Stories from Tuesday, December 20, 2005

The Scott City Council unanimously passed an ordinance Monday night to streamline the process of creating a subdivision for small property owners. The new ordinance sets up definitions for minor and major subdivisions, with small subdivisions being defined as land divided into less than three lots, with no street or utilities dedicated to the public...

Nigerian bandits victimized a Jackson couple seeking to sell a laptop computer by sending them a large phony cashier's check and persuading them to send back most of the money. The fraud scheme duped Jeff and Deanna Kelm, leaving them with a demand from Bank of America that they repay $5,000 and a closed bank account...

Melissa D. James, 32, of Scott City, pleaded guilty on Monday to five out of seven felony charges of forgery and attempted theft of the medication Xanex and hydrocodone. Circuit Judge Benjamin Lewis scheduled sentencing for Jan. 23 and ordered a sentencing assessment report to determine restitution if he sentences her to probation...

It's that time of year when Joni has all the car radios tuned to Christmas-only stations. Get in either of our vans and you're bound to hear the sounds of Christmas jingling inside. It's so contagious, I've even adopted the habit. Rather than listen to sports talk radio, I've started listening to holiday tunes when I'm driving around town...

Where many people see empty buildings, Paul Schock sees potential for growth. If Schock's perception is right, then Scott City has a lot of growing room. In his own estimate, about 25 percent of the commercial properties in the city are vacant. A drive along Main Street or through Old Illmo will prove that estimate to be somewhat accurate -- large and small commercial properties sit empty, some with "For sale or rent" painted on the windows. ...

Circuit Judge William Seay has refused to dismiss a lawsuit by Three Rivers Community College against Southeast Missouri State University over operation of Bootheel education centers. Southeast asked the judge to dismiss the lawsuit. The university argued that TRCC failed to work through the administrative process of the Missouri Coordinating Board for Higher Education to resolve the dispute...

LAKE FOREST, Ill. -- Rex Grossman's back as starting quarterback of the Chicago Bears. And what a long road it has been. After countless hours of rehab to overcome two major injuries, he was more appreciative than ever Monday of where he's been, and of where he wants to go...

ST. LOUIS -- In their heyday, the St. Louis Rams made a habit of winning almost every game that was up for grabs. This year's team has lost five of six after a one-point setback to the Eagles, squandering opportunities left and right and clinching only the franchise's second losing season in the last seven years...

NEW YORK -- Reggie Bush loves roller coasters -- and it makes perfect sense. Both bring thrills with breathtaking bursts of zigzag speed. "I guess that's kind of how I am on the field all those twists and turns and stuff like that," Southern California's human thrill ride said...

BALTIMORE -- Kyle Boller put on a dazzling performance on a national stage and guided the Baltimore Ravens to a 48-3 rout of the Green Bay Packers on Monday night. It was the low point of an awful season for the Packers (3-11), who absorbed their most lopsided loss since a 61-7 defeat at Chicago in 1980...

LAFAYETTE, La. -- Arkansas State coach Steve Roberts said Monday linebacker Chris Littleton will likely play in today's New Orleans Bowl after the linebacker was arrested during the weekend. Little, 22, of Osceola, a junior who started the last five games, for the Indians, was arrested for allegedly assaulting a law officer...

COLUMBIA, S.C. -- South Carolina got to do something Saturday it hadn't in four years -- practice in December. The Gamecocks (7-4) opened workouts for their first bowl game since the Outback Bowl after the 2001 season, going through two practices to prepare for their Independence Bowl matchup with Missouri on Dec. 30...

Only UCLA has had a better run than Duke in The Associated Press college basketball poll. The Blue Devils were No. 1 for the seventh straight week on Monday. That extended their streak of consecutive poll appearances to 173 -- second only to UCLA's run of 221 from 1966 to 1980...

LOS ANGELES -- Nomar Garciaparra is moving to first base with the Los Angeles Dodgers, confident it will be a smooth transition. And at age 32, he thinks he has several good years left no matter what position he plays. In Boston, Garciaparra was one of baseball's best shortstops and a five-time All-Star who won two batting titles. The Dodgers only hope he approaches that level...

Public Hearings Held a hearing to consider an amendment to special-use permit number 29, for the construction of a warehouse/support services facility, at 1042 Orchard Drive, as submitted by the Reorganized School District. Held a hearing to consider the proposed 2006 city budget...

CARBONDALE, Ill.-- A Southern Illinois University assistant men's basketball coach indicted as part of a federal investigation into a Kansas community college's athletic program where he used to work resigned from the Salukis on Monday, SIU announced...

State Rep. Scott Lipke, R-Jackson, was recently awarded the 2005 Missouri Judicial Conference Legislator of the Year award at the Judicial Conference meeting in Kansas City. This is the second year that Lipke has received the award at the conference. ...

Gilbert C. Bruhl of Pine Bluff, Ark., formerly of rural Cape Girardeau, passed away Saturday, Dec. 17, 2005, at the age of 91. He was born Dec. 8, 1914, in Illmo, the only child of Jakob and Hulda Roth Bruhl. He was baptized and confirmed at Eisleben Lutheran Church in Illmo, where he and Virginia Heuer were married April 18, 1942...

Gene Mackey, 62, of Jackson passed away Monday, Dec. 19, 2005, at his home. He was born April 30, 1943, in Rockbridge, Mo., son of the late Owen B. and Leona Martin Mackey. He and Jill Piepenbrok were married April 28, 1974, in Jackson. She survives...

To the editor: In response to a Dec. 13 letter talking down my legislation toughening penalties on sexual predators: The author believes tougher penalties for sex offenders would "not make people safer in Missouri." On the contrary, my legislation would make all Missourians, especially children, safer by making the law reflect appropriate and tough penalties for those who sexually assault children, including life in prison in some cases for the first offense...

To the editor: In his Saturday morning radio address, President Bush called senators who threatened to filibuster the Patriot Act renewal in its present form "irresponsible." Once again President Bush used 9-11 to defend taking legislative and judicial powers. ...

St. Vincent's girls basketball team jumped out to a 27-11 halftime lead and held on for a 47-25 win over visiting Meadow Heights on Monday. The Squaws (4-3) outscored Meadow Heights 14-2 in the second quarter. Lacey Siegmund, Kelsey Kutz and Lisa Abbott had eight points apiece for St. Vincent...

Twain's observation; Time for platform; Not up to standard; Use recent photos; Postal circuit; Need some control; Not a federal case; Manners for children; School concerns; Drugs, not recess; Gift is waiting; No arguments; Changes make sense; Hildebrand book; Safety questioned

Eric R. Neighbors, 19, of Cape Girardeau died in an automobile accident Sunday, Dec. 18, 2005, on Mount Auburn Road. He was born Oct. 18, 1986, in Emporia, Kan., son of Kasey and Gladys Neighbors. Neighbors graduated from Central High School earlier this month...

Mary Florence Poncy Collier, 76, of Montgomery, Ala., departed this life Sunday, Dec. 18, 2005, at her home. Graveside services will be held at Evergreen Cemetery of Elba, Ala., today at 3 p.m., with the Rev. Mart Gray officiating. Visitation will be at Hayes Funeral Home today from 1 to 2:30 p.m. The Collier family will receive friends at the Collier home, 3314 Allendale Place, Montgomery, after 6 p.m. today following the service...

25 years ago: Dec. 20, 1980 McCLURE, Ill. -- George B. Bader Jr., of McClure, a former Cape Girardeau, stock broker and Alexander County commissioner, died yesterday following a long illness; he was 69 years old; Bader formerly managed the Kohlmeyer Stock and Commodity Co. in Cape Girardeau and was active in Democratic politics in both Illinois and Missouri...

Blackwell; Raney; Schemel; Pollard; Beussink; Leazenby

THEBES, Ill. -- James Ray Monahan, 48, of Thebes died suddenly Saturday, Dec. 17, 2005, on arrival at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. He was born Feb. 20, 1957, in Mount Clemens, Mich., son of Jimmie Lee and Marvalee Bryant Monahan. He served in the U.S. Army...

Mildred I. Werner, 94, of Cape Girardeau died Monday, Dec. 19, 2005, at the Lutheran Home. She was born April 20, 1911, in Cape Girardeau, daughter of William and Elizabeth Busch Klaproth. She and Erich M. Werner were married Sept. 7, 1947, in Cape Girardeau. He died June 7, 1977...

Martha Lou Dunn, 65, of Scott City died Monday, Dec. 19, 2005, at the home of a daughter. She was born Feb. 3, 1940, at Allenville, daughter of Leon and Grace McCulley Givens. She married Robert Charles Dunn, who preceded her in death. Survivors include a daughter, Karen Mueller; her mother; three sisters, Lela Welker of Chaffee, Mo., Stella Taylor of Scott City, Debra Anglin of Zalma, Mo.; two brothers, James Givens of Allenville, Jerry Givens of Scott City; a half brother, Charles Givens of Cape Girardeau; and a grandson.. ...

Marian Pauline Mitchell, 86, died Saturday, Dec. 17, 2005, at the Lutheran Home. Lorberg Memorial Funeral Chapel is in charge of arrangements.

ULLIN, Ill. -- Ila C. Atherton, 83, of Ullin died Sunday, Dec. 18, 2005, at Daystar Care Center in Cairo, Ill. She was born Sept. 8, 1922, in Stoddard County, Mo., daughter of Clarence and Pearl Henson Cooper. She and Phil Atherton were married in 1940. He died in 1971...

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- Perry Andrew Statler, 90, of Sedgewickville, Mo., died Sunday, Dec. 18, 2005, at Perry County Nursing Home in Perryville. He was born Feb. 9, 1915, at Patton, Mo., son of Andrew Jefferson and Verna Gay Grindstaff Statler. He and Pearl Hester Lix were married Nov. 27, 1947...

CHARLESTON, Mo. -- Tom Finley, 87, of Charleston died Saturday, Dec. 17, 2005, at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston, Mo. He was born June 5, 1918, in Mountain Home, Ark., son of Harry and Ada Cox Finley. He and Ruby Nell McMillen were married Dec. 21, 1940. She died March 17, 1993...

The problem with unruly children whose parents seem to think public places are playgrounds for unsupervised youngsters is so bad in some areas that stores have started posting warnings that children aren't allowed unless they are shopping with an adult...

n Presentation of the city's emergency operation plan. Chuck Martin and Rocky Hayes presented the Red Star Boat landing project. Consent Ordinances (Second and third readings) Granted a special-use permit to Dale Patrick LaFont, Roscoe Newbern and Approved Auto Investments LLC, for purposes of constructing and maintaining a manufactured office unit at 402 S. Kingshighway...

Donald Robert Crowe, 51, of Advance died Monday, Dec. 12, 2005, at his home. He was born April 27, 1954, in St. Louis, son of George Delbert and Eva Irene Abernathy Crowe. Crowe was a troop truck driver with the U.S. Army Reserve in St. Louis. He served in the U.S. Army...

Collier graduates with master's degree; Armour receives master's degree in nursing

The teenager who died in a Sunday evening auto accident was remembered Monday as a cheerful, popular student at the Cape Girardeau Alternative Education Center. Eric R. Neighbors, 19, of Cape Girardeau graduated just 10 days before the car he was driving overturned on Mount Auburn Road. The school's director, Mike Dorris, said Neighbors' death shocked faculty members as the word spread of the accident...

As expected, the Cape Girardeau City Council unanimously moved to table an ordinance requiring local builders to install sidewalks or escrow funds before beginning construction on subdivisions. Several local builders attended the council meeting Monday night to express their displeasure over the measure they say will ultimately cost homeowners money...

Cape man sentenced for hitting man with bat A Cape Girardeau man was sentenced on Monday after he pleaded guilty for striking a man on the head with a baseball bat. Joseph A. Akens, 25, of 337 N. Ellis St., was sentenced to 60 days in the Cape Girardeau County jail after he pleaded guilty to the reduced charge of misdemeanor assault. ...

Subdivision petitioners seeking annexation inside Jackson's city limits will now have to share costs with the city to bring it up to Jackson's subdivision standards. Jackson's Board of Aldermen unanimously voted Monday night to approve an ordinance that would require petitioners to help pay for utility, sewer and street upgrades...

From staff and wire reports JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Proposed changes in the way the state grades standardized tests could result in better scores for Missouri students. The state Board of Education will consider a plan next month to revise the way the state grades Missouri Assessment Program tests. At issue is how well students must do to be considered "proficient" or better in a subject...

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- The nuclear power industry received a boost Monday with a $2.3 million federal job-training grant for the University of Missouri-Columbia, home to the nation's largest campus research reactor. The U.S. Department of Labor grant, announced by Labor Secretary Elaine Chao and Missouri Sens. ...

Cape Girardeau...

Cape Girardeau...

BAGHDAD, Iraq -- Preliminary election returns Monday showed Iraqi voters divided along ethnic and religious lines with a commanding lead held by the religious Shiite coalition that dominates the current government. Meanwhile, an Iraqi lawyer said at least 24 top former officials in Saddam Hussein's regime were freed from jail without charges. They included biological and chemical weapons experts known as "Dr. Germ" and "Mrs. Anthrax."...

California to end racial segregation of inmates; New York commuters brace for transit strike; Web film might show American hostage killed; U.S. beef again being served in Japan; Western music banned on Iranian state radio, TV; Fox: U.S. plans for Mexico border fence 'shameful'; China sharply increases official size of economy

WASHINGTON -- The disclosure of a top-secret domestic spying program has ignited a furious debate about presidential authority, civil liberties and whether President Bush is acting above the law. "Do I have the legal authority to do this? And the answer is, absolutely," Bush insisted on Monday...

While the tournament may have a new name, the outlook heading into the Saint Francis Medical Center Holiday Classic looks the same, as the 10th version of the girls basketball tournament begins today at the Show Me Center. The newly named tournament -- Saint Francis Medical Center has replaced HealthSouth as sponsor -- will feature one new team, Woodland, among its eight. ...

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- Southeast Missouri State reverted back to its usual offensive form and could not slow Samford down in the second half. The result was a bad way for the Redhawks to start their two-game Ohio Valley Conference road trip to Alabama...

The LPGA Tour made an exception Monday for 17-year-old Morgan Pressel, accepting her as a member instead of making her wait until she turns 18 three months after the season begins. The decision means that Pressel, a senior honor student at St. Andrews School in Boca Raton, Fla., can play wherever she is eligible and have her earnings count on the money list and toward the LPGA Tour's new playoff system that splits the year in two parts...

Diana Valleroy's classroom at Central Middle School resembles an assembly-line factory these days. Students have spent time after school a couple of days a week carefully measuring out dried beans and seasoning into jars and decorating cheerful greeting tags to affix to the end product: soup in a jar...

It haunts me to this very day. Sometimes I pretend it didn't even happen. Thanksgiving Day, 2005, was a day when the world stood still; when blood fell from the sky and rained upon our children; when our souls turned black as coal and collapsed with agony; when the Waldorf salad sitting on our kitchen counter sprouted a hand and began writing what Waldorf salad experts now believe was a suicide note...

Signals along the one-mile upgraded portion of Highway 34/72 in Jackson should be operating Wednesday evening, allowing all four lanes of the new roadway to be opened to traffic. This is a milestone in the three-phase Highway 34/72 widening project, said Kevin Plott, senior construction inspector for the Missouri Department of Transportation...

Carrying packages full of toy trucks and stuffed animals, Kevin Pugh waded through the unusually long lines and cramped spaces at the post office in Cape Girardeau Tuesday morning -- and he did it gladly. How else was he going to send his little piece of Christmas to New Mexico?...

PITTSBURGH -- Mario Lemieux will be out of the Pittsburgh Penguins' lineup indefinitely and won't practice for 10 days to two weeks as doctors adjust the medication he began taking this month for an irregular heartbeat. Lemieux's pulse began racing again Friday night during an overtime loss to Buffalo, his first game back after being hospitalized Dec. 7 with atrial fibrillation -- a fluttering in his heart that causes his pulse to dramatically speed at times...