Stories from May 2006

Yard signs regularly placed on properties with historic value by Cape Girardeau Historic Preservation Commission give property owners recognition for the time, effort and resources they have spent restoring or maintaining their property to enhance its overall historic integrity and that of the neighborhood and community...

Some people carry the notion that shopping malls are rife with giddy teen-agers, crowded shops and irrelevant stores. So what do those people do? Avoid the mall at all costs. But when Barnes & Noble opens its new bookstore at Westfield West Park later this year, it could do more than increase the number of mall-goers -- it may go a long way toward changing how some shoppers view the Cape Girardeau retail center...

Jackson's Board of Aldermen will award a contract at its regular board meeting tonight for phase one of the East Main Street Extension project. The lowest bid was nearly $260,000 less than the engineering estimate of $864,355 for the project. "We got a lot of interest and the bids were very competitive. We're very excited," said Rodney Bollinger, Jackson's public works director...

If the weather allows, nine teams will tee off today in the NAIA Region V golf tournament at Dalhousie Golf Club. But in reality, it's a two-team race. Missouri Baptist was ranked 10th in the most recent national poll, which was released mid-April, while Lindenwood University was No. 14. No other school in the region was on the radar...

Delbert Marriott did not keep his promise of setting a course record on Sunday at the 22nd annual Steamboat Classic Triathlon. But being about 30 seconds off the mark didn't bother the 37-year-old defending champion, who battled through wind, rain and two bicycle accidents to claim the overall title in 1 hour, 14 minutes, 39 seconds...

ST. LOUIS -- St. Louis Rams coach Scott Linehan insisted that drafting two tight ends on the first day of the draft did not send a message to Brandon Manumaleuna. Then the Rams began Day 2 on Sunday by trading their underachieving starter to the San Diego Chargers for a fourth-round pick. ...

ST. LOUIS -- Hitting behind Albert Pujols, Jim Edmonds knows he's in a good spot. The Washington Nationals walked Pujols four times, and Edmonds made them pay by driving in three runs in a 9-2 victory Sunday that completed the St. Louis Cardinals' record-setting April...

A rule change last year in the state-qualifying process in golf had district runners-up throughout the state on the outside looking in. The previous state-tournament cut -- top two teams and top five individuals -- was changed to one team and 10 individuals. Teams that qualified four individuals to the state tournament were allowed to compete in the team tournament, and St. Vincent was one of nine teams to take advantage of the that...

NEW YORK -- Now that immigrants have grabbed the nation's attention, what next? Today has been set aside for immigrants to boycott work, school and shopping to show how much they matter to their communities. But with some growing tired of street protests, and others afraid they'll be deported or fired for walking out, people are planning to support the effort in myriad ways...

WASHINGTON-- Is that a feather sticking out of your suitcase? Bird flu entering the U.S. through smuggled wildlife is a growing worry for government officials already on the lookout for migrating wild birds. The concern over the trade in wild animals, pets and animal parts has some precedent, here and abroad...

CHICAGO -- LaSalle Bank Corp. said Friday that exhaustive research had uncovered ties to the slave era by some predecessors to its Dutch corporate parent, ABN Amro Bank NV. While it said its own predecessors were not found to have any connections to slavery, LaSalle deplored the era of slavery and released full results of the study it commissioned...

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- Kirt Card and his wife, Cheryl, were on their way home to Nebraska on Friday with good news after a week of testing at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis. Card, 56, from Lincoln, Neb., had been suffering from a chronic progressive lung disease. But doctors had determined that he was now a candidate for a lung transplant, renewing the Cards' hope for a longer life together...

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- Officials at the University of Missouri Health Care have announced a new policy to prohibit smoking on all property owned by its hospitals. The ban announced Saturday includes all outdoor areas, including vehicles parked on hospital property. And beginning Sept. 1, MU Health employees can even be reprimanded for smelling like tobacco smoke...

NEOSHO, Mo. -- A Newton County Circuit Court jury has awarded $500,000 in damages to the parents of a Neosho boy who died beneath the wheels of a school bus. The jury reached its conclusion Friday in the wrongful-death lawsuit filed by John and Terri Wright against the Neosho School District and the estate of bus driver Bill Hoover, who died Feb. 7...

DALLAS -- Andrew Brunette scooped a rebound shot over sprawling goaltender Marty Turco 13:55 into overtime to give Colorado a 3-2 victory over the Dallas Stars on Sunday, wrapping up the first-round series in five games for the seventh-seeded Avalanche...

LOS ANGELES -- Kobe Bryant's 17-foot jumper as time expired in overtime gave the Lakers an improbable 99-98 victory Sunday and a 3-1 lead in their first-round Western Conference playoff series with the Phoenix Suns. Steve Nash made a 3-pointer with 50 seconds left in overtime to give the Suns a 98-95 lead. Bryant's layup with 11.7 seconds to go drew the Lakers within one point, and Luke Walton tied Nash up with 6.1 seconds remaining...

NEW HAMBURG, Mo. -- The 21st annual Kow Pasture Klassic takes place Saturday and golf enthusiasts are reminded to bring tennis balls. Even though the event is a golf parody, it is also the most serious fund-raiser for Kenny Rogers Children's Center and Missouri Veterans Home. While organizer Mitch Miller does not expect to raise the $13,000 they did last year when 55 teams signed up, registration continues until the day of the event and already 35 teams have signed up...

7:30 p.m. today Action Items Power and Light Committee Street Committee...

City Hall, 401 Independence St. Presentations Public Hearings Consent Ordinances New Ordinances Appointments Liquor License Renewal of the following liquor licenses: Retail Liquor by the Drink Retail Liquor by the Drink and Sunday Sales Wholesalers Liquor-Under 22 percent...

A new study by AAA and the University of North Carolina found that cell phones do not represent the primary distractions for drivers. Many more drivers are distracted by reaching for something in the vehicle and playing with the radio controls. But 30 percent of the drivers in the study said they used cell phones while in motion...

Luxury use of fuel; False shortage; Fuel-saving idea; It's not enough; Avoid the vulgarity; You voted for it; Land of opportunity; They're lawbreakers; Roundabout reality; Yes to sidewalks; Parental role; Praise for Mike Dumey; Another plus; Proper inflation; Community standards; We'll do our own spin; Best column; Take the punishment; Theater changes; Patchwork repairs; County information; Military perspective

Mrs. Myrtle Marie "Dolly" Nash, 88, of Anna, Ill., passed away Sunday, April 30, 2006, at the Lutheran Home in Cape Girardeau. She was born Sept. 15, 1917, in Chicago, daughter of James and Sarah McDuffee. She and Howard E. Nash were married on March 2, 1936, in Bloomfield, Mo. He preceded her in death on Sept. 30, 1987...

GOREVILLE, Ill. -- Paul Vincent Thomas, 75, of Goreville passed away Friday, April 28, 2006, at the Veterans Affairs Hospital in Marion, Ill. He was born on May 11, 1930, in Miller City, Ill., son of Calvin Marion and Francis Alma Dodson Thomas. Thomas was a veteran of the United States Air Force. At the time of his retirement, he was manager of the Jefferson County Farm Bureau...

Willard Lix, 74, of Buckhead Ridge, Fla., died April 29, 2006, at his home. Willard was born July 15, 1931, in Patton, Mo., son of William and Cecelia Vanderfeltz Lix. He has lived in Buckhead Ridge since 1983, previously residing at Hidden Valley, Mo...

Ann Braun, 85, of Cape Girardeau died Saturday, April 29, 2006, at Fountainbleau Lodge. She was born Feb. 26, 1921, daughter of Arthur E. and Emma M. Baumgardt Braun. She graduated from St. Marys High School, attended nursing school and received her LPN degree. She worked as an LPN at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau, and was a member of St. Marys Cathedral and the Council of Catholic Women. She also worked at Bell Telephone Co. as an operator...

Hazel Schlosser, 96, of Chaffee, died Sunday, April 30, 2006, at the Heartland Care Center in Cape Girardeau. Arrangements are incomplete at the Amick-Burnett Funeral Home in Chaffee.

Carolyn Faye Barlow, 59, of Cape Girardeau died Sunday, April 30, 2006, at Fountainbleau Lodge in Cape Girardeau. She was born April 4, 1947, in Poplar Bluff, Mo., daughter of Floyd E. and Dola B. Brown Dailey. She and Donald Barlow were married on Sept. 28, 1990...

25 years ago: May 1, 1981 Attendance at Cape Girardeau Central High School drops significantly as nearly 20 percent of the student body takes part in the pupil-organized annual "senior skip day," leaving behind empty desks, hallways and parking lots; it is estimated that more than 200 pupils are absent by the end of the day...

A Steamboat Classic Triathlon competitor had to be transported to a St. Louis area hospital Sunday after being struck by an automobile during the cycling portion of the event. Ernest Rigdon, 32, of Columbia, Mo., was struck by a brown 1979 van at the intersection of Boutin Drive and Wintergreen Drive near the Humane Society of Southeast Missouri, according to Cape Girardeau Police station commander David Gilbertson ...

Dr. Michael Jessup wants you to know that his new frozen desert shop that opens in July is not selling custard. (I think a certain Biz Buzz writer may have referred to it as that in a previous column.) It's not even ice cream as you've come to know it...

When you're researching investment opportunities, do you stop at the U.S. border? Global investors don't. Rather than sort stocks by geography, global investors buy the world's best companies, regardless of where they're based. Fund managers who take this approach wind up with far-reaching portfolios, which some consider to be better core holdings than traditional large-cap domestic equity funds...

Growing up with -- and later working for -- a father who owned a local plant that processed as many as 120 cattle a day and 2,000 hogs a week, Skip Wrape knows the value of meat. But Wrape's latest venture into meat processing is taking a decidedly less traditional, but increasingly valuable, approach...

Target is the country's second-largest retail store behind the Wal-Mart behemoth, but the Cape Girardeau Target will soon have something to offer that Wal-Mart doesn't -- Pizza Hut and Starbucks. Construction began recently on the Target expansion that was first reported last July. ...

After initial sluggish sales of sponsorship, the Cape Girardeau River Heritage Mural Association will try a new approach to marketing the Wall of Fame update project. The association announced in February that it would commission Chicago artist Thomas Melvin to work or a restoring of the Wall of Fame -- portraits of famous people with Missouri ties on the south end of the floodwall. Melvin was the principal artist on the Mississippi River Tales murals...

ABUJA, Nigeria -- Rebels in Sudan's Darfur region on Sunday rejected a peace proposal that would end a conflict that has killed tens of thousands of people, but mediators extended the talks for two days under pressure from the United States. Salim Ahmed Salim, a lead mediator for the African Union, said the talks would continue until midnight on Tuesday, pushing back the deadline for talks that have gone on for two years but so far failed to halt the bloodshed...

Cape Girardeau...

Cape Girardeau...

Women in Agriculture meet at Brizzell's Nursery The time and place for the Thursday meeting for Scott County Women in Agriculture has changed to 6:30 p.m. at Bizzell's Nursery, 508 Smith St., Sikeston, Mo. A business meeting will follow the tour and opportunity to purchase items. For more information, call Kay Dover at (573) 545-9027...

Automation Services wins SBC awards Automation Services Co. was presented with several awards from SBC for 2005. The company was given the President Club Award, which means it was the top data networking revenue agent in the southwest region, which includes Missouri, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Texas and Kansas...

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan -- The Iranian deputy oil minister said Sunday he did not believe the United Nations would impose sanctions on Iran because that would boost oil prices even higher. "Any action like that will increase oil prices very high. And I believe that the U.N. ...

Saint Francis surgeon named to editorial board Edward M. Bender, MD, FACS, cardiothoracic surgeon on staff at Saint Francis Medical Center's Heart Institute, now serves on the editorial board of the Journal of Cardiothoracic Surgery, a new online medical journal...

BAGHDAD, Iraq -- President Jalal Talabani met with representatives of seven armed groups and is optimistic they may agree to lay down their weapons, his office said Sunday. It was the first time a senior Iraqi official has acknowledged talks with insurgents...

WASHINGTON -- Just back from Baghdad and eager to discuss promising developments, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice found herself knocked off message Sunday, forced to defend prewar planning and troop levels against an unlikely critic -- Colin Powell, her predecessor at the State Department...

This Sunday in New Orleans sure ended a lot better for Chris Couch than the last one. Twice on the verge of a collapse, Couch recovered by chipping in from 55 feet for par on the 18th hole at English Turn to close with a 7-under 65 and win the Zurich Classic by one shot over Charles Howell III and Fred Funk...

Southeast Missouri State left-hander Josh Parham pitched five hitless innings of relief, and the Redhawks avoided a weekend sweep Sunday with a 4-3 road win over Eastern Illinois. The Redhawks, who dropped both games of a doubleheader Saturday at EIU, are 16-26 overall and 7-11 in the Ohio Valley Conference. Eastern Illinois fell to 24-18 overall and 10-8 in the OVC...

In a rain-shortened game, the Southeast Missouri State women's softball team fell to Tennessee Tech 2-1 on Sunday, as the Golden Eagles completed a three-game home sweep. The five-inning victory clinched the OVC championship for Tennessee Tech, which improved to 45-13 overall and 22-2 in conference play...

ST. LOUIS -- St. Louis Rams general manager Charley Armey was back in the draft room on Sunday, a day after being hospitalized with chest pains. "I'm fine," Armey told reporters during a brief break in the seventh round. "You guys will have to put up with me for a little while longer. I feel great."...

Severe thunderstorms dropped golfball-size hail and were responsible for knocking out power in a Cape Girardeau neighborhood. A downed power line near Westfield West Park sent sparks flying across Pat Patterson's neighbor's yard on Bloomfield Road...

In 1776, a man named Martin Rodner settled in Dutchtown and purchased a water mill on Hubble Creek. For many years the mill on Hubble Creek thrived as immigrants from Switzerland began arriving in Dutchtown, originally known as Spencer. A blacksmith and bricklayer set up shop in the small village. The old Bloomfield Road was constructed and ran directly through town. Railroad tracks at one time ran through Dutchtown...

Southeast Missouri State University says its decision to evict Three Rivers Community College from its three Bootheel education centers last year is paying off financially even though the centers are still operating in the red. School officials said the university is generating more revenue from student fees now that it's offering all the classes at centers in Sikeston, Malden and Kennett...

Monola Senn knows most of her family's history is buried in the German Evangelical Church Cemetery in Dutchtown. Last week the 91-year-old Scott City resident walked through a row of tombstones and pointed out important gravesites. "This is my husband's father's grave. ...

BEIJING -- A dozen pint-size patients laugh and shout when the man with a red plastic nose waves a magic wand and turns black-and-white drawings to color. When the clown twists a balloon into the shape of a dog, 8-year-old Ke Xinqiao claps so hard that his mother worries he will accidentally pull out an IV needle. The ecstatic youngster hardly notices as she pats it into place...

A teenager pleaded innocent Monday to charges in the Feb. 14 shooting and robbing a man in Cape Girardeau during a phony drug deal. George A. Henry, 18, of 805 Ranney St., entered his plea during a brief appearance before Circuit Judge William Syler on the charges of first-degree assault, first-degree robbery and armed criminal action. ...

As anyone knows who has had garage sale, some junk can make you money. The owners of the St. Louis Cardinals and Busch Stadium know that for sure. The new stadium, which opened in April, comes complete with a team store where fans can buy small containers of dirt from the old stadium, the white numbers on squares of green which were used on the old stadium scoreboards, and even some of the old, red seats...

By SCOTT MOYERS Hispanics across the country boycotted work, shopping and school on Monday as a part of "El Gran Paro," or The Big Stop. In many cities, it was a day set aside to protest stricter immigration legislation and to show Americans how much economic power undocumented workers hold...

It's hard to stop the music in the classroom of music teacher Pam Dumey. But a check for $1,530 from the Cape Girardeau public schools foundation provided an unexpected interlude Monday morning. Foundation officials served as a prize patrol, delivering balloons and poster-sized checks to help fund teaching projects at various schools in the district next school year...

Across the country Thursday people will gather to pray and reflect on the past year's numerous natural disasters in observation of the National Day of Prayer. Hurricane Katrina survivor and new member of the community, Felix Lewis, will share his personal testimony at the annual mayor's prayer breakfast held in Cape Girardeau. The breakfast will be from 6:45 to 7:45 a.m. at LaCroix United Methodist Church...

The Cape Girardeau Board of Education voted Monday night to hire three new administrators under a central office reorganization plan proposed by superintendent Dr. David Scala. The vote was 6-1 behind closed doors. Board member Charles Bertrand opposed the reorganization, but agreed with the rest of the board on filling one of the positions...

The late John L. Oliver Jr. has been posthumously inducted into the University of Missouri's Law Society for establishing a scholarship to be given to students who have proven outstanding academic achievement under a rigorous curriculum. Oliver, a prominent Cape Girardeau lawyer who died last year at age 62, was inducted April 21 at a dinner on the university campus in Columbia, Mo. Oliver's wife, Debi, and daughter, Brandi Schumacher, accepted the Law Society medallion at the dinner...

Facing last year's Class 4 runner-up Poplar Bluff on its home course proved too much for Central on Monday, as the Tigers fell three strokes short of the Mules in the Class 4 District 1 golf tournament held at Westwood Hills Country Club in Poplar Bluff, Mo...

CINCINNATI -- When Bronson Arroyo showed up the first time with his long, skinny sideburns and long, highlighted hair, no one was quite sure what to make of him. A month later, the Cincinnati Reds love everything about him. Arroyo stayed unbeaten in Cincinnati by pitching a four-hitter for the second complete game of his career, and the Reds beat the St. Louis Cardinals 6-1 Monday night in a matchup of the NL's top two teams...

By Jason Crowell This week I advanced legislation greatly benefiting property owners in Missouri. As chairman of the Senate Pensions, Veterans' Affairs and General Laws committee, I crafted a substitute version of House Bill 1944, which modifies the state's eminent domain laws...

ST. LOUIS -- When Scott Linehan was an NFL offensive coordinator, he felt like a bit of a fifth wheel. "I was bored," Linehan said. "Because you pick a guy and you knew you were done for about four rounds. You sit around and watch the draft or do (play) scripts."...

MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- Dirk Nowitzki scored 27 points and Josh Howard added 24 to lead the Mavericks over the Grizzlies 102-76 on Monday, Dallas' first best-of-seven sweep and an NBA-record 12th consecutive playoff loss for Memphis. Nowitzki, who averaged 32.7 points in the first three games, was 12-of-21 from the floor and made all three of his 3-point shots, while Howard was 9-of-17. Howard had nine rebounds...

EDMONTON, Alberta -- The Edmonton Oilers sent home the NHL's best team in the regular season, rallying Monday night to beat the Detroit Red Wings 4-3 and win the first-round playoff series in six games. Ales Hemsky scored twice, including the winner with 1:06 left in regulation time, capping a comeback from a 2-0 deficit after two periods. It was Edmonton's first playoff series win since 1998 -- and another huge early-round disappointment for Detroit...

ST. LOUIS -- Signing the son of actor Denzel Washington on Monday ensured the St. Louis Rams of making a splash the day after the NFL draft ended. John David Washington, a 5-10, 200-pound running back, was among 10 undrafted players signed by the Rams after playing for Division II Morehouse College last year...

Springtime is when we really notice the eyesores: trash, litter, dilapidated buildings, abandoned vehicles -- all of which are in stark contrast to the natural color and beauty of the season. A fresh season of green leaves and grass bring out the best of our beautification instincts...

Meridith Medlin had a goal and an assist to lead Notre Dame's girls soccer team to a 2-0 shutout of visiting Perryville on Monday in a showdown of district opponents. Mindy Siebert added a goal for the Bulldogs (10-4-1), and Destiny Dirnberger had an assist. Claudia Brauss made 10 saves in goal for Notre Dame...

Lindenwood gained an eight-stroke advantage over second-place Missouri Baptist after two rounds of the NAIA Region V golf tournament at Dalhousie Golf Club on Monday. The nine-team tournament will conclude today with another 18 holes. The first group will tee off at 8 a.m...

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Pete Rose Jr., the son of baseball's career hits leader, was sentenced Monday to one month in prison and five months of home detention for distributing a steroid alternative to his minor league teammates. Rose faced up to two years in prison and a $1 million fine. ...

To the editor: Recently, Pam Kelso of Jackson praised Teddy Roosevelt for being a Republican. The republican idea is evident in antiquity, particularly in the expression of the Greek philosopher Plato. In the early 1950s, noted newsman Edward R. Morrow addressed the Missouri General Assembly in Jefferson City. ...

To the editor: It seems to me that there is a simple solution to high gasoline prices: supply and demand. The system works well, but we get upset when we aren't enjoying the low-price part of the equation. Boycotting certain companies or buying 10 gallons at a time won't work. We have to work within the system...

To the editor: Regarding the controversy surrounding Southeast Missouri State University's Theater and Dance Department's production of "Romeo & Juliet": Yes, there is some PG-13 in the play. But it is tasteful and honestly helps to bring the characters to life. ...

Dealing with abuse; Still hiding; Not my role models; Think on good things; Don't like it? Don't go

CHAFFEE, Mo. -- Hazel Shell Schlosser, 96, of Chaffee passed away Sunday, April 30, 2006, at Heartland Care and Rehab in Cape Girardeau. She was born Aug. 23, 1909, at Grassy, Mo., daughter of the late Fulton and Tula Harrold Cooper. She married Virgil Shell May 19, 1927. He preceded her in death Aug. 19, 1944. She then married Adam Schlosser March 27, 1959. He preceded her in death Nov. 5, 1985...

Lou Ann Minor Wade of Ballwin, Mo., died Saturday, April 29, 2006. She married Mervin Wade, who preceded her in death. She was the dear mother of Patricia Jane (Gene) Haenni of Cape Girardeau, Jill (Roger) Mignon Schurig of Town and Country, Mo., Michael John (Beth) Wade of St. Charles, Mo.; dear grandmother of five; and great-grandmother of five...

Carolyn Faye Barlow, 59, of Cape Girardeau passed away Sunday, April 30, 2006, at Fountainbleau Lodge . She was born April 4, 1947, in Poplar Bluff, Mo., daughter of Floyd E. and Dola B. Brown Dailey. She and Donald Barlow were married Sept. 28, 1990...

THEBES, Ill. -- Clifford Carl "Bud" Phillips, 78, of Thebes died Monday, May 1, 2006, at his home. He was born June 28, 1927, in McClure, Ill., son of William Jesse and Anna Belle Wilson Phillips. He married Ora Mae Bledsoe. Phillips was a retired farmer and member of the former Mount Zion Baptist Church...

Julia Laverna Wilson, 96, of Cape Girardeau died Monday, May 1, 2006, at Southeast Missouri Hospital. She was born Dec. 28, 1909, in Lamar, Ind., daughter of John M. and Georgia Anna Oliveano Ryker. She and Aaron Culbertson were married in 1929. He died in 1947. She later married David Stidham in 1951, who died in 1975. She and Willis Wilson were married in 1978, and he died in 1988...

Frances V. Statler, 89, formerly of Sedgewickville, Mo., died Sunday, April 30, 2006, at Ste. Genevieve County Memorial Hospital in Ste. Genevieve, Mo. She was born Nov. 16, 1916, in Poplar Bluff, Mo., daughter of Ben F. and Hettie J. Duncan Hudson. After her father's death she was raised by her mother and stepfather, Walter Ellis. She and Glen "Stanley" Statler were married Dec. 20, 1932. He died July 29, 1996...

Marie K. Savers, 78, of Jackson died Sunday, April 30, 2006, at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. She was born Aug. 26, 1927, in Jackson, daughter of Gus and Leona Wohlgemuth Wedekind. She and Bernard Lester "Bud" Savers were married Aug. 22, 1948. He died Sept. 20, 1996...

C.H. Rhodes, 84, of Whitewater died Sunday, April 30, 2006, at Advance Nursing Center in Advance, Mo. He was born Feb. 4, 1922, at Whitewater, son of Herbert and Sophia Donkel Rhodes. He and Cleo Theile were married July 12, 1951, in St. Louis. She died May 11, 1996...

Raymond S. "Ray" Owens, 89, of Lebanon, Tenn., formerly of Cape Girardeau, died Sunday, April 30, 2006, at Southern Manor Nursing Facility in Lebanon. Friends may call at Ford and Sons Mount Auburn Funeral Home from 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesday. The funeral will be at 1 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home...

Russell C. Crader, 88, of Jackson died Monday, May 1, 2006, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. McCombs Funeral Home in Jackson is in charge of arrangements.

25 years ago: May 2, 1981 Ed Shaughnessy, drummer for the studio band on the Johnny Carson Show for the past 18 years, conducts a drum clinic for students attending the Central High School Jazz Festival; in the evening, he performs with the Central jazz band and a band of area professional musicians during a two-part concert at the school...

SCHOLARSHIPS...

CAIRO, Ill. -- Disposable cameras usually don't take pictures like this. A black dog is captured in freeze frame, running full tilt toward the lens. Motion is captured -- the dog's legs can be seen propelling the animal forward toward the lens, with just a hint of blur to show the movement is real...

LOS ANGELES -- Hundreds of thousands of mostly Hispanic immigrants skipped work and took to the streets Monday, flexing their newfound political muscle in a nationwide boycott that succeeded in slowing or shutting many farms, factories, markets and restaurants...

Two women who falsely accused a police officer of punching one of them were sentenced Monday to six days in jail and two years probation for filing a false report. Diane Ray, 45, and LaSha Townsend, 30, pleaded guilty in March to the misdemeanor charge before Associate Circuit Judge Gary A. Kamp...

Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia will give a speech in Cape Girardeau Wednesday on constitutional philosophy and the role of the nation's highest court. The event is scheduled for 6 p.m. in the Show Me Center. Free reserved-seat tickets are available at the Show Me Center box office, at the Southeast Bookstore and at First Missouri State Bank at the corner of Independence Street and Mount Auburn Road. Free general admission seating also will be available Wednesday evening...

Only four members of Cape Girardeau city council were present for Monday's session, giving the council a bare quorum and forcing it to table certain items. "We are open for business, but open with some parameters," said Mayor Jay Knudtson of the night's proceedings...

By Jay Nixon Think back to a time in Missouri when a governor, major philanthropists, civic leaders, state officials and landowners put aside political differences and personal gain and worked together for the good of the state. Twenty years ago Gov. John Ashcroft and philanthropists Ted and Pat Jones led the effort to rail bank -- put aside abandoned railroad lines -- for the creation of what is now the 225-mile Katy Trail State Park...

To the editor: The historic preservation program at Southeast Missouri State University is a treasure. The expertise of graduates from this program far exceeds local National Register of Historic Places nominations. Graduates hold high-ranking positions in the National Park Service and in state governments. ...

Cape Girardeau...

Cape Girardeau...

Missouri senior citizens and long-time drivers would get a break from rules for showing proof they are in the United States legally under a bill in the final stages of legislative discussion. Beginning on July 1 of last year, anyone seeking to renew his driver's license needed to take along either a birth certificate or a U.S. passport. That has led to delays for many drivers, especially senior citizens born before Missouri started centralizing the registration of births...

The first recruit of the Scott Edgar era at Southeast Missouri State is a sharpshooting guard who lives within a relatively short drive of Cape Girardeau. Jimmy Drew, a 6-foot-4 1/2, 210-pound senior at Anna-Jonesboro (Ill.) High School, signed a national letter of intent on Monday to play basketball for the Redhawks...

Lucas Dirnberger had not pitched more than 10 innings the entire season as he made the start for Notre Dame in the third-place game of the SEMO Conference tournament Monday at Central. Dirnberger looked right at home on the mound, holding Kennett hitless over 6 1/3 innings in a 6-1 win...

TALLADEGA, Ala. -- Almost every move Jimmie Johnson made at Talladega Superspeedway seemed to be the wrong one. Rivals said he was too aggressive, showed too little patience. Dale Earnhardt Jr. even called him an "idiot" for his role in accidents that wrecked 39 cars last year...

We, the citizens of Cape Girardeau, think our city should build a water park. One reason we feel this way is that a water park would bring in more tourists and money to our city. The second reason is our residents wouldn't have to travel out of town to visit a water park. The third reason is that it would give our residents of all ages a chance to have fun...

Hello from battleground central. Don't know if you've been following the news in entertainment for the last couple of weeks, but things have gotten a little crazy in good old Southeast Missouri. And I, as Cape Girardeau's go-to guy in the area of arts and entertainment (at least I think that's what they tell me) have been right in the middle of it...

On May 20 the Arts Council hopes you'll take a trip down to Capaha Park to do some trout fishing. From 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. the park will play host to the annual ArtsCape Community Arts Festival, featuring the national touring music group Trout Fishing in America, Nashville-based Brother Henry and Bruce Zimmerman and the Water Street Band...

His easy-going brand of acoustic infused rock has made him one of the most popular live acts in Cape Girardeau, and that's just a couple of years after he got started. Not to mention you probably hear his name almost every day as a radio personalities with River Radio. His name is Mike Renick, that bearded bard who's nothing if not a nice guy. This month OFF sat down with Renick to talk about Peter Gabriel, opera and, of course, marathon running...

May 6-7 St. Louis Iron Mountain and Southern Railroad: Take a ride on the Magic Express at 1 p.m., departing from Jackson. For more information call 243-1688. May 6 Spring Garage Sale: The Cape Girardeau Parks and Recreation Department will host its annual Spring Garage Sale starting at 8 a.m. at the Osage Community Centre. For more information call 334-2859...

Pads are for wimps. Real men were none, nor do they line up after every play. So say the Scorpions. Don't know who the Scorpions are? They're Cape Girardeau's only rugby team, and they've been around since 1972. And while the football players get all the glory, the rugby players know their sport is older, tougher and faster...

In the farmland north of Sikeston on I-55, where what we think of as "Southeast Missouri" suddenly turns into the Bootheel and the residents start developing thick Southern drawls seemingly out of nowhere, excitement can be hard to come by. It's a simple land, populated by men and women content to live and work in peace and quiet...

May 5 Arts Council of Southeast Missouri: First Friday Opening Reception featuring the work of Murrphysboro artist Mary Pachikara, Marble Hill artist Jeanie Eddleman and local photographer Shannon Randol from 5 to 8 p.m. 32 N. Main St. For more information call 334-9233...

After a successful 2005 series, the free Tunes at Twilight returns on May 19 with Brother Henry, an eclectic trio led by twin brothers whose members count Ben Folds among their friends. Their music has been compared to the likes of old and new school pop acts like R.E.M., Crowded House, the Byrds and Barenaked Ladies...

"Entertainment and drinks fit for a king or QUEEN!" The motto of the Cape Club Complex, Cape Girardeau's new nightspot, couldn't be truer. CCC features a friendly and relaxed atmosphere, wildly fun drag shows, and drinks that will get you in the mood to party, whether you are gay, straight, both or undecided...

There are some issues in a relationship that intensify when the couple moves in together. Probably the biggest of these issues is MONEY. I have placed the word in all caps to emphasize how scary and dangerous it can be to a couple. The problem with money is that it is very likely that you and your partner will not make the same amount of money (unless you both happen to work in the same exact position in the same company and are the same sex). ...

Recently they extended the virtual olive branch, creating a program called "Boot Camp" which lets you run Windows Operating System on a non-Microsoft computer (such as a Mac). This means a number of things, one of which being that no longer will such a deep hate exist between different operating system users. ...

World of Warcraft After exhausting the Internet and ringing game stores off the hook, I still can't find anything coming out in May that's even close to being cool enough to write about, so I've decided to tell you about my personal favorite game. It's been out for a long time, and you might of heard about it. I'm talking about World of Warcraft ($39.99, PC), the massively multiplayer online role playing game (MMORPG) for PC...

Someone once told me how the owner of the San Francisco Giants was duped into building a stadium on Candlestick Point. Developers waited for an unusually sunny day to give the guy a tour of the site. Being from New York, he couldn't believe the bargain he was getting for such beautiful real estate...

The Cape Girardeau County collector's office hopes residents will be able to renew and register their license plates online within a few months after a glitch in its computer software is resolved. Since January 2002, Missouri residents have been able to register and renew their license plates online through Department of Revenue's Missouri Online Registration Exchange program...

State Rep. Nathan Cooper in February repaid $53,715 he lent to his 2004 campaign by raising large sums from Republican committees in the St. Louis and Kansas City regions. The repayment, reported last month to the Missouri Ethics Commission, does not include 8 percent interest on the loans. That interest, totalling about $9,400, was not reported on Cooper's disclosure report but will be included in an amended report that will be filed soon, said campaign treasurer Victor Gunn...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- With less than two weeks remaining in the legislative session, Gov. Blunt is pushing for passage of four priorities, including an ethanol requirement for gasoline, tougher sentences for child sex offenders and restrictions on the use of eminent domain...

Police officers spend more time filling out paperwork than eating doughnuts and coffee, a group of Jackson schoolchildren learned Tuesday. As part of the nationwide Optimist Club's Respect for Law Week, 15 sixth-graders from Jackson Middle School, Immaculate Conception Catholic School and St. Paul Lutheran School spent the day with police officers. The group was selected out of more than 100 children who wrote essays explaining why they wanted to spend the day with an officer...

A Cape Girardeau man was charged Tuesday with misdemeanor endangering the welfare of a child for failing to tell police who arrested him that his 2-year-old daughter was home alone. Robert B. Stemmerick, of 509 Bellevue St., was arrested around 11:30 p.m. April 13 by the Missouri State Highway Patrol on a Pennsylvania warrant for a driving violation, according to Cape Girardeau police spokesman Jason Selzer...

On Friday about 250 students from several area schools will converge on Jackson for a day of music, culminating in a mass choir performance at 6 p.m. This is the ninth year of the Festival of the Arts, an event that seeks to connect fourth- through sixth-graders from various districts under the umbrella of artistic performance...

Cape Girardeau Mayor Jay Knudtson will deliver the commencement address at Southeast Missouri State University on May 13 and receive an award from the school. The school will honor the mayor with the Vandiver Show Me State Award, which recognizes contributions to the institution, region and the state by individuals or corporate entities...

Weather permitting, Missouri Department of Transportation crews will begin work on the northbound lane on and off ramps at Interstate 55 and Route K in Cape Girardeau at 9 a.m. today, finishing at 3 p.m. The ramps will remain open, but delays are expected...

NEW ORLEANS -- The Federal Emergency Management Agency is closing its long-term recovery office in New Orleans, claiming local officials failed to meet their planning obligations after Hurricane Katrina. The office is responsible for helping the city devise a blueprint to rebuild houses, schools and neighborhoods...

For many of us, a fondness for nut butters predates any informed choice of vegetarian options. It goes back to our earliest days and that all-American staple, the peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, the flavor of childhood. Moving to the present, this recipe for pasta dressed up with a spicy pesto suggests using almond butter as an ingredient -- but that's negotiable. ...

What's for dinner tonight? Let's sit down to something that is hearty, bursting with flavor, but low in fat. Quick and easy would be nice, too. If you think that description's a tough goal to meet, be of good cheer. Here's an answer: a recipe for grilled beef tenderloin steaks with a chili boost, from the May issue of Cooking Light magazine. It's part of a feature suggesting several ways of using easy spice rubs to punch up flavor on the grill...

HOUSTON -- Kenneth Lay wrapped up six days of testimony at his federal fraud and conspiracy trial Tuesday by proclaiming his love for Enron Corp., the energy firm that he founded, and the people who worked there before it went bankrupt. "I loved Enron very much," Lay said in a brief response to the final question from his attorney, George Secrest. ...

Student comes close to drowning at mill A 19-year-old nearly drowned Tuesday afternoon when she leapt into a river near the Bollinger Mill State Historic Site. Millersville Fire and Rescue responded to the Burfordville mill around 4:30 p.m., according to fire chief Jerry Aufdenberg. ...

ST. LOUIS -- If only the 3,000-year-old mummy mask at the Saint Louis Art Museum could talk. Maybe then the mystery of its rightful owner could be laid to rest, much like it was in an ancient Egyptian pyramid so many ages ago. The Supreme Council of Antiquities for Egypt has given the Saint Louis Art Museum a May 15 deadline to turn over the burial mask of Ka Nefer Nefer, which they believe left the country illegally...

CINCINNATI -- Javier Valentin watched the ball leave his bat and fly right toward second baseman Aaron Miles, giving the pinch-hitter a momentary fright. The way the Cincinnati Reds are playing, he should have known better. Valentin's liner cleared the drawn-in infield and drove in the winning run in the bottom of the ninth inning Tuesday, sending the Reds to a 3-2 victory and a two-game sweep of the St. Louis Cardinals...

ST. LOUIS -- If not for Junior Spivey's poor spring training, Hector Luna would likely be in the minor leagues trying to fight his way back to the St. Louis Cardinals. Instead, he was one of the first-month surprises for a team off to another good start. Luna has shaken off a spring performance that was nearly as bad as Spivey's, impressing with his overall skills and versatility...

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Typical of how he plays, John Daly holds nothing back in his new book. There are stories of how he lost 60 pounds in college by drinking a fifth of whiskey and smoking three packs of cigarettes a day. Clearly, this isn't the stock variety of PGA Tour player autobiographies. "John Daly: My Life In and Out of the Rough" will be in bookstores Monday, and no one will mistake it for Ben Hogan's book on the fundamentals of golf...

LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- For nearly 20 years, three trainers have compiled an incredible record of not only competing in, but winning the Kentucky Derby. Two are in racing's Hall of Fame: D. Wayne Lukas with four Derby wins and Nick Zito with two Derby winners...

Dwyane Wade scored 28 points -- 15 after returning from Miami's training room -- and the Heat beat the visiting Chicago 92-78 Tuesday to take a 3-2 lead in the series. Antoine Walker scored 17 points and Shaquille O'Neal added 16 points and 10 rebounds for the Heat...

The Buffalo Sabres dominated from the first faceoff and earned a 7-1 win on Tuesday night that put them in the Eastern Conference semifinals for the first time in five years and extended the Flyers' Stanley Cup drought to 30 seasons. Chris Drury scored twice and Ryan Miller had 21 saves for the Sabres, who won the best-of-seven series in six games and will play Ottawa in the second round...

WASHINGTON -- Social Security and Medicare trustees say the financial condition of the government's two biggest benefit programs deteriorated slightly over the past year. That assessment on Monday prompted Democrats and Republicans to hurl familiar charges at each other in a repeat of last year's pitched battle over what to do about Social Security...

A few years ago, five artists at the Colorado Shakespeare Festival were asked what the greatest writer in the English language would be doing if alive today. They surmised he might be a tattooed hip-hop singer or a filmmaker challenging the status quo. Above all, he would be popular -- he had to fill houses -- but not necessarily with the people who make the rules...

Central senior Ty Craft put on a show at the plate and ace Brad LaBruyere was dominant enough on the mound to lead the Tigers baseball team to their first SEMO Conference Tournament crown Tuesday with an 8-4 win over Sikeston at Central. The Tigers (17-4), 8-1 against conference opponents in the regular season, outscored their three tournament opponents 24-8 in cruising to the title as the top seed...

Notre Dame golfers Brandon Holzum and Brett Slaten broke the top 10 at the Class 3 District 1 tournament at Eagle Lake Golf Course in Farmington, Mo., on Tuesday to earn individual berths in the state tournament. Dexter's Andrew Stuever shot a 1-under-par 71 to earn medalist and lead the Bearcats to the Class 3 District 1 title...

The Redhawks track and field team had four first-place finishers at the SIUE Twilight Open on Saturday at Southern Illinois-Edwardsville. Walter Washington won the 400 in 48.03 seconds and Kirk Nesbit won the 1,500 in 4 minutes, 1.45 seconds. Heather Jenkins won the discus for Southeast with a throw of 159 feet, 9 inches. Nyisha Porter won the 200 in 25.57 seconds...

Lindenwood University and Missouri Baptist University took their rivalry two hours south this week and made Dalhousie Golf Club the site of a deciding fifth duel between the two NAIA schools. The two schools, who had split in four previous encounters this season, were the overwhelming favorites to claim the automatic bid for the national tournament that went to the champion of the NAIA Regional V tournament, which was a 54-hole, two-day event among nine teams at Dalhousie...

Michele Jett and Anthony Maupin have distinguished themselves in the athletic arena for Southeast Missouri State over the past several years. They also took just as much, if not more, pride in their classroom work. That pursuit of academic excellence was recognized Tuesday night as Jett and Maupin earned the top individual honors during Southeast's annual All Sports Year End Celebration at the Show Me Center. The event was sponsored by Southeast Missouri Hospital...

To the editor: I am a student at Southeast Missouri State University. I wish to address the anger and confusion that was stirred up on campus over the past week. From April 25 to 28 our campus was visited by a hellfire-and-brimstone preacher named Jed Smock. ...

To the editor: How should Missouri respond to illegal methamphetamine use? During the crack epidemic of the 1980s, New York City chose the zero-tolerance approach, opting to arrest and prosecute as many users as possible. Meanwhile, Washington, D.C., Mayor Marion Barry was smoking crack, and America's capital had the highest per-capita murder rate in the country. ...

To the editor: The April 22 story "Lawmakers vote to repeal tax on business' assets, property" offers the worn out argument that Missouri's taxes on businesses discourage economic development in Missouri. Critics claim that the franchise tax is part of a confusing and excessive tax code. If the franchise tax is confusing, then simplify it. But the current tax code is not excessive in the amount of taxes collected...

Another campus; Great concert; Enlightening youths; Attracting students; Oil suggestions; Cut gas taxes; Government work; Good decision; Working for less; Don't like stadium; Troop timetable; Public stripping; Taking a stand; Wealth goes overseas; Flawed designs; Making a distinction; Florida's oil

Ruth A. Campbell, 90, of Jackson passed away Tuesday, May 2, 2006, at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. She was born July 16, 1915, in Cape Girardeau, daughter of John and Adella Koehrer Haman. She and Charles William Campbell were married Nov. 16, 1940, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Cape Girardeau. He survives...

Russell Claude Crader, 88, went to be with his Heavenly Father Monday, May 1, 2006. He left this earth peacefully, surrounded by his family, at Southeast Missouri Hospital. He was born Oct. 1, 1917, in Burfordville, son of Alva and Florence Crader. He and Delthia Viola Eakins were married Sept. 5, 1942, at Whitewater...

Betty Lou Franck Schweer, 70, of Cape Girardeau, died Monday, May 1, 2006, at Southeast Missouri Hospital. She was born June 9,1935, in Cape Girardeau County, daughter of the late Ervin and Alma Schaefer Franck. She and Gary Schweer were married March 5, 1960, in Cape Girardeau...

MARBLE HILL, Mo. -- Grace Archer Marcum, 80, of Marble Hill died Monday, May 1, 2006, at her home. She was born Sept. 10, 1925, in Camden, N.J., daughter of Frank W. and Clara Fuller Keen. She and Jesse Archer were married Nov. 22, 1943. He died in 1983. She then married John Marcum Jan. 28, 1987. He died in 1996...

Raymond S. Owens, 89, of Lebanon, Tenn., formerly of Cape Girardeau, died Sunday, April 30, 2006, at Southern Manor Living Center in Lebanon. He was born March 22, 1917, in Cape Girardeau, son of Steve and Martha Schaffer Owens. He and Grace Reynolds were married Dec. 7, 1940, in Cape Girardeau. She died April 14, 1994...

Helen Fern Baltz, 85, of Cape Girardeau died Monday, May 1, 2006, at Southeast Missouri Hospital. She was born Dec. 1, 1920, at Bunker, Mo., daughter of Everett and Bernice Collins Light. She and John Baltz were married Nov. 11, 1944, in Salem, Ark. He died May 25, 1995...

Jeff Henry, 41, of Jackson died Tuesday, May 2, 2006, at his home. Friends may call at McCombs Funeral Home in Jackson from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday. The funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday at the funeral home.

Roark...

Cape Girardeau County FCE; Good Shepherd Ladies Guild; St. Mary CCW

25 years ago: May 3, 1981 Tom Boudinot of Red Star Baptist Church has been appointed as a courier for Southwest Baptist College; couriers serve as a bond between the church and the college, assisting in guiding young people into Christian education...

Rob Weeks of Cape has been a regular in Recipe Swap over the past several years. Rob is a wonderful cook and likes coming up with new and unusual recipes. He writes in this week about his favorite uncle, Jim "Smooth" Stewart from Wichita, Kan. Rob's Uncle Jim has been to New Orleans many times and has perfected some of their oyster appetizer recipes. ...

An Internet police sting this week netted another arrest of a man accused of soliciting a young girl online for sex. Edward M. Murphy, 43, of Farmington, was arrested by the Bollinger County Sheriff's Department for arranging to have sex with a child he believed to be a 13-year-old girl, who was actually an undercover sheriff's officer, according to a probable cause statement...

Southeast Missourian To honor individuals who have shown patriotism through the service of their country, the Southeast Missourian is seeking nominations for its fourth annual Spirit of America Award. The Southeast Missourian invites area civic organizations to nominate individuals for the award. The organization that nominates the Spirit of America winner will receive $1,000 to be used toward a charitable activity...

SIKESTON, Mo. -- Sikeston police arrested a man this week suspected of being the "Notorious North End Burglar." Turriel L. Williams, 19, of Sikeston, was charged with four counts of felony first-degree burglary and four counts of felony first-degree tampering with a motor vehicle...

MACON, Miss. -- The U.S. Justice Department is turning the 1965 Voting Rights Act around. For the first time, the Justice Department is using the law to allege racial discrimination against whites. The law was written to protect racial minorities in the 1960s when Mississippi and other Southern states strictly enforced segregation...

NEW ORLEANS -- Mayor Ray Nagin unveiled a new evacuation strategy for New Orleans on Tuesday that relies more on buses and trains and eliminates the Superdome and Convention Center as shelters. "There will be no shelter of last resort in the event of a major hurricane coming our way," Nagin declared...

Judge: Lawmakers should avoid right-to-die cases PHILADELPHIA -- The Florida judge who presided over the Terri Schiavo case and ruled her feeding tube should be removed told a bioethics symposium that lawmakers are ill-equipped to make right-to-die decisions. ...

Cape Girardeau...

Cape Girardeau...

Business group says little effect seen from boycott MEXICO CITY -- It's hard to measure the impact of the boycott of U.S. businesses in Mexico, called "A Day Without a Gringo," because commerce is normally reduced in Mexico on the May Day holiday. ...

SASABE, Mexico -- Wearing tight jeans and a glittery "bebe" T-shirt, the 17-year-old scrambled out of a packed van as the temperature edged toward 90 degrees in this barren stretch of the U.S.-Mexican border. Carrying no hat or sunscreen, the teenager who called herself Adriana Brenda said the longest hike she'd taken was through a shopping mall. But here she was, ready for a three-day trek across the desert...

TEHRAN, Iran -- A Revolutionary Guards commander said Tuesday that Israel would be Iran's first retaliatory target in response to any U.S. attack, a provocative threat that reinforced the Iranian president's past call for Israel to be "wiped off the map."...

Central's Nicole Jackson and Jackson's Rachel Kahle are two of the top sprinters in the state. The two juniors will put their skills on display Friday at the SEMO North Conference track and field meet at Central Junior High. The four-team meet -- Sikeston and Poplar Bluff are also included -- will begin at 4 p.m...

Results from Sunday's event in Cape Girardeau: Overall male: 1. Delbert Marriott 1:14:39.23, 2. Patrice Lhommeau 1:24:59.43, 3. Andrew Beckman 1:25:04.05 Overall female: 1. Kristin Moore 1:25:33.43, 2. Jennifer Meyer 1:27:39.57, 3. Kirsten Winkler 1:29:36.92...

CHICAGO -- The English are known by stereotypes that suggest poor health, including downing pints in pubs and eating greasy fish and chips. Well, so much for stereotypes. Startling new research shows that white, middle-aged Americans -- even those who are rich -- are far less healthy than their peers in England, a finding that flummoxed some experts...

New Southeast Missouri State men's basketball coach Scott Edgar said early this week that the university is getting close to officially announcing his first coaching staff with the Redhawks. But there is no secret as to who Edgar's three assistants will be...

GRAPEVINE, Texas -- California Gov. Arnold Schwar-zenegger said Tuesday he wants the NFL to return to the Los Angeles area -- with two teams. After meeting with a group of NFL owners, Schwarzenegger said he was there to make sure "we're getting not only one NFL team to the Los Angeles area, Southern California, but to actually get two teams. That's why I came. Why limit it?"...

The first of Southeast Missouri State's numerous tough losses this year took place more than two months ago, when host Arkansas State nipped the Redhawks 4-3 in their season opener on Feb. 15. Southeast and Arkansas State will have a rematch at 6:30 p.m. tonight at Capaha Field, as both squads take a break from what has so far been disappointing conference seasons...

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- Five weeks ago, University of Missouri-Columbia athletics director Mike Alden emerged with his job barely intact after a closed meeting of university curators. Now it's again time for Alden to face the curators for the University of Missouri's four-campus system -- and this time he will have some company...

To tomato lovers, it doesn't matter. I have asked a lot of people if they are planting a vegetable garden this year. The response is usually, "I sure am." "What are you planting?" I ask. "I'm planting tomatoes." It seems that many gardeners in Southeast Missouri have equated planting a vegetable garden with planting tomatoes. I've found that if nothing else is planted, most gardeners still plant a tomato or two...

Shortly after Vicki Moldenhauer joined the Cape Girardeau fire department, she realized something wasn't working. It had nothing to do with her treatment as the only woman on staff -- she said that was always fine. This was an equipment problem. It seemed her mask had been designed for a man...

May 4, 2006 Dear Patty, Our beagle, Alvie, comes along when I occasionally read to children at Blanchard Elementary School. Students in their classes wave as he walks through the halls, a princely monarch trailed by his manservant. Alvie reminds me of Sean Connery in "Robin and Marion" -- battle-scarred, indomitable, hairy...

BENTON, Mo. -- A Scott City man testified Wednesday he was punched and kicked more than 100 times by three men in a March attack. David A. Turner, 21, of Scott City, Kelly R. Church, 31, of Chaffee, Mo., and Trent Tancheck, 27, of Scott City, are all charged with felony robbery, assault and tampering with a victim...

CAIRO, Ill. -- In a meeting unusual because it avoided the political bickering that has become commonplace, the Cairo City Council voted unanimously Wednesday to borrow money to settle the debt with its health insurance carrier. City employees have been working under a cloud of losing their coverage through the Laborers' Health and Welfare Fund. The town, which is paying current premiums, owes more than $140,000 for premiums dating to 2003 and 2004...

With House action stalled on a bill making wide-ranging changes in Missouri's campaign finance law, lawmakers are looking to a more narrowly drafted House-passed bill as possibly the last chance to tackle the issue this year. Just before legislators took a 10-day break in March, the Missouri Senate voted overwhelmingly to lift the caps on campaign donations, restrict the use of local party committees as conduits for political money and require more frequent campaign reporting...

Stay low in your car and head straight for the finish line. That's the advice of Hunter Shuette, last year's stock division winner of the Cape Girardeau Rotary Club's annual Soap Box Derby. The ninth annual derby will take place Saturday on North Sprigg Street in front of Blanchard Elementary School in Cape Girardeau. Cars will line up at 8 a.m. with an opening ceremony scheduled for 9 a.m. and races to follow...

Organizers of the City of Roses Music Festival are trying to find ways to keep the festival alive in its 10th year, with less than six months to go before the festival's traditional September date. Early this year festival organizers approached the Old Town Cape board of directors seeking financial and organizational assistance. Last week organizers learned the board declined the proposal...

Friends and family called her an angel even as they struggled to deal with Angela Hotop's sudden death. The 23-year-old Southeast Missouri State University student from Perryville, Mo., died Tuesday at Saint Francis Medical Center from a fast-acting infection that doctors couldn't pinpoint...

PHILADELPHIA -- Two students were wounded Wednesday in a shooting at a convenience store across the street from their high school, police said. The victims, an 18-year-old woman and a 17-year-old boy, ran into Olney High School for help after being shot, police spokeswoman Beth Skala said...

ALEXANDRIA, Va. -- Al-Qaida conspirator Zacarias Moussaoui escaped the death penalty Wednesday as a jury decided he deserved life in prison instead for his role in the bloodiest terrorist attack in U.S. history. "America, you lost," Moussaoui taunted...

CHICAGO -- The Chicago Cubs have found themselves a new phenom. Make that an old phenom. Three weeks removed from his 40th birthday, Greg Maddux is pitching like the ace of old. He's 5-0 for the first time in his illustrious career, and his miserly 1.35 ERA is second best in the majors...

LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- His role as the Kentucky Derby favorite confirmed, Brother Derek now needs only to figure out how to win from the far, far outside. The front-running colt was installed as the 3-1 favorite Wednesday after drawing the No. 18 post position. Only one horse has ever won the Derby from that spot -- Gato Del Sol in 1982...

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. -- Bill Worrell retired Wednesday as Tennessee Tech's women's basketball coach after 20 seasons, 408 victories, 12 Ohio Valley Conference regular season titles and eight NCAA tournament berths. "My family means a great deal to me, I'm healthy, and I've just reached a point in my life to make a change," Worrell said in a statement...

PHOENIX -- The NBA suspended Phoenix guard Raja Bell for one game on Wednesday for throwing Kobe Bryant to the floor in the fourth quarter of Tuesday night's playoff game against the Los Angeles Lakers. That means the Suns will be without Bell, the principal defender against Bryant, for Game 6 tonight in Los Angeles...

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- If the NASCAR community had one universal wish for Kyle Busch on his 21st birthday, it probably would be for him to start behaving like an adult. Busch, one of the youngest drivers in the Nextel Cup series, has been under constant criticism this season for reckless or immature behavior. ...

CINCINNATI -- Adam Dunn glanced around the clubhouse and saw seven -- SEVEN! -- television cameras setting up for postgame interviews. "We must be winning," he surmised. Yes, the Cincinnati Reds are winning -- more than anyone else in baseball. A two-game sweep of the St. Louis Cardinals left them with the major leagues' best record for at least one bright day in May...

WASHINGTON -- America's service sector expanded with gusto and the country's factories saw orders shoot up by the largest amount in nearly a year, fresh evidence the economy was pushing ahead at a good clip into the spring. The Institute for Supply Management reported Wednesday that its index of service-sector activity stood at 63 in April, up from a reading of 60.5 in March. ...

WASHINGTON -- The Postal Service said Wednesday it wants to raise the price of a first-class stamp by 3 cents -- to 42 cents -- and proposed a "forever" stamp that people could use as hedge against future rate increases. The changes would take effect in the spring of 2007 if approved by the independent Postal Rate Commission...

WASHINGTON -- Call it the stamp that just keeps on delivering. The Postal Service is planning a "forever" stamp that would remain valid for mailing a letter despite future rate increases. That means folks could say goodbye to those annoying 2- or 3-cent stamps that have to be added to letters every time rates go up. Sheets, rolls, books or loose stamps in the drawer would still be good...

Area men graduate from military training...

The Council of Garden Clubs of Cape Girardeau will hold a spring flower show from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday at the Family Life Center at Centenary United Methodist Church, 300 N. Ellis St. There will be four divisions including artistic design, horticulture, junior and special exhibits...

The Jackson Heritage Association will host an open house at the Oliver House Museum, 224 East Adams St., Jackson beginning with 1:30 p.m. tours Saturday, May 6. The newly landscaped gardens around the home's perimeter are dedicated to Marie Oliver, designer of the Missouri state flag, and were recently planted by Cape Girardeau County Master Gardeners. ...

The Cape Lions Club met recently to approve a new slate of officers and receive an update on Mid-South satellite hospitals. Brad Baker, a sight-and-hearing Mid-South representative presented the program. Mid-South encourages, assists and promotes the rehabilitation of indigent persons or those handicapped by defective vision or hearing who might be rehabilitated through medical treatment or surgery...

If high school students ran city government, agenda items might address attracting better stores in the mall, improving the skate park and providing better ways for students to spend their time. Students from Central High School, Notre Dame, Saxony Lutheran, Oak Ridge and Delta high schools shadowed Cape Girardeau city staff members and participated in a mock city council meeting on Wednesday. The students were participating in the 21st annual Optimist Youth in Government Day...

The Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce will hold its monthly First Friday Coffee at the Show Me Center this week. This month, the 2006 class of Leadership Cape will present its projects, which are intended to improve the community. The program will begin at 7:40 a.m. Friday after a continental breakfast. The room opens at 7 a.m...

Rounding up animals for scientific research has become a big business for some suppliers. Unfortunately, some unscrupulous dealers get their animals by driving through your neighborhood and snatching your pet cat or dog. In many cases, records are falsified to make it appear the animals came from licensed breeders...

For those who experience it, the power of prayer is beyond words. On this, the National Day of Prayer, special observances will be held across the nation seeking divine guidance and intervention for the leaders of our country and those who make decision that affect our lives...

St. Vincent's duo of Corey Brueckner and Zach Richardet were steady again Wednesday, using top-10 finishes at the Class 1 District 1 golf tournament at Piney Valley Golf Course in Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., to qualify for the state tournament. Brueckner and Richardet, both juniors, had led the Indians throughout the season. It was Brueckner who had the edge Wednesday, finishing one shot off the lead for a 4-over 76 and a third-place finish. Two players tied for medalist honors at 75...

Southeast Missouri State hopes to soon add to its large bounty of Ohio Valley Conference track and field titles --this time without having to leave home. The OVC outdoor championships will be in Cape Girardeau for the first time since 2002. Competition on Friday and Saturday will take place at the Abe Stuber Complex. Events begin at 1 p.m. Friday and 11 a.m. Saturday...

Heather West is glad a change of heart led her back to Southeast Missouri State. If not, she would never have had the opportunity to win an Ohio Valley Conference championship and help Southeast's women continue their OVC track and field dominance...

To the editor: I have a problem with two-faced individuals who work for retail companies. I have seen and heard individuals talk about other co-workers and customers. People are my main concern. I don't care to hear the garbage that comes out of someone's mouth about somebody else. ...

To the editor: The criticisms from retired generals recently directed at Defense Secretary Rumsfeld are telling but misdirected. Although their respect for military traditions prevents these loyal Americans from climbing the chain of command with their criticism, they should be directing comments at commander in chief Bush. The secretary serves at his whim and follows his bidding...

Creative license; Taking time to march; Changing the country; They know all of that; Worthy cause; Miracle of birth; Viewpoints, choices; Turning socialist; Finding alternatives; Take active role; End is coming; Learn English; Waiting for posing; Immigration lesson; Slow to accept; Unscientific elections; Learn the language; Midwest stereotype; Capitalist pricing

Jeffrey Dale Henry, 41, was born Sept. 5, 1964, in Cape Girardeau, the son of Harley Dale and Betty Lorraine Poe Henry of Jackson. He passed away peacefully from cancer, May 2, 2006, at home, with his mother, sister and brother at his side. Jeff attended Jackson Schools and graduated from Jackson High School in 1982. ...

Minnie "Tiny" Hoover, 80, of Cape Girardeau died Monday, May 1, 2006, at her home. She was born June 9, 1925, at Qulin, Mo., daughter of Andrew Jackson and Callie Hendrix. She and Charles Hoover were married Nov. 7, 1942, in Cape Girardeau. Hoover was of the Jehovah's Witnesses belief...

James Boomer Cossiboom, 48, of Scott City died Tuesday, May 2, 2006, in Olive Branch, Miss. Amick-Burnett Funeral Chapel in Chaffee, Mo., is in charge of arrangements.

Terry McIntosh, 53, of Cape Girardeau died Tuesday, May 2, 2006, at his home. Ford and Sons Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Keshawn Amere King, infant son of Stacey King of Cape Girardeau, died Monday, May 1, 2006, at St. Louis Children's Hospital in St. Louis. He was born March 2, 2006, in Cape Girardeau. Survivors include his mother; a brother, Taylor King; and grandmother, Joan King, all of Cape Girardeau...

ANNA, Ill. -- William L. "Bill" Brown, 51, of California, Mo., formerly of Anna, died Monday, May 1, 2006, at California Care Center. He was born June 20, 1954, in Anna, son of Oliver E. and Golda Howell Brown. He and Diane Gibbs were married Sept. 28, 1974, in Jonesboro, Ill...

MALDEN, Mo. -- Joe Wayne Cowart, 62, of Malden died Tuesday, May 2, 2006, at Beverly Health and Rehab in Malden. He was born July 14,1943, at Malden, son of John and Jacqueline Scales Cowart. He and Ruth Rice Moore were married Nov. 23, 1960. He and Jan Daniel were married Dec. 31, 1991, in Malden...

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- Angela M. Hotop, 23, of Perryville died Tuesday, May 2, 2006, at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. She was born June 4, 1982, in Cape Girardeau, daughter of David M. and Joan M. Schnurbusch Hotop. Hotop worked in fund development at Saint Francis and was a writer for the News Bureau at Southeast Missouri State University, where she was a graduate student. She formerly worked at Hoeckele Bakery in Perryville...

25 years ago: May 4, 1981 A committee that analyzed the bids for a bus system in Cape Girardeau will recommend this week that the city council reject bids and that alternate transit system plans be developed; two bids for one-year contracts for a fixed-route bus system were submitted, one by Rustman Bus Co. of St. Louis for $457,123, and the other from R.W. Harmon and Sons Inc., of Belton, Mo., for about $270,000...

Like many who return home from a vacation, Celia had lost that stressed-out, furrowed-brow pallor of modern life. Her natural merry smile was back. I figured a week back in the land of cell phones and bumper-to-bumper traffic would leach that sunlight right out of her face...

Briefly The Spears Foundation and OptionCare of Cape Girardeau -- in cooperation with Cross Trails, Roche Pharmaceuticals and LabCorp --will offer free hepatitis C screening to the entire community of Cape Girardeau and surrounding counties, from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., May 10 at OptionCare, 61 Doctors Park...

Nearly 10 years ago, Vickie Sadler of Cape Girardeau tried to get up to go to bed and found that she couldn't. "My arm and leg on my right side wouldn't work," Sadler recalled. "They felt like they went to sleep. I tried to shake off the feeling, but it wouldn't come back. I pulled myself up against the wall to get to the bedroom. I tried to talk to my husband, but I couldn't make the sounds."...

The average American home has more than doubled in size since 1950. That's led to super-sized structures that critics refer to as "McMansions." The ballooning American homes need to be trimmed down to a more livable size, some architects and builders say...

House committee to approve military bill WASHINGTON -- The Pentagon would be permitted to add thousands of ground troops under a House bill, reflecting lawmakers' concerns that U.S. forces must be increased, particularly during wartime. The provision is part of a massive measure the House Armed Services Committee planned to approve on Wednesday. ...

From staff and wire reports In a deal announced Wednesday by the William J. Clinton Foundation, the nation's largest beverage distributors agreed to stop selling non-diet sodas to most public schools, where childhood obesity has become an increasing concern...

Cape Girardeau...

Cape Girardeau...

Cape Farmers' Market opens for 21st season The Cape Farmers' Market begins their 21st season from 2:30 to 6:30 p.m. today (or when vendors are sold out) at the Plaza Galleria parking lot. Items offered for sale have been grown locally. Strawberries, lettuce, asparagus, onions, radishes, rhubarb, spinach, greenhouse tomatoes and cucumbers, herbs, pickles, relishes, honey, eggs, flowers and bedding plants available. Call Marilyn at 579-0166 for more information...

Chad president expected to win re-election N'DJAMENA, Chad -- Chadians voted for president Wednesday despite no real alternatives to incumbent Idriss Deby, who rebuffed calls to delay the election in this emerging African oil exporter in favor of peace talks with rebels. ...

Kern, Elfrink place first in horseshoes opener Rose Kern and Tyler Elfrink teamed up for a first-place finish in the Southeast Missouri Horseshoes Association's season-opening tournament Sunday. The event took place at the American Legion in Benton, Mo., and attracted 17 teams...

NEW YORK -- Cam Ward is riding a wave few could've anticipated. The Carolina Hurricanes' new No. 1 goalie has his first playoff series win behind him ... and a huge challenge in front of him: Martin Brodeur and the New Jersey Devils, the owners of a 15-game winning streak...

Bolen wins first place in turkey contest Thirteen-year-old Stephen Bolen II of Friedheim earned top honors in the first Buchheit Youth Turkey Contest, which took place April 8 and 9. Bolen's award-winning bird weighed in at 25 pounds. He earned a $50 Buchheit gift card...

Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia came to Southeast Missouri State's Show Me Center Wednesday armed and ready for constitutional battle. The battle, he said, began under the court of Earl Warren and only now are "people finally discovering that basically the Supreme Court is rewriting the Constitution on the basis of the votes of five judges."...

Earl Woods, who was more determined to raise a good son than a great golfer and became the architect and driving force behind Tiger Woods' phenomenal career, died Wednesday morning at his home in Cypress, Calif. He was 74. "My dad was my best friend and greatest role model, and I will miss him deeply," Tiger Woods said on his Web site. ...

NEW YORK -- Serena Williams could miss the French Open and Wimbledon while she takes several months off to recover from a chronic left knee injury. "What I can tell you today, based on what I am being told by my doctors, is that I should be in a position to be playing again by the end of this summer," Williams said in a statement released Wednesday by her publicist...

A ham and fried chicken supper begins at 4 p.m. May 13 at New Salem United Methodist Fellowship Hall at Daisy, Mo. Menu is ham, fried chicken, potato salad, green beans, corn, slaw, bread, cake and drink. Children five and under eat free...

The Southeast Missouri State softball team continued to struggle Wednesday, losing 7-1 to host Eastern Illinois. Southeast, which suffered its seventh consecutive defeat, fell to 27-19 overall and 14-10 in Ohio Valley Conference play. The Redhawks remained third in the 10-team league...

HOUSTON -- Maybe Brad Lidge can shake those incessant Albert Pujols questions now. Lidge got past Pujols on Wednesday night and picked up the save in the Houston Astros' 5-4 win over the St. Louis Cardinals. It was his first meeting with the home run leader since Pujols tagged him for a three-run homer to give the Cardinals a 5-4 win over Houston in Game 5 of the National League Championship Series...

Antonin Scalia is the third sitting Supreme Court justice to visit Cape Girardeau. On Nov. 30, 1965, William O. Douglas spoke to approximately 1,200 at Academic Auditorium on the subject of "Communism vs. Democracy." Douglas hailed from Maine and was a renowned "new dealer," appointed to the court in 1939 by Franklin Roosevelt...

NUKU'ALOFA, Tonga -- A magnitude 8.0 earthquake struck early today near the South Pacific nation of Tonga, prompting tsunami warnings for as far away as Fiji and New Zealand. The warning was lifted after a tsunami of less than 2 feet was recorded. There were no reports of injuries or damage from the quake or tsunami. ...

A warrant was issued this week charging a man with firing a gun several times at three other men in Cape Girardeau. Corey Shannon, 26, whose last known address was in Kansas City, Mo., was charged Wednesday with felony first-degree assault and felony armed criminal action. He is accused of pulling the trigger in the April 18 shooting in the 1000 block of South Ellis Street. No one was injured...

Walking out of a store this week, I noticed a display of hula hoops. That's right. A circle of stiff hose in a variety of colors. I guess it's because everything in our world is getting high-tech, but the hula hoops caught me by surprise. When hula hoops first came out, every youngster had to have one. I had some friends who could keep three hula hoops going at the same time...

Seven members of law enforcement in the Cape Girardeau area were honored Thursday night for the work they have done in the past year. The local employees were recognized by the Evening Optimist Club of Cape Girardeau at a the annual Respect for Law dinner...

This weekend in Cape Girardeau local residents will be able to travel back 145 years to witness life as a soldier during one of the most trying times in the United States. Cape Girardeau's historic Fort D, east of Sprigg Street on Locust Street, was erected in 1861 and served as a Union post during the Civil War, according to Scott House of the Civil War Roundtable of Cape Girardeau...

Cape Girardeau County Coroner John Clifton says it's not his job to try to determine the cause of death of a 23-year-old Southeast Missouri State University graduate student who died suddenly Tuesday after experiencing flu-like symptoms over the weekend...

The Perryville boys track team won its sixth straight Jefferson County Conference championship Thursday by beating runner-up Herculaneum to the finish line in the meet-ending 1,600-meter relay. The Pirates' foursome of Jacob Hayden, Josh Hayden, Ryan Regelsperger and Jesse Kueker finished second to Hillsboro in the 1,600 relay. Herculaneum, which had been tied for first in the team standings, finished 9 seconds back in fourth place...

Southeast Missouri State star Miles Smith will enter the Ohio Valley Conference outdoor track and field championships armed with yet another accolade. The OVC announced Thursday that Smith was selected as the 2006 OVC male outdoor track athlete of the year...

Dalhousie Golf Club gave college tournament golf a dry run earlier this week. Make that a wet run. Storms rolled through the area both nights before rounds of the NAIA Region V tournament, played Monday and Tuesday. While the wet weather could have put a damper on the whole affair, it only seemed to stamp the course as a legitimate tournament site worthy of more demanding challenges...

HOUSTON -- Raising the ire of Brad Ausmus might have been just what Andy Pettitte needed to get back on track. Pettitte (2-4), who had lost three straight decisions, led the Houston Astros to a 4-3 win over the St. Louis Cardinals on Thursday night after some stern words from his catcher early in the game...

Calling all sun-seeking drivers. Volvo's 2006 C70 is a stylish, open-air car that doesn't skimp on safety and security. Arriving in U.S. showrooms in time for the year's warm seasons, the new, four-passenger, two-door C70 is revamped from top to bottom compared with the first-generation C70 that debuted in 1998...

ALEXANDRIA, Va. -- U.S. Judge Leonie Brinkema sent Zacarias Moussaoui to prison for life Thursday, to "die with a whimper," for his role in the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. The convicted terrorist declared: "God save Osama bin Laden -- you will never get him."...

Officials at the prison declined comment Thursday after Moussaoui was formally sentenced in Virginia. Carla Wilson, spokeswoman for the Bureau of Prisons in Washington, would not confirm that Moussaoui will be a Supermax inmate. Still, she noted the prison 90 miles southwest of Denver is designed for people like him...

BAGHDAD, Iraq -- Abu Musab al-Zarqawi is shown wearing American tennis shoes and unable to operate his automatic rifle in video released Thursday by the U.S. military as part of a propaganda war aimed at undercutting the image of the terror leader. The U.S. ...

MINNEAPOLIS -- Backup catcher Paul Bako's second-inning RBI single kept Kansas City from tying a dubious record and helped the Royals end a 13-game road losing streak with a 1-0 victory over the Minnesota Twins on Thursday night. Kansas City's Jeremy Affeldt (2-2) survived five shaky innings against a Minnesota team that turned in its third straight quality start -- only to watch the offense stay dormant...

Shaquille O'Neal dominated, Dwyane Wade played well despite a bruised left hip and the visiting Miami Heat never trailed in eliminating the feisty Chicago Bulls 113-96 on Thursday night. The second-seeded Heat won the best-of-seven series 4-2 and will meet the third-seeded New Jersey Nets in the Eastern Conference semifinals...

CALGARY, Alberta -- The Anaheim Mighty Ducks made it a clean sweep for the underdogs in the first round of the Western Conference playoffs. Teemu Selanne and Ruslan Salei scored second-period goals, Ilya Bryzgalov stopped 22 shots and the Mighty Ducks eliminated the defending West champion Calgary Flames with a 3-0 victory in Game 7 on Wednesday night...

Eight alumni will receive the 2006 Young Alumni Merit awards from the Southeast Missouri State University Alumni Association at a commencement luncheon on May 13. They also will be recognized at the spring commencement ceremony at 2 p.m. in the Show Me Center, school officials said...

The Cape Girardeau County Republican Women's Club will hold its monthly meeting at 11:45 a.m. today at Dexter Bar-B-Que in Cape Girardeau. Guest speakers include Ellen Brandon, candidate for 160th district state representative; Gary Kamp, candidate for associate circuit judge; and Paul Sander and Kara Clark, candidates for Cape Girardeau County clerk. Members are invited to bring a guest and visitors are welcome to attend...

Money for things like farm relief and border and port security is usually an election-year winner. But you'd never know it from the reaction to a mammoth U.S. Senate bill to pay for the Iraq war and hurricane relief. "Dead on arrival," said House Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Ill., of the bill, which passed the Senate on Thursday and immediately ran into opposition from the White House and House conservatives, who are determined to shear it of $14 billion in election-year add-ons...

Help wanted: Hard worker with good business head and plenty of capital. Must be willing to work pretty much around the clock when needed. Must like animals and/or plants. Good knowledge of chemistry, biology and government regulations required. No health insurance. No retirement plan...

Colleges; Football; Horse racing; Tennis

To the editor: Many thanks to all of our guests who attended the first annual Mother Earth's Wholistic Fair April 29 at the Cape Girardeau VFW hall. We accomplished our two goals. First, informing over 300 people on new ways to enhance their lives and spirits. Second, we collected more than 120 canned-good items plus monetary donations for the Regional Family Crisis Center. My thanks to all who participated in this event. See you next year at our second annual fair...

To the editor: I was saddened to hear of the passing of Ollie Amick. I grew up in Old Illmo, and Ollie was always a fixture of our community. When I first tried out for Little League baseball, Ollie was there. He was supportive of the youths of our community, and he was a true representative of the people during his time in politics, not just another politician. ...

To the editor: The last heavy rain we had about two months ago was stressful for some in Scott City. I live on the other side of the tracks where there is no drainage system. In about 30 minutes, the whole downstairs of our house had water standing in it...

Sensitive information; Body choices; The smell repels; Cozy relationship; Power and money; Make some decisions; Grass in the street; Pretty parks; Public transportation; Condoned behavior; Conservative attitudes; No sidewalks; Blame Democrats; Free to leave; Doing their job

James Leroy Sanford, 90, of Scott City died Thursday, May 4, 2006, at his home. He was born Nov. 15, 1915, at Delta, son of William and Nancy Jane Mills Sanford. He and Laura Mae Humphrey were married Jan. 4, 1936, at Jackson. Sanford was a presser at Ely Walker Co. in Illmo, and then worked 32 years at Missouri Utilities, retiring in November 1980...

Robert J. "Junior" Green, 80, of Jackson died Thursday, May 4, 2006, at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. He was born Aug. 24, 1925, in Jackson, son of Robert George and Maggie Elizabeth Grindstaff Green. He and Nellie M. Statler were married Feb. 6, 1948...

James "Boomer" Cossiboom, 48, of Scott City died Tuesday, May 2, 2006, at Methodist Germantown Hospital in Germantown, Tenn. He was born Sept. 24, 1957, in Cape Girardeau, son of Henry Alonzo and Bessie Arleen Huffman Cossiboom. He and Jane Renee Dunlap were married Dec. 5, 1992...

Lydia Flora Sauer, 87, of Prairie Village, Kan., passed away Wednesday, May 3, 2006, at Brighton Gardens Nursing Center. She was born Dec. 15, 1918, in Perryville, Mo., daughter of Charles Berkbigler and Augustina Ruch. She married Walter O. Sauer in 1938...

Terry Bruce McIntosh, 53, of Cape Girardeau died Tuesday, May 2, 2006, at his home. He was born Oct. 17, 1952, in Cape Girardeau, son of James Arthur and Jessie Mae Morris McIntosh Jr. He lived most of his life in Cape Girardeau, and was a graduate of Central High School...

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- Gladys M. Valleroy, 83, of Perryville died Wednesday, May 3, 2006, at Perry Oaks Manor. She was born March 22, 1923, in Perry County, daughter of Paul and Emilie Mueller Mangels. She first married Floyd Erwin. She and Clarence Valleroy were married May 30, 1984...

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- Adell E. Schremp, 97, of Perryville died Wednesday, May 3, 2006, at Perry County Nursing Home. She was born June 9, 1908, in Perry County, daughter of Simon and Ellen Feltz Zahner. She and Clarence R. Schremp were married April 9, 1928...

25 years ago: May 5, 1981 Cape Girardeau lawyer Kenneth McManaman has been appointed Jackson municipal judge, and Jackson lawyer John P. Lichtenegger has been named to replace Jackson City Attorney Kenneth L. Waldron, who served for more than a decade...

'An American Haunting'; 'Hoot'; 'Mission Impossible III'; STILL PLAYING; 'Akeelah and the Bee'; 'Friends With Money'; 'Ice Age: The Meltdown'; 'Inside Man'; 'Lucky Number Slevin'; 'RV'; 'Scary Movie 4'; 'Sentinel'; 'Silent Hill'; 'Stick It'; 'Take the Lead'; 'United 93'; 'The Wild'

Storytelling workshop open to public May 15; Cape Central Orchestra performs Tuesday; Local filmmakers announce casting call; Red House features new exhibit starting Saturday; Central Jr. High production starts Wednesday; Conservation Campus celebrates Lewis and Clark; Market House Theatre presents 'The Outsiders'

May is usually one of the most exciting months of the year at the box office. The early summer blockbusters hit the screen, and 2006 continues that tradition. There are animals of all sorts prevalent in May's family-friendly choices, from owls to cute woodland creatures to blue, hairy beasts. As always, each title includes the important Dad-and-Lad-o-meter, giving you an insight into our level of excitement for each individual movie (scored 1 to 5). Release dates are subject to change...

The Arts Council of Southeast Missouri is hoping a few new offerings at will make the already popular ArtsCape Community Arts Festival an even more attractive event to locals. Among those changes: organizers have booked national touring music group Trout Fishing in America to headline the musical entertainment and opened up an area for a "musical instrument petting zoo."...

MALDEN, Mo. -- A proposal by Union Pacific Railroad to abandon rail lines between Malden and Lilbourn, Mo., in New Madrid County has raised alarms among community leaders in Malden. Their concern is that the abandonment of the east-west rail route will cut off industry in the city from direct rail shipping to the New Madrid County Port Authority, possibly hurting chances for attracting new industry...

A Cape Girardeau man accused of planning the robbery of a local KFC restaurant last summer waived his right to a preliminary hearing in court Thursday. Jimmy Walker, 30, of Village on the Green, appeared briefly in court before Associate Circuit Judge Gary A. Kamp, who ordered the defendant bound over to circuit court...

Chairman Doug Richards said the Kelley employees will have first priority for job openings. When Cape Girardeau County Transit Authority officials announced the $360,000 buyout of Kelley Transportation Co. Inc. in March, all Kelley employees were assured a job with the transit authority...

Congressman allows $5 million for 9-11 memorial WASHINGTON -- A House panel on Thursday approved spending $5 million in federal funds to buy land for a memorial on the Pennsylvania field where United Flight 93 crashed on Sept. 11, 2001. Rep. Charles H. ...

By Kit Bond As I have traveled to other countries in recent months, I have talked to young, energetic and skilled intelligence operatives across the globe risking their lives to gather the crucial intelligence we need to fight effectively the war on terror...

To the editor: I have one major issue with the illegal immigrants who are protesting the U.S. government. If they would go through the process of becoming a legal immigrant, then they would have the right to protest. But if they are here illegally, then they have no rights at all. ...

Cape Girardeau...

Cape Girardeau...

Child labor declining worldwide for first time RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil -- The International Labor Organization announced Thursday that the number of children at work worldwide is declining for the first time. The number of laborers under age 18 fell by 11 percent between 2000 and 2004, from 246 million to 218 million, the Geneva-based ILO said. ...

Central tops Mules, finishes 15-0 Kirk Lohmann shot a 1-under-par 69 at the Cape Country Club to help Central complete a perfect dual-meet season by beating rival Poplar Bluff 294-304 on Thursday. Poplar Bluff gave the Tigers their only loss the past two seasons and topped the Tigers for the Class 4 District 1 championship on Monday...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- The Senate gave final approval Thursday to legislation overhauling the emissions inspection program in the St. Louis area. The Senate's 29-4 vote sends the bill to the governor. The measure no longer contains a provision the Senate included earlier this year that would have done away with vehicle safety inspections statewide. Missouri vehicles must pass a safety inspection every two years before they can be relicensed by the state...

The Central girls swimming team's depth showed again at the Show Me Conference meet Thursday, as the Tigers cruised to their fourth conference title in the fourth year of the meet at Central Municipal Pool. While the Tigers left little doubt of their fourth straight title -- Central outscored Notre Dame 435-382 -- the battle with the rival Bulldogs, especially in the relay events, made for an exciting meet...

A pair of University of Missouri system curators on Thursday called for greater oversight of campus athletics amid continuing fallout over the botched resignation of former University of Missouri-Columbia men's basketball coach Quin Snyder...

U.S. Open champ Jim Furyk and rookie Bill Haas were among four golfers tied for the lead after the first round of the Wachovia Championship on Thursday. South Africans Trevor Immelman and Rory Sabbatini also finished with 4-under 68s, while Masters champion Phil Mickelson, defending champ Vijay Singh and Ernie Els all had 71s. Singh defeated Furyk and Sergio Garcia in a playoff last year. Els is making his first appearance at Quail Hollow in Charlotte, N.C...

Three stars (out of four) "United 93" was well done. The movie appeared to be filmed by handheld cameras, making it seem like you were there. I also appreciated that the actors in the movie were virtually unknown. It made them much more believable and I was able to really see them as the people they were portraying...

ST. LOUIS -- The Missouri Department of Natural Resources has billed Ameren Corp. nearly $495,000 to pay for the agency's oversight of clean-up efforts resulting from the collapse of Ameren's Taum Sauk Reservoir. The reservoir collapsed Dec. 14, sending more than 1 billion gallons of water rushing through Johnson's Shut-Ins State Park...

Hurricane Katrina survivor Felix Lewis says there is no place he'd rather be than in Cape Girardeau. "You've shown me there is nothing you won't do for me," Lewis told a group of about 400 people Thursday morning at the 54th annual Mayor's Prayer Breakfast in Cape Girardeau...

Residents of Scott, Mississippi and New Madrid counties will get a chance to apply for disaster assistance in person when a mobile recovery center begins operation today. The center, jointly operated by the federal and state emergency management agencies, will help people who suffered storm damage in early March, said Susie Stonner, spokeswoman for SEMA...

Five long years have passed since Lindsey Baker first came to Southeast Missouri State University to study art. Over those years she's not been the stereotypical art student. She's studious, and to hear art department mentor Pat Reagan tell it, Baker is a rare find among art students...

Dear Tom and Ray: I am a junior in high school. In my physics class, the teacher claimed that you could be electrocuted by touching a car's battery terminals. I started laughing and said I know from experience that there is no way you could die from a car battery. ...

James Franklin has spent most of the past 15 years of his life being harassed. Business owners constantly shooed Franklin off their sidewalks and parking. A police officer once confiscated his skateboard while he was skating on a Southeast Missouri State University parking lot...

@Summary Statement:By KYLE W. MORRISON For two weeks, the wife of a Cape Girardeau police captain was under constant surveillance, her every move watched and recorded by the Division Probation and Parole. But Marsha Fields wasn't in trouble with the law...

An 18-year-old Notre Dame Regional High School student died Friday when a tractor he was helping remove from a small pond overturned, pinning him underwater. Flags were lowered outside Notre Dame late Friday as school leaders prepared for a prayer vigil to remember Tyler Glaus of Chaffee, who was working at Pioneer Trailer Park when the accident occurred. Glaus was at work because Notre Dame was not in session for an annual golf tournament fund-raiser...

A children's museum. An observation deck for nighttime sky-watchers. A $10 million hands-on science center. And a youth golf program that does more than teach children to swing a club. These are some of the ideas dreamed up by the latest class of Leadership Cape. But the four groups that made up the class did more than dream them up -- they did the research...

Every spring semester, Central Junior High School music teacher Mike Dumey becomes a man obsessed with a musical. His enthusiasm is infectious. "The first day of school in August the first thing out of the kids' mouths is, 'What is the musical going to be this year?'" Dumey said...

Scott County Central gave up 24 runs in one inning to East Prairie. The Scott County Central baseball team surrendered 24 runs in one inning Friday, as East Prairie broke several existing MSHSAA records in a 24-6 home victory. The Eagles' single-inning output in the second frame exceeded the previous mark of 20 set by Skyline in 2000. East Prairie also sent a record 30 batters to the plate, took a record eight walks and tied the record for hits with 13...

The Central boys track and field team has had to battle injuries to its all-state 400-meter relay team and shuttle in underclassmen to help fill the voids nearly all season. The Tigers have had plenty of success with those replacements. But with the district meet a week away, coach Lawrence Brookins was happy to see the 400 relay team in tact Friday for the SEMO North Conference meet at Central Junior High...

Southeast Missouri State coach Joey Haines could not have asked for much more than what transpired Friday as the Ohio Valley Conference outdoor track and field meet got under way in Cape Girardeau. Although Southeast's men and women both have plenty of work left to do today, the host school at least set itself up to repeat its dual championships from a year ago...

MIAMI -- Some of the lights went out Friday night at Dolphin Stadium, forcing a delay in the fourth inning of the Florida Marlins' game against the St. Louis Cardinals. The power outage didn't last long -- not with Albert Pujols around. Pujols hit his 16th home run to spark a seven-run fifth inning, and the Cardinals beat Florida 7-2 to snap a four-game losing streak, their longest since the 2004 World Series...

LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- Dan Hendricks easily maneuvered his wheelchair outside Barn 42 at Churchill Downs for a final chat on the day before the Kentucky Derby. Since being paralyzed from the waist down in a motocross accident two years ago, the 47-year-old trainer has found it challenging to do his job. But in the same way Hendricks has learned to adapt, he hopes jockey Alex Solis can give his Derby favorite, Brother Derek, a smooth ride in a contentious field of 20 talented 3-year-olds...

LONDON -- Stung by an election defeat, Tony Blair shuffled his Cabinet on Friday and replaced Foreign Secretary Jack Straw in an attempt to save his own political future and shore up support to tackle crises in Iran and Iraq. Straw had privately expressed doubts about the Iraq war to his boss and publicly took a different stance on Iran. ...

ABUJA, Nigeria -- Thanks in part to last-minute U.S. diplomacy, two years of Darfur peace talks beset by setbacks and frustration ended with a signing ceremony Friday. Now the hard part: ensuring pledges to stop the fighting and begin rebuilding translate to an end to Darfur's suffering. The key may be a robust U.N. peacekeeping force, which Sudan's government has indicated it is now willing to accept...

WHITWELL, Tenn. -- Students at a rural Tennessee school where a lesson in social tolerance, diversity and stereotypes grew into a children's Holocaust memorial celebrated a cultural exchange with hundreds of Jewish bikers who visited Friday. Jewish bikers?...

ATLANTA -- Billy Payne, who ran the Atlanta Olympics a decade ago, is replacing Hootie Johnson as chairman of Augusta National Golf Club, home of the Masters. Johnson, 75, had served in the role since 1998, most prominently turning back demands that women be allowed to join the club...

Michelle Wie accomplished something in her ancestral homeland she had failed to do in seven previous tries elsewhere: The American teen made the cut in a men's professional tournament. With huge crowds cheering for the player they cherish as "big sister," the 16-year-old Wie was at 5-under 139 after two rounds, tied for 17th in the Asian Tour's SK Telecom Open at Incheon, South Korea. She shot a 3-under 69 Friday to make the cut by five strokes...

WASHINGTON -- It was Damon Jones' turn to hit the winning shot, and it put the Cleveland Cavaliers into the second round of the playoffs for the first time in 13 years. Jones' 17-foot baseline jumper with 4.8 seconds remaining in overtime gave the Cavaliers a 114-113 victory over the Washington Wizards on Friday night, Cleveland's third one-point victory in a series that ended with the visitors celebrating in a pile near midcourt and left the home team stunned into silence...

OTTAWA -- Chris Drury scored 18 seconds into overtime after Tim Connolly netted his second goal of the night with 10.7 seconds remaining in regulation and the Buffalo Sabres stunned the Ottawa Senators with a 7-6 victory Friday in a wild Eastern Conference semifinal opener...

WASHINGTON -- Rep. Patrick Kennedy said Friday he was entering treatment for addiction to prescription pain medication, a decision made after a highly publicized car crash near the Capitol that the congressman said he cannot recall. Kennedy, D-R.I., said he would seek immediate treatment at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn...

WASHINGTON -- Defending his House-passed immigration bill that sparked street protest by millions of immigrants, the chairman of the House Judiciary Committee issued a report Friday showing that several countries are harsher than the United States in their treatment of illegal immigrants and their employers...

WASHINGTON -- CIA director Porter Goss resigned suddenly Friday, nudged out after a turmoil-filled 19 months at the spy agency as it struggled to forge a new identity in an era of intelligence blunders and government overhauls. Goss offered little explanation in a brief appearance with President Bush, a televised address to agency personnel and a written statement...

Several charges were levied this week against a Ware, Ill., man for sexually assaulting a 15-year-old girl. Andrew J. Trammel, 21, was charged with three counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse and one count of aggravated criminal sexual assault for two incidents, according to Union County State's Attorney Allen W. James...

Cape Girardeau...

Cape Girardeau...

The Kohlfeld family long has been synonymous with beer and sports in Southeast Missouri. For decades the company has been heavily involved in sponsoring sports teams and organizations throughout the region. That sponsorship has extended to athletic programs, student organizations and student events at Southeast Missouri State University along with support of the university foundation...

Local Catholics to honor priest; Today; Sunday; Monday; Friday

First Baptist will hold an open house at its new church. Even from a mile away, amid the sprawl of houses on Lexington Avenue and Cape Rock Drive, the towering steeple of First Baptist Church can be seen. Alongside the physical visibility of the new church, the congregation of First Baptist hopes to extend its spiritual presence in the community as well...

Tobacco addiction, poor diets, physical inactivity ... the Rev. Cecil Thomas Jr. sees no end to the list of unhealthy choices facing today's youths. That's what prompted Thomas, pastor at Second Missionary Baptist Church in Cape Girardeau, to organize a walk-a-thon to promote physical health and spiritual fitness in young people...

Ezekiel 9 isn't a pretty scene as the prophet envisions God sending out a writer to mark the foreheads of all Jerusalem's men "who sigh and cry over all the abominations that are done within it." Then God dispatches six angels carrying battle-axes to kill all, starting with church leaders, who don't have their foreheads marked. ...

A proposed amendment to allow for a spring softball state tournament was the lone item which failed to pass Friday as the results of the Missouri State High School Activities Association's annual ballot were announced. The amendment, which only needed a majority to pass, was voted down by a vote of 242-122. In all, there were 17 items on the annual ballot...

It has been more than a month since the Southeast Missouri State baseball team captured its one -- and only -- Ohio Valley Conference series win of the season. If the Redhawks are going to make a late push to qualify for the OVC tournament, it is imperative they add some series victories to their resume...

To the editor: I found it telling that in the Wednesday edition there were two letters calling for the spending of more public funds, both of which were from people whose pockets are indirectly lined by the interests that benefit from spending that money...

To the editor: I am heartsick that our elected officials in Washington won't do anything to prevent what amounts to a takeover of our western and southern states by illegals of all nationalities. Who would have thought that our state, national and local officials would allow illegal aliens of all nationalities to wave foreign flags and say they want rights? When did foreigners get the right to vote in our elections without being citizens? It makes me sick...

To the editor: I agree with Bernard Proffer's April 29 letter. A key factor in creating competition in the local phone market was to make it easy for competitors to get into business. New providers in the telephone market -- including cable providers who can bundle voice, long-distance, video and Internet services -- are not held to the same regulatory requirements as incumbent telephone companies. ...

Historic treasures; Double the bang; Rewards of hard work; Feet to the fire; Road repair done; More roundabouts; Deal with sewers

James "Boomer" Cossiboom, 48, of Scott City died Tuesday, May 2, 2006, at Methodist Germantown Hospital in Germantown, Tenn. He was born Sept. 24, 1957, in Cape Girardeau, son of Henry Alonzo and Bessie Arleen Huffman Cossiboom. He and Jane Renee Dunlap were married Dec. 5, 1992...

Margaret A. Langstadt, 74, of Cape Girardeau died Friday, May 5, 2006, at Southeast Missouri Hospital. She was born June 29, 1931, at Patton, Mo., daughter of Oscar and Mattie Bollinger. She was married to Foy "Red" Johnson and later to Ralph Langstadt in 1969...

John Rockne Wilferth, 40, of Eagle, Colo., died Thursday, May 4, 2006, at his home, following a lengthy illness. Ford and Sons Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

CHAFFEE, Mo. -- Mazie Alee Bryant, 83, of Chaffee died Friday, May 5, 2006, at the Lutheran Home in Cape Girardeau. Amick-Burnett Funeral Chapel in Chaffee is in charge of arrangements.

April Lynn Yarbro, 38, of Cape Girardeau died Thursday, May 4, 2006, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. She was born April 1, 1968, in Sedalia, Mo., daughter of the late Clinton and Bonnie Barks Morgan. Yarbro was of the Baptist faith, a member of Eagles Aerie 3775 and VFW Post 3838 Auxiliary...

25 years ago: May 6, 1981 The U.S. Census Bureau, heeding the protests of Cape Girardeau city officials who claimed the city was victim of an inaccurate count last spring, took another look at the city and found 43 more people; according to figures received through the Southeast Missouri Regional Planning and Economic Development Commission, the Census Bureau's final 1980 population count for Cape Girardeau stands at 34,361...

An Illinois State Police captain accidentally shot two men while hunting, but criminal charges will not be pursued. When Capt. Scott Rice, 43, of rural Union County near Cobden, Ill., fired his shotgun at a turkey the morning of April 24, the buckshot struck two mushroom hunters nearly 30 yards past the bird, State's Attorney Allen W. James said...

Teachers, coaches and other volunteers know that working with children first requires a criminal background check to ferret out potential abusers. Now, so will the families who host the nearly 30,000 foreign exchange students who arrive in this country each year...

By Donna Shell The recent Southeast Missouri State University production of "Romeo and Juliet" has created quite a stir in Southeast Missouri. As a teacher at one of those schools that canceled attendance for the high school matinee, I feel several issues have not been addressed and should be. ...

Police are making little progress in determining who started a suspicious fire that destroyed one house and severely damaged a second home on South Spanish Street. The fire, which gutted a two-apartment home at 221 S. ...

A Scott County candidate for associate circuit judge was disqualified from the August primary ballot for failing to file a financial disclosure statement, the Missouri Ethics Commission voted Friday. Scott Horman, who is seeking to unseat incumbent David C. Mann in the Democratic primary, was one of nine candidates statewide who missed the deadline for filing the personal financial disclosure statement required by law...

A Cape Girardeau man charged with child endangerment was attacked by a knife-wielding woman upset at him for leaving his 2-year-old daughter home alone. Tiffany N. Wilkins, 25, of 824 Good Hope St., chased the man out into the street with a knife in the 400 block of Bellevue Street around 11:25 p.m. Thursday, according to a probable-cause statement...

A plan to construct college buildings with the profits of a student loan sell-off failed Friday in the Missouri legislature, but Gov. Matt Blunt plans to push ahead with the plan anyway. Southeast Missouri State University president Dr. Ken Dobbins welcomed the governor's move which could provide funding for campus construction projects including $17.2 million for the River Campus arts school. ...

RICHMOND, Va. -- Greg Biffle is trying to turn things around. That doesn't mean he's going to push any harder to get better results. Biffle, second to champion Tony Stewart in last year's Chase for the championship, posted a lap at 127.395 mph Friday, winning the pole for the Crown Royal 400 at Richmond International Raceway and giving his team a needed boost...

SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- The Army warned an anti-war group of former U.S. Military Academy cadets called West Point Graduates Against the War to stop using the words "West Point" in its name, saying they are trademarked. The group, open to West Point graduates, spouses and children, claims about 50 members...

SAN FRANCISCO -- A federal appeals court on Friday sidestepped whether it was unconstitutional under federal and state law to deny gays and lesbians the right to marry, leaving the issue to state courts to decide. ...

The Bloomfield Road project has progressed to phase II ahead of schedule, say Cape Girardeau city engineers. The final phase of the widening and resurfacing project begins Monday and will force residents of nearby subdivisions to divert 2.9 miles to reach Route K via Benton Hill Road and 5.3 miles to reach Wal-Mart...

NUKU'ALOFA, Tonga -- A pair of aftershocks rattled the South Pacific island nation of Tonga on Friday but caused no damage or injuries, a day after a large quake exposed alarming cracks in a tsunami warning system. A magnitude 6.0 and a magnitude 5.4 aftershock hit the same region of Tonga, the U.S. Geological Survey reported, but there was no sign of any damage in the capital and no tsunami warnings were issued...

With everything moms do, finding the perfect Mothers' Day gift to say "thank you" with can be a challenge. Here's a little inspiration from local moms: The perfect Mother's Day gift would be a day spent with my husband and our children floating down Current River or at a Cardinals baseball game ... just as long as we are together, that's all that counts. As far as a purchased gift, a message would be wonderful or a new cookbook would be No. 1 on the list...

The Cape Girardeau School District may offer schooling to 3- and 4-year-olds within two years. The district's at-risk committee says it could benefit all students, but particularly at-risk students. Attendance would be voluntary, school officials said...

The smells of gunpowder and horse manure are what would have first greeted a visitor to Fort D during the Civil War. Those odors -- plus that of grilled bacon -- greeted spectators Saturday at Cape Girardeau's Fort D Days celebration, held at the union fort's original location just off of South Sprigg Street...

For Greg Brune it was taking shrapnel in the back along a muddy river near Saigon. For Becky Mocherman it was about the changing role of women and watching Neil Armstrong take a stroll on the moon. And for Cecil B. Thomas Jr. -- who grew up in the deep south in a family of black sharecroppers -- it was walking up to a Dairy Queen in Paragould, Ark., to be met by a sign that said "no n--- allowed."...

By Timothy P. Green In response to the April 28 article "Legal laundering," it is commonplace for political committee treasurers to receive requests or suggestions of where to send contributions and the contribution amount. It is as commonplace as mothers telling their children to phone when they arrive home safely...

After an absence of more than a year, it's great to see Kerry Robinson back in the major leagues. Robinson, the former Southeast Missouri State star who is in his 12th professional season, just completed his first week as the Royals' regular center fielder...

Man helps himself 56 gallons of gasoline WEST BEND, Wis. -- Authorities say a man came up with an unusual way to combat high gasoline prices: Filling about a dozen containers with gas from his former workplace after hours. Andrew Otten, 44, was charged with misdemeanor theft after a sheriff's deputy said he found containers with about 56 gallons of gas in Otten's vehicle. ...

BEACONSFIELD, Australia -- Two Australian gold miners spent a twelfth night trapped underground as rescuers struggling to cut the final stretch of an escape tunnel by hand today considered using explosives. Officials had hoped to free Brant Webb, 37, and Todd Russell, 34, before dawn but said progress chipping through the solid rock by jackhammer was slower than expected...

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip -- Hundreds of Palestinians staged strikes and demonstrations Saturday in the West Bank and Gaza Strip to demand payment of overdue salaries to government workers -- the first public signs of discontent with the Hamas-led Cabinet's handling of a growing financial crisis...

Ten U.S. soldiers died when their helicopter crashed during combat operations in eastern Afghanistan, while a British military helicopter apparently was hit by a missile and crashed in Basra, Iraq, killing four crew members, officials said Saturday...

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- Interstate 44 has long been a favorite route of drug dealers trying to move their cargo from east to west, but law enforcement officers trying to stop the flow have seen more drugs -- and more variety -- this year. Since December, some major drug busts along I-44 between Joplin and Rolla have included 3,000 pounds of marijuana, 140 pounds of cocaine and the country's largest recorded seizure of PCP, the Missouri State Highway Patrol said...

CARBONDALE, Ill. -- Southern Illinois University expects to begin formal planning this fall for a massive construction plan that includes building a new football stadium and renovating the basketball arena, the school's chancellor said. Walter Wendler said Friday that SIU has the money to start the project -- dubbed "Saluki Way" -- and has targeted an October 2008 ground breaking. ...

RALEIGH, N.C. -- The New Jersey Devils eventually were going to lose. Boy, did they ever. Ray Whitney scored two fortuitous goals, rookie Cam Ward got his first career playoff shutout and the Carolina Hurricanes ended New Jersey's 15-game winning streak with a 6-0 victory Saturday in the opener of the Eastern Conference semifinal series...

Frustrated by two close calls this year, Jim Furyk gave himself another shot at winning by taking advantage of a rain-softened course for a 4-under 68 Saturday and a one-shot lead in the PGA Tour's Wachovia Championship in Charlotte, N.C. Furyk, the only player to shoot in the 60s each day this week, got the separation he needed with an approach that landed softly and rolled within 2 feet on the 16th hole, then finished with solid pars to reach 11-under 205...

LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- A hero and his unbeaten horse won the Kentucky Derby. A hard-charging Barbaro galloped into the lead at the top of the stretch and won by a stunning 6 1/2 lengths Saturday, giving trainer Michael Matz his first Derby victory and jockey Edgar Prado his first winning ride...

PHOENIX -- So much for the nail-biting suspense of a Game 7. The fast, feisty Phoenix Suns won in a 121-90 laugher over the listless Los Angeles Lakers on Saturday night. Leandro Barbosa led the layup parade with a career playoff-best 26 points on 10-for-12 shooting and the Suns became the eighth team in NBA history to win a series after trailing 3-1. They are just the third team -- and first in 36 years -- to lose three games in a row in a series and come back to win it...

RICHMOND, Va. -- Kevin Harvick was the driver to beat, even Dale Earnhardt Jr. knew that. But when Harvick made his only mistake of the entire weekend, Earnhardt pounced. It put him back into Victory Lane for the first time this season, and proved that his team has truly turned around after struggling through all of last year...

LAS VEGAS -- Oscar De La Hoya made an impressive return to the ring after a 20-month absence, knocking down Ricardo Mayorga in the first round before finally stopping him in the sixth to claim the WBC's 154-pound title on Saturday night. De La Hoya, 33, knocked down Mayorga in the opening minute and never let up, unleashing waves of punishing head shots until Mayorga went down for the third time at 1:25 of the sixth...

MIAMI -- The St. Louis Cardinals rocked Dontrelle Willis for seven runs in the first five innings, and they needed every one of them. St. Louis nearly blew a seven-run lead but hung on to beat the Florida Marlins 7-6 Saturday night, giving Mark Mulder his 100th career win...

CHICAGO -- Five stars were awarded to just two of the 125 spas visited by inspectors for the Mobil Travel Guide's 2006 edition. The Spa at Mandarin Oriental in New York, and Spa Montage at Montage Resort, in Laguna Beach, Calif., won the travel guide's top ratings...

ORLANDO, Fla. -- What city would you visit to tour the Louvre? If you answered Paris, you're doing better than two-thirds of the teenagers surveyed in a study commissioned by the AAA Travel High School Challenge, an annual contest and scholarship program...

PORTSMOUTH, Ohio -- A region that has felt neglected over the years is getting increasing attention from tourists. They are drawn by the natural beauty of the Hocking Hills and other scenic Appalachian areas of mountains, forests, lakes and caves, by myriad festivals that show off the region's music, dancing, crafts and storytelling, or by the quaint charms of Ohio's Amish people and small rural towns with artists, craftsmen, antique shops and homey restaurants...

\The Associated Press LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- Disney parks in Florida and California have launched a new program called "Magical Beginnings" aimed at families with children age 5 and under. The programs were developed in response to research from the Yesawich, Pepperdine, Brown and Russell firm showing that 80 percent of families believe the ideal age for their first major vacation is when the kids are 5 or younger...

CHARLESTON, S.C. -- Many travelers will tell you it can be doggone hard to make arrangements when you have a pet in tow -- worrying about everything from finding dog-friendly hotels to activities for canines while on the go. From plush hotels to, well, ruffing it at campgrounds, the travel industry has more options available for people traveling with their four-legged friends...

WASHINGTON -- In August 1956 a newlywed Navy pilot, Lt. James B. Deane Jr., was shot out of the sky on a nighttime spy flight off the coast of China. Nearly half a century later, a famous friend found himself in Beijing with a chance to quietly press Chinese leaders for more cooperation in resolving Deane's fate...

Singapore ruling party wins by a landslide; Dick Cheney meets with Croatian leaders; Puerto Ricans demand end of shutdown

Cape Girardeau ...

Cape Girardeau...

For years, officials who run prisons and other correctional facilities have recognized that "the system" has a way of perpetuating a life of crime. For several years, Missouri's prison system has focused on rehabilitation, but many adult offenders return to crime after a prison stay...

Stock Division Round 1 Coleman Schott def. Lexie McClanahan Dayton Seabaugh def. Josh Menkus Nick Pfau def. Cody Crowell Kayla Thurman def. Mike Cole Elizabeth Kiefner def. Deanna Hohgrefe Round 2 Schott def. Seabaugh Daniel Rennier def. Pfau Thurman def. Rachel Long...

The fastest 200-meter dash of the season? There's no doubt it belongs to Notre Dame sophomore Mark Zimmer. But while his time of 22.66 from the Jackson Invitational on April 8 is the fastest in a varsity meet this season in Southeast Missouri, it's not even his best run of the year...

The Central tennis team edged Whitfield Academy 5-4 on Saturday to improve to 10-2. The Tigers won three of the six singles matches and two of three doubles contests. David Deisher and David Berry were double winners for Central. Singles 1. Michael Gardner (W) def. Carson Kelley 6-0, 6-1...

The Southeast Missouri State softball team saw its losing streak reach nine games Saturday as visiting Jacksonville State swept a doubleheader. Jacksonville State won the opener 3-2 and took the nightcap 5-3, improving to 41-13 overall and 20-5 in Ohio Valley Conference play. The Gamecocks had already clinched second place in the 10-team league...

To the editor: Upset about high gasoline prices? From the mid-1980s to the late-1990s, Americans drove front-wheel drive cars that got mileage between 25 and 30 miles per gallon. Since the late-1990s, when gas was relatively cheap, we reverted to rear wheel-drive SUVs and pickups that averaged 12 to 15 mpg. Use of rear wheel-drive vehicles resulted in unnecessary fuel consumption...

To the editor: Alan Journet wrote to the editor once again denouncing President Bush. Much like the Democratic Party, Journet expended effort lambasting presidential policy but failed to offer alternative solutions. Journet stated, "They ignore the reality that contradicts policies because the policies are grounded in a blind commitment to uninformed ideology." I would counter that critics ignore the reality that Republicans at least have a plan, whether you agree with it or not. ...

Board accountability; Bad idea; Socialized medicine; Supper or dinner?; Low turnout; Rusty walkway; Political pricing; Dumey is big asset

CHAFFEE, Mo. -- Tyler Joseph Glaus, 18, of Chaffee died Friday, May 5, 2006, at Saint Francis Medical Center from injuries sustained in a work-related tractor accident. He was born Oct. 9, 1987 at Cape Girardeau, son of Stacey Gerard and Carla Ann Berghoff Glaus...

EAGLE, Colo. -- John Rockne Wilferth, 40, of Eagle died Thursday, May 4, 2006, at his home, following a lengthy illness brought on by a head injury sustained in a high school baseball practice. He was born Aug. 7, 1965, in Cape Girardeau, Mo. He and Charlotte Abendroth were married Jan. 20, 1989, and had a son, Briggs Rockne Wilferth. On April 14, 1997, Wilferth married Melinda Gilmore and became a father to Blake, whom he loved very much...

Dorris L. Holshouser, 79, of Cape Girardeau died Saturday, May 6, 2006, at Saint Francis Medical Center. Ford and Sons Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

ANNA, Ill. -- Alice L. Martin, 98, of Anna died Friday, May 5, 2006, at City Care Center in Anna. She was born May 11, 1907, at Saratoga, Ill., daughter of George and Nancy Russell Lence. She and Mack Martin were married Nov. 2, 1927. He died June 24, 1960...

FLORISSANT, Mo. -- Mildred L. "Mil" Campbell Herbst of Florissant died Friday, May 5, 2006, at a hospital in Creve Coeur, Mo. Herbst was a member of Immanuel United Church of Christ, Ferguson, for more than 50 years. Survivors include three daughters, Karen Glover, Robyn Hutton and Jo Meissner; a son, Dennis Herbst of Cape Girardeau; three sisters, Jay Campbell, Audrey Moore and Louise Ketchum; and three grandchildren...

BENTON, Mo. -- Anita Agnes "Needy" Ziegler, 78, of Benton died Saturday, May 6, 2006, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. She was born Sept. 21, 1927, in New Hamburg, Mo., daughter of Albert and Cecelia Westrich Glastetter. She and Arthur L. Ziegler were married Aug. 12, 1947, at St. Lawrence Church in New Hamburg...

Myrtle Fern Finley, 93, of Scott City died Friday, May 5, 2006, at home. She was born Aug. 29, 1912, at Zalma, Mo., daughter of Thomas Jefferson and Effie Wills Stephens. She and Oliver Thomas "O.T." Finley were married Nov. 15, 1934, at Benton, Mo. He died May 6, 1994...

Lindsey Michelle Meyr and Drew Michael Church were united in marriage March 18, 2006, at Trinity Lutheran Church. The Rev. Paul Short performed the ceremony. Music was provided by Trio Girardeaux, pianist was Diann Daume, and vocalist was Brandon Hahs, all of Cape Girardeau...

Katie Sue Beussink and Brooks M. Brockmire were married Aug. 13, 2005, at Immaculate Conception Church in Jackson. Monsignor Ed Eftink performed the ceremony. Readers were Steve and Deb Beussink of Jackson, uncle and aunt of the bride, and Brooke Beussink of Jackson, cousin of the bride. Mass servers were Alex Beussink of Jackson, Brianna Ziegler of Cape Girardeau, cousins of the bride; and Erica Scholl of Jackson...

Mary Ann Hennecke and Bill Hennecke of Cape Girardeau announce the engagement of their daughter, Danielle Renee Hennecke, to Gary Lynn Poyner Jr. He is the son of Judy Poyner and the late Gary Poyner of Scott City. Hennecke is a 1999 graduate of Notre Dame High School. ...

Terry Parker of Jackson and Rita Parker of Scott City announce the engagement of their daughter, Jennifer Dawn Parker, to Christopher Wayne Spies. He is the son of Kenny Spies of Scott City and Donna Spies of Topeka, Kan. Parker is a 1992 graduate of Scott City High School, and received a degree as an administrative assistant from Metro Business College in 1993. She is a secretary with Security Bank and Trust Co...

Roy and Barbara Beel of Jackson announce the engagement of their daughter, Melanie Ann Beel, to Gregory Allan Peters, both of Bonnots Mill, Mo. He is the son of Mary Peters of Bonnots Mill, and the late Carter "Junior" Peters. Beel is a 1997 graduate of Notre Dame High School. She expects to receive a degree in middle school education from Lincoln University in Jefferson City, Mo., in May. She will teach this fall at Linn High School in Linn, Mo...

Dora Fisher of Scott City announces the engagement of her daughter, Tracy Lee Fisher, to Justin Wade Bouslog, both of St. Louis. He is the son of Lyle and Miriam Bouslog of Nashville, Tenn. Fisher is a graduate of Notre Dame High School. She received a bachelor of science degree in education and a master of arts degree in English from Southeast Missouri State University. She is employed at Lindbergh High School in St. Louis...

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- Kenneth and Bridget Green of Florissant, Mo., announce the engagement of their daughter, Catherine Allison Green, to Jacob Myles Heberlie. He is the son of Frederick and Nancy Heberlie of Perryville. Green is a 2001 graduate of Hazelwood Central High School. She expects to receive a bachelor of science degree in early childhood from the University of Missouri-St. Louis in May...

Heather Leah Kesterson and Jeffrey Dean Barker of Jackson announce their engagement. She is the daughter of Steve and Chari Willis of Goose Creek, S.C. He is the son of Dale and Gale Barker of Bloomfield, Mo., and the late Jannie Barker. Kesterson is a 1989 graduate of Central High School, and attended Southeast Missouri State University. She is employed at U-Tan Tanning Salon in Cape Girardeau...

ALTENBURG, Mo. -- James and Connie Teig of Overland Park, Kan., announce the engagement of their daughter, Lori Helena Teig, to Lance Alan Hughey. He is the son of Michael and Autumn Hughey of Altenburg. Teig is a teacher at Stanley Elementary in Stanley, Kan...

ADVANCE, Mo. -- Michael and Doris Winchester of Advance announce the engagement of their daughter, Shanna Winchester, to Andy Sadler. He is the son of Ed and Tanya Sadler of Chaffee, Mo. Winchester is a 2002 graduate of Advance High School. She is activity director at Heartland Care and Rehab Center in Cape Girardeau...

GRAND TOWER, Ill. -- Sondra Clover of Grand Tower announces the engagement of her daughter, Michell Elaine Clover, to Jefferey Wayne Hill. He is the son of Mabel Hill of Anna, Ill., and the late Rollie Hill. Clover is also the daughter of the late Mike Clover...

MARBLE HILL, Mo. -- Peter and Carol Lehmann of Marble Hill announce the engagement of their daughter, Alisa Marie Lehmann, to Richard Alexander VanGennip. He is the son of Richard and Teresa VanGennip of Marble Hill. Lehmann is a 2003 graduate of Woodland High School, and a 2006 graduate of Metro Business College. She is a massage therapist at Defining Looks in Sikeston, Mo...

Kelvin and Claudette Bevell of Cape Girardeau announce the engagement of their daughter, Tiffany Nicole Copeland, to Mac Shane Sadler. A May 15 wedding is planned at Cape County Park.

25 years ago: May 7, 1981 Representatives of Cape Girardeau Cable Television plan to appear before the city council in June to ask that the system be accepted as completed; however, in light of last night's council session, the system might not receive a nod from the council until the company buries a number of cables which are now lying on the ground in parts of the city...

Strict on steroids I HAVE an idea for illegal steroid use by athletes. When they are beginning their careers in athletics in high school, why not start steroid testing there? If students test positive there, enter them in a national database accessible by every college and professional sports team. ...

Babe Ruth tryouts rescheduled for Saturday The Cape Girardeau Sr. Babe Ruth tryouts have been rescheduled to Saturday at 1 p.m. due to the recent tragedy involving a Notre Dame student. The tryouts will be at Notre Dame. Players must be born after April 30, 1987. For information, contact Alan Wengert, 243-4696...

Kayla Thurman of Jackson and Daniel Mora of Cape Girardeau were all smiles on Saturday after winning their respective classes at the ninth annual Cape Girardeau Rotary Club Soap Box Derby. Mora, 13, a first-time racer, won the super stock division championship by topping a field of 13 participants...

The inaugural JnP Sports skateboarding competition received an impressive turnout Saturday morning at the skatepark in Jackson City Park. More than 150 parents and young spectators showed up to watch a field of more than 30 skateboarders compete in the event, which featured a 14-and-under division and a 15-and-over division...

Dale Jarrett knows the next contract he signs will be his last. He's just not sure what car owner will be passing him the pen when he does it. In the final year of his deal with Robert Yates Racing, Jarrett has skyrocketed to the top of the free agent list and has been asked to drive one of Michael Waltrip's new Toyota entries next season...

More than 100 racers, spectators and volunteers attended Saturday's ninth annual Soap Box Derby on North Sprigg Street near Blanchard Elementary School. "It's fun going down the hill -- really fast, faster than on a bike," said Kayla Thurman, a 9-year-old stock division driver...

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- While Tara Dawley lies in a Georgia hospital in a coma, trying to come back from a serious bout with pneumonia, her precious ceramic art will be on sale this weekend at the Brookside Art Annual. For the first time in the 21 years of the art show, an artist who is unable to attend will still have her creations sold...

BAL HARBOUR, Fla. -- Three workers were killed, trapped in wet concrete after a wooden frame collapsed at a high-rise construction site. Co-workers dug to try to free them, authorities said. A fourth worker was taken to a hospital with suspected heart trouble, he said. ...

SOUTH PADRE ISLAND, Texas -- Endangered Kemp's ridley sea turtles emerge here every spring from the Gulf of Mexico, leaving smeary trails of flipper prints from surf through sand to nests where they lay their eggs. But a planned beach-restoration project could mean vehicles intruding on the nesting grounds, sand dumped over eggs or new sand obscuring the paths to turtles' nests...

LONDON -- A mystery detainee who allegedly created a bogus identity as an English nobleman by assuming the name of a dead baby is actually an American who went missing from Florida more than 20 years ago, his relatives say. The man being held in a jail in Kent, England, goes by the title of the Earl of Buckingham but he is really an Orlando native named Charles Stopford, his father, Charles, and sister Rebecca Davis say in a documentary to be broadcast today on Sky One television...

NEW YORK -- Twenty stories above ground zero, a Web camera pointed at the foundations of the destroyed World Trade Center takes pictures on the hour, recording the first signs of construction of the memorial to the 2001 terrorist attacks. Workers began painstakingly clearing off the tower footprints in March, hoping to pour concrete this month for the two reflecting pools planned for the center of the design...

The last time Southeast Missouri State's women did not win the Ohio Valley Conference outdoor track and field championship was also the last time the meet took place in Cape Girardeau. Southeast made sure history did not repeat itself Saturday, as the Redhawks continued their OVC dominance...

Southeast Missouri State and Eastern Illinois were tied Saturday entering the final event of the Ohio Valley Conference outdoor track and field meet, the 1,600-meter relay. As far as the Redhawks were concerned, the title was in the bag -- and they were right...

ABUJA, Nigeria -- Sudan's government said Saturday that its peace accord with Darfur's main insurgent group could pave the way for it to welcome U.N. peacekeepers, as mediators worked to persuade the rest of the fractured rebel movement to join the process...

WASHINGTON -- The White House on Saturday denied that President Bush had lost confidence in just-resigned CIA director Porter Goss, saying there was a "collective agreement" the agency needed a new leader now. Bush planned to act quickly, perhaps as early as Monday, to nominate Goss' successor. The leading candidate was Air Force Gen. Michael Hayden, the top deputy to national intelligence director John Negroponte, a senior administration official said...

WASHINGTON -- Prosecutors have e-mails showing Rep. Tom DeLay's office knew lobbyist Jack Abramoff had arranged the financing for the GOP leader's controversial European golfing trip in 2000 and was concerned "if someone starts asking questions."...

KABUL, Afghanistan -- A top U.S. counterterrorism official said Saturday that parts of Pakistan are a "safe haven" for militants and Osama bin Laden was more likely to be hiding there than in Afghanistan. Henry Crumpton, the U.S. ambassador in charge of counterterrorism, lauded Pakistan for arresting "hundreds and hundreds" of al-Qaida figures but said it needed to do more...

KABUL, Afghanistan -- The mountaintop landing zone where a U.S. helicopter crashed near Afghanistan's border with Pakistan is a day's walk from the nearest passable road. The area's only residents are al-Qaida and Taliban militants holed up in makeshift bases where U.S. and Afghan forces are now hunting them down...

In 2004, more than one-third of Cape Girardeau voters cast a straight-party ballot, which by a single stroke registered their support for all candidates in one party. In the future, those voters may have to record an individual vote for each candidate. The Missouri Legislature is considering eliminating straight-party voting as party of a controversial elections bill that also requires voters to have government-issued photo identification...

PARIS -- In Paris they're calling it the French Watergate. What began as a discreet investigation into a computerized list of secret bank accounts has exploded into major scandal that threatens to disgrace President Jacques Chirac at the end of his long political career...

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip -- The shelves at Shifa Hospital's pharmacy are half-empty. A shortage of anesthesia means surgeons can do only emergency operations. The kidney unit has cut back on dialysis because it's low on filters, and four of the unit's patients have died from a lack of medicine, officials say...

NEW YORK -- Planning on giving mom the night off for Mother's Day? It's a nice thought, but, remember, the family still has to eat. The May issue of FamilyFun magazine offers a recipe for a no-bake cake, offering children the opportunity to do some cooking without turning on an oven. That makes it a doubly sweet treat for mom...

About as complete a performance as Southeast Missouri State has had all year allowed the Redhawks to win the first game of an Ohio Valley Conference series for just the second time this season. Rain denied the Redhawks a shot at only their second doubleheader sweep, but they'll try to take care of that today...

SHE SAID: At an early age, I learned how to make s'mores in the microwave. Call it a coping mechanism, one used to sever the only worthwhile tie to a family tradition. S'mores are about the only thing I enjoy when it comes to camping. If I can experience that same chocolate/marshmallow gooey goodness at home, then that eliminates the need to ever go camping. Right? Right?...

NEW YORK -- Fashion-conscious families are doing some cross-generational dressing. Grown women are squeezing into miniature Barbie- or Hello Kitty-themed clothes, while their daughters can graduate to True Religion jeans -- which can cost $120 -- about the same time they give up diapers. Even some dads get into the act, buying his-and-his vintage rock concert T-shirts for themselves and their sons...

A truck driver passing through the Matthews, Mo., area discovered a dead truck driver at the Flying J truck stop over the weekend. The New Madrid County Sheriff's Department wouldn't release the name of the deceased man after an autopsy later today, but confirmed he is from Canada...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- It's been a bumpy ride to make Missouri one of five states to require gasoline be blended with ethanol -- a proposal supported by Republicans and Democrats, leaders in the House and Senate and Gov. Matt Blunt. It took two tries to get the bill to the House floor, billboards supporting the amendment have been decried as "bigoted" by at least one national Arab group and now an amendment to punish ethanol producers if they hire illegal immigrants threatens to take down the entire bill.. ...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Missouri voters could have a record number of citizen initiatives to decide this fall if the hundreds of thousands of petition signatures submitted Sunday are upheld as valid. Separate groups seeking to raise Missouri's minimum wage and its tobacco taxes each turned in far more than the minimum number of signatures needed to qualify measures for the Nov. 7 ballot...

Jackson South Elementary School student Brock Austin's black and white drawing of the C.H. Wolther's building, in Jackson's Uptown Historic District, hung near the back wall of the high school's multi-purpose building on Sunday. Austin said his historically accurate drawing, complete with a horse statue in the window of the old feed store, was drawn using a ruler and pencil...

MIAMI -- Stinging from four consecutive losses to division rivals, the St. Louis Cardinals were seeking a turnaround when they arrived Friday in Miami. They came to the right place. The Cardinals feasted all weekend on lapses by the woeful Florida Marlins, winning 9-1 Sunday to complete their first series sweep in Miami in eight years...

PHOENIX -- That mop-haired Canadian did it again, running away with his second consecutive NBA Most Valuable Player award. Steve Nash -- the maestro of the fast, frenetic Phoenix Suns -- beat runner-up LeBron James of Cleveland by a comfortable margin in results announced Sunday...

Unemployment rates are like belly dancers; they are in a constant state of movement. For every BioKyowa announcement -- in March it was announced the company would lay off 37 of its 145 workers -- there are others that trumpet new jobs. The ethanol plant being planned for Sikeston, for example, will create hundreds of new jobs. The corn mill I write about elsewhere on this page will mean 80 more new jobs...

BAGHDAD, Iraq -- Car bombs killed at least 16 people and injured dozens Sunday in Baghdad and a Shiite holy city, casting doubt on U.S. hopes that formation of a new government alone would provide a quick end to the country's violence. At least 26 others were killed or found dead Sunday, including a U.S. Marine mortally wounded in the insurgent bastion of Anbar province in western Iraq, police and the U.S. military said...

TEHRAN, Iran -- Iran renewed its threats to withdraw from the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty on Sunday, with its president saying sanctions would be "meaningless" and its parliament seeking to put a final end to unannounced inspections of its nuclear facilities...

SEDALIA, Mo. -- For Allen Strange Jr., melting, cutting and bending metal runs in the family. Strange grew up a welder. When his father, Allen Sr., opened Al's Portable Welding in his garage on Ingram Avenue in 1976, Strange, now 41, was a middle school student...

LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- Trainer Michael Matz was holding court outside his barn, his Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro just a few yards away munching grass. Barely 12 hours after Barbaro become just the sixth undefeated Derby winner, Triple Crown talk filled the air. It happens every Sunday after the first Saturday in May, when hopes are high in thoroughbred racing that a superstar has arrived to revive the sport...

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. -- The Detroit Pistons made 10 3-pointers in the first half -- one shy of an NBA playoff record -- to open up a 21-point lead at halftime before cruising to a 113-86 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Sunday in Game 1 of their second-round series...

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. -- Detroit center Ben Wallace won the NBA's Defensive Player of the Year award for the fourth time in five years, a person within the Pistons organization told The Associated Press on Sunday. The source said Wallace will be presented with the award Tuesday night before Game 2 of the second-round series against the Cleveland Cavaliers...

ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Ilya Bryzgalov tied a 61-year-old NHL rookie record with his third consecutive playoff shutout, and three of his Anaheim teammates scored in the Mighty Ducks' 3-0 victory over the Colorado Avalanche on Sunday. Ryan Getzlaf opened the scoring in the first period, and Ruslan Salei and Joffrey Lupul added goals in the second. The Ducks took a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven Western Conference semifinal...

WASHINGTON -- Even before President Bush has named his choice to take over the CIA, the Air Force general who is the front-runner drew fire Sunday from lawmakers in the president's own party who say a military man should not lead the civilian spy agency...

Rachel Fowler, a 1998 graduate of Shawnee High School in Wolf Lake, Ill., is serving on the USS Peleliu, stationed in San Diego, Calif. In February she was certified in advance food preparation, promoted to second class petty officer, re-enlisted in the U.S. Navy and left for her second West Pacific tour in support of the troops in Iraq. The Peleliu is an amphibious assault ship carrying Marines and air/sea assault equipment...

The Cape Girardeau Public Library has announced its events calendar for this month. All programs are in the Hirsch Community Room and are free and open to the public...

ATLANTA -- It was created during the Cold War to conduct tests for the military, but now a Georgia Tech lab has a much more grounded mission: To find ways to make everyday items more accessible to disabled people. At the lab, researchers check out copiers to see whether wheelchair-users can easily reach controls. Fax machines are put through a battery of tests to investigate whether blind people can use them. And coffee jars are probed to determine if arthritic hands can unscrew the lids...

The new generation of video game consoles from Sony Corp., Nintendo Co. and Microsoft Corp. have more than zippy processors and flashy graphics in common: They're also getting serious about online services. Although earlier models also provide the necessary plugs to enter most online worlds, they've done little to capitalize on them...

Veterans home names employee of the year Sherri Montgomery, RN, was elected employee of the year for 2005 by her co-workers of the Missouri Veterans Home. The announcement was made at the annual Veterans Home Employee Appreciation Night held at VFW Post 3838 in Cape Girardeau. The post provided the hall and much of the food to show its appreciation for the care given at the 150-bed state-operated facility...

The Southeast Missouri State softball team will not carry any momentum into the Ohio Valley Conference tournament. Southeast was handed its 10th consecutive loss Sunday as visiting Jacksonville State rolled to a 10-3 victory in the regular-season finale...

Anita Agnes "Needy" Ziegler, 78, of Benton, died Saturday, May 6, 2006, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. She was born Sept. 21, 1927, in New Hamburg, daughter of Albert and Cecelia Westrich Glastetter. She and Arthur L. Ziegler were married on Aug. 12, 1947, at the St. Lawrence Church in New Hamburg...

Larry T. Welter, on Saturday, May 6, 2006, fortified with the Sacraments of Holy Mother Church. He was born and raised in Benton. Beloved husband of Patricia Schott Welter; devoted father of Lisa (Ron) Ribolzi and Stephanie (Chad) Lane; dear son of the late Victor and Lillie Welter; cherished grandfather of Ryan, Renee, Rachel, Tony and Alexandra; dear brother of Jerome, Murphy, Paul, Michael, Gary, Charlie, Patsy Peters, Linda Mungle, Vickie Wilson and the late DeWayne Welter and Jerri Lawson; dear brother-in-law, uncle, cousin and friend to many.. ...

Dorris L. Holshouser, 79, of Cape Girardeau, died Saturday, May 6, 2006, at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. She was born June 23, 1926, in Ancell, Mo., the daughter of Fred J. and Mary Elizabeth Cauble Blattel. She and Herbert Holshouser were married on Feb. 9, 1946, in Jackson. He preceded her in death on Dec. 19, 1993...

Mrs. Mazie Aslee Bryant, 83, of Chaffee, went to be with the Lord on Friday, May 5, 2006, at the Lutheran Home in Cape Girardeau. She was born Oct. 9, 1922, in Scopus, Mo., daughter of Lee Estes and Maudie Mae Cook Estes. She and Roy C. Bryant were married on Oct. 25, 1941, in Chaffee. He preceded her in death on March 7, 1988...

Lucille E. Hayden, 92, of Perry County, died Sunday, May 7, 2006, at Auburn Creek Assisted Living in Cape Girardeau. She was born July 3, 1913, in Perry County, daughter of Leon and Emma Sutterer Hoffman. She and J. Aloysius "Wish" Hayden were married in 1933 in Perryville, Mo. He died Feb. 21, 1991...

James Eugene McCormick, 73, of Allenville, Mo., died Saturday, May 6, 2006, at the Chaffee Nursing Center in Chaffee. He was born March 6, 1932, in Cape Girardeau, son of Elmer and Juanita Morris McCormick. He and Barbara Goehman were married on June 10, 1953. She died Jan. 30, 2002...

FLORISSANT, Mo. -- Mildred L. "Mil" Campbell Herbst of Florissant died Friday, May 5, 2006, at a hospital in Creve Coeur, Mo. Herbst was a member of Immanuel United Church of Christ, Ferguson, Mo., for more than 50 years. Survivors include three daughters, Karen Glover, Robyn Hutton and Jo Meissner; a son, Dennis Herbst of Cape Girardeau; a brother, Jay Campbell; two sisters, Audrey Moore and Louise Ketchum; and three grandchildren...

Inez McClendon, 86, of Cape Girardeau, died Sunday, May 7, 2006, at her home in Cape Girardeau. Funeral arrangements are incomplete with the Lorberg Memorial Funeral Chapel in Cape Girardeau.

Moore; Roth; Jines; Cowson; Sheldon; Parker; Foster; Jones; Trapp

25 years ago: May 8, 1981 Money -- specifically the lack of it -- will be the biggest problem facing higher education in the 1980s, members of the Southeast Missouri State University Board of Regents and the Missouri Coordinating Board for Higher Education agreed in an unprecedented joint session yesterday on campus...

Wilma Gettinger, 68, of Perryville, Mo., died Sunday, May 7, 2006, at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. Funeral arrangements are incomplete with the Miller Family Funeral Home in Perryville.

In her worst moment, Dee Dee Dockins wished someone -- anyone -- would take her baby away. That was after losing her first child -- a girl -- at 3 days old. After waiting for three years to try again, only to find out her second baby suffered from a heart defect as well. After a traumatic pregnancy. After watching her newborn son's heart beat outside his chest for four days. After the heart surgery that saved 6-month-old Jonathan's life...

As Cape Girardeau's Chautauqua approaches local events are gearing up to generate interest in the week of living history. This month both the Cape Girardeau Storyfest committee and the Historic Preservation Commission will hold events with ties to Chautauqua...

BOSTON -- Lillian Gertrud Asplund, the last American survivor of the sinking of the Titanic in 1912, has died, a funeral home said Sunday. She was 99. Asplund, who was just 5 years old, lost her father and three brothers -- including a fraternal twin -- when the "practically unsinkable" ship went down in the North Atlantic after hitting an iceberg...

JOPLIN, Mo. -- A southwest Missouri man was sentenced to death for the second time for a murder he committed in 1998. Gary Black, 50, was convicted of first-degree murder in the stabbing death of Jason O. Johnson, 28. A previous conviction and death sentence by another Jasper County Circuit Court jury in 1999 were reversed in November 2004 by the Missouri Supreme Court, which ordered a new trial...

MARYVILLE, Mo. -- Robbie Lade's smile seemed as big as ever. Friends surrounded him. Others visited. His father beamed. The radio blared from the truck. And when it was time, the young man in a wheelchair reached his right hand into a bucket full of ticket stubs and pulled out the winner...

ST. LOUIS -- Unless you're hunting for them, the weird markers embedded in downtown streets in St. Louis don't draw much attention. For those who do notice, the words make little sense. The shoe box-sized marker read: "TOyNBEE IDEA IN KUbricK's 2001 RESURRECT DEAD ON PLANET JUPiTER."...

A bill in the Missouri Legislature would relieve the state's senior citizens and longtime drivers of the responsibility to present a birth certificate or U.S. passport when renewing their driver's license. Under the legislation, individuals 65 and over or those who have been licensed drivers in the state for 15 years or more could present their current license as proof of residence when renewing...

To the editor: I drive from Cape Girardeau to Jackson about 100 times a week. I have never experienced more road rage anywhere else in the United States than I do making this trip. Doesn't anyone know that the traditional way to drive is for slower traffic to keep right? I wish officials could put up signs that say "Slower traffic keep right or risk vigilante justice."...

To the editor: Paula Kempe is familiar to everyone who reads the Southeast Missourian from her 14 years of writing letters to the editor. The response to her 99th birthday was great. Now she would appreciate receiving birthday cards for her 100th birthday. Send cards to: Miss Paula Kempe, The Lutheran Home, 2825 Bloomfield Road, Cape Girardeau, Mo. 63703. I hope she will receive at least 100 cards...

To the editor: On April 2 my boyfriend, Tony Rigdon, was struck by a car while competing in the city-sponsored Steamboat Classic Triathlon. It is truly a miracle he is alive -- and no thanks to reckless drivers or the city of Cape Girardeau. Drivers of motor vehicles need to learn some respect for cyclists who are out for recreational exercise or competing in races. ...

School information; Be role models; Losing campuses; Victim of abuse; Play day; Wasted spending; Stupid story; Good reporting; Not rocket science; Unasked question; Teaching gap; Proper punishment; Yes to sidewalks; Similar presidents; Future photographer; The definitions; Cheap seats; Making headway; Singing in Spanish; Jobs at stake; Parcel delivery

WASHINGTON -- The government has added 6,000 operators, quadrupled its computer capacity for enrollment and will assist with more than 1,000 events in the week ahead as part of a final push for signing people up for the Medicare drug benefit. Many lawmakers want to extend the May 15 deadline and waive the penalty for those who sign up later. ...

DAKAR, Senegal -- A New Yorker set off from West Africa on Sunday to become the first black American to row solo across the Atlantic. Victor Mooney, 41, said the voyage in his homemade, 24-foot boat is to raise awareness of AIDS in Africa and memorialize the route that took African slaves to the Americas...

Cape Girardeau...

The following items were released by the Cape Girardeau Police Department. Arrests do not imply guilt....

KABUL, Afghanistan -- Rescuers recovered the bodies of 10 soldiers who perished in a helicopter crash while scouring remote Afghan mountains along the Pakistan border for al-Qaida and Taliban militants, the U.S. military said Sunday. The military said Friday's crash into an inaccessible ravine -- the deadliest for U.S. forces here in a year -- was not caused by hostile fire...

FORT TARIK, Iraq -- They look more like motels in rural America than forts in a war zone, but a string of low concrete structures are the U.S.-led coalition's first line of defense against foreign fighters trying to sneak into Iraq from Iran and Syria...

Terry Kleisinger knows how to make quick moves to reach his goals. That's because Kleisinger, the man behind the new multimillion-dollar corn milling operation at the Southeast Missouri Regional Port Authority, is a former goalie with the New York Rangers...

RICHMOND, Va. -- Shut out of the playoffs last season was mortifying for NASCAR's most popular driver. Even worse, some wondered whether Dale Earnhardt Jr. was perhaps overrated. "I'll be the first to admit that we had a lot more exposure over the last five or six years given to us that's sort of out line compared to what we've won and how we've run," Earnhardt said. ...

Glenn House tour season begins this weekend The Glenn House opens its tour season from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays, beginning this weekend, continuing until the end of October. Special tours may be arranged by calling the Cape Girardeau Convention and Visitors Bureau at 335-1631...

The Jackson Heritage Association will participate in the upcoming 100-mile yard sale May 27 at the driveway of South Elementary School. Donations of children's toys, books, glassware, decorative items, small pieces of furniture and items in good condition are being recruited. No clothing, please...

Good performance halls don't just happen. They require lots of planning, and lots of high-tech equipment is needed for every aspect of the presentation of art, music and theater productions. And Southeast Missouri State University's River Campus will be no exception...

It was one step forward and two steps back for Southeast Missouri State as a promising start to an Ohio Valley Conference series ended in disappointment. The Redhawks won the first game of an OVC set for just the second time this season when they pounded Eastern Kentucky Saturday in the opener of a scheduled doubleheader...

NEW YORK -- Scientists have identified a common genetic marker that signals a 60 percent heightened risk of prostate cancer in men who carry it, and it may help explain why black men are unusually prone to the disease, a new study says. The DNA variant may play a role in about 8 percent of prostate cancers in men of European extraction and 16 percent of the cancers in blacks, researchers said...

CHICAGO -- For working parents and heavily scheduled school kids, family mealtime is as out of fashion as the scene in Norman Rockwell's iconic Thanksgiving supper painting. Supermarkets are trying to lure families back to the dinner table. There is a cost to spending meals apart: Research shows that teenagers who don't eat with their parents face a greater risk of drug and alcohol problems...

Given another chance in a playoff at the Wachovia Championship, Jim Furyk finished the job Sunday. A hard-luck loser in a four-hole playoff last year, Furyk made an 8-foot par putt to force extra holes against Trevor Immelman of South Africa, then made a 6-footer for par on No. 18 in the playoff to win and erase bad memories at Quail Hollow in Charlotte, N.C...

The creative process is anything but tidy. Actually it starts out chaotic. That's evident in watching rehearsals for the Central Junior High School production of "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat." At the same time, the creative process is a joy to watch...

Several months after the resignation of former executive director Rebecca Fulgham, the Arts Council of Southeast Missouri has named her replacement. The arts council announced on Friday that Delilah Tayloe, currently the administrator of the Sikeston Depot Historical and Cultural Center, will take over the position starting June 1...

Southeast Missouri State University has restructured its international programs in hopes of doubling enrollment of foreign students within two years, school officials said Monday. Southeast currently has 202 international students taking undergraduate, graduate and intensive English classes. School officials want to boost that number to about 400, officials said...

Legal troubles are piling up for Cairo Councilman Bobby Whitaker, who was charged Monday with two counts of illegally possessing firearms. The guns, a Glock handgun and a shotgun, were found in Whitaker's truck when he was pulled over for suspicion of drunken driving April 28 outside Mounds, Ill...

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- Recent rains have slowed planting progress across Missouri, but also improved the outlook in other areas, the Missouri Agricultural Statistics Service said Monday. Soybean planting has been delayed, while spring tillage, which is 85 percent complete, improved only 1 percent from last week. But the rains improved crop germination, pasture growth, stock water supplies and soil moisture...

ALEXANDRIA, Va. -- Convicted Sept. 11 conspirator Zacarias Moussaoui says he lied on the witness stand about being involved in the terrorist plot and wants to withdraw his guilty plea and go to trial. The judge turned him down. Moussaoui said he was "extremely surprised" that he was sentenced to life in prison instead of execution and now believes he can get a fair trial from an American jury...

NEW YORK -- Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice dismissed a letter that Iran's president sent to President Bush on Monday, saying the first direct communication from an Iranian leader in 27 years does not help resolve the standoff over Tehran's disputed nuclear program...

BEACONSFIELD, Australia -- Two Australian miners who survived for two weeks in a kennel-size cage trapped 3,000 feet underground walked out of the Beaconsfield Gold Mine early Tuesday Australian time and punched the air, freed by rescue crews drilling round-the-clock by hand...

NYALA, Sudan -- Darfur refugees rioted Monday and forced the U.N. humanitarian chief to rush from their camp, then later attacked African peacekeepers and killed a translator in a sign of deep tensions in the wartorn region despite a fragile peace deal...

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. -- A nearly $6 million gift -- the largest individual donation ever given to Illinois State University -- will create a sprawling garden that will showcase nature and serve as an outdoor classroom for horticulture students, university officials said Monday...

ST. LOUIS -- Sen. Kit Bond on Monday applauded St. Louis for its efforts to reduce lead poisoning in children, but said more must be done. He spoke outside the red-brick home of Rebecca Qualls and Kevin Croat, who recently used a city-funded program to remove lead-based paint from the home...