Stories from Tuesday, February 5, 2008

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) -- Kansas City Mayor Mark Funkhouser is seeking the support of suburban mayors for his plan for regional light-rail service in the five-county metropolitan area. The mayor has draft legislation that would create a two-state district, which would replace the Kansas City Area Transportation Authority and other bus agencies for planning and running light rail...

ST. LOUIS (AP) -- Five high school basketball championships won by Vashon High School in St. Louis are being scrutinized by the Missouri State High School Activities Association. The association is delving into the eligibility of at least 15 Vashon players from 1998 to last year. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch says questions have been raised about whether players lived within the school's boundaries or were improperly recruited...

ST. LOUIS (AP) -- The pastor of a Polish-heritage Catholic church in St. Louis says the region's archbishop rejected an offer at reconciliation. The Rev. Marek Bozek met with Archbishop Raymond Burke and members of a church tribunal for about an hour. The meeting had been called to begin the process of defrocking the priest. Meanwhile, hundreds of the priest's supporters stood in the rain and prayed...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) -- The chief justice of Missouri's Supreme Court wants to partially pull back the curtain on the state's largely hidden process for picking certain judges. The changes proposed by Chief Justice Laura Denvir Stith Tuesday would affect judges whom the Appellate Judicial Commission helps select, including her colleagues on the state Supreme Court, as well as judges on Missouri's appellate courts and circuit courts in parts of the Kansas City and St. Louis areas...

CHAFFEE, Mo. -- A special Chaffee City Council meeting is planned for Wednesday after what some are calling a "pretty nasty" meeting Monday. What started as a routine gathering and simple agenda quickly changed. "We had an audience full of irate people protesting the overexuberance of the police department. That's the nice way of putting it," said Chaffee Mayor Loretta Mohorc...

The tornado warning issued by the National Weather Service for Cape Girardeau County and Union County, Ill. has now expired. The warning was issued before 7 p.m., when weather service radar indicated a thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado near Jackson.

The National Weather Service in Paducah, Ky., has issued a flash flood warning for much of Southeast Missouri, including large sections of Cape Girardeau, Bollinger, Perry and Scott counties. The warning follows a tornado warning that expired at 7:30 p.m...

Curtis Pickering, one of three men charged with felonies associated with an alleged dogfighting ring in Stoddard County, Mo., pleaded not guilty at an arraignment in Cape Girardeau County on Monday morning. Stephen Walsh, attorney for Pickering, argued to reduce the $125,000 cash bond for his client, citing Pickering's steady employment and lack of prior criminal history...

Scott City police chief Don Cobb will be leaving the position he held for the past six years to take a new job overseas, he said Monday. Taking his place will be Lt. David Leeman of the Scott City Police Department, Mayor Tim Porch said. Leeman will serve as interim chief for now, Porch said...

Debby Erlbacher had to buy a bar to get a liquor license. All she wanted was to be able to cater at her own Pacific Street business. For more than three years, Erlbacher has been offering full-service weddings through Francine's Gardens, 28 N. Pacific St...

Presidential primaries in Missouri, a full primary slate in Illinois and a special legislative election in Cape Girardeau are driving up turnout among absentee voters, area county clerks said Monday. Polls open in Missouri and Illinois at 6 a.m. today. Polls in Illinois close at 6 p.m., while Missouri voters have until 7 p.m. to cast their ballots...

DELTA -- The possibility of a new elementary school in Delta, while still in the earliest stages of discussion, has created a small stir in the community, with some parents already pledging support and others lamenting the possibility of a tax raise...

When Vision 2020 was founded -- it started as Vision 2000 and updated its name to keep up with the times -- it identified five key areas that needed attention: arts, culture and leisure; community services and enrichment; economic development; education; and transportation and infrastructure. ...

Virtual leader; Throwing money; Ethanol winners; Late decision; Not that important; Professional pay; Time to act; Jovial jewel; Retirement plan; Where to cut; Have to pay; Planning ahead; Replace the flag

To the editor:Kansas City papers carried the obituary of Jerzy Hauptmann, long a professor of political science at Park College in Parkville, Mo. In my four years at Park College, Jerzy and I became friends. He succeeded in making political science, which to many of us did not seem as exciting as Victorian poetry, a most important study. It was his passion. His students learned to know political leaders in their home counties. They gave speeches and asked questions...

SIKESTON, Mo. -- Sikeston police arrested two Tennessee residents in connection with prescription fraud last week. Charges were filed Jan. 29, against Byron Walker, 34, and Akilah Woods, 25, both of Memphis, Tenn., following a police pursuit the day before in which Walker fled the scene, according to a news release from the Sikeston Department of Public Safety...

United We Read, centered on the book "Tallgrass" by Sandra Dallas, will kick off with a reception with the author at 7 p.m. Wednesday in Central High School's library. Dallas will discuss her book for students and the public at 8:30, 9:15 and 10 a.m. Thursday in the library...

A capacity crowd filled Rose Theater last night for an evening with Jo Sullivan; she presented the music of "Frank Loesser and Friends." Guests arrive in the evening amid snow flurries for the seventh annual Town and Gown Ball at the Holiday Inn Convention Center; 300 faculty members and guests attended the ball, sponsored by the Faculty Dames of Southeast Missouri State University...

ST. LOUIS -- An Army specialist with the Missouri National Guard died after his vehicle was hit by a rocket-propelled grenade in Iraq, the military said Monday. Matthew Straughter, 27, of Belleville, Ill., died Thursday in Baghdad from his wounds. He enlisted while living in St. Charles, Mo., and was assigned to the 1138th Engineer Company, 35th Engineer Brigade...

CLAYTON, Mo. -- The suspect in the murder of former St. Louis Post-Dispatch editor Nancy Miller was arraigned Monday on four charges. Brian Michael Walters, 27, is charged with murder, rape, burglary and armed criminal action. At his hearing in St. Louis County, Walters entered a plea of not guilty and asked for a public defender. KMOV-TV reported that Walters has been placed on suicide watch, and that he appeared slightly disoriented during the hearing, yawning when charges were read...

The Associated Press LONDON -- The men and women in white face-paint and polka-dot bow-ties sang hymns and said prayers as one of their number rode a unicycle down the aisle of an austere east London church. The group was gathered for a memorial service Sunday, but because it was for one of Britain's best-known clowns, the attendees kept things bright, cheery and more than a little unorthodox...

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- U.S. Rep. Kenny Hulshof began his campaign for governor Monday with three stops in central and southwest Missouri, avoiding any digs against his fellow Republican contenders while declaring health care a top priority. Hulshof, 49, said he wants to build upon what he called the progress of the past 3 1/2 years under outgoing Gov. Matt Blunt, whose surprise decision not to run for re-election shocked his fellow Republicans and has yielded a crowded primary field...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- With phone calls, TV ads and surrogate campaigners, supporters of the leading presidential candidates are making a final, frenzied push to get Missourians to the polls on Super Tuesday. Missouri is one of about two dozen states where people will be voting for their favored Democratic and Republican presidential candidates. ...

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Two skiers who disappeared near Lake Tahoe during a winter storm were rescued Monday morning after they burrowed into snow caves and huddled together for warmth, authorities said. The two men, described as expert skiers, were spotted by the crew of a Placer County Sheriff's Department helicopter about seven miles from the Alpine Meadows ski resort, just west of Lake Tahoe...

WASHINGTON -- An economic aid plan to send rebates of $600 to $1,200 to most taxpayers passed a key test Monday in the Senate, where Democrats are pushing to add more than $40 billion in help for seniors, disabled veterans and the unemployed. Democrats were ratcheting up pressure on Republicans to support the add-ons, part of a proposal to pump $204 billion into the economy over the next two years. ...

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. -- Jonesboro school shooter Mitchell Johnson, already facing sentencing on a federal weapons charge, was arrested on a charge of misdemeanor drug possession, police said Monday. Johnson, 23, was arrested Saturday at a convenience store where he worked as a clerk, Bentonville police Lt. ...

Consent Ordinances, second and third readings n Approved settlement agreements with AT&T, Sprint and US Cellular relating to business license taxes. n Accepted a general warranty deed from Claude and Dorothy Foeste for the realignment of Lombardo Drive...

By Avelina (Belen) Lichtenegger Thank you for your story about the jury verdict awarding us $65,000 in our fight with the city of Cape Girardeau. We would like to tell you how we got to this point and why we might appeal. Yes, $65,000 is a lot of money. But it won't allow us to stay in business, and that's what we really want. This is not enough to compensate for the loss of parking, access and entrance to the property and consequential damages resulting from the widening of Broadway...

JoAnn Lindsey Rainey Corvin, 50, of Cape Girardeau died Sunday, Feb. 3, 2008, at her home. She was born Oct. 29, 1957, in St. Louis, daughter of Shirley Wayne and Marilyn June Wilson Lindsey. Her children's father, Phillip Leon Rainey, preceded her in death April 5, 2000...

GRAND CHAIN, Ill. -- William Levi "Bill" Crisman Sr., 78, of Grand Chain died Monday, Feb. 4, 2008, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. He was born July 8, 1929, in Cairo, Ill., son of Leroy and Viola Ivy Crisman. Crisman was a logger 54 years with Crisman and Sons Logging Co. He was a member of Christian Community Ministries at Villa Ridge, Ill. He was formerly of Olive Branch, Ill...

Alice Laverne Eaker, 74, of Paris, Ill., died Sunday, Feb. 3, 2008, at Paris Community Hospital. She was born Sept. 25, 1933, at Sank, Mo., daughter of Orville and Myrtle Chadd Myers. She and the Rev. Curtis Lindbergh Eaker were married May 6, 1947, in Pocahontas, Ark...

James B. Dickison, 76, of Cape Girardeau died Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2008, at Southeast Missouri Hospital. He was born Sept. 23, 1931, at Greenbrier, Mo., son of Benjamin F. and Nila J. Logan Dickison. He and Mary Lee Daniels were married Sept. 2, 1983, in Morris, Ill...

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- John J. Glaub, 64, of Bloomington, Ill., formerly of Perryville, died Friday, Feb. 1, 2008, at his home. He was born Jan. 4, 1944, in Perryville, son of John Glen and Esther Ruch Glaub. Glaub worked at Union Camp Paper Mill. Survivors include three sons, Lenny Glaub of LeRoy, Ill., Ed and Johnny Glaub of Bloomington; three brothers, Bob Glaub of Malden, Mo., Ralph Glaub of New Orleans, Lawrence Melfelt of Apache Junction, Ariz.; four sisters, Ruby Brown, Mary Lou Favier and Mildred Kiefer of Perryville, Deloris Smith of Wynn, Ark.; a friend, Bonnie Welty of Perryville; and five grandchildren.. ...

ANNA, Ill. -- Gilbert Harrell Knupp, 95, of Anna died Sunday, Feb. 3, 2008, at Union County Hospital. He was born April 21, 1912, in Anna, son of John J. and Bertha Wiggs Knupp. He and Nellie Louise Wilkins were married Aug. 26, 1948, in Cobden, Ill...

ADVANCE, Mo. -- Pennie Robey Johnson, 35, of Advance died Monday, Feb. 4, 2008, at her home. Arrangements are incomplete at Morgan Funeral Home in Advance.

Bray; Morrison; Coleman; Ivanovich; Cook; McClard

Arrest; Jackson: Assault

n At 4:16 p.m., emergency medical service in the 400 block of South Sprigg Street. n At 4:34 p.m., a Dumpster fire in the 500 block of North Street. n At 6:07 p.m., emergency medical service in the 3100 block of Themis Street. n At 4:16 p.m., a citizen's assist in the 3000 block of Patriot Street...

SIKESTON, Mo. -- A missed deadline means money put up for a proposed ethanol plant in Sikeston must be returned to investors. "The equity monies that were invested in this offering are in the process of being returned to investors with interest," said David Herbst, chairman of Bootheel Agri-Energy LLC...

ST. LOUIS -- Dr. Walter Bauer, a pathologist and leader in the famous baby tooth study that helped show the spread of nuclear fallout, has died. He was 82. Bauer of St. Louis died Saturday after falling ill last month; he died of acute respiratory distress, his wife, Marcia Robbins Bauer, said Monday...

LONDON -- Preventing obesity and smoking can save lives, but it doesn't save money, researchers reported Monday. It costs more to care for healthy people who live years longer, according to a Dutch study that counters the common perception that preventing obesity would save governments millions of dollars...

GUANGZHOU, China -- First, the food aboard the train ran out, then the water. When record blizzards hit China last month, what began as a 36-hour train trip for Edward Wang became an ordeal lasting nearly twice that long. He described fighting among drunken passengers and staff armed with knives, fears of being robbed by those desperate for food, and breathing air so foul that some people became dizzy...

DIMONA, Israel -- A Palestinian bomber blew himself up Monday in this desert town near a nuclear reactor, killing an Israeli woman and wounding 11 people in the first suicide attack inside Israel in a year. Police killed a second attacker after a doctor found a suicide vest while treating him for wounds suffered in the blast...

TINLEY PARK, Ill. -- Even as they released detailed information about the man suspected in a deadly shooting spree at a suburban Chicago clothing store, police were tightlipped Monday about possible witnesses, refusing to confirm a 33-year-old woman survived the attack that left five other women dead...

TOWSON, Md. -- Nicholas Browning walked into the small cinderblock room, sat on a plastic chair and folded his hands in front of him, an ordinary suburban teenager -- except for the orange prison jumpsuit. When District Judge Barbara Jung asked, via a closed-circuit video link between the Baltimore County courthouse and the detention center, whether the 15-year-old Boy Scout understood the charges he was facing for the deaths of his father, mother and two brothers, Browning answered "Yes, I do," and "Yes, ma'am" in a strong, clear voice.. ...

Baby Boomers love to play the Age Game. The most common one, of course, is the oft purloined phrase, "50 is the new 35," or some such nonsense. And then there is this one: Someone asks you how old you are, and you respond coquettishly, "How old do you think I am?" The gambit here is to get them to say a number less than the ones you've piled up and then to tell them forthrightly what your actual age is in hopes of engendering an astonished "No way!"...

CHICAGO -- Baby shampoos, lotions and powders may expose infants to chemicals that have been linked with possible reproductive problems, a small study suggests. The chemicals, called phthalates, are found in many ordinary products including cosmetics, toys, vinyl flooring and medical supplies. They are used to stabilize fragrances and make plastics flexible...

Calendar Today n Breast-feeding class: 3 to 4:30 p.m. in meeting room 108 at Southeast Missouri Hospital. Topics include the benefits and techniques of breast-feeding, family involvement and support. Seating is limited. Register by calling 651-5825...

blood drives Today n VFW Hall Cape Girardeau, 2 to 7 p.m. n Elks Lodge, Jackson, 2 to 7 p.m. Thursday n Sikeston High School, 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

SAN FRANCISCO -- Microsoft Corp.'s $41 billion takeover bid appears to have backed Yahoo Inc. into a corner, leaving the company with the choice of selling to a rival or pursuing other alternatives likely to require the help of another foe, Google Inc...

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Food processor Archer Daniels Midland Co. said Monday its second-quarter profit rose 7 percent as higher earnings from oilseed processing and rising demand for feed grains offset declining margins in its ethanol business. The results, however, were just shy of Wall Street's expectations and shares fell almost 3 percent...

NEW YORK -- The New York Giants' come-from-behind win over New England was the most-watched Super Bowl ever with 97.5 million viewers, a total that is second only to the "M*A*S*H" finale audience, Nielsen Media Research said Monday. The game eclipsed the previous Super Bowl record of 94.08 million, set when Dallas defeated Pittsburgh in 1996. The final "M*A*S*H" episode, which drew 106 million viewers in 1983, is the only show in American broadcast history watched by more people...

OAK RIDGE -- Meadow Heights sophomore Dustin Hubler is well aware that conference rival Zalma is a strong second-half team. Earlier this season when Hubler's Panthers played the Bulldogs, Zalma came back from 30 down at halftime to lose by just six points...

The Southeast Missouri State men's basketball team will travel to Eastern Michigan on Feb. 23 as part of the sixth annual O'Reilly ESPNU BracketBusters, with a 3 p.m. tipoff. All of the BracketBusters pairings were announced Monday evening. One hundred squads are involved, including all 11 from the Ohio Valley Conference...

The Jackson girls basketball team entered halftime down by six at Sikeston on Monday. The Indians decided it was time for some defense after the break. Jackson allowed one point in the third quarter and two in the fourth as it allowed three points in the entire second half. Jackson outscored Sikeston 28-3 in the decisive half...

Notre Dame's bid to derail the Dexter girls basketball team's perfect run in the SEMO Conference looked fairly rosy heading into overtime Monday night at Notre Dame. The Bearcats' leading scorer, junior Katelyn Heil, had fouled out during the final 20 seconds of regulation. The Bulldogs had the momentum of a buzzer-beating shot by freshman Allyson Bradshaw. And the Bearcats' struggles from the free-throw line were helping offset Notre Dame's problems against the press...

WASHINGTON -- Buoyed by cheering crowds and bolstered by more than $1.3 million a day in TV ads, Democrats Barack Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton raced through the final hours of an unpredictable Super Tuesday campaign across 22 states. The Republican race turned negative on the eve of the busiest day in primary history...

By DOUG TUCKER The Associated Press LAWRENCE, Kan. -- Darrell Arthur scored nine points in a second-half surge that carried No. 4 Kansas past Missouri 90-71 on Monday night, giving the Jayhawks their 20th straight home victory and a season sweep of their archrivals...

CHANDLER, Ariz. -- Vindication for former New York Giants general manager Ernie Accorsi came in one gut-wrenching, last-minute drive engineered by Eli Manning to win the Super Bowl. The architect of the blockbuster trade that brought Manning to the Giants on draft day 2004, Accorsi has been the scapegoat for frustrated Giants fans for the past 3 1/2 years...

The Southeast Missouri State track and field program turned in a strong performance over the weekend during the Indiana University Relays. Southeast's men captured two individual titles and one relay title, while the women claimed one individual title...

ST. LOUIS -- Coming off a three-win season that led to widespread fan apathy, the St. Louis Rams said Monday they would hold the line on ticket prices for PSL holders. It's the first time in nine seasons the Rams have not raised ticket prices, at least for the personal seat license holders, who must pay a one-time fee for the right to purchase season tickets. Individual game ticket prices will have a moderate increase, however...

ST. LOUIS -- Juan Gonzalez is trying a comeback with the St. Louis Cardinals. After sitting out the past two seasons, the two-time AL MVP will be one of 26 non-roster players invited to St. Louis' spring training camp this month. The 38-year-old Gonzalez last played regularly in 2003, when he had 24 home runs and 70 RBIs in 324 at-bats for the Texas Rangers. He had one at-bat with Cleveland in 2005 before injuring his hamstring...

WASHINGTON -- New York Yankees pitcher Andy Pettitte spoke under oath for about 2 1/2 hours Monday with lawyers from a congressional committee looking into drug use in baseball. After the deposition, Pettitte did not take questions from reporters as he walked out of the offices of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee. Wearing a pinstriped gray suit and bright striped tie, Pettitte was accompanied by his wife and three lawyers...

LUBBOCK, Texas -- Bob Knight resigned Monday at Texas Tech, a stunning midseason move by the winningest men's coach in major college basketball. "He said he was tired and that it was best to go ahead and do it now," Texas Tech chancellor Kent Hance said. "I think Bob is through with coaching. I think he got to the point where it wasn't fun for him."...