Stories from Saturday, December 1, 2007

U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Emerson and Sen. Kit Bond made an appearance at the Southeast Missouri Port Authority to talk to local government and water transportation officials about the passage of the 2007 Water Resources Development Act over a presidential veto...

BENTON, Mo. -- Scott County commissioners are moving forward with their plan to make the county a regional 911 center. At Thursday's meeting, county developer Joel Evans presented the commission with a draft of a letter he plans to send to other counties and municipalities to gauge interest about contracting services...

A woman named Sondra was recently driving west near the Dairy Queen on East Jackson Boulevard in Jackson when the driver behind her began honking her horn and tailgating her. Sondra said the car was so close behind she couldn't see the license plate. She could read the vulgarities on the woman's lips, however...

n At 11:48 p.m., emergency medical service in the 500 block of Good Hope Street. n At 1:25 a.m., an alarm sounding in the 2800 block of Bloomfield Road. n At 2:15 a.m., emergency medical service in the 700 block of Robin Lane. n Emergency medical service on South Hope Street...

ROCHESTER, N.H. -- A distraught man wearing what appeared to be a bomb walked into a Hillary Rodham Clinton campaign office Friday and demanded to speak to the candidate during a hostage drama that dragged on for nearly six hours before he peacefully surrendered...

HOUSTON -- ConocoPhillips said Friday it plans to develop a multibillion-dollar pipeline that would transport natural gas from Alaska to the lower 48 states and Canada. The oil exploration and production company said it's "prepared to make significant investments, without state matching funds, to advance this project."...

Arts council changes exhibition deadlines The Arts Council of Southeast Missouri has changed its entry deadlines for its Young Emerging Artists Exhibition taking place in February. The deadline for entries is now Jan. 12, instead of Dec. 15, and accepted works are due by Jan. 26. The exhibition is open to artists age 18 to 30. For more information, including eligibility rules, call the arts council at 334-9233 or e-mail artscouncil@capearts.org...

Four arrested after party gets out of hand The "disorderly house" charges leveled at four Cape Place Apartments roommates had nothing to do with housekeeping. Ryan Michael Oshea, 19; Alexander George Tobias, 20; Robert Eugene Phillips III, 20; and Rama Anthony Khawaja, 22, were arrested after a party got out of hand, according to Cape Girardeau Police Department spokesman Jason Selzer. ...

LOS ANGELES -- Film and TV writers who've been on strike for nearly a month are mulling a new contract offer from Hollywood studios. Producers said the offer they presented Thursday, dubbed the "New Economic Partnership," would pay writers millions of dollars extra for work shown on the Internet, a central issue in negotiations...

ST. LOUIS -- Call her old-fashioned, but Mary Gray doesn't want that much access to other people's behinds and underwear. "I'm from the old school," Gray said of the saggy pants ban she helped enact Nov. 12 in Pine Lawn, Mo. "You got to leave something for the imagination."...

The Christmas for the Elderly program is intended to help seniors who typically don't have a family, lack basic supplies and can't spend money to treat themselves to a Christmas. Donations can be dropped off at the Southeast Missourian office at 301 Broadway and should include the identifying letter of their recipient...

Shirlene Jeanette Winch, 59, of Scott City died Wednesday, Nov. 28, 2007, at her home. She was born July 22, 1948, in Cape Girardeau, daughter of John J. and Verna Mae Sanford Kelly. She and Allen Eugene Winch were married Oct. 15, 1972, in Scott City. He died March 29, 2005...

ORANJESTAD, Aruba -- Two brothers rearrested last week as suspects in the disappearance of American teenager Natalee Holloway will be released from jail, a prosecutor said Friday. The two brothers, Satish and Deepak Kalpoe, will be released by today, prosecutor Dop Kruimel said...

Miller; Fisk; Moore; Bahner; Erlbacher

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Jacob P. Mattingly, 4 months, of Excelsior Springs, Mo., died November 28, 2007, in Kansas City. He was born July 7, 2007, in North Kansas City, Mo., son of Ryan P. Mattingly and Sara M. Farlow. He is survived by his parents; grandparents, Tom and Gail Farlow of Ste. ...

CLEARWATER, Fla. -- Evel Knievel, the red-white-and-blue-spangled motorcycle daredevil whose jumps over crazy obstacles including Greyhound buses, live sharks and Idaho's Snake River Canyon made him an international icon in the 1970s, died Friday. He was 69...

Christ Episcopal Church to serve chili Sunday Rescheduled from last week, Christ Episcopal Church will open its red doors to the community once again for its "Umpteenth Annual" free chili supper in conjunction with the Christmas Parade of Lights on Sunday. ...

It's hard to believe the University of Missouri is sitting atop the college football mountain. Ranked No. 1 and led by Heisman Trophy candidate Chase Daniel, the Tigers are one game away from playing for the national championship. One more opponent stands in the way: Oklahoma...

Flags to be at half-staff Dec. 7 for Pearl Harbor Gov. Matt Blunt announced Friday that all flags at state facilities will be flown at half-staff in recognition of National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day on Dec. 7. The flags will remain at half-staff until dusk that evening...

Jerome J. Scherer, 85, of Cape Girardeau, passed away Friday, Nov. 30, 2007, at Missouri Veterans Home. He was born July 20, 1922, near Benton, Mo., son of Victor and Pauline Welter Scherer. He and Rosalia Duenne were married Jan. 22, 1944, in Charleston, Mo...

Lecture on 'father' of region set for Sunday At 6:30 p.m. Sunday, a lecture, "The Father of Southeast Missouri: Louis Houck," will be presented by Dr. Joel Rhodes of Southeast Missouri State University in the John and Betty Glenn Convocation Center at the River Campus. The presentation is free and open to the public. Call 651-2260 for more information...

KHARTOUM, Sudan -- Thousands of Sudanese, many armed with clubs and swords and beating drums, burned pictures of a British teacher Friday and demanded her execution for insulting Islam by letting her students name a teddy bear Muhammad. Sudan's Islamic government, which has long whipped up anti-Western, Muslim hard-line sentiment at home, was balancing between fueling outrage over the case of Gillian Gibbons and containing it...

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- Lloyd S. Westmoreland, 54, of Perryville died Friday, Nov. 30, 2007, at St. John's Mercy Rehabilitation in Creve Coeur, Mo. He was born Aug. 17, 1953, in Perry County, son of Lloyd F. and Dorothy L. Busch Westmoreland. He and Ellen L. Balsman were married July 9, 1987...

WASHINGTON -- The Bush administration intends to slash counterterrorism funding for police, firefighters and rescue departments across the country by more than half next year, according to budget documents obtained by The Associated Press. The Homeland Security Department has given $23 billion to states and local communities to fight terrorism since the Sept. ...

Leonard W. Lowes, 86, of Cape Girardeau died Thursday, Nov. 29, 2007, at Missouri Veterans Home. He was born March 3, 1921, in Jackson, son of Ed and Mary Augusta Grebe Lowes. He married Helen "Jackie" Alexander. Lowes was a contractor and land developer and owner of Leonard Lowes Construction. He was a member of St. Mary's Cathedral, Knights of Columbus Council 1111, VFW, and American Legion. He was a past member of VIP board and a Cubmaster...

Christmas Arts Festival planned for Dec. 9 The Arts Council of Southeast Missouri will hold its eighth annual Children's Arts Festival on Dec. 9 with a concert at 3 p.m. and an artists and authors reception at 4 p.m. The concert takes place at Academic Hall auditorium on the Southeast Missouri State University campus, and the reception will be at the arts council's location at 32 N. ...

Arrests; Property damage

MISSOULA, Mont. -- Taking holiday decorations from a man named Clouse this time of year might land you on the "naughty" list. Putting them up in your yard with the tags still on might land you in jail. Michael Allard, 39, is accused of stealing Christmas trees and wreaths from the Montana Wreaths & Pink Grizzly Christmas Store. He was arrested Monday and charged with felony burglary and misdemeanor theft...

More than talk; Blame DESE; Anti-Americanism; Treating bipolar; Wonderful city; Dangerous carts; Wise men on their way; Funeral dignity; Dangerous situation; Need better choices; Leave it to science

In the beginning -- which is to say, early Wednesday morning -- there was a slab of concrete. And the builders set to work, the air infused with the scent of fresh-cut lumber. From the hillside, the volunteer work force of nearly 200 people moved briskly, with intent, from one point to the next. No lollygagging...

CHICAGO -- An Amtrak train plowed into the back of a freight train Friday, critically injuring five people as its engine car was hurtled atop a boxcar. The Amtrak's three double-decker passenger cars remained upright, and most of the 187 passengers walked away unhurt or with minor injuries. Nine people were reported in serious condition and another 30 were treated for bumps and bruises, though fire commissioner Raymond Orozco expected that number to rise to about 50...

Joey Mack traveled 6,250 miles just to compete for a championship. He made those miles count. Mack, 30, of Benton, traveled another couple of hundred miles Friday to pick up his Midsouth Racing Association super late model points championship at an awards banquet in Jonesboro, Ark...

The Jackson boys basketball team overcame a 13-point, second-half deficit Friday night to defeat Central 58-54 in overtime to reach the championship game of the Farmington tournament. Jackson, which improved to 2-0, will try to defend its tournament title today at 7:30 p.m. when it faces Salem in the championship game...

The Southeast Missouri State men's basketball team will wrap up its Missouri Valley Conference tour tonight with a game at Bradley. Southeast also will complete its magical, mystery bus tour that, in the past 10 days, has seen the Redhawks log plenty of miles...

'Sportsman's Park' author to sign copies St. Louis-Post-Dispatch columnist Dan O'Neill will sign copies of his new book, "Sportsman's Park" at the Barnes and Noble in Cape Girardeau today. O'Neill will be joined by former St. Louis Browns and Boston Red Sox player Babe Martin. They will be signing books from noon to 2 p.m...

ORAN -- Nick Niemczyk's hot shooting in the second quarter launched Bell City to a big lead. It was his free throws in the final 16 seconds that iced the contest. Niemczyk went 4-of-4 from the free-throw line in the final minute as Bell City held off a furious rally by Scott County Central in the championship game of the Oran boys basketball tournament Friday. The Cubs earned the 75-72 victory in front of an overflowing gym...

"Every Parkinson's sufferer moves along a pendulum between deep frustration and great hope," said Michael J. Fox, actor and Parkinson's patient. Anyone who remembers "Family Ties" on television or the "Back to the Future" movies will remember Michael J. ...

The season of Christmas is a season of giving -- giving cookies, giving gifts and giving promises. The season of Christmas is a season of good cheer and good will toward men. Christmas is a reminder of a promise that was given centuries before. The season of Christmas also marks the beginning of promises kept...

Vincentian Marian Youth plans events for Dec. 9 PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- A Vincentian Marian Youth Encounter will be held Dec. 9 at the shrine church in Perryville. A five-minute Faith Alive will start the evening off at the 6 p.m. Mass featuring contemporary Christian music follows, with the Rev. ...

A two-day seminar on Missouri's jails and prisons kicks off in Cape Girardeau; Edward D. Daniel, director of the Missouri Department of Public Safety, says Missouri needs to develop and implement voluntary minimum jail standards to avoid being "targeted" by prisoner civil rights suits...

Cape Girardeau is famous for many things. The home of Rush Limbaugh (the talk-show host and the other Rush who has an empty federal courthouse named for him). A stopping place for Meriwether Lewis and William Clark. The nation's only officially designated (by mayoral proclamation) downtown golf course...

Stan Crader of Jackson turned memories of his years growing up in Marble Hill into a novel that isn't exactly a Christian work, but is one that Christians will enjoy reading. "I did not set out to write a Christian book," Crader said. "It has Christian principles. It could be called uplifting."...

From left, Pat Poole, Waylon Poole, 6, Laci Poole and Jewlian Poole, 3, hunkered down in Allen Greatting's carriage Friday night for a ride along Main Street in downtown Cape Girardeau. Others waited in line for a ride during the Downtown Christmas Open House. Businesses stayed open late for the event...

SAN ANTONIO -- What a wild and wonderful week for Missouri. The Big 12 North champions are ranked No. 1, their quarterback is getting serious talk about the Heisman Trophy and if the Tigers can beat No. 9 Oklahoma in the league title game tonight, they'll play for the national championship...