Stories from Saturday, October 8, 2005

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Driving to work with your cell phone on, you notice the traffic beginning to slow down. Instantly and unbeknown to you, the government senses your delay and flashes a traffic congestion update over Web sites and electronic road signs...

Cliff, Melanie and Kevin Lankheit are learning what it is like to be local celebrities. After losing more than 100 pounds each with Weight Watchers, the family has been featured in the local media and now a national magazine. They are recognized on the street and in the grocery store...

$50,000 prize from foreign company is a common mail and e-mail scam. When the letter announcing a big lottery prize arrived in her mailbox last month, Dene Drury was, to make an understatement, skeptical. Still, she called the telephone number listed in the letter. ...

The Joplin (Mo.) Globe A federal shield law makes sense as a suitable approach to protecting the public's right to know by protecting a reporter's confidential sources. Such a statute would give whistle-blowers the cover of anonymity to tell their tales of government wrongdoing, malfeasance or mismanagement without risking retaliation in their jobs or their personal lives...

Lebanon (Mo.) Daily Record Gov. Matt Blunt is a commuter. Since taking office in January, according to a report by The Associated Press, he's spent more time at his home in Springfield than he has at the Governor's Mansion in Jefferson City. His critics say that's a problem. .....

CRYSTAL CITY, Mo. -- An investigation continues into the arson fire that killed an eastern Missouri teenager, police said Friday. Darryl Kalas Jr., 18, was killed in a fire early Monday at Riverview Bend apartment in Crystal City. Firefighters initially thought the fire was sparked by candles used to light the apartment, which lacked electricity. But it was ruled arson after a flammable liquid was found...

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. -- The parents of a boy who died at a home for troubled teens are seeking an order of protection after alleging the owner and his son tried to pressure them into dropping their wrongful death suit. Victor and Gracia Reyes allege that John Bundy, who owns Thayer Learning Center with his wife, threatened and harassed them in July during an unannounced visit to the couple's California home...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Missouri will get $24.2 million as part of a multistate settlement with telecommunications company MCI Inc. over disputed state income taxes. The settlement stems from MCI-WorldCom tax filings from 1999-2002, when various states alleged that money transfers between MCI subsidiaries were illegally classified as a business expense exempt from state tax laws...

ST. LOUIS -- Mike Martz returned to the practice field Friday, anxious to put the attention back on the St. Louis Rams' next game instead of his heart condition. Martz, 54, missed two days while undergoing tests for a bacterial infection of a heart valve. He said earlier this week that team doctors believe he has endocarditis...

Colin Montgomerie and John Daly would seem to have little in common except for their names atop the leaderboard at the American Express Championship. Montgomerie scrambled for a 1-under 69 at San Francisco's Harding Park that left him one shot clear of Daly and David Howell of England. Tiger Woods and five others were another shot behind...

The Cardinals send Morris to the mound tonight in hopes of ending the series. SAN DIEGO -- Dave Roberts knew desperation last October in Boston. Here he is again, facing the possible end to his postseason. Roberts and his San Diego Padres will disappear without a trace from the playoffs unless they beat the St. Louis Cardinals in Game 3 of their National League Division Series tonight at Petco Park...

BOSTON -- Orlando Hernandez pitched out of a bases-loaded, none-out jam, and Paul Konerko hit a tiebreaking homer as Chicago beat Boston 5-3 Friday to sweep the defending World Series champion Boston Red Sox out of the playoffs. Chicago won its a postseason series for the first time since 1917...

Gov. Matt Blunt ordered flags to be flown at half staff until Monday to honor fallen firefighters. "As the nation remembers fallen heroes this weekend, Missouri mourns the loss of Gerald McGowan and Steve Fierro," Blunt said in a news release. A national memorial service to add McGowan (Kansas City Fire Department) and Fierro (Carthage Fire Department) to the National Memorial wall is scheduled Sunday at the National Fire Academy in Emmitsburg, Md...

Cape Girardeau...

Southeast Missourians know too well the scourge of methamphetamine. Its production has clogged our courts, filled our jails and ruined countless lives. The cost, both human and monetary, is incalculable. A recent story in the Southeast Missourian described how two men have overcome their addiction to methamphetamine by going through Teen Challenge's 14-month recovery program...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- The state Homeland Security Advisory Council signed off on plans Friday to purchase equipment that should help law enforcement around the state better communicate during an emergency. The council approved a proposal to spend $10 million in federal homeland security funding on two projects that should help both metropolitan areas and smaller, rural communities...

September job figures dip because of Katrina WASHINGTON -- Hurricane Katrina bruised the economy in September, causing the first nationwide job loss in two years, but the damage wasn't as awful as many had feared. Payrolls fell by 35,000, with jobs in retailing, lodging, bars, restaurants and leisure pursuits such as gambling all taking a hit. ...

VIENNA, Austria -- Mohammed ElBaradei prides himself on remaining cool under pressure, but he showed unusual flashes of emotion on learning Friday that he and his International Atomic Energy Agency had won the 2005 Nobel Peace Prize. His eyes misted up several times behind his glasses as he spoke with reporters about the delight -- and surprise -- he felt when he heard on television that he and the U.N. nuclear watchdog had been picked to share the world's most prestigious award...

MOSCOW -- Russia on Friday test-launched a collapsible mini-spacecraft, which is designed to carry cargo and even passengers from the international space station to Earth, a Russian space design bureau said. The Demonstrator spacecraft blasted off on a converted ballistic Volna rocket from a nuclear submarine in the Barents Sea, and it later descended toward the Kura test range on Russia's Far East Kamchatka Peninsula on schedule, the Interfax news agency reported...

BAGHDAD, Iraq -- The 22 bodies, lined up in coffins in a mosque courtyard Friday, are as shriveled as ancient mummies after lying a month in the desert where they were dumped, bound and bullet-ridden. They were Sunni Arabs, rounded up from their Baghdad homes one night by men in police uniforms...

McLEAN, Va. -- A new lingerie display in a Victoria's Secret storefront has attracted not just long glances, but also protesters and allegations the chain is promoting lesbianism and sadomasochism. About 30 women -- no men -- picketed the Tysons Corner Center store Friday. Some of them weren't satisfied that store workers had toned down the display, and promised to boycott the newly expanded mall, now among the nation's largest...

Local churches hold auctions, bazaars; St. Mark Lutheran Church welcomes new pastor; Health fair event held at Christ Epsicopal Church; First Baptist to feature homecoming event; Ugly quilt weekend at St. Vincent de Paul Church; Westminster Presbyterian Church youth group quilt show, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the church. Admission is free, donation accepted for youth mission trip.; Sunday; Annual homecoming at New Salem United Methodist Church in Daisy beginning at 8:45 a.m.

Joyce Stockton, 59, of Jackson died Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2005, at her home. She was born Oct. 10, 1945, in Bakersfield, Calif., daughter of Herbert and Marjorie Belew Petzoldt. She and Fred Stockton were married Aug. 29, 1993. He died Feb. 8, 1999. Stockton was a graduate of Jackson High School...

Last year, the Chaffee softball program sacrificed the comfort of spring -- and the big win totals the team had accumulated in recent seasons -- for the chance at a district title in the fall. In their second season of fall softball, the Red Devils made the move pay off...

The Panthers are 1-0 in the league heading into today's game against Southeast. One of the few question marks Eastern Illinois had entering this season was at quarterback. But if the Panthers' most recent game is any indication, then even that position might be in good hands...

Mosley makes first start tonight against EIU. Markus Mosley really didn't have time to be nervous during his initial college football experience. "I didn't really have a chance to think about it, which was probably good," said Southeast Missouri State's freshman quarterback, who entered the fourth quarter of a 33-17 loss at Samford on Sept. 29...

25 years ago: Oct. 8, 1980 Recent disclosure of morale problems in the Cape Girardeau Police Department and alleged mishandling of police investigations prompt Councilman Gail D. "Woody" Woodfin to propose a public fact-finding investigation into the department...

Ruth N. Heckathorn, 59, of Springfield, Ill., died Thursday, Oct. 6, 2005, at her home. She was born March 16, 1946, in Freeport, Ill., daughter of Fred and Anna Young Heckathorn. Ms. Heckathorn was a freelance technical writer and also developed software training at the Department of Public Aid and was a consultant for Ciber Inc. She owned Spectrum Communications from 1984 to 1987...

To the editor: My wife, Laura Glynn, is one of the two people responsible for the Weaver Walking School Bus. I was told to look up the column by Joe Sullivan. I was a bit taken aback at the derisive tone he took with the walking school bus concept, as if having adults walking with the children was nothing more than "looking out for spitballs."...

To the editor: While I realize there are parents who neglect their children on purpose or with no regard, I can't help but think that one of the instances on your front page was not the case, the one where there were children living in a rented trashy and poorly maintained house on Pearl Street...

Personal service; Serving democracy; Living conditions; Name-calling; Lack of care; Not his suggestion; Park those mowers; Baseball weather; Sorry scenario

There's a song, an old hymnal standard, called "Little Brown Church in the Vale." This simple song used to be sung on a regular basis at the Illmo United Methodist Church, except the congregation would ever-so-slightly alter the lyrics to: "No spot is so dear to my childhood as the little white church on the hill."...

Jerusalem's streets teemed with Feast of Tabernacles celebrants. Under the early morning sun in the Temple, Jesus sat teaching a large group of listeners. Suddenly the crowd parted as clamoring, finger-pointing, self-righteous religious leaders rushed in, throwing a disheveled, half-clad woman at Jesus' feet, as they loudly proclaimed, "This woman was caught in adultery, in the very act. ...

Former Pocahontas man now mentors military chaplains To say Mark Steiner has lived a simple life would be an understatement. Steiner, who was born and raised in Pocahontas, is a group chaplain for the U.S. Navy stationed in San Diego. As a group chaplain, Steiner provides oversight, training and mentoring for 14 active duty chaplains and four reservist chaplains. While he has not been deployed to Iraq, he acknowledges the fact that he may possibly be deployed in the future...

Bryant; Henry; Goodman; Cowan; Overy

Robbie Lee Roberts, 95, of Belleville, Ill., formerly of Cape Girardeau, died Thursday, Oct. 6, 2005, at Swansea Care Nursing Home in Belleville. She was born Nov. 2, 1909, in Clinton, Ky., daughter of Solon and Monie Tyler Johnson. She and Clyde Roberts were married Feb. 25, 1925, at Jackson. He died Sept. 17, 1979...

THEBES, Ill. -- Hazel Garrett, 73, of Thebes died Thursday, Oct. 6, 2005, at her home. She was born Nov. 10, 1931, in Belleville, Ill., daughter of Edward and Lura Coplin Foutch. She married Victor Garrett, who died in 1969. Survivors include a daughter, Nellie Tucker of Thebes; a son, Wilford Garrett of Thebes; a sister, Barbara Shelton of Jackson; four brothers, Ernest Stevenson and Eddie Foutch of Thebes, J.P. ...

Eileen Alma Kasten, 79, of Oak Ridge, Tenn., died Thursday, Oct. 6, 2005, at Baptist Hospital in Knoxville, Tenn. She was born Aug. 20, 1926, in Cape Girardeau, daughter of William Henry and Clara Anita Grossheider Kiehne. She married Paul Rudolph Kasten, who died Feb. 29, 2004...

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- Arian Michael Charde, 11, of Perryville died Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2005, at Cardinal Glennon Hospital in St. Louis. He was born Oct. 14, 1993, in Las Vegas, Nev., son of William D. and Mandy M. Lynn Gaulding II. Arian was a student at Parkview State School in Cape Girardeau...

BENTON, Mo. -- Margaret Evelyn McPherson, 82, of Benton died Friday, Oct. 7, 2005, at her home. She was born June 11, 1923, in Blodgett, Mo., daughter of Ernie and Edna Moore Rister. She and Verbon McPherson were married June 8, 1941, at Benton. McPherson was a key punch operator 11 years at Rival Manufacturing. She worked at Olin Mathis Ammunition Co. in Alton, Ill., during World War II...

Robin Lanette Hoffmeister Kranawetter, 40, of Jackson passed away Thursday, Oct. 6, 2005, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. She was born March 14, 1965, in Cape Girardeau, daughter of Lloyd and Judy Choate Hoffmeister. She and Richard Kranawetter were married May 10, 1986, in Jackson. He survives...

While 87-year-old Jesse Smithers nodded off in an easy chair Thursday night, Sierra was becoming agitated. The 4-year-old family dog began barking furiously. When Smithers awoke, smoke was filling the modest single-story home at 1125 Dorothy St. that he shared with his goddaughter, April Kinder, and her father, Rick Kinder...

While a welcome center has yet to be funded by the state, that hasn't stopped the rest of the work. Cape Girardeau City Council members eyed the developing River Campus with pride as they toured the construction site Friday. "It is just going to be phenomenal," Mayor Jay Knudtson said as construction workers labored to transform the former Catholic seminary site into Southeast Missouri State University's new visual and fine arts campus...

WOOD RIVER, Ill. -- Clarence Hugh "Shorty" Buster, 89, of Wood River, Ill. and formerly of East Cape Girardeau, Ill., died Thursday, Oct. 6, 2005, at Eldercare of Alton. He was born July 18, 1916, in Thebes, Ill., son of Richard David and Effie Mary Buster. He and Thelma Lorene Warren were married Dec. 30, 1938, at Jackson...

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Carl Edwards has managed to stay under the radar through the first three Chase for the championship races. That should change for him this weekend when he heads to Kansas Speedway -- the closest thing to a hometown track for the Missouri native...

Defending Class 2 state softball champion Kelly is ready to make another run. The Hawks rolled through the Class 2 District 5 tournament, capturing the title with a 12-2 six-inning win Friday over East Prairie at Three Rivers Community College in Poplar Bluff...

The Southeast Missouri State women's soccer team suffered a stunning loss Friday afternoon and fell out of a tie for first place in the Ohio Valley Conference. Last-place Morehead State topped the Redhawks 2-0 in Morehead, Ky. Southeast dropped to 7-3-1 overall and 2-1-1 in OVC play. The Eagles improved to 4-7 and 1-4...

This much the St. Vincent Indians and the Crystal City Hornets agreed on: Friday's MAFC Blue Division was not one for the scrapbook. "It was ugly," St. Vincent Coach Keith Winkler said after his team's 21-0 victory. "We just kept shooting ourselves in the foot."...

STILLWATER, Okla. -- After his first loss as Oklahoma State's coach, Mike Gundy is getting plenty of input on how to make the Cowboys' no-huddle offense more effective. Two days after Oklahoma State's 34-0 loss to Colorado, the first-year coach had already received 50 e-mails from fans...

NEW ORLEANS -- They clear rotten seafood from stinking restaurant freezers, wash excrement from the floors of the Superdome, rip out wads of soaked insulation. The work is hot, nasty and critical to the recovery of New Orleans. And yet, many of the workers are not actually from New Orleans...

ST. LOUIS -- Offering prayers and hymns in an outdoor courtyard, medical students held a memorial service Friday to honor those who donate their bodies to Saint Louis University's School of Medicine for research and training. The students coordinate the service each year to thank those who donated their bodies during the past year to advance scientific education...

CHICAGO -- Pocket-size throat sprays. Thin strips that melt in your mouth. Freezer pops. Like Mary Poppins with her spoonful of sugar, the makers of cold remedies are offering creative ways to help the medicine go down. The active ingredients aren't new, but the method for taking the medicine is. ...

Claire McCaskill's report released Friday questioned some of the department's procedures and expenses. KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- State Auditor Claire McCaskill questioned Friday why the Conservation Department didn't discuss plans to purchase a new airplane during an audit of the office...

Protestations by the House speaker and majority leader in recent weeks that earmarks in the highway bill cannot be used for offsetting Katrina spending stand in stark contrast to the long record of their party in demanding restraint and accountability in federal spending...

Cape Girardeau Firefighters responded to the following calls Thursday: * At 9:38 p.m., emergency medical service at Independence Street and Silver Springs Road. * At 10:53 p.m., a house fire at 1125 Dorothy St. Firefighters responded to the following calls Friday:...