Stories from Friday, February 15, 2008

CREVE COEUR, Mo. (AP) -- The mayor of Kirkwood is improving as he recovers from near fatal wounds suffered in last week's City Hall shooting rampage. A family friend said Mayor Mike Swoboda has been upgraded to serious condition, after being listed as critical since he was shot twice in head on Feb. 7...

JOPLIN, MO. (AP) -- A Joplin teenager charged with firing an assault rifle at his middle school will remain in jail while his case is being appealed. A district judge Friday rejected a defense motion to put Thomas White on home detention while the Missouri Supreme Court decides whether he can be tried as an adult...

HAZELWOOD, Mo. (AP) -- Two people are in custody after gunshots were fired on the parking lot of a suburban St. Louis high school following a basketball game. The incident happened Thursday night at Hazelwood Central High School shortly after a game against rival McCluer North. No one was hurt...

JOPLIN, MO. (AP) -- A Joplin teenager accused of firing an assault rifle at his middle school will remain in jail while his case is being appealed. A district judge Friday rejected a defense motion to put Thomas White, 15, on home detention or reduce his $250,000 bond while the Missouri Supreme Court decides whether he can be tried as an adult...

CREVE COEUR, Mo. (AP) -- The pain continues in Kirkwood more than a week after a gunman shot to death five people at City Hall. But amid the gloom there was some good news on Friday -- Mayor Mike Swoboda is showing signs of improvement. The mayor had been in critical condition since being shot on Feb. ...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) -- Some senators are blocking a proposed 50 percent fee increase on clean water permits that has been promoted as a way to improve Missouri's water pollution control efforts. The Department of Natural Resources estimates it needs an additional $30 million over the next five years for water quality monitoring, permits and inspections. Legislators created a special committee last year to study the problem...

TROY, Mo. (AP) -- A captain in the Lincoln County Sheriff's Department is taking over the top spot. The eastern Missouri county's commission today chose 51-year-old Kent Hanshew as the new sheriff. He replaces Dan Torres, who resigned Wednesday to take a job with a private company...

Thousands of people were still without electric service in Southeast Missouri late Friday, most of them customers of rural electric cooperatives. But the numbers are decreasing, and utilities say their crews will work through the weekend to get power to more homes...

I've heard so many extraordinary stories since the ice storm arrived Monday night. I can't top them. Like so many of you, my wife and I listened in the darkness as ice-covered limbs crashed into our yard, down on our roof and onto a metal garden shed...

OLIVE BRANCH, Ill. -- An Illinois man barricaded himself in an Olive Branch home for more than 14 hours after allegedly brandishing a gun at a sheriff and deputy. The standoff between Rodney J. Petermichel, 42, of Olive Branch, and police ended around 7:10 a.m. Thursday as Petermichel walked out of the West Street residence belonging to his parents...

MARBLE HILL, Mo. -- Much of Bollinger County remained ice-covered and dark Thursday, as 3,400 people still did not have power as of just before 6 p.m. According to Black River Electric dispatch manager Keith Meyers, it was difficult to predict when power would be restored...

The noise from the military blazer made conversation difficult, so the sheriff's deputy and sergeant rode mostly in silence. Sgt. 1st Class Tevis Noles' brow furrowed as he concentrated on navigating the icy roads, occasionally fishtailing as he dodged fallen branches. Deputy Justin Glastetter scanned the horizon, looking for people without power who needed help...

Though police continue to investigate a fatal shooting that occurred Thursday night at 2857 Themis St., it appears that a fugitive recovery agent for the Missouri Department of Corrections fired the weapon, Sgt. Barry Hovis of the Cape Girardeau police department said Friday...

Favor four-wheelers; Congress and baseball; Thanks, crews; Powerless suffering; Stolen tribute; Thanks to power crews; Did the right thing; Good neighbors; Wheat futures; Federal parking; Iraq debacle; Safety net; Enforce the law

Coping. That's what folks in the parts of Southeast Missouri hit by the ice storm are doing. And, in most cases, they seem to be doing quite well, thanks to the kindness of friends and relatives, the hard work of road and utility crews and the efforts of relief agencies to provide shelters when needed...

A 3 percent hotel/motel tax, a 1 percent restaurant tax, a contribution from Southeast Missouri State University and a 10-cent increase in local property taxes are the key ingredients in a plan formulated by Mayor Howard C. Tooke for the retirement of $5 million worth of bonds to help construct a $13 million multipurpose building here...

KIRKWOOD, Mo. -- Racial tensions that apparently fueled a gunman's hatred were cast aside Thursday as hundreds of mourners gathered for the funeral of Charles "Cookie" Thornton. The ceremony came one week after Thornton stormed the Kirkwood City Council chambers -- a venue where he previously cursed city leaders and accused them of having a "plantation mentality" -- killing two police officers and three city officials before being gunned down by police...

The date for the Guns 'n' Roses tribute band show at the Arena Building in SE Live was incorrect. The show was scheduled for today, not Saturday, but it has been canceled.

Nature Center program rescheduled for April The Birds of Prey presentation by Rusty Scarborough scheduled for today and Saturday at the Cape Girardeau Conservation Campus Nature Center has been rescheduled for 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. April 12. For more information, call the Nature Center at 290-5218...

Hundreds of people are expected to attend visitation and funeral for Staff Sgt. Bradley Joe Skelton of Gordonville. Skelton, 40, was killed by an explosion in Baghdad on Feb. 6. He was a "Sapper" on his second tour in Iraq with Missouri National Guard's 1138th Engineer Company, headquartered in Farmington, Mo...

WASHINGTON -- Using words like "sluggish" and "deteriorated," Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke gave a pessimistic assessment of the nation's economy Thursday and signaled that the Fed will cut interest rate cuts further if needed to combat the adverse effects of a prolonged housing slump and a severe credit crisis...

DEKALB, Ill. -- A former student dressed in black opened fire with a shotgun and two handguns from the stage of a lecture hall at Northern Illinois University on Thursday, killing five students and injuring 16 others before committing suicide, authorities said...

NEW ORLEANS -- After downplaying the risks for months, the Federal Emergency Management Agency said Thursday it will rush to move Gulf Coast hurricane victims out of roughly 35,000 government-issued trailers because tests found dangerous levels of formaldehyde fumes...

DELPHOS, Ohio -- Donald W. Cunningham, 70, of Delphos died Thursday, Feb. 14, 2008 at St. Rita's Medical Center in Lima, Ohio. He was born March 31, 1937, son of Jesse Holmes and Evelyn Clodene (Hopper) Cunningham. They preceded him in death. He married Carol Bohn on March 23, 1958. She survives in Delphos...

DONGOLA, Ill. -- Marvin B. Howell, of Dongola, celebrated his 88th birthday with his savior Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2008, at the Illinois Veterans Home in Anna, Ill. Marvin was born Feb. 12, 1920 to William and Edna Howell in Goreville, Ill. He attended school in Anna. ...

Michael F. Hyson, 76, of Jackson passed away Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2008, at the Monticello House in Jackson. He was born Sept. 29, 1931, in Council Bluffs, Iowa, son of the late Thomas and Mary Quirk Hyson. He and Marion L. Smith were married Jan. 7, 1956, in Cape Girardeau. She survives...

UNION, Mo. -- Annabell Thiele, 80, of Union, formerly of Cape Girardeau, died Thursday, Feb. 14, 2008 at St. Clair Nursing Home in St. Clair, Mo. She was born Oct. 19, 1927, in St. Louis, daughter of L.D. and Anna M. Jones Cornman. She married Donald Avery Thiele on July 28, 1942 in Hope, Ark. He preceded her in death on Nov. 2, 2003...

Naomi Elizabeth Lee, 84, of Cape Girardeau died Wednesday, Feb. 13, 2008, at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. She was born April 3, 1923, in the Cedar Fork Community of Perry County, Mo., the daughter of Clarence R. and Flora J. (Rimboch) Hudson...

EAST PRAIRIE, Mo. -- Johnnie Lou Dean, 57, of East Prairie, died Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2008, at her residence. She was born Feb. 12, 1951, in East Prairie, daughter of John J. and Annie Arietta Hayden Grogan. She lived most of her life in Mississippi County. She was a registered nurse and a member of First Church of God in East Prairie...

CAIRO, Ill. -- Nammon Jones, 65, of Cairo died Thursday, Feb. 14, 2008, at the Lutheran Home in Cape Girardeau. Friends may call from 10 to 11 a.m. Monday at the Holy City Church of God in Christ in Cairo. Funeral will be at 11 a.m. Monday at the church. Elder Grady G. Johnson will officiate, with burial at the Spencer Heights Memorial Park in Mounds, Ill...

ULLIN, Ill. -- Acie Charles Clark, 88, of rural Ullin, died Wednesday, Feb. 13, 2008, at his home. Graveside services will be at 1 p.m. today at the Israelite Bible Class Cemetery near Ullin. Bro. Joe Keith will officiate. Massie Funeral Home in Mounds, Ill., is in charge of arrangements...

OLIVE BRANCH, Ill. -- Catherine Sharp, 87, of Olive Branch and formerly of Grand Chain, Ill., died Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2008, at her home. She was the daughter of Leo and Ida Rude. She was married to Lee Sharp. He preceded her in death. She was a member of Ohio Chapel Methodist Church near Grand Chain, the Grand Chain Homemakers, Kentucky Lake Campers and Pulaski County Garden Club...

STE. GENEVIEVE, Mo. -- Funeral service for Robert A. Ritrovato Sr., 52, of Ste. Genevieve will be held at 11 a.m. today at First Baptist Church with the Rev. Roger Faulkner officiating. Ritrovato died Monday, Feb. 11, 2008 at his home. He was born Nov. 28, 1955 in St. Louis, son of Francis A. and Mary Ellen Gammill Ritrovato...

AUSTIN, Texas -- Graveside funeral service for Cople Lillie Evans, 89, of Austin will be held at 2 p.m. today at Cape County Memorial Park Cemetery in Cape Girardeau. The Rev. Donny Ford will officiate. Evans died Monday, Feb. 11, 2008, at South Austin Hospital in Austin...

SEDGEWICKVILLE, Mo. -- Sharon Kay Smith, 62, of Sedgewickville died Wednesday, Feb. 13, 2008 at her home. She was born April 1, 1945 at Cape Girardeau, daughter of Elzia Miles and Vera Edna Statler James. She and Kenneth Ray Smith were married Aug. 13, 1966...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Turning aside some budgetary concerns, senators endorsed legislation Thursday to boost the salaries of sheriffs' deputies by raising fees for many legal actions. Sheriffs' offices would charge an extra $10 every time they serve a summons, subpoena or court order for civil lawsuits, under the legislation. That money would be used by a state board to help raise the salaries of deputies in low-paying counties...

Cape Girardeau Firefighters responded to the following calls Wednesday: n At 5:11 p.m., a transformer fire at 1804 Hutson Drive. n Firefighters responded to three reports of lines down. n Firefighters responded to five reports of still alarms...

Cape Girardeau The following items were released by the Cape Girardeau Police Department. Arrests do not imply guilt. Arrests n Natasha E. Dixson, 23, of St. Louis was arrested on two Cape Girardeau warrants for contempt of court for failure to pay fines for improper registration and suspended operator's license...

CHICAGO -- Fossil hunters say they have discovered bones of two massive meat-eating dinosaurs in Africa. In the journal Acta Palaeontologica Polonica, University of Chicago paleontologist Paul Sereno and co-author Stephen Brusatte named one Kryptops palaios, or "old hidden face," because of a horny covering over its face...

NEW YORK -- Fans of the Fox drama "24" will have to wait until January to see Jack Bauer again, this television season's most prominent casualty of the Hollywood writers strike. The network has committed to air a full season on consecutive weeks and had been planning to start last month. But if it had started airing new episodes soon, the season finale would not have taken place until the summer, when TV networks rarely show their high-profile programs...

Jackson junior Blake Peiffer was the lone local wrestler to win his first-round match Thursday at the state meet in Columbia. Peiffer defeated Hazelwood West's Blake Oecki by major decision, 11-2, in their Class 4 215-pound match. He will face Oak Park's Kolton Kono, who enters 29-3, in the next round...

Eastern Illinois entered Thursday night's game 10th in the 11-team Ohio Valley Conference and already eliminated from contention for an OVC tournament berth. But the Panthers looked like the league's best men's basketball squad against reeling Southeast Missouri State...

The Southeast Missouri State women's basketball team makes no bones about the fact it is a defense-first unit. After all, that style of play has gotten the Redhawks to the top of the Ohio Valley Conference, despite ranking toward the bottom of the league in the major offensive statistical categories...

Have you ever wondered what makes up your blood? If so, here is an experiment that uses food to show you the four components of blood. Ingredients n Marshmallows n Corn syrup n Candy sprinkles n Red Hots candy n Clear container Instructions Mix marshmallows, candy sprinkles, Red Hots and corn syrup in clear container...

Southeast Missouri State women's basketball coach John Ishee considers two factors when deciding who to put on the court in the closing minutes of a tight game. Ishee takes into account a player's ball-handling skills and her free-throw shooting percentage...

BENTON -- The third time was a charm for Kelly. Kelly and Delta played twice this season before Thursday night, with the Bobcats coming away with victories both times -- one in the championship game of the Chaffee Invitational and the other in the Scott Mississippi Conference title game...

Nick Niemczyk continued a stellar season by dropping 34 points on senior night to guide Bell City past Hayti, 70-63, in boys basketball. Phillip Gross netted 20 points for the Cubs (21-2), who were ranked No. 3 in the latest Missouri Sportswriters and Sportscasters Association state poll...

The Southeast Missouri State women's gymnastics team will shoot for an upset of one of the nation's top 15 squads tonight. Southeast welcomes the University of Missouri to Houck Field House for a 7 p.m. meet. The Tigers (4-1) are ranked 14th nationally, while the Redhawks (3-2) are No. 27...

JUPITER, Fla. -- Brad Thompson got a chance to be a starter last season and liked it. As he and other pitchers and catchers reported to spring training for the St. Louis Cardinals on Thursday, he said he's eager to try and earn a spot in the rotation...

DENVER -- Ryan Johnson scored St. Louis' second short-handed goal of the season and Manny Legace stopped 39 shots, lifting the Blues to a 4-1 win over the Colorado Avalanche on Thursday night. Legace improved to 13-2-0 lifetime against the Avalanche with a 1.88 goals-against average...

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Denny Hamlin gave Toyota its first victory at NASCAR's top level, winning Thursday's second qualifying race to set up a Daytona 500 showdown between Joe Gibbs Racing and mighty Hendrick Motorsports. Dale Earnhardt Jr. won the first qualifier for Hendrick and will start on the second row of Sunday's race with Hamlin. Hendrick driver Jimmie Johnson is on the pole. Tony Stewart will start in the third row for Gibbs...

One of Brian McNamee's lawyers predicted that if Roger Clemens is convicted in connection with the baseball steroids scandal, he'd be pardoned by President Bush. Lawyer Richard Emery also said some Republicans treated his client harshly because of the pitcher's friendship with the Bush family...

SAN FRANCISCO -- A typo in court papers regarding Barry Bonds filed late Thursday by federal prosecutors touched off a brief tempest over the mistaken belief that he failed a drug test in November 2001, one month after breaking the home run record. In fact, the government meant to reference a previously reported November 2000 failed drug test that was included in the indictment unsealed last year, U.S. attorney spokesman Josh Eaton said...

CARBONDALE, Ill. -- Southern Illinois University's former football coach is suing the Carbondale school, disputing claims that he owes nearly $58,000 for breaching his contract when he recently defected to Northern Illinois University. Jerry Kill coached the Salukis for seven seasons before taking a job at Northern Illinois in December...

LOS ANGELES -- K.J. Choi has won tournaments hosted by Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods over the last nine months during a steady climb into the top 10 in the world. Further proof of his staying power came Thursday on a cool, windy morning at Riviera. He managed to take the early lead at Hogan's Alley...

So let's say you're a young, good-looking guy, with strong cheekbones and puppy-dog eyes and pillowy, kissable lips. Hayden Christensen, for instance. And let's say you have this amazingly cool ability to jump anywhere in the world at any time, just by thinking of the place you want to go...

The Red Cross Shelter at Immaculate Conception School in Jackson remains open. After all but one family left the Red Cross site at Osage Community Centre in Cape Girardeau on Thursday, the agency consolidated and moved the family to the other shelter...

The towns of Randles in Cape Girardeau County, Perkins in Scott County and Painton in Stoddard County are under a boil-water advisory until 5 p.m. Saturday. Tap water intended for drinking, food preparation, making ice and brushing teeth should be boiled for at least three minutes...

MARBLE HILL, Mo. -- The 25 volunteers with Marble Hill Fire and Rescue have been 18-hour days since Monday's ice storm hit Southeast Missouri. "That doesn't count calls that come in when they're on the way home," said Tom Bennie at the Marble Hill Fire and Rescue Command Center set up at city hall. Volunteers often have been detoured from their drives home to assist residents in need, he said...

JACKSON, Miss. -- The Southeast Missouri State softball team opened its season Thursday with an easy doubleheader sweep. Southeast routed host Jackson State 8-0 and 12-3. Both games went just five innings because of the eight-run rule. Elaine Fisher pitched a two-hit shutout in the opener. She struck out eight and did not issue a walk...

WASHINGTON -- President Bush has ordered the Pentagon to use a Navy missile to attempt to destroy a broken U.S. spy satellite -- and thereby minimize the risk to humans from its toxic fuel -- by intercepting it just before it re-enters the atmosphere, officials said Thursday...

Storm cleanup started in earnest Friday when a Lynwood Baptist Church team descended on a Cape Girardeau neighborhood. They are members of the Southern Baptist Chainsaw Ministry, according to the Rev. John Rhodes, New Bethel Baptist Church pastor. He's helping coordinate the efforts, which are drawing teams from northeast Missouri and Iowa...