Stories from Friday, December 23, 2005

This being the morning of the day before the eve of Christmas, I thought it would be timely to mention cedar trees and tinsel. Cedar trees are available only if you are willing to find one and cut it down. Warning: Do not do your tree hunting along highways. It's against the law, for starters. And snatching a tree from the roadside somehow misses the spirit of the holiday...

BENTON, Mo. -- If the food in the Scott County Jail makes an inmate sick, it soon won't be the county's problem. At its Tuesday meeting, the Scott County Commission approved bids for meal and commissary service in the jail. Starting sometime in January, ARAMARK Correctional Services of Oakbrook Terrace, Ill., will provide meal service to the jail. The contract will be based on a price per meal basis, with the price per meal falling as the population being served increases...

With most area students out of school for the holiday break more children and young adults are spending their days off at the Cape Girardeau Public Library. While Sharon Anderson, youth services coordinator at the library, has observed more parents hurrying their children through the library recently, she has also seen children lingering at the shelves and spending more time searching for the perfect book...

Unanticipated high fuel prices over the past year and the continued high costs of fuel and utilities led the Cape Girardeau County Commissioner to ask all county departments to reduce their budgets for 2006 by 3.5 percent. This is the first time commissioners have asked departments to cut individual budgets, said 1st District Associate Commissioner Larry Bock...

DONGOLA, Ill. -- A Dongola couple faces animal torture charges after numerous horses, dogs, cats and birds were removed from allegedly squalid living conditions on Wednesday. More than 50 animals were rescued from a two-story farmhouse and surrounding property. A horse, a dog and a kitten suffered from either festering sores, malnutrition or a bowel disorder to the extent they needed to be put to sleep, said Union County State's Attorney Allen James...

For the 13 years that his daughter was battling leukemia, Pat Taylor spent many Christmas holidays at the hospital. "We know what it's like," he said. "It's the loneliest place to be, especially for a kid. It makes you sort of forget it's Christmas."...

Few states are as synonymous with high school basketball as Indiana. There's even a movie -- "Hoosiers" -- to prove it. Then there's the state's basketball Hall of Fame, with players such as Larry Bird and Louie Dampier and coaches such as John Wooden, Norm Sloan and Bobby Knight among those who have been inducted...

For the third straight year, the Jackson girls basketball team exited the Show Me Center as Holiday Classic champions. Jackson continued its hot outside shooting and stingy defense in a 57-45 win over Massac County on Thursday in the championship game of the event, sponsored this year by Saint Francis Medical Center...

LUTZ, Fla. -- James Dungy, the 18-year-old son of Indianapolis Colts coach Tony Dungy, was found dead of an apparent suicide early Thursday, the sheriff's office said. James Dungy's girlfriend found him when she returned to the Campus Lodge Apartments at about 1:30 a.m., Hillsborough County Sheriff's spokeswoman Debbie Carter said...

ST. LOUIS -- Three games ago when Ryan Fitzpatrick got the St. Louis Rams' starting quarterback job, interim coach Joe Vitt kept his choice under wraps most of the practice week. Vitt is back to his old tricks this week, refusing to say whether the struggling rookie or 35-year-old backup Jamie Martin will get the call against the San Francisco 49ers. He said he's made his decision "but I'm not going to announce it."...

NYC transit workers end strike; no new contract NEW YORK -- Faced with mounting fines and the rising wrath of millions of commuters, the city transit union sent its members back to work without a new contract Thursday and ended a three-day strike that brought subways and buses to a standstill. ...

LAS VEGAS -- Marshawn Lynch rushed for career highs of 194 yards and three touchdowns, and DeSean Jackson caught two scoring passes before California's defense held off Brigham Young for a 35-28 victory in the Las Vegas Bowl on Thursday night. Steve Levy passed for 228 yards in his second career start for the Golden Bears (8-4), who showed off a wealth of talent that's all coming back in 2006. ...

This has been a year that has tested the limits of donations to various programs that perennially rely on the generosity of others. The good news is that Americans have responded once again to the genuine needs of a disaster-ravaged nation and of worthwhile community organizations...

ST. LOUIS -- Dorothy Durald is safe in a nursing home in Town and Country. A small Christmas tree adorns her dresser. Family photos enliven a wall. A bright yellow poster says, "We love our grandmother. Stronger than any hurricane." The security is a long way from the mayhem of Hurricane Katrina -- and the week when her family didn't know where she was, or even if she was alive...

ST. LOUIS -- Held in check most of the game, Adam Morrison showed why he leads Division I in scoring. Morrison scored seven of his 18 points in the final 4 1/2 minutes to help No. 8 Gonzaga hold off pesky Saint Louis 60-57 on Thursday night, the Bulldogs' fifth straight victory...

NEW YORK -- Seattle gave Matt Lawton a new chance, Brett Tomko became the latest player to switch from the Giants to the Dodgers and Minnesota landed Rondell White on Thursday as teams rushed to complete deals before the Christmas weekend break. Johnny Damon passed his physical, got a haircut and prepared for a news conference Friday at Yankee Stadium. New York also finalized its one-year contract to keep his predecessor in center, Bernie Williams...

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- The Kansas City Chiefs and the Kansas City Royals signed letters of intent Thursday for new 25-year leases that would require $575 million in renovations to their two stadiums. Jackson County voters must first approve a three-eighth-cent sales tax to pay for $425 million of the improvements. County officials say they plan to hold a vote on the tax April 4...

WASHINGTON -- Congress gave the Bush administration's anti-terrorism powers one more month of life Thursday. Congress also finalized a defense spending bill that funnels extra money to the Gulf Coast and Iraq. The GOP-run Congress completed the two bills in a scramble to finish a year complicated by standoffs with Democrats and disagreements among Republicans...

A convicted felon from Cape Girardeau will spend more than six years in a federal prison for having a firearm in his possession, the U.S. Attorney's office announced. Terrance L. Anderson, 29, was sentenced to 77 months in prison Tuesday by U.S. District Judge Rodney Sippel. ...

CHICAGO -- Nobody knows where they came from, who their mother is or when exactly they were born. But the healthy newborn babies found inside a church on the city's West Side four days before Christmas now have names: Mary and Joseph. "That's terrific," said the Rev. Thetis Cromie of North Austin Lutheran Church. "You can bet that I'll be saying something about Joseph and Mary during my Christmas Eve and Christmas Day sermons."...

BAGHDAD, Iraq -- The United States soon will trim its military force in Iraq to slightly below 138,000 troops, the level it has considered its core force this year, Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld and other U.S. officials hinted Thursday. The cuts, probably in the 5,000 to 7,000 range, would be achieved by canceling the planned deployment to Iraq of two Army brigades and could be announced as early as today, officials said...

BEIJING -- China's government rushed Thursday to shield the country's southern business center, Guangzhou, from a toxic spill of cadmium flowing toward the city of 7 million -- the second manmade disaster to hit a Chinese river in six weeks. Meanwhile, a slick of toxic benzene from the first accident in the north arrived in the Russian city of Khabarovsk, where worried residents flooded a telephone hot line...

Cape Girardeau city offices will be closed Monday in observance of the Christmas holiday. City offices will reopen Tuesday. City offices also will be closed on Jan. 2 in observance of the New Year's holiday. The offices will reopen on Jan. 3. City crews will pick up Monday and recycling trash routes on Tuesday on both holiday weeks. Tuesday collection routes will be run on Wednesday...

To the editor: Recently we were on our way to an appointment and needed to leave George's van at a garage and test drive a different car. We saw our mechanic and car dealer at the bottom of the overpass in Scott City. We got out of our van and into the new car and expected the dealer to take our van to have it serviced...

'Cheaper by the Dozen 2'; 'Memoirs of a Geisha'; 'The Ringer'; 'Rumor Has It'; 'Wolf Creek'; Still in theaters; 'Chicken Little'; 'The Chronicles of Narnia'; 'The Family Stone'; 'Fun with Dick and Jane'; 'Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire'; 'Just Friends'; 'King Kong'; 'Syriana'; 'Walk the Line'; 'Yours, Mine and Ours'

25 years ago: Dec. 23, 1980 The annual Toybox campaign ended last night as a fleet of Cape Girardeau Jaycee Santas made final deliveries for the project, sponsored by The Missourian in cooperation with the Jaycees; response to pleas for toys cheers 500 less-fortunate youngsters...

Cindy Marie Aufdenberg, 44, of Burfordville died Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2005, at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. She was born Sept. 11, 1961, in Advance, Mo., daughter of Arthur Lee and Betty Jean Young Keys. Aufdenberg was a member of First Baptist Church at Delta...

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- Vincent F. "Vince" Jannin, 86, of Perryville died Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2005, at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. He was born March 31, 1919, in Perry County, Mo., son of Marcellus and Mary Siefert Jannin. He and Lucille Gibbar were married Dec. 30, 1941, at Silver Lake, Mo...

WOLF LAKE, Ill. -- George "Bob" Spicer Sr., 61, of Wolf Lake died Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2005, at his home. He was born Jan. 27, 1944, in Carterville, Ill., son of Clarence and Berniece Miller Spicer. He and Gloria Janene Hastings were married May 6, 1963, in Creal Springs, Ill...

Laura Louise "Larry" Bohnsack, 85, of Cape Girardeau died Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2005, at Chateau Girardeau Health Center. She was born Oct. 18, 1920, in Poplar Bluff, Mo., daughter of George W. and Florence Freeman Ward. She and Carlston "C.A." Bohnsack were married July 6, 1942, in Poplar Bluff. He died Sept. 13, 2005...

Vera Louise Keller, 81, of Cape Girardeau died Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2005, at the Lutheran Home. She was born Dec. 3, 1924, in Cape Girardeau, daughter of Clem C. and Louise Propst Kinder. She and Layton Keller were married Jan. 19, 1945, at Gordonville...

To the editor: One summer while I was still in college I worked at the pumped-storage hydroelectric plant at Taum Sauk. AmerenUE is a good company. Although the plant predates the national grid, it provided emergency peak-load capacity that has saved Ameren customers millions of dollars on their electric bills over the years. ...

Exaggerated for effect; Top credentials; They deserve him; Breaking the law; Stop the bullying; Paying the price; Wrong complaint; Speak up for liberties; Code blue; Wonderful gift; Even tougher laws; Fabulous program; School paperwork; Misplaced concern

Leema E. Burns, 80, of Cape Girardeau died Thursday, Dec. 22, 2005, at the Lutheran Home. Lorberg Memorial Funeral Chapel is in charge of arrangements.

SALZBURG, Austria -- Roll over, Beethoven. Beat it, Brahms. Mozart is back with a vengeance, though he'd probably flip his powdered wig if he could see the fuss being made over his 250th birthday. As Austria and the world gear up for a jubilee year of concerts and celebrations marking the maestro's birth, his hometown of Salzburg is on the verge of becoming Schmaltzburg...

Cape man pens political, metaphysical thriller; John Prine to appear in Carbondale in March; St. Louis celebrates Kwanzaa Wednesday; 'Annie' production comes to Fox Theatre in St. Louis; New arts programs approved at Southeast

To hear his old friends tell it, Hollis Headrick is a cool cat -- into rock 'n' roll and soul music -- and a great musician. Headrick helped drive the rhythm section behind the skins for the high school rock band The Sounds of Luv, complete with Beatles-inspired mop tops and suits -- in the 1960s...

Illinois man arrested after allegedly making threats An Illinois man who allegedly made death threats was arrested without incident on Thursday at the SEMO Hairstyling Academy. Erik Vassar, 30, allegedly threatened to kill every one on Wednesday at the beauty salon at 904 Broadway, said police spokesman Jason Selzer. ...

One killed, two injured when train hits SUV ROBERTSVILLE, Mo. -- A BNSF Railway train struck a Ford Explorer as it crossed a railroad track Thursday in Franklin County, killing the driver and critically injuring two passengers. Missouri State Highway Patrol Cpl. ...

St. Louis city, county get aid to fight homelessness ST. LOUIS -- The city of St. Louis and St. Louis County announced Thursday they have been awarded $11 million in federal funds to help fight chronic homelessness. Mayor Francis Slay said the grants from the U.S. ...

PLATTE CITY, Mo. -- A Parkville man was sentenced Thursday to five years in prison for telling officers that he was ready to shoot a judge as they were arresting him on suspicion of drunken driving. Brian E. ...

To the editor: Right or wrong, President Bush's domestic spying program is not unprecedented. In his book, "Roosevelt's Secret War," author Joseph E. Persico reveals that more than a year before the United States entered World War II President Roosevelt authorized illegal wiretapping of suspected spies and saboteurs by the FBI. ...

Cape Girardeau...

Cape Girardeau...

BAGHDAD, Iraq -- Sunni Arab and secular Shiite factions demanded Thursday that an international body review complaints about voting fraud in last week's elections and threatened to boycott the new legislature. But the United Nations rejected the idea...

BAGHDAD, Iraq -- The United States soon will trim its military force in Iraq to slightly below 138,000 troops, the level it has considered its core force this year, Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld and other U.S. officials hinted Thursday. The cuts, probably in the 5,000 to 7,000 range, would be achieved by canceling the planned deployment to Iraq of two Army brigades and could be announced as early as Friday, officials said...

British police charge man linked to London bombing; Seoul university: Scientist faked stem-cell lines

Where will you be when 2006 arrives? Tuned to ABC? NBC? Maybe MTV? For everyone who just can't ring in the new year without TV validating it, networks far and wide are scrambling to serve you. A sample of programs scheduled for New Year's Eve, to accompany your annual rendition of "Auld Lang Syne":...

ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Jean-Sebastien Giguere had plenty to overcome to notch his 100th regular-season victory. Mostly, his own unsteady play. Giguere gave up a goal on the first shot he faced Wednesday night against St. Louis and surrendered a couple more after his teammates staked him to an early four-goal lead...

In China it is called "Shamowang," or "King of the Desert." In Latin America it is the "El Macho." In these parts it is simply the "Land Cruiser." because it doesn't need a road -- ordinary muddy, rocky, hilly land will do just fine. The first Toyota to challenge the famous WW-II Willis Jeep was called the "Toyota Jeep BJ." That 1951 design was not very impressive, but two years later, after many improvements, the Japanese National Police Reserve Forces were buying hundreds. ...

Usually starting in fifth grade, middle school students who have spent their years in elementary school being taught by one teacher in one classroom graduate to learning from a team of teachers. At Central Middle School in Cape Girardeau, one member of the teaching team might teach advanced math, while the other might teach the students in the standard math section. ...

The Tigers' swimmers took third while Notre Dame was fourth. The Central and Notre Dame boys swimming teams finished behind two St. Louis County private schools in the Central Quad meet Thursday at Central Municipal Pool. Central was third with 521.5 points, while Notre Dame finished fourth at 363. Chaminade (704.5) and De Smet (653) claimed the top two spots...

Four stars (out of four) The story of "King Kong" is familiar to almost everyone. The interest of this version is in the special effects, and they are outstanding. The ape himself was totally believable, as were the dinosaurs and insects. Naomi Watts does an outstanding job as Ann Darrow, "Beauty"" to King Kong's "Beast."...

ST. LOUIS -- A week after a reservoir break in Southeast Missouri, Gov. Matt Blunt on Thursday directed the use of emergency funds to cover the state's interim costs to restore and stabilize the area until the state can be reimbursed by AmerenUE. The state Department of Natural Resources is incurring personnel and other costs as it oversees the restoration and stabilization of Johnson's Shut-Ins State Park and other areas affected by the breach of AmerenUE's hydroelectric plant reservoir last week, said Jessica Robinson, a spokeswoman for Blunt.. ...

For everyone who ordered a "Faces and Places" book for Scott County or Bollinger County, the books are expected to arrive from the printers today by noon. Editor and project coordinator Carol Robert will call each pre-order customer once the books come in. ...

n Coach: Tyson Moyers, second season n Assistant coach: Josh Govreau n Last year: 3-18 n Last year in the tournament: As the No. 16 seed, lost 74-17 to Jackson and 65-18 to Notre Dame. n This year's record (through Dec. 18): 3-2 n Players to watch: Andrew Hendrix, 5-11, sophomore; Steven Dooley, 5-6, sophomore; Jerrod Steger, 5-7, sophomore...

Dear Tom and Ray: Please, please help! When my single daughter wanted to buy a car two years ago, I advised her to buy a manufacturer's certified used car. She bought a 2003 Toyota RAV4 from a Toyota dealer in Maryland. Fast-forward to today -- she is getting married in three weeks, and she wants to sell the car. ...

NEW YORK -- The New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox got extra bills Wednesday. The Yankees were hit with a $34 million luxury tax and the Red Sox were told they owe $4 million to the commissioner's office. Baseball's biggest rivals, both eliminated in the first round of the postseason, were the only teams to exceed the payroll threshold established in baseball's labor contract, according to figures sent to teams by the commissioner's office...