush design...

Four representatives of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers rolled into Jackson last week, armed with a laptop computer and a PowerPoint presentation. They used terms like hydrology, hydraulics and a Section 205 study. But what they were really talking about, in the most basic form, is flood insurance for the city of Jackson...

At Dallas/Fort Worth Airport, the lights are controlled by sensors that measure sunlight. They dim immediately when it's sunny and brighten when a passing cloud blocks the sun. At a new middle school in Washington, D.C., the air conditioner shuts off when a window is open...

NEW YORK -- David Eckstein turned on his computer one day and launched his Web browser, just as he had every day. This time, however, CNN.com did not automatically open. Instead, the page was a search engine he'd never heard of. Eckstein tried changing the browser settings back to CNN but the search engine would return whenever he rebooted. Finally, he just gave up...

Southeast defeated Alabama A&M 1-0 for its third straight win. By Marty Mishow ~ Southeast Missourian Southeast Missouri State University's soccer team made sure it will enter the Ohio Valley Conference tournament with plenty of momentum. Southeast posted its third consecutive victory Sunday afternoon, beating Alabama A&M 1-0 in the regular-season finale in front of about 100 fans at Houck Stadium...

Southeast sweeps Drake as its fundraiser for breast cancer wraps up. By Marty Mishow ~ Southeast Missourian Southeast Missouri State University's volleyball team ended its annual Dig for Life campaign with a three-game sweep. Southeast, playing its final non-conference match of the season, knocked off struggling Drake 30-26, 30-15, 30-28 Sunday afternoon in front of about 225 fans at Houck Field House...

HAMPTON, Ga. -- Jimmie Johnson usually smokes his tires to celebrate a victory. Not this time. Instead, he drove back to the finish line to pick up the checkered flag. A little something to ease the pain. Johnson became the first driver since 1998 to win three straight races in a season, holding off Mark Martin on Sunday for a poignant victory at Atlanta Motor Speedway...

Over the past nine years, Gene Magnus has watched his Cape Girardeau Clas.net grow from a dial-up Internet up-start into one of the area's leading Internet service providers. But now Magnus has decided his business needs a new owner, a bigger company with the wherewithal to take Clas.net and its expanding customer base into the future...

PITTSBURGH -- The New England Patriots are no longer perfect, all because of a rookie quarterback who still is. Ben Roethlisberger, who doesn't know what it's like to lose an NFL game, drove the Steelers to four scores following uncharacteristic New England turnovers and Pittsburgh ended the Patriots' two long winning streaks with a remarkably easy 34-20 victory Sunday...

Amid a nationwide shortage of flu vaccine, over 200 community workers deemed "essential" by the Cape Girardeau County Public Health Department have received inoculations due to the generosity of a major local company. But having dispensed every drop of vaccine donated by Procter & Gamble, the county is now back where it started: Inundated with overwhelming public need and no vaccine to meet it...

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) -- "God and country" issues helped President Bush carry Missouri, according to an Associated Press exit poll conducted Tuesday. A quarter of all Missouri voters said moral concerns were the most important issue and the most frequently cited No. ...

The Scott City Council discussed the proposed Shepherd's Way subdivision with subdivision representatives Michael Stewart and Ken Strong at its Monday council meeting. The council is concerned about the proposal to vacate Sixth Street between Cape and Clark streets for the 14-lot subdivision because a water line runs through that area...

They don't call it fall for nothing. The temperature and rain dropped Monday evening, setting up a more autumn-like pattern of cool weather. Following a soggy night, voters today will go to the polls with temperatures barely reaching 60. That's 16 degrees below Monday's high. Voters may want to take an umbrella with them as well because forecasters predict a 60 percent chance of rain...

A 15-year-old Woodland High School student died Sunday evening as the result of a one-vehicle accident. His mother, the driver of the vehicle he was in, was issued tickets for careless and imprudent driving, not wearing a seatbelt and failure to secure a child under 16 in a seatbelt...

A Jackson man who was arrested in August and charged with five counts of statutory sodomy and two counts of child molestation was sentenced Monday after reaching a plea agreement with the court. Ricky E. Williams, 20, pleaded guilty Monday to two counts of deviate sexual assault, according to assistant prosecuting attorney Gordon Glaus...

25 years ago: Nov. 2, 1979 Ozark Air Lines officials say a Civil Aeronautics Board essential air transportation recommendation released this week has nothing to do with company's decision to eliminate one of three flights between Cape Girardeau and St. Louis, effective Nov. 15...

Blanchard Elementary Fourth Grade A Honor Roll -- Tayler Snider. B Honor Roll -- Sarah Barnes, Matthew Clark, Bailey Clubb, Riley Harris, Brandon Hathaway, Nikolas Kellem, John Maltbie, Jessica Mouser, Mollie Nelms, Gabe Pennington, Alex Riehl. Franklin Elementary...

Nuyt Son to Aaron Jason and Sandra Jean Nuyt of Cape Girardeau, Saint Francis Medical Center, 6:30 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 10, 2004. Name, Brandon Michael. Weight, 2 pounds 13 ounces. Second son. Mrs. Nuyt is the former Sandra Quigley, daughter of Tim and Nancy Quigley of Del Rio, Texas. She is a sales representative with Pitney Bowes. Nuyt is the son of Mike and Susie Nuyt and Laura Newcomer of Perryville, Mo. He is a line technician at Procter & Gamble...

Margaret Fern Eubanks, 88, of Arnold, Mo., died Friday, Oct. 29, 2004, at Woodland Manor Nursing Home in Arnold. She was born Oct. 11, 1916, at Zalma, Mo., daughter of Noah Monroe and Dolly Sherman Abernathy. She and James Melvin Eubanks were married Nov. 13, 1936, in Corning, Ark. He died June 25, 1991...

Andrew T. Tyler, 12, of Jackson died Wednesday, Oct. 27, 2004. He was born Jan. 21, 1992, in Cape Girardeau, son of Ed and Rebecca Breeden Tyler. Survivors include his parents; a sister, Hannah Tyler; paternal grandparents, Jim and Seiko Tyler, all of Jackson; and maternal grandparents, Charles and Blanch Breeden of Sikeston, Mo...

Nina Virginia Duffey, 84, of Elizabethtown, Ill., died Saturday, Oct. 30, 2004, at her home. She was the daughter of Leslie and May Kimmel. She married Dr. John R. Duffey. Duffey was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church, Ducks Unlimited and was chairperson of the Hardin County Heart Association...

SIKESTON, Mo. -- Jerry Newton, 58, died Sunday, Oct. 31, 2004, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. He was born Nov. 15, 1945, in Gideon, Mo., son of Clelon James and Ada Virdell Branch Newton, of St. Paul, Mo. He married J. Colleen Charles on Jan. 8, 1971...

CAIRO, Ill. -- Eugene Rose, 80, of Flossmoor, Ill., died Friday, Oct. 8, 2004, in Chicago Heights, Ill. He was formerly of Cairo. Rose had owned and operated a trucking company. He was part owner in trucking operations in Southern Illinois with his brothers before moving to the Chicago area. He was a member of Flossmoor Community Church...

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- Gale M. Brown, 51, of Russellville, Ark., died Sunday, Oct. 31, 2004, at Stella Manor Nursing Center in Russellville. She was born Oct. 23, 1953, in St. Clair, Mo., daughter of Melvin Robert and Thelma Marie Fassold Brown. Brown was formerly of Perryville...

CHAFFEE, Mo. -- Hazel Naydean Elliott, 86, of Chaffee died Friday, Oct. 29, 2004, at Jefferson Memorial Hospital in Crystal City, Mo. She was born Aug. 24, 1918, at Zalma, Mo., daughter of Frank Charles and Lillie May Estes Looney. She and Victor Wilson Elliott were married Oct. 4, 1942. He preceded her in death...

SIKESTON, Mo. -- Billy L. Myrick, 79, of Sikeston died Saturday, Oct. 30, 2004, at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. She was born Nov. 3, 1924, in Clovis, N.M., daughter of Charles and Lena Wedeman Orr. She and Forrest Myrick were married May 6, 1953, in Bernalilio, N.M. She was formerly of Barstow, Calif...

SIKESTON, Mo. -- Kenneth "Kenny" Winchester, 36, of Atlanta, Ga., died Sunday, Oct. 31, 2004, at his home. He was born Jan. 9, 1968, in Sikeston, son of Mary Pulliam. Winchester was a hairdresser at Gray Clippers in Atlanta. Survivors include his mother; two brothers, Randy and Curtis Winchester, all of Sikeston...

Gary W. "Jake" Ackman, 55, of Cape Girardeau passed away Monday, Nov. 1, 2004, at Heartland Care Rehab Center. He was born June 26, 1949, in Cape Girardeau, son of August E. and Louise Hesse Ackman. Jake graduated from Central High School in 1968. He worked for the former Potashnick Construction Co. several years, hauling heavy equipment across the United States...

ORAN, Mo. -- Rita Lee Senciboy, 55, of Oran died Sunday, Oct. 31, 2004, at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis. She was born Oct. 7, 1949, in Omaha, Neb., daughter of Jimmy D. and Bonnie Marie Ropkin Stacy. She and Tom Senciboy were married Aug. 13, 2001...

They are adults HOW DOES wearing pajamas and carrying a cell phone constitute a frat party? Government cannot set standards in a public university that would violate students' constitutional rights. University students are over 18 years old. They are adults, which means the role of the institution is not the same as in high school...

To the editor: Indians to Redhawks: Thank you, Southeast Missouri State University, for making this change. Now if the community can depend on SEMO's influence to assist in eliminating those embarrassing "Trail of Tears State Park" interstate signs, most people would be so grateful. ...

To the editor: The Gator Swim Team would like to thank everyone who generously donated food during our food drive for F.I.S.H. this past Friday at Food Giant. We would also like to thank all the fine people at Food Giant for letting us set up at their store. ...

To the editor: In response to "'Total house dog' two-time survivor": I have relatives in your area and was born and raised in the Bootheel. It does my old heart good to see stories like this. I always knew that part of the country was the best. Thanks for a great story...

Baseball n Wally Backman was hired Monday as manager of the Arizona Diamondbacks, taking over a team coming off one of the worst seasons in major league history. A former New York Mets second baseman with a reputation for intensity, Backman, 45, was selected minor league manager of the year this season by The Sporting News after leading Class A Lancaster to the best record in the California League. It was his first year in the Diamondbacks' organization...

Southeast Missouri State University football coach Tim Billings believed all along that his team's attitude had remained positive despite its struggles this year. But Southeast's players figure to have a lot better feeling about themselves during practice this week after Saturday's 35-7 homecoming win over Tennessee-Martin...

The Meadow Heights girls cross country team is small but mighty. All four runners on the team qualified for the state meet Saturday by finishing in the top 15 of the Class 1 District 1 meet on Saturday morning at Jackson City Park. Unfortunately for the Panthers, cross country requires five runners...

Public hearings Held a public hearing regarding a request for a special-use permit for the proposed development of 32 rental residential apartment units and one on-site manager's unit in the 1000 block of Hackberry Street. Held a public hearing regarding the request of Second Missionary Baptist Church for a special-use permit for a sign with brick foundation at 835 Beaudean Lane...

Disasters come in many forms: fires, accidents, storms. And in the aftermath of a disaster there is a ripple effect that starts with the victims at the center and spreads out to include family and friends, emergency and aid workers and those who help clean up or make repairs, whether paid or volunteer...

Afterschool programs recognized in local event Around 40 local students recently participated in a celebration of afterschool programs at the Boys & Girls Club of Cape Girardeau. The celebration was part of a national event called Lights On Afterschool, which recognized the importance of such programs. The local event included a math-a-thon, spelling contest and science projects...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. At the Lewis and Clark Middle School here, seventh-grade reading classes are cutting out newspaper articles and collecting candidate propaganda to combine their nonfiction curriculum with the national Kids Voting program. In preparation for Election Day, where students may cast their own ballots, the seventh-grade reading teachers developed a three-week lesson plan to encourage students to be mindful of the voting process while applying practical use for their reading and interpretation skills.. ...

I have touched on the theme of stereotypes previously, but this week I want to talk specifically about the sort of image we as Americans have crafted for ourselves -- wittingly or not -- through our various cultural and political exports. Chileans hold a robust collection of stereotypes about Americans. ...

Firefighters responded to the following item on Sunday: At 9:11 p.m., citizen assist at 616 Boxwood Drive. Firefighters responded to the following items on Monday: At 12:28 a.m., fire alarm at 1000 Towers Complex. At 12:29 a.m., emergency medical service in the 1800 block of Big Bend Road...

Cape Girardeau The following items were released Monday by the Cape Girardeau Police Department. Arrests do not imply guilt. DWI Mary Kathleen McCaffrey, 21, 2819 Whitener St., Apt. 4, was arrested on suspicion of driving while intoxicated. Arrests Crystal Dawn Weaver, 19, 2206 Cross St., Poplar Bluff, Mo., was arrested on a Scott City warrant for probation violation for driving under suspension...

WASHINGTON -- Rape victims and felons in prison will have greater access to DNA testing under a five-year, $1 billion program signed into law by President Bush. The law, worked out in the final days of the congressional session that ended last month, ensures access to post-conviction DNA tests for those serving prison sentences, including prisoners on death row. ...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- The forecast for Election Day: strong voter turnout expected, with chances of lines at some polling places, periods of impatience and prospects for victory too close to call in some races. Election Day 2004 is upon us, at last...

ST. LOUIS -- Mayor Francis Slay said his city wants to avoid "the national embarrassment" of election chaos four years ago, while across Missouri, local officials were taking similar steps to make today's voting go smoothly. The St. Louis Board of Elections has more poll workers and more technology to help confirm whether voters are registered and where they should cast their ballots...

MILWAUKEE -- President Bush and Sen. John Kerry reached for the finish line Tuesday in a campaign for the ages, each claiming to be the strong, steady leader needed in a time of terrorism. "The world is watching," said the Democratic challenger in a race that defied safe prediction...

Students at two Cape Girardeau schools learned about citizenship, campaign speeches, the Electoral College and exit polling when they participated in mock elections in the days before today's general election. Students at Alma Schrader Elementary and Cape Christian School held mock presidential elections. Alma Schrader students voted Oct. 26 using voting booths and ballot boxes borrowed from the Cape Girardeau County clerk's office...

CAIRO, Egypt -- Osama bin Laden vowed to bleed America to bankruptcy, according to a full transcript of unaired portions of a videotape released Monday by an Arab television station. The al-Qaida leader's remarks appeared targeted to the final days of the U.S. presidential campaign in which the struggling economy is a major issue...

LANGCHENGGANG, China -- Police by the thousands patrolled this central Chinese town Monday and residents hunkered down in their homes after deadly street fights between members of the country's main ethnic group and a Muslim minority. On Monday, minivans with loudspeakers strapped to their roofs drove through the dirt roads of Langchenggang and neighboring villages in Henan province, broadcasting appeals for calm...

NEW YORK -- Consumer spending rebounded in September while manufacturing activity expanded in October, though at a slower pace than the previous month, providing further evidence of continued but moderating economic growth on the eve of the presidential election...

LOS ANGELES -- Jim Broadbent is most comfortable being British. "I like home really," Broadbent said, his brow wrinkling as he sat amid the palms on the patio of a Los Angeles hotel, dressed in a jumble of clothing more suited for a stroll down a damp English street...

NEW YORK -- Singer R. Kelly sued rapper Jay-Z on Monday for $75 million, alleging Jay-Z's "spite and jealousy" prompted him to use violence to force Kelly off their national tour. The breach of contract suit suggests Jay-Z was perturbed because Kelly was the higher-paid performer. The animosity led to deliberate lighting flubs and other technical problems, violence against Kelly, and threats to force the promoter to drop him, court papers say. The promoter is also named as a defendant...

Rehnquist missing from bench as court returns WASHINGTON -- Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist disclosed Monday that he's undergoing radiation and chemotherapy for thyroid cancer. Rehnquist was expected to be on the bench when the court returned from a two-week break. ...

WASHINGTON -- Efforts to develop the world's first vaccine to prevent cervical cancer took a key step forward Monday with test results suggesting that it can provide long-lasting protection. Four years after getting the vaccine, 94 percent of women were protected from infection with the virus that causes most cervical cancers and none had developed worrisome precancerous conditions, a study showed...

Today is the Day of the Dead, a Mexican holiday that celebrates the return to Earth of departed souls. Families polish the bones of their loved ones just for the occasion. In the United States, it's also the Day of the Dead -- the day of dead-tired Americans who are sick of all the negative political ads that have blanketed the television screen...

Less than 12 hours before Jackson residents will vote on a $27 million bond issue to rebuild an old and overcrowded high school campus, fire chief Brad Golden addressed the city's community outreach board at the fire station Monday night explaining how the city has outgrown the fire department...

Financially troubled Renaissance Aircraft failed to meet Monday's deadline to make bond and lease payments totaling more than $61,000 and could face eviction from a city-owned hangar at the Cape Girardeau Regional Airport. That's not the only financial issue facing the city council...

Victoria Lowes would do just about anything to avoid life in a wheelchair. It's not been an easy goal for the Cape Girardeau 13-year-old, who has battled muscular dystrophy since birth. But with the help of a castoff canine, Victoria has finally found freedom and Central Junior High School has found a new mascot...

A Chaffee, Mo., man armed with a sword, an air rifle and a pocketknife was arrested Monday morning after a two-city rampage that began with the robbery of a Scott City pharmacy and ended in Cape Girardeau with an empty bomb threat and an assault on a Wal-Mart display that caused the store to be evacuated...

If the preliminary polls are any indication, Election Day could lead into a long night of watching a tight race unfold. In any case, semissourian.com will stay up with you as the returns come in. This year, Southeast Missourian Web master James Baughn will work into early Wednesday morning on election night, posting a running election commentary on the newspaper's Web site. ...

Cardinals' Womack, Morris and Kline also filed. By Ronald Blum ~ The Associated Press NEW YORK -- Right-hander Derek Lowe and catcher Jason Varitek led a parade of 10 Red Sox who filed for free agency Monday, two days after they were honored in Boston following the team's first World Series title since 1918...

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- Missouri coach Gary Pinkel on Monday reinstated tailback Damien Nash, ending a one-game suspension apparently spurred by negative comments Nash made about the team's play-calling. Pinkel did not say if Nash, a junior who leads the team with 610 yards rushing and eight touchdowns, would be in the starting lineup Saturday when the Tigers (4-4, 2-3 Big 12) host Kansas State (3-5, 1-4)...

Southeast's leading scorer of the past three seasons has been slow to recover from a stress fracture. By Marty Mishow ~ Southeast Missourian Southeast Missouri State University's men's basketball program received some bad news Monday regarding star senior guard Derek Winans...

The Rams took the entire week off before turning their attention to the Patriots. By R.B. Fallstrom ~ The Associated Press ST. LOUIS -- The St. Louis Rams would have liked being the team to end the New England Patriots NFL record 21-game winning streak, considering their last trip to the Super Bowl was a loss to New England after the 2001 season...

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- The mayor wanted a picture with him. The owner of the Jacksonville Jaguars wanted a word with him. Civic leaders simply wanted to shake his hand. Vijay Singh was the star attraction Monday at a luncheon where the PGA Tour announced $2.25 million in charitable giving from The Players Championship. It was another example of just how far the 41-year-old Fijian has come...

Decorative lights on the Bill Emerson Memorial Bridge remain shut down, the result of a blown transformer that has left the structure without the lights since Oct. 12. The Missouri Department of Transportation has ordered a new transformer but it has yet to arrive, said MoDOT spokeswoman Angie Wilson. "We should have it installed within the next two to three weeks," she said...

Amid a nationwide shortage of flu vaccine, more than 200 community workers deemed "essential" by the Cape Girardeau County Public Health Department have received inoculations due to the generosity of a major local company. Over the past two weeks, the health department has been carefully rationing out more than 400 doses of flu vaccine donated by Procter & Gamble Paper Products. ...

When news of Mount St. Helens' impending eruption surfaced, first-graders at Cape Christian School saw events unfold through the kitchen window of a classmate's aunt. They did it without ever leaving their Cape Girardeau classroom, through an e-pals project created by teacher Dena Shelton...

Just before noon Tuesday a tall, slender man wearing a green sweat shirt, black pants and a stocking over his face walked into Horst Pharmacy in Jackson and announced that he had a bomb in his duffel bag, Jackson police said. The suspect got away with an undisclosed amount of prescription drugs from the store on 2705 E. Jackson Blvd...

Halloween is my favorite holiday because I get to wear bizarre outfits and eat a lot of candy. And for you who say, "Heidi, how does that make it different from any other day for you?" I reply, "I hope a disgruntled spirit haunts your rude butt."...

The ghosts and goblins of Halloween have passed but it won't be long before visions of sugarplums are dancing through your head. The Thanksgiving holiday and Christmas season are upon us. Grocery stores already have display aisles of baking supplies and their circulars announce specials on ingredients you'll need for holiday baking...

Incumbent Republicans in two other races were also ahead of their challengers. By Marc Powers ~ Southeast Missourian JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- A strong showing in Cape Girardeau County helped put Republican Billy Pat Wright of Dexter over the top in the race for the 159th District seat in the Missouri House of Representatives...

25 years ago: Nov. 3, 1979 Temperatures in the upper 40s don't dissuade spectators from lining Broadway for the annual Southeast Missouri State University homecoming parade; the parade lasts an hour and a half and features 124 entrants, including 20 bands...

Cpl. Mason O. Yarbrough Detachment No. 1081 The Cpl. Mason O. Yarbrough Detachment No. 1081 of the Marine Corps League met on Oct. 21 with Richard Bollwerk, commandant, presiding. New members, Glendon Stroup and Mike Reitzel, were welcomed to the detachment...

Crane Son to Jason Allen and Danitra Lee Crane of Marble Hill, Mo., Southeast Missouri Hospital, 10:32 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 26, 2004. Name, Lathan Allen Dwight. Weight, 7 pounds 5 ounces. Mrs. Crane is the former Danitra Emery, daughter of Dennis and Gladys Emery of Hunter, Mo. She is a graduate student at Southeast Missouri State University. Crane is the son of Marc and Virginia Crane of Greenville, Mo. He is a teacher at Woodland School District...

MORLEY, Mo. -- Ruby Harris Gibbs, 93, of Prescott, Ariz., died Sunday, Oct. 31, 2004, at Las Fuentes Care Center in Prescott. She was born March 6, 1911, in Randolph County, Ark., daughter of Jonah Right and Clemanthe Jane Howard Galemore. She first married Lowell Harris in 1930. He died in 1973. She and Ludlow Gibbs were married in 1975. He died in 1985...

MOUND CITY, Ill. -- Carrie Guthrie, 83, of Mound City died Sunday, Oct. 31, 2004, at her home. Massie Funeral Home in Cairo, Ill., is in charge of arrangements.

Richard Knaup, 75, of Cape Girardeau died Tuesday, Nov. 2, 2004, at Saint Francis Medical Center. Ford and Sons Mount Auburn Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Fantastic young lady I CAN'T believe the article "Queen of court, Brett Ford." It was just simply a fantastic article, and I don't even know this young lady very well. My children know her from school, and they say she is a friend to everyone, that she is always polite, that it doesn't matter, popular or unpopular, Brett treats everyone the same. ...

The Cape Girardeau Area Basketball Officials Association's regular meeting is scheduled for 6 tonight at the Southeast Missouri State University Student Recreation Center. The meeting will review two-man and three-man mechanics. Officials are asked to dress comfortably for some floor work...

Jacksonville State received a boost in its quest for a second consecutive Ohio Valley Conference title without even taking the field. The Gamecocks had an open date Saturday -- but by the end of the evening they found themselves as the only team with just one conference loss...

Baseball n Former Cincinnati Reds general manager Jim Bowden was hired Tuesday as general manager of the Washington-bound Montreal Expos. Bowden will oversee offseason trades and signings for a team that will move to the nation's capital next season if the local government approves funding for a new ballpark. He replaces Omar Minaya, who resigned during the final week of the regular season to become general manager of the New York Mets...

It's a sting operation of an unusual kind involving police and school buses. Cape Girardeau police have been riding school buses at random in an effort to nab some drivers. The police are looking for motorists who aren't stopping when the school bus flashes its red stoplights and extends it stop arm...

Cape Girardeau The following items were released Tuesday by the Cape Girardeau Police Department. Arrests do not imply guilt. Arrests Richard A. Taylor, 57, 116 Amanda Court, Chaffee, Mo., was arrested on suspicion of assault on a law enforcement officer, unlawful use of a weapon, property damage, possession of marijuana and resisting arrest...

Cape Girardeau Firefighters responded to the following items on Monday: At 1:14 p.m., emergency medical service in the 700 block of North Street. At 4:45 p.m., emergency medical service in the 200 block of Siemers Drive. At 10:52 p.m., house fire at 529 Louis St...

U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Emerson handily won re-election to a fifth two-year term Tuesday night, piling up huge totals in her home county of Cape Girardeau and in many of the other 27 counties in the 8th District. With 229 of 521 precincts reporting, the Cape Girardeau Republican Emerson had 97,109 votes or nearly 73 percent of the vote. ...

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- Incumbent sheriff Gary Schaaf easily won a fourth term by defeating his Democratic opponent Joseph McAtee with 75.6 percent of the votes. According to unofficial totals from Perry County Clerk Randy Taylor, Schaaf captured 6,149 votes; McAtee, 1,981...

Richard Knaup of Cape Girardeau enjoyed the spices of life. But he, himself, was a spice in the lives of those who knew him, a flavor that will now be missed. On Tuesday, Knaup died at Saint Francis Medical Center after falling ill Monday morning. He was 75...

Pier for old bridge may be blasted today If the weather permits, Pier 3 from the old Mississippi River bridge will be demolished around 2 p.m. today. According to the Missouri Department of Transportation, the above-the-surface blast will cause the Bill Emerson Memorial bridge to be closed to traffic for approximately five minutes...

Two defendants involved in the Jan. 12 robbery of Cape Girardeau's Bank of America pleaded guilty Tuesday in U.S. District Court. Dareme P. Tipler, 25, of Sikeston, Mo., pleaded guilty to a felony count of using a firearm in connection with a bank robbery. He had previously pleaded guilty to a count of armed bank robbery...

The Associated Press WASHINGTON -- The Supreme Court took up a racial segregation case Tuesday that asks if black California inmates are being unconstitutionally bunked together for months at a time, in the name of keeping prisons safe. The Bush administration has sided with a black convicted killer who claims he has been humiliated by forced prison segregation...

Round-the-clock runway construction has closed the Cape Girardeau Regional Airport to air traffic and cut into customer traffic at airport businesses. The airport terminal is a quiet place these days. "We notice our regular traffic flow is down," said Judy Brandt, manager of The Landing Place restaurant in the terminal building...

LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- San Francisco Giants outfielder Barry Bonds extended his own record Tuesday by winning his 12th Silver Slugger award, given to the top offensive players at their positions in each league. For the first time since the awards began in 1980, there was a tie at one position, with Detroit's Ivan Rodriguez and Cleveland's Victor Martinez sharing the honor as the top-hitting AL catcher. It was the seventh award for Rodriguez, the first for Martinez...

PHOENIX -- Arizona Diamondbacks manager Wally Backman will keep his new job despite revelations of two arrests and financial problems in his past. "I've made a few mistakes in my life, and I think everybody has," Backman told The Associated Press on Tuesday night. "It's a matter of whether you learn from your mistakes and move on. That's what I'm doing."...

TORONTO -- Seventy-five NHL players met with union leaders Tuesday to get an update on a lockout that shows no sign of ending. Among those players was Montreal's Pierre Dagenais, who has said he would be willing to disobey the union and accept a salary cap if that would help settle the lockout...

NEW YORK -- Derek Jeter's diving grab caught the attention of all of baseball and perhaps earned him his first American League Gold Glove. The New York Yankees shortstop won the honor Tuesday, taking over from teammate Alex Rodriguez, who had won it two straight years before moving to third base this year...

WASHINGTON -- President Bush and challenger John Kerry traded early swing-state victories Tuesday night, then sweated out a tension-packed conclusion to the race between an embattled incumbent and a Democrat who questioned the war the Republican waged in Iraq...

PITTSBURGH -- He wasn't yet born the last time the Pittsburgh Steelers won the Super Bowl. That isn't preventing rookie quarterback Ben Roethlisberger from bringing back the memories of the greatest times -- and the greatest teams -- in franchise history...

CHICAGO -- Barack Obama, who shot from obscurity to political stardom with his message of national unity, trounced Republican Alan Keyes at the polls Tuesday to be elected the fifth black U.S. senator in history. "We can look forward to the future. We can build step by step to ensure we arrive at the practical common-sense solutions that all of us hope for," Obama said as he claimed victory Tuesday night...

ST. LOUIS -- Republican Sen. Kit Bond easily won re-election on Tuesday, becoming the first Republican ever to capture four Senate terms in Missouri. Bond defeated Democratic State Treasurer Nancy Farmer, winning 57 percent to 42 percent, with 52 percent of precincts reporting in unofficial returns. The Associated Press based Bond's victory on actual results and analysis of an exit poll of Missouri voters...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- At least one leader of the Missouri legislature failed in an effort to move to higher office Tuesday. Republican House Speaker Catherine Hanaway conceded defeat in the secretary of state's race Tuesday evening to Democrat Robin Carnahan, daughter of the late-Gov. Mel Carnahan and former U.S. Sen. Jean Carnahan. In early, unofficial returns, Carnahan was leading Hanaway 53 percent to 45 percent, with about 47 percent of precincts in...

Key findings from an exit poll of voters in Missouri's general election: GENDER Bush had a slight advantage among both men and women. In 2000, Bush easily carried the male vote but lost the female vote to Al Gore. RELIGION The Catholic vote in Missouri, which makes up nearly a quarter of the state's voters, was almost evenly split. ...

BOURBON, Mo. -- Authorities made two arrests Monday they said should end any worries about a possible sniper along a stretch of Interstate 44 in eastern Missouri. The reality, they said, was that two teenagers were firing a .22-caliber rifle at a sign across the freeway. Jeffrey Hubbard, 19, of Sullivan, was charged Monday with a felony count of second-degree assault. Both he and Paul Murta, 18, of Leasburg, were charged with shooting across a highway, a misdemeanor...

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- A new policy at Poplar Bluff High School requiring students to wear identification badges has prompted one parent to withdraw his children and some students to put stickers on their badges protesting the policy. The badges are identical to the IDs students were previously required to carry and use to check out library books. ...

The Associated Press CAMP ZAMA, Japan -- Sgt. Charles Robert Jenkins pleaded guilty Wednesday to deserting the U.S. Army in 1965, saying that he wanted to avoid "hazardous" duty on the Korean peninsula and in Vietnam. The plea was apparently part of a bargain with U.S. military officials to win the frail 64-year-old a lesser sentence. Jenkins vanished from his post and lived in North Korea for 39 years...

AMMAN, Jordan -- Saddam Hussein's family dismissed a prominent Jordanian lawyer who led the ousted Iraqi dictator's defense team, accusing him of seeking "personal gain and fame" in the high-profile case, other legal team members said Tuesday. Saddam's family told Mohammed al-Rashdan in late September he was being relieved of his duties, "but he did not accept the wish" until Tuesday, said Ziad al-Khasawneh, spokesman for the attorneys appointed by Saddam's wife, Sajida...

BAGHDAD, Iraq -- Car bombs killed at least a dozen people in Baghdad and another major city Tuesday as pressure mounted on interim Prime Minister Ayad Allawi to avert a full-scale U.S. attack on the insurgent stronghold Fallujah. There was no word on an American and two other foreigners abducted Monday night in Baghdad, although the kidnappers freed two Iraqi guards also captured in the bold attack. ...

LOS ANGELES -- Sherry Lansing, the one-time model and actress who broke down barriers for women in the movie industry as one of Hollywood's most powerful studio chiefs, said Tuesday she will leave her post as chairwoman of Paramount Pictures at the end of next year when her contract expires...

NEW YORK -- Rob Lowe, who flopped last season in a freshman NBC drama, lost another bet Tuesday as his new series, "dr. vegas," was yanked by CBS. Calling the sudden disappearance a "hiatus," CBS announced that a repeat episode of its hit drama "Without a Trace" would air this week in the slot (9 p.m. Friday) followed the rest of November by reruns of "Cold Case," "CSI: Miami" and "CSI."...

Thank goodness for the SEMO football team last Saturday. After a week of devastating losses -- St. Louis Cardinals, Rams, Central Tigers, Jackson Indians -- a win was needed. And the football team delivered. Maybe it wasn't pretty (the first half was a veritable comedy of errors), but the game had more than its share of excitement...

smcclanahan We used the election process as a teachable moment for our children recently. Trying to explain the process from start to finish wound up being a challenge. But through all of the technical teaching, I tried very hard to drive home the big point in the election process. We are so very fortunate to live in a country where we have the right and privilege to have a voice in the election of our leaders. I just hope that in some small way they understand that point and value it always...

"It will be for people in the imminent third millennium to decide which countries or cultures have made the greatest contribution, in terms of food, to human happiness," said the Oxford Companion to Food at the turn of this century, "but it seems safe to predict that the Italians will be up there at or near the top of the list."...

The Columbus (Ohio) Dispatch Congress had a golden opportunity to improve Americans' health, cut health-care costs and throw a lasso around a rogue industry. But that opportunity was flicked out the window when a House-Senate conference committee working on a corporate-tax bill jettisoned a provision to allow the Food and Drug Administration to regulate the tobacco industry...

I am an American living and working overseas. I was born in St. Louis, grew up in Perryville, Mo., and moved to Colorado not long after graduating college. Three years ago, I moved to Spain. As an American citizen living overseas, you are exposed to many different things that you do not have the opportunity to see or experience at home, expanding your view of the world...

The $1.487 million bond issue for the Chaffee School District passed by 408 votes. By Kathryn Alfisi ~ Southeast Missourian Voters in Scott City went to the polls Tuesday to decide four local races, including the first sheriff's race in 28 years where incumbent Bill Ferrell was not up for election...

~ The Wall Street Journal Of all the clichés routinely trotted out by foreigners about the United States, surely this election has put one of them to rest: namely, that there is "no difference" between our two political parties. Sure, the Communist Party never had much of a claim on our electorate, the way it once did in Italy and still does in France. ...

Former associate circuit judge Ben Lewis defeated incumbent judge John Heisserer by 272 votes on Tuesday. "I've won and I've lost and winning is better," Lewis said. Overall, Heisserer won 23,383 votes to Lewis's 23,655. Lewis, a Republican, was elected to the bench in 1990 and was defeated for re-election in 1994...

Jackson does not have its new high school -- yet. A majority 56.38 percent of voters said yes to a $27 million bond issue to renovate and expand the aging high school, but that wasn't enough for the measure to pass. It required a four-sevenths majority...

The Banner Press MARBLE HILL, Mo. -- Republican candidates overwhelmingly took every office they sought in Bollinger County Tuesday, including sheriff and two county commission seats. The county also lent solid backing to a local fire tax that supporters say will update firefighting equipment, add additonal stations and improve rescue services...

By 5:30 a.m. Tuesday, a line had already formed to vote outside the locked door of the courthouse. By 7 a.m., they were still standing outside the American Legion hall waiting to cast their votes. All through the morning, long lines. Waits up to 45 minutes long...

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- A state constitutional amendment to direct all vehicle sales taxes and some gas taxes to improving roads and bridges was overwhelming approved Tuesday by Missouri voters. With 52 percent of the vote counted, the amendment won 79 percent to 21 percent, according to unofficial results...

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- President Bush won a repeat Missouri victory on Tuesday, rolling up waves of votes in rural areas and besting Democrat John Kerry in Missouri's booming suburbs. The Associated Press based Bush's win on actual results and analysis of an exit poll of Missouri voters...

Both players pull in honors for their strong performances in Saturday's win. Southeast Missourian Southeast Missouri State University football players Kellin White and David Simonhoff have been recognized nationally for their performances during Saturday's 35-7 win over Tennessee-Martin...

MURRAY, Ky. -- Southeast Missouri State University's soccer season came to and end Tuesday as host Murray State posted a 1-0 victory in the first round of the six-team Ohio Valley Conference tournament. The third-seeded Racers will carry an 8-10-1 record into Friday's tournament semifinals in Birmingham, Ala. Sixth-seeded Southeast, which lost to Murray State 1-0 in double overtime on Oct. 17 in Cape Girardeau, finishes at 11-6-2...

The school is graduating its athletes at a rate 10 percent higher than that of the overall student body. By Marty Mishow ~ Southeast Missourian Southeast Missouri State University athletes had a much higher graduation rate compared to the school's general student population than the national Division I average, according to figures released recently by the NCAA...

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- As Missouri's offense struggles, some on the other side of the ball believe they need to score more for a team that has lost three games in a row and mustered no touchdowns in the past six quarters. "We just have to place more of a burden on our shoulders," Tiger safety Jason Simpson said. "Instead of looking for the offense to make points, we need to go out there and make points, too."...

Rush Limbaugh complained that George W. Bush's economic policy "may be compassionate, but it is not conservatism," while Republican John McCain accused the president of "spending money like a drunken sailor." Although their constituents are different, Bush's economic policy has more in common with the administration of Lyndon Baines Johnson than Ronald Reagan. ...

A three-race winning streak puts Johnson in the thick of the Nextel Cup title chase. By Paul Newberry ~ The Associated Press HAMPTON, Ga. -- Jimmie Johnson is a realist. When he finished 37th at Talladega, then 32nd at Kansas City, he figured that was it. No chance of winning his first Nextel Cup championship this year. Might as well start looking ahead to 2005...

11/05/04 - Shane Henry - BB's Jazz & Blues 11/05/04 - Michael Burks - BB's Jazz Blues & Soup 11/05/04 - Baffa Toujours - Focal Point Coffeehouse 11/05/04 - Nicoblue - Frederick's Music Lounge 11/05/04 - Kurt Elting - Jazz At The Bistro 11/05/04 - Lawrence Hobgood Trio - Jazz At The Bistro...

by Stacy Williams As you all know The Zone Insider has been taking over by the jocks that work on the air and so far they have all done a great job...Tab and The Morning Boner have given us some good information and their personal opinions on the Modern Rock World, while keeping a fair and just attitude toward all the readers of Off Magazine and the listeners of Cape's Only Modern Rock the Zone @ 1071. ...

The films began arriving 2 months ago, with the return addresses ranging from Los Angeles, CA to Victoria, Australia. These films were screened alongside entries submitted by filmmakers in Cape Girardeau and Scott City. From among these, 15 films were selected to be shown in competition on November 12, 2004 at the Show-Me Digital Film Festival. The Cape Girardeau community is invited to sit alongside the filmmakers and enjoy a night of independent films from around the world...

Trans-Siberian Orchestra (TSO) was formed in 1996 by Paul O'Neill, who immediately approached long time friends and collaborators Robert Kinkel and Jon Oliva to form the core of the writing team. While producing and writing for a number of years with various rock groups O'Neill was always looking for ways to make the music have greater and greater emotional impact. ...

There are your traditional and time-honored Christmas productions like "The Nutcracker" and "A Christmas Carol," and then there is Trans-Siberian Orchestra's holiday offering coming to Cape Girardeau November 17. A holiday-themed rock show, "Christmas Eve and Other Stories" features an orchestral string section, a full rock band, several vocalists, a narrator, pyrotechnics and a light show...

For five guys with no where to go, Lost Possum has their fans raving over Internet chat rooms and forums. Anxiously awaiting the arrival of Lost Possum's upcoming LP, fans are getting their fill of the band through lostpossum.com, hundreds of demo CD's, and local performances...

On its first album in nearly five years, Trans-Siberian Orchestra (TSO) returns to the theme that has made the band a perennial best-seller and top concert draw: the magic of Christmas. The group's fourth rock opera and the closing chapter of its holiday trilogy, The Lost Christmas Eve is an inspirational tale weaving together messages of hope, faith and compassion...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- At 2:15 a.m. on Wednesday, after a grueling night of watching election returns trickle in at a St. Louis hotel, Peter Kinder's campaign manager cleared the room to break the bad news to the Republican nominee for lieutenant governor...

David Westrich is officially one of America's top young scientists. The Cape Girardeau 14-year-old didn't expect his science project on lead levels in worms and wood lice to take him so far, but his work recently earned him third place in the Discovery Channel's Young Scientist Challenge...

Jackson residents may see even more construction crews in the next few days as the city has approved its latest asphalt improvement program. The board of aldermen on Monday night accepted a $107,526 bid from the Apex Paving Co. This is in addition to the Missouri Department of Transportation's major widening project that is under construction on West Jackson Boulevard...

Nov. 4, 2004 Dear coach, This letter is an apology on behalf of my wife, who has put a curse on your season. Let me explain. It was my wife, more than a year ago, who thought football players would make good tenants. I think she fantasized they'd pick up big rocks and tree limbs for her out in the yard...

Flappers, fedoras, zoot suits and the Charleston and Lindy dances will return to the Marquette Towers when the lobby of the one-time hotel is transformed into a "speakeasy" Saturday. Old Town Cape, a Cape Girardeau downtown revitalization organization, is sponsoring an evening of music, dancing and hors d'oeuvres to celebrate the restoration of the former hotel. The structure is now an office building...

For its latest theatrical production, Notre Dame Regional High School takes on Oscar Wilde's classic comedy "The Importance of Being Earnest" and the results are admirable. The play focuses on friends Algernon Moncrief and Jack Worthing and the romantic entanglements that arise from their dual identities. ...

The Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce will hold its monthly First Friday Coffee at the Show Me Center this Friday. This month's featured presenter will be Sam Jones, Region 7 administrator for the Small Business Administration. Jones will discuss the role of small business in economic recovery. The program will begin at 7:30 a.m. Friday, after a continental breakfast at 7:15 a.m...

We had a long night ... and a great night. The voters turned out in record numbers and delivered an historic victory. Earlier today, Sen. Kerry called with his congratulations. We had a really good phone call. He was very gracious. Sen. Kerry waged a spirited campaign, and he and his supporters can be proud of their efforts. Laura and I wish Sen. Kerry and Teresa and their whole family all our best wishes...

I'm sorry that we got here a little bit late and little bit short. I spoke to President Bush and I offered him and Laura our congratulations on their victory. We had a good conversation, and we talked about the danger of division in our country and the need -- the desperate need for unity, for finding the common ground, coming together...

WASHINGTON -- Successful in persuading voters not to change leaders in wartime, President Bush faces a second term packed with problems bred in his first, from the need for an exit strategy in Iraq to the prospect of staggering budget deficits at home...

WASHINGTON -- President Bush claimed a re-election mandate Wednesday after a record 59 million Americans chose him over Democrat John Kerry and voted to expand Republican control of Congress as well. He pledged to pursue his agenda on taxes and Iraq while seeking "the broad support of all Americans."...

Elated by an 11-for-11 rejection of gay marriage in state elections, conservatives Wednesday urged Congress to follow suit by approving a federal constitutional amendment that would extend the prohibition nationwide. The state victories "are a prelude to the real battle," said Matt Daniels, whose Alliance for Marriage has pushed for congressional action. "Ultimately, only our Federal Marriage Amendment will protect marriage."...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Newly elected as governor, Matt Blunt will have the opportunity of a lifetime -- in fact, of several lifetimes -- when he takes office in January. The state's second-youngest governor ever, Blunt also will be the first Republican governor to enjoy GOP legislative majorities since Gov. Arthur Hyde in 1921-1922...

CAIRO, Ill. -- Voters in Alexander County narrowly elected Republican Angela Greenwell of rural Cairo over incumbent Democrat John "Andy" Clarke of Olive Branch for county commissioner while voters in McClure approved a plan to incorporate the town...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Fresh from Election Day triumphs that tightened GOP control of the Missouri Legislature, Republican lawmakers on Wednesday nominated state Rep. Rod Jetton to be the next speaker of the House of Representatives. Jetton, R-Marble Hill, easily won election to his third House term on Tuesday. He has served as speaker pro tem, the chamber's No. 2 post, since 2003...

ANCHORAGE, Alaska -- Republican Lisa Murkowski earned a term in the Senate in her own right Wednesday, defeating popular former Gov. Tony Knowles and overcoming the commotion that arose when her father, the governor, appointed her to fill his Senate term...

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- Possession of small amounts of marijuana would be decriminalized and medical use of the drug would be legal under two propositions Columbia voters approved by large margins. Voters there also approved a measure that requires the city to generate or purchase electricity from renewable resources in increasingly higher percentages for the next 18 years...

Three area teams will play for district titles when the final week of district play begins tonight. Unlike recent years, when large schools Central and Jackson were looking to make postseason runs, Scott City and Perryville join St. Vincent in the hunt for state playoff berths...

Derek McCord and the Central basketball team could spend a lot of time thinking about what they don't have this year. McCord instead is putting in a lot of time trying to find out just what he does have. "We have to develop an identity," McCord said Wednesday after his team completed its third practice session in preparation for the 2004-05 basketball season...

WASHINGTON -- A multiyear study involving more than 100,000 participants provides added support that eating lots of fruit and vegetables is good for the heart. But the analysis failed to show similar benefits for cancer, a result that prompted the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, which published the study Tuesday, to raise questions about its findings...

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. The persistent beeping catches Sunny Speaker's attention. She quickly steps around nurses, incubators and bulky machines while balancing a stack of patient charts -- and a guitar. The beeping is coming from the monitor on a premature baby boy who is struggling to breathe because of respiratory disease and whose blood is getting low on oxygen...

British researchers working in an East African village say a single dose of an antibiotic appears to stop infections that cause trachoma, the world's leading preventable cause of blindness. After treating most of the village with azithromycin, the "prevalence and intensity of infection fell dramatically," said Anthony Soloman, the study's lead author...

~ The AssociatedPress ST. LOUIS -- Three members of the National League champion St. Louis Cardinals were honored as the top-fielding players at their positions when the Gold Gloves were announed Wednesday. Greg Maddux, meanwhile, won his 14th Gold Glove. He had won 13 in a row, a record among NL pitchers, before Atlanta's Mike Hampton replaced him in 2003. Back with the Chicago Cubs this year, Maddux is closing in on Jim Kaat's record for pitchers of 16 Gold Gloves...

WASHINGTON -- Note to lawyers: It's probably best not to bring up the infirmities of the elderly when arguing an age discrimination case before the white-haired members of the Supreme Court. Attorney Glen Nager tried it and got a cold reception Wednesday as justices debated standards for on-the-job age discrimination lawsuits. The stakes in the case are huge for businesses, because a loss in the case would open them up to more lawsuits when layoffs or other cutbacks hurt older workers...

ST. LOUIS -- The first hit was the worst part of Travis Fisher's comeback. After being out since the preseason with a broken right forearm, the St. Louis Rams' cornerback thought he had broken it again. "It was aching real bad," Fisher said Wednesday. "You can't help but notice it when it's hurting."...

n Name: Linda Keena Lives in: Jackson Family: 11-year-old son, Michael Job: Instructor, Department of Criminal Justice and Sociology, Southeast Missouri State University What do you like most about the area? I love this area because it has all four seasons of the year with distinctive differences in each...

Henderson completes Navy basic training Navy airman recruit James S. Henderson, completed U.S. Navy basic training Friday, Oct. 29 at Recruit Training Command, Great Lakes, Ill. A 2004 graduate of Scott City High School, Henderson is the son of Steve and Pam Henderson of Scott City...

Hanover Lutheran plans pork sausage supper A pork sausage supper will be served beginning at 3:30 p.m. Sunday at Hanover Lutheran Church, 2949 Perryville Road, sponsored by the Hanover Lutheran Men's Club. The all-you-can-eat buffet includes sausage, potatoes, green beans, apple butter, sauer kraut, bread, dessert and beverages. Carry outs will be available. Children under 6 can eat free. For more information, call 335-8583...

"A Hero's Homecoming," is the new procedure implemented at the Missouri Veterans Home when a resident dies. Residents, employees, volunteers and visitors gather in the lobby for a brief ceremony which includes placing a special patriotic memorial banner over the funeral home covering. A resident also calls out "attention" followed by everyone saluting and placing hands over their hearts while taps is played...

Scrapbooking class scheduled at library A free scrapbook album workshop, held from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, will be led by instructor Jackie McMinn at Riverside Regional Library in Jackson. Call 243-8141 or sign up in person. The class is limited to 30 participants. There will be a nominal charge for supplies and participants should bring their own photos...

Bessie Hendrix Cooper, 103, recently celebrated her birthday at Hill Crest Nursing Care Center in Desoto where she has been a resident since 1998. Cooper is the widow of Roy H. Cooper. She is the daughter of John and Katie Allard Hendrix. Roy and Bessie Cooper married Sept. 30, 1925, in Cape Girardeau and had five children: Dorothy Morton (deceased), Gary Cooper, Aldo Cooper, Shirley Kirkpatrick and John Henry Cooper, who died as an infant...

Running red lights IT IS going to take someone being injured badly or killed before police start monitoring the intersections in Cape Girardeau? Every day as I go to and from work, I witness people running red lights. I am not talking about going through on caution, but completely going through on red. ...

On Monday night, Ivory Joe Robinson of Cape Girardeau graduated. The people closest to him were there to cheer him on and wish him well. A speaker gave an address, and Robinson was given a certificate, a commencement coin and a bag of gifts. He also walked away with more than that: a new-found dignity and respect for himself and for others. He walked into a new life he had to learn how to live. Robinson graduated from drug court...

Twenty injured in D.C. when subway trains collide WASHINGTON -- An empty subway train backed into an occupied one Wednesday, injuring 20 people, transit officials said. The occupied train had pulled into one of the city's busiest stations moments before the empty train backed into it. Most of the 75-foot-long rear car of the empty train came off the tracks and about one-third of its aluminum shell was pulled apart...

Bin Laden accuses Bush of quagmire in Iraq CAIRO, Egypt -- Terror mastermind Osama bin Laden claimed in new video footage broadcast Wednesday that President Bush ignored warnings against invading Iraq because he was dazzled by the country's "black gold" and ended up leading the United States into a quagmire. The tape shows bin Laden accusing Bush of acting out of what he calls "private" interests -- an allusion to Bush's past in the oil industry...

Today Blood pressure screening at 10 a.m. at Cape Senior Center, sponsored by the Generations Family Resource Center. For information, call 651-5825. "Ask your doctor" airs at 8 p.m. on cable channel 5. Dr. Suha Alkadry will speak about breast-feeding. Viewers can phone 334-3095 with questions during the program...

Thursday CENTRAL (2-7) AT SIKESTON (2-7), 7 P.M. N LAST WEEK: WEST PLAINS 35, CENTRAL 14; POPLAR BLUFF 34, SIKESTON 14 LAST YEAR'S MEETING: CENTRAL 44, SIKESTON 19 NOTES: A DISAPPOINTING HOME LOSS TO WEST PLAINS ON SENIOR NIGHT HAS THE TIGERS PLAYING FOR PRIDE AGAINST SIKESTON INSTEAD OF A FIFTH STRAIGHT DISTRICT TITLE. THE BULLDOGS HAVE STRUGGLED AS MUCH AS THE TIGERS THIS SEASON, WITH PLENTY OF LOPSIDED LOSSES OF THEIR OWN...

n In a photo caption in Sunday's paper, Joel Hahs was listed with the incorrect school. Hahs is a cross country runner for Meadow Heights. The Southeast Missourian regrets the error. In a story in Monday's edition, the new coach for the Oran boys basketball team was listed incorrectly. Jason Andrews is the coach for Oran. The Southeast Missourian regrets the error...

Basketball Hotshot contest: The Jackson Parks and Recreation Department is offering a Points for Pizzas Basketball Hotshot Contest on Nov. 20 at the multi-purpose building by Jackson High School. Registration is 9 a.m. with the contest to begin at 10. Divisions for ages 9-11, 12-14 and 15-17. No fee; Domino's pizzas for top three finishers. A half-court shoot-off also planned. Info: 204-8848...

In Wednesday's edition, it should have been reported that NBC, MSNBC and Fox were the three television networks declaring President Bush the winner in the Ohio presidential election. The Southeast Missourian regrets the error.

25 years ago: Nov. 4, 1979 The Rev. Claude Russell Jr., is installed as pastor of Second Baptist Church in afternoon ceremony; the Rev. Pythia Frazier of Carbondale, Ill., delivers the installation sermon; Russell came to Cape Girardeau from the New Zion Baptist Church of Carbondale...

Deanna Walker, 47, of Cape Girardeau died Tuesday, Nov. 2, 2004, at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis. She was born Oct. 1, 1957, in Anna, Ill., daughter of Glenn E. and Doris Bibb Middleton. She and William H. Walker were married in August 1989 in Cobden, Ill...

LOWNDES, Mo. -- Bobby Glenn Turner, 75, of Lowndes died Tuesday, Nov. 2, 2004, at Three Rivers Regional Hospital in Poplar Bluff, Mo. He was born July 16, 1929, in Flint, Mich., son of B.G. and Fannie Boyd Turner. He and Jean Kinningham were married July 23, 1971. She died July 30, 2004...

SIKESTON, Mo. -- Mary Lucille Crews, 89, of Sikeston died Wednesday, Nov. 3, 2004, at Puxico Nursing and Rehab Center in Puxico, Mo. She was born Sept. 4, 1915, in Piggott, Ark., daughter of Wiley Price and Iva Templeton Thomas. She and George Raymond Crews were married Sept. 28, 1933. He died March 28, 1999...

GLENALLEN, Mo. -- Juana Gromer, 28, of Bland, Mo., died Tuesday, Nov. 2, 2004, at her home. She was born Oct. 30, 1976, in St. Charles, Mo., daughter of Juan Castro and Susan Sear. She and Larry Gromer were married June 24, 1996, at Marble Hill, Mo...

KELSO, Mo. -- Mildred Francis Diebold, 81, died Wednesday, Nov. 3, 2004, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. She was born Feb. 7, 1923, at Anniston, Mo., daughter of George and Lila Gardner Lochridge. She and Herman Eugene Diebold were married Sept. 3, 1943. He died Oct. 12, 2004...

Richard Joseph Knaup, 75, of Cape Girardeau died Tuesday, Nov. 2, 2004, at Saint Francis Medical Center. He was born Feb. 1, 1929, in Cape Girardeau, son of John and Clara Stehr Knaup. He and Carla Jo "Jody" Whitehead were married June 10, 1952, in Charleston, Mo...

Before Andrew was born the Lord knew him and all his days were planned. God loved Andrew so much that He gave His one and only Son so that when Andrew asked Jesus to be his Savior Feb. 23, 1997, God gave Andrew eternal life. Andrew fought the good fight. He lay down his sword and received his crown Oct. 27, 2004. We grieve our loss while rejoicing in his victory...

To the editor: In response to "Freedom on four legs": A big thank you to Callie Clark for writing such a wonderful and informative article. And a thank you for running it on the front page. Many homeless animals would make great pets. They are just waiting for a family to let them in so they can share all that love stored up inside. Thanks again...

To the editor: In response to "Adopting a heritage": Thank you, Laura Johnston, for a well-written article on foreign adoptive families. You have much more insight than many reporters. It's easy to get interested in the topic but not easy to get the insight. Thank you. I would love to see more people understand this issue as well as you do...

Growing up in "Swampeast Missouri," I had just assumed that mosquitoes were a necessary nuisance. Lately, I have been forced to see them as terrorist killers from the West Nile. SARS makes me think twice about getting on an airplane with strangers and this looming, unprotected flu season has me tempted to copy Michael Jackson's face-gear fashion statement...

We like the common-sense approach the Cape Girardeau Convention and Visitors Bureau advisory board is taking toward finding ways to use the city's $1 million tax surplus. The board contemplates spending only half the money and wants it to be used as seed money for larger projects. The board so far has backed away from any big-ticket items such as a water park or hockey rink...

FOXBORO, Mass. -- Ty Law's foot injury could not have come at a worse time for the New England Patriots. Patriots coach Bill Belichick confirmed Wednesday that Law will not play Sunday against the St. Louis Rams, and a representative for the Pro Bowl cornerback said he'll miss four to six weeks with a broken bone in his left foot...

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Shaquille O'Neal caught the ball deep in the low post, used his oversized posterior to bump Alonzo Mourning out of the way, then dropped in a layup with no one else around. Miami's new center had his way against a familiar face from the Heat's recent past, shooting 7-for-9 from the field and scoring 16 points in a 100-77 victory Wednesday night over the New Jersey Nets...

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- A Greene County man was charged Wednesday with dumping 50,000 gallons of a spoiled molasses and rainwater mixture that polluted freshwater springs in southwest Missouri. Stephen Lindsey, who owns German Septic Tank Service, faces a misdemeanor of violating Missouri's Clean Water Law by unlawfully discharging a water contaminant...

ST. LOUIS -- A man in a stolen car and wearing body armor shot at police early Wednesday at a conservation area before fatally shooting himself, investigators said. St. Louis County police did not say why Ryan Arnold, 26, of Florissant, was wearing a bullet-resistant vest or why he opened fire shortly before 1 a.m. at the Missouri state conservation area...

An Iraqi army officer and national guardsmen were also beheaded on Wednesday. By Robert H. Reid ~ The Associated Press BAGHDAD, Iraq -- Gunmen kidnapped a Lebanese-American businessman -- the second U.S. citizen seized this week in Baghdad -- and a videotape Wednesday showed the beheadings of three Iraqi National Guardsmen and an Iraqi officer...

In its day, "Dallas" was a magnificent and magnetic series that drew millions every Friday night. No matter how silly, this steamy soap took command for most of its 13-season run, serving as a pioneer of serialized dramas in prime time. (And need we remind you how 77 percent of all people watching TV the night of Nov. 21, 1980, tuned to "Dallas" to find out who shot J.R.?)...

LEESBURG, Va. -- A brother and sister who sent junk e-mail to millions of America Online customers were convicted Wednesday in the nation's first felony prosecution of Internet spam distributors. Jurors recommended that Jeremy Jaynes be sentenced to nine years in prison and fined Jessica DeGroot $7,500 after convicting them of three counts each of sending e-mails with fraudulent and untraceable routing information...

Facing an insurmountable vote deficit in Ohio, Sen. John Kerry conceded the presidential election to George W. Bush yesterday and sent home thousands of lawyers the Democratic Party had amassed to challenge the results. While some may argue that Kerry was simply facing the clear facts of the vote tallies -- something he admitted in his concession speech -- his decision to recognize Bush's victory saved the nation weeks of rancor and division. ...

PARIS -- Yasser Arafat, hospitalized in France with a mystery ailment, was rushed to intensive care after suffering a setback and was undergoing a new round of tests, Palestinian officials said early today. The two officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the 75-year-old Arafat's condition had seriously deteriorated over the past day, adding that doctors who have been examining him since Friday still don't know the cause of his illness...

INDIANAPOLIS -- Missouri's basketball team avoided the NCAA's harshest penalty Wednesday -- a ban from postseason play. But it did receive one of the rarest punishments: a one-year ban from off-campus recruiting. After finding Missouri broke NCAA recruiting rules, the infractions committee placed the Tigers on probation for three years, took away one scholarship next year and two in 2006-07 and limited all basketball coaches to recruiting on campus until November 2005...

What the NCAA found n The NCAA infractions committee found Missouri violated NCAA recruiting rules from 1999 to 2003. The report acknowledged that an assistant coach violated NCAA rules by buying meals, providing transportation and illegally contacting recruits and their families...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- When it comes to statewide ballot measures in Missouri, the outcome is rarely as lopsided as was the case with Tuesday's ratification of the transportation-related Amendment 3. On the rare occasions when 70 percent or more of the state's electorate lines up for or against an issue, it is usually on a matter that sparks intense emotions, such as the constitutional ban on gay marriage which in August passed with 70.7 percent support, or to thwart a tax increase, such as the half-billion tax increase for transportation that fell with 72.5 percent opposition in 2002.. ...

It may seem like everybody is down with the flu or sniffing with a cold, but actually fewer people are ailing now than they were this time last year. LaDeva Enderle at the Cape Girardeau County Public Health Center keeps track of this kind of information supplied by school districts, doctors, offices and hospitals...

Last week I rashly advised you, my kind and loyal readers, to wash your hands before leaving the bathroom or any public restroom. I said this is the No. 1 way to avoid germs, particularly those that lead to colds and flu. If I am supposed to be the poster boy for personal hygiene, I have to admit I was wrong...

Erin Herbst had to pick four people to die Thursday. She had five to choose from -- three men and two women, all of whom desperately needed a heart transplant but only one of whom could actually receive the heart. "I'm sympathetic. Make me feel sorry for their family and that's it," the Central High School senior said...

A robber got away with an undisclosed amount of cash from the Hamburger Express, 902 William St., Wednesday evening, according to the Cape Girardeau Police Department. Police spokesman Jason Selzer said a female clerk who was working at the window said a man wearing a black hooded sweatshirt and dark pants came to the window around 6:48 p.m., and said "Let me get that money." The clerk said the robber acted like he had a gun, but did not display one...

Dear Tom and Ray: Here's my dilemma: I'm a fun, sporty, active 46-year-old mom of three. I've been driving a minivan for 14 years now, and I need a change! I'm interested in the smaller sport utility vehicles, and recently test-drove a Hyundai Santa Fe. ...

The Blue Jays used big plays to capture the Class 2 Distict 2 title. By Marty Mishow ~ Southeast Missourian CHARLESTON, Mo. -- Scott City football coach Terry Flannigan was worried sick about Charleston's big-play ability heading into Thursday night's showdown for the Class 2 District 2 title...

The Indians used smothering defense to record a 37-16 victory over Hayti. By Jeremy Joffray ~ Southeast Missourian For the second straight year St. Vincent made an emphatic statement in a key Class 1 District 1 matchup with Hayti. Last year St. Vincent rolled over Hayti 27-0 in the first week of district play to knock off the two-time defending district champions. ...

~ Standard Democrat SIKESTON -- Apollo Patterson ran for a career-high 225 yards with four touchdowns to lead Sikeston past Central 37-8 in the season finale for both teams Thursday night at Public Schools Stadium. The Tigers entered the game with a chance to tie for the Class 4 District 1 lead but the tiebreaker system eliminated any chance of reaching the state playoffs, making Thursday's game one for pride for both teams...

Jackson's high school boys soccer season came to an end Thursday night with a 3-1 loss to Poplar Bluff in the first round of the Class 3 District 1 tournament at Central High School. The Mules advanced to Saturday's 11 a.m. final against top-seeded Central, which beat Farmington 9-0. The final also will be played at Central...

WASHINGTON -- President Bush has a long list of promises to keep, and even with an expanded Republican majority in Congress, it's unlikely he can have them all. His platform is ambitious: Remake the tax code, overhaul Social Security, stabilize the mess in Iraq. None will be easy...

WASHINGTON -- With the backing of a popular-vote victory, President Bush sketched a second-term agenda Thursday that includes fighting the worldwide war on terror and seeking tax overhaul and fundamental changes in Social Security at home. "I earned capital in the campaign, political capital, and now I intend to spend it," Bush said a day after a decisive victory that made him the first president in 68 years to win re-election and gain seats in both the House and Senate...

Voters could fill two vacancies on the Cape Girardeau City Council in a special election on April 5 provided a primary election is not needed. But if more than two candidates file for a seat, the general election in that ward or wards would be held on June 7, with the primary being held on April 5, city officials said...

The extra weight is also pushing up fuel costs for airlines. By Daniel Yee ~ The Associated Press ATLANTA -- Heavy suitcases aren't the only things weighing down airplanes and requiring them to burn more fuel, pushing up the cost of flights. A new government study reveals that airlines increasingly have to worry more about the weight of their passengers...

Southeast Missouri State University will have a National Football League player in its corner during Saturday night's game against Tennessee State at The Coliseum in Nashville. Eugene Amano, a Southeast product in his rookie season with the Tennessee Titans, will take advantage of the team's bye week to watch his former squad in action for the first time this season...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- A judge gave state employee unions a boost Thursday in their fight for collective bargaining rights, ruling in their favor in a court case seeking to force collection of dues from nonunion members. What effect the ruling ultimately will have with a Republican governor taking over in January is unclear. ...

Three and a half stars Stunning is the word that comes to mind when I think of "Ray." Jamie Foxx does an incredible job portraying the one and only Ray Charles and the rest of the cast was great. I found the whole movie very interesting and it does a perfect job portraying Charles' life story...

Think of the Pontiac G6 as a stylish, fun-to-drive sedan with good get-up-and-go and respectable gas mileage. If you were tuned in to Oprah Winfrey in September you saw the afternoon TV matriarch give away 276 Pontiac G6s to a screaming, near-riotous audience, in what has been described as the most daring marketing coup in the history of the auto industry. ...

Thanks to an impressive performance at the Class 3 District 1 cross country meet at Potosi, the bus ride today to the state meet in Jefferson City will be a little more crowded for the Perryville Pirates. Perryville's girls squad finished first and the boys took second at Potosi to send both programs to Saturday's state meet at the Oak Hills Golf Center...

Larry Cleair has done his homework on the state cross country meet. Take all of last year's finishes, knock out the graduated runners and -- voila -- Saxony Lutheran should be the top team in Saturday's Class 1 boys race. Of course, when the race begins at 12:15 p.m. Saturday at Oak Hills Golf Center in Jefferson City, all the calculations and charts won't mean a thing...

Money for pork A RECENT Speak Out comment mentioned spending $87 billion-plus for the Iraq war. This is what Congress appropriated, but of this $87 billion, over $21 billion was pork. So the $87 billion-plus didn't all go to Iraq to our armed forces or to our security forces. It went to politicians' pet projects back home. I think the record should be set straight...

To the editor: In this day of e-mail and rapid communication, we think information is only a second away. A local TV station boasts about its Web site during each and every telecast. But if you checked that Web site during the election, it was hours behind. I was glad to log on the semissourian.com site and get updated information. I am sure this was extra work and problems for someone. If you guys could do this, why couldn't others? Thank you...

To the editor: The elections are finally over. George Bush and Matt Blunt have won, though by narrow margins. Now we find out if their deeds match their rhetoric. Now we will see if Bush can get us out of another Vietnam without losing more of our precious youths. ...

To the editor: I am disappointed the Jackson school bond election failed. I attribute it to the "What's in it for me?" attitude that is rampant in our society. Do people not realize that the children who are being educated right now are the future of our country? They are the future physicians, teachers, politicians and parents of generations to come. They will someday be taking care of us. What's in it for you? How about a safe, secure and productive community in our future?...

To the editor: I would like to present another viewpoint contrary to John V. Halter's recent letter. I am another veteran who has no regard for the Red Cross for the way it treated servicemen. Surely Secretary of Defense Stimson's letter requesting the Red Cross to charge for coffee and doughnuts served to our men was not delivered as an ultimatum. The Red Cross retained the privilege of charging or not charging. The Red Cross charged because it wanted to charge...

MARBLE HILL, Mo. -- A Glenallen, Mo., man is in the Bollinger County jail for allegedly sexually assaulting his daughter -- a 22-day-old infant. According to a probable cause affidavit from the Bollinger County Sheriff's Department, Troy A. Dukes, 34, has been charged with child molestation, statutory sodomy and incest -- all felonies...

Tim Arbeiter has been hired as the executive director of Old Town Cape, a volunteer organization dedicated to the revitalization of the city's historic commercial and residential districts. He will take over the program Dec. 6. Steven Hoffman, president of the Old Town Cape board of directors, said that Arbeiter was chosen from among 13 candidates because of his understanding of business and command of public relations skills needed to work with a cross-section of people...

Carolyn Schwettman has plenty of reasons to hate the river. It is a mistress that has wooed away almost every man in her life for weeks and months at a time. Her grandfather, father, husband, brother, uncles and in-laws have all spent much of their lives working far away from her on dredges, tugs and barges on the Mississippi River. There have been lonely and frustrated nights when, under her breath, she's cursed its existence...

Officials unsure if election terror plot disrupted WASHINGTON -- More than 700 people were arrested on immigration violations and thousands more subjected to FBI interviews in an intense government effort to avert a terrorist attack aimed at disrupting the election. ...

NEW YORK -- A wide-eyed boy in cozy blue robe and proper yellow pajamas has his hope and faith tested in the book "The Polar Express." But Chris Van Allsburg, who wrote and illustrated the children's classic almost 20 years ago, insists he did not base the adventurous child on himself. "My haircut was a bit more of a brush cut," he says...

Palestinian power shifts; Arafat's condition worse CLAMART, France -- Yasser Arafat was reportedly fighting for his life Thursday at a French military hospital after losing consciousness, as anxious Palestinian officials transferred some of their 75-year-old leader's powers to Prime Minister Ahmed Qureia. ...

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- A Columbia man pleaded guilty Thursday to second-degree murder in the 2001 slaying of a newspaper sports editor and agreed to testify against a co-defendant charged with fatally strangling the victim. Charles Timothy Erickson, 20, also pleaded guilty to a charge of first-degree robbery and a newly filed charge of armed criminal action in the Nov. ...

WASHINGTON -- Attorney General John Ashcroft is likely to leave his post before the start of President Bush's second term, senior aides said Thursday. Ashcroft, 62, is described as exhausted from leading the Justice Department in fighting the domestic war on terrorism since the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. Stress was a factor in Ashcroft's health problems earlier this year that resulted in removal of his gall bladder...

Cape Girardeau The following items were released Thursday by the Cape Girardeau Police Department. Arrests do not imply guilt. Arrests Frazier Boyd Bankhead, 38, 126 S. Ellis St., was arrested on a Cape Girardeau County warrant for driving under revocation...

Cape Girardeau Firefighters responded to the following items on Tuesday: At 5:24 p.m., emergency medical service in the 100 block of South Benton Street. At 9:16 p.m., emergency medical service at Broadway and Perry Avenue. Firefighters responded to the following items on Wednesday:...

Southeast softball honored for academic excellence For the sixth straight year, Southeast Missouri State University's softball team has been recognized for its academic prowess. The squad had the 17th-best grade-point-average in the nation during the 2003-2004 school year, 3.310, as announced by The National Fastpitch Coaches Association...

Baseball n Charlie Manuel's thick Southern drawl, down-home charm and folksy nature make him an odd fit for gritty Philadelphia. He'll be a perfect choice as manager if he leads the Phillies to the playoffs. Manuel was hired Thursday to replace Larry Bowa, taking over a talented but underachieving club that hasn't reached the playoffs since 1993. ...

Proffer Son to Andrew Eastwood and Kimberly Brooke Proffer of Springfield, Mo., Cox Health South, 6:15 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 28, 2004. Name, Cole Eastwood. Weight, 6 pounds 10 ounces. First child. Mrs. Proffer is the former Kimberly Dodson, daughter of Bettie Dodson and Bob Dodson of Cape Girardeau. Proffer is the son of Gary and Betty Proffer of Chaffee, Mo. He is a senior at Southwest Missouri State University, and is employed at John Q. Hammonds University Plaza...

'After the Sunset' Starring Pierce Brosnan, Salma Hayek, Woody Harrelson and Mykelti Williamson. A successful thief retires to a tropical island to enjoy the fruits of his last heist with his partner. His FBI nemesis shows up, however, to double-check that he's really retired, and a suspicion-filled game of intrigue begins. Rated PG-13 for sexuality, violence and language, 100 minutes. Sneak preview Saturday. (Cape West Cine)...

Arts council's First Friday features photography The Arts Council of Southeast Missouri will have its First Friday opening from 5 to 8 p.m. today featuring the photography of David Bartlett in the Lorimer Gallery and the winners of the Borders Regional Juried Exhibition in Gallery 100. ...

While art openings and exhibits are nothing new to Cape Girardeau, three local artists hope to bring their own take to the tradition with their exhibit, "Integrated Counterbalance," opening at 5 p.m. today in the H&H Building and on display from 5 to 10 p.m. Saturday and from 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday...

25 years ago: Nov. 5, 1979 The Southeast Missouri State University homecoming parade Saturday was reportedly marred for several high school bands when crowds interfered with band members as the marched; at least six band directors have reported that their students were grabbed, kissed, hugged, had their uniforms torn, and had beer poured over their instruments...

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- Melvin R. "Sandy" Klaus, 83, of Perryville died Thursday, Nov. 4, 2004, at Perry County Memorial Hospital. He was born Aug. 29, 1921, at Friedheim, son of Clarence William and Bertha Moeller Klaus. He and LaVanche Simkins were married June 18, 1977...

GLENALLEN, Mo. -- Nadine C. Wells, 74, of Glenallen died Thursday, Nov. 4, 2004, at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. She was born March 24, 1930, in St. Louis, daughter of Albert and Clara Welker Warner. She and Murphy L. Wells were married April 19, 1948. He died July 28, 1985...

Michael Scott Ford, 20, of Bullhead City, Ariz., died Sunday, Oct. 31, 2004, at his home. He was born Jan. 11, 1984, in Cape Girardeau, son of Kenny L. and Cindy Innis Ford. Survivors include his mother, Cindy Bruce of Bullhead City; a brother, Chris Ford of Cape Girardeau; paternal grandmother, Mary Lee Davis of Cape Girardeau; and maternal grandparents, Owen and Wanda Innis of Scott City...

Paul F. "Pappy" "Grizz" Davis, 76, of Milan, Ohio, died unexpectedly Monday, Nov. 1, 2004, at Firelands Regional Medical Center Main Campus in Sandusky, Ohio. He was born Feb. 23, 1928, in Cape Girardeau. Mr. Davis retired from New Departure-Hyatt, a division of General Motors, after 38 years of service...

BENTON, Mo. -- Marjorie Kathryn Suter Kirkpatrick of Benton died Friday, Oct. 29, 2004, at Ratliff Care Center in Cape Girardeau. She was born May 19, 1912, in Diehlstadt, Mo., daughter of Willis and Ida Sanders Suter. She was the eldest of seven children. She and Otto Francis Kirkpatrick were married Dec. 19, 1930, at Charleston, Mo. He preceded her in death Dec. 16, 1986...

Missouri's participation in an Internet program that gives residents access to cheaper prescription drugs in Canada and Europe should both save money and provide some safety assurances. Gov. Bob Holden announced last week that Missouri would join Illinois and Wisconsin in the ISaveRx program that was initiated by Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich...

DALLAS -- Kansas is this year's favorite to win the Big 12 Conference title, according to a media poll released Thursday. Oklahoma State, winner of last year's Big 12 conference regular season and tournament, was picked to finish second by media who regularly cover the conference...

ATLANTA -- Not everyone wants to see Vijay Singh wins his 10th tournament of the year. Three guys who shared the lead Thursday in the Tour Championship would be thrilled to win their first. Darren Clarke, Jerry Kelly and 50-year-old Jay Haas each had a 3-under 67 on a soggy, blustery and entertaining first round at East Lake, a good start as they try to end their seasons on a good note...

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Members of the Jackson County Sports Authority, which oversees the stadiums used by the Kansas City Chiefs and Royals, will have a lot to talk about today when they meet for the first time since voters shot down a ballot initiative that could have provided $600 million for stadium renovations...

BAGHDAD, Iraq -- Insurgents attacked British troops at a checkpoint in central Iraq on Thursday, killing three and wounding eight in a suicide bomb and mortar barrage aimed at soldiers sent to the high-risk area to free U.S. forces for an assault on the militant stronghold Fallujah...

SAN DIEGO -- A military hearing officer recommended that a Navy SEAL not be court-martialed for allegedly abusing prisoners in Iraq, including one at Abu Ghraib prison who died after a beating, the commando's defense attorney said. Problems with evidence presented at a pretrial hearing that concluded Monday led Lt. Cmdr. Andrew Henderson to recommend the unnamed sailor receive a lesser nonjudicial or administrative punishment, defense attorney John Tranberg said Wednesday...

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- Missouri put its NCAA troubles into the background Thursday night. It's a new season, and there was a new arena to christen. Linas Kleiza had 19 points and four assists, helping open the $75 million Paige Sports Arena with a 100-73 exhibition victory over Central Missouri State...

There is a restaurant in Osage Beach, Mo., that is modeled after a 1950s-era diner. The waitresses wear poodle skirts and kerchiefs tied around their necks. The 45-rpm records hanging on the wall are from the popular artists of the 1950s. Everyone is seated in booths or on vinyl chairs at pink laminate and chrome tables...

Mark Strickert and Kara Thompson pulled chairs into the principal's office Friday afternoon to talk about their feelings in the wake of Tuesday's election, when Jackson residents barely voted down a $27 million bond issue for a new high school. If 106 people had voted "yes" instead of "no," the bond would have had the four-sevenths majority needed to pass...

Renaissance Aircraft, which failed to meet Monday's deadline for making bond and lease payments, now has until Friday to get financing worked out, Cape Girardeau city officials said. The city council last month set a Nov. 1 deadline after the financially troubled company failed to meet an Oct. 1 payment deadline...

BENTON, Mo. -- The attorney for a man serving a life sentence for the 2000 murder of a Sikeston woman is arguing that someone else has confessed to the crime. Both sides argued their cases Friday in Scott County. Public defender Carl Hinkebein of Columbia, Mo., introduced 30 exhibits including depositions, photographs, diagrams and recorded and transcribed testimony to prove his assertion that David Lee Robinson of Sikeston was wrongly convicted and that another man, whose name was not entered into the record and is currently in prison for another crime, confessed to killing Shelia Box in August 2000.. ...

KELSO, Mo. Images of fast cars and rich clients grace the wall of Roger Gibson's auto restoration business. One photo shows a 1967 Corvette Roadster, one of 16 ever made. Gibson restored that Corvette and sold it for $300,000 in 1990. Other photos of Gibson's work have a 1969 Dodge Charger with its owner, former Carolina Panthers linebacker Kevin Greene, and former Los Angeles Times publisher Otis Chandler with a 1969 Yenko Nova...

The U.S. Small Business Administration is getting larger in Missouri, and part of its expansion includes a new office in Cape Girardeau. The plans were announced Friday by Sam Jones, regional administrator for the Small Business Administration in Region VII. He spoke at the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce's First Friday Coffee...

After three weeks of practice, Southeast Missouri State University basketball coach Gary Garner figures it's about time for his team to play a game. Although the contest won't count on the squad's record, Garner gets his wish tonight when Harris-Stowe State College visits the Show Me Center for a 7:30 p.m. exhibition tipoff...

Notre Dame suffered a season-ending 3-2 loss and a big injury. By Toby Carrig ~ Southeast Missourian Friday night was doubly devastating for Notre Dame athletics. Members of the top-seeded Notre Dame boys soccer team had to watch Sikeston celebrate that school's first district championship in the sport after a 3-2 double overtime decision on Notre Dame's field...

Jackson's football team overcame a slow start to end its season on a winning note, beating visiting Seckman 21-6 Friday night. The Indians finished with a 7-3 record. Earlier in the year, Jackson won the SEMO North Conference title at 3-0. Seckman fell to 2-8...

The Pirates rallied for a 47-41 victory over Dexter in triple overtime. ~ Southeast Missourian Unbelievable. Unforgettable. Incredible. Those words do not even begin to describe Perryville's thrilling 47-41 triple overtime win Friday over Dexter in the Class 3 District 1 championship game at Perryville...

The Tennessee State running back ranks second on the OVC career rushing list. By Marty Mishow ~ Southeast Missourian One week after allowing nearly 300 yards to a freshman tailback, Southeast Missouri State University must now try to contain the nation's third-leading Division I-AA rusher...

ST. LOUIS -- The St. Louis Cardinals on Friday exercised the $2 million option on right-hander Chris Carpenter, a comeback player who during a career season emerged as the team's ace before missing the playoffs with arm trouble. If the Cardinals had declined the option on Carpenter, who last season made $650,000 in salary and bonuses, the club could have paid him a $200,000 buyout...

CLAMART, France -- Yasser Arafat was hovering "between life and death" in a coma Friday, no worse but also no better than he was a day earlier, according to Palestinian and French officials. There was still no official public diagnosis to explain the Palestinian leader's critical condition. ...

'Southeast Missouri State University has announced that Wayne Smith will be the next vice president for university advancement and executive director of the Southeast Missouri University Foundation. He will start on Nov. 30. Junior American Red Cross meets Sunday...

With a parade, school ceremonies and a dedication, Southeast Missouri veterans will be far from forgotten this Veterans Day. The most visible remembrance will be a parade at 9 a.m. Thursday that starts at Lorimier Street and Broadway and ends up at Capaha Park's Freedom Corner. Some more low-key events leading up to Thursday will also honor area veterans...

Today Stained-glass walking tour at 10 a.m. beginning at Centenary United Methodist Church. Stops include Centenary, First Presbyterian and Old St. Vincent Church. The event is part of a "Week of Worship Renewal" sponsored by the campus ministries at Southeast Missouri State University...

Cornerstone Church to hold youth revival Cornerstone Church in Cape Girardeau will hold a three-day youth revival Nov. 12 to 14. The theme is "Reviving Generation X for Christ." The service will start at 7 p.m. Friday and Nov. 13. A service Nov. 14 is at 6 p.m. Speakers include Mike Mahurin and Charlie Lutes, both of Sikeston, Mo., and Stephen Clardy of Jonesboro, Ill. Mahurin also will lead music...

Colleges n Terry Logue, athletics director of Westminster College, resigned Friday, the school announced. Logue, who has been director of athletics since 1998, cited health problems in announcing his resignation, which is effective immediately. He will teach physical education and work part-time in athletics...

Rusty walkway The walkway over Highway 74 is a big eyesore. Instead of looking rustic, it looks rusted. I do not like it at all. Line prevented voting I TOOK a cab to vote. I use a walker. When I got to the polling place, voters were lined up. I could not stand and wait, so I came back in the cab. ...

25 years ago: Nov. 6, 1979 TEHRAN, Iran -- Iranian demonstrators threaten to execute about 60 Americans held hostage at the U.S. Embassy in Tehran if the U.S. government tries to rescue them; meanwhile, Iranian Prime Minister Mehdi Bazargan has resigned and Ayatolla Rhollah Khomeini told his Revolutionary Council to take over the government...

SIKESTON, Mo. -- Mary Martha Powell, 82, of Sikeston died Friday, Nov. 5, 2004, at her home. She was born Dec. 3, 1921, at Matthews, Mo., daughter of Charles Edward and Donnie Oliver McCormick. She and Ameil J. Powell were married Oct. 23, 1956. He died April 21, 2004...

JONESBORO, Ill. -- Corlis R. Powles, 77, of Jonesboro died Thursday, Nov. 4, 2004, at his home. He was born Jan. 18, 1927, in Jonesboro, son of Robert R. and Clara A. Brown Powles. He and Shirley Penninger were married March 26, 1932, in Osceola, Ark...

Evelyn E. Welker, 90, of Cape Girardeau, died Friday, Nov. 5, 2004, at Southeast Missouri Hospital. Ford and Sons Sprigg Street Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

MCCLURE, Ill. -- Mary A. Baldwin, 78, of McClure died Thursday, Nov. 4, 2004, at Southeast Missouri Hospital. She was born Aug. 29, 1926, in St. Francois County, Mo., daughter of John and Maggie Oden Winch. She and Doyle E. Baldwin were married Sept. 26, 1996, in Gatlinburg, Tenn...

Barbara Jean Hepler, 58, of North Little Rock, Ark., died Tuesday, Nov. 2, 2004. She was born March 26, 1946, in Cape Girardeau, daughter of Floyd Willis and Nelda Mae Hobbs. She married David Hepler. Hepler was a teacher at Jacksonville Junior High School...

PAINTON, Mo. -- Denver Head, 69, of Painton died Friday, Nov. 5, 2004, at his home. He was born Sept. 11, 1935, at Painton, son of Charles and Hattie Guthrie Head. He and Barbara Sue Cox were married Sept. 11, 1958, in Advance, Mo. Denver was a retired farmer and member of Mesler Missionary Baptist Church...

To the editor; The true victory that came out of this election was the fact that we made a difference. If you listened to the news reports, one common theme was repeated over and over: one of the main reasons the Republicans won was the solid vote of the people to preserve the moral principles in this country. Moral principals have nothing to do with money. Trust in Jesus for that...

To the editor: I am a student at Truman State University. The squabbles at Southeast Missouri State University make me wonder where the common sense is. People argue that wearing pajamas to class is rude. How? Students are paying for a service. Common sense says that whether a student is wearing jeans, sweats or pajama bottoms, it should not affect learning...

On Oct. 9 while traveling cross-country, my truck lost fifth gear. As you know, any car trouble can be a nightmare while traveling. We saw the Auffenberg Chrysler/Dodge sign in Cape Girardeau as a possible answer to our plight. I explained my problem to the salesman but had missed the mechanics. ...

To the editor: Well, the pietists and pharisees won. The die is cast -- for a while at least. Lord, we thank thee that we are not as other men are, abortionists, homosexuals, liberals or even as this tax collector. GILBERT DEGENHARDT, Cape Girardeau

Southeast Missouri State University's women's volleyball team suffered a 30-22, 30-25, 30-18 Ohio Valley Conference loss at Eastern Kentucky Friday night. Jill Miller led Southeast (8-16, 6-7) with 11 kills and Brittany Hastings added eight. Jamie Baumstark had 25 assists. Leaders in digs were Jessica Koeper and Lauren Scannell with eight each...

It wasn't his preaching or his prominence in the community that grabbed the attention of Missouri Baptist leaders, but rather the growth and blessing God gave to Miner Baptist Church in Miner, Mo., said the Rev. Mitchell Jackson. Jackson was recently elected as president of the Missouri Baptist Convention during an annual meeting in Raytown, Mo. Jackson, who previously served as first vice president, was unopposed in the bid for the convention's top post...

Indian Catholics build faith community for immigrants By Hilary Roxe ~ The Associated Press CORAL SPRINGS, Fla. -- Mary Nadayil immigrated from India to the United States two decades ago, but she knows there's no pushing her American children into the heritage of her homeland...

Otto Dingeldein was a silversmith and sculptor who in 1961 organized what became the Arts Council of Southeast Missouri. Born in Germany, he came from a family of silversmiths. After immigrating to the United States in 1927, Dingeldein operated studios in Chicago and St. Louis before moving to Cape Girardeau in 1959 and establishing a studio. He died in 1991 at age 84...

Cape Girardeau Firefighters responded to the following items on Thursday: At 2:42 a.m., emergency medical service at 1000 Towers. At 8:45 a.m., box alarm at 2858 Whitener St. At 9:10 a.m., fire alarm at 240 S. Mount Auburn Road. At 9:34 a.m., fire alarm at 147 N. Silver Springs Road...

Cape Girardeau The following items were released Friday by the Cape Girardeau Police Department. Arrests do not imply guilt. DWI Cathy Marie Fowler, 49, 388 Country Club Drive, Apt. 2, was arrested on suspicion of driving while intoxicated, leaving the scene of an accident and striking a parked vehicle...

WASHINGTON -- The next Congress will look slightly more like the real America, with more women, Hispanics and blacks, including the first black man to enter the Senate in a quarter-century. In addition to senator-elect Barack Obama, D-Ill., only the third black ever to be elected by popular vote to the Senate, newly elected senators Ken Salazar, D-Colo., and Mel Martinez, R-Fla., will become the only Hispanic-Americans in the Senate...

Maggie Hill waited in line for nearly 10 hours to vote for John Kerry. She skipped field hockey practice and ate pizza and cookies delivered to hungry students by their professors. "You gotta stay with it," Hill and her classmates at Kenyon College told one another, as hundreds of them sprawled in the community center in Gambier, Ohio, playing board games, chatting and waiting for one of only two voting booths...

ST. LOUIS -- Elementary school teachers in the Archdiocese of St. Louis presented Archbishop Raymond Burke's office thousands of letters of community support for their nine-year struggle to unionize. The letters -- delivered Friday from parents, parishioners and labor sympathizers -- are in support of a lawsuit, of sorts, that the teachers filed against Burke on Aug. ...

The Wall Street Journal Watching John Kerry deliver his statesmanlike concession at Faneuil Hall in Boston [Wednesday] -- and then watching his erstwhile spinners and boosters in the Democratic commentariat blame him for Tuesday's rout -- was like one of those nature shows in which the herd gives up its dying animal to the crocs so it can safely ford the stream. It may be expedient, but it also reflects the flaws of the species...

PHOENIX -- After just four days on the job, Wally Backman was fired Friday as manager of the Arizona Diamondbacks because of two arrests and financial problems he kept from the team. The Diamondbacks replaced Backman with former Seattle Mariners manager Bob Melvin, an Arizona bench coach when the team won the 2001 World Series...

NEAR FALLUJAH, Iraq -- U.S. warplanes pounded Fallujah late Friday in what residents called the strongest attacks in months, as more than 10,000 American soldiers and Marines massed for an expected assault. Iraq's prime minister warned the "window is closing" to avert an offensive...

WASHINGTON -- Employers went on a hiring spree in October, adding 337,000 new jobs, many of them for hurricane cleanup. The surge was the largest in seven months, a sign the jobs recovery may have taken hold. More people resumed their job searches, expanding the pool of people wanting work and sending the unemployment rate up slightly to 5.5 percent from 5.4 percent, the Labor Department also reported Friday from a separate survey of households...

TOKYO -- Far from finding a communist paradise, four American soldiers suspected of deserting to North Korea in the 1960s were forced to live together in a tiny house under constant surveillance, to scrounge for food and to study the works of "Great Leader" Kim Il Sung for up to 16 hours a day...

It started with a simple case of the blahs. Twelve-year-old Jennifer Brown didn't feel like eating, she didn't feel like moving. A week went by, and the Jackson Middle School student grew weaker and began to lose weight. When she started struggling to breathe, her parents took her to a local emergency room...

Dependent on a motorized wheelchair to get around, Richard Hewitt found his effort to vote Tuesday blocked by a 4-inch parking-lot curb. The 66-year-old man, who has muscular dystrophy, managed to get into the Cape Girardeau polling place -- Bethany Baptist Church -- only after he and his wife returned home to fetch a small, homemade wooden ramp. The ramp allowed him to get over the curb and into the lower level of the church at 1712 Randol Ave., where votes were being cast...

Matt Mueller was slightly nervous before his performance with the Southeast Missouri District Honor Orchestra on Saturday, as most 17-year-olds who are accustomed to solo performances would be. But for Mueller there was some added stress. Mueller is totally blind in one eye and legally blind in his other, meaning he had play all four pieces the orchestra played from memory and not depend on sheet music...

A two-seat Cessna plane made an emergency landing around 9 a.m. Saturday at the Cape Girardeau Regional Airport despite the ongoing runway construction that has closed the airport to air traffic. According to Cape Girardeau Fire Department battalion chief Bob Kembel, the pilot of the plane said he decided to make an emergency landing because he was having trouble maintaining its altitude. An inspection of the plane after it landed revealed mechanical problems...

Twelve-year-old Andrew Tyler's casket was at the front of the church Saturday, but his family wasn't calling this a funeral. It was a victory celebration. More than 150 people came to Lynwood Baptist Church in Cape Girardeau to honor Andrew's life. It had been 16 months since Andrew, a member of the Jackson Barracuda swim team, had jumped into the water and suffered cardiac arrest from a condition known as Long QT Syndrome, an electrical disorder of the heart...

Children at Franklin Elementary School got on a mat on the gymnasium floor Thursday and learned how to disable an adult. Like children in many communities, they're taught not to talk to strangers, but Thursday's lesson went beyond discussion. "Children learn best with a hands-on approach," said Franklin school principal Rhonda Denham...

Mr. and Mrs. Sylvester Heisserer of Cape Girardeau observed their 50th wedding anniversary Oct. 30, 2004. A Mass, dinner and dance was held at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Scott City. Heisserer and Alma Westrich were married Oct. 23, 1954, at St. Augustine Catholic Church in Kelso, Mo., by the Rev. Joseph Keusenkothen...

Myles and Jennie Cartrette of Greenville, N.C., announce the engagement of their daughter, Victoria Nicole Cartrette, to Bradley Michael Fiehler, both of Huntersville, N.C. He is the son of Michael and Daphna Fiehler of Cape Girardeau. A Jan. 1 wedding is planned...

KELSO, Mo. -- Alison Marie Miller and Nathan Robert Essner were married July 3, 2004, at St. Francis Xavier College Church on the campus of St. Louis University. The Rev. Mark G. Boyer performed the ceremony. Lectors were Kristie Slinkard of Kelso, cousin of the groom, and Betty Campbell of Mascoutah, Ill., aunt of the bride. ...

Heather Anne Mize and Matthew Lee Hale were married July 24, 2004, at First Baptist Church in Millersville. The Rev. Daniel Hale performed the ceremony. Pianist was Matt Yount and soloist was Robert Cox, both of Jackson. Parents of the couple are Mr. and Mrs. James Mize of Cape Girardeau, and the Rev. and Mrs. Daniel Hale of Millersville...

Red Star Baptist Church was the setting June 5, 2004, for the wedding of Tamara Rae Mueller and Roy Allen Toler. Jim Matthews and Mike Triplett performed the ceremony. Organist was Dawn Dauer of Perryville, Mo., and soloist was Marvin Lawless of Jackson...

Heather LeAnn Hull and Joseph Artemio Basuel were married Dec. 27, 2003, at First Presbyterian Church in Jackson. The Rev. Grant F.C. Gillard performed the ceremony. Pianist was Jim Rhodes. The bride is the daughter of Robert and Jane Hull of Jackson. The groom is the son of Artemio and Excelsa Basuel of Highland, Ill...

Bobbi Lynn Wissmann and Robert Martin Scheffer exchanged vows Oct. 2, 2004, at the Hill Church in Rockview, Mo. Robert Wright performed the ceremony. The bride is the daughter of Paul and Margaret Wissmann of Fruitland. The groom is the son of Martin Scheffer of Randles and Kathy Mackey of Cape Girardeau...

ADVANCE, Mo. -- Mr. and Mrs. Paul Beussink of Advance celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary Oct. 24, 2004, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Advance. The celebration was hosted by their sons and wives, Rick and Debbie Beussink and Randy and Chris Beussink...

Gary and Christine Becker of Jackson announce the engagement of their daughter, Jill Becker of Dexter, Mo., to Ryan Propst. He is the son of Rodney and Tammy Baremore of Sedgewickville, Mo. Becker is a graduate of Jackson High School, and received a bachelor of science degree from Missouri Southern State University. She is a physical education teacher at T.S. Hill Middle School in Dexter...

Whatever new scent you choose, the trade group known as The Fragrance Foundation offers these tips: Keep fragrance safe from extreme cold and heat. Long exposure to strong sunlight or extremes in temperature can disturb the delicate balance of the fragrance and change its scent...

For long-lasting effect layer a fragrance over all your body, from the feet to the shoulders. By Samantha Critchell ~ The Associated Press NEW YORK -- The newest crop of fragrances focuses on flowery notes, ranging from the ever popular jasmine to rare orchids, and fruit smells, including grapefruit and apple...

This seemingly masculine fabric is showing up in clothing lines as accessories and athletic apparel for women. By Crystal Dempsey ~ Knight Ridder Newspapers Tweed -- that sturdy fabric often associated with horsy highbrows and stuffy literary types -- translates into nearly every facet of women's fashion this fall. ...

Every Sunday morning as I rise, I thank God for yet another day and then I open my door and pick up the Southeast Missourian. I quickly check over Speak Out and FanSpeak to read about someone who usually is not involved in education but who is all to quick to judge and comment on students, teachers and coaches in a most negative way...

The Perryville football program had not won a district playoff game since 1999 entering this season. After moving down to Class 3 District 1 over the summer, Perryville on Friday earned its first state playoff appearance since 1998. The Pirates wrapped up a 3-0 district record with an improbable 47-41 triple-overtime victory against Dexter in the district championship game...

WASHINGTON -- Wanted: a former altar boy from the Southwest who speaks Spanish, married into a rich Republican family from Ohio and revolutionized the Internet after working as a volunteer firefighter in Florida. Position: president of the United States...

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Although Southeast Missouri State's football team has struggled this season, coach Tim Billings has never questioned his players' heart. Billings figures that attribute was clear for all to see Saturday night -- even though an amazing comeback fell just short as Tennessee State held on for a wild 38-36 homecoming triumph in front of 23,421 fans at The Coliseum...

WASHINGTON -- Like many presidential candidates before him, John Kerry must now decide what to do with the rest of his political life. Colleagues and presidential historians say they don't see the Democrat fading into political obscurity like the last Massachusetts politician who ran and lost, Michael Dukakis in 1988...

ST. LOUIS -- The last time the St. Louis Rams and New England Patriots played, everything was at stake. In their heyday as the Greatest Show on Turf, the Rams were the oddsmakers' two-touchdown favorite in the 2002 Super Bowl. They were one of the biggest favorites to fall, losing 20-17 on Adam Vinatieri's 47-yard field goal as time expired...

ST. LOUIS -- Two centuries after Lewis and Clark were in the midst of their 8,000-mile trek through the uncharted West, re-enactors following the explorers' path have no plans to duplicate one thing -- spending winter in the wilds. Members of the Discovery Expedition of St. Charles -- the official re-enactment team -- will pass this winter at home...

"It seemed like a three-way game of chicken," said ABC News analyst George Stephanopoulos. "Kerry didn't want to concede. Bush didn't want to claim victory until Kerry conceded, and he didn't want to claim victory until the networks gave it to him."...

AMSTERDAM, Netherlands -- A five-page letter pinned to the body of a Dutch filmmaker brutally murdered after making a movie critical of Islam called for Muslims to rise up against the "infidel enemies" in the West. Other messages -- later left at the sidewalk shrine where Theo van Gogh's throat was slashed -- dripped with equal venom against radical Islam. "Enemies live among us," read one missive in a bed of flowers, votive candles and crosses...

NEW KENSINGTON, Pa. -- Maybe the nation isn't as divided as all the pundits claim. After all, Upper Burrell Township neighbors Kerry Bush and John George have made it through the presidential campaign on speaking terms. "I don't think people have put two-and-two together," George said, noting that neighbors haven't targeted either man with election year pranks. ...

Saudi scholars support Iraq's resistance BEIRUT, Lebanon -- Prominent Saudi religious scholars urged Iraqis to support militants waging holy war against the U.S.-led coalition forces as American troops prepared Saturday for a major assault on the insurgent hotbed of Fallujah. ...

About 100 people turned out for the 12th annual American Heart Walk at Capaha Park on Saturday. The event raised $23,000 for education programs and research on heart disease and stroke. Among businesses, Drury Inn raised the most with $4,428. The top Walker was Harold Bollinger, who raised about $900...

Weeds along highway IS THE highway department ever going to mow Highway 74 between Cape Girardeau and Dutchtown? It was only mowed once this year and once last year. Weeds are head high in places. Speedy solution IN RESPONSE to the comment about the Truman solution for taking care of Osama bin Laden: You have no idea how many people agree with you. ...

Burton Daughter to Nathan Ottis Burton and Bonnie Sue Summers of Marble Hill, Mo., Southeast Missouri Hospital, 1:04 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 30, 2004. Name, Audes Lynn. Weight, 6 pounds 10 ounces. Second child, first daughter. Ms. Summers is the daughter of Helen Summers of Marble Hill. Burton is the son of Shirley Bollinger of Marble Hill and Steve Burton of San Bernardino, Calif. He is employed at Elder Care of Marble Hill...

6th grade -- Kyle Angel, Ashley Bayliss, Anthony Bollinger, Calen Buerck, Caitlin Cook, Hattie Cook, Jacob Cook, Megan Davis, Eric Dennis, Heather Dietiker, Steven Evans, Michaela Haley, Taylor Hauck, Lindsey Jones, Trent Kiefer, Brittney Kirkpatrick, Baily Koyle, Christopher Marshall, Justin Masters, Jillian Mills, Mica Morse, Kendra Myers, LeAnna Reagan, Matthew Skaggs, Jessica Sudmeyer, Hailey Toombs, Steven Upchurch, Adam Walker, Kyle Whaley...

Honor roll with high distinction Tyson Koenig, Matthew Mueller, Scott Schwiesow. Honor roll with distinction Amanda Berry, Natalie Berry, Alisha Bonert, Benjamin Courtois, Deanna Dippold, Staci Floyd, Katie Kassel, Madison Klaus, Danielle Leible, Deanna Leible, Benjamin Meyr, Cara Mueller, Kory Mueller, Matthew Petzoldt, Keara Pringle, Jessica Reisenbichler...

A honor roll 8th grade -- Jenny Brant, Lucas Eeftink, Allie Job, Dillon Klaffer, Tracy Martin, Erika Reinagel, Matt Reinagel, Nick Reinagel, Cory Schlosser, Britney Schott, Leah Weissmueller. 7th grade -- Ashley Brant, Jeremy Essner, Alecia Glaus, Macy Heisserer, Nick Koeppel, Keith LeGrand, Brent McClain, Ambrea Moore, Brandon Peters, Jacob Seyer...

A Honor Roll 6th grade -- Jessica Chinnadurai, Chelsea Farrow, Christy Ha, Jared James, Amanda Pleimann, Hanin Wadi. 7th grade -- Steven Boos, Meghan Dohgne, Cortney Farrow, Ryan Johnson, Derek Parker, Caitlin Simmons. 6th grade -- Lessley Dennington, Shapley Hunter, Ben Matthews, Elizabeth Rosenquist, Laura Schaefer, Shayla Tanner, Max Ulrich, Mary Beth Vollink, Noor Wadi, Natalie Williams...

Let Brad be Brad I THINK Missouri's Gary Pinkel is a pretty good head coach. He's recruited some good talent and has instilled discipline on the football team. However, I question his offensive philosophy. At best, Brad Smith is a marginal passer, yet he threw 56 times against Nebraska with little success. ...

25 years ago: Nov. 7, 1979 Cape Girardeau County voters, by about a three-to-one margin, passed a one-cent sales tax in yesterday's special election; county court officials are elated over the passage; County Court Associate Judge J. Ronald Fischer calls the victory "a landmark to county government in Cape County."...

Evelyn Welker, 90, of Cape Girardeau died Friday, Nov. 5, 2004, at Southeast Missouri Hospital. She was born March 11, 1914, in Advance, Mo., daughter of Jake and Addie Mae Goff Flowers. She and Jacob B. Welker were married in 1935 in Advance. Welker was a maid at Sunny Hill and Marquette hotels, retiring in 1976...

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- Valeria M. Pecaut, 77, of Perryville died Friday, Nov. 5, 2004, at Christian Hospital NE in St. Louis. She was born Feb. 1, 1927, in Perry County, daughter of Vincent and Helen Sauer Leible Sr. She and Clarence T. Pecaut Jr. were married April 12, 1947. He died Dec. 3, 2003...

ALTENBURG, Mo. -- Cindy Koeberl, 55, of Altenburg died Saturday, Nov. 6, 2004, at Arnold, Mo. She was born Sept. 18, 1949, at Chester, Ill., daughter of Wilbert "Pete" Sr. and Eileen Emmendorfer Leuders. Survivors include two daughters, Kristi Mueller of Altenburg, Candy Mueller of Arnold; six grandchildren...

SIKESTON, Mo. -- Paul Childers, 65, of Sikeston died Friday, Nov. 5, 2004 at Saint Francis Medical Center. He was born Aug. 12, 1939, at Anniston, Mo., son of Ed and Joy Collins Childers. He and Dorothy Pike were married April 17, 1966, at East Prairie, Mo. She died Aug. 19, 1994. He and Mary "Cindy" Harlow were married Nov. 26, 1994, at Sikeston...

William V. Lambert, 76, of Jackson died Saturday, Nov. 6, 2004, at his home. He was born Oct. 17, 1928 in Catron, Mo., son of Will and Lillian Johnson Lambert. He and Uldean Kincade were married Aug. 28, 1948, at Dexter, Mo. Lambert was a member of the Civil Air Patrol. He owned and operated Lambert Peach Orchard in Campbell, Mo. He was the past secretary of the Missouri Peach Merchandise Council and was a member of First Southern Baptist Church in Malden, Mo...

Dick Brazel, 69, of Jackson died Saturday, Nov. 6, 2004, at home. He was born Jan. 24, 1935, in Fornfelt, Mo. son of Homer and Dorothy Beaird Brazel. He and Juanita Sparks were married Dec. 16, 1961, at Illmo, Mo. Brazel was a veteran having served in the U.S. ...

Tree size is often mistakenly equated with age, and some people think removing those larger trees will release the young trees to grow. But in Ozark forests, according to Missouri Department of Conservation resource forester Jason Jensen, pole-sized oaks typically are just as old as the largest trees. ...

What can a squirrel teach you? Plenty ... if you are observant. While sitting in a tree stand this past October, I noticed many squirrels eating dogwood and black gum berries. I spied between five and seven squirrels in any one tree, chomping away. This caught my interest because I had been chomping away recently on a fried squirrel dinner with biscuits and gravy. ...

The Southeast Missouri State University volleyball team evened its Ohio Valley Conference record Saturday with a comeback win at Morehead State. Southeast lost the first two games 26-30 and 25-30, but won the next three 30-21, 30-23 and 15-9. Southeast improved to 7-7 in the OVC and 9-16 overall. Morehead is now 7-7 in the OVC and 8-18 overall...

Now that the voters have decisively spoken, most of the lawyers have gone home and plans are being made to tackle important issues, here are some reflections on the 2004 election: The election process worked. After the 2000 elections and problems at some polling places this year, there was good reason to wonder if the outcome of the presidential race might be delayed for weeks. ...

Cape Girardeau Firefighters responded to the following item on Thursday: At 3:08 p.m., gas odor at 221 S. Ellis St. Firefighters responded to the following items on Friday: At 1:33 a.m., emergency medical service in the 3000 block of Themis Street. At 1:54 a.m., fire alarm at 1710 N. Sprigg St...

Cape Girardeau The following items were released by the Cape Girardeau Police Department. Arrests do not imply guilt. Arrests James Dean Hatchel, 51, no address given, was arrested on a Cape Girardeau warrant for a probation violation. Orlando L. Thomas, 32, 1621 N. First St., St. Louis, was arrested for a Cape Girardeau warrant for contempt of court...

WASHINGTON -- The White House's director of postwar policy for Iraq, who was instrumental in helping to set up an interim government to lead that country until elections can be held, is stepping down. Robert Blackwill, a former ambassador to India, has overseen Iraq strategy at the National Security Council since mid-2003. He decided "some time ago" to depart government service after the presidential election, a White House official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Saturday...

Waving their arms in the air and jumping from side to side weren't part of any exercise routine for the dozens of children gathered last week in the Family Life Center at Centenary United Methodist Church. These children, part of "Kids Across Cape," were singing praises to God during a rehearsal for their upcoming musical performance at 7 p.m. Friday at the Arena Building...

Site for new fire station to be dedicated Monday The public is welcome to attend the site-dedication ceremony at 3 p.m. Monday for the new fire station No. 3 in Cape Girardeau. The new station will be built north of Blanchard Elementary School on North Sprigg Street. ...

This 38-year-old ranch-style home offers a functional layout By Tammy Raddle ~ Southeast Missourian Simplicity has its own beauty. That's true of homes, also. The basic ranch-style home is an example of that. It's about function: a simple floor plan that fits a family's needs...

ATLANTA -- What used to be routine felt like a novelty to Tiger Woods. After four straight birdies on his way to a 5-under 65 at East Lake, the former No. 1 player in the world was introduced Saturday as one of the 54-hole leaders in the Tour Championship...

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Kelvin Hayden's interception set up Jon Beutjer's short touchdown pass with 30 seconds remaining, and Illinois rallied from a 19-point deficit to beat Indiana 26-22 Saturday, ending a 14-game Big Ten losing streak. Hayden grabbed the ball from the arms of Jahkeen Gilmore and ran it back 33 yards to Indiana's 30 with just under 4 minutes left. ...

STEELVILLE, Mo. -- A judge has refused to reduce bond for one of two suspects in a freeway shooting that wounded an Indiana truck driver. Paul Murta, 18, of Leasburg, and Jeffrey Hubbard, 19, of Sullivan, were arrested Monday and jailed on $100,000 bond each...

ABIDJAN, Ivory Coast -- French troops clashed with soldiers and angry mobs Saturday after Ivory Coast warplanes killed at least nine French peacekeepers and an American civilian in an airstrike -- mayhem that threatened to draw foreign troops deeper into the West African country's escalating civil war...

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip -- Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qureia joined rival Palestinian groups in a call for unity Saturday, hoping they could work together to ensure calm and keep the Gaza Strip from plunging into chaos if Yasser Arafat dies. But in a sign of the challenges ahead, the Islamic militant group Hamas issued what it called an "urgent demand" for a formal role in Palestinian decision making in the post-Arafat era...

PARIS -- European diplomats have made "considerable progress" toward a provisional accord concerning Iran's nuclear program, France's Foreign Ministry said Saturday, despite earlier reports of a stalemate. The statement came after two days of talks in Paris aimed at persuading Tehran to stop developing technologies that could be used to make nuclear weapons...

David Bowie fans not lucky enough to catch him during his most recent world tour can witness the career-spanning spectacle on a new Sony DVD capturing his magnetic Dublin performance from last November. "David Bowie -- A Reality Tour" is minimally priced, and it unfortunately shows. The nominal non-plastic case is flimsy but accompanied by a booklet containing crisp concert photographs...

NEW YORK -- Elvis Presley was once fired as an usher at a Loews movie theater for punching out another usher, the story goes. As he returned years later, his face graced the silver screen. Barbra Streisand is believed to have seen her first movies at a Loews theater in Brooklyn...

SEATTLE -- A technician at a cancer center has been sentenced to 16 months in prison for stealing the identity of a gravely ill patient, who spent months trying to clear his name while the disease ravaged his body. The technician, Richard W. Gibson, 42, is the first person in the nation sentenced under a new law designed to protect patients' privacy, federal prosecutors said...

FORT BENNING, Ga. -- Cpl. Eugenio Mendoza, a young veteran of the Iraq war, had to carry his buddy for 50 yards, scale an 8-foot wall and crawl through a water-logged tunnel at the fourth International Sniper Competition, where the challenges are designed to simulate combat scenarios in Afghan-istan and Iraq...

ST. LOUIS -- The designers of the first privately manned rocket to burst into space were handed a $10 million check Saturday, a prize designed to encourage technology that will open the heavens to tourists. SpaceShipOne designer Burt Rutan accepted the Ansari X Prize money, along with a 150-pound trophy, as a chase plane flew over the ceremony in a field adjacent to the St. Louis Science Center...

SAN DIEGO -- Flying low over the Sonoran Desert, Border Patrol agents spotted a skeleton in the brush. The harsh terrain along the southern edge of Arizona is a busy trafficking corridor for illegal immigrants and the remains could have been from a person who died while trying to sneak into the United States. But busy Interstate 8 runs nearby and it also could have been a slain U.S. citizen, a suicide, a runaway...

Coming off three straight down years, it's no doubt important that Southeast Missouri State University's basketball team gets off to at least a decent start. But that wasn't made any easier with the recent announcement that Derek Winans will probably miss at least the first few games of the season with a stress fracture in his leg...

While the estimated 1,225 fans attending Southeast Missouri State University's men's basketball exhibition opener are not likely to confuse NAIA school Harris-Stowe with quality teams that litter Southeast's schedule like Southern Illinois and Murray State, Southeast's 90-40 victory was impressive none the less...

Halfway through Saturday's Class 3 District 1 championship between Central and Poplar Bluff, things looked dim for the host Tigers. The Mules scored first, then overcame a one-goal deficit to a take the lead just before halftime. But in a span of three minutes, the top-seeded Tigers scored a pair of goals to win their fourth straight district title 4-3...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- It's either the perfect end or the perfect beginning to a fairy tale story. Last year, in its first year of existence, the Saxony Lutheran boys cross country team placed fourth in the Class 1 state championship race. This year, the Saxony boys won the Class 1 title Saturday at the Oak Hills Golf Center...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- A lot of thanks was given at the state cross country meet Saturday at the Oak Hills Golf Center. Runners thanked their coaches, their parents and their fellow runners. Officials thanked everyone for coming out on the sunny day. And Notre Dame Coach Bill Davis thanked Ste. Genevieve's boys team...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Gain experience. That was the goal of both the Perryville girls and boys teams at Saturday's state cross country meet. Three seniors were joined by three juniors and a sophomore ran for the boys team. The girls team boasted two seniors, three juniors, a sophomore and a freshman...

But it is not over. Over the last 40 years, ordinary Americans have become less and less involved in politics. Voter turnout consistently declined between 1960 and 2000. And in non-presidential years, less than 30 percent of eligible adults across America vote, much less volunteer to work on or donate money to campaigns...

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- Allen Webb's only play of the first half was an errant pitch that gave the ball back to Missouri one play after a Tigers' turnover. The backup quarterback didn't squander his next opportunity. Webb ignited a stagnant offense in the second half with two touchdown passes to help his team rally from an early 21-point deficit for a 35-24 victory Saturday...

BAGHDAD, Iraq -- Facing a major assault in Fallujah, insurgents struck back Saturday with suicide car bombs, mortars and rockets across a wide swath of central Iraq, killing over 30 people and wounding more than 60 others, including nearly two dozen Americans...

Kay Griffin knows she's sitting on a hot commodity. The women's health nurse practitioner at the Scott County Health Center knows this so well, she's reluctant to say how many flu shots her department has for fear of causing a stampede. Amid a national shortage, Griffin was surprised recently with a small shipment of the vaccine from one of the three suppliers she had ordered from, although the amount is a pittance compared to the 3,000 doses she had originally ordered. ...

NEW MADRID, Mo. -- A high-profile sex case in New Madrid has some people questioning whether a woman from a prominent family can be tried fairly in the Bootheel town or if politics and privilege will prevail. Last week, a prosecutor and a judge said they were removing themselves from the case, and the defendant's attorney said he hoped to move it out of New Madrid County altogether...

Since it sprouted from a limited service hotel in Sikeston, Mo., in 1973, Drury Inns Inc. has grown into a regional power in the hotel industry with more than 100 locations in 17 states. Along the way, the St. Louis-based corporation has garnered its share of nation and regional accolades to go with that success. It can now add another award to that portfolio...

With winter fast approaching, many young athletes are packing away their baseball and softball gloves and spikes. However, a new business is opening just outside of Cape Girardeau that specializes in practicing those and other sports on a year-round basis...

If you have a question, e-mail factorfiction@semissourian.com or call Speak Out (334-5111) and identify your call as a question for "Fact or fiction?" Q: I would like to know just how much money was spent promoting the Jackson School District's bond issue...

Southeast nearly made a stirring comeback after making some big mistakes. By Marty Mishow ~ Southeast Missourian As stirring as Southeast Missouri State University's near-miracle comeback was Saturday night, coach Tim Billings acknowledged that his team might not have needed such an amazing rally had it not been for some early miscues that led to a big deficit...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- The 2004 elections leave little doubt that Missouri, long considered a swing state, is now solidly in the red column. In Southeast Missouri, which traditionally had posted wide swaths of Democratic blue on electoral maps, the Republican dominance is, like other rural areas, becoming even more pronounced than the state as a whole...

Steelers 27, Eagles 3 The Pittsburgh Steelers are doing things never seen before in the NFL, largely because of rookie quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. The Steelers combined their new quarterback's play with a touch of the old -- a Jerome Bettis of yesteryear and a defense that was Steel Curtain-tough -- to dominate the Philadelphia Eagles 27-3 Sunday and leave the NFL without an undefeated team...

St. Louis was unable to exploit a depleted New England secondary. By R.B. Fallstrom ~ The Associated Press ST. LOUIS -- Adam Vinatieri beat the St. Louis Rams with his leg in the 2002 Super Bowl. This time, he used his leg and his arm. New England's place-kicker hit a season-best four field goals, then threw his first career touchdown pass on a fake to Troy Brown to help the Patriots bounce back from their only loss with a 40-22 victory Sunday...

n Name: Marco M. Otten Lives in: Jackson Family: Married, no children (one dog instead). Job: Program director with Cultural Exchange Network in Jackson. What do you like most about the area? After immigrating to the United States from the Netherlands, the best feature of the area is the amount of living space available...

Cairo graduate finishes Navy basic training Navy Airman Apprentice Malcolm D. Lambert, brother of Shunicia L. Jackson of Cairo, Ill., recently completed U.S. Navy basic training at Recruit Training Command in Great Lakes, Ill. Lambert is a 2004 graduate of Cairo High School of Cairo, Ill...

Optimist International, the world's fourth-largest civic service organization, is working to add another Optimist Club to the Cape Girardeau area to better serve youths in the community. Volunteer members of Optimist International have been working to get the club started in south Cape Girardeau. Their efforts will culminate with an informational meeting from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Salvation Army, 701 Good Hope St...

Religious guidance HOW DISAPPOINTING to read that a church member is indignant about finding an election flyer on the windshield of his car on the church parking lot. The flyer promoted no individual or party. He called his church a "sanctuary." He has confined his religion so that it is manageable in his life. ...

Scaring folks on Halloween can sometimes leave a lasting impression. One such spectacular scare affected the entire nation in 1938 when Orson Welles delivered his dramatization "The War of the Worlds." The panic that followed the radio hoax was remembered when new Cape Girardeau residents Craig and Robin Williams began packing up their former home in Memphis, Tenn...

Community dance set for Nov. 20 at church Cape Friends of Traditional Music and Dance will hold a community dance from 7 to 9:30 p.m. on Nov. 20 at Christ Episcopal Church, 101 N. Fountain St., Cape Girardeau. The dance features a caller who teaches and prompts the dance and live, old-time fiddle tunes. No partner, costume or experience necessary. For more information, call Judy Hubbard at 334-5289 or John Boyd at 335-7315...

Chicken dinner, bazaar to be held at Legion hall A holiday bazaar will be held at 9:30 a.m. Saturday at the American Legion Hall, 2731 Thomas Drive. A chicken and dumpling dinner on the same date will start at 3:30 p.m. For tickets, call 335-0305 and leave a message...

After spending two days together, area families, including four in Cape Girardeau, are saying their goodbyes today to 17 servicemen who have been preparing for deployment to Iraq. Members of the Engineering Brigade 35th ID have been training at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., and Fort Riley, Kan., for the last four weeks. ...

Starting from Jackson's northern city limits, along U.S. 61, a picture begins to develop. It's a picture that doesn't come in focus until one really looks for it. The first snapshot is a newly constructed brick building with a large ivory-colored facade on the building's upper half...

Los Angeles Times George W. Bush seems poised as of this writing to win reelection, though once again the threat of litigation may hold up a final resolution. Disturbing as the prospect is, this election will be memorable for more than just who won...

Town denies firefighter's widow death benefits BOSTON -- Firefighter Marty McNamara had two young daughters and a third on the way when he barreled into a burning basement last November. His family was protected by the same accidental death benefit that covers every part-time firefighter in the state: none. ...

LOS ANGELES -- "The Incredibles" lived up to their name at the box office as the animated superhero adventure debuted with $70.7 million in its opening weekend, continuing an unbroken string of hits for Pixar Animation. If numbers hold when final figures are released today, "The Incredibles" would have the second-best opening weekend among animated flicks, coming in just ahead of Pixar's 2003 blockbuster "Finding Nemo," which debuted with $70.3 million. ...

Cape Girardeau The following items were released Sunday by the Cape Girardeau Police Department. Arrests do not imply guilt. DWIs Kory J. Presley, 21, of 517 Lindenwood, Sikeston, Mo., was arrested on suspicion of driving while intoxicated. Willie J. Humphrey, 25, of 636 S. Henderson Ave., was arrested on suspicion of driving while intoxicated...

Cape Girardeau Firefighters responded to the following calls Saturday: At 4:21 p.m., suspicious odor at Lexington Avenue and North Kingshighway. At 5:38 p.m., illegal burn at 646 Terry Lane. At 5:55 p.m., illegal burn at 512 Terry Lane. At 8:30 p.m., emergency medical service in the 300 block of Park Drive...

Running n Britain's Paula Radcliffe surged ahead in the final feet Sunday to win the tightest New York City Marathon in history in 2 hours, 23 minutes, 10 seconds -- less than three months after pulling out of the Athens Games just a few miles from the finish in a fit of tears. Radcliffe edged Kenya's Susan Chepkemei by 4 seconds to become the race's first non-Kenyan women's champion since 2000...

Gause Daughter to Daniel Phillip-Houston Gause and Dana Jo King of Jackson, Southeast Missouri Hospital, 2:48 a.m. Monday, Nov. 1, 2004. Name, Dylana Jo-Marie. Weight, 6 pounds 9 ounces. Second child, first daughter. Ms. King is the daughter of Cindy and Robin King of Jackson. Gause is the son of Donna Gause of Cape Girardeau...

Karen Stupples was back in Cape Girardeau last week to help Dalhousie Golf Club honor the top performers in the club's first-year junior program. Stupples, an LPGA touring pro sponsored by Dalhousie, helped kick off the program in February. Thirty golfers participated this summer...

25 years ago: Nov. 8, 1979 Membership of the Southeast Missouri State University presidential search committee is announced by Board of Regents president Kenneth L. Dement; members are Dement, Dr. Robert W. Foster, Dr. Sheila Caskey, Harvey Hecht, Dr. Harold H. Dugger, Dr. John E. Koenig, James L. Molvie, Roberta L. Broeker, Barbara Lohr, Delmar Cobble, Thurston Hill and Stephen R. Sharp...

William Louis "Billy" Chadd, 39, of Cape Girardeau died Friday, Nov. 5, 2004, at Southeast Missouri Hospital. He was born Aug. 1, 1965, at Trinidad, Mo., son of Louis and Peggy Bennett Chadd. Chadd was a veteran of the U.S. Army and an optical technician at Doctors Value Vision...

James Andy Baker, 85, of Cape Girardeau, formerly of Sikeston, Mo., died Sunday, Nov. 7, 2004, at Saint Francis Medical Center. He was born Dec. 14, 1918, at Clines Island, Mo., son of James and Lottie Curd Baker. He and Mildred Evans were married April 14, 1949...

DEXTER, Mo. -- Vonda Marlene Maschmeyer, 77, of Dexter died Friday, Nov. 5, 2004, at the Capital Regional Medical Center in Jefferson City, Mo. She was born March 9, 1927, in Stoddard County, Mo., daughter of David and Bessie Cooper Bollinger. She and Richard Maschmeyer were married March 26, 1944, at Piggott, Ark...

Gary J. McClard, 58, formerly of Jackson died Saturday, Nov. 6, 2004, at his home in St. Louis. Arrangements are incomplete at McCombs Funeral Home in Jackson.

Ruth Berneice Stafford, 91, of Cape Girardeau died Saturday, Nov. 6, 2004, at Southeast Missouri Hospital. She was born Aug. 19, 1913, at Malden, Mo., daughter of Charles and Francis Chaney Johnson. She and Thomas G. "Mike" Stafford were married March 9, 1935, at Vanduser, Mo...

To the editor: I enjoyed reading the article about the riverboats so very much. It brought back so many memories of my father, Capt. Roy E. Ticer. I have lived in Texas since I graduated from Central High School in 1956 and married my husband, Chuck Slagle, but every time we come back to Cape Girardeau or visit a city where the Mississippi runs, I must go down to the riverbank. ...

No person wants to be singled out for their differences, especially in junior high school. But Victoria Lowes and her pal, Sami, are getting noticed in positive ways. Victoria has muscular dystrophy and uses a wheelchair to get around. But lately she's been getting help at school from Sami, her assistance dog adopted from the local animal shelter...

Former SEMO official now VP at Fontbonne Nancy H. Blattner will be vice president and dean for academic affairs at Fontbonne University in St. Louis effective July 1. Blattner once served as the associate dean of the School of University Studies and as the academic associate in the Office of the Provost at Southeast Missouri State University. She was also a professor in the Department of English at Southeast...

Area firms, agencies share excellence award Several area companies and state agencies were recently awarded the Excellence in Innovation in Employment Award at the 2004 Governor's Conference of Workforce Development. The award, which recognized a transportation project formed by the partnering companies, was shared by Gilster-Mary Lee, Workforce Development Solutions, Workforce Investment Board of Southeast Missouri, East Missouri Action Agency and Division of Workforce Development. ...

NEAR FALLUJAH, Iraq -- U.S. forces stormed into western districts of Fallujah early today, seizing the main city hospital and securing two key bridges over the Euphrates River in what appeared to be the first stage of the long-expected assault on the insurgent stronghold...

Palestinian leaders to meet Arafat's doctors JERUSALEM -- With Yasser Arafat fighting for his life in a French hospital, his top lieutenants will fly to Paris for consultations with his doctors, a senior official said Sunday, as Palestinian leaders worked to set up contingency plans in the event of the 75-year-old leader's death. ...

ABIDJAN, Ivory Coast -- France rolled out overwhelming military force Sunday to put down an explosion of anti-French violence in its former West African colony, deploying troops, armored vehicles and helicopter gunships against machete-waving mobs that hunted for foreigners...

NEW YORK -- A 25-year-old from Georgia who was apparently distraught over President Bush's re-election shot and killed himself at ground zero. Andrew Veal's body was found Saturday morning inside the off-limits site, said Steve Coleman, a spokesman for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. A shotgun was found nearby, but no suicide note was found, Coleman said...

The (Quincy, Mass.) Patriot Ledger ... (Senator Kerry) could see that even with more than 100,000 absentee and provisional ballots to be counted in Ohio, the odds were against reversing a Bush victory. In late morning Kerry called the White House to concede the election...

It was the elephant in the living room, and during the election nobody wanted to admit it was there, even though it represents one of the most serious threats to the future of America as we know it. During the campaigns both parties shied away from even mentioning illegal immigration, despite the fact that it was uppermost in the minds of millions of Americans now paying the price for our government's failure to get a grip on the scandal...

St. Louis Post-Dispatch The Internal Revenue Service is abusing its power by investigating the NAACP because of a speech in which its chairman, Julian Bond, criticized the president. In a letter to the NAACP this month, the IRS said the group's summer convention in Philadelphia may have violated the restriction on political activity by nonprofit groups because Bond's speech "condemned the administration policies of George W. ...

Southeast will have 11 new players on its roster when it faces Christian Brothers University tonight. By Marty Mishow ~ Southeast Missourian Because of so many new faces, Southeast Missouri State University women's basketball coach B.J. Smith believes his team's two exhibition contests are more important this year than in most seasons...

CHELSEA, Mass. Few have anything good to say about this year's run-up in oil prices. They do, though, at World Energy Alternatives, a biodiesel company with a shiny antique Gulf Oil pump in the lobby -- a hint that petroleum's proudest days may have passed...

DALLAS, Ga. -- When Alan and Linda Townsend were unhappy with the sprayed-on siding applied to their house, the frustrated couple launched a Web site to complain and to give other unsatisfied customers a forum. Visitor postings to the Web site said the product, Spray on Siding, cracked, bubbled and buckled. For their efforts, the Townsends got slapped with a lawsuit by the product's maker...

A malfunction in the main transformer caused an eight-hour power outage Sunday on the campus of Southeast Missouri State University, officials said. Classes will be in session and offices open today. Fog allowed electricity to arc between the transformer's distribution cables, which then caused the transformer fuses to disconnect the power feed with AmerenUE. Power went out shortly after 10 a.m. and was restored by 6:15 p.m...

Retief Goosen came from four shot back to win the PGA Tour's final event, the Tour Championship. By Doug Ferguson ~ The Associated Press ATLANTA -- Retief Goosen defied the odds at every turn Sunday in the Tour Championship. No one makes birdie on the 481-yard 16th hole, especially not from the rough. Goosen smoked a 5-iron from 195 yards that dropped in front of the flag and stopped 3 feet away...

AVONDALE, Ariz. -- Dale Earnhardt Jr. lost the argument but won the race. Earnhardt's crew chief ordered the driver to stay on the track and pass up a tire change late in Sunday's NASCAR Nextel Cup race at Phoenix International Raceway Following orders reluctantly, Junior still pulled away from Jeff Gordon in a pair of overtime laps to win the race. His 15th career victory tightened up the championship chase with two races to go...

The raises would be partly funded by increases in trash and sewer rates. By Mark Bliss ~ Southeast Missourian Cape Girardeau police officers and firefighters would receive nearly 12 percent pay raises on average in January while other city employees would receive nearly 8 percent pay raises on average under a new pay plan favored by the city council...

Ever since the sales tax to support the city's fire and police departments was proposed and ultimately approved, Cape Girardeau residents have wondered just where the new fire station No. 3 would be located. Proponents of the tax said it would be north of Blanchard Elementary School, but it was difficult to pinpoint exactly where...

The issue of what to do with a valuable city-owned lot brought out some strong opinions Monday night among the Jackson Board of Aldermen. Several months ago, the aldermen voted to change the zoning of a residential property at the corner of Donna Drive and East Jackson Boulevard to commercial property...

Move over Sundance. Watch out Cannes. Cape Girardeau has entered the film festival arena. OK, so maybe Cape Girardeau's Show Me Digital Film Festival is not quite on the scale of Robert Redford's mountain star-fest or the world's best-known film festival, but Friday's festival is a start...

Demolition work on the old Mississippi River bridge will continue today with two simultaneous blasts. The blasts are set for noon and will demolish the remains of Pier 3 and bring the Pier 2 remains to water level. The work is being done by a contractor hired by the Missouri Department of Transportation. The Bill Emerson Memorial Bridge and Aquamsi Street near the old bridge will be closed during the explosions as a precaution...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Social conservative groups hope proposals that have enjoyed little success for years can now move forward, thanks to the election of a Republican governor in Missouri to complement the Republican-controlled state legislature. Campaign Life Missouri and the Missouri Catholic Conference say progress could be made on anti-abortion legislation, such as civil liability for those who help minors cross state lines to have an abortion...

NEW ORLEANS -- A two-drug combination pill dramatically reduced deaths among blacks with heart failure, a landmark finding that is expected to lead to government approval of the first medication marketed for a specific race. Black cardiologists hailed this form of racial profiling after years in which minorities got short shrift in medical studies. Others complained that the drug also might help whites and should have been tested in them but wasn't because of business reasons...

The Tigers will try to build on last year's breakthrough tonight against Lafayette. ~ By Jeremy Joffray ~ Southeast Missourian Central's soccer team was 0-8 in sectional games entering last year's game against Francis Howell North at Houck Stadium...

Eagle Ridge Christian School opened its boys basketball season Monday with an 82-42 win over Twin Cities of Festus at home. Joel Price led the Eagles with 30 points and 13 rebounds. T.J. Crowden scored 26 and added 10 rebounds, and Sandy Holmes scored 14...

You know that feeling when someone kicks you in the stomach, that feeling of pain so bad that it takes the life right out of you? Two weekends ago, I experienced the most painful emotion to hit me in a really long time. Along with my 2005 senior, state-bound volleyball team, I played in the state-qualifying game. ...

Four months together in the same city in a foreign country will do a lot to bring a group of Americans together. Since I arrived here in Chile, I have had the considerable pleasure of getting to know a very dynamic, intelligent and interesting group of individuals that is volunteering with me here in Antofagasta. Though I came here to get to know Chile, this group of Americans has become almost as big a part of the experience...

ST. LOUIS -- Walt Jocketty, who built the St. Louis Cardinals into the surprise winner of the NL pennant, was named executive of the year Monday by The Sporting News. Most experts picked the Cardinals to finish third in the NL Central behind the Chicago Cubs and Houston Astros. Instead, St. Louis won 105 regular-season games and beat the Astros in the NL Championship Series before being swept by the Boston Red Sox in the World Series...

With 11 new players, Southeast Missouri State University women's basketball coach B.J. Smith knows his team will likely be a work in progress for some time. But Smith believes Southeast will ultimately be quite good -- and the squad did appear to show plenty of potential during Monday night's exhibition opener...

The Rams coach promises several changes after his team's second straight lopsided loss. By R.B. Fallstrom ~ The Associated Press ST. LOUIS-- Consecutive dispiriting losses have left the St. Louis Rams at .500 and their coach near the boiling point...

The former Blues player must serve 7 1/2 years in prison for trying to arrange for the murder of his agent. By Betsy Taylor ~ The Associated Press EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. -- Former St. Louis Blues player Mike Danton was sentenced Monday to 7 1/2 years in prison for trying to have his agent killed...

Back to normal HOORAY! THE elections are over at last. No more political phone calls, junk mail and yard signs. Now maybe we can get back to normal. I'm Jane Doe, and I approve this message. Double standard? IF A person is against birth control for people, why is it OK for animals? I just hope none of these people who favor spaying and neutering of pets have a double standard...

The premier conferences will live up to their reputations this college basketball season, not only dominating the Top 25 but gobbling up most of the at-large berths to the NCAA tournament. That means there will be some great conference matchups during the regular season, but the mid-major conferences may feel pinched when it comes to NCAA tournament selections...

Two centers have shut down due to a lack of interest from baby boomers. By Linda Redeffer ~ Southeast Missourian Quilting, ceramics and bingo may have appealed to senior citizens when the first senior centers opened in Missouri in 1973, but the centers in Southeast Missouri have found that they need to update their social offerings if they want to attract baby boomers. ...

Her weekly gardening column ran for 35 years before she retired in 1996. By Laura Johnston ~ Southeast Missourian Over the years, Mary Blue surrounded herself, her family and her friends with beautiful things from the garden and tasty dishes from the kitchen...

Seattle company offers sodas flavored like mashed potatoes, turkey, fruitcake By Allison Linn ~ The Associated Press SEATTLE -- Jones Soda Co. takes the idea of a liquid diet to a new low. How does Green Bean Casserole Soda strike you? And how about an aggressively buttery-smelling Mashed Potato Soda?...

CHICAGO -- A Marine badly wounded in Iraq just days before his wife gave birth to quintuplets has been reunited with his family, a military official said Monday. Marine reservist Sgt. Joshua Horton, 28, had been recovering at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Md., from shrapnel wounds suffered four days before his wife, Taunacy, gave birth Oct. 11...

NEW YORK -- You meet him, you have no doubt that Dennis Farina is a tough guy. Steel-gray hair; craggy face with this-means-business mustache; husky build. Besides, you already know he's a lifelong Chicagoan and ex-cop. For more than two decades, Farina, 60, has been a character actor with remarkable dexterity and charm. ...

Cape Girardeau Firefighters responded to the following items on Monday: At 10:26 a.m., emergency medical service at 1080 S. Silver Springs Road. At 11:32 a.m., emergency medical service in the 800 block of Morgan Oak Street.

Cape Girardeau The following items were released Monday by the Cape Girardeau Police Department. Arrests do not imply guilt. Arrests Christopher T. Jackson, 20, 24 Village Drive, Apt. 2, was arrested on suspicion of possession of crack cocaine with the intent to distribute and being in possession of a firearm...

KANSAS CITY, Mo. When Tiffany Williams graduated from high school in 1999 she wrestled with a choice: take off across the country to prestigious Duke University or head downtown to University of Missouri-Kansas City. Williams chose UMKC, and not because it was close to home. She chose it because at 18 and right out of high school Williams was accepted into its six-year medical program...

Razer Son to Michael Perry and Alisha Nicole Razer of Advance, Mo., Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center, 7:39 p.m. Friday, Oct. 22, 2004. Name, Dylan Nathaniel. Weight, 8 pounds 10 ounces. Mrs. Razer is the former Alisha Goolsby, daughter of Tom and Lorita Goolsby of Zalma, Mo. She is a teacher. Razer is the son of Jim and Kathie Razer of Scott City. He is employed at Holloway Distributing...

25 years ago: Nov. 9, 1979 Three possible methods of alleviating flooding along Cape LaCroix and Walker creeks were unveiled yesterday by the Army Corps of Engineers; the possibilities, determined over the course of a study which has been underway five years, involve channelization, channel widening and a detention basin, or a combination of all three...

First quarter A honor roll Eighth Grade -- Billy Joe Atkinson, Tara Johnson, Casey Kern Seventh Grade -- Ellen Ashcraft, Brooke Glastetter, Chelsea Paul Sixth Grade -- Haley Glastetter, Kaitlin Glastetter, Tara Grojean, Shawn Heuring, Brandi Kern, Brooke Seyer...

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- John V. Schwach, 78, of Perryville died Sunday, Nov. 7, 2004, at Perry County Nursing Home in Perryville. He was born Feb. 22, 1926, in Cape Girardeau County, son of Nick and Nellie White Schwach. He and Elvira M. Brewer Emmendorfer were married April 17, 1978, in Ste. Genevieve, Mo...