Stories from Friday, June 16, 2006

Need a ride from downtown Cape Girardeau to the Cape Girardeau County Courthouse in Jackson? That will be $12 each way. How about a ride from the Red Star neighborhood to Wal-Mart on Siemers Drive? That will be $7 during the day, and $8.50 at night, each way...

Richard "Butch" Eggimann was described by many as a wonderful Christian, father, husband and advocate for bettering Cape Girardeau. The 77-year-old former Cape Girardeau City Council member died Wednesday at Southeast Missouri Hospital. He served two four-year terms from 1994 to 2002...

The Cape Girardeau Regional Air Festival is two days instead of three this year, the result of lagging attendance on Sunday. But organizers say there is still a full lineup, an extra Saturday evening show and plenty of mile-high excitement to keep the crowds awestruck...

For Melissa Mackey, the days dragged by. She was bored and tired. She worked at the second-hand store, tending the cash register. She was delightful to the customers. Melissa always aimed to please, and she was a faithful worker, straightening clothes racks and miscellaneous items on tabletops...

PITTSBURGH -- Maybe the Pittsburgh Pirates could learn something about patience and persistence from Cardinals rookie Chris Duncan. Even if the first at-bat of a game goes badly, there will be chances later to make up for it. Duncan tripled and doubled to key a pair of two-run rallies and St. Louis won despite another subpar start by Mark Mulder, beating the Pirates 6-5 Thursday...

MIAMI -- Dwyane Wade's tender knee held up fine, and so did home-court advantage for the Miami Heat. The NBA finals aren't over -- not even close. They've only just begun. Wade, barely able to walk on a badly banged-up left knee 24 hours earlier, scored 36 points and Shaquille O'Neal added 17 and 13 rebounds as the Heat downed the Dallas Mavericks 98-74 Thursday night to even the series 2-2...

MAMARONECK, N.Y. -- This wasn't the return Tiger Woods had in mind. Three holes into the U.S. Open, he already was 3 over par. He heard more groans than cheers, which happens when the No. 1 player in the world hits three short shots -- from the rough, a drop area and a bunker -- that sail over the green. All that saved him Thursday was playing the final six holes in 1 under to shoot 76, his worst start ever in a major...

WASHINGTON -- Republicans painted Democrats as quitters who advocate a cut-and-run strategy in Iraq. Democrats derided Republicans as foot soldiers for President Bush who refuse to challenge him. It's not the post-Labor Day congressional campaign season just yet. But you wouldn't know that from divisive election-year debates on Iraq that consumed Congress on Thursday...

Hutson auction slated for Saturday The 19th annual Charles L. Hutson Auction will be at 7 p.m. Saturday at Buckner Brewing Co. Those interested may call 334-8085. The auction will benefit Old Town Cape. The mother of a pregnant 16-year-old reported her child's relationship with a man nearly twice her age to Cape Girardeau authorities this week. ...

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Promoters of a new, $26 million World War I museum scheduled to open in less than six months are trying to find a way to get the public interested in a war that took place nine decades ago. Officials at the Liberty Memorial, the nation's official World War I monument, are unveiling a new logo and creating a promotional campaign that will highlight not only the educational role of the new museum, but also its entertainment value...

KANDAHAR, Afghanistan -- A bomb hidden on a minibus carrying Afghan laborers to a coalition base in southern Afghanistan exploded Thursday, killing up to 10 people, police and U.S. military officials said. The attack occurred in Kandahar city as the bus was carrying the workers to the Kandahar Airfield, the coalition headquarters in southern Afghanistan, said Abdul Hakim Hungar, the deputy provincial police chief...

NEW YORK-- It is both inspiring and dispiriting to talk to Ned Vizzini. He's 25 and has already published his third book. Yet he struggles with depression severe enough to require medication. He's humble and wants young people to keep their personal dramas in perspective. Yet when he describes his own future happiness, much of it hinges on book sales...

LOS ANGELES -- The nation's Roman Catholic bishops signed off Thursday on a new English translation for the Mass that would change prayers ingrained in the memories of millions of American parishioners. The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops voted at its biannual meeting for a new translation after a brief but vigorous debate over several small changes in wording. ...

Richard Lynn Eggimann, 77, of Cape Girardeau died Wednesday, June 14, 2006, at Southeast Missouri Hospital. He was born July 19, 1928, at Southeast Hospital shortly after it opened, son of the late Gustav Arthur and Willie Agnes Holmes Eggimann. He and Joan Recker were married July 15, 1950, in Cape Girardeau...

This war will not be like the war against Iraq a decade ago, with a decisive liberation of territory and a swift conclusion. It will not look like the air war above Kosovo ... , where no ground troops were used and not a single American was lost in combat...

Darryl Dumey, 40, of Cape Girardeau died Thursday in his home. Funeral arraignments were incomplete at Amick-Burnett Funeral Chapel in Scott City.

Kelly High School graduate Kelly Essner made a splash in her freshman season at Jefferson College, leading the team in nearly every offensive category en route to junior college second-team All-American honors. Essner hit .439 with 59 runs scored, 53 RBIs, 25 doubles, four home runs and 25 steals as Jefferson made it to the junior college national championship in the program's first year. Jefferson went 1-2 to tie for ninth at the tournament and finished the season 49-16...

Collier; Hope; Williams

To the editor: A recent letter to the editor correctly pointed out the need for pet owners to properly restrain and control their dogs, mentioning the avoidance of a dog bite as a factor. The American Society of Plastic Surgeons estimates there are more than 4 million dog-bite episodes in the United States each year. Seventy percent of dog bites involve an unaltered male dog...

MARBLE HILL, Mo. -- Rebecca Evelyn Bollinger, 78, of Marble Hill died Thursday, June 15, 2006, at Eldercare of Marble Hill. She was born Jan. 17, 1928, daughter of Oscar and Odetta Ricketts Hahs. She was the first baby to be born at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. She and Dale Bollinger were married April 8, 1950...

ADVANCE, Mo. -- Dolly Mae Williams, 94, of Advance died Thursday, June 15, 2006, at Advance Nursing Center. She was born March 1, 1912, at Malden, Mo., daughter of Sheffield and Phena Ripley St. Clair. She and Roy Williams were married May 11, 1933, in Piggott, Ark. He died Feb. 21, 1993...

To the editor: Once again, the words of a great Republican still ring loud and clear: "You can fool some of the people all of the time, and all of the people some of the time, but you can't fool all the people all the time." GILBERT DEGENHARDT, Cape Girardeau...

Dealing with demons; A real bargain; Making it worse; Good teachers; Heroes in uniform; Repel invasions; Political signs; Complex billing; School menus; Civil discussion; Survey caution; Signs of the times ; Chiefs and Indians ; The real Shady Deal

Rev. Frederick Thomas Schmucker, 76, of Cape Girardeau passed away Wednesday afternoon, June 14, 2006, at Southeast Missouri Hospital. He was born Nov. 10, 1929, in Canton, Ohio, son of John Luther and Ethel Thomas Schmucker. On May 31, 1997, he was married to Margaret McCabe in New Jersey...

25 years ago: June 16, 1981 The Cape Girardeau Municipal Airport, threatened in recent weeks by a proposed closure of its control tower by the federal government, is facing a more immediate threat to air traffic control -- a pending nationwide strike by air traffic controllers set to begin Monday morning if a new contract isn't worked out before then...

Two men arrested this week following a suspected drug sale in Cape Girardeau have been charged in the incident. Terrance O. Gardner, 22, of Cairo, Ill., and Manuel L. Landa, 38, of 116 N. Henderson Ave., were arrested Wednesday night when a police officer smelled marijuana and saw seeds in their vehicle, police spokesman Jason Selzer said...

To the editor: Jack H. Knowlan Sr. made some interesting points in his op-ed column regarding ethanol production, but he's missing the big picture. Using ethanol or other alternative fuels is about energy independence, which should be our national goal. The alternative is paying $6 a gallon for gasoline, as Europeans are doing, and leaving our economy at the mercy of Mideast despots, which is no choice at all...

'Fast and Furious Tokyo Drift'; 'Garfield: A Tail of Two Kitties'; 'The Lake House'; 'Nacho Libre'; STILL PLAYING; 'The Break Up'; 'Cars'; 'The Da Vinci Code'; 'Mission Impossible III'; 'The Omen'; 'Over the Hedge'; 'RV'; 'X-Men: The Last Stand'

Southern Illinois native publishes book; Bootheel art guild raises money for scholarship; O'Donnell to teach landscape workshop; Chautauqua begins Monday at Osage; East Prairie festival starts June 23; Red House holds old-fashioned wedding; Photos of St. Vincent's to be archived at university

For 10 years, Steve Ruppel has performed in and directed plays for the River City Players. Now he is about to leave the community theater group to live with his fiancZ in Chicago, where he will pursue other theatrical opportunities. "We're losing a very competent individual," said Lisa Letner, who has known Ruppel for five years and regards him as a dear friend. ...

The 19th Annual Charles L. Hutson Auction will be held at 7 p.m. Saturday. Tickets are $15 per person and $25 per couple. Those interested may call 334-8085.

An accused burglar was caught on tape this week breaking into his employer's Cape Girardeau home and stealing three handguns, according to authorities. Chad B. Peltz, 26, of 175 W. Forrester Drive, was charged with felony second-degree burglary and three counts of felony stealing...

Gates to leave day-to-day operations at Microsoft REDMOND, Wash. -- Microsoft Corp. Chairman Bill Gates announced Thursday that he will transition from day-to-day responsibilities at the company he co-founded to concentrate on the charitable work of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. ...

Cape Girardeau businesswoman Kathy Swan will head up the Missouri Coordinating Board for Higher Education for the next year. As chairwoman of the board, she'll play an instrumental role in choosing the state's next commissioner of higher education...

BEIJING -- Cleanup crews in northern China were scrambling Thursday to absorb 60 tons of toxic coal tar accidentally dumped into a river before it reaches a reservoir serving 10 million people, state media said. The incident occurred Monday when a truck carrying the coal tar fell into the Dasha river in Shanxi province, the official Xinhua News Agency reported...

KABITHIGOLLEWA, Sri Lanka -- A powerful land mine ripped through a packed bus in northern Sri Lanka on Thursday, killing at least 64 people in the worst act of violence since a 2002 cease-fire. Sri Lanka's air force responded by bombing rebel-held areas in the northeast...

MOUNT MERAPI, Indonesia -- Soldiers wearing heat-retardant clothing dug through volcanic debris Thursday trying to reach two men trapped in an underground emergency shelter on Indonesia's most volatile volcano. The fierce heat melted the troops' shovels and the tires on a mechanical digger brought in to plow through more than six feet of debris covering the bunker, which was built for protection from volcanic eruptions, said Maj. Sunarso, who goes by one name...

Cape Girardeau...

Cape Girardeau...

For Alex Statler and Adam Pope, their first trips to the new Busch Stadium will involve more than just watching the St. Louis Cardinals play the Colorado Rockies. Statler and Pope will compete in the new Busch Stadium on Saturday morning in the Pepsi Major League Baseball Pitch, Hit & Run team championship...

It's that time of year. Time for a grueling test of golf that measures the talents and souls of men. A week that many avid golfers mark on their calendars and wouldn't miss for the world. No, we're not talking this week's U.S. Open, which is being waged in New York...

At Rosenblatt Stadium, Omaha, Neb.; Double Elimination Friday, June 16 Bracket 1 Game 1 -- Clemson (52-14) vs. Georgia Tech (50-16), 1 p.m. Game 2 -- Cal State Fullerton (48-13) vs. North Carolina (50-13), 6 p.m. Saturday, June 17 Bracket 2 Game 3 -- Rice (55-11) vs. Georgia (47-21), 1 p.m...

Southeast softball earns OVC honor The Southeast Missouri State softball team was a recipient of the Team Sportsmanship Award for softball in the Ohio Valley Conference. The award is voted on by athletes and coaches in each respective sport throughout the conference. This is the first year of the award...

Scott County Legion drops tourney opener The Scott County American Legion baseball team dropped a 5-4 decision to De Soto in its opening game at the Twin Lakes Baseball Classic tournament in Mountain Home, Ark. Scott County (8-4) had 10 hits to De Soto's five but couldn't recover from a 2-0, second-inning deficit...

Four stars (out of four) In staying true to the grand tradition of Disney and Pixar, this animated film targets all generations. There is plenty of slapstick humor, which the children seemed to find hilarious. However, there is a lot of thoughtful, situational comedy, too, which seems to appeal more to teens and adults...

The Cape Senior Babe Ruth baseball team found themselves shorthanded Thursday night as they squared off against Charleston at Capaha Park, but that's something to which they have grown accustomed. "We've got four kids gone on vacation now," Cape coach Alan Wengert said. "It's been that way all season, but that's no excuse."...

BERLIN -- England and Ecuador vaulted into the second round of the World Cup with wins Thursday, and host Germany also advanced without even having to play. Ecuador beat Costa Rica 3-0 in Hamburg, a win that was enough to send both the South Americans and Germany into the knockout round. They will play for first place in Group A on Tuesday...

WASHINGTON -- The Supreme Court made it easier Thursday for police to barge into homes and seize evidence without knocking or waiting, a sign of the court's new conservatism with Samuel Alito on board. The court, on a 5-4 vote, said judges cannot throw out evidence collected by police who have search warrants but do not properly announce their arrival...

Think slathering on the highest-number sunscreen at the beach or pool will spare you skin cancer and premature wrinkles? Probably not, if you're in the sun a lot. That's because you don't need a sunburn to suffer the effects that can cause various types of skin cancer...

Imagine being two years into a marriage and realizing your wife is having an affair. Do you immediately confront her? Do you sit back and hope she comes back to you? Do you break it off and run away? In Tom Stoppard's "The Real Thing," all of these themes are addressed. Don't fret too much though. This is a comedy with serious themes, not a drama...

Dear Tom and Ray: I bought a Ford E350 XLT SD Extended Van, a 2006 model with a 5.4-liter engine. The engine quits at 84 mph, and the service manager says it was made that way and all is well. I called Ford's national customer-assistance line, and they said it was set that way from the factory, and that they do not have to disclose this fact to the public. My complaint is, I would have bought something else had I known. Question: Do I have any recourse? Or am I stuck with this $35,000 thing?...

Saturn is getting sexy. Just look at its newest car, the 2007 Sky. It's a two-seat, rear-wheel drive convertible -- Saturn's first open-top car -- and has boffo styling, good road manners and agreeable base power. The sporty interior, in particular, looks far upscale compared with other Saturn vehicles, especially when the $750 optional premium trim package that includes leather seat inserts is added...

ST. LOUIS -- Byron Foust was skeptical at first. When he walked into the Missouri Botanical Gardens on Tuesday, he wondered whether the money he paid to tag along on the trip with the Arts Council of Southeast Missouri was worth it. His first impression of the work of renowned glass artist Dale Chihuly -- the eye-patch-wearing savior of the Studio Glass movement -- was that the "art" was a joke...