Stories from Tuesday, June 13, 2006

Old Town Cape has tapped Heather Haynes as its interim director while the organization narrows its search for a new leader. Haynes, originally from Kansas City, relocated to Cape Girardeau three years ago after her husband, Josh, was transferred to the area to work for U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Emerson...

A 14-year-old boy was cited into juvenile court last week for allegedly molesting a 4-year-old relative in Cape Girardeau. The younger child's mother reported to police on June 6 she heard from an anonymous source that her daughter was possibly molested the day before, police spokesman Jason Selzer said...

No air conditioning, television or any other creature comforts. What you do have is a lot of fresh air. You also have a ton of trees, weeds and other assorted shrubbery I can't name. And plenty of bugs. But for Girl Scouts like our daughter, Bailey, nothing beats the outdoors...

OAK RIDGE, Mo. Becki Nation is confined to an electric wheelchair. But each Tuesday morning, the shy 14-year-old is able to move about without the help of steel and electricity. For 45 minutes, Becki, who has cerebral palsy, rides a horse at an arena operated by Mississippi Valley Therapeutic Horsemanship. And for that short time, she is free...

Cape Girardeau's riverfront will be showcased on national TV Wednesday as the backdrop for Dave Price's visit to the city. After weeks of discussion, CBS News settled on the intersection of Broadway and Water Street as the location to do its live broadcast with "Early Show" weatherman Dave Price and his Great American Vacation giveaway...

Cape Girardeau County's first identification of West Nile virus this year was confirmed Monday in a dead crow found on the grounds of the county's Public Health Center. The bird was collected last Tuesday and tested positive for the virus at the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services lab in Jefferson City, according to Charlotte Craig, director of the county health center...

Low-income and minority students in the nation's public schools often are shortchanged in teacher quality, the one resource they most need to succeed in the classroom, a nationwide study says. "Research has shown that when it comes to the distribution of the best teachers, poor and minority students do not get their fair share," the Education Trust said in a just-released study of teacher quality in Ohio, Wisconsin and Illinois...

The clock rewinds 30-something years to Theresa Taylor's first memory of drugs. She was 5 years old, a blond kindergartner with big blue eyes. Theresa thought it would be nice to make a little money, but she didn't know how. Then a thought came to her. Like many children, she enjoyed using scissors and glue to make things. She watched her stepbrother roll up paper, light it and smoke it, and knew he made money by doing so, so she took her knowledge and entrepreneurial spirit to class...

Cape Girardeau was not selected Sunday as one of the National Civic League's 10 All-America cities at the annual competition in Anaheim, Calif. Though the outcome was bitter, participants say, the totality of the experience was sweet. "I'll say that I've never been more proud of the citizens of Cape Girardeau. ...

NEW YORK -- When a jury chose a Sept. 11 memorial design from more than 5,000 entries, the panel praised it for the "powerful, yet simple" use of reflecting pools to represent the destroyed World Trade Center. More than two years later, nothing is simple about the memorial, called "Reflecting Absence," which was sent back for a redesign after contractors concluded that it could cost nearly $1 billion...

To the editor: I rarely read Speak Out because I know most of the people spouting off do not have all the facts relating to what they are complaining about. But I do like to know what residents of the city are upset about when they don't know both sides of the story...

PITTSBURGH -- Steelers star Ben Roethlisberger, the youngest quarterback to lead a team to the Super Bowl championship, broke his jaw and nose in a motorcycle crash Monday in which he was not wearing a helmet. Four doctors operated on Roethlisberger for seven hours to treat multiple facial fractures and "all of the fractures were successfully repaired," Dr. Harry W. Sell, chairman of the surgery department at Mercy Hospital, told reporters late Monday night...

Harry Joseph Humphrey passed away early Saturday evening, June 10, 2006, at the Lutheran Home. He was born Aug. 27, 1916, son of Oliver and Cora David Humphrey of Bonne Terre, Mo., who died in 1923 and 1929, respectively. He resided then with his brother-in-law and sister, Arvie and Ethel Long of Crystal City, Mo. He married Florence Williams, also of Crystal City, July 27, 1938, who survives him today after 67 years of marriage. Mr. Humphrey was 89...

Edwin George Thiele, 81, of Jackson passed away Sunday, June 11, 2006, at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. He was born June 15, 1924, in Leopold, Mo., son of the late Fred W. and Lena Elfrink Thiele. He and Evelyn Holweg were married Aug. 17, 1946, in Leopold...

Smelly plant; Longer sentences; School video; Don't blame cashier; Praise for kids; Streets before beauty; City's sign; First world war; Wrong battle; Active duty; Short time, full price; Get rid of geese; School food choice; Church sign; Try balloons; Ameren's donations; Thanks for help; Who's misinformed?; Immigration laws; Doing what's best

To the editor: From the desk of Steve Elliott, president, Grassfire.org: It is no secret that Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez hates George Bush and the United States. So much so, in fact, that he has pledged to use his substantial profits from Venezuelan-owned Citgo to fund rogue governments and terror groups that wish to do us harm. Chavez is a serious threat to our troops and our nation. To make matters worse, we are lining his pockets with money he is using to destroy us...

To the editor: Oran Police Chief Marc Tragesser is right: Loose dogs get into trouble. The odds are either a person (likely a child) or someone else's pet will be bitten or mauled by a loose dog. Today, if a dog mauls someone the pet owner could go to prison. Dog bites are no simple matter and can result in insurance problems, a lawsuit or worse. Also, some people have a fear of certain breed types...

As residents in Caruthersville, Mo., continue to reclaim their lives and their town following a devastating tornado two months ago, they are also getting a taste of how the federal government responds to disasters. The nation has watched the government's actions in the wake of two of the most destructive hurricanes in recent history along the Gulf Coast. ...

EDMONTON, Alberta -- The crafty old-timer buried his chance at the offensive end. The steady youngster held down things in the net. Now the Carolina Hurricanes find themselves one win away from their first Stanley Cup. Thirty-eight-year-old Mark Recchi scored the winning goal, rookie goalie Cam Ward had another strong performance and Carolina defeated the Edmonton Oilers 2-1 Monday night to take a commanding lead in the Stanley Cup finals...

MIAMI -- Roughed up on their road trip to Texas in the NBA finals, the Miami Heat are in familiar surroundings again. But unless they make some drastic changes -- like maybe sinking their free throws -- Shaq and his crew won't be traveling again this season...

Colleges...

While the Missouri State High School Activities Association won't revisit the investigation of Scott County Central and coach David Heeb, officials at the school hope the MSHSAA board reconsiders the penalties against the school and eventually drops them...

RENO, Nev. -- A family court judge was shot and wounded as he stood near a third-floor courthouse window Monday, and police sealed off the area and searched nearby parking garages for a sniper. Chuck Weller, 53, was hit in the chest around midday by a shot or shots that came through his office window at the Mills B. Lane Justice Center, authorities said. He was taken by ambulance to a hospital, where he was reported in serious condition...

CAIRO, Egypt -- Al-Qaida in Iraq named a successor Monday to Abu Musab al-Zarqawi and said he would stick to the slain leader's path -- attacks on Shiites as well as on U.S. and Iraqi forces. The new leader, identified by the nom de guerre Abu Hamza al-Muhajer in a statement posted on the Web, appeared to be a foreign Arab, like his predecessor...

ADVANCE, Mo. -- James "J.T." Camren, 80, of Advance died Saturday, June 10, 2006, at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. He was born Jan. 20, 1926, at Greenbrier, Mo., son of Audie and Pearl Borders Camren. He and Glenda P. Harrington were married July 1, 1967, at Greenbrier. She died May 21, 1999...

25 years ago: June 13, 1981 A serious design flaw in the $1.3 million Cape Girardeau County Jail was partly responsible for the recent jail escape there, and plans are being made to correct the problem; the problem centers on the door that leads to the jail's security booth, the facility's control center...

TAMMS, Ill. -- Mary Sue Thornton, 77, of Tamms died Monday, June 12, 2006, at Jonesboro Health Care in Jonesboro, Ill. Friends may call from 11:30 a.m. to service time Friday at Crain Funeral Home in Tamms. The funeral will be at 1 p.m. Friday at the funeral home...

ANNA, Ill. -- Ruby Ligon, 93, of Anna died Sunday, June 11, 2006, at her home. Friends may call at Crain Funeral Home in Anna from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday. The funeral will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at the funeral home.

DONGOLA, Ill. -- Clarence F. "Cotton" Norris, 94, of Dongola, formerly of Anna, Ill., died Monday, June 12, 2006, at City Care Center in Anna. He was born June 3, 1912, in Anna, son of Luther and Ora Rinehart Norris. He and Velma Albright were married Sept. 9, 1955. She died Sept. 24, 2000...

Charles Lynn Smith, 65, of Marceline, Mo., died Wednesday, June 7, 2006, at Boone Hospital Center in Columbia, Mo. He was born April 12, 1941, in Jackson, son of George and Nellie Schreiner Smith. He and the Rev. Nancy Jane Butler Woods were married Oct. 11, 2003...

Lucille Eva Daniels, 92, of Scott City died Sunday, June 11, 2006, at her home. She was born March 25, 1914, at Chaffee, Mo., daughter of Joseph Daniel and Mary Louise Cargle Proffer. She and Loran Jackson Daniels were married March 30, 1935, in Jackson. He died June 16, 1984...

ANNISTON, Mo. -- Vennie Marie McClendon, 89, of Anniston died Sunday, June 11, 2006, at the home of a daughter in Cape Girardeau. She was born Aug. 6, 1916, in Broken Arrow, Okla., daughter of Emory C. and Captolia Jane Gilmore Switzer. She and Eura Thomas "Dick" McClendon were married March 24, 1934. He preceded her in death...

FRIEDHEIM, Mo. -- Oscar E. Wibbenmeyer, 91, of Friedheim died Monday, June 12, 2006, at Perry County Nursing Home in Perryville, Mo. He was born Feb. 3, 1915, at Biehle, Mo., son of B. Henry and Julia Buchheit Wibbenmeyer. He and Bertha Bohnert were married Aug. 26, 1940, at Apple Creek, Mo...

CAIRO, Ill. -- Nina Elizabeth Klapp, 81, died Monday, June 12, 2006, at Bell Trace Health and Living Center in Bloomington, Ind. She was born Aug. 15, 1924, in Miller City, Ill., daughter of Mack and Fleecy Stevens of Dog Tooth Bend, Ill. She married Arnell Klapp, who preceded her in death...

CAIRO, Ill. -- Mary P. White, 95, of Cairo died Sunday, June 11, 2006, at the Lutheran Home in Cape Girardeau. She was born March 17, 1911, in Oak Grove, Ky., daughter of Louis and Martha Shugg Baggett. She married Forest White, who died in 1974. White was a retired licensed practical nurse. She was a member of Tigert Memorial United Methodist Church...

Summer has finally rolled around, and that means the family bonding season is upon us. Children across the nation are being plucked from their video games, swimming pools and skateboards to go on parentally supervised vacations for extended periods of time. Hours of traveling and sitting await those anxious youngsters, and this can take a toll on both child and parent...

Local students receive scholarships...

Over the next several weeks, the Southeast Missourian will feature profiles on the 2006 valedictorians and salutatorians from local high schools. Parents: John and Nancy Moreton Involved in: School plays and musicians, International Thespian Society, dance team, student senate, chamber choir, National Honor Society...

n A BRAIN DISEASE: Most scientists now consider addiction a brain disease: a condition caused by persistent changes to brain structure and function. Using drugs repeatedly over time changes brain structure and function in fundamental and long lasting ways that can persist long after the individual stops using them. After a certain amount of a drug is consumed, and that amount is different for everyone, it is as if a switch in the brain is flipped from normal to addict...

Cape Girardeau...

Cape Girardeau...

CAMP DAVID, Md. -- President Bush reassured Iraqis on Monday that the United States stands ready to help their new government, but said success in Iraq largely depends on Baghdad's ability to secure the nation and care for its citizens. Beginning a two-day strategy session on Iraq at Camp David, Bush also said Iraq's neighbors should be doing more to help. He said the United States expects countries that have promised $13 billion in financial assistance to make good on their pledges...

BAGHDAD, Iraq -- A medic spent about 20 minutes trying to save Abu Musab al-Zarqawi even as blood ran from the terrorist's mouth after the airstrike that mortally wounded him, the U.S. military said Monday. But the leader of al-Qaida in Iraq was not wearing the suicide belt he vowed to use if American soldiers ever caught him...

401 Independence St. 7 p.m. Wednesday Hearings Discussion and voting on applications Subdivision plats Other Items and communications...

U.S. distances itself from official's Gitmo comments WASHINGTON-- The Bush administration distanced itself Monday from remarks by a U.S. diplomat that the weekend suicides of three Arab detainees at the Guantanamo Bay military prison were a "good P.R. ...

ST. LOUIS -- High school cheerleaders in Missouri are being told to stay on the sidelines. As of July 1, the Missouri State High School Activities Association will no longer sanction cheerleaders to take part in regional or state competitions. The association will maintain jurisdiction over sideline cheerleading at school athletic events. Squads that want to compete must do so as a club...

CHICAGO -- Coffee may counteract alcohol's poisonous effects on the liver and help prevent cirrhosis, researchers say. In a study of more than 125,000 people, one cup of coffee per day cut the risk of alcoholic cirrhosis by 20 percent. Four cups per day reduced the risk by 80 percent. The coffee effect held true for women and men of various ethnic backgrounds...

WASHINGTON -- The Supreme Court made it easier Monday for death row inmates to contest the lethal injections used across the country for executions and to get DNA evidence before judges in a pair of rulings that hinted at fresh caution on capital punishment...

ST. LOUIS -- For most minor league callups, the initial big league experience is an eye-opener. Chris Duncan had a big head start. He's been around stadiums all of his life. The St. Louis Cardinals' former top draft pick, also the son of pitching coach Dave Duncan, probably got a reprieve from a return trip to Class AAA Memphis a week ago when Larry Bigbie underwent surgery for a hernia that landed him on the 15-day disabled list. ...

NEW YORK -- Embattled pitcher Jason Grimsley was suspended 50 games by Major League Baseball on Monday, less than a week after federal agents raided his home during an investigation into performance-enhancing drugs. Commissioner Bud Selig's office suspended Grimsley for violating baseball's Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program, based on his statements to authorities regarding human growth hormone...

GELSENKIRCHEN, Germany -- The United States looked like a bewildered World Cup newcomer again. The Americans didn't just lose Monday night, they were routed, roughed up and run over by the Czech Republic, a 3-0 crusher that put the Americans in danger of first-round elimination...

CEDAR KEY, Fla. -- More than 20,000 people along Florida's Gulf Coast were ordered to clear out Monday as Alberto -- the first tropical storm of the 2006 Atlantic hurricane season -- unexpectedly picked up steam and threatened to come ashore as a hurricane...

The Jackson American Legion baseball team came out swinging Monday night, pounding 15 hits en route to a six-inning, 14-4 victory over visiting Perryville in the first game of a doubleheader. The scheduled seven-inning game was stopped due to the 10-run mercy rule...

No NHL player failed a drug test during the first season of the league's anti-doping program, adopted last year in the collective bargaining agreement that ended the yearlong lockout. "I suppose it's safe to say that the results confirmed what we knew already, which is the use of performance enhancing drugs is not prevalent in our sport," NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly said Monday in an e-mail...