Stories from Tuesday, June 20, 2006

The bus system may be a "baby step," toward the ideal of viable public transit, but Jeff Brune hopes that for those who use it, it will be a giant leap in quality of life. "This is our first step, and in no way is this the end all and be all of transportation," he said. "But with this system the trips will be unlimited so we feel like this initial bus route will really impact people's lives."...

A chemical odor emanating from a Cape Girardeau apartment led police to the arrest of two Southeast Missouri men accused of manufacturing methamphetamine. Anthony Dunivan, 35, of Oran, Mo., and Ray Martin, 43, of 908 S. Sprigg St., were charged with felony manufacture of meth. Dunivan was also charged with misdemeanor resisting a lawful detention when he fled from police, according to police spokesman Jason Selzer...

The Cape Girardeau school board refused Monday night to approve a plan to spend more than $260,000 to construct a concession stand and rest room building, bleachers and a press box at the high school soccer field. The board voted 4-2 to reject bids for construction of the concession stand/rest room and then tabled the proposed awarding of bids for bleachers and a press box...

A 10-year-old boy was accused of raping his younger sister on Cape Girardeau's southwest side. The children's mother reported the incident to police Sunday afternoon, police spokesman Jason Selzer. She found out about the alleged rape from her eldest son, to whom the 7-year-old victim confided. ...

ADVANCE, Mo. -- A mother was accused of setting fire last week to her rural Advance home while her young children were inside. Candi M. Holt, 25, was charged with felony first-degree arson and two counts of endangering the welfare of a child. Local officials received a call around 12:32 a.m. Thursday of a fire in a one-story home on County Road 306 in Stoddard County near Advance, according to Stoddard County Sheriff Carl Hefner...

A local Cape Girardeau independent film crew had only 48 hours to start and finish a movie short, but at the end they were considered one of the best. The small crew of 15 people had to write, film and edit a four to seven minute short film for the 48 Hour Film Project two weekends ago. On Monday, they learned they were among 16 selected from a field of 40 as one of the "best of the best" from the competition...

A little humor goes a long way on Father's Day. Becca and Bailey gave me greeting cards that emphasized their perspectives on dad's day. Becca gave me a card that pointed out that she appreciated being able to hit me up for money to go shopping. Bailey gave me a card thanking me for teaching her what I know about sports. Then she added her own thoughts. She told me she appreciated that I taught her how to boo the umpires...

The rules for selecting county paving projects need to be revised and changes will be in place before voters decide whether to give Cape Girardeau County more money, county commissioners said Monday. Addressing more than 60 people who packed the community room of the County Administration Building, Presiding Commissioner Gerald Jones said there are several rules that should be overhauled...

Jackson Bank of Missouri president John M. Thompson was the recipient of the most prestigious award handed out at the Jackson Chamber of Commerce banquet Monday night. Thompson accepted the R.A. Fulenwider Meritorious Community Service Award Monday night, an award given annually at the chamber banquet...

SIKESTON, Mo. -- A Sikeston mother was killed during an apparent custody dispute with her child's father, who was charged with the slaying Monday. James V. Cullum, 21, of Sikeston is accused of stabbing to death his ex-girlfriend, Tishania T. Walker, 20, a day before they were to appear together in court for an ex parte hearing June 6 in Scott County, according to a probable cause affidavit...

NEW YORK -- In 2003, Anita Britten refinanced her two-story brick cottage in Lithonia, Ga., using a hybrid adjustable rate mortgage, or ARM. Her lender reassured her that she could refinance out of the riskier loan into a traditional one when her interest rate started to reset...

WASHINGTON -- Police seizures of illegal meth labs dropped more than 30 percent last year, the Bush administration said Monday, as more states and drugstore chains began limiting access to ingredients used to make the highly addictive drug. Also Monday, the nation's largest drug testing company said the number of job applicants and workers who test positive for meth plunged 31 percent over the first five months of this year...

In a weeklong series of stories that concluded Saturday, Bob Miller eloquently described the trials and turmoil in the lives of some of the women living at Vision House, Cape Girardeau's faith-based, long-term transitional living facility for homeless and addicted women. Their stories no doubt opened the eyes of readers who have little firsthand experience with addiction...

To the editor: On behalf of my fellow board members, I would like to publicly thank all those involved in the Comprehensive School Improvement Planning (CSIP) committees. As the board reviewed their recommendations, the amount of careful study, consideration and deliberation of all of the staff and community member volunteers was quite evident. ...

Slap in the face; Upside down flag; Complaint complaint; Picking on schools; Two issues; More about signs; Bright idea; Just say no; No idea; Swatting at flies

Thomas Dean "T.D." Williams, 48, of Cape Girardeau died Monday, June 12, 2006, at his home. He was born Nov. 4, 1957, in Durango, Colo., son of Lorenz "Red" and Grace Colgate Williams. Williams was a 1976 graduate of Central High School, where he participated in football, basketball and baseball. ...

Gov. Matt Blunt will speak at 3:15 p.m. today at the KFVS12 Plaza, 310 Broadway. Blunt is on a state-wide tour promoting his new DREAM Initiative, which promises to support revitalization and growth in downtown areas across the state. This year, 6 to 10 Missouri communities deemed to have a comprehensive plan and the ability to attract investment to downtown areas will be selected to receive funds from the initiative...

Charline Hollis, 74, of Scott City died Sunday, June 18, 2006, at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. She was born Nov. 14, 1931, in McClure, Ill., daughter of Louie Benjamin and Sadie Eldridge Acey. She and William W. Hollis were married Aug. 20, 1949. He died July 30, 1996...

CHAFFEE, Mo. -- Walter E. Daniels, 70, of Chaffee died Sunday, June 18, 2006, at his home. He was born Sept. 27, 1935, in New Madrid County, son of Edward and Pearl Annis Daniels. He and Bonnie Store were married Oct. 16, 1959, in St. Louis. She died Oct. 12, 1997...

THEBES, Ill. -- James Chester Elliott Jr., 58, of Thebes died Monday, June 19, 2006, at the Veterans Administration Medical Center in Marion, Ill. McMikle Funeral Home in Charleston, Mo., is in charge of arrangements.

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- Velma R. Rauh, 87, of Perryville died Sunday, June 18, 2006, at Perry County Nursing Home. She was born Oct. 4, 1918, at Uniontown, Mo., daughter of Conrad A. and Katherine R. Villard Tanz. She and Rudolph H. Rauh were married Aug. 10, 1940. He died March 10, 1998...

Jason Wilcox Meyer, 34, of St. Louis died Monday, June 12, 2006, at Barnes Hospital in St. Louis, following heart surgery five months ago. He was born Nov. 16, 1971, in Cape Girardeau, son of Avis and Anna Marie Glueck Meyer. He and Elizabeth Haines were married Oct. 14, 2000, in St. Louis...

Jaynes; Sells; Flippo; Stause; Baker; Karrenbrock; Bollinger

25 years ago: June 20, 1981 Large crowds thronged along the Cape Girardeau riverfront yesterday and again today for the annual Riverfest celebration, enjoying food, crafts, music and a variety of other entertainment programs. The Otahki Girl Scout Council has purchased a 43-acre camping site on Oriole Road, four miles north of the Cape Gir-ardeau Municipal Golf Course; the tract is being prepared for primitive camping use this summer...

OLIVE BRANCH, Ill. -- Dean Loftin, 88, of Olive Branch died Monday, June 19, 2006, at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. Crain Funeral Home in Tamms, Ill., is in charge of arrangements.

RALEIGH, N.C. -- This time, the Stanley Cup gets to stay on Tobacco Road. A couple of low-scoring Carolina defensemen put Edmonton's comeback on ice and Cam Ward stopped nearly everything that came his way, giving the Hurricanes their first NHL championship with a 3-1 victory in Game 7 on Monday night...

DALLAS -- The Mavericks left home last week with two wins and a Texas-sized swagger. They staggered back Monday morning after three losses to the Miami Heat, teetering on the brink of elimination from the NBA finals. But a big bunch of irrepressible fans reminded the Mavs that although their backs are against the wall, that wall is deep in the heart of Dallas -- and in these finals, the homecourt advantage has been the only factor more important than Dwyane Wade...

OMAHA, Neb. -- Jonah Nickerson pitched seven strong innings and Oregon State survived anxious moments in the eighth and ninth to eliminate Georgia from the College World Series with a 5-3 victory on Monday. Chris Kunda drove in two runs for the Beavers (45-15), who play Tuesday against Miami...

WASHINGTON -- The Army charged three U.S. soldiers with the premeditated murder of three male detainees in Iraq last month. The soldiers also were charged with obstructing justice for allegedly threatening to kill another soldier who was a witness in the case...

Honors awards...

In an article Sunday about life on a Mississippi River towboat, the Southeast Missourian incorrectly stated the pay of river pilot Bob Allen. The salary attributed to Allen is the pay towboat captain Rodney Barber had been offered to take on extra work by another barge company...

Consent ordinances New ordinances Resolutions Liquor license Other...

Trial set for father who left child home alone A trial date was set Monday for a man accused of failing to tell arresting police officers his 2-year-old daughter was home alone. Richard B. Stemmerick, 37, of 509 Bellevue St., was charged with misdemeanor endangering the welfare of a child. ...

By Tom Harris "Scientists have an independent obligation to respect and present the truth as they see it," Al Gore sensibly asserts in his film "An Inconvenient Truth," showing at Cumberland 4 Cinemas in Toronto since June 2. With that outlook in mind, what do world climate experts actually think about the science of his movie?...

Cape Girardeau...

Cape Girardeau...

If we are to believe the folks at Industrial Revolution Inc., making ice cream is just as fun as eating it. Right. But just for the heck of it, I decided to play along and ordered their $29 Play & Freeze Ice Cream Maker, a freakish looking rigid plastic ball that didn't convince me it was up to either task -- fun or making ice cream...

KINGS POINT, N.Y. -- President Bush told Iran on Monday that nations worldwide won't back down from their demand that Tehran suspend uranium enrichment. "Iran's leaders have a clear choice. We hope they will accept our offer and voluntarily suspend these activities so we can work out an agreement that will bring Iran real benefits," Bush said a day before leaving for Vienna, Austria, where he will talk with European Union officials leading efforts to resolve the nuclear dispute...

Presbyterians to try gender-friendly terms; Enforcing of immigrant workers laws on decline; Flooding hits Houston area, southwest La.

BAGHDAD, Iraq -- An al-Qaida-linked group said Monday it was holding captive two U.S. privates, one from Texas and the other from Oregon, and taunted the U.S. military for failing to find the soldiers despite a search involving more than 8,000 Iraqi and American troops...

VIENNA, Austria -- Abu Ghraib. Guantanamo. Haditha. America's problems with Iraq are casting a long shadow over President Bush's meeting with European Union leaders this week. The gathering is restricted to U.S. officials and the European Union leadership, and the agenda focuses on Iran's nuclear ambitions, agricultural subsidies and the West's dependence on imported oil and gas...

ST. LOUIS -- Albert Pujols' side injury could have been devastating for the St. Louis Cardinals. Instead, they've gotten as much production from the third slot in the order without him. Scott Rolen is still recovering from season-ending shoulder surgery performed last August. Doctors have told him it'll be this August before he's 100 percent...

When a marriage fails -- when two people fall out of love with one another -- it is seen by some as a sin. To others, it may seem like they simply took "the easy way out." But to people like me -- to the families who have experienced firsthand what it's like to live in a house full of bitterness and lost hope -- divorce can be the one last thing that brings your life together again...

NEW ORLEANS -- Acting at the mayor's request, Gov. Kathleen Blanco said Monday she would send National Guard troops and state police to patrol the streets of New Orleans after a bloody weekend in which six people were killed. "The situation is urgent," Blanco said. "Things like this should never happen, and I am going to do all I can to stop it."...

Al Hrabosky said it didn't take long for him to agree to lend a helping hand to Southeast Missouri State baseball, which is why he was in Cape Girardeau on Monday night. Hrabosky, a former standout relief pitcher for the St. Louis Cardinals who now serves as one of the team's broadcasters, helped spice up the third annual Joe Uhls Memorial Golf Tournament and Dinner, which serves as a major fund raiser for the Redhawks' program...

BERLIN -- Spain may be about to shake off its tag as World Cup underachiever. A perennial disappointment in the tournament, Spain trailed Tunisia for much of Monday's game before scoring three late goals for a 3-1 win and a place in the second round...

Jackson's American Legion team evened its District 14 record with a 9-4 home win Monday over Sikeston. Jackson moved to 2-2 in district play, while Sikeston fell to 0-3. Logan Lawson fanned 13, 11 looking, in 7 1/3 innings for the win. Jackson aided Lawson with 15 hits...

PITTSBURGH -- Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger did not have a valid motorcycle license when he crashed into a woman's car last week, and the driver -- who will be cited for failing to yield -- has received threatening phone calls. Roethlisberger will be issued $388 in fines and fees for riding without a license and not wearing a helmet, police Collision Investigator Dan Connolly said Monday. ...

Reading. A dreaded word for some, a frequent pastime for others. Most students take a break over the summer, only starting to read again once the school year resumes and their English teachers assign reading material. But there are still a number of students that continue the literary journey over the summer, taking them to faraway places and learning absolutely amazing things. ...

WASHINGTON -- Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice warned North Korea on Monday it will face consequences if it test-fires a missile thought to be powerful enough to reach the West Coast of the United States. "It would be a very serious matter and, indeed, a provocative act should North Korea decide to launch that missile," Rice said amid indications that the North Koreans could launch an intercontinental ballistic missile at any moment...

ST. LOUIS -- The Missouri Department of Natural Resources will no longer let Attorney General Jay Nixon represent the agency in its case against Ameren Corp. over the Taum Sauk reservoir collapse. The move comes after DNR director Doyle Childers asked Nixon to recuse himself from the case June 7 because Nixon accepted $19,000 in campaign contributions that originated with Ameren. Nixon refused to step aside and returned the donations the next day...

MAMARONECK, N.Y. -- Phil Mickelson isn't the only major champion to blow the U.S. Open. He can only hope he doesn't end up like the others. Sam Snead thought he needed a birdie on the par-5 18th hole at Philadelphia Country Club in 1939, then butchered the hole so badly that he wound up with a triple-bogey 8 and finished two shots out of the playoff...

Beads of sweat dripped from their foreheads as the workers hammered, hauled rope and raised beams. Why were these sane people toiling in 90-degree weather behind the Osage Community Centre? Because Monday was the kick off to Chautauqua, a traveling festival that brings history to life through reenactments and asks each community it visits to take part in the act...