Stories from Wednesday, January 18, 2006

BENTON, Mo. -- Scott County commissioners got more than they bargained for in 2005 by bringing in more revenue than expected. But trouble is looming for the finances of the county's 911 services, for which revenue is dropping. The county's general revenue increased from $1.57 million in 2004 to $1.62 million in 2005, an increase of roughly 2.8 percent. A half-cent law enforcement sales tax also brought in more, from $1.57 million in 2004 to $1.61 million in 2005...

A high school student was placed on five years' probation for crack cocaine charges stemming from an undercover police sting last summer. Circuit Judge William L. Syler handed down the probation Tuesday to Anthony Hempstead, who admitted to selling crack cocaine on two occasions June 14...

Public opinions or comments received through e-mail messages will no longer be accepted at Jackson's public hearings. The board of aldermen voted Tuesday night to pass an ordinance clarifying a policy on public opinions and comments. According to building and planning superintendent Janet Sanders, the city is no longer accepting e-mails because of their anonymity...

SIKESTON, Mo. -- U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Emerson wants Sikeston city leaders to know she stands with them in their opposition to a proposed train traffic increase through their city. On Tuesday, Emerson visited Sikeston city leaders and toured the areas that would be affected by increased train traffic to give her ammunition to take back to Washington, D.C...

Southeast Missouri State cross country coach Eric Heins picked up a consolation prize of some sorts Sunday at the P.F. Chang's Rock 'n' Roll Arizona Marathon. Heins managed a sixth-place finish in a time of 2 hours, 21 minutes and 9 seconds to earn an $1,800 prize...

ST. LOUIS -- Martin Brodeur climbed another rung on the victory list, even if he wasn't his usual dominant self. After surrendering a three-goal lead, Brodeur finished strong to break a tie with Hall of Famer Tony Esposito for fifth place on the NHL's career victory list in the New Jersey Devils' 5-3 victory over the St. Louis Blues on Tuesday night...

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. -- State championships in events ranging from golf to Scholastic Bowl could be jeopardized under a proposed law that would cap the Illinois High School Association's income from postseason tournaments, IHSA officials said Tuesday...

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Mike Davis wasn't even sure Marco Killingsworth could play Tuesday night. Fortunately for Indiana, Killingsworth's back proved strong enough to carry the Hoosiers. Killingsworth overcame pregame back spasms to dominate the middle in the second half, and Roderick Wilmont added 17 points as the 13th-ranked Hoosiers upset No. 7 Illinois 62-60...

MELBOURNE, Australia -- Lindsay Davenport got a tough workout from Karolina Sprem in the second round of the Australian Open before advancing Wednesday with a 7-6 (4), 6-3 victory. After trading breaks in the third and fourth games, the first set went on serve, with Davenport winning the 12th game at love to force a tiebreaker...

Cape sees less than an inch of snow The National Weather Service said the Cape Girardeau area saw less than an inch of snow Tuesday afternoon. Snow accumulated mostly on grassy areas. Today's forecast is for clear skies and a high of 50. JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. ...

NEW ORLEANS -- The New Orleans Saints will hire Dallas Cowboys assistant Sean Payton to his first NFL head coaching job, a team official familiar with the decision said Tuesday. The Saints' official was speaking on condition of anonymity to The Associated Press because the formal announcement wasn't expected until today...

ST. LOUIS -- Pitcher Jason Marquis and the St. Louis Cardinals agreed Tuesday to a $5.15 million, one-year contract, a raise of $2.1 million. The 27-year-old right-hander has a 42-36 record with a 4.15 ERA in six major league seasons. He has gone 28-21 with a 3.92 ERA in two seasons with St. Louis, pitching a career high 207 innings last year...

After somewhat rocky starts, the Ohio Valley Conference's two first-year men's basketball coaches now have reason to be optimistic. Eastern Kentucky returned three starters from last year's 22-9 team that set a school record for wins, won the OVC tournament and advanced to the NCAA tournament for the first time since 1979. The Colonels were picked second in the OVC preseason poll...

Jeanne Frances Ruff Smith, 79, of Houston, Texas, passed away peacefully Saturday, Jan. 14, 2006, in Houston. She had been in ill health since November 2005. Jeanne Frances was born Oct. 9, 1926, in Cape Girardeau, the only child of Dr. Jean Helm and Louise Bergmann Ruff...

Neighborhood drugs; Support for teachers; Nuclear superiority; House decorations; Prom attire; Hard workers

To the editor: I'm a resident at the Lutheran Home. We have a creative writing group. On behalf of all the creative writing group I'd like to thank reporter Jim Obert for his outstanding feature about our group in the January edition of The Best Years...

Action items Amendments...

Leona L. Mangels, 78, of Jackson passed away Monday, Jan. 16, 2006, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. She was born Nov. 2, 1927, in Altenburg, Mo., daughter of Martin and Clara Weslo Hecht. She and Gilbert E. Mangels were married Nov. 20, 1948. He passed away Feb. 5, 1969...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Democratic Sen. Maida Coleman said Tuesday she is considering dropping out of the state auditor's race after a chilly response by some Democratic insiders and donors. Instead, she said, she is considering running for St. Louis city license collector...

HERRIN, Ill. -- Shirley Ann Bonds, 63, of Herrin, formerly of Kankakee, Ill., died Sunday, Jan. 15, 2006, at Southern Illinois Healthcare. She was born April 4, 1942, at Malden, Mo., son of the late Lonnie Russell and Nellie Idola Vaughn Kincade. She married Billie L. Bonds March 18, 1960...

NEW YORK -- A-Rod plans to play for the USA. His allegiance torn between the Dominican Republic and United States, Alex Rodriguez finally made up his mind Tuesday night and decided he will participate in the World Baseball Classic as a member of the U.S. team...

Jackson High School student Nathan Warmack probably got more attention than he bargained for after principal Rick McClard ordered him to leave a school dance for wearing a kilt. Scottish rights supporters from all over the world signed an Internet petition protesting the principal's decision and standing up for the right to wear Scottish regalia...

Philip Joseph "Bud" Leuckel, 71, of Jackson died Saturday, Jan. 14, 2006, at the home of a brother in Van Buren, Mo. He was born Feb. 14, 1934, in Perryville, Mo., son of Philip and Majella Agnes Lurk Leuckel. Leuckel had owned and operated Leuckel's Landing in Van Buren, Mo., and Lickity Split Water Park in Jackson. He was a member of St. George Catholic Church in Van Buren, Mo. He was a graduate of Poplar Bluff High School in Poplar Bluff, Mo...

BOISE, Idaho -- In a game of global positioning called geocaching, the lowly treasure hunt has gone high-tech -- but it can also be a game of risk when terrorism-sensitive authorities find the goods first. Scot Tintsman found that out when he stashed a green bucket under an Idaho highway bridge last September, intending to fill it with goodies for other players to find using Global Positioning System units. ...

BENTON, Mo. -- Esther Jean Downen, 88, of Ridgway, Ill., formerly of Benton, died Monday, Jan. 16, 2006, at her home. She was born March 29, 1917, daughter of James Murray and Kate Limbaugh Powell. She married Max R. Downen. Downen was an elementary and high school teacher, retiring in 1988...

Pluto mission scrubbed; NASA to try again today CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- High winds forced NASA to scrub the launch Tuesday of an unmanned spacecraft on a nine-year, 3-billion-mile voyage to Pluto, the solar system's last unexplored planet. NASA planned to try again today to launch the New Horizons probe, although the forecast held a greater chance of thunderstorms, clouds and gusty winds that could prevent a launch. ...

New Salem UMW...

25 years ago: Jan. 18, 1981 Joining the church team at First Baptist Church on Broadway is the new minister of outreach and education, Paul Jarrett; he graduated from the seminary at Louisville, Ky., in 1979, and since then has served the Sparta Baptist Church in Moores Hill, Ind...

I think by now many of you know how much I love a new cookbook. I was so excited when my sister, Pat, gave me a new cookbook for Christmas. I have really enjoyed reading it over the past couple of weeks as time has allowed. The cookbook "Church Suppers" contains 722 favorite recipes from church cookbooks across the country...

McIntyre; Nguyen; Liggett; May

Shirley J. Link, 70, of St. Louis died Sunday, Jan. 15, 2006. She was born July 24, 1935, in Williamson County, Ill., daughter of Bert and Mary A. Burks Wilson. Survivors include four daughters, Rhonda Nacito of St. Louis, Christine Davis of Venice, Fla., Darlene Schultz of Washington, Mo., and Denise Gregory of St. ...

CAIRO, Ill. -- A family's clamor for information into the death of a man in Cairo police custody could be met with official silence Saturday during a community meeting. Mayor Paul Farris, in an interview Tuesday prior to a special session of the Cairo City Council, said he's not sure he'll accept an invitation to attend the meeting organized by the family of Demetrius Flowers...

If the job world were "American Idol," Cheryl Roeger and Dodi Elledge of the Cape Girardeau Career and Technology Center would be its Simon Cowell. "We tell them what employers won't," said Elledge of job hunters. "When you call back after an interview and ask someone why you didn't get hired, they're not going to tell you it was because your shirt was wrinkled or because your neck was too hairy. I will."...

An assisted-living caregiver helped police track down one of two teenagers accused of knocking an 82-year-old woman to the ground and stealing her purse. The woman had just set her shopping bags and purse down to open her car door at Fred's Discount, 121 S. Sprigg St., around 1:16 p.m. Monday when the robbery occurred...

Cape Girardeau...

Cape Girardeau...

Scripps Howard News Service Margaret and Bill recently built their dream home, where they both live and conduct their real estate business. Most of the house is exquisitely decorated, but the couple ran out of steam -- ideas -- when it came to their office in the basement. The space had raw potential, but was lifeless, disorganized and certainly not suitable for entertaining clients...

Mexico City police stumped by serial killer MEXICO CITY -- The killer is either a cross-dressing man or a robust woman who strangles elderly women. Mexican police believe the so-called "Mataviejitas," or "Little Old Lady Killer," has killed at least seven elderly women in the country's bustling capital of 20 million, although they are investigating whether 22 other slayings of older Mexico City women since 2003 are also related. ...

Tuesday's scores Men Top 25 No. 5 Texas 80, Texas Tech 46 No. 13 Indiana 62, No. 7 Illinois No. 8 Villanova 73, Seton Hall 64 No. 12 Wwest Virginia 64, Providence 48 St. John's 68, No. 17 Louisville 56 No. 21 Boston College 63, Holy Cross 53 Notables...

NEW YORK -- Love him or not, viewers will have the chance to debate Bill O'Reilly on his Fox News Channel talk show, "The O'Reilly Factor," next month. O'Reilly has announced the Great Factor Debate Contest, in which six winners will face off with the outspoken TV commentator on a topic of their choice...

WASHINGTON -- The Supreme Court on Tuesday blocked the Bush administration's attempt to punish doctors who help terminally ill patients die, protecting Oregon's one-of-a-kind assisted-suicide law. It was the first loss for Chief Justice John Roberts, who joined the court's most conservative members -- Antonin Scalia and Clarence Thomas -- in a long but restrained dissent...

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- It's been a roller-coaster ride the last week for the Jackson Indians. A come-from-behind victory against Notre Dame on Friday night was followed by news that senior guard Drue McNeely tore his anterior cruciate ligament and may be done for the year...

The Nos. 2 and 3 seeds advanced Tuesday to the semifinals in the Scott-Mississippi Conference Tournament at Chaffee. No. 4 Oran, which had won Monday, will play top-seeded Kelly, which had a first-round bye, at 7:30 p.m. Thursday. Second-seeded Scott City will take on Scott County Central at 9 p.m...

ST. LOUIS -- Missouri's governor and attorney general are at odds over who should handle the investigation into a reservoir rupture in Southeast Missouri. The Dec. 14 rupture at the reservoir at AmerenUE's Taum Sauk hydroelectric plant outside of Lesterville released more than 1 billion gallons of water, causing extensive damage to Johnson's Shut-Ins State Park, destroying the park superintendent's home and injuring his three children...

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- In just three months, a coalition backing a constitutional amendment protecting stem-cell research and treatments raised and spent about $4 million to promote the potential ballot initiative. Most of that money came either directly or indirectly from one source: James and Virginia Stowers, founders of Kansas City's Stowers Institute for Medical Research...

NEW YORK -- All-Star first baseman Mark Teixeira agreed to a $15.4 million, two-year contract Tuesday with the Texas Rangers, and former teammate Alfonso Soriano asked the Washington Nationals for a $12 million, one-year deal. Soriano's figure was the highest submitted among the 44 players who swapped proposed salaries with their teams. ...