Stories from Saturday, February 19, 2005

The American Dream can be a nightmare. The white picket fence is an unattainable aspiration for many who find themselves caught in the downward spiral of losing their job, finding affordable housing and staying off the streets. That was the idea behind the eye-opening speech Julia Tripp presented at the 16th annual Community Caring Conference in Jackson Friday. The future is scary as the window of opportunity is narrowing and more Americans find themselves without homes, she warned...

Doing nothing may be the best solution to the nation's Social Security crisis, local economist Dr. Bruce Domazlicky said Friday. The financial troubles looming in the nation's massive retirement program could mean lower benefits for future elderly Americans, he said. But it also could spark working Americans to start investing more money for retirement and relying less on the federal government, Domazlicky said...

In the 1920s, the Spanish-inspired stucco building at 301 Broadway was declared "the fanciest piece of property in Cape Girardeau." While larger, more modern facilities have sprouted up throughout the city in the past 80 years, the two-story newspaper building at the corner of Broadway and Lorimier Street remains a centerpiece in local culture...

Another school district has fallen victim to the flu and locally confirmed cases have nearly doubled in the past week. Kelly School District in Benton, Mo., dismissed classes Friday after 22 percent of its 700 elementary and middle school students were absent due to illness...

Cowboy hats, big belt buckles and skin-tight jeans were the popular attire at the Show Me Center Friday night as bucking broncos and raging bulls made the arena their playground on the opening night of the 17th annual Show Me Center Rodeo. The evening started with a big surprise for one of the audience members. ...

The Tigers posted a 72-70 victory over the state-ranked Bearcats. ~ Southeast Missourian Eli Harris and a group of five Central seniors made their last appearance at home Friday night in a SEMO Conference boys basketball matchup with Dexter. Harris made sure Central's seniors had reason to celebrate after the game, scoring a team-high 21 points to lead the Tigers to a 72-70 win...

BEIRUT, Lebanon -- The Lebanese opposition stepped up its campaign against the pro-Syrian government Friday, calling for a peaceful uprising to force the resignation of Prime Minister Omar Karami and the withdrawal of Syrian troops. Interior Minister Suleiman Franjieh, however, warned the government would not tolerate public disturbances. ...

A couple of animated series begin this week: one for grown-ups, and one for children. "Robot Chicken," premiering 10:30 p.m. Sunday, is a hilarious addition to Cartoon Network's Adult Swim block. Aptly described by co-creator Seth Green as "like 'Saturday Night Live' with stop motion -- only funnier," this new show presses toys into service as the stars of scathingly funny sketches spoofing everything from C-SPAN and "Pokemon."...

ST. LOUIS -- Dr. Robert Westerman had no plans to retire, but he did in December rather than pay his quickly rising medical malpractice insurance rates. In 1999, the general surgeon paid about $25,000 for the insurance. By last year, that figure was up to about $75,000. "I actually lost money practicing medicine," the 62-year-old doctor said...

~ The Associated Press JUPITER, Fla. -- On the day that pitchers and catchers reported for his defending National League champion Cardinals, manager Tony La Russa answered questions about steroids for what he said will be the last time. "Tomorrow we start to talk baseball and the 2005 season," La Russa told a large media contingent at the Cardinals' spring training complex in Jupiter, Fla...

BOSTON -- A stroke didn't keep Tedy Bruschi hospitalized for long. The question now is if it will keep him off the field for the New England Patriots. The popular 31-year-old was released Friday from Massachusetts General Hospital after spending two days there recovering from a mild stroke that caused numbness, blurred vision and severe headaches...

NEW YORK -- There might be an NHL season, after all. The NHL and the players' association will meet in New York on Saturday after the league requested the sides get together again. The union denied an online report Friday night that an agreement had been reached on a $45 million salary cap. An NHLPA spokesman told The Associated Press in an e-mail that the report was "absolutely false."...

Southeast Missouri State University track and field coach Joey Haines expected the field events to dominate the Redhawk Invitational on Saturday at the Student Recreation Center. With the presence of Arkansas State's Candon Powell, the No. 2 ranked thrower in the country, in addition to Southeast's Brian Knippen, the favorite heading into next weekend's OVC Championship meet, the throwers did not disappoint...

WASHINGTON -- Millions of people who depend on the popular painkillers Celebrex, Bextra and Vioxx should be allowed to keep using them despite risks of heart problems and strokes, government advisers said Friday, concluding that benefits to suffering patients outweigh the dangers...

MOREHEAD, Ky. -- Southeast Missouri State's women want to make sure an already disappointing road trip doesn't turn disastrous. The Redhawks (17-7, 11-2), who saw their hopes of winning their first Ohio Valley Conference regular-season title take a major hit Thursday, visit Morehead State (5-19, 3-10) today for a 4:30 p.m. tipoff...

The Tigers posted a 72-70 victory over the state-ranked Bearcats. ~ Southeast Missourian Eli Harris and a group of five Central seniors made their last appearance at home Friday night in a SEMO Conference boys basketball matchup with Dexter. Harris made sure Central's seniors had reason to celebrate after the game, scoring a team-high 21 points to lead the Tigers to a 72-70 win...

Jackson senior Cody Rouse will attempt to capture his first state wrestling title today after winning a 2-1 double overtime decision over Bret Marshall of Liberty in the semifinals Friday night at the state wrestling meet at the Hearnes Center in Columbia...

BAGHDAD, Iraq -- Many kneeling in prayer, Shiite Muslims were attacked in their mosques and on the streets Friday on the eve of their holiest day, with five bombings killing 36 people in the deadliest day in Iraq since the Jan. 30 national elections...

MOREHEAD, Ky. -- In the wild and wacky world of Ohio Valley Conference men's basketball this season, Thursday's loss at Eastern Kentucky did little to damage Southeast Missouri State's hopes of hosting a first-round OVC tournament game -- or even winning the league's regular-season title, for that matter...

Considering the amount of rain that soaked Riviera in Los Angeles, Chad Campbell didn't expect to complete his second round Friday in the Nissan Open. The bigger surprise was where he finished. Equipped with a vastly improved short game, Campbell nearly holed out two shots and only came close to a bogey once in a round of 6-under 65 that gave him a three-shot lead over Robert Allenby (67)...

WASHINGTON -- Wholesale prices rose 0.3 percent last month as the costs of everything outside of food and energy jumped by the largest amount in more than six years. The price spike could set off alarm bells at the Federal Reserve and perhaps lead to steeper increases in interest rates if inflation pressures do not subside...

To the editor: For many Americans, summer vacation does not mean a trip overseas. It means a visit to one or more of our publicly owned lands, most often our beautiful national parks. But often it includes visits to our wildlife refuges, national forests or wilderness areas. ...

Older but stronger; Canadian system; Talking about eternity; Hurting the middle; The lockbox myth; Action speaks loudly; Taking care of business; Accessories to crime; Pay in, pay out; No change needed; No excuse to kill; To much production; Terrorism and security; Not time yet

Joe E. Flood, 74, of Cape Girardeau died Wednesday, Feb. 16, 2005, at St. Mary's Health Center in St. Louis. He was born April 12, 1930, at Steele, Mo., son of Joe Berry and Zelmer Roosevelt Grindstaff Flood. Flood went into the Army at 16 and was retired in December 1969 as a U.S. Air Force master sergeant after 22 years of service. He served eight years in the Far East during the Korean Conflict and Vietnam War...

CHAFFEE, Mo. -- Jackson Charles Nanney, 77, of Chaffee died Thursday, Feb. 17, 2005, at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. He was born April 15, 1927, in Bollinger County, Mo., son of James Roscoe and Annie Perry Nanney. He and Anna Mae Sadler were married April 26, 1947. He and Barbara Goforth were married March 31, 1976...

Glenn William Abernathy, 90, of Cape Girardeau passed away Friday, Feb. 18, 2005, at Southeast Missouri Hospital. He was born Sept. 14, 1914, at Oriole, son of Robert and Lela Singleton Abernathy. He and Toria Strong were married March 9, 1946, in Piggott, Ark. She preceded him in death Nov. 9, 2004...

CHARLESTON, Mo. -- Jennie Ruth Chronister, 72, of Charleston died Friday, Feb. 18, 2005, at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston, Mo. She was born Feb. 25, 1932, in Mississippi County, Mo., daughter of Walter and Martha Helen Scheffler McCormick. She and Johnnie Chronister were married Oct. 19, 1950...

ANNA, Ill. -- Virginia "Jen" Jackson, 75, of Anna died Friday, Feb. 18, 2005, at Hillview Healthcare Center in Vienna, Ill. She was born July 4, 1929, in Carterville, Ill., daughter of Clyde and Daisy Stocks Crawford. She and Thomas Jackson were married Aug. 13, 1947. He died Nov. 22, 1984...

MALDEN, Mo., -- Herman Edward Shultz, 88, of Jackson, formerly of Malden, died at the Lutheran Home in Cape Girardeau on Friday, Feb. 18, 2005. He was born April 28, 1916, in Mount Vernon, Ark., son of William Henry and Janie Mason Shultz. He married Alfreda Hill on Jan. 6, 1944, in Clarkton, Mo. She died March 24, 2003...

To the editor: A recent Speak Out comment basked President bush on the Iraq war and Social Security. The person who made the comment has to be a member of the "gimme" generation, someone drawing Social Security or getting ready to. Bush's proposal for partial privitization is the same system federal legislators are in. If it's good enough for them, then why not us?...

To the editor: I have lived in Cape Girardeau all my adult life. And now at the age of 63 I, for the first time in my life, feel I must respond to a letter by Robert Polack Jr. Yes, liberals do have deep moral values. And, yes, liberals are Christians too. ...

Basketball...

Cape Girardeau The following items were released Friday by the Cape Girardeau Police Department. Arrests do not imply guilt. Arrests * Gerald D. Hodges Jr., 27, 505 N. Henderson Ave., was arrested on suspicion of possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia and a turn signal violation...

Cape Girardeau Firefighters responded to the following on Thursday: * At 4:43 p.m., emergency medical service at 2400 Veterans Memorial Drive. * At 9:28 p.m.., cleanup at Independence Street and Kingshighway. * At 11:26 p.m., emergency medical service in the 700 block of South Pacific Street...

Missouri Gov. Matt Blunt has pledged improved service at state driver's and motor vehicle licensing offices around the state with new Saturday and evening hours. He also has issued new penalties for offices with more than a 2 percent error rate and is privatizing 11 of the state-run license offices at considerable savings...

25 years ago: Feb. 19, 1980 Ralph Edwards, head of the Cape Girardeau-based Ralph Edwards Sportswear Inc., is in Washington, D.C., with 3,300 signatures of area residents calling for import relief for the domestic leather industry. State Rep. Marvin E. Proffer of Jackson announces he has filed for his 10th consecutive term in the House of Representatives; Proffer is a Democrat from the 155th District...

Have you ever asked yourself if you're spending your life on what is genuinely valuable? I recently heard a comment that caused me to begin questioning the merits of my vocation, interests and goals. It led me to examine my priorities to determine if I was making the best use of my time on earth...

Briefly New Salem UMC gets grant for equipment The Missouri United Methodist Foundation recently awarded a $750 grant to New Salem United Methodist church in Daisy. The grant will help the church purchase new furniture for its Sunday school classrooms. An official presentation will be made at the 8:45 a.m. service on Sunday. The Foundation assists United Methodist churches and charities in Missouri with stewardship services...

When the dozen men gather on Saturday mornings for a weekly Bible study, no one is concerned about where the others attend church or what programs they're involved in there. "That's not even brought up," said Marc Harris, a Promise Keeper Bible study member in Jackson...

Kelly's boys basketball team had someone other than a Deason lead the team in scoring Friday night at Bell City, with the result a 62-52 win. Michael Glastetter led four Kelly players in double figures with 16 points. The Hawks improved to 17-5. Kendal and Kent Deason, and Derek Felter all scored 15 points to contribute to the win...

Unlike last year, when it was obvious that the hobbits and elves would rule Oscar night (and they did), this Academy Awards race looks tougher to call. Associated Press movie writers David Germain and Christy Lemire duke it out -- and disagree -- over several of the main categories:...