Stories from Sunday, December 2, 2007

The Parade of Lights holiday parade along Broadway in Cape Girardeau was ill attended, but enjoyed by those who did brave the weather to see the annual parade.

Visitors to the Missouri town of Brazeau on Saturday were greeted with all the sights and sounds of Christmas of yesteryear as part of the town's eighth annual Christmas walk. The town, along Route C in Perry County, was decked out in Christmas decorations for the event. ...

The Humane Society of Missouri is awaiting a hearing to decide the fate of 26 dogs seized in connection with a Stoddard County dogfighting ring that was broken up Oct. 20. The preliminary hearing for the three defendants in the case was held Nov. 29, and now the Humane Society, while continuing to care for the dogs, must wait to see whether a judge will release the animals to their custody and allow them to be put up for adoption, said Tim Rickey, director of investigations for the Humane Society.. ...

Husband-and-wife journalists Bob Miller and Callie Clark Miller share the same small house, work in the same office and somehow manage to cling to their sanity. Usually, the Southeast Missourian sweethearts offer their views on everyday issues, told from two different perspectives. This one was from Bob's point of view....

In July, the House of Representatives passed the 2007 version of the farm bill, legislation which is generally passed every five years outlining the country's agricultural policies. In the process, it retained many of the subsidy programs deemed a "safety net" by supporters that were found in the 2002 version...

For adults, the annual Jackson Christmas Parade means a chance to watch children's excitement about the approaching holiday season, whether they are participants in the parade or just spectators. For children, it's mostly about the candy. Children and their parents lined East Main Street in Jackson at 2 p.m. Saturday as children brandishing shopping bags collected the goodies tossed from those marching or riding on floats in the parade...

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- Mr. and Mrs. Larry White of Perryville celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary with a reception and dinner Nov. 17, 2007, at Calvary Temple Church in Fredericktown, Mo. Hosts were their sons. The Whites were married Nov. 23, 1967, at Crossroads United Methodist Church, by the Rev. Donald Blaylock...

Jill Susan Eichhorn and Nicholas Andrew Schweiss were married Sept. 15, 2007, at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church. The Rev. Joseph S. Williams performed the ceremony. Pianist was Cheryl Oberhaus and vocalist was Alan Bruns, both of Cape Girardeau...

Jim and Betty Scheper of Jackson celebrated their 45th wedding anniversary Nov. 17, 2007, at St. Andrew Lutheran Church. Their children and grandchildren hosted the event. The Schepers were married Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 22, 1962, at Zion Lutheran Church in Pocahontas...

To the editor:In a recent announcement from the governor's office, Cape Girardeau resident Stephen Bradford was appointed to the HealthNet Oversight Committee established to revamp Missouri's existing Medicaid program, which, among many things, provides funding for in-home care to the poor and disabled. ...

To the editor:Alan Journet, in a recent op-ed column about transportation alternatives, was right on point. Current proposals for alternative fuels are a wash at best and, when government subsidies are factored in, become wasteful. Our seemingly insatiable appetite for gasoline is both troubling and embarrassing. ...

Missouri Gov. Matt Blunt's position on illegal immigrants is clear: He wants Missouri's laws and enforcement activities to plainly signal that undocumented residents are not going to be tolerated. To that end, Blunt already has asked state law enforcement officers to check the immigration status of anyone who is incarcerated. ...

Rebecca Ashley Simmons of Scott City and Brandon Keith Donner of Whitewater announce their engagement. She is the daughter of Randy Simmons of Grand Tower, Ill., and the late Mary Simmons. Donner is the son of Ray Donner of Whitewater and Pamela Hilsabeck of Dyersburg, Tenn...

The Tourism Council of the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce is finalizing plans for its second annual Living Nativity Scene; the scene will feature live animals from the 5-H Ranch, costumes and community choral groups and will be in Capaha Park. Cathy V. Crites is the new manager of Good Hope Grocery, 104 S. Sprigg St.; the store, operated under the sponsorship of Cape Alternative Services Inc., features all-natural foods and personal care products...

Gary and Cheryl Otte of Cape Girardeau announce the engagement of their daughter, Amanda Tyne Otte, to Brandon James Hill. He is the son of Jane Painton of Cape Girardeau and Terry and Jetty Hill of Jackson. Otte is a 2003 graduate of Notre Dame Regional High School. She received a bachelor of fine arts in graphic design from Southeast Missouri State University in 2007. She is a graphic artist at Magna-Tel...

Sally Buerck of Altenburg, Mo., announces the engagement of her daughter, Andrea Sue Buerck, to Gabriel Carl Hensley, both of Cape Girardeau. He is the son of Rick and Vicki Hensley of Farmington, Mo. Buerck is also the daughter of the late Craig T. Buerck...

Openness on the board; Hybrid-car batteries; Stop this nonsense; Valid uses for phones

To the editor:Alan Journet's op-ed column on transportation alternatives puts the issue in a nutshell: Corn ethanol is a scam that does not achieve the objectives for which it is touted, and it constitutes more of a drain on our environment and limited resources than a solution to problems of climate change and dwindling oil supplies...

ADVANCE, Mo. -- Stacey Michelle O'Hare and Jason Michael Van de Ven were married June 23, 2007, at St. John's Catholic Church in Leopold, Mo. The Rev. James Seyer and the Rev. William Huggins performed the ceremony. Organist was Alissa Vandeven of Leopold. Vocalists were Jill Bollinger of Kennett, Mo., and Stan Seiler of Leopold, uncle of the groom...

Amber Nicole Stringer and Clint Thomas Wellin were married July 21, 2007, at Cape First in Cape Girardeau. Bryan King performed the ceremony. Vocalists were Kristina Criddle, Nicole and Alyssa Kimbel, Ben and Jennifer Crass, and music by Freedom Rock Band...

Angela Syrama Heise and Andrew Lee Stone were united in marriage Aug. 4, 2007, at Mount Auburn Christian Church. Wes Wright performed the ceremony. Parents of the couple are Jeff and Helen Heise and Chuck and Cindy Stone, all of Cape Girardeau. Maid of honor was Caroline Heise of Cape Girardeau, sister of the bride. Bridesmaids were Julie Hite, Cheryl Hagler and Jessica Cook, all of Cape Girardeau...

Kimberly Ann Baldwin and Kevin Louis Kluesner exchanged vows Oct. 13, 2007, at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Jackson. Monsignor Edward Eftink performed the ceremony. Organist was Jerry Ganiel of Marble Hill, Mo., and soloist was Rebecca Miller of Jackson...

Sara Colleen Scheper and Travis James Turner were united in marriage July 28, 2007, at Bollinger Mill State Historic Site at Burfordville. The Rev. Samuel Rothemeyer performed the double ring ceremony. Soloist was Beth St. John, accompanied by Dan and Abbie Fieser...

Mr. and Mrs. Roger Suedekum of Cape Girardeau announce the engagement of their daughter, Jamie LeAnn Suedekum, to Bernard Arvin Macatangay. He is the son of Dr. and Mrs. Tomas Macatangay of Shelby Township, Mich. Suedekum received a bachelor of science degree in social work from Southeast Missouri State University. She is a claims representative with Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield...

It's the most wonderful time of the year, and Southeast Missourians can enjoy sights and activities to go along with the holiday season all month long. The Cape Girardeau Parade of Lights will light up downtown in the holiday spirit tonight, weather permitting, and the Cape County Park's Holiday of Lights tour can be enjoyed from the warmth of a car every night in December...

MISSOULA, Mont. -- A college student accused of shoving a pumpkin pie into the face of a shopping-mall Santa Claus has been charged with misdemeanor assault. Clint Westwood, 22, said he "lightly smooshed" the pie into the man's face Wednesday and shouted, "What do you think of that, Santa?"...

NEW YORK -- One left a starter pistol and a blue suit jacket, barely worn. Another left a lace-trimmed christening gown, probably made for an infant daughter who died. The artifacts, part of an exhibit opening Monday at the New York Public Library, were culled from 400 suitcases left behind by patients at the Willard Psychiatric Center in upstate New York, which closed in 1995...

Volkswagen's priciest -- and biggest -- vehicle in America is spruced up for 2008 with subtle styling updates, more power and improved safety. The 2008 VW Touareg five-passenger sport utility vehicle also retains the across-the-board, five-out-of-five-stars crash test ratings from the federal government that its predecessor had...

SAN FRANCISCO -- A man carrying a semiautomatic handgun approached a group of San Francisco police officers Saturday afternoon and, with a smile, handed over the pistol in exchange for $150 in gift cards. "I used to fire it at bottles or do some plinking in the woods," said the gun's owner, 48-year-old Bruce Bourne. "But I have a 6-year-old daughter now, and my wife was uncomfortable with it being in the house."...

SAVANNAH, Mo. -- A 41-year-old man who was acquitted of molesting a girl two years ago has been sentenced to 75 years in prison after he was found guilty of having sex with the same girl in another county. An Andrew County jury convicted Edward E. Williams of St. Joseph of felony child molestation and statutory rape after a two-day trial in October. He was sentenced Friday...

Money for farm subsidies makes up only about 10 percent of the farm bill (the version being debated in the Senate calls for $288 billion in funding). Other money goes to research, alternative fuels, school lunch and food stamp programs and other programs...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- The holiday season can be overwhelming for some people, especially when it collides with day-to-day activities. That is why some people are looking for outside help with their decorating. Jessica Adams, designer at River City Florist, said convenience seems to outweigh cost when it comes to decorating...

CAIRO, Egypt -- Saudi Arabia is bristling at international criticism over the sentencing of a rape victim to prison and 200 lashes, insisting the West should stay out of its legal system. But the case could empower voices for change in the kingdom's Islamic courts...

KIEV, Ukraine -- An explosion Saturday hit the Ukrainian coal mine where 100 workers died in a methane blast in November, the Interfax news agency reported. At least five miners were seriously injured and another 35 were unaccounted for at the Zasyadko mine in Donetsk, the agency said, citing an unnamed official in the State Industrial Safety Committee...

KHARTOUM, Sudan -- Two British parliament members met officials in Sudan on Saturday to try to secure the release of a British teacher imprisoned for naming a teddy bear Muhammad and later said the Khartoum government wants to resolve the case. Britain's Channel 4 News quoted the teacher, Gillian Gibbons, as saying in a statement from police custody that she was being treated well...

YEKATERINBURG, Russia -- From scores of billboards to extensive television coverage of President Vladimir Putin, the Kremlin's aggressive campaign to mobilize voter support for the Russian leader's party has made it a near certainty it will sweep today's parliamentary election...

AIKEN, S.C. -- A bank teller had a million reasons to deny this transaction. Police say a man tried to open an account with a $1 million bill, which does not exist. The teller refused and called police while the man started to curse at bank workers, said Aiken County Sheriff's spokesman Lt. Michael Frank...

WASHINGTON -- Silena Davis had counted on an early tax refund to pay for getting her teeth fixed. Now, because Congress has dawdled all year on a tax bill, she and millions of other early filers could have to wait extra weeks for refunds that last year averaged $2,291...

DES MOINES, Iowa -- Snow and ice plastered a wide area of the Midwest on Saturday, disrupting campaigning by presidential hopefuls, making highways hazardous and closing Des Moines' airport. The National Weather Service posted winter storm and ice warnings across parts of Nebraska, Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, the eastern Dakotas, Illinois and northern Michigan, although some warnings were lifted by midday. Six to 16 inches of snow was forecast in parts of Minnesota...

ANNA, Ill. -- Elijah Holt Jr., 79, of Pulaski, Ill., died Friday, Nov. 30, 2007, at the Union County Hospital in Anna. There will be no service. Massie Funeral Hom in Mounds, Ill., is in charge of arrangements.

Editor's note: Matt Wittmer is a Cape Girardeau native and an avid cyclist. He is helping plot a bike route from Canada to Key West, Fla., as part of the East Coast Greenway. Wittmer's portion of the ride started in September in Washington, D.C., and will end in Key West this month. This is his last column for the ride....

Editor's note: This is the first story in an occasional series on the government's role in farming and the millions of tax dollars that support the region's agriculture. By Matt Sanders Southeast Missourian Every year, millions of federal dollars flow into Southeast Missouri's economy, helping to prop up an industry that some say wouldn't exist as we know it without the money -- agriculture...

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- Two Columbia teens selling firewood from a vacant lot may have to close down their business because of zoning violations. Columbia protective inspection officials said recently that the teens have to stop selling the firewood until they rezone the land, get a business license and make other improvements, including a "dust-free parking lot," a handicapped-accessible entrance and a bathroom...

JOPLIN, Mo. -- The mother of a slain 9-year-old girl has filed for divorce from her husband, one of the two men accused of raping and killing the child, according to online court records. David W. Spears, 25, and Chris Collings, 32, were each charged with one count of first-degree murder, forcible rape and statutory rape in connection with Rowan Ford's abduction, alleged sexual assault and murder last month...

NEW YORK -- A Bush administration plan to slash anti-terror grant programs by more than half would threaten the safety of U.S. cities, several New York politicians charged Saturday. U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer blasted the Bush administration's plan to eliminate some port and rail security programs and cut Homeland Security grants for states and cities from $3.4 billion in the fiscal year 2007 to $1.4 billion in 2009...

Arthur; Bohnert; Smith

This three-level home, with three bedrooms and two baths in the Jackson School District is within walking distance of Jackson City Park. Established landscaping and a shady yard combined with double-door entry and shuttered windows create curbside appeal. The front porch extends more than half the length of the house, which is set on a 90-by-142-foot lot...

Want to go? Dec. 2 n Sounds of the Season Holiday Concert: Southeast Missouri Hospital Foundation Inc. presents the 12th annual benefit concert at Cape Bible Chapel 2 p.m. Call 334-9254 or visit www.southeastmissourihospital.com. n Christmas Carnival: At VFW on Kingshighway. From 2 to 4 p.m. Games, crafts, prizes for everyone. Especially for children ages 1 to 12 with adult supervision. Call 225-7863...

BENTON, Ark. -- There will be some extra cash but no holiday fruit baskets for Arkansas prisoners this year. In past years, state inmates received a holiday gift of an apple, an orange and $5 in commissary account money from the Corrections Department. But this year the state's more than 14,000 inmates will get $6 and no fruit...

WASHINGTON -- Scientists hoping to study the ancient skeleton known as Kennewick Man are protesting efforts that they say could block them from examining one of the oldest and most complete set of bones ever found in North America. For the third time in four years, the scientists oppose a Senate bill that would allow federally recognized tribes to claim ancient remains even if they can't prove a link to a current tribe...

UNIVERSITY CITY, Mo. -- For years, David Crismon commuted more than an hour from his home in New Athens to his job in University City as a firefighter and paramedic. But his $300-a-month gasoline bills were starting to add up. Crismon, a battalion chief with the University City fire department, also missed his Great Pyrenees dog, Dozer, on the 24-hour shifts he worked 10 days each month...

HARRISBURG, Pa. -- New mint packets being sold by The Hershey Co. look nearly identical to the tiny heat-sealed bags used to sell illegal powdered drugs like crack, heroin and cocaine and glorify the drug trade, a Philadelphia police official said. Ice Breakers Pacs, nickel-sized dissolvable pouches with a powdered sweetener inside, hit store shelves in November. ...

KEY WEST, Fla. -- A landscaping crew about to grind a tree stump discovered 30 World War II mortar shells buried on property once owned by the Navy. A worker hit and broke one of the shells Friday, but it did not detonate. The mortars could have done serious damage had they exploded, Sgt. Bobby Randolph of the Monroe County Sheriff's office said...

Leonard W. Lowes, 86, of Cape Girardeau passed away Thursday, Nov. 29, 2007, at the Missouri Veterans Home, where he resided in the "A" Wing since October 2006. He was born March 3, 1921, in rural Jackson, son of Ed and Mary Augusta Grebe Lowes. Lowes attended College High School and completed 13 years of education. ...

Unforeseen health problem creates difficulty "This is the first year we've ever done anything like this," said Kathy, a former stay-at-home mom of three. Kathy and her husband, Todd's, financial situation could be anybody's. While raising three children, the couple depended on Todd's average salary while Kathy stayed at home with the children and attended Southeast Missouri State University part time in hopes of becoming a better financial asset for her family in the future...

Central finished in third place at the Farmington basketball tournament with a 48-37 win over Doniphan on Saturday. Senior Jajuan Bell scored 22 points to lead the Tigers. Senior Shane Nolen also played well, chipping in 13 points. The game was tight throughout with the Tigers leading by only three at halftime and by three at the end of the third...

Editor's note: This is the first story in an occasional series on the government's role in farming and the millions of tax dollars that support the region's agriculture. By Matt Sanders Southeast Missourian Every year, millions of federal dollars flow into Southeast Missouri's economy, helping to prop up an industry that some say wouldn't exist as we know it without the money -- agriculture...

PEORIA, Ill. -- If the Southeast Missouri State men's basketball team hoped Bradley would be looking ahead to Tuesday's highly anticipated home game with 10th-ranked Michigan State, it didn't happen. The Braves were plenty focused from the start Saturday night as they built a big lead early and cruised to a 90-72 victory...

The first of two straight games against nationally acclaimed opponents resulted in a lopsided loss for the Southeast Missouri State women's basketball team. Southeast coach John Ishee and his players hope things go better today when they face Purdue in a 1 p.m. tipoff in West Lafayette, Ind...

Gators take first place at Carbondale 500 The Gator Swim team won the Carbondale 500 swimming meet behind three first-place finishes by twins Kyleigh and Kristian Troxel. The Gators scored 966 points at the meet in Carbondale, Ill. Kyleigh Troxel won the 500 freestyle, 400 individual medley and 200 individual medley. Kristian Troxel won the 100 breaststroke, 200 breaststroke and 400 individual medley...