Stories from July 2006

ORAN, Mo. -- On Memorial Day something was wrong at 507 Missouri St. in Oran. At 10:30 a.m., Oran police chief Marc Tragesser got a call from a resident living next to that address about 57-year-old John Wayne Melton. The events that followed would make Tragesser fear for his life, put Melton in a mental facility and later in the Scott County Jail, where he is now awaiting a preliminary hearing on charges of assaulting a police officer, unlawful use of a weapon and resisting arrest. ...

The Southeast Missouri State women's basketball team will have three fewer scholarships to work with in 2006-07 for its defense of the Ohio Valley Conference championship. The scholarship reduction -- from 15 to 12 -- was among seven self-imposed sanctions the university adopted from a status report into the conference and NCAA investigations into the program...

Southeast Missouri State University will self-impose sanctions on its women's and men's basketball programs after an Ohio Valley Conference investigation found numerous violations of NCAA rules over the past two years, school officials announced at a news conference on Friday...

After a months-long gestation period, the new Cape Girardeau Transit Authority was born late Friday night as Kelley Transportation Co. Inc. shut down. Early in the day, members of the authority board heard an update on transition efforts, getting details on everything from office furniture deliveries to vehicle striping and placement of bus-stop signs...

To All the Kids Who Survived the 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s and 1970s: First, we survived being born to mothers who smoked and/or drank while they were pregnant. They took aspirin, ate blue cheese dressing and tuna from a can and didn't get tested for diabetes...

BALTIMORE -- The main camera on the Hubble Space Telescope came back to life Friday for the first time in nearly two weeks after NASA engineers switched to a backup power system, the space agency announced. The Advanced Camera for Surveys shut down June 19 after voltage readings exceeded the acceptable range. The switchover to the backup system began Thursday afternoon and was completed Friday morning, NASA said...

MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- President Bush's going-away present to Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi was some kind of "Good Luck Charm." Amid the ceramic monkeys, floor-and-ceiling green shag carpet and animal-head armrests of Graceland's Jungle Room, the delighted prime minister just couldn't hold back the Elvis lines...

ST. LOUIS -- This weekend will be full of fireworks in St. Louis, and a few A-list celebrities will be watching them. Rap star Nelly is holding a party and black-tie event in his home town with a guest list that includes Janet Jackson, Usher, Evander Holyfield, Jermaine Dupri and Chingy...

LAURIE, Mo. -- Thousands of people stop in Alice Massey's front lawn every year. Although she doesn't keep a running count of the number of tourists to this central Missouri town who show an interest in her front lawn each summer, she says it's easy to estimate at least 1,000 people stop, stare, ask questions and even pose for a picture...

BERLIN -- Germany relentlessly wore down Argentina, scored a tying goal in the 80th minute Friday, then won it 4-2 in a penalty-kick shootout as goalkeeper Jens Lehmann stopped two shots and the hosts made all four of theirs. Rather than getting desperate when they fell Friday behind for the first time in the tournament, the Germans pressed the attack and beat Argentina's backup goalkeeper Leonardo Franco -- playing only his third game with Argentina and his first minutes of the World Cup -- on Miroslav Klose's header to pull even 1-1.. ...

With puddles in the fairway and swamps in the rough, the trick was to find high ground at Newport Country Club. Annika Sorenstam set her sights even higher Friday in the U.S. Women's Open, and wound up in surprisingly strange territory. With her trademark consistency that had been missing the last four months, and the lone birdie of the first round on the ninth hole, Sorenstam shot a 2-under 69 to join a four-way tie for the lead with Se Ri Pak, Pat Hurst and 19-year-old amateur Jane Park...

STRASBOURG, France -- A major doping scandal threw the first Tour de France of the post-Lance Armstrong era into chaos Friday, with favorites Jan Ullrich and Ivan Basso forced out of the world's premier cycling race under a cloud of suspicion. Some in cycling hailed the decision to bar them and other riders implicated in a doping probe in Spain as a breakthrough for efforts to clean up the oft-tainted sport. ...

ST. LOUIS -- The sale of the St. Louis Blues to a group led by Dave Checketts was completed Friday, and the new owners immediately named top NHL broadcaster John Davidson as team president. Checketts, the former head of the New York Knicks and Madison Square Garden, reached a deal to buy the team on March 24 and had the sale approved by the NHL board of governors last week...

ST. LOUIS -- Pinch-hitter Matt Stairs' sacrifice fly in the 10th inning drove in the go-ahead run and the Kansas City Royals beat the St. Louis Cardinals 7-5 Friday night to hand their cross-state rivals their ninth loss in 10 games. Ambiorix Burgos (2-3) struck out pinch-hitters Scott Spiezio and Aaron Miles with the bases loaded in the ninth and got the last three outs. The Royals have won only two of the last 10 against the Cardinals and got swept in Kansas City on May 19-21...

The Fourth of July holiday is a time for celebrating the birth of this nation. Traditionally we do so with picnics and fireworks. Celebrate, but this word of caution: According to estimates from the Consumer Product Safety Commission, fireworks and other explosive devices killed eight people and sent an estimated 9,600 people to the hospital with injuries in 2004. More than half of those injured were under the age of 15...

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- A fatal accident in Perry County that took the life of a recent high school graduate may have been caused by drunken driving, officials said Friday. The accident occurred on Route B about a half-mile outside of Perryville, around 1:40 a.m. Sunday, according to the Missouri State Highway Patrol...

BENTON, Mo. -- A Southeast Missouri truck driver caught with nearly a pound of methamphetamine in his company's vehicle was charged with drug trafficking, police said. James J. Buchanan, 45, of Benton, Mo., was pulled over early Thursday on U.S. 62 in Miner, Mo., according to a news release from the Scott County Sheriff's Department...

Cape Girardeau...

Cape Girardeau...

LAKES Council Bluff: 80 degrees, normal, clear; all species slow...

Draft illegal aliens; Anti-environment? ; Living in cyberspace; Like Leni; SEMO recruiting; Presidential authority; Words matter; Oozing hatred; Cruel and inhumane; Sensitivity; Inbred cats; Roads are OK; More taxes; Clinton and Bush; Preservationists; Cruising Main Street

CHAFFEE, Mo. -- Charles R. Edwards, 72, was summoned by our Lord to his kingdom Wednesday, June 28, 2006, at his home in Rockport, Texas. He was born Dec. 1, 1933, in Sheffield, Pa., son of Charles and Pearl Edwards. He is survived by his wife, Betty Edwards of Rockport; seven daughters, Kasey (Virgil) Geary of Rockport, Kelly (Joe) Cupper of Chambersburg, Pa., Tina (Victor) Barse of Greencastle, Pa., Leota Edwards of Warren, Pa., Sharon (Gary) Crowden of Chaffee, Joyce Dunker of Phoenix, Ariz., Cindy (Doyle) Canady of Morley, Mo.; two sons, Charles Edwards Jr. ...

ORAN, Mo. -- James Don Graviett, 47, of Oran died Friday, June 30, 2006, in Cape Girardeau, from injuries received in a motorcycle accident May 26, 2006. He was born May 4, 1959, in Cape Girardeau, son of Roy Edward and Stella "Suggie" Stubenrauch Graviett...

Gusta A. Boren, 91, formerly of Jackson, passed away Friday, June 30, 2006, at the Lutheran Home in Cape Girardeau. She was born Oct. 24, 1914, in Pocahontas, daughter of Alvin and Alvina Koenig Pfeiffer. She was baptized and confirmed at Zion Lutheran Church in Pocahontas. Her membership was transferred to St. Paul Lutheran Church in 1975, where she was a faithful member...

Barbara Ann Campbell Kellett, 63, passed away Friday, June 23, 2006, at the home of her daughter in Scott City, after her hard-fought battle with cancer. She was surrounded by her husband, children, grandchildren and family. She was born March 4, 1943, in Sikeston, Mo., daughter of the late Clifford and Delsie Lambert Campbell. She and William S. Wickham Jr. were married in May 1962. He passed away in July 2003. She then married Gerald S. Kellett in September 1970, and again in May 2006...

SIKESTON, Mo. -- Tollie LeRoy Howard, 82, of Sikeston died Friday, June 30, 2006, at Clearview Nursing Center. He was born Oct. 24, 1923, in Lexington, Ala., son of Clarence M. and Bertha F. Putman Howard. He first married Roy Jane Alleman. He and Evelyn L. Jordan were married March 9, 1974, in Ann Arbor, Mich. She died Dec. 16, 2003...

ANNA, Ill. -- Helen Miner, 78, of Anna died Friday, June 30, 2006, at Mulberry Manor in Anna. She was born July 10, 1927, in Cobden, Ill., daughter of Herman and Katherine Irvin Miner. Survivors include two sisters, Carolyn Holderfield of Cobden and Imogene Shrikey of Littleton, Colo...

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- The Rev. Hubert "Lester" Dale, 79, of Jonesboro, Ark., formerly of Poplar Bluff, died Friday, June 30, 2006, at St. Bernard's Regional Medical Center in Jonesboro, following a lengthy illness. He was born April 11, 1927, in Bessville, Mo., son of Will and Parlie Dale. He and Norma Ward were married 61 years...

FARRAR, Mo. -- Earl H. Lorenz, 70, of Farrar died Friday, June 30, 2006, at Fountainbleau Lodge in Cape Girardeau. He was born April 13, 1936, at Farrar, son of Herbert and Eugenia Burroughs Lorenz. Lorenz was a retired postmaster and former owner/ operator of Farrar Store. ...

25 years ago: July 1, 1981 Planned construction of a new bridge on Independence Street over Cape LaCroix Creek is welcomed by most people, because it means the elimination of a long-standing traffic bottleneck; but officials of the Cape LaCroix-Walker Creek Levee and Drainage District fear the new span will eliminate a beneficial bottleneck -- the retention of water north of the bridge which prevents flooding downstream from Independence Street...

Correction n In the June 29 edition of the Southeast Missourian, Tim Stone's hole in one at the Cape Jaycee Municipal Golf Course was listed with incorrect hole information. Stone aced the 157-yard, par-3 third hole with a 7-iron. The Southeast Missourian regrets the error...

Doctors, lawyers take rivalry to softball After a fifth straight loss in the Doctor-Lawyer Basketball Showdown this year, the lawyers are hoping a change of venue will help their case. The inaugural Doctor-Lawyer Softball Game will be played 6 p.m. Aug. 19 at Arena Park's Field No. 10. A pregame tailgate party will begin at 4:30 p.m. with food and beverages...

NEW YORK -- A judge on Friday threw out a racketeering murder conviction against two detectives accused of moonlighting as hitmen for the mob, saying the statute of limitations had expired on the slayings. U.S. District Judge Jack Weinstein also granted a new trial to the defendants, Louis Eppolito and Stephen Caracappa, on money laundering and drug charges. ...

Due to a source error, Kearsten Collins was incorrectly listed on honor roll for West Lane Elementary School in Jackson. She made the fifth grade A honor roll.

When Hobby Lobby manager Dave Vaughn heard some slight rumblings from the roof, the first thing he thought was that a storm had moved in. Then came some accompanying pops and crackles and he figured it must have been some early Fourth of July fireworks...

Sex offender: Didn't know he had to register Ignorance may be bliss, but it's not a defense. Henry D. Wilson, 62, of 2617 Maria Louise Lane, was convicted Wednesday of misdemeanor failure to register as a sex offender following a bench trial before Associate Circuit Judge Michael Bullerdieck. ...

SELMER, Tenn. -- A minister's wife charged with murdering her husband told police she shot him after they argued over family finances and then told him "I'm sorry" as he lay dying in their bedroom, according to testimony at a bond hearing Friday...

PORCUPINE, S.D. -- A Sioux tribe ousted its president for proposing an abortion clinic on the reservation, beyond the reach of South Dakota's strict new abortion ban. By a 9-5 vote late Thursday, the Oglala Sioux Tribal Council determined Cecelia Fire Thunder had pursued the clinic for the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation without council approval, and she was immediately replaced...

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Boris Said can master a superspeedway as well. The road-racing specialist was the surprising Pepsi 400 pole-winner Friday night at Daytona International Speedway, posting a lap at 186.143 mph. It was the second pole of his career; the other was at Infineon Raceway's road course in 2003...

Some of the violations committed by the Southeast Missouri State women's basketball program and included in a report released by the university on Friday echoed allegations about the program in 2003. The university conducted an internal investigation into the program in October 2003, just prior to B.J. Smith's second year as head coach of the program...

WIMBLEDON, England -- After four days without a significant upset, four top players were eliminated at Wimbledon on Friday -- including former champion Martina Hingis. Hingis, the 1997 winner who is in the midst of a comeback after three years off the tour, squandered a 3-0 lead in the third set and fell 7-5, 3-6, 6-4 to Japan's Ai Sugiyama...

For five innings Riverdogs starter Mike Taylor, a reliever at Southeast Missouri State, baffled Plaza Tire Capahas hitters Friday at Capaha Field. The Capahas figured Taylor out in the sixth, and, thanks to seven hits and seven runs in the inning, Plaza Tire escaped with an 8-4 win...

Jackson's American Legion team could not hold on to a 6-2 lead and fell 7-6 Friday at House Springs. Jackson scored five runs in the third and one in the fourth, and led 6-2 after four innings. House Springs tied the score with a four-run fifth, and a run in the bottom of the seventh clinched the win in the nine-inning contest...

The Southeast Missouri State men's basketball program repeatedly violated NCAA travel rules over the past two seasons by allowing ineligible players to travel with the team to away games, school officials disclosed Friday. The violations occurred while Gary Garner was the head coach...

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- The 12-year-old boy who died after riding a Walt Disney World roller coaster had a congenital heart defect, a medical examiner ruled Friday. Michael Russell passed out Thursday while riding Disney-MGM's Rock 'n' Roller Coaster. His father performed CPR on the boy, but Michael was pronounced dead at a hospital...

NEW YORK -- Terror leader Osama bin Laden will release a new Internet message dealing with Somalia and Iraq, according to a Web posting Friday. The site that frequently carries messages from the terror network has begun sending out teasers for an upcoming release, saying bin Laden will talk about Somalia and Iraq, according to the IntelCenter. ...

AMSTERDAM, Netherlands -- The Dutch government resigned Friday over a failed attempt to strip a prominent Somali-born critic of Islam of her Dutch citizenship -- setting the stage for elections likely to be dominated by immigration issues. The smallest party in the ruling coalition, D-66, brought down the government when it refused Thursday to work with hard-line Immigration Minister Rita Verdonk and accused her of damaging the country's reputation with her bungled attempt to revoke the passport of former lawmaker Ayaan Hirsi Ali.. ...

In math classes in the Jackson public schools, students often play card games or roll the dice. It's all part of the Everyday Mathematics curriculum that is used in kindergarten through fifth grade. The games provide a fun way for students to practice math skills like addition and subtraction, said Molly Musson, sales representative for the nationally marketed math curriculum...

CAIRO, Egypt -- Several thousand protesters at one of Cairo's main mosques called Friday for holy war against Israel to help the Palestinians in their conflict with the Jewish state. The Middle East on the Muslim day of prayer saw other few protests against Israel's offensive in Gaza, except for small rallies by hundreds in Palestinian refugee camps...

LONDON -- Britain and the United States discussed the possible use of nuclear weapons against China if it moved to seize Hong Kong during the Cold War, according to documents released Friday. Some leaders in London thought the only way to keep Hong Kong a British colony was to convince China that any attempt to take the territory back by force would trigger American nuclear attack, according to the internal British government memos declassified and released by the National Archives...

Most people talk to God through prayer. But when some churches want to reach him through a group effort, they use e-mail. Many churches have prayer groups who meet regularly to pray together. Some have prayer chains, a list of people who are called one by one and are asked to offer prayer in time of need...

Churches hold patriotic services; Women United will hold sale and luncheon July 14; Sunday

I see revival in America! I see everyone become a Christian. I see Sunday morning church services so overflowing with people that tents are set up on the lawn with loudspeakers carrying the message of God's love and forgiveness to hungry listeners. I see people stand with uplifted arms in silent adoration and surrender. I see people on their knees. I hear exuberant loud praise and heart-cleansing weeping of repentance...

Bart Pittman, 15, did a victory dance Friday after he finished and won the relay race during the Community Outreach Camp Care held at the Greater Dimension Church in Cape Girardeau. This year, the annual program for children ages 5 to 15 had about 80 participants in the weeklong event...

MORGANFIELD, Ky. -- Three Illinoisans were killed and another person critically injured in a wreck on an Ohio River bridge in western Kentucky, Kentucky State Police said. Vernon M. Hazel, 51, of Scott City, Mo., was westbound on the Highway 56 bridge Friday when his car crossed the center line and hit a car driven by Opal M. Colboth, 69, of Creal Springs, Ill., police said...

When Sheriff John Jordan explains his plans for using new tax revenue available if voters approve Proposition 1 on the Aug. 8 ballot, he lingers over the deputies he's lost to other law enforcement agencies. Eight deputies to the Missouri State Highway Patrol. Four deputies to the Cape Girardeau Police Department. Two to the Jackson Police Department. And two who in December took jobs at the Southeast Missouri State University Department of Public Safety...

Cape Girardeau County commissioners have endured criticism from the public for seeking a tax increase without having a definite spending plan detailing what would be purchased with the extra revenue. Commissioner Jay Purcell, in response to those concerns, on Monday will present his proposal for using the money raised if Proposition 1, a half-cent countywide sales tax, wins approval on Aug. 8...

HE SAID: I walked out into the hallway the other day, and there sat a mirror. The mirror was full-length, trimmed in black and resting against the wall. Aha, I thought. There's a column. Because there's a story behind that mirror. The story begins a few years ago when Callie started taking over the house. ...

Long claws, ideal for digging. A bump-covered snout, perfect for sniffing bugs up to six inches under the ground. Bands of hard shell around its trunk. Meet Dasypus novemcinctus. No, it's not a creature from a science fiction movie, but it was alien to this part of Southeast Missouri until recent decades...

SAN MATEO, Calif. -- Andrew Padilla first saw the monkey in the backyard of his Palo Alto home, hanging out by a fence. He thought it must be a squirrel. It turned out to be a marmoset -- and one that was a long, long way from its native home in the rain forests of South and Central America...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Thunderstorms forced NASA to call off the launch of Discovery on Saturday, delaying the first space shuttle flight in a year by at least a day. More bad weather was forecast for today and for the rest of the Independence Day weekend...

CAIRO, Egypt-- Osama bin Laden endorsed the new leader of al-Qaida in Iraq in an Internet posting Saturday, and he warned Shiites there against collaborating with the United States in its fight against Sunni insurgents. In his fifth audio message this year and his second in two days, bin Laden also warned nations not to send troops to Somalia, where Islamic militants have taken over control of the capital and much of the southern part of the country...

OSAGE BEACH, Mo. -- Two Lake of the Ozarks businessmen are teaming up with a water safety organization to provide free life jackets to children. Charles Meyer, who runs TowBoatUS, and Greg Newell, who owns and operates Bridgeview Marina, have joined forces with the BoatU.S. Foundation to loan personal flotation devices to children, free of charge...

JOPLIN, Mo. -- Social Security numbers and other personal information of some students at Missouri Southern State University have been "exposed," university officials said. "We recently learned that non-directory information (such as Social Security number, phone number, grade-point average and user identification number) has been exposed for some of our students," interim registrar Cheryl Dobson wrote in an e-mail to some students...

Results Saturday at The All England Lawn Tennis & Croquet Club, Wimbledon, England; Purse: $18.87 million (Grand Slam); Surface: Grass-Outdoor Men Third Round Irakli Labadze, Georgia, def. Mardy Fish, United States, 6-2, retired. Rafael Nadal (2), Spain, def. Andre Agassi (25), United States, 7-6 (5), 6-2, 6-4...

France stole Brazil's rhythm, its style, even its samba. Along the way, the French also knocked the defending champions out of the World Cup. The experienced and savvy French ousted the pretournament favorites 1-0 in a stunningly one-sided quarterfinal game Saturday in Frankfurt, Germany. Tacked onto France's 3-0 victory in the 1998 title match -- the last time Brazil lost in the World Cup -- it's clear the Brazilians have a nemesis at soccer's highest level...

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Veteran defenseman Jay McKee agreed to terms on a four-year, $16 million contract with the St. Louis Blues on Saturday. McKee's agent Pat Morris told The Associated Press that the overall terms of the deal were far superior to the contract the Buffalo Sabres, his client's former team, offered before allowing McKee to become an unrestricted free agent...

ST. LOUIS -- Mark Teahen hit a solo home run and matched a career high with four RBIs to help the Kansas City Royals beat the slumping St. Louis Cardinals 8-7 in 11 innings Saturday night. The Royals blew a six-run lead and overcame a bases-loaded, no out situation in the 10th to win for the ninth time in 12 tries...

The Bruins opened free agency in a big way Saturday. Boston signed two of the top free agents on the market as it moves to revamp its entire lineup, inking 6-foot-9 defenseman Zdeno Chara and center Marc Savard. Chara, the tallest player in the NHL, got a five-year deal worth $37.5 million dollars, while Savard signed a four-year deal worth $20 million...

Looking for a vacation spot where you can cool off this summer? Pack your hiking boots and fishing gear and head for Paul Bunyan country, in the forests and lakes of northern Minnesota. A handy jumping-off point is the city of Brainerd -- www.explorebrainerdlakes.com/ -- a short flight or little more than two hours' drive along the Mississippi River from Minneapolis. ...

NEW BUFFALO, Mich. -- Imagine a weeklong vacation spent lounging on a sandy beach in Florida, touring a Napa Valley winery, visiting an art gallery in New York, exploring a historic Cape Cod lighthouse and golfing surfside on Hilton Head Island. Sounds great -- except for the expense, the unfeasible travel logistics and the exhaustion...

GRAND LAKE STREAM, Maine -- From his seat at the square stern of his Grand Lake Stream canoe, master Maine guide Randy Spencer points to a splotch of light-colored water along the shore of Big Lake. "Put it right in there," he instructs. My companion, photographer Bob Bukaty, casts the line 30 feet, dropping the yellow and red popper fly in the middle of the target area, a gravel-bottomed spawning bed where a male smallmouth bass may be hovering over eggs deposited by the female...

WASHINGTON -- Vice President Dick Cheney's pacemaker is working properly and has not been activated by any irregular heartbeats, according to his annual physical on Saturday that showed his overall heart condition was stable. The 65-year-old Cheney had an electrocardiogram and imaging to check on repaired aneurysms on the back of his knees, his spokeswoman said...

A traffic stop for speeding June 25 in Scott City has landed four men in Pemiscot County Jail on suspicion of robbery and armed criminal action. In the early morning of June 25 Scott City patrol officer Randy Sloan stopped a vehicle traveling 108 miles per hour on Interstate 55. According to the Scott City Police Department, Sloan smelled marijuana when he approached the car and subsequently searched the vehicle with assistance from the Scott County Sheriff's Department...

Cape Girardeau...

Cape Girardeau...

The Spirit of America Award will be presented during the Libertyfest celebration Tuesday in downtown Cape Girardeau. The award given by the Southeast Missourian goes annually to a person who personifies the character and service to community that helped shape America. This is the fourth year the award has been presented. Past recipients are John "Doc" Yallaly, Dr. Dan Cotner and Melvin Gateley...

Thousands of people will congregate on the riverfront in Cape Girardeau for the annual Fourth of July Libertyfest celebration. In addition to the fireworks at 9:30 p.m., this year's celebration will be highlighted by the dedication of a new Vietnam War Memorial at Common Pleas Courthouse Park to begin at 5 p.m...

BOISE, Idaho -- Thousands of vacationers in the West will likely see a wolf in the wild for the first time this summer, often from the road but sometimes while camping or hiking. The federal government and state agencies that manage wolves have concise rules on what is legal in these encounters, and experts who study wolf behavior offer advice on how to handle what is likely to be an unforgettable experience...

CARBONDALE, Ill. -- Southern Illinois University named Mario L. Moccia, senior associate athletics director at University of Missouri, on Friday as its new athletic director. Moccia, 38, replaces Paul Kowalczyk, who left Southern Illinois in April to become athletic director at Colorado State...

To the editor: "Had enough? Vote Democrat." I am sure you have seen this bumper sticker around town. But I have to ask: "Had enough of what?" Had enough prosperity? Had enough security? Had enough low taxes? My memory is not so bad that I do not remember the excesses of the Clinton White House and the ineptness of the Carter White House...

To the editor: I just saw another accident at the intersection of Highway 25/U.S. 61 and Jackson Boulevard. The ambulance was loading someone to take them to the hospital. Why did the city and state not bring the divided highway down from the top of the hill to the intersection? There have been a lot of accidents in this area as drivers try to cut across many lanes of traffic to either turn into the gas station or come out of it. ...

To the editor: The issue of running more trains through Chaffee is of great concern to me. I live on the east side of Chaffee, which is across the tracks. This has not been a problem to me for 44 years, even though I have to cross the tracks to get to the grocery store, church, post office, bank and doctor. ...

To the editor Shame on you for reprinting propaganda masquerading as serious academic debate about global warming. This is the same disproven, pseudoscientific argument Exxon/Mobil has been paying lobbyists to promulgate for years. Tom Harris, the author, is credited as a mechanical engineer working for a "public affairs and public policy company." A lobbyist? A Google search reveals his employer, High Park Group, no longer maintains an active Web site. ...

Foolish spending; Some questions; Find own heroes; Tough love; Restaurant rudeness; Real criminals; Double standards; Making our own; Illegal aliens

Dr. Max Edward Cordonnier, 71, of Cape Girardeau died Wednesday, May 31, 2006, in Cape Girardeau. He was born Sept. 19, 1934, at Carthage, Mo., son of Harold James and Edrie Marie Schopf Cordonnier. Mr. Cordonnier retired from Southeast Missouri State University in 1992, where he taught 30 years. He also taught a year at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, and also taught at the University of Kansas while working on his doctorate in English language and literature...

MARBLE HILL, Mo. -- Emma Ruth Shrum, 95, of Sedgewickville, Mo., died Saturday, July 1, 2006, at the Lutheran Home in Cape Girardeau. She was born March 24, 1911, in Perry County, Mo., daughter of Sebastian and Clara E. Loberg Lukefahr. She and the Rev. Fred H. Shrum were married Nov. 24, 1934, at Fredericktown, Mo. He preceded her in death in February 1997...

CHESTERFIELD, Mo. -- Donna Kay Boyel, 59, formerly of Jackson, passed away Friday, June 30, 2006, at Westchester House in Chesterfield, Mo. She was born Jan. 19, 1947, in Cape Girardeau, daughter of the late Marvin and Gladys L. Bowers Surface. She and George Boyel were married June 4, 1967, in Jackson. The family lived 23 years in St. Charles, Mo...

MARBLE HILL, Mo. -- Kenneth Carl Bohnsack, 81, of Marble Hill died Friday, June 30, 2006, at Elder Care of Marble Hill. He was born May 5, 1925, at Zalma, Mo., son of Roy Lee and Lottie Nevada Bitterman Bohnsack. He and Ina M. Collins were married Dec. 5, 1943. She died March 28, 2006...

ALTENBURG, Mo. -- Wilbert W. Enke, 85, of Altenburg died Friday, June 30, 2006, at his home. He was born July 19, 1920, in St. Louis, son of Walter and Lena Wachter Enke. He and Emma Kranawetter were married Jan. 19, 1947. Enke was a retired truck driver for Schaefer Water Care. He was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Altenburg, AmVets Post 94, American Legion Post 133, a World War II veteran and Purple Heart recipient and past commander of VFW Post 4282...

GIPSY, Mo. -- Doile Wayne Hood, 45, of Gipsy died Friday, June 30, 2006, at his home. He was born July 31, 1960, at Frisbee, Mo., son of Glen B. and Eva J. Jackson Hood. He and Sue Hobbs were married June 14, 2002, at Farmington, Mo. Hood worked as a mechanic and as a farm worker. He was a member of Christ Gospel Church in Puxico, Mo...

Melissa Ann Gildehaus and Eric Dennis Wessel exchanged vows March 31, 2006, at A.P. Green Chapel on the campus of the University of Missouri-Columbia. Richard Ingmire performed the ceremony. Organist was Colleen Ostercamp of Columbia. The bride is the daughter of Cuddy and Cindy Gildehaus of Beaufort, Mo. The groom is the son of Dennis and Susan Wessel of Cape Girardeau...

Katherine DeVaughn Limbaugh and Steven Joseph Foristal were married Dec. 17, 2005, at Concordia Lutheran Church in Kirkwood, Mo. The Rev. Monte Haun and the Rev. Michael Marchlewski performed the ceremony. Readers were Kristy Allison of Mount Olive, Ill., and Emily Trost of Chicago...

Brooke Ashley Kaltenbach and Nathan Scott Bollinger were married Oct. 1, 2005, at Cape Bible Chapel. Dan Greene performed the ceremony. Pianist was Matt Yount and soloist was Wendy Petzoldt. Parents of the bride are Jon and Phyllis Kaltenbach of Joplin, Mo. The groom is the son of Doug and Beth Bollinger and Phyllis Bollinger, all of Jackson...

Elizabeth Clarkson Kunz and Joseph Edward Hesselbach were married Aug. 13, 2005, at Graham Chapel on the campus of Washington University in St. Louis. The bride is the daughter of David and Gail Kunz of Cape Girardeau. The groom is the son of Mary and Ron Howard of Little Rock, Ark., and Michael Hesselbach of Chicago...

Mr. and Mrs. William D. Sneathen of Cape Girardeau announce the engagement of their daughter, Jill Diana Sneathen, to Darrin Edwin Beal. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Larry Beal of Advance, Mo. Sneathen is a 2004 graduate of Jackson High School. She received a degree in radiological sciences from Southeast Missouri Hospital College of Nursing and Health Sciences in 2006. She is a special procedures radiology technologist at Southeast Hospital...

Darryl and Deborah Sauer of Cape Girardeau announce the engagement of their daughter, Nadia Marie Sauer, to Ulyee Choe, both of Tampa, Fla. He is the son of Pasha and Mindy Choe of Clearwater, Fla. Sauer is a 1996 graduate of Central High School. She received a bachelor of science degree in biology from Southeast Missouri State University in 2000, and a doctor of osteopathic medicine from Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences in Kansas City, Mo., in 2005. ...

Sheryl Vanderpool of Cape Girardeau announces the engagement of her daughter, Erica Dawn McDowell, to Joshua Joe Johnson. He is the son of Brad and Cheryl Johnson of Olathe, Kan. McDowell is a 2004 graduate of Central High School. Johnson is a 2003 graduate of Olathe North High School. He is employed with the city of Gardner, Kan...

Ed and Doris Thiele of Jackson announce the engagement of their daughter, Megan Thiele, to Brandon Lorenz, both of Columbia, Mo. He is the son of Dane and Sherry Lorenz of Fruitland and Teresa and Todd Burns of Jackson. Thiele received a degree in fine arts from the University of Missouri-Columbia in May...

Terry and Joyce Penny of Jackson announce the engagement of their daughter, Julianne Nicole Penny, to Ashley Christopher Eddleman. He is the son of Harley and Jeanie Eddleman Jr. of Marble Hill, Mo. Penny is a 2003 graduate of Jackson High School. She expects to receive a bachelor of arts degree in Spanish from Southeast Missouri State University in 2007. She is employed at Olive Garden and at the university...

Jack and Janene Givens of Jackson announce the engagement of their daughter, Tara Givens, to James Beaird Jr. He is the son of James and Bonnie Beaird of Sikeston, Mo. Givens is a 1992 graduate of Jackson High School. She is a cost analyst in Cape Girardeau...

SEDGEWICKVILLE, Mo. -- David Hartnett of Warrenton, Mo., Barbara Gittemeier of St. Charles, Mo., and Timothy Carter of High Hill, Mo., announce the engagement of their daughter, Heather Marie Gittemeier, to Ronald Lee Gebhardt II, both of Sedgewickville. He is the son of Ronald and Joan Gebhardt of Perryville, Mo...

Mr. and Mrs. Thomas L. Meyer of Cape Girardeau were honored with a dinner party May 28, 2006, in celebration of their 65th wedding anniversary. Hosts were their children, Mary Jean McIntyre, Janice Meyer, Thomas M. Meyer, David Meyer, Deborah Joyce, Elizabeth McFerron, and Donna Boyd...

Mr. and Mrs. Bill Askew Sr. of Cape Girardeau observed their 60th wedding anniversary with a recent cruise to Alaska. Hosts of the trip were their children, Yvonne Askew and Bill (Carol) Askew Jr., both of Florida, Shireen (Bill) Eckelmann of Cape Girardeau, and Kimberly (Kenny) Weik of Festus, Mo...

Mr. and Mrs. Arnold Kapfer of Cape Girardeau celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary with a dinner June 4, 2006, at Cedar Street Restaurant. Kapfer and Marcella Glastetter were married June 3, 1946, at St. Lawrence Catholic Church in New Hamburg, Mo., by the Rev. Eggeman...

Scott and Katherine Clifton of Naperville, Ill., were honored at a surprise celebration of their silver wedding anniversary. The event was held at the Terra Nova Restaurant at the Wyndham Hotel in Lisle, Ill. Host was their daughter, Morgan Pacheco of Oswego, Ill., assisted by their son, Anthony Clifton of Naperville...

Mr. and Mrs. Charles Earl Friedrich of Jackson were honored at a luncheon June 3, 2006, in celebration of their 50th wedding anniversary. The event was held at Zion United Methodist Church in Gordonville, hosted by their children. Friedrich and Maxine Blumenberg were married June 3, 1956, at Zion Church. He is a retired carpenter, and served in the U.S. Army during the Korean Conflict...

25 years ago: July 2, 1981 The Cape Girardeau City Council last night voted to approve a public transit system, which will use five leased buses -- four on fixed routes and one in reserve -- and a demand-response van, which the city will either lease or purchase...

Division I starter I WOULD like to be one of the first to congratulate Central High School graduate Mitch Craft on becoming the starting middle linebacker at the University of Southern Mississippi. I wish him good luck with the rest of his college career and hopefully on to a great career in the pros...

The Scott County American Legion baseball team dropped a pair of games to open the Anheuser-Busch American Legion Tournament at Heine Meine in south St. Louis County. Scott County was defeated by Oakville 14-4 on Friday in a game that was stopped at five innings...

SALEM, Ore. -- Forget MySpace. Oregonians have a new favorite Web site: a database of predatory sex offenders. A day after the launch, the state police reported Friday the site had logged more than a million page views, and the number was climbing sharply. ...

Everett Rhine steadied a half-scale Napoleon cannon at the Red House Interpretive Center on Saturday while John Lefler swabbed the barrel immediately after firing. The cannon was fired periodically as part of demonstrations by the Sons of the American Revolution and the Bear Track Trading Post...

STRASBOURG, France -- With the first Tour de France of the post-Lance Armstrong era rocked by one of the worst doping scandals in cycling's history, American riders may be in good position to take advantage of the depleted field. On Saturday, George Hincapie lost by a split second to big Norwegian sprinter Thor Hushovd in the opening time trial of the sport's premier race. ...

NEW YORK -- Headline by headline, a trickle of news leaks on Iraq and the antiterror campaign has grown into a steady stream of revelations, and from Pennsylvania Avenue to Downing Street, Copenhagen to Canberra, governments are responding with pressure and prosecutions...

MEXICO CITY -- Mexicans buffeted by a mudslinging, polarized presidential campaign are choosing today between plunging into Latin America's left-wing tide or electing a conservative who favors free trade and globalization. With leftist Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador and conservative Felipe Calderon running neck-and-neck, the election -- which will also pick both houses of congress and five governors -- hinges on class divisions that have seldom been talked about so openly in Mexican politics...

WIMBLEDON, England -- First, a tearful Andre Agassi bowed out of Wimbledon for the final time. Then, defending women's champion Venus Williams departed. Two-time finalist Andy Roddick soon joined them as light faded on Centre Court in a stunning day of upsets Saturday at the All England Club...

Railroads were a driving force in the development and settlement of Southeast Missouri, especially the swampy areas south of Cape Girardeau. As demand for timber grew, the need for rail service through the area became important to people like Louis Houck, who saw an opportunity to get in on the ground floor of a growing industry...

NEWPORT, R.I. -- Michelle Wie took a penalty stroke to escape the bushes and had to drop in the mud and muck, turning that adventure into an amazing par that kept alive her hopes Saturday at the U.S. Women's Open. Pat Hurst made two straight bogeys that sent her tumbling out of the lead, including one from a mud-caked lie in the bunker that she blasted over the 13th green. ...

I left town Thursday for a vacation in California, so I'm not totally in the loop regarding what's going on with the recent announcements regarding NCAA violation within the Southeast Missouri State basketball programs. But here are a few comments -- all the way from Cali -- on the situation:...

Southeast Missouri State women's basketball coach B.J. Smith added a familiar face to his staff last week. Katrina Colwell, who had been an assistant last year at Southeast but left to take a job as the girls basketball coach at Herculaneum High School, has returned to her old position...

Coaches in the 10-team SEMO boys basketball conference often call it one of the most competitive leagues in the state. Results have backed up those claims, with multiple teams making the state final four in each of the past three seasons. While the play has stayed at a consistently high level, the faces along the sidelines are changing faster than ever. Five of the 11 SEMO Conference schools will have new coaches for 2006-07...

CINCINNATI -- The 1919 World Series is known historically for the Black Sox Scandal, the exile of eight Chicago White Sox players from baseball for conspiring with gamblers to fix the series they were heavily favored to win. In Cincinnati, it's also known for the Reds' first world championship. ...

J.J. Henry shot a 7-under-par 63 on Saturday to grab the third-round lead at the Buick Championship before an appreciative hometown crowd. Henry, who grew up in Fairfield, Conn., strung together three straight rounds under par and was at 11-under 199 heading into Sunday...

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Tony Stewart's slump is over, his shoulder is fine and his fence-climbing is as good as ever. Stewart proved that by charging into the lead with two laps to go at Daytona International Speedway to win his second consecutive Pepsi 400 on Saturday night...

If you have a problem with your plumbing, you call a plumber. When you're an NCAA institution having a problem involving rules violations, you call The Compliance Group. Headed by Chuck Smrt, who worked 17 years for the NCAA enforcement staff, The Compliance Group has assisted several universities and conferences in matters involving investigations, infractions and other compliance issues...

When the last train passed through Advance, Mo., there was no fanfare, no podium with bunting for public officials to mark the day for posterity. In fact, it seemed as if few people in the town even noticed the Frisco line's last hurrah. But Paul Corbin did. The date was Nov. 27, 1965, his 51st birthday...

The downtown floodwall needs more than $9 million in repair work, and local officials are eyeing plans for a new pedestrian walkway and floodgate at Independence Street. These improvements are set to move forward once federal funding is secured. "I am committed to educating my colleagues and finding support for completion of the floodwall construction," said Rep. Jo Ann Emerson, R-Cape Girardeau...

Burly, hairy, tattooed and tough they may be, but they've got heart. Some local motorcyclists have recently started up a Cape Girardeau-area chapter of Bikers Against Child Abuse, an international, not-for-profit organization of motorcyclists who support children who have been abused...

A Jackson teenager suffered moderate injuries after an early morning accident Sunday in Stoddard County. Kevin L. Greer, 17, was taken by ambulance to Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau after the vehicle he was driving ran off the roadway, struck an embankment and overturned...

CHARLESTON, Mo. -- Darrell Porter toils away in a field each weekday. He tills soil, plants seeds, cuts grass, pulls weeds, harvests vegetables and picks fruit. But Porter isn't a farmer. He is a prisoner at Southeast Correctional Center...

If Neal Edwards could put a price on the amount of time he spent volunteering, it probably wouldn't come near to topping the more than $1 million he's raised for various causes during his life. Edwards spends countless hours of his time at the Missouri Veterans Home. In between serving on committees for the annual Veterans Home Flag Day Golf Tournament -- which he founded in 1997 -- and the Veterans Home Foundation Board, Edwards manages to visit the more than 100 residents living at the home...

Mike Risch watches it happen every summer. When the university students leave town, they take some of his profits with them. "June and July are two of our slower months, and it's just been that way historically," said Risch, who co-owns Mollie's Cafe and Bar in downtown Cape Girardeau. "It's emblematic of the impact the university has on our business. It's profound."...

ZALMA, Mo. -- A man was stabbed and seriously injured this morning during a possible drug deal gone bad in Bollinger County. The accused assailant was arrested at his Zalma, Mo., home following the 5 a.m. attack, according to Bollinger County Sheriff's chief deputy Leo McElrath. No charges had been filed as of this afternoon...

As paramedics, Robert and Tami Kiefer have an intimate understanding of what it means to be on the front lines of emergency response. So when Robert Kiefer told me last week his new business would honor those who work as policemen, firemen and paramedics, it didn't feel forced or phony...

CHICAGO -- Backyard use of fireworks and related injuries are increasing nationwide, according to industry and government data, and researchers say thousands of children each year are among the victims. From 1990 to 2003, roughly 85,800 U.S. children under age 19 were treated in emergency rooms for burns and other injuries from firecrackers, bottle rockets and even sparklers, according to a study prepared for release today in July's issue of the journal Pediatrics. ...

BAGHDAD, Iraq -- Saddam Hussein's wife and eldest daughter are among 41 people on the Iraqi government's most wanted list, along with the new leader of al-Qaida in Iraq, a top official announced Sunday. National security adviser Mouwafak al-Rubaie also said the former al-Qaida boss, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, had been buried secretly in Baghdad despite his family's demand that the body be returned to Jordan. Al-Zarqawi died June 7 from a U.S. airstrike northeast of Baghdad...

CAIRO, Egypt-- The head of the United Nations mission in Sudan said on his personal blog that the Darfur peace agreement "does not resonate with the people" and is in danger of collapse. But Jan Pronk also wrote last week that the pact was still salvageable if revisions were made, calling it "a good text, an honest compromise." And he urged its quick implementation, saying, "it meets more and more resistance" as time passes...

KABUL, Afghanistan -- An insurgent attack on a British base killed two soldiers and an Afghan interpreter, military officials said Sunday, while at least 20 militants died during clashes and coalition airstrikes. A U.S. helicopter crashed in an accident in southern Afghanistan, killing one crew member, the U.S. military said...

ABOARD THE BEIJING-LHASA EXPRESS, China -- A $4 billion high-altitude train climbed past melon fields and herds of sheep Sunday on its way from Beijing to Tibet -- a new element in China's much-criticized push to bind its booming east to the Himalayan "roof of the world."...

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. -- The state is expanding a program that uses global positioning system technology to monitor convicted sex offenders. The Illinois Department of Corrections has operated a GPS monitoring pilot program since July 2005 that can accommodate up to 250 high-risk sex offenders...

ST. LOUIS -- Bernice Deardueff thought something was missing this weekend from Fair St. Louis, the riverfront Fourth of July festival where her family traditionally gathers. "There's hardly anybody here," the 78-year-old Ferguson resident said. Indeed, crowds were sparse at the Gateway Arch and Jefferson National Expansion Memorial on Saturday, the first day of a scaled-back, two-day Fair St. Louis...

STRASBOURG, France -- He can sprint, climb mountains and excel at time trials. And, thanks to some wily riding, he has the Tour de France's famed yellow jersey after the opening weekend. Judging from his early form, George Hincapie is emerging as a serious contender to succeed his one-time boss, Lance Armstrong...

ST. LOUIS -- The St. Louis Blues signed free agent center Doug Weight to a multiyear contract, the club announced Sunday. "We are bringing back a player that loves the city of St. Louis and the Blues organization," Blues president John Davidson said in a news release Sunday. "He's a Stanley Cup winner and will be a key part of this team moving forward."...

WASHINGTON -- Oh, the irony. A nation full of overweight people is also full of label readers. Nearly 80 percent of Americans insist they check the labels on food at the grocery store. Yet even when the label practically screams, "Don't do it!" people drop the package into the cart anyway. At least that is what 44 percent of people admitted in a recent AP-Ipsos poll...

Robinson Construction awarded contract Robinson Construction Co. of Perryville, Mo., has been awarded a $5,515,800 contract from the city of Searcy, Ark., to make improvements to the city's wastewater treatment plant. This is the second phase of the project. Robinson was also awarded phase one of the project, which was completed in September 2005...

Beulah Francis was a success at her first pageant. The 94-year-old resident of Elder Care of Marble Hill, Mo., was crowned queen at the 2006 Ms. Nursing Home Pageant, held at Plaza Conference Center in Cape Girardeau. She was one of eight contestants from area nursing homes...

Ayers graduates from basic combat training...

PLYMOUTH, Mass. -- In this village settled by thrifty Pilgrims, you can still buy penny candy for a penny, but tourist Alan Ferguson doubts he'll be able to dig any 1-cent pieces out of his pockets. He rarely carries pennies because "they take up a lot of room for how much value they have." Instead, like so many other Americans, he dumps his pennies into a bucket back home in Sarasota, Fla...

ATLANTA -- Mark Erickson is the kind of flier that airlines love. Every Monday, he leaves for New York or California for his job as a master chef for the Culinary Institute of America. He returns to Atlanta on Friday night and does it all again two days later...

For Ramona Brinkopf, the words Sunny Hill have been a big part of her life. When she married her husband, Bill, in 1964, he was already running the Sunny Hill Feed and Seed. Later, she and her husband ran it together as it became the Sunny Hill Garden and Pet Center and finally just a pet store...

While most Americans enjoy a day of fireworks, picnics and relaxation on Tuesday, thousands of others will be vigilantly pursuing the goal of restoring stability to war-torn areas of the world. The freedom most of us will enjoy is a bequest from all those who have valiantly answered our nation's call to duty in times of strife. To them we owe our special thanks, especially on a day like the Fourth of July...

To the editor: We have excellent laws to make sure no child is left behind. Our system of education makes sure everyone desiring a diploma will get it. There are provisions for those who are mentally handicapped, slow learners or learning disabled. It would be great if the same provisions and funding were also made available to our gifted students. ...

To the editor: I must respond to Will Richardson's recent letter. He refers to "falsehoods and scare tactics being the weapons of choice for the misguided opponents" to the Missouri Stem Cell Initiative. He states that the initiative is about "preserving the lives of thousands of sick or disabled Missourians." Here are some facts he chooses to ignore...

To the editor: While I certainly disagree with the new sign ordinance and find it ironic that campaign signs are exempt, it should be noted that the residents of Cape Girardeau have allowed this to happen by not being more active in the political process. ...

Dropout drain; Jackson schools; Bad behavior; Parking-lot safety; Great fun; Trail repairs; Good emcee; Thanks to mentors; Time to talk; Capital comparison; Moving on; Flood plain woes; Partial answer; Special rights

Violet H. Propst, 90, of Jackson, passed away Sunday, July 2, 2006, at the Monticello House in Jackson. She was born April 18, 1916, in Sedgewickville, Mo., daughter of Dr. Edward and Myrtle Drum Crites. She and Loman Seabaugh were married on June 6, 1936. He passed away Aug. 7, 1941. She and Dale Propst were married on March 14, 1948. He passed away March 17, 1996...

Joe P. Heisserer, 89, of New Hamburg, died Sunday, July 2, 2006, at his residence in New Hamburg. Funeral arrangements are incomplete at the Amick-Burnett Funeral Chapel in Chaffee.

Danny R. Upchurch, 59, of Cape Girardeau, died Saturday, July 1, 2006, at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. He was born April 9, 1947, in Cape Girardeau, son of John P. and Sybil E. Gallant Upchurch. He and Kathy Hale were married on September 6, 1986, in Cape Girardeau...

W.H. "Mac" McMullen, 87, of Marble Hill, Mo., died Sunday, July 2, 2006, at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. He was born Oct. 23, 1918, in Olive Hill, Tenn., son of William Henry and Sadie Baugus McMullen. He and Etta Mae Barks were married on May 24, 1958. She died on May 28, 2001...

Essner; Chiles; Kunz; Faulkner; Grayhek; Wendel; Jannin; Rodewald; McCrackin

25 years ago: July 3, 1981 Another phase in the development of a master plan for Cape Girardeau's west side was entered this week with the purchase by Drury Development Co. of the 133-acre Siemers farms at the southwest corner of the Interstate 55 and Route K intersection; a company spokesman said the farm will be incorporated into the overall master plan for continued west end growth...

Jill Kennedy won two more national championships this weekend at the U.S. Paralympics Track and Field National Championships in Atlanta, Ga., and she set a world record in the process. Kennedy, a Zalma native now living in Charlottesville, Va., topped her own world record in the discus for the F40 classification on Friday. Kennedy, who competes in the dwarf-only class, posted a mark of 63 feet, 3.8 inches, to win the title. Her previous mark was 63 feet, 1 inch...

MEXICO CITY -- Mexico's presidential election was too close to call Sunday with voters bitterly divided between a leftist offering himself as a savior to the poor and a conservative warning his rival's free-spending proposals threaten the economy...

The following items were released by the Cape Girardeau Police Department. Arrests do not imply guilt. DWIs Arrests Assaults Theft Property damage Miscellaneous...

Cape Girardeau...

WASHINGTON -- Laws that set numerous strict conditions before teenagers can get a license can reduce fatal crashes involving 16-year-old drivers by about one-fifth, public health researchers say. Examples include a waiting period before a young driver is eligible to move from a learner's permit to an intermediate license, restrictions on driving at night, required hours of supervision by an adult driver and limits on the number of passengers a teenage driver can have...

Glenn House open for tours Tuesday The Glenn House will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday. This historic building is at 325 R S. Spanish St., Cape Girardeau. Call 334-1177 for more information. A catered, noon meal is scheduled for Saturday at St. John's United Church, west of Fruitland. For more information, call 243-5522 or 335-6878...

The Wednesday noon meeting at Cape Girardeau Elks Lodge is routine for Cape Girardeau Noon Lions Club members Roberts Williams and Freck Shivelbine, both of Cape Girardeau. The noon club was chartered 86 years ago and they have been attending for 56 and 52 years, respectively. Even though programs, locations and faces have changed over the years, what remains constant is the fellowship...

FARGO, N.D. -- The abduction of 22-year-old Dru Sjodin from a shopping center parking lot and the discovery of her body five months later, after an emotional search, has led to major revisions of sex offender laws in two states and to North Dakota's first federal death penalty case...

NEW YORK -- Published reports that the U.S. was monitoring international banking transactions were not news to the terrorists who were its target because the Bush administration had already "talked openly" about the effort, The New York Times' top editor said Sunday...

ANCHORAGE, Alaska -- After a roadside bomb exploded under his 5-ton truck in Iraq, Tyler Hall remembers an Army buddy asking if he was alive. "I said, 'Of course I'm alive. Do you think I would die that easy?"' the former Army sergeant said. The 25-year-old Hall will join hundreds of other disabled athletes starting today at the 26th National Veterans Wheelchair Games, the largest annual wheelchair sports event in the world. The six-day games will be held at various sites around Anchorage...

Weather forces second delay for shuttle; Woman wrestles grenade from man

LA PAZ, Bolivia -- Bolivians voted Sunday for a national assembly to retool the constitution, a key step in President Evo Morales' plans to cement his leftist reforms and give more power to the Andean nation's Indian majority. Voters also decided whether to grant more fiscal and political autonomy to Bolivia's nine states -- an issue that has exacerbated long-standing tensions between the country's wealthier eastern lowlands and its poorer highlands...

BATTICALOA, Sri Lanka -- Gunfire echoes nearly every night across the lagoon that rings this fishing town. Bodies turn up nearly every day in the jungles beyond, some riddled with bullets, others bound and gagged with a single shot to the head. A year ago they called it a "Shadow War." Not anymore...

WASHINGTON -- Oh, the irony. A nation full of overweight people is also full of label readers. Nearly 80 percent of Americans insist they check the labels on food at the grocery store. They scan the little charts like careful dieters, looking for no-nos such as fat and calories and sugars. Yet even when the label practically screams, "Don't do it!" people drop the package into the cart anyway. At least that is what 44 percent of people admitted in a recent AP-Ipsos poll...

ST. LOUIS -- Jason Marquis was ready to pitch as long as he needed to go to snap his personal two-game losing streak. Albert Pujols hit a three-run homer and Marquis pitched seven innings to lead the St. Louis Cardinals to a 9-7 win over the Kansas City Royals on Sunday...

Bent Creek announces first half champions The team of Keith Quade, Bill King, Carl Knott, Don Henley, Rob Trankler, Craig Pecaut, Bob Meterra and Rick Pecaut captured the first-half championship in the men's golf league at Bent Creek Golf Course. The team of Donnie Chester, Chris Connelly, Jeff Appleman, Todd Koch, Richie Phillips, Chris Garland, Kenny Jones and Doug Koch placed second; and the team of Dave Sides, Jeff Ernst, Curt Buchheit, Chuck Bradford, Chuck Williams, Mike Johnson and Mike Umfleet placed third.. ...

WIMBLEDON, England -- Everyone knew this was coming. Andre Agassi has played his last match at Wimbledon, and his final hurrah will come in a few months at the U.S. Open. Pete Sampras hung up his racket years ago, and Jim Courier and Michael Chang are long gone, too. Major champions all...

David Beckham quit as England captain Sunday, the morning after his team went out in the World Cup quarterfinals on penalties to Portugal. A tearful Beckham, wearing a suit and tie, read a statement to a crowded news conference at England's training camp...

NEWPORT, R.I. -- The birdie putt played a dirty trick on Annika Sorenstam, raising her hopes that 10 years of frustration in the U.S. Women's Open was about to end. Tied for the lead with Pat Hurst on the final hole of a marathon Sunday, she took two quick strides to her right as the 30-foot putt tracked toward the hole, her eyes wide as the ball dipped into the cup ever so slightly, then dipped out just as suddenly...

J.J. Henry shot a 3-under 67 for a victory at the Buick Championship in Cromwell, Conn., by three strokes, becoming the first Connecticut player to win the 55-year-old tournament. It was Henry's first PGA Tour win. The victory also clinched Henry a spot in his first British Open and moved him to sixth in Ryder Cup points...

LOS ANGELES -- Mike Slabaugh doesn't have a stomach. Neither do his 10 cousins. Growing up, they watched helplessly as a rare hereditary stomach cancer killed their grandmother and some of their parents, aunts and uncles. Determined to outsmart the cancer, they turned to genetic testing. Upon learning they had inherited grandmother Golda Bradfield's flawed gene, these were their options:...

CHICAGO -- Is it OK for doctors and parents to tell children and teens they're fat? That seems to be at the heart of a debate over whether to replace the fuzzy language favored by the U.S. government with the painful truth -- telling children if they're obese or overweight...

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- A new program is seeking to put more products made in Missouri on grocery store shelves. State officials are working with the Missouri Grocers Association and grocery chain RCPS Inc. on the Missouri-Made effort. "Many Missouri products can't get to the shelf. It is too costly," said John Morrison, director of the Missouri Grocers Association. "We're trying to do it with a more effective and efficient manner."...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- As a candidate for governor two years ago, Democrat Claire McCaskill met personally with executives of mega hog producer Premium Standard Farms Inc. to seek money for her campaign. She was rewarded with the maximum contribution...

NEW YORK -- St. Louis first baseman Albert Pujols was the leading vote-getter among fans for the All-Star Game, the rosters for which were released Sunday. Pujols was chosen on more than 3.4 million ballots and will make his third start in the classic, which this year is scheduled for July 11 in Pittsburgh...

No paper Tuesday...

Mary Kay future executive senior sales director Jana Jateff of Cape Girardeau recently honored her top quarterly performers at a dinner in Sikeston, Mo. Those honored for top sales for the quarter were: Jateff, Rebecca Creel of Cape Girardeau, Lisa Bollinger of Jackson, Katie Eggimann of Advance, Mo., Amy Romack and Sarah Dodson of Cape Girardeau, and Tina Tidwell Ashby of Scott City. Performers and their spouses joined other Mary Kay achievers in the area for a dinner and night of recognition...

CHICAGO -- Film critic Roger Ebert, who has battled cancer in recent years, was in serious but stable condition Sunday following an emergency operation to repair complications from a previous cancer surgery. Chicago Sun-Times columnist Richard Roeper -- co-host of the "Ebert and Roeper" movie review show -- told the paper that Ebert's vital signs appeared to be good after the hours-long operation...

Five people were charged recently with stealing more than $9,000 worth of motorcycles, lawnmowers and metals from Miner, Mo., businesses in May. Police accuse Thomas Lubish, 22, of stealing several recreational and work vehicles from the Miner area on three separate occasions, according to a probable-cause statement...

There will be a silent auction on the artwork of the late Max Cordonnier at the Visual Arts Cooperative gallery at the Arts Council of Southeast Missouri, located at 32 N. Main St. Those wishing to bid on the work can stop in any time between the hours of 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. through Friday. The auction will end Friday night at the First Friday reception for the arts council galleries...

ORAN, Mo. -- Otter's Bar and Grill in Oran has shut its doors, and according to a marquee sign on the building the business's owners blame the town's mayor and police chief. One of the bar's owners, Tony Brashear, who is also known as Otter, said they closed its doors about two weeks ago due to slow business. The owners put a message on the marquee sign saying, "Closed ... Thank your chief and mayor."...

A 43-year-old man was stabbed and seriously injured Monday during a possible drug deal gone bad in Bollinger County. The stabbing occurred around 5 a.m. near Zalma, Mo., while the victim and his attacker were traveling in a vehicle, according to chief deputy Leo McElrath...

No rest rooms. That situation faced Southeast Missouri State University officials after plans for a welcome center at the River Campus fell through. Without a welcome center, the university was left without any provision for rest rooms for the performance hall and other theater spaces now under construction...

A Cape Girardeau County commissioner has presented a list of road-paving proposals aimed at gaining support for a half-cent sales tax increase. On Monday, Commissioner Jay Purcell discussed his proposals for using the money if Proposition 1 wins approval on Aug. 8...

One voice. Then a second. Finally, nearly everyone sang along softly. Joining in on a moving version of "America the Beautiful" was one way more than 200 area residents saluted those who served in the Vietnam War at Tuesday's Vietnam memorial dedication...

By Jeff Brune A new era in public transportation begins in July as the Cape Girardeau County Transit Authority starts fully coordinated transit services throughout the city of Cape Girardeau and Cape Girardeau County. Our goal is to provide you with safe, affordable and reliable transportation with an emphasis on customer service. ...

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff vowed Tuesday to get to the bottom of charges that a former soldier raped and killed a young Iraqi woman and shot her family to death. Three other soldiers still in Iraq are suspected of joining in the crime and helping cover it up...

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa -- At field offices in the African bush and at medical schools and research labs worldwide, doctors and scientists funded by Bill Gates are starting to make a difference on a continent all too familiar with poverty, disease and early death...

ATLANTA -- John Smoltz won for the first time in eight starts, and the Atlanta Braves hit four home runs in a 6-3 victory over the struggling St. Louis Cardinals on Monday night. Smoltz (5-5) and Cardinals rookie Anthony Reyes (1-3) both returned following a 55-minute rain delay in the bottom of the third...

NEWPORT, R.I. -- Annika Sorenstam was so tired from playing 54 holes in two days that she took Tuesday off after winning the U.S. Women's Open. Pat Hurst was exhausted before she got to the first tee for the 18-hole playoff, and that was after a night of rest...

CHICAGO -- Ben Wallace is crossing Lake Michigan, staying in the same division and bringing his ferocious rebounding and defensive skills to a young team counting on him to be a major force in building a championship contender. The four-time defensive player of the year, Wallace is leaving the Detroit Pistons and joining the Chicago Bulls, according to a source within the league. The contract won't become official until July 12...

ST. LOUIS -- Dan Hinote signed with St. Louis on Monday after spending his entire NHL career with Colorado, another step in the makeover of the Blues following a season in which they had the league's worst record. Later in the day, the Blues added another veteran forward, signing former Dallas Stars right winger Bill Guerin to a one-year contract...

LOS ANGELES -- Star defenseman Chris Pronger was traded by the Edmonton Oilers to the Anaheim Ducks on Monday for right wing Joffrey Lupul, defenseman Ladislav Smid and three draft picks. Pronger, the 2000 NHL MVP with St. Louis, led the Oilers to the Stanley Cup finals last month. They fell just short of a championship, losing Game 7 to the Carolina Hurricanes...

ATLANTA -- Juan Encarnacion hit a two-run homer and the Cardinals ended a seven-game road skid, beating Atlanta 6-3 Tuesday night in a game delayed almost 3 hours by rain and lightning. The last time the Cardinals had such a long road losing streak, they ended an eight-game skid with a win on July 4, 2001...

DORTMUND, Germany -- For nearly two hours, Germany probed, Italy held firm and penalty kicks seemed inevitable. Then with two stunningly swift strikes in the last two minutes, Italy unraveled it all -- the tension, the match, the Germans' dream of lifting the World Cup trophy in Berlin...

The Cape Girardeau Regional Air Festival promises plenty of thrills. The activities start when gates open at 5:30 p.m. Friday at the Cape Girardeau Regional Airport. A show is scheduled for 7 p.m. Saturday's activities start when the gates open at 11 a.m. A flyover of a B-2 bomber is set for 3:30 p.m. followed by the day show. At 7:30 p.m. the Ronald McDonald Magic Show starts, and the night show begins at 8:30 p.m. Both evenings will conclude with fireworks...

To the editor: Friday's front-page has a story on the coming dedication on a memorial at the Common Pleas Courthouse in Cape Girardeau. The article contains the following comment: "As pretty as it is," veteran Rodger Brown states of the Vietnam Memorial in Washington, D.C., "it's nothing more than a very large black tombstone with everyone's name who was killed."...

To the editor: I am pleased that the Senate failed to pass the so-called Flag Protection Amendment, and in so doing chose not to endorse the idea that an inanimate object has such mystical powers that the state can punish people who disrespectfully destroy it. ...

Guard contract; Encouraging story; Let them know; Free-speech sale; Bigger problem; Sloppy service; Sign about signs; Political sales pitch; Take the offensive; Home businesses; Paving tune; Blocking the view; Don't believe it

Leonard Sachse Jr., 79, of Cape Girardeau died Friday, June 30, 2006, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. He was born May 21, 1927, in Gordonville, son of Leonard and Alice Cox Sachse. Sachse had formerly worked at Cape Girardeau Fire Department, was a self-employed home builder, and retired as office manager at Huckstep Auto Body...

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- Eugene L. Brown, 89, of Perryville died Monday, July 3, 2006, at the Perry County Nursing Home in Perryville. He was born Nov. 14, 1916, in Perry County, the son of Louis and Genevieve Freedman Brown. He was a farmer and a World War II Army veteran...

Bobby Dale Brison, 65, of Lee's Summit, Mo., formerly of Cape Girardeau, died peacefully on July 3, 2006, after a brief yet valiant battle against cancer at Kansas University Medical Center. Bob was born on March 16, 1941, in Viola, Ark. He dedicated 30 years of service to the public education in the state of Missouri. ...

DEXTER, Mo. -- Willard "Bill" Green, 78, of Dexter died Saturday, July 1, 2006, at Wappapello, Mo. He was born Oct. 29, 1927, in Allen Township, Ohio, son of Noah Sullivan and Bertha Bell Holycross Green. Green retired as a clerk with the U.S. Postal Service at the Cape Girardeau Post Office. He was formerly of Jackson and Marble Hill, Mo., moving to Dexter 10 years ago. He was a lifetime member of Veterans of Foreign Wars...

NEW HAMBURG, Mo. -- Joe P. Heisserer, 89, of New Hamburg died Sunday, July 2, 2006, at his home. He was born Oct. 3, 1916, at Kelso, Mo., son of August and Clara Bucher Heisserer. He and Coletta L. Glastetter were married Nov. 22, 1938. She died June 14, 2003...

Clara Davis, 81, of Jackson died Tuesday, July 4, 2006, at the Lutheran Home in Cape Girardeau. Arrangements are incomplete at McCombs Funeral Home in Jackson.

Wadley; Morris; Pehle

American Legion Post 158...

25 years ago: July 5, 1981 Lt. Rick Kermmoade is the new director of the Cape Girardeau Salvation Army; his wife, Lt. Char Kermmoade, has full responsibility for the Women's Home League. Bishop Bernard F. Law of the Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau has appointed the Rev. ...

To emboss, or not to emboss? That is the question. Trying new products and techniques is one of the best parts of scrapbooking, but the more complicated the project, the more intimidating it can be. Embossing isn't exactly new, but there are some new products on the market that open up the possibilities for using this technique in paper art...

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- A new law aimed at tracking the city's estimated 4,000 to 5,000 pit bulls has gotten few takers with only 12 dogs registered in the law's first month. The law, passed in April over vocal opposition, gives owners until Oct. 16 to register their dogs. It also requires spaying or neutering, rabies vaccinations, microchipping and an annual $50 fee...

401 Independence St. Study Session at 5 p.m. Public Hearings Appearances Consent ordinances New ordinances Resolutions Appointments Liquor Licenses Other...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- NASA gave the shuttle Discovery a majestic Fourth of July send-off and said early signs showed the spacecraft was in good shape, despite once again being struck by the flying foam that has plagued the program. The first-ever Independence Day manned launch came after two weather delays and over objections from those within NASA who argued for more fuel-tank repairs...

Bush: Enemies in Iraq, Afghanistan vulnerable; Japanese eater crams down 53-plus hotdogs

Mrs. Annice Faye Tew of Tallassee, Ala., died Sunday, July 2, 2006. She is survived by a daughter, Kathie and Barry Jackson of Covington; a son, Brian and Stephanie Tew of Scott City; mother, Elsie McNelley; sisters, Irene and Mike Rodgers, Harriett McNelley, all of Tallassee; a brother, Harry and Laurie McNelley of Brunswick Maine; four grandchildren, Tyler Stephens, Jordan Tew, Hannah Jackson, Matthew Jackson; several nieces and nephews...

Cape Girardeau The following items were released by the Cape Girardeau Police Department. Arrests do not imply guilt. DWI Thefts Burglaries Assaults Arrests Miscellaneous...

Jackson Firefighters responded to the following calls Tuesday: Cape Girardeau Firefighters responded to the following calls Monday: Firefighters responded to the following calls Tuesday:...

Mary Mecham, 83, of Cape Girardeau died Monday, July 3, 2006, at Southeast Hospital. Arrangements are pending at Lorberg Memorial Funeral Chapel.

FORT BRAGG, N.C. -- President Bush said Tuesday that insurgents in Iraq and Afghanistan are violent, yet vulnerable, and urged U.S. troops to march on in the fight for freedom so Americans can celebrate Independence Day year round. At an outdoor pep rally for troops at Fort Bragg, Bush recalled the death of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, the former leader of al-Qaida in Iraq, who died last month in a U.S. airstrike that boosted troop morale and offered hope to Americans weary of the war...

MEXICO CITY -- The party of leftist presidential candidate Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador demanded a ballot-by-ballot recount Tuesday in Mexico's closest-ever presidential race, claiming vote counts were manipulated and renewing fears of violent protests...

kX??GLY, Gaza Strip -- Palestinian militants hit an Israeli city with a rocket from Gaza for the first time Tuesday, causing no casualties but drawing a pledge of harsh retaliation from Israel while it was already in the midst of a military offensive...

Five Afghan laborers for U.S. base killed; Paris pays homage to Jefferson, Parks

VALENCIA, Spain -- A train that derailed and killed 41 people in Spain's worst subway accident was traveling at twice the normal speed, a government official said Tuesday. The train's excessive speed has led officials to believe the driver had either fainted or become otherwise indisposed prior to Monday's accident, said Jose Ramon Garcia Anton, Valencia's regional transport minister...

Sometimes the best way to appreciate our nation's birthday is through the eyes of someone who is new to the party. Right now Mohammed, a friend of mine from a small East African nation, is packing his bags to come to the United States for the first time. He's preparing to see for himself what all the fuss is about...

CHICAGO -- Healthy adults taking maximum doses of Tylenol for two weeks had abnormal liver test results in a small study, researchers found, raising concerns that even recommended amounts of the popular painkiller might lead to liver damage. In the study, 106 participants took four grams of Tylenol -- equivalent to eight extra-strength Tylenol tablets -- each day for two weeks. Some took Tylenol alone and some took it with an opioid painkiller. Dummy pills were given to 39 others...

VALKENBURG, Netherlands -- Wheels touch. Bikes and riders go down. A bone breaks. Tour de France over. So it went for Alejandro Valverde during an accident-strewn third stage Tuesday. The Spaniard, whom Lance Armstrong once said could be cycling's next big thing, fractured his right collarbone, taking yet another favorite out of the showpiece race that already lost its top contenders to a doping scandal even before it began...

CHICO, Calif. -- Jose Canseco's most entertaining stuff came hours before he stepped back onto the field, when he criticized Major League Baseball and promised more significant steroids information. His on-field performance left a lot to be desired...

The PGA Tour rolled out the points structure for its new FedEx Cup competition, a chase for $10 million that will emphasize the last four tournaments of the year no matter what Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson or anyone else has done in the majors. The FedEx Cup starts next year and is designed to give golf its own version of a playoff...

TOKYO -- A defiant North Korea test-fired a long-range missile Wednesday that may be capable of reaching America, but it failed seconds after launch, U.S. officials said. The North also tested four shorter range missiles in an exercise the White House called "a provocation" but not an immediate threat...

LEMONT, Ill. -- Phil Mickelson walked down the aisle, said "Hi guys" and took a seat at the table. Then, he had a question. "What would we possibly be talking about today?" he asked in jest Tuesday. Mickelson has a Masters championship and is the leading money winner with more than $4 million this year. But heading into this week's Western Open at Cog Hill Golf Club, the discussion once again centers on a loss -- his collapse at the U.S. Open...

WIMBLEDON, England -- About the only thing that made Maria Sharapova flinch during her Wimbledon quarterfinal was the streaker prancing around on court. Sharapova lost three of the next four games -- coincidence, perhaps? -- before finishing off a 6-1, 6-4 victory over No. 7 Elena Dementieva on Tuesday to reach the semifinals at the All England Club for the third straight year...

Play ball! That is about all we have heard around our house this week. Both of our children are playing baseball and softball and boy, are they playing! This week we have been in a baseball tournament and our daughter has had two softball games, so we have played eight games in three days. ...

Just because your China comes from Chinet, that doesn't mean your summer parties have to lack style. There are plenty of easy ways to primp a table for all these summer holidays and happy days outside. The best place to focus your decorating efforts is on items your guests will use and focus on: napkin rings, placemats and centerpieces...

Runners started the Independence Day 5K run from Jackson City Park on Tuesday morning. A pair of Cape Girardeau residents won individual overall titles. Chris Herren won the men's title, while Kris Woolf won the women's title.

American music was plucked, strummed and sung. Children got their faces painted in hues of red, white and blue. There was a historical re-enactment and flag-waving galore. And, yes -- despite intermittent rain -- brilliant fireworks lit up the skyline and the faces of those who attended Fourth of July Celebrations in Cape Girardeau and Jackson...

In response to Gov. Matt Blunt's decision to allow the Confederate battle flag (St. Andrew's Cross) to fly during this year's Confederate Memorial Day ceremony at Higginsville, Mo., the NAACP is condemning him for it. In a story found at the Web site of The Call, a Kansas City newspaper covering race and ethnic issues, the NAACP Missouri State Conference made the following statement: "For the tens of thousands of American citizens who found themselves terrorized and threatened by violent, hateful individuals who used the Confederate flag as a symbol of their hate, much like the broken cross was used by the Germans in World War II, it is clear that the governor has no regard or respect for their voice.". ...

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) -- Authorities on Thursday identified a man who died after falling from a bridge he was repairing as Andy J. Wilson Sr., 49, of St. Louis. Federal investigators are looking into Wilson's death, the second fatal fall at the Lexington Avenue bridge in two months and the third this year involving Pevely-based Thomas Industrial Coatings...

Many of the steps recommended by a consultant for improving public transit in Cape Girardeau have already been taken, Frank Spielberg of BMI-SG told the city council Wednesday night. Spielberg reported on the results of a two-year, $225,000 study of public transit needs during the council's meeting. The report recommends establishment of a fixed-route bus service, consolidation of transit programs under one agency and a quarter-cent countywide sales tax to pay for the system...

The Southeast Missourian has been named Newspaper of the Year in the 2006 Suburban Newspapers of America contest. More than 200 newspapers from across the country and Canada entered the contest, which was divided into four nondaily circulation classes and two daily classes. The Southeast Missourian won its award in the category for dailies with a circulation of under 30,000...

The Cape Girardeau City Council sought to balance the rights of property owners to race ATVs and motorcycles against a larger issue of noise disturbance at Wednesday night's meeting. An amendment to the existing noise ordinance will curtail off-road racing only when it disturbs neighbors...

July 6, 2006 Dear Darci, Thank you for inviting us to Springfield to see you in "Rumors." I had seen a high school production in 1999 and enjoyed the pandemonium. I was relieved that your production, like the high school one, deleted most of the bad words. Your grandparents would have had trouble listening to them, especially coming from your mouth. But thank you for reciting the missing words for the rest of us while they were out of earshot...

On Thursday, the United Way of Southeast Missouri announced the allocation of funds remaining from its 2006 campaign. The more than $140,000 in additional funds came from late pledges as well as funding set aside by the United Way board of directors to help strengthen families in the community, said Marla Mills, United Way assistant director...

CHESTER, Ill. -- A vehicle stolen out of St. Louis was found submerged Wednesday in the Mississippi River. The vehicle was partially submerged along the river bank near Chester, Ill., which is located about 15 miles north of Perryville, Mo., according to a release from the Chester Police Department. No one was inside the car when found...

A recent discussion on a local newspaper Internet blog had gotten feisty. The people posting were passionate, lobbing critical comments back and forth in rapid-fire succession. Politics must have been the topic, right? The war in Iraq? The president's poll numbers?...

MUNICH, Germany -- Leave it to the French to give this World Cup a sense of deja vu. Zinedine Zidane had been there before, standing behind the penalty spot, with a chance to gain glory for himself and France. With sweat dripping off his bald pate, he faced Ricardo Pereira, 12 yards from the goal. And with the composure gained from so many tough games over the years, he kicked the ball just inside the post...

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Dale Earnhardt Jr. didn't come close to challenging Tony Stewart for this past weekend's win in Daytona. In years past, that failure would have put Junior and his Dale Earnhardt Inc. team in a panic. But those days of fretting over restrictor-plate wins and losses are long gone now...

ATLANTA -- Chuck James says he isn't a student of baseball history, so he hadn't heard of Rick Behenna before Wednesday night. And the more James heard about Behenna, the less he wanted to know. James won his third straight start, the first Braves' rookie to do that since Behenna 26 years ago, and Atlanta matched its season high for runs in beating St. Louis 14-4 Wednesday night...

By ERIN McCLAM The Associated Press He was a man, after all -- not just some abstract symbol of corporate thievery and vanished investor billions. Kenneth Lay, founder of Enron Corp., was also a grandfather to 12, a husband to the woman who sobbed at his side on the day of his conviction...

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- Radio host Rush Limbaugh will not face charges in Palm Beach County for the bottle of Viagra found in his luggage that was prescribed in his psychologist's name, prosecutors said Wednesday. Charges could have nullified the Cape Girardeau native's deal in a "doctor shopping" case...

SEOUL, South Korea -- North Korea has three or four more missiles on launch pads and ready for firing, major South Korean newspapers reported Thursday. The missiles are either short- or medium-range, reported Chosun Ilbo, one of South Korea's largest dailies. It cited an unidentified senior South Korean official. Another major paper, JoongAng Ilbo, carried a similar report...

Organized eight years ago by the Young Americans 4-H Club led by Dortha Strack, Dortha's Day Camp for Clover Kids gives children, ages 5 to 7, the chance to experience what 4-H camp will be like when they get older. This year's theme, "Fishing for 4-H," gave campers hands-on experience with a program led by the Missouri Conservation Department...

Christina McWaters has started a local chapter of a national not-for-profit organization called Binky Patrol. Their mission is to make and distribute handmade blankets to babies born with HIV or addicted to drugs, and children who are abused, in foster care or shelters. Children from 1 day old to 18 years old can receive a blanket...

MARBLE HILL, Mo. -- A Bollinger County teenager was charged this week with stabbing a 43-year-old man in what police called a quarrel over money and drugs for sexual favors. Ralph R. Carnahan, 17, of Zalma, Mo., was charged with first-degree assault in the stabbing early Monday morning...

Many youngsters in Southeast Missouri have become avid readers of the special monthly section called the Southeast Missourian Jr. under the special guidance of Cheryl Ellis. One of the things that makes this publication for youngsters so special is that it is filled with contributions from those same young readers...

Diana is someone whose spirit shines brightly. Being in her presence, you just naturally want to engage. For 35 years she was a teacher in the public school system, using that same energy to inspire and move her students to change. This past year, at 58, she retired...

To the editor: As a disabled person with multiple sclerosis, recent statements made in the Southeast Missourian have puzzled me. The Missouri Stem Cell Initiative does not ask for taxpayer money. It protects existing privately funded research. Our children and grandchildren are not being asked to pay for anything as claimed by one comment. ...

To the editor: We as a nation celebrated our nation's birthday this week. When a person drives through towns and cities, it's pathetic to see so few homes displaying the American flag on our nation's holidays. Come on, fellow Americans. We're living in the most blessed nation on earth. ...

To the editor: The news that Charter Cable is entering the phone market in Jackson is interesting. As a business owner, I know that competition in any industry spurs more choices, lower prices and better services. That's how competition works in a consumer-driven market. But it also raises this key question: If Charter can easily enter the telephone market, why can't telephone companies easily enter the cable market and provide much-needed competition in that industry?...

Government feeding; Getting a raise; Be tolerant; Making dust; Thanks to Guard; Worthless ordinance; Runoff concerns; Take responsibility; War comparison; Stop and start; The secret is out; Bicycle rules; Unconditional love; County roads

Mary Wilson Mecham died Monday, July 3, 2006, at Southeast Missouri Hospital. She was surrounded by her family. Mary was born April 19, 1923, at Bell City, Mo., daughter of Dr. John and Verl Wilson. The family moved to Bloomfield, Mo., when she was 12. She received a teaching certificate from Southeast Missouri State University...

Rebecca Marie Garner Estes Hinkle, 90, of Dutchtown died Wednesday, July 5, 2006, at her home. She was born May 8, 1916, at Sank, Mo., daughter of Thomas and Estella Wooldridge Garner. She and Edgar W. Estes were married April 21, 1934. He died July 2, 1963. She and Homer Hinkle were married in 1964. He preceded her in death...

Clara Jenett Davis, 81, of Jackson passed away Tuesday, July 4, 2006, at the Lutheran Home in Cape Girardeau. She was born April 9, 1925, in St. Louis, daughter of William and Catherine Jacob Littleton. Clara made her home on a farm at Neelys Landing...

PUXICO, Mo. -- Toni Evans, 47, of Puxico passed away July 5, 2006. She was born March 15, 1959, daughter of the late Clifton and Lydia Lois Crank Leirer. She and Eldon Evans were married Oct. 6, 1979. Survivors include her husband; a son, Josh Evans of St. Louis; a daughter and son-in-law, Jessica and Mark Christian of Thompsons Station, Tenn.; a grandson, Jack Christian; and other relatives...

MARBLE HILL, Mo. -- Stan Owens, 64, of Marble Hill died Monday, July 3, 2006, at his home. He was born July 17, 1941, in St. Louis, son of Micky and Durlene Dunn Owens. Owens was a butcher with UFCW Local 655. Survivors include three sons, Greg Owens of Marble Hill, Brian Owens of Iowa City, Iowa, Patrick Owens of Huntsville, Ala.; two daughters, Michele Owens of Springfield, Mo., Jean Johnson of Galena, Mo.; six brothers, Paul Owens of state of Colorado, Buzzy Vickers of state of Texas, Kenneth and Dennis Vickers of St. ...

CHAFFEE, Mo. -- Robert "Chief" Welborn, 65, of Columbus, Ohio, died Wednesday, July 5, 2006, at the home of a son in Chaffee. Amick-Burnett Funeral Chapel in Chaffee is in charge of arrangements.

William "W.J." McMikle, 82, of Sikeston, Mo., died at 6 a.m. Wednesday, July 5, 2006, at the Missouri Veterans Home in Cape Girardeau. He was born Feb. 1, 1924, in New Madrid County, son of Joseph Bernie and Sally Katherine Black McMikle. He and Charlotte McCain were married Aug. 31, 1953...

ZALMA, Mo. -- Melvin Eugene Woods, 68, of Zalma died Monday, July 3, 2006, at his home. He was born May 11, 1938, in East Prairie, Mo., son of Neal E. and Dimple M. Harden Woods. He and Betty Lou Husk were married Nov. 19, 1960. Woods lived near Zalma the past several years and was formerly of East Prairie. He retired from Tyson Foods at Dexter, Mo., and attended Brush Creek Baptist Church at Arab, Mo...

Laretha Virginia Harris, 83, formerly of Sikeston, Mo., and Cape Girardeau, died Monday, July 3, 2006, in Memphis, Tenn. Miss Harris was born Jan. 24, 1923, to Martin and Vera Fornkohl Heise. She went to work at the age of 19 for L.A. and Letha Harris, and became a part of their family. She was legally adopted by them in her adult years...

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- Viola M. Fassel, 89, of Perryville died Tuesday, July 4, 2006, at Jefferson Memorial Hospital in Crystal City, Mo. She was born April 24, 1917, at New Wells, Mo., daughter of Anton H. and Augusta (Clementz) Petzoldt. She married Milton E. Fassel July 5, 1936...

Wyatt; Yarbro; Reischman

25 years ago: July 6, 1981 Like a defective firecracker, last week's Fourth of July Doin's was a dud according to members of the Cape Girardeau Jaycees, who sponsored the annual event at Arena Park; rain hampered many of the activities during the three-day event and forced cancellation of the fireworks display Saturday night...

The Chaffee City Council met Monday night for a public hearing to decide whe-ther or not to allow modular homes in residential zoning areas. The ordinance was not voted on and there was no talk of considering the ordinance in future meetings.

The Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce will hold its monthly First Friday Coffee at the Show Me Center this week. This month, Kara Clark, director of sales for the Cape Girardeau Convention and Visitors Bureau, will give an update on upcoming CVB events...

Area firefighters responded to a series of suspicious blazes Independence Day that were possibly caused by fireworks. Four different fires broke out in Cape Girardeau Tuesday night, and at least one was believed to have been caused by bottle rockets, which are illegal in town, said assistant fire chief Mark Hasheider...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Gov. Matt Blunt was touring the state Wednesday to promote a new law requiring most Missouri gasoline to contain a 10 percent ethanol blend. The requirement kicks in Jan. 1, 2008, and even then, it applies only when the price of ethanol-blended fuel is equal to or drops below the price of regular gasoline. Premium-grade fuel will be exempt from the requirement...

MARBLE HILL, Mo. -- An Illinois man who drove three hours to Bollinger County on Independence Day was arrested in an undercover Internet sex sting. William J. Heyduck, 30, of Centralia, Ill., was charged with attempted statutory rape and had bond set at $7,500...

The Scott City Council will keep a close watch on two businesses after the stores repeatedly sold alcohol to minors. The council voted 7 to 0 Wednesday night to extend liquor licenses for Larry's Store 24 on Main Street and Rhodes Travel Center on Nash Road until Oct. 2 with several stipulations...

The C-SPAN2 Book Bus will be parked at the Cape Girardeau Public Library today. The bus travels the country compiling reader interviews to air on the national cable station. From noon to 12:30 p.m. local leaders will read stories to children. The readers will include Mayor Jay Knudtson and city manager Doug Leslie...

By Dr. Michael Wulfers In November. Missourians will be asked to approve a constitutional amendment called the Missouri Stem Cell Research and Cures Initiative. The purpose of this measure, promoted by a group called the Coalition for Lifesaving Cures, is to ensure that human embryonic stem-cell experimentation and research cloning will remain legal in Missouri. Unfortunately, the coalition has promulgated a number of misconceptions about the initiative...

Consent ordinances New ordinances Resolutions Appointments Liquor licenses Other...

Cape Girardeau...

Cape Girardeau...

Area school campaigns raised nearly $18,000 and the Youth United Way were asked to help allocate the funds. The Youth United Way is a United Way initiative that helps youth build an understanding of community needs and promotes volunteerism for participants and the entire youth community...

Having a cup of coffee with your morning paper? It might just prevent diabetes. Drinking several cups of decaf a day -- along with skirting insomnia and jitters -- may lower a person's risk for developing type 2 diabetes, according to a new study. The research, published this month in the Archives of Internal Medicine, found that postmenopausal women who daily drank more than six cups of coffee -- particularly decaffeinated coffee -- had a 33 percent lower risk of developing diabetes than women who didn't drink coffee at all.. ...

Briefly Area residents are invited to participate in educational programs offered today and July 20 as part of Southeast Missouri Hospital's Walk'n Be Fit program in conjunction with West Park Mall. The 30-minute program starts at 8 a.m. in the Steve and Barry wing of the mall near the customer service kiosk...

Ealy inspection shows no damage to Discovery HOUSTON -- Early inspections have revealed no damage to the space shuttle Discovery, NASA said Wednesday after a day of checking out the spacecraft with on-board cameras. That means that when the shuttle meets up with the international space station Thursday morning it likely won't need emergency repairs while hooked up with the orbital outpost -- unlike last year's daring spacewalk fixes. ...

MEXICO CITY -- As Mexico launched the official recount of presidential vote tallies Wednesday, conservative Felipe Calderon insisted his slim lead from a preliminary count would hold and said he would be willing to include his leftist rival in his Cabinet as a show of unity...

Area bowling scores West Park Lanes Submitted July 3 MEN High games: James Smith 256, Cline Myers 252, Eddie Phillips 248, Ron McCulley 246, Travis Tyson 243, Keith Shamblin 239, Keith Schuessler 237, Cody Bell 234, Michael McGuire 234, Rich Meinke 234, Jeremy Henson 233, Scott Varney 232, C.W. Horton 232, Franklin James 226, David Barberis 225, Mike Hamilton 225...

Cook sweeps holiday horseshoe tournaments Lachelle Cook was on the first-place teams in both events for the SEMO Horseshoe Association this weekend. She teamed with Ron LeGrand to place first Saturday at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Leopold, then came back on the Fourth of July to team with Irv Vandeven in capturing a 32-team tournament at the July Fourth Picnic in Oran...

Kirk Boeller's steady hand on the mound Wednesday at Capaha Field helped pull Cape Girardeau's American Legion team out of an eight-game losing streak, as Ford & Sons topped Jackson 6-2 in the opener of a doubleheader. Ford & Sons' last win came at the Paducah Tournament on June 24. Cape was coming off an 0-4 mark at the Ballwin Tournament over the weekend...

SAINT-QUENTIN, France -- Tom Boonen kept his overall lead at the Tour de France on Wednesday -- wearing the yellow jersey as he entered his native Belgium -- but was upset with his showing on a day when Australia's Robbie McEwen won a stage for the second time in this race...

American Legion junior team defeated Scott County 6-5 in the opening round of the double-elimination District 14 tournament in Sikeston. Cape Girardeau plays top-seeded Sikeston at 5 p.m. today. Mark Himmelberg was the winning pitcher for Cape...

Josh Ford provided a key two-run single in a five-run eighth inning as the Plaza Tire Capahas shut out the Riverdogs 5-0 on Wednesday in Charleston. The Capahas had three hits and two walks in the eighth to break open the game. Scott Hubbard added an RBI in the inning and finished with three hits to lead the Capahas...

SAN FRANCISCO -- Barry Bonds' personal trainer was held in contempt of court and taken to prison Wednesday for refusing to testify to the federal grand jury investigating the San Francisco Giants' slugger for perjury. Greg Anderson, who served three months in prison after pleading guilty last year for his role in the Bay Area Laboratory Co-Operative steroid scandal, was led out of U.S. ...

WIMBLEDON, England -- The "Ooohs" and "Aaahs" from an appreciative crowd began during warmups, when Roger Federer volleyed one ball through his legs. His artistry grew more impressive once play began for real. Facing the last man to defeat him on grass, three-time Wimbledon champion Federer quickly turned the Centre Court rematch into a mismatch, beating No. 7-seeded Mario Ancic 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 on Wednesday to reach the semifinals...

Construction of the East Main Street interchange on Interstate 55 could get underway by mid-September as the contractor races to get initial work done so traffic can be detoured before winter hits. "It really depends on whether or not the weather cooperates," said Andy Meyer, project manager for the Missouri Department of Transportation in Sikeston, Mo...

Local Red Cross officials say the area blood supply level is "critically low." They are conducting an emergency drive to restock supplies. "This is generally a difficult time of year because the bulk of our supply comes from high school and college students who are not in session," said Laurie Nehring, district recruitment manager for the Southeast Missouri chapter of the Red Cross. ...

Missouri needs a state auditor concerned about the office's work, not using the position as a platform for winning a higher office, Republican candidate Sandra Thomas said Wednesday. In a meeting with the Southeast Missourian editorial board, Thomas ran down the list of her GOP opponents. As she named each of the leading party contenders, she noted that all are state lawmakers...

UNITED NATIONS -- China and Russia resisted an attempt in the U.N. Security Council to impose sanctions against North Korea for its missile launches Wednesday, saying only diplomacy could halt the isolated regime's nuclear and rocket development programs...

HOUSTON -- Enron Corp. founder Kenneth Lay died of a heart attack Wednesday, still believing he was innocent in the corporate scandal that cost thousands their jobs and pensions and led to billions of dollars of investor losses. Lay, 64, faced the prospect of the rest of his life in prison after his conviction May 25 of fraud and conspiracy in one of the biggest debacles in American corporate history...

Center offers fishing, canoeing programs; Cape Democrats group meets next week; Ice cream social to benefit Brazeau Historical Society

WASHINGTON -- Orders to U.S. factories for manufactured goods rebounded in May following a big decline in the previous month as strengthened demand for petroleum and chemicals offset weakness in commercial aircraft and autos. The Commerce Department reported Wednesday that new orders rose by 0.7 percent in May following a 2 percent plunge in April...

The United Way of Southeast Missouri distributed more than $140,000 of remaining funds from its 2005 campaign to 13 local organizations, initiatives and services on Thursday. Additional funding came from late pledges as well as reserves set aside by the United Way board of directors, said Marla Mills, assistant director...

It wasn't carrying rock stars, it wasn't even carrying Dave Price and the CBS' "Early Show," but the big orange tour bus that rolled into Cape Girardeau Thursday still got people excited -- excited about reading. The C-Span2 book bus is a promotional vehicle that travels the nation with television cameras equipped to interview local authors about writing projects and local readers about their favorite nonfiction books...

A Cape Girardeau inmate enjoyed less than an hour of freedom following an escape from a work-release program before being arrested Thursday afternoon. Police were notified around 11:49 a.m. that Thomas White, 24, walked away from the recycling center where he had been working as part of a program with the jail, police spokesman Jason Selzer said...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- The Missouri Supreme Court granted a new sentencing trial for a man convicted and sentenced to die for the slaying of a Poplar Bluff, Mo., couple. Terrance L. Anderson, 30, of Poplar Bluff, was convicted by a Cape Girardeau jury in early 2001 of two counts of first-degree murder in the July 15, 1997, shooting deaths of Debbie and Stephen Rainwater...

CHESTER, Ill. -- A stolen vehicle found off the Illinois shore of the Mississippi River near Chester appears to have been intentionally ditched in the water. According to Chester police detective Ryan Coffey, the car was spotted at 11:22 a.m. Wednesday by an employee of Con Agra Milling Co., located near the river bank...

If you haven't noticed -- or tasted -- yet, the peach harvest is in full swing. This is a grand time of the year. Any time you can eat a fresh peach, it's a fantastic time to be alive. I could wax poetic about peaches, but why do it when others have already done it -- and so well?...

The water slide was the best part of the day. "At Bible school, I went down it two times," said 5-year-old Alex Harold as he was waiting to go on the slide yet again at the Osage Community Centre on Thursday. He and his cousin, Faith Essner, 7, were at the center with their grandparents, Helen and Bob Sproder of Cape Girardeau, to participate in the sixth annual Parks & Rec Day, co-sponsored by the Southeast Missourian Jr."It's all about kids today," said Cheryl Ellis, editor of the Southeast Missourian Jr., the monthly publication by and for children.. ...

The crowds at this year's Cape Girardeau Regional Air Festival are guaranteed to see at least one feat of flying they probably won't see anywhere else this year. On both days of the air festival, today and Saturday, what may be the world's only motorcycle-to-airplane transfer stunt team will give crowds a peek at their bravado...

Cape Girardeau County Commissioners took a step Thursday toward turning questions of county road policy over to an appointed advisory council. A discussion of the proposal, offered Monday by Commissioner Jay Purcell, showed a consensus in favor of the idea from commissioners. They plan to vote at their Monday meeting on Purcell's full proposal to guide the use of revenue from a half-cent sales tax for roads and law enforcement on the Aug. 8 ballot...

Brandon Sandvos' family hopes donations given to local emergency responders will save others from drowning. Brandon, 13, drowned in a private pond near Kelso, Mo., April 3, 2005. Shortly after his death, his parents donated his life insurance money to several area emergency responders to buy equipment for water search and rescue...

Rate hike could increase electric bills by an average 17.7 percent Ameren UE, Missouri's largest provider of electricity, is seeking its first electric rate hike since 1987. The corporation filed a request with the Missouri Public Service Commission Friday to increase electric rates by an average of 17.7 percent for a total increase of $361 million annually...

By Peter Myers Many poorly chosen words have been written with bad information about biofuels such as ethanol and biodiesel in the past several months. Over the past two years several of the members and the staff of the Missouri House Agriculture Committee have been deeply involved in the facts about production efficiencies of ethanol and biodiesel...

GOLDEN, Colo. -- Hundreds of pages of hate-filled diary entries, maps and documents released Thursday offer a chilling insight into the minds of the Columbine High School killers in the days and months before the 1999 massacre. On a calendar entry dated the day of the attack, April 20, the time 11:10 is written across the top -- an approximate reference to when Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold pulled out their weapons inside the suburban high school and started firing...

ST. LOUIS -- Another major college sports event is coming to St. Louis. The NCAA announced Thursday that the Gateway City will be the site of men's basketball regional semifinals and finals March 26 through 29, 2010. Meanwhile, Kansas City will host first- and second-round tournament games in 2009...

ST. LOUIS -- For Cory Spinks, "Redemption" is more than just an inspirational word printed on the T-shirts of his trainers. The St. Louis native will make or break his career when he takes on Roman Karmazin for the IBF junior middleweight title on Saturday night...

HOUSTON -- Mike Lamb homered in the first inning to spark the Houston Astros went in a 4-2 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals on Thursday night. The win was Houston's fifth win in six games, while St. Louis lost for the 13th time in 16 games. Taylor Buchholz (6-6) pitched six innings for Houston, and Brad Lidge got four outs to earn his 21st save and 14th in his last 15 opportunities...

WASHINGTON -- After months of griping about getting old, President Bush turned 60 Thursday and decided it wasn't so bad after all. "Let me just say this: It's a lot younger than you think," the birthday boy said with a rueful smile. There were surprises, a spilled secret, a song and congratulatory calls from afar...

SIKESTON, Mo. -- A natural gas leak in Sikeston prompted the closure of several streets, but was repaired without further incident. The leak occurred when a tractor mowing grass accidentally struck a gas main in the 200 block of North Frisco Street around 1 p.m. Wednesday, according to Department of Public Safety Capt. John Martin...

It was a bit unnerving to read in Wednesday's Out of the Past column for July 5, 1906, that there were no special events -- not even any fireworks -- to mark the Fourth of July in Cape Girardeau 100 years ago. As reported in the newspaper then: "The only thing to break the monotony were the loud explosions along the streetcar route, caused by the scattering of certain chemicals along the rails and ignited by the traveling cars; during certain times, the continuous reports resembled the Boer War.". ...

To the editor: I did not see in the group of gifted students I knew in high school a higher incidence of misunderstood troublemakers and dropouts than in the population as a whole. If we speak of primary schooling, then perhaps gifted children have difficulty fitting in, but certainly at the tertiary level the abilities of gifted student allow them to more easily find their place among their peers and realize the weight of their responsibilities. ...

Vote on signs; Self-service is best; Enforcement pride; Teacher seminars; Crazy sign law; Religious freedom; Where were you?; Press freedom; Too much taxation; Wrong priorities; Socialist economics

Gerald Wesley Davis, 57, of Scott City died Wednesday, June 28, 2006, at the University of Arkansas for Medical Science Hospital in Little Rock. He was born in Lafe, Ark., son of Gerald Edward and Alma Davis. Davis was employed in the transportation industry, and was a member of Scott City Church of Christ...

PATTON, Mo. -- Edna Pearl Reagan, 93, of Patton died Wednesday, July 5, 2006, at Elder Care of Marble Hill, Mo. She was born Sept. 22, 1912, at Patton, daughter of James I. and Laura C. Yount Mungle. She and Willie Edward Reagan were married Sept. 3, 1932. He died Dec. 30, 1988...

TAMMS, Ill. -- Clarence Guild, 83, of Tamms died Wednesday, July 5, 2006, at Rehab and Care Center of Jackson County in Murphysboro, Ill. A graveside service will be held at 1 p.m. Monday at Calvary Cemetery in Villa Ridge, Ill. Crain Funeral Home at Tamms is in charge of arrangements...

Emmett Evan Duff, 94, of Cape Girardeau died Thursday, July 6, 2006, at Southeast Missouri Hospital. Ford and Sons Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Volz; Stidham; Witcher; Oliver

25 years ago: July 7, 1981 About 40 contractors interested in submitting bids for the $3.9 million addition to Magill Hall of Science on the Southeast Missouri State University campus meet for an informal briefing about the project with university officials...

Top Branson show coming to Cape Girardeau; Jars of Clay studio to hold Empty Bowls session; Sikeston Depot Museum holds strange exhibit; Red House to be topic on 'Going Public' radio show; Radio station KRCU hires development director; Grandstand lineup for Illinois State Fair; Munakata art exhibition to open July 14; Bill Moyers special running now on WSIU

Brett Slaten has high hopes for his high school golf career, and following a state appearance as a freshman at Notre Dame, Slaten is putting his time in on the course this summer to make sure his game stays on form. Slaten is participating in the Gateway PGA/Southeast Missouri Junior Series this summer and plays nearly every day. Of course, hitting the links daily is a plan to which many would gladly adhere...

In the June 28 Southeast Missourian, it should have been reported that Boyce W. Church received a summons for discontinuance of service. The erroneous information was supplied by the Cape Girardeau Police Department. The Southeast Missourian regrets the error...

WASHINGTON -- The former Army private charged with raping an Iraqi woman and killing her family will all but certainly be tried in the federal court system, not through a military court-martial, a senior Army official said Thursday. Steven D. Green, who was arrested June 30 by FBI agents in Marion, N.C., has received his final discharge papers from the Army and therefore it appears he no longer has any ties to the military, said the official, who requested anonymity because the investigation is ongoing.. ...

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- The Florida Supreme Court lifted a huge burden from U.S. tobacco companies Thursday when it threw out a record $145 billion punitive damage award against them even though it agreed the companies had misled smokers about the dangers of lighting up...

London bomber sends warning in video LONDON -- One of the suicide bombers who struck London's transit system a year ago warned in a video broadcast Thursday that the attacks were only the beginning of a campaign of terror. The video was broadcast by Al-Jazeera TV on the eve of the first anniversary of the July 7, 2005, bombings that killed 52 people and the four bombers. ...

MEXICO CITY -- The ruling party's Felipe Calderon won the official count in Mexico's disputed presidential race Thursday, a come-from-behind victory for the stiff technocrat. But his leftist rival refused to concede and said he'd fight the results in court...

Cape Girardeau...

CAIRO, Ill. -- Comer Phillips, 59, of Cairo died Wednesday, July 5, 2006, at Western Baptist Hospital in Paducah, Ky. He was born June 30, 1947, in Cairo, son of George and Marie Dreisbach Phillips. He married Sandra Wyatt. Phillips retired as resident engineer with Illinois Department of Transportation District 9. ...

JONESBORO, Ill., -- Blanche Mosby, 93, of Jonesboro died Thursday, July 6, 2006, at the Lutheran Home in Cape Girardeau. She was born Dec. 18, 1912, in Reynoldsville, Ill., daughter of Henry and Sarah Lindsay Meisenheimer. She and Orris "Red" Mosby were married Jan. 12, 1933, in Jonesboro. He died Jan. 28, 1979...

LOS ANGELES -- The thrills of "24" and the sex appeal of "Grey's Anatomy" eclipsed last year's Emmy darlings "Lost" and "Desperate Housewives" in the award nominations Thursday, while shows that have fallen off the TV schedule scored a number of high-profile bids...

LAS VEGAS -- In poker, it's common to see pros covering up to keep from revealing their emotions and tipping their hands. Phil "Unabomber" Laak hides his head in a sweatshirt hood. Phil Hellmuth zips up a mock turtleneck and plays with his hands in front of his mouth, while wearing sunglasses and a hat...

CAEN, France -- Tom Boonen built his overall lead in the Tour de France by finishing second in the fifth stage Thursday, although the Belgian world champion is feeling the strain of wearing the yellow jersey. He was runner-up to Spain's Oscar Freire, the three-time former world champion who prevailed in a closing sprint...

Mazda's first crossover sport utility vehicle, the 2007 CX-7, looks more like a stylish, tall wagon than an SUV. It handles and rides more like a wagon, too. Most surprising, though, is the engine under the hood of this new, five-door, five-passenger vehicle. Its a turbocharged four cylinder that delivers as much horsepower -- 244 -- and torque -- 258 foot-pounds starting at 2,500 rpm and going to 5,000 rpm -- as some V-6's...

CINCINNATI -- Trying to bolster their struggling bullpen, the Cincinnati Reds will turn to former All-Star closer Eddie Guardado. The Reds obtained Guardado and cash from the Seattle Mariners for minor league pitcher Travis Chick on Thursday. The trade came hours after the latest in this season's series of bullpen meltdowns -- blown leads in the 10th and 13th innings of a 6-5 loss at Milwaukee...

WASHINGTON -- President Bush pushed for stern international action against North Korea on Thursday but ran into resistance from China and Russia. The North Koreans threatened to fire off more test rockets. Bush, engaged in diplomacy from Washington to Moscow to Asia, said the United States and its allies needed to speak with one voice in pressing Pyongyang to abandon its nuclear weapons and return to multinational negotiations...

Four stars (out of four) Holy Superman! (oops, that's Batman lingo). Every element of the Easter story is shown in "Superman Returns," and I have to tell you that it took my breath away. (If you don't see the allegory, call me and I'll explain it to you.) Superman to Lois: "You wrote that the world doesn't need a savior, but every day I hear people crying for one."...

CHICAGO -- A.J. Pierzynski got his ticket punched to Pittsburgh. A magnet for mayhem, the White Sox catcher beat out Minnesota rookie pitcher Francisco Liriano for the final American League All-Star spot in Internet voting Thursday. National League batting leader Nomar Garciaparra breezed to the last NL slot in the fan balloting...

Phil Mickelson shot 4-under 67 in the first round of the Western Open on Thursday, trying to rebound from his U.S. Open collapse. Tiger Woods wasn't as fortunate. While Mickelson was one shot out of the lead, Woods struggled to a 1-over 72 in his first tournament since missing the cut at the U.S. Open last month...

WIMBLEDON, England -- Amelie Mauresmo could sense another Wimbledon semifinal slipping away with each of Maria Sharapova's piercing shrieks and powerful shots. And then, slightly out of character, Mauresmo won a key point and let out a scream of her own, a bit of a bellow to release the tension...

Saxony Lutheran graduate Lauren Lueders got a chance to show her skills against some of the top girls basketball players in the state on Friday at the St. John's Sports Medicine All-Star Game at the Hammons Student Center in Springfield, Mo. The all-star game pitted the top senior girls from Missouri in a pair of games. Lueders, who played for Saxony Lutheran's boys basketball during her four years at the school, played for the White team in the Class 1-2 game...

Jon Simpher allowed eight hits and walked just one in 10 innings, but Scott County's American Legion team could not could manage to score in a 2-0 loss Thursday against Sikeston at Chaffee. Simpher struck out one and both runs were earned. Sikeston had three hits and a sacrifice fly in the 10th to secure the win...

Southeast Missouri State senior punter David Simonhoff was a first-team preseason All-America selection by The Sports Network, which released its team Thursday. Simonhoff, who recently was recognized by The Sports Network as the top punter in Division I-AA, last year averaged 42.8 yards per punt to lead the Ohio Valley Conference for the second straight season...

The Cape Girardeau Senior Babe Ruth team picked up two complete-game pitching performances Thursday night at Capaha Field in a doubleheader sweep of Chaffee. After Anthony Wulfers' five-hitter in Cape Girardeau's 9-3 opening win, Garrett Stevens followed with a four-hitter in the nightcap, a 6-2 decision...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- The state's revenue picture is looking good these days. Year-end figures released Thursday show the state's net revenue is up 9.2 percent compared with last year. That's far higher than the already upwardly revised expectation of a 4.9 percent growth rate...

Inside Cape Girardeau's Boys and Girls Club, children as young as 6 spend the summer brushing up on math skills with play money and reading books. It's part of a summer program organizers say could help reduce what education experts call the "summer slide."...

LOS ANGELES -- Yo, ho! Yo, ho! It's a pirates ride that turned into a movie -- and back into a ride. The movie, featuring Johnny Depp's swashbuckling turn as pirate Capt. Jack Sparrow, was inspired by the Disney attraction, Pirates of the Caribbean. Now, the rum-swilling pirate and crew have influenced the ride, which has been updated to include characters from the new movie "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest."...

ALBANY, N.Y. -- The highest courts in two states dealt gay rights advocates dual setbacks Thursday, rejecting same-sex couples' bid to win marriage rights in New York and reinstating a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage in Georgia. Activists had hoped to widen marriage rights for gays and lesbians beyond Massachusetts with a legal victory in liberal New York, but the Court of Appeals ruled 4-2 that the state's law allowing marriage only between a man and a woman was constitutional...

U.S. Sen. Jim Talent championed the war on terror during a campaign stop in Cape Girardeau Thursday and accused his Democratic opponent, State Auditor Claire McCaskill, of undermining the war effort. The Democratic opposition to the war on terror has only encouraged insurgents in Iraq to believe the United States will withdraw its troops, Talent told a crowd of more than 100 who turned out for a Women for Talent rally at Southeast Missouri State University...

Dear Tom and Ray: I've always wondered about ethanol. Seems too good to be true -- you just plant some corn, harvest it, and in no time you have fuel for your car. So I Googled ethanol on the Web. There are tons of Web sites extolling the great benefits of corn-based ethanol as a fuel. ...

The last word that would ever be used to describe Max Cordonnier's art is "conventional." For several years the retired literature professor created images using computers that combined the wonders of the cosmos with figures from art, literature and history to make a style that was all his own...

Starring Johnny Depp, Orlando Bloom, Keira Knightley, Bill Nighy, Stellan Skarsgaard and Jack Davenport. Captain Jack owes a blood debt to the legendary Davy Jones, captain of the dreaded Flying Dutchman. He threatens to curse Jack to an afterlife of eternal servitude and damnation if he can't settle up. ...

Following the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, airport security across the country was beefed up. The Transportation Security Administration began screening passengers boarding flights in late 2002, replacing airline personnel who previously performed those duties...

On Friday afternoon AmerenUE filed for an electric rate increase that would spike bills across the state by an average of 17.7 percent next year. The increase, if approved, reflects rising coal and transportation costs and would be the first rise in electricity prices since 1987, Ameren officials said...

The Cape Girardeau Convention and Visitors Bureau has capitalized on the public's fascination with the Mississippi River to market the community to visitors, CVB director Chuck Martin said Friday. Martin said the CVB's marketing slogan, "Where the River Turns a Thousand Tales," has focused attention on what first draws visitors to the city...

Army Staff Sgt. Daniel Cook's job doesn't involve the mundane routine of sitting behind a desk in an air-conditioned office or performing the same task over and over on an assembly line. No, his job is much better than that. "It's the best job in the division," the 82nd Airborne paratrooper says just before he climbs up on the observation and command platform placed in the middle of the Cape Girardeau Regional Air Festival grounds...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- It was moving day Friday for the crew of Discovery, which transferred thousands of pounds of supplies and cargo from the space shuttle to the international space station. And there was good news: The astronauts earned an extra day in space...

HOUSTON -- A psychiatrist testified Friday that she warned Andrea Yates not to have any more children after she tried to commit suicide twice within months of having her fourth child in 1999. "I could pretty much predict that Mrs. Yates would have another episode of psychosis," Dr. Eileen Starbranch told jurors in Yates' murder retrial...

LAREDO, Texas -- A Republican-led House panel met at the Mexican border Friday in an unusual field hearing that the chairman said he hopes will push the Senate to focus on enforcing immigration law. "It's elementary that to defend ourselves against our determined and resourceful enemies, our border must be secure," said Rep. Ed Royce, the California Republican who chairs the International Relations Subcommittee on International Terrorism and Nonproliferation...

MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- Bond was set at $750,000 Friday for a small-town minister's wife charged with killing her husband at their church parsonage. "For her, that's tantamount to no bond at all," said defense lawyer Steve Farese. Mary Winkler, 32, has been held without bond since March 23, the day after her husband, Matthew Winkler, 31, was found dead in Selmer, about 80 miles east of Memphis...

LONDON -- Britain fell silent Friday on the first anniversary of the suicide bombing assault on London's transit system -- a stunning strike that killed 52 commuters and wounded more than 700 in the capital's deadliest attack since World War II. Prime Minister Tony Blair, survivors and city workers bowed their heads during two minutes of national silence observed from the Wimbledon tennis tournament to Scotland, a quiet punctuated by the solemn tolling of bells at St. ...

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti -- U.N. peacekeepers on Friday found the bodies of 16 people believed killed in a surge of gang violence, the latest sign the Caribbean nation's capital may be slipping back into disorder after months of relative calm. The troops from Sri Lanka the bodies in the southern Port-au-Prince slum of Martissant, a U.N. statement said. The slum was the site of a recent spate of gunbattles between warring gangs...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- They were smart enough to design a rocket that would shoot their drugs into space if they were caught by police. But they were not smart enough to remember to plug it in. That little detail led two Kentucky men to prison, after they were stopped last summer with a homemade, cigarette-lighter-powered, drug-hiding rocket in the trunk of the car near Columbia...

ST. LOUIS -- Erik Johnson, the No. 1 pick in the NHL draft, will go to the University of Minnesota this fall rather than join the St. Louis Blues. The Blues retain the rights to the defenseman, and the team was part of his decision to go to college...

JOLIET, Ill. -- Dale Jarrett already was preparing to walk away from Robert Yates Racing at the end of the year. Now his corporate sponsor is following him out the door. UPS announced Friday that it will leave the Yates team at the end of this season, moving with Jarrett to Michael Waltrip's startup Nextel Cup team for 2007...

BERLIN -- Germany captain Michael Ballack is out, and backup goalkeeper Oliver Kahn is in. While third place is all that's at stake now, Germany still hopes to give its fans one final World Cup celebration Saturday in its match against Portugal. They'll have to do it without their versatile leader Ballack, who has an inflamed left knee and will miss the game in Stuttgart...

Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro is being closely monitored after developing complications this week requiring more surgery and treatment of an abscess. Doctors at the University of Pennsylvania's New Bolton Center in Kennett Square, Pa., changed Barbaro's cast twice in three days, once on Monday to replace bent screws in his shattered right hind leg and a second time Wednesday because the horse seemed uncomfortable...

WASHINGTON -- Authorities have disrupted planning by foreign terrorists for an attack on the transportation network, including tunnels, in the New York City-New Jersey area, two federal agencies announced Friday. "We have disrupted a terrorist network that was in the planning stages of an attack," said a statement released jointly at midmorning by the FBI and Department of Homeland Security...

Cape Girardeau...

Cape Girardeau...

At Libertyfest earlier this week, Neal Edwards became the fourth recipient of the Spirit of America Award. The Missouri Veterans Home has been the focus of much of Edwards' volunteer work, but the World War II veteran has raised more than $1 million for different causes over his lifetime. ...

Concert fund-raiser for Vision House; Lewis Bock to speak at Grace UMC Sunday; Today; Sunday; Friday

When people become busy with life's affairs it's difficult to see there's more going on than meets the eye. When we're involved in our daily activities, much is occurring of which we are unaware. Our soul constantly attracts or repels -- bringing to fruition what we most attend to...

DEXTER, Mo. -- Chris "Mo" Mofield, son of Jerry Lee Mofield and Shelba Lane Mofield of Dexter, was born Aug. 19. 1964, in Cape Girardeau. He departed this life at Missouri Southern Healthcare in Dexter Thursday, July 6, 2006, at the age of 41. Chris attended First Baptist Church in Dexter, was employed as a funeral director with Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter the past 20 years...

Emmett E. Duff, 94, of Cape Girardeau died Thursday, July 6, 2006, at Southeast Missouri Hospital. He was born July 16, 1911, in Turley, Mo., son of Thomas H. and Wenona Long Duff. He and Gladys Elmore were married Oct. 20, 1936, in Lebanon, Mo. She died May 23, 1996...

CHAFFEE, Mo. -- Stella Mae Mills, 93, of Chaffee died Friday, July 7, 2006, at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. She was born July 15, 1912, at Burfordville, daughter of Dean Emerson and Nola America Proctor Stone. She and J.R. Mills were married Sept. 19, 1929. He died June 5, 1988...

TAMMS, Ill. -- Clarence Guild, 83, of Tamms died Wednesday, July 5, 2006, at the Rehab and Care Center of Jackson County in Murphysboro, Ill. He was born July 22, 1922, in Tamms, son of William and Elizabeth Klee Guild. He and Edith Dakin were married Dec. 1, 1952...

PUXICO, Mo. -- Martin Keith Payne, 47, of Puxico died Friday, July 7, 2006, at Saint Francis Medical center in Cape Girardeau. He was born Feb. 6, 1959, in Advance, Mo., son of Thomas C. and Audrie Moore Payne. He and Vickie Gardner were married Oct. 13, 1979, at Puxico...

William T. Smith, 76, of Cape Girardeau died Tuesday, July 4, 2006, at Missouri Veterans Home in Cape Girardeau. He was born Aug. 4, 1929, in Mammoth Spring, Ark., son of Lee and Nettie Martin Smith. Smith was a meatcutter more than 30 years. Formerly of Hayti, Mo., he was a member of Hayti Church of Christ...

Ronald E. Owens, 66, of Cape Girardeau died Friday, July 7, 2006, at Southeast Missouri Hospital. Ford and Sons Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Jesse D. Wolters, 48, of Jackson died Friday, July 7, 2006, at his home. Cracraft-Miller Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Huff; Davault; Gibson; Vanek; Britt; Oliver

25 years ago: July 8, 1981 The remains of two infants were unearthed earlier this week in a field just east of the Florsheim Shoe Co. in Cape Girardeau; the babies died and were buried more than 700 years ago during the "prehistoric" era of Cape Girardeau and are two of 10 human bodies discovered in past years by Southeast Missouri State University archaeology students...

Van Burgess, owner of Jackson-based Burgess Performance, thought it would be fun to appear on the Speed Channel's hit show "PINKS," but he wasn't so sure if he wanted to risk losing his prized Mustang in the process. Now in its third season, "PINKS" has become the Speed Channel's most watched show. The show features head-to-head, street-style drag racing, with the winner taking home the loser's car -- title and all...

Foursome puts in two holes in one Gary Niswonger and Jim Kellett each had a hole in one Friday at Kimbeland Country Club in Jackson. They were playing in the same foursome along with Merle Gelsheimer and Howard Kinder. Niswonger, a Jackson resident, aced the 115-yard fourth hole from the white tees using an 8-iron...

SAN FRANCISCO -- A Tongan prince known for promoting political reform in his South Pacific island nation died along with his wife in a crash with a teenager's car, authorities said. Prince Tu'ipelehake, 56, Princess Kaimana, 46, and their driver died Wednesday night, according to Senter Uhilamoelangi, a distant relative and longtime friend of the prince. ...

South Carolina is in. Utah and Alabama, too. Missouri is poised to follow suit. Some states aren't waiting for an Aug. 1 deadline to seek help from the federal government in buying anti-flu medicine for a possible pandemic. "We figure it is certainly better to do it and move forward with the purchase and hope we never have to use it than not and wish that we had," said Jim Beasley, spokesman for South Carolina's Department of Health and Environmental Control...

Friendliness. Accessibility. Fellowship. Members involved with the recent building expansion of St. Andrew's Lutheran Church kept those three qualities in mind when they began planning last April. Foremost in their minds also were two Bible verses: Ecclesiastes 3:3, "... a time to tear down and a time to build up," and from the book of Jude, "Build yourselves up in faith and pray in the spirit," says the Rev. Paul Short, pastor of St. Andrew's...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- A couple of weeks after a group of House Republicans backed off from announcing a proposal to overhaul the driver's license office system -- after hearing from Gov. Matt Blunt -- the group is pressing ahead. Last month, the group of five legislators, none of whom are members of House leadership, announced news conferences around the state to unveil their plan, then quickly canceled them, saying the governor, also a Republican, wanted to discuss the matter...

CHICAGO -- President Bush expressed frustration Friday with the slow pace of diplomacy in dealing with North Korea and Iran and prodded world leaders to send an unmistakable message condemning Pyongyang's long-range missile test. He said the United States would have had "a reasonable chance" of shooting down the missile if it had been necessary, though America's missile-defense system is still in the testing phase and its capabilities are modest. ...

NEW ORLEANS -- Government and independent engineers disagreed Thursday when pressed by a U.S. House subcommittee on whether levees are safe enough for residents to rebuild in areas struck by severe flooding during Hurricane Katrina. Army Corps of Engineers Col. Richard Wagenaar stressed that the levees ringing the metro area now are significantly stronger and in some cases higher than what existed before Katrina hit Aug. 29...

HOUSTON -- Jason Marquis shut down the Houston Astros for his 11th win and pinch-hitter John Rodriguez homered in the St. Louis' Cardinals' 8-2 victory Friday night. Gary Bennett added three hits and an RBI for St. Louis. Marquis (11-6) allowed two runs and six hits in 7 2/3 innings, striking out four and walking two...

VITRE, France -- Tour de France favorites, it's time to step up. The race begins in earnest Saturday with the first long time trial on a Tour marked by crashes and a doping investigation that has stripped the event of elite riders. After an opening week when top riders took few risks and the glory belonged to sprinters Robbie McEwen and Tom Boonen, the time trial should help reveal the true contenders in a depleted field...

JOLIET, Ill. -- Jeff Burton figured that if he kept qualifying well, eventually he'd win another pole. He did that Friday, taking the top spot for Sunday's race at Chicagoland Speedway with a lap of 181.647 mph. Earlier this year, Burton won the pole for the season-opening Daytona 500...

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- Have any expired medicine? If it's expired by, say, 80 years, don't throw it out just yet. And think twice before tossing away grandpa's moldy tobacco tins. The Boone County Historical Society is looking for old goods to help restock the shelves of the former Easley Store to make it resemble the store during the 1920s and 1930s...

ST. LOUIS -- An official with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration is "very frustrated and saddened" that a third worker from the same St. Louis-area bridge-painting company has died in an accident this year. Andy J. Wilson Sr., 49, an employee of Thomas Industrial Coatings Inc. of Pevely, fell Wednesday from a four-lane bridge under repair in northeast Kansas City. Another employee died after falling from the same bridge in May...

Recent flight cancellations in and out of the Cape Girardeau Regional Airport were due to a combination of factors but not a lack of passengers, officials say. In June, 19 departing and arriving flights at the airport were canceled. Four have been canceled so far in July, according to RegionsAir president Doug Caldwell...

Tiger Woods rebounded from a rough opening round at the Western Open, but Phil Mickelson stumbled badly. And Stewart Cink jumped into contention with one of the best rounds ever at the tournament. Woods shot a 4-under 67 during the second round Friday, a day after struggling for a 1 over. Still, he was seven shots behind leader Daniel Chopra, who carded a 5-under 66 to hold a two-stroke lead over Vijay Singh at Cog Hill in Lemont, Ill...

WIMBLEDON, England -- It's Roger Federer vs. Rafael Nadal in another Grand Slam final. Federer, hitting breathtaking winners from all parts of the court, overwhelmed Sweden's Jonas Bjorkman 6-2, 6-0, 6-2 Friday to close in on his fourth consecutive Wimbledon title...

The Cape Girardeau American Legion junior team's season came to an end with an 8-4 loss Friday to Jackson in an elimination game at the District 14 tournament at VFW Stadium in Sikeston. Cape, which had lost 11-1 to top-seeded Sikeston on Thursday, finished its season 18-22...

The stainless steel skin of the B-17 Flying Fortress gleamed in the harsh summer sun while crew members sat under the shade provided by its 103-foot wingspan. Machine guns jutted defiantly from the front, sides, rear and from the gun turret in the belly of the four-engine bomber capable of delivering a 6,000-pound load more than 1,800 miles...

With gas prices near record highs, now should be the best possible time to begin offering a bus service as a low-price alternative. And Monday morning, the Cape Girardeau County Transit Authority will discover whether that is true locally with the first public bus to run on city streets since 1969...

The home is simple of style and sturdy of appearance. Nothing much stands out about the dwelling on North Middle Street in Cape Girardeau. But to the trained eye the telltale details jump out. The four-sided gambrel roof, the original wood siding, the door knob and hinges that look as if they belong on a doll-house. The pieces are all prefabricated, but the prefab is from a distant era...

David and Taylor Crowe just can't sit still. Whenever the father and son have a spare moment, they are always doing something productive. David, an orthodontist who lives in Cape Girardeau, and Taylor, his autistic son, are currently involved with projects aimed to educate people about autism...

SHE SAID: I should know by now that spur-of-the-moment purchases don't usually work out well for me. Take that $65 fuschia sweater that shrank in the wash, for example. Or that magnet maker/laminator/sticker maker all-in-one machine I just had to have when it was on sale at a local craft store. There was a reason it was on sale...

NEW YORK -- No one can know for sure whether an al-Qaida loyalist had what it took to follow through on a suspected plot to bomb Hudson River train tunnels. He had no explosives and no detailed plan, and isn't believed to have visited New York, authorities said...

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. -- After three slotless nights at Resorts Atlantic City, Lucille Mock was packing her bags to head home Saturday morning when she heard the news: The casinos had reopened! "I lost $75 in the first 15 minutes, but that's OK," said Mock, 49, of New York City's Brooklyn borough...

BAGHDAD, Iraq -- Three U.S. soldiers and an Iraqi woman translator were killed in separate incidents Saturday, while the country's largest Sunni Arab party appealed to authorities to end a military crackdown in Sunni villages northeast of Baghdad. The three Americans were assigned to the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force and died in fighting in the western province of Anbar, the U.S. military said...

MEXICO CITY -- Leftist presidential candidate Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador called on a crowd of more than 100,000 supporters Saturday to keep peacefully protesting as he went to court to challenge what he called his fraudulent electoral defeat. The fiery former Mexico City mayor said he would present fraud allegations to Mexico's electoral court today and formally request that all 41 million votes be recounted...

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip -- The head of the Hamas-led Palestinian government called Saturday for a truce to halt the Israeli offensive in Gaza, but Israel demanded that Hamas first free a captured Israeli soldier and halt rocket attacks on its southern towns...

By SMITHSONIAN MAGAZINE Originating just outside the Arctic Circle in Canada's Yukon Territory, the Snake River winds through the northern reaches of the great boreal forest, a green girdle stretching from the Atlantic to the Pacific that is the breeding ground for 43 percent of North America's birds...

JOPLIN, Mo. -- Months after voters around the state approved bonds for school building projects, contractors and architectural firms are seeing the benefits. "It's definitely a big boost for our workload," said Kyle Denham, with Patterson Latimer Jones Brannon Denham Inc., a Joplin architectural firm. "Schools are the majority of our work."...

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- Truman Memorial Veterans' Hospital is using video-conferencing to provide members of the military at Fort Leonard Wood and Whiteman Air Force Base with mental health care. The hospital announced last week that it has received a $217,000 grant from the Department of Veterans Affairs-Department of Defense Joint Incentive Fund to provide therapy and other behavioral health care to military personnel at Fort Leonard Wood and Whiteman. ...

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- They look like small June bugs, but they eat up leaves on hundreds of plants, including corn and soybeans. Japanese beetles have been in southwest Missouri for a few years, but this year they seem to be particularly voracious. The beetles will eat about 300 types of plants, including roses, blueberries, grapes, linden trees, corn and soybeans...

BERLIN -- No Italian opponent has scored in this World Cup. France has allowed two goals overall. Even with all the offensive flair on both sides, defense will decide the title today in Olympic Stadium. The Azzurri have been so impenetrable in six matches that only Cristian Zaccardo got the ball past outstanding goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon. Zaccardo plays defense for Italy...

STUTTGART, Germany -- This third-place game had meaning -- for Germany, at least. Capping a jubilant World Cup in style, the hosts defeated Portugal 3-1 Saturday on two sensational goals by Bastian Schweinsteiger. He also set up the third, when his free kick was deflected in for an own-goal by Portugal's Armando Petit...

BERLIN -- This might have been the most colorful World Cup. A good thing if blue -- as in Italy's Azzurri and France's Les Bleus -- is your shade of choice. A bad thing if the most memorable hues are yellow and red. When Italy and France meet in today's final, Olympic Stadium will be awash in cobalt and azure. ...

WIMBLEDON, England -- Amelie Mauresmo sank into her chair after losing the first set of the Wimbledon final and buried her face in a towel. Then Mauresmo straightened up and gave herself a little talking-to, deciding that this was the moment to cast off the burden of being known as a player who couldn't come through when it counted...

HOUSTON -- Jason Marquis knew who to thank for preserving his victory for the Cardinals on Friday night. Center fielder Jim Edmonds made another highlight-reel catch at a key juncture in the Cardinals' 8-2 victory against the Houston Astros. "Edmonds' play was huge," Marquis said. "He made that great play to save me from some runs. That helped out a lot and I got my confidence up."...

HOUSTON -- Despite trailing by two runs with two outs in the ninth inning, Albert Pujols wasn't ready to give up. Scott Spiezio hit a solo homer off Brad Lidge to pull within a run. Chris Duncan singled and David Eckstein walked before Aaron Miles' RBI single tied the score. Pujols then opened the 10th inning with a solo home run off Roy Oswalt, lifting the St. Louis Cardinals to a 7-6 win over the Houston Astros on Saturday...

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. -- Tennessee Tech head football coach Mike Hennigan is resigning after 10 years at the helm of the Golden Eagles. Hennigan, 54, informed athletic director Mark Wilson of his decision Thursday. His contract was to run through the 2009 season...

JOLIET, Ill. -- Despite an early season shakeup that saw him lose his crew chief to teammate Jamie McMurray, Carl Edwards heads into today's race at Chicagoland Speedway just outside the top 10 in the Nextel Cup standings. And now, team owner Jack Roush might reunite Edwards with crew chief Bob Osborne for the stretch run to NASCAR's playoffs...

CHEYENNE, Wyo. -- Anyone looking recently at the Internet webcam showing Old Faithful in Yellowstone National Park might think the geyser had lost its world-renowned reliability. But Old Faithful's faithful worldwide can rest assured that the geyser is working -- spouting off as usual about every 60-90 minutes...

RED ROCK CANYON NATIONAL CONSERVATION AREA, Nev. -- Round a bend on a highway less than 30 minutes drive from the Las Vegas Strip, and a panorama of red rocks, green cactus, gray mountains, blue sky and white clouds opens before you. It's even better at dawn, when rich yellow rays from the east cast a warm hue to the textured hills. Man doesn't shape scenes like this. It smells of fresh mesquite, pinon, creosote and sage. This is nature, not neon...

SODDY-DAISY, Tenn. -- In the depths of the Little Possum Gorge, a footpath strewn with the tools that built it suddenly emerges through a forest of hemlock and magnolia to a breathtaking waterfall. The treacherous falls, dubbed "Imodium" after the anti-diarrhea drug by those adventurers whom it has scared witless, was once known only to the most daring of kayakers willing to plunge down the 25-foot drop...

SAN FRANCISCO -- A bridge will be built around a rock slide that closed a main route to Yosemite National Park and disrupted business and life in the area, state transportation officials announced. The company chosen for the project, Teichert Construction, has started moving equipment and bridge parts to California Route 140, which has been blocked since April 29 by 3 million cubic yards of rock and debris...

WASHINGTON -- The G-8 summit that President Bush and seven other world leaders are attending next weekend in Russia is often billed as a gathering of the world's leading economic powers. But it's not. Consider: China, now the world's fourth-largest economy, is not a member...

Car drives into crowd at Conn. festival; 27 injured; Navy to resume use of sonar after whale debate

Al-Qaida suspect arrested in Hamburg; Gitmo suicide probe finds evidence of broader plot

Cape Girardeau...

Cape Girardeau...

When the Cape Girardeau City Council was deliberating restrictive changes in the city's sign ordinance a few weeks ago, several concerns were expressed, mainly from real estate brokers and other business owners who rely on signs and banners to promote their businesses...

NEW YORK -- Forget riding the wave, today's surfers are ahead of it when it comes to style. The same goes for skateboarders and snowboarders. They play by their own rules, often combining function and fashion to satisfy both their needs and image. Until recently, though, extreme sports was a niche market, largely teenage boys who aren't usually at the top of the tastemakers' go-to list. ...

To the editor: All we can remember hearing about during the Clinton years was how we need a president who is straightforward and consistent, a president like Harry Truman who wouldn't waffle on issues or check the political winds for a position. We have just such a leader in the White House. You and I may not agree on all of his positions, but who agrees with anyone all the time?...

To the editor: On June 21, the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence released a declassified report titled "Iraqi Chemical Munitions." Key points: The report can be found at www.foxnews.com/projects/pdf/ Iraq_WMD_Declassified.pdf. You can also call your federal legislators and ask to receive a copy of the report. ...

To the editor: At the Cape Girardeau City Council meeting Wednesday, we heard a convincing plea by our county sheriff for increased funding for his deputies. These law enforcement officers provide many vital services to both city and county residents. ...

Waste not; Rest-stop repairs; Small-town values; Beautiful yards; Playing through; Political pitch; Cell-phone session; Mail the notice; Take charge; Life on the line; Bad for our image

Ronald E. Owens, 66, of Cape Girardeau died Friday, July 7, 2006, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. He was born Aug. 6, 1939, in Cape Girardeau, son of Cecil E. and Venita Wright Owens. He and Jeannine Willis were married May 27, 1961, at Cape Girardeau...

OLIVE BRANCH, Ill. -- Donald B. Myers, 68, of Olive Branch died Saturday, July 8, 2006, at his residence in Olive Branch. He was born Nov. 2, 1937, in St. Louis, the son of Eugene and Myrtle Bassett Myers. He and Marcella Boedeker Myers were married on Sept. 14, 1957, in East St. Louis, Ill. She survives...

ANNA, Ill. -- Lisa G. Hess, 45, of Anna died Saturday, July 8, 2006, at home after a long battle with cancer. She was born Dec. 11, 1960, in Anna, daughter of Wayne L. and Darlene Eiselmeier Douglas. She and Samuel W. Hess were married May 19, 1984, at Anna...

KELSO, Mo. -- Esther M. Heisserer, 88, of Kelso died Saturday, July 8, 2006, at The Lutheran Home. She was born Jan. 13, 1918, in Cape Girardeau, daughter of George E. and Mary Dittrich Roth. She and Paul Aloysius Heisserer were married April 21, 1954, at Chaffee, Mo...

MOUND CITY, Ill. -- Wilmette Rowe, 82, of Mound City died Saturday, July 8, 2006, at her home. Arrangements are incomplete at Massie Funeral Home in Mounds, Ill.

MOUNDS, Ill. -- Harold Gage, 79, of Mounds died Friday, July 7, 2006, at the Day Star Center in Cairo, Ill. He was born July 26, 1926, at Benton, Mo., son of John David and ReEnna Huffstutler Gage. He and Jane Wood were married Dec. 5, 1947. Gage was a member of the Church of Christ in Cairo. ...

SEDGEWICKVILLE, Mo. -- Pearl Hester Statler, 88, of Sedgewickville died Friday, July 7, 2006, at the Perry County Nursing Home in Perryville, Mo. She was born May 26, 1917, at Lixville, Mo., daughter of Louis and Rosetta Barks Lix. She and Perry Statler were married Nov. 27, 1947. He died Dec. 18, 2005...

Chauntel Nicole Warner and Johnathon Michael Knudson were united in marriage May 6, 2006, at First General Baptist Church in Cape Girardeau. Greg King performed the ceremony. The bride is the daughter of Chris and Sandy Torbet of Oak Ridge and Ray Warner of Millersville. The groom is the son of the late Susan Glueck and the late Michael Knudson...

Shannon Jane Felker and Timothy Francis Morgan were married March 4, 2006, at Cape Girardeau Country Club. Brent T. Felker, brother of the bride, performed the ceremony. Guitarist was Jason Weaver, and vocalist was Erika Beasley, both of Cape Girardeau. Nick Clubb of Minnesota read a poem...

Farris Lee Bishop Newberry and Gerald Hart "Jerry" Johnson were married July 1, 2006, in the gazebo at Rainbow Lodge in Houston, Texas. Larry Bertrand performed the ceremony. The bride and groom are formerly of Anna, Ill. He was a practicing attorney in Illinois and Missouri 47 years, maintaining his office in Cape Girardeau...

Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Grady of Sikeston, Mo., announce the engagement of their daughter, Tosha Raquel Grady, to Bryan Joseph Drury. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Jerry Drury of Cape Girardeau. Grady is a 2000 graduate of Sikeston High School, and received a degree in nursing from Cox College of Nursing in Springfield, Mo., in 2004. She is a registered nurse on the cardiac floor at Cox Health Medical Center South in Springfield...

Glenn and Barbra Weber of Frohna, Mo., announce the engagement of their granddaughter, Candy Lynn Woodard, to Anthony Dale Ank, both of Cape Girardeau. He is the son of Lee and Dorothy Ank of Cape Girardeau. Woodard is a graduate of Perryville High School in Perryville, Mo. She is employed at Cottonwood Treatment Center...

Theresa Roberts of Kula, Maui, Hawaii, and David Roberts of Haiku, Maui, Hawaii, announce the engagement of their daughter, Dr. Malia Roberts, to Lt. Todd Nordman. He is the son of Ernie and Judy Nordman of Cape Girardeau. Roberts is a graduate of Maui High School in Kahului, Hawaii, and Southeast Missouri State University. She graduated from Logan College of Chiropractic in St. Louis in 2005. She is employed with Health In Balance Inc. in Laguna Beach, Calif...

CHAFFEE, Mo. -- Gaytane Gardner of Chaffee and David Gardner of Allagash, Maine, announce the engagement of their daughter, Robin Kristine Gardner, to David Alan Steinkamp of Cape Girardeau. He is the son of Bob and Pat Hayden of St. Augustine, Fla...

Paul and Marie Kirn of Jackson announce the engagement of their daughter, Jessica Christine Kirn, to Michael Thomas Sladek. He is the son of Tom and Tammy Sladek of Jackson. Kirn is a 2006 graduate of Jackson High School. She is a technician at SEMO Dental Lab...

Mr. and Mrs. Bruce Almond of Phoenix, Ariz., and Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence Tucker of Jackson announce the engagement of their children, Nicole Danielle Almond and Christopher Lee Tucker. Almond received a bachelor of arts degree in journalism and mass communication/public relations from Arizona State University in 2004. ...

Mel and Diane Winter of Wichita, Kan., announce the engagement of their daughter, Erin Nicole Winter, to Jack Johannes. He is the son of John and Joann Johannes of Jackson. Winter is a graduate of Wichita Northwest High School. She received a degree in public health nutrition in 2005 and a degree in dietetics in 2006 from Kansas State University in Manhattan. She is a dietitian at Mercy Regional Health Center in Manhattan...

Mr. and Mrs. Woodrow Proctor celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary June 7, 2006. Proctor and Kathryn Revelle were married June 7, 1941, in Oran, Mo., by the Rev. George Hesler. The couple lived in Chaffee, Mo., 23 years where they owned and operated Chaffee Dairy Queen until 1952, when he went to work for the U.S. Postal Service. They moved to Cape Girardeau in 1964...

Mr. and Mrs. Charles F. Hopkins of Cape Girardeau recently celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary with a dinner party at Thistle Lodge on Sanibel Island, Fla. Hosts were their children and families. Hopkins and Dixie Marie Rodgers were married April 14, 1946, in the chapel on the campus of Southwest Baptist University in Bolivar, Mo. Their attendants were J.R. "Jack" Hopkins and Margaret Day...

PATTON, Mo. -- Mr. and Mrs. Dan C. Tallent of Patton celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary March 4, 2006, with a dinner held at Marquand Community Church. Hosts were their children. Tallent and Adell Statler were married March 2, 1946, in Fredericktown, Mo...

Milford and Mary Kirn of Jackson observed their 50th wedding anniversary June 2, 2006. A private dinner party was held at Lawry's Restaurant in Las Vegas. Attending were their children and spouses, Kim and Mike Pohlman and Paul and Marie Kirn; grandsons, Geoff Kinder and Matthew Kirn; granddaughter, Jessica Kirn and fiance Mike Sladek; and great-granddaughter, Adrianna Marie...

25 years ago: July 9, 1981 State Rep. Jerry Ford of Cape Girardeau and State Sen. John C. Dennis of Benton, Mo., say they will be present Saturday at Southeast Missouri State University during a rally protesting the veto of salary increases for state employees, but both say they won't participate in the march or protest itself; area legislators have been invited to the rally by state workers, initiated by Teamsters Union Local 574, which represents about 90 state employees in Cape Girardeau...

No big deal SOUTHEAST MISSOURI State's NCAA violations seem like much ado about nothing. Who cares if a women's basketball player gets help moving a bed or is allowed to use a computer? Does that really affect the competitiveness of the game? I think not. Coach B.J. Smith has done a fine job, and he should be allowed to keep it up...

For a game with 21 walks, it was only fitting Scott County's American Legion team ended a marathon 11-inning game against district foe Cape Girardeau with a bases-loaded walk for a 12-11 victory Saturday at Notre Dame Regional High School. The game lasted more than three hours and nearly reached the 14 innings of baseball that were originally scheduled. The teams agreed to play one nine-inning game rather than a pair of seven-inning affairs due to short benches on both sides...

The Plaza Tire Capahas received two strong pitching performances Saturday but still suffered a pair of losses on the road. The St. Louis Printers swept the doubleheader, 4-1 and 3-2, despite the fact the Capahas held a 13-11 advantage in hits. Both games were seven innings...

The team of Ann Dombrowski, Alice Temm, Harriette Myers and Becky Unger emerged victorious from Saturday's Big Kahuna Tournament at Dalhousie Golf Club. The winning score was 147, ahead of the 149 fired by the runner-up squad of Mark McDowell, Greg Howard, Ken Swinford and Ben Cantrell...

WICHITA, Kan. -- Police are warning that identity thieves have used the customer records of a defunct Wichita mortgage company to run up tens of thousands of dollars in fraudulent purchases. Authorities on Friday recommended that anyone who did business with Mortgage Solutions, which is no longer in business, check with national consumer reporting companies for suspicious activity in their credit history...

SHIRLEY, N.Y. -- A little past 8:30 p.m., as the blistering July sun melted in the west, a jumbo jet carrying students, honeymooners, businessmen and others to Paris exploded in a fireball, raining carnage into the Atlantic Ocean off Long Island. It had been only a dozen minutes since TWA Flight 800 took off from Kennedy Airport...

Nearly 30 years after her book came out, Jane Cooper Stacy signed copies of it at the Red House Interpretive Center on Saturday. The Cape Girardeau resident's 46-page paperbound story titled "Louis Lorimier" served as a promotion for the old Cape River Heritage Museum, where Jeremiah's now is. The book was sold at the museum as a way to keep it operating...

Though the real estate market has cooled of late, the average American homeowner can still enjoy tremendous benefits when it comes to sprucing up the home's exterior. Nothing speaks more to pride of ownership than the exterior appearance or "curb appeal" of the home. And curb appeal goes well beyond the borders of the lot on which a home is situated. Nice communities are comprised of good neighborhoods and good neighborhoods are built from well-cared-for homes...

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico -- An investigation into three apparent suicides at the Guantanamo Bay prison has found that other detainees may have helped the men hang themselves or were planning to kill themselves too. Authorities who searched other detainees' cells after the three were found hanged discovered instructions on tying knots, along with several notes in Arabic that were "relevant" to an investigation of a possible broader plot, officials said in court papers filed late Friday in Washington.. ...

Tiger Woods vaulted into contention while Vijay Singh grabbed the lead at the Western Open. Phil Mickelson, meanwhile, dropped out of the picture with a poor third round at Cog Hill in Lemont, Ill., on Saturday. Singh is at 11-under 202 for the tournament -- two strokes ahead of Carl Pettersson, Mathew Goggin, Stewart Cink, Trevor Immelman and Joe Ogilvie...

BAGHDAD, Iraq -- A top U.S. commander who reviewed an investigation into whether the Marines tried to cover up the Haditha case agreed that errors were made, a U.S. military official said. The investigation was separate from an inquiry still underway into whether a group of Marines killed 24 civilians on Nov. 19 in a revenge attack after a fellow Marine died in a roadside bombing in the town of Haditha...

I'm back from California -- rejuvenated, I might add, after a nice vacation -- and I've got several more thoughts about the recent announcement regarding NCAA violations within the Southeast Missouri State women's basketball program. First of all, let me say that last week's initial comments were pretty much off the cuff, without having a chance to fully digest everything and also before talking to various people whose opinions I respect. ...

WIMBLEDON, England -- Celebrating a set-clinching shot during his remarkable run to the Wimbledon final, Rafael Nadal punched the air and dashed to his chair, fist leading the way. That's the way he plays, and woe to those in his path. Showing he's more than a mere king of clay, the precocious, pugnacious Spaniard has found his way across the All England Club's treacherous lawns to another showdown against Roger Federer...

RENNES, France -- Serhiy Honchar won a time trial Saturday to become the first Ukrainian to take the race leader's yellow jersey in Tour de France history, and American Floyd Landis placed second in the stage to move into second place overall. Honchar, a T-Mobile rider and a former world time trial champion, was by far the strongest rider in Saturday's 32-mile race against the clock. He finished more than a minute ahead of Landis. Sebastian Lang of Germany was third...

When he was a young boy in Nigeria, it was the joyful spirit of his town's priest that caught Patrick Nwokoye's attention. Later, memories of that prompted Nwokoye toward the priesthood. But even before that, he was listening for God's call. The ability to listen is what the Cape Girardeau pastor believes to be the cause of dwindling numbers of priests around the world...

Horseshoes is an activity that haphazardly walks the line between sport and something else, between skill and luck, between leisure and legitimate competition. Sure, some physical effort is required. "It takes talent and practice -- lots of practice. It takes talent to throw 40 feet, get your shoe to flip right, and get on that stob," said Mike Davault, an Advance resident who plays regularly in sanctioned tournaments...

KENNETT, Mo. -- Pat Allen is the race of her lifetime -- and one that's making history. The Kennett resident is seeking election to the Missouri House of Representatives in the 163rd district. She's also the first black woman south of St. Louis to ever run for a seat in the house...

Two Cape Girardeau day-care centers will receive $130,000 each in state grants to expand their preschool programs. Forty more preschool children could be served by the two centers, a state education official said. The two centers combined already benefit from $115,000 in Missouri Preschool Project grants. The latest grants are from the same program...

PERKS, Ill. -- A weekend accident took the life of an Anna, Ill., man and left a Cobden, Ill., woman in serious condition. Phillip "Colter" Frey, 20, suffered fatal injuries when the 1991 Ford Explorer he was driving overturned at about 8:30 p.m. Saturday on County Road 936 in Pulaski County. ...

The sentencing for an automobile dealer convicted of burning down his business for the insurance money was pushed back for the third time. Greg Sparkman was found guilty Oct. 14 on 15 felony counts stemming from a December 2000 fire at West Park Motors Inc...

BENTON, Mo. -- An Oran, Mo., man sustained serious injuries Sunday afternoon when he lost control of the motorcycle he was driving. Raymond G. Brown, 36, was traveling east on Route E in Scott County when the throttle of his Harley-Davidson motorcycle stuck. ...

The Missouri Department of Transportation says it will study installing a new interchange on Interstate 55 near Scott City as part of the Ramsey Creek Bridge project. MoDOT project manager Eric Krapf said the project is still in its infancy, but a new interchange south of Scott City that would connect the Kelso area to the interstate and to a corridor running all the way to Nash Road may be included in the overall Ramsey Creek project, he said...