Stories from June 2008

Erin Elizabeth Vickery and Jeffrey Travis Wist were married Nov. 17, 2007, at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church in Cape Girardeau. The Rev. David Hulshof performed the ceremony. Organist was Teresa Maurer, violinist was Liesl Schoenberger, and vocalist was Alan Bruns, all of Cape Girardeau...

Mr. and Mrs. Richard T. Kogge of Cape Girardeau celebrated their golden wedding anniversary with a surprise luncheon and reception Sept. 9, 2007, at the River's Edge. Hosts were their children. Kogge and Patricia A. "Trish" Sullivan were married Oct. 19, 1957, at St. Michael's Catholic Church in Wheaton, Ill. Their attendants were Mary Kay Sullivan, sister of the bride, and Donald Kogge, brother of the groom...

CHAFFEE, Mo. -- Kenny and Pam Capps of Roach, Mo., announce the engagement of their daughter, Emily Capps, to Joseph Perry Rice IV, both of Rolla, Mo. He is the son of Joseph P. Rice III and Karen Rice of Chaffee. Capps is a 2003 graduate of Camdenton High School in Camdenton, Mo., and a graduate of Central Methodist University at Fayette, Mo. She is a sixth grade teacher and freshman girls basketball coach at Rolla Middle School...

Stephen and Martha Slaten of Cape Girardeau announce the engagement of their daughter, Laura Elizabeth Slaten, to Joshua Ryan Shaw. He is the son of Calvin and Vicki Shaw of Troy, Mo. Slaten is a 2002 graduate of Notre Dame Regional High School. She received a bachelor of science degree in education from the University of Missouri-Columbia in 2006, and received a master's of education in curriculum and instruction from the university in 2007. ...

Lesa Beth Santacrose and Neal "Lars" Peterman were married Aug. 25, 2007, at St. Mary's Cathedral. The Rev. Patrick Nwokoye performed the ceremony. The bride is the daughter of Richard and Debra Santacrose of Springfield, Ill. The groom is the son of Neal and Hope Peterman of Cape Girardeau...

James and Marsha Vangilder of Jackson and Brad and Dana Miller of Chaffee, Mo., announce the engagement of their daughter, Lindsey Rae Miller, to Ronnie Garrett Cook, both of Jackson. He is the son of Ray and Brenda Cook of Oran, Mo. Miller is a 2004 graduate of Notre Dame Regional High School. She is a long term care technician at Southeast Missouri Hospital's Plaza Pharmacy...

Mr. and Mrs. Orville Krauss of Cape Girardeau celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary with a family dinner April 13, 2008. Hosts were their children. Krauss and Delores Seabaugh were married April 13, 1958, in Advance, Mo., by the Rev. A.E. Ray, grandfather of the groom...

There's a lot of difference. Normal golf you play on grass and downtown golf you're on concrete. You do have some different hazards. You're having to fight the buildings and curbs are definitely hazards. A good tip is definitely to bring your 5 iron and be able to gauge your wind direction. With that birdie ball, the wind just loves to take it everywhere...

What started as a lunchtime fantasy and a few newspaper columns about a downtown golf tournament complete with catfish dinner has evolved into the First-ever Fourth Annual Louis J. Lorimier Memorial World-famous Downtown Golf Tournament and All-You-Can-Eat Catfish Buffet...

One year ago, Jerry French's life seemed hopeless. A drug addict for 27 years, French told his sister at their residence in Knoxville, Tenn., that he would be a junkie the rest of his life. That's when he discovered the Teen Challenge recovery ministry in Cape Girardeau...

In 1994, Mark T. Abbott testified that he'd identified Joshua C. Kezer from a lineup as the man he'd seen at a Cut-Mart convenience store near where police found Angela Mischelle Lawless' body. Abbott's testimony provided the sole evidence in the case linking Kezer to the scene of the murder, which occurred on the Benton, Mo., exit ramp of Interstate 55...

Beatrice Landewee LEOPOLD, Mo. -- Beatrice Jane Landewee, 93, of Leopold died Thursday, May 29, 2008, at Elder Care of Marble Hill, Mo. She was born March 22, 1915, in Leopold, daughter of Anthony and Rose Van Doren Stoverink. She and Herman Henry Landewee were married Aug. 25, 1937. He died Aug. 14, 1990...

Saturday night, Taylor Bingaman secured a spot in the mid-South Fair in Memphis, Tenn., by winning the talent competition at the 32nd annual Scott City Mid-Summer Festival. The Anna, Ill., resident was one of more than 20 singers competing in the senior division, which was open to 13- to 21-year-olds. Emily Hagan of Cape Girardeau won the junior division, which did not offer an automatic qualifying spot for the fair in September...

Manager Jess Bolen pretty well hand-picks the players he wants for his Plaza Tire Capahas baseball team. Every now and then somebody catches Bolen's eye during the open tryout he holds before each season, but that happens infrequently. Kendal Deason is the latest exception to the rule. And he already has made his presence felt during the first two games of the 2008 campaign...

With a berth in the NCAA outdoor track and field meet virtually locked up, Southeast Missouri State's Miles Smith decided not to take any chances. Smith coasted through Saturday night's 400 meter finals at the Mideast Regional in Fayetteville, Ark...

The result was the same, but the performance was considerably better. One day after making six errors to narrowly win their season opener, the Plaza Tire Capahas played errorless baseball in routing the Valmeyer (Ill.) Lakers 14-1. "We played a lot better today," outfielder Zach Johnson said. "I think we got all the nerves out."...

SPRINGFIELD -- The Notre Dame baseball team won third place in Class 3 without even having to score a run Saturday. The Bulldogs and Boonville were awarded a share of the bronze medal after more than a two-hour rain delay ended in the cancellation of the consolation game at Meador Park...

SPRINGFIELD -- Notre Dame ace Mark Himmelberg watched his high school sports career end Saturday in a rainout. Notre Dame and Boonville's Class 3 third-place game was canceled after a delay of more than two hours. Both teams were awarded a share of third...

Graduation season has just ended for high schools and colleges, and it has been encouraging to see the achievements and promise of so many scholars, young and old. High schools have started adding up the scholarships and other awards granted to graduating seniors, and the the totals are impressive, reaching into the hundreds of thousands of dollars at each school. ...

When Scott County Sheriff Rick Walter and detective Branden Caid received information from witnesses that the same gun used in the 1992 homicide of Angela M. Lawless in Benton, Mo., may have been the murder weapon in a 1994 murder-for-hire case, they asked the Southeast Missouri Regional Crime Lab to compare ballistic analysis reports to check for similarities...

CAIRO, Egypt -- Muslim extremist women are challenging al-Qaida's refusal to include -- or at least acknowledge -- women in its ranks in an emotional debate that gives rare insight into the gender conflicts lurking beneath one of the strictest strains of Islam...

Cape Junior Legion splits pair The Cape Girardeau Plaza Tire Post 63 Junior American Legion baseball team split a Saturday doubleheader at Poplar Bluff, winning 14-3 and losing 8-7. Andrew Williams was the winning pitcher in the opener for Cape, which saw its record move to 5-2...

Thanks for spraying I WANT to thank the city. The mosquito fog machine works. The truck went down the street early this morning. When I went out this evening to water the flowers, the mosquitoes were all gone. Thank you. Saving gasoline DO YOU really think that if employers went to a four-day workweek that employees would stay at home the other day? I don't think so. I think you need to come up with a new solution...

RALEIGH, N.C. -- Each April, weather wizard William Gray emerges from his burrow near the Rocky Mountains to offer his forecast for the six-month hurricane season that starts June 1. And the news media are there, breathlessly awaiting his every word...

MIANYANG, China -- Chinese authorities prepared on Saturday to drain a swelling lake formed by a devastating earthquake, completing work on a drainage channel to divert water that threatens hundreds of thousands of people downstream. Officials are expected to discharge floodwater from the lake into the channel between today and Tuesday, the official Xinhua News Agency reported, quoting Yue Xi, deputy chief of the water and electricity section of the People's Armed Police...

Loren Schwieger OLMSTED, Ill. -- Loren H. Schwieger, 76, of Olmsted died Friday, May 30, 2008, at his home. He was born Oct. 21, 1931, in Pulaski County, Ill., son of Otto and Louise (Dagner) Schwieger. He and Carolyn Basse were married Dec. 2, 1951...

Ben Stocks Sr. SEDGEWICKVILLE, Mo. -- Ben Louis Stocks Sr., 75, of Sedgewickville died Saturday, May 31, 2008, at his daughter's residence. He was born Sept. 2, 1932, at Greenville, N.C. He and Elizabeth Ann James were united in marriage on June 9, 1957...

Dear Dr. Dobson: My baby is only a year old and she is a joy to my husband and me. But your description of toddlerhood is kind of scary. It's just around the corner. Are the "terrible twos" really so terrible? Dear Reader: I think the toddler years are delightful. ...

JOPLIN, Mo. -- The family of a Newton County search-and-rescue dog that underwent surgery earlier this month for a pacemaker has received more than enough contributions to cover the medical costs, a fellow rescue volunteer who opened a bank account for the dog said this week...

Cape Girardeau The Cape Girardeau Police Department released the following items. Arrests do not imply guilt. DWI n Cassandra Whitledge, 282 Flatrock Creek Lane, Jackson, and Verlan Graham, 502 Sycamore, Jackson (no ages given) were arrested on suspicion of driving while intoxicated...

CHICAGO -- A drug to prevent bone loss during breast cancer treatment also substantially cut the risk the cancer would return, results that left doctors excited about a possible new way to fight the disease. It is the first large study to affirm wider anti-cancer hopes for Zometa and other bone-building drugs called bisphosphonates. Zometa, made by Novartis AG, is used now for cancers that have already spread to the bone...

PHOENIX -- Sharp new images received Saturday from the Phoenix lander largely convinced scientists that the spacecraft's thrusters had uncovered a large patch of ice just below Mars' surface, team members said. That bodes well for the mission's main goal of digging for ice that can be tested for evidence of organic compounds that are the chemical building blocks of life...

NEW YORK -- Noted neurologist Oliver Sacks has found common ground with the pastor of Harlem's Abyssinian Baptist Church: Both men believe in the healing power of music. Sacks, the best-selling author of "Awakenings" and "The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat," shared the church stage Saturday with the famed gospel choir as part of the inaugural World Science Festival, a five-day celebration of science taking place in New York ending today...

With an updated command system and modified equipment for large building fires, members of five area fire departments trained together for the first time in about 10 years Saturday morning. The Cape Girardeau Fire Department, Jackson Fire Department, East County Fire Protection District, Gordonville Fire Protection District and Scott City Fire Department all participated in the training session at Towers East residence hall of Southeast Missouri State University. ...

Brugger Daughter to Brent A. and Becky S. Brugger of Jackson, Saint Francis Medical Center, 1:51 a.m. Thursday, May 22, 2008. Name, Breanna Lynn. Weight, 7 pounds, 7 ounces. First child. Mrs. Brugger is the former Becky Bell, daughter of Connie Bell of Jackson and Larry Bell of Macon, Ga. Brugger is the son of Marian Brugger of Jackson, and the late Roy Brugger...

American Legion Post 158 The Altenthal-Joerns American Legion Post 158 in Jackson met April 8 with David Hitt, commander, presiding over the meeting. Jerry Seabaugh introduced Bill Alexander, who was running for the vice commander of District 14...

SIKESTON, Mo. -- A Sikeston couple was arrested Wednesday following an investigation into the living conditions of two children in their home. Robert L. Blankenship Jr., 41, and Barbara Finger, 24, of 68 Connie Lane in Sikeston were charged with two counts of endangering the welfare of a child...

The 2008 Saturn Astra is a compact car with decent fuel economy, attractive styling and, of all things, a European flair. Get behind the wheel of this lowest-priced Saturn and you'll notice such European cues as firmly supportive seats, thick steering wheel, different style of radio controls, exemplary steering and competent handling...

WASHINGTON -- Democratic party officials said a party committee agreed Saturday on a compromise to seat Michigan and Florida delegates after Barack Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton failed to get enough support to force their positions through. The committee agreed on a compromise offered by the Michigan Democratic Party that would give Clinton 69 delegates and Obama 59. Each delegate would get half a vote at the convention in Denver later this summer...

NEW YORK -- Building department officials gathered for an emergency safety summit Saturday after the city's second deadly crane collapse in recent months, while lawmakers warned of dangers in New York's building boom -- especially the 250 cranes still up in the sky...

SIKESTON, Mo. — They've been described to state conservation officials as "weird shell-looking things" and "overgrown turtles," but the mammals stumping many Southeast Missouri residents are actually armadillos. "There are a lot of people here in Missouri who don't know what they are," said Jeremy Soucy, education specialist for the Missouri Department of Conservation's Southeast Region...

Kathryn Churchman Kathryn M. Churchman, 75, of St. Paul, Minn., died Friday, May 23, 2008, at Regions Hospital in St. Paul. She was born Dec. 22, 1932, in St. Louis, daughter of Conway J. and Marie E. (Hilger) Schindler. She was married to James Churchman...

ARVADA, Colo. -- Police in a Colorado town are searching for two robbers whose masks showed plenty of fashion sense but little modesty: women's thong underwear. A surveillance video released this week by police in Arvada, Colo., shows two unarmed men inside the convenience store. They stole an undisclosed amount of cash and cigarettes in the robbery May 16...

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. — Kilts will not be on the checklist of things to pack for a group of Poplar Bluff High School theater students heading to Scotland next year. They will, however, fill their suitcases with attire from past performances. The theater group was recently selected to participate in the Fringe Festival in July 2009...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Space shuttle Discovery and a crew of seven blasted into orbit Saturday, carrying a giant Japanese lab addition to the international space station along with something more mundane -- a toilet pump. Discovery roared into a brilliantly blue sky dotted with a few clouds at 5:02 p.m., right on time...

BAGHDAD -- U.S. military deaths plunged in May to the lowest monthly level in more than four years, and civilian casualties were down sharply, too, as Iraqi forces assumed the lead in offensives in three cities and a truce with Shiite extremists took hold...

Roy Cook Roy W. Cook, 91, of Cape Girardeau, formerly of Whitewater, died Friday, May 30, 2008, at the Lutheran Home in Cape Girardeau. He was born Jan. 28, 1917, in Whitewater, son of Emory D. and Amelia Blumenberg Cook. He and Stella Avis Hartman were married April 12, 1941, in Whitewater. She died Feb. 19, 2002...

Set back from the highway, this three-bedroom, three-bathroom home features panoramic views seen from many rooms. Carriage lanterns flank the front door, which has a detailed glass oval design. A front wrap-around porch with maintenance-free vinyl railing includes access to the yard and a spacious area for dining and entertaining...

Baseball n Capahas camp: The Plaza Tire Capahas will hold their annual baseball camp June 9 and 10 at Capaha Field. The camp will be from 8 a.m. to noon June 9 and 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. June 10, with lunch served at noon June 10. The camp, which will be broken into age brackets and skill levels, is for boys and girls ages 7 through 17. ...

Cape Girardeau Firefighters responded to the following calls Friday: n At 3:08 p.m., emergency medical service in the 2500 block of Melrose Avenue. n At 3:13 a.m., emergency medical service in the unit block of Hazel Drive. n At 3:47 a.m., emergency medical service in the 1800 block of Independence Street...

ABERDEEN, S.D. -- Barack Obama said Saturday he has resigned his 20-year membership in the Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago "with some sadness" in the aftermath of inflammatory remarks by his longtime pastor the Rev. Jeremiah Wright and more recent fiery remarks at the church by another minister...

Husband-and-wife journalists Bob Miller and Callie Clark Miller use this space to offer their views on everyday issues. SHE SAID: Please tell me what is so difficult about a cheeseburger with pickles only. I have given up on getting what I want at fast food drive-through windows. ...

WASHINGTON -- North Korea has not been linked to a terrorist attack in more than two decades, but it is still on the U.S. list of state sponsors of terrorism. Now, it may be on the verge of its coveted goal of getting removed -- for reasons having little to do with terrorism...

Nancy Williams Nancy Joann Williams, 58, of Keokuk, Iowa, formerly of Cape Girardeau, died Tuesday, May 27, 2008, at the Keokuk Area Medical Center. She was born July 19, 1949, in St. Louis, daughter of Edward Carl and Marian Marcella Wilson Starke. She and C. Kenneth Williams were married Oct. 15, 1983; he died May 6, 2002...

LONDON -- Prince William is heading to the azure waters of the Caribbean as part of a two-month deployment in the Royal Navy despite his request to be as close as possible to conflict. The assignment beginning Monday will see the second in line to the throne spending much of his time trolling the West Indies aboard the HMS Iron Duke, a frigate on hurricane relief duty and counter-narcotics patrol...

WILLMAR, Minn. -- The steepest run-ups in food prices since 1990 are hurting grocery shoppers, restaurants and school cafeterias but they're making others rich. The winners in the new food economy include crop farmers selling corn and wheat for near-record highs after years of crushingly low prices. ...

Counseling services offered by center The Small Business Development Center of Southeast Missouri in Cape Girardeau will offer free counseling sessions June 10 through 12 for area small businesspeople and individuals planning to enter the business field. ...

Hospital executives earn board certification The American College of Healthcare Executives has awarded Fellow status to three executives at Southeast Missouri Hospital, 1701 Lacey St. in Cape Girardeau. James Wente, president and chief executive officer, Jerry Sanders, financial analyst, and Ed Cooper, controller, earned the honor by passing an examination, earning educational credits and participating in community service. Fellows undergo recertification every three years...

Thirty-six years in the same occupation could feel like an eternity for some businessmen, but for longtime Southeast Missourian advertising representative Elmer Schetter, his time at the publication has flashed by all too quickly. His career at the newspaper will come to a close June 6 when he retires from a business he'd rather call a family...

Daniel Sterling Daniel Lee Sterling, 53, passed away Saturday, May 31, 2008, at his home in Jackson. He was born July 16, 1954, in St. Louis, to Willis D. and Lillie N. McCalmon Sterling. He and Susan Kuehn were married April 12, 1980, in Jackson. Dan graduated from Perryville High School. He worked 23 years at ARI in Jackson, during which time he completed a bachelor's degree in industrial technology through Sterling University...

SPRINGFIELD -- The impatient man coached a near-perfect season. Lance Amick, second-year coach of the Scott City baseball team, admits he might be better suited to succeed as a coach in sports other than baseball. But after delivering the school's first championship in a team sport with a 23-1 season, he will be forever known in Scott City as a baseball man...

Bonnie Wilcox Bonnie Fay Crain Wilcox, 87, of Cape Girardeau died Saturday, May 31, 2008, in Cape Girardeau. She was born Dec. 23, 1920, in Columbus, Kan., daughter of John and Frances Sales Crain. She and Homer Carl Wilcox were married Jan. 26, 1939. He died Aug. 2, 2000...

When school lets out, there's a place children can go to play sports, make friends, study sign language, learn leadership skills and go on field trips: The Cape Girardeau Boys and Girls Club. Many parents value the club and its resources and programs for their children. In addition to after-school care, the club also offers a summer camp from June 9 to July 31...

A party held at China John's Buffet in Jackson raised $5,030 for earthquake relief in central China. Chinese exchange students and educators at Southeast Missouri State University helped organize the event. Restaurant owner John Cai made a donation in addition to supplying food for about 200 people who attended the party...

LOS ANGELES -- Blu-ray claimed victory over HD DVD to become the standard format for high-definition movie discs, but years may pass before it can claim victory over the DVD. Noemi Velazquez, a 44-year-old warehouse worker, can explain why. She took one look at the $399 price tag of a Blu-ray player at a Best Buy store one night this month in Glendale, Calif., and kept going...

SAN ANGELO, Texas -- For nearly two months, Texas child welfare officials had insisted conditions at a polygamist group's ranch were so abusive that none of its members should be allowed to keep their children. Now, however, one of the largest custody cases in U.S. history is unraveling, and some are looking for what went wrong when the state raided the Yearning For Zion Ranch and removed more than 400 children...

PARIS -- Legendary designer Yves Saint Laurent, who reworked the rules of fashion by putting women into pantsuits that came to define how modern women dressed, died Sunday evening, a longtime friend and associate said. He was 71. Pierre Berge, Saint Laurent's business partner for four decades, said he had died at his Paris home following a long illness...

SKOPJE, Macedonia -- Macedonia's prime minister declared victory Sunday in the Balkan country's parliamentary election after a vote that was marred by gunbattles that left one person dead and eight wounded. Nikola Gruevski said his center-right VMRO-DPMNE had won enough votes to gain a majority of the parliament's 120 seats, and opposition leader Radmila Sekerinska conceded defeat...

Downtown Cape Girardeau is losing The Woman's Store, the only firsthand clothing store on Main Street. While the loss of a single store isn't usually anything more than a footnote in this space, it caused me to pause and consider whether the demise is evidence of decline. While the neighbors lament the loss, as does Chris Hutson, chairman of Old Town Cape, both see a lot of positive activity in the downtown area, especially along Main Street and Spanish Street...

Cape Girardeau Firefighters responded to the following calls Saturday: n At 5:46 p.m., emergency medical service in the 1100 block of Linden Street. n At 6 p.m., a vehicle fire at 6120 Cardrona Drive. n At 11:51 p.m., emergency medical service in the 300 block of Spring Avenue...

NEW YORK -- Viewers who tune in the new Planet Green network expecting a sober documentary on the plight of the yellow-breasted whooping finch will be in for a surprise. Instead, they'll see celebrities such as Tommy Lee, Ludacris, Tom Bergeron and Adrian Grenier -- and absolutely no lectures, promises Eileen O'Neill, the network's president...

Can scavengers I ALWAYS tie my trash bags. Perhaps it's can pickers looking for aluminum cans who untie them. Right-wing radicals RIGHT-WINGERS like David Limbaugh and Rush Limbaugh are the mirror image of the New Left of the 1960s. They are just as radical and want to reconstruct the world in their own image by warfare, government propaganda and, apparently, any means necessary. ...

CHARLESTON, Mo. -- Mississippi County Commissioners will meet with the sheriff Thursday to discuss the county's fuel budget crisis. Fuel budgets from several county departments are on course to outspend their allocations. "I don't know what to do about this fuel," Presiding Commissioner Jim Blumenberg said during the regular County Commission meeting Thursday. "We have to figure out a plan. It's going to have to be addressed; fuel is not going to go down considerably."...

ST. LOUIS -- Cardinals pitcher Braden Looper was on the field more than he expected Sunday -- the price of getting two hits on a hot day. Looper continued his torrid hitting to help earn himself a win in the Cardinals' 7-4 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates. He had two singles, scored twice, and drove in a run to raise his batting average to .429 -- tops among pitchers in the majors. On the mound, Looper (7-4) allowed eights hits and three runs in 5 2-3 innings...

Lt. Gov. Kinder honored with leadership award Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder was recently honored by the Missouri Coalition of Alzheimer's Association Chapters with the Leadership of the Year Award. The Alzheimer's Association is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to improving care for those with the disease and finding a cure for future generations...

Jackson The city of Jackson's board of aldermen meet a 7:30 p.m. today at city hall, 101 Court St. Action Items n Adoption of agenda n Approval of minutes and monthly bills Power and Light Committee n Ordinance accepting the dedication of a drainage easement and sanitary sewer easement deed from Litz Brothers Inc., for the final plat of Bent Creek Subdivision, Phase 6...

BANGKOK, Thailand -- The Pentagon chief and a top Chinese defense officer tangled over Beijing's military growth and U.S. plans for a missile defense system in Asia. The back-and-forth between Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Lt. Gen. Ma Xiaotian, deputy chief of the General Staff for the People's Liberation Army, was evidence of the countries' awkward transition to a more open and improved relationship...

OAK RIDGE, Tenn. -- Building the world's first full-scale uranium enrichment factory -- a 45-acre monster that was the biggest industrial structure in the world at the time -- took 18 months amid the race for the first atomic bomb. Six decades later, federal authorities think they finally have a handle on just how long it will take to clean up and tear down the long-shuttered relic of the Manhattan Project: About 15 years...

QINGLIAN, China -- As others rushed for higher ground, the Liu family sat at home sipping tea and watching TV reports of a possible massive flood. Armed police came the night before to tell them to leave. A warning spray-painted outside their door marked a flood line the height of their floor...

MOSCOW -- Russian gay rights activists held a small, scattered protest in Moscow on Sunday, flouting repeated refusals from city authorities for permission to hold parades or demonstrations. Activists repeatedly have tried to hold parades and rallies in the Russian capital to call attention to gay rights. Mayor Yuri Luzhkov has rejected all requests to hold them...

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico -- Hillary Rodham Clinton won a lopsided but largely symbolic victory Sunday in Puerto Rico's presidential primary, the final act in a weekend that brought Barack Obama close to the Democratic presidential nomination. The former first lady was winning roughly two-thirds of the votes as she continued a strong run through the late primaries...

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. -- It's Barack Obama's party now. He beat the ultimate insider at the insider's game. And he's already turned his full-bore attention to the general election contest against Republican John McCain. During a weekend in which Hillary Rodham Clinton mounted a likely last hurrah in Puerto Rico and national Democrats resolved the sticky issue of seating Florida and Michigan delegates under a formula favorable to Obama, the Illinois senator took a series of bold steps to signal his focus was riveted on the fall campaign:. ...

CHARLESTON, Mo. -- Charleston voters will decide Tuesday whether or not to establish a "bed tax" in the city. "We hope to pass a 5 percent hotel-motel tax to raise money to promote tourism," said Claudia Arington, executive director of the Charleston Chamber of Commerce. "We're very excited and hoping it will pass to give Charleston a boost. ... We want to concentrate on bringing visitors to our beautiful little town. We have so much here to offer."...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Final grades for the 2008 legislative session are in among Missouri's university chancellors and presidents. The verdict: a decidedly mixed report card. The University of Missouri system, which educates 72 percent of students enrolled in the state's four-year colleges, scored several important victories, notably a 4.2 percent increase in the fiscal year 2009 operating budget...

June is French-Canadian month at the Red House Interpretive Center. n The Red House gift shop, gardens, murals and tours are open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and from 1 to 4 p.m. Sundays. n At 11 a.m. June 14, a program titled "French Canadian Influence in Southeast Missouri" will be presented by Linda Clark Nash, historian, educator and grant writer. ...

Brent Saba had just dropped a church group off at Philadelphia International Airport on Sunday morning and was heading north on Interstate 95 when it happened: His 15-passenger van ran out of gas. Saba, a 24-year-old church pastor, made it to the shoulder just past the Ben Franklin Bridge and waited more than 30 minutes for someone to stop and lend him a cell phone. Then he waited a while longer for AAA to arrive with fuel...

The school year is over, but the cafeteria will remain open in Cape Girardeau. To prevent impoverished children -- those who normally receive a free or reduced-price lunch during the school year -- from going hungry over the summer, meals will continue to be served...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Lacking the proper laser tools, shuttle Discovery's astronauts performed a cursory wing inspection Sunday as they zoomed ever closer to the international space station. The astronauts used their ship's 50-foot robot arm to beam down camera images of the upper edges of the wings so engineers back on Earth could check for any evidence of launch damage. ...

BAGHDAD -- Iraq's chief spokesman acknowledged differences with the United States over a proposed long-term security agreement and pledged on Sunday that the government will protect Iraqi sovereignty in ongoing talks with the Americans. Australia became the latest member of the U.S.-led coalition to pull combat soldiers from Iraq, fulfilling an election promise that helped sweep Prime Minister Kevin Rudd to power in November...

SEDALIA, Mo. -- City Safe & Lock is the place to be on Mondays and Fridays. "Usually over the weekends people will lose their keys or have break-ins," co-owner Mark Allen said. But this is a busy time of year for cousins and co-owners Mark and Rick Allen, the only employees at the 70-year-old business...

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip -- A year into Hamas' rule in the Gaza Strip, courts are meting out justice, police are arresting thieves, motorists are paying for licenses and authorities are blocking Internet porn sites. At the same time, Gazans are stocking up on vegetable oil -- not for cooking, but to run their cars during a severe fuel shortage. ...

TUCSON, Ariz. -- NASA's new robot on Mars has reached out and touched the soil for the first time, leaving behind a striking footprint-like impression, scientists said Sunday. The Phoenix Mars Lander's robotic arm was making a test run, just one week after its landing. The spacecraft, which is also its own laboratory, will soon start scooping up soil and ice and running tests on it...

UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif. -- One of Hollywood's largest movie studios starred in a disastrous sequel Sunday as a fire ripped through a lot at Universal Studios, destroying a set from "Back to the Future," a King Kong exhibit and a streetscape seen frequently in movies and TV shows...

The federal government has opened up millions of acres of preserved farmland to livestock grazing in response to rising feed costs. The decision affects more than 21,000 Missouri farms enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program, which compensates landowners for leaving certain property idle and planting long-term vegetation...

Loren Schwieger OLMSTED, Ill. -- Loren H. Schwieger, 76, of Olmsted died Friday, May 30, 2008, at his home. He was born Oct. 21, 1931, in Pulaski County, Ill., son of Otto and Louise (Dagner) Schwieger. He and Carolyn Basse were married Dec. 2, 1951...

Riverside Regional Library recently launched its summer reading program. "Catch the Reading Bug" is the theme for all branches. BENTON, Mo. n 1:30 p.m. Wednesday: "Movie Day." n 3:30 p.m. June 11: Missouri Department of Conservation. n 3:30 p.m. June 16: "The De Priest Puppets."...

Franklin Elementary educators and the History Channel found a way this school year to make history meaningful to a third-grade class. With the History Channel's $10,000 grant, the 8- and 9-year-olds spent much of the school year working on a project at Old Lorimier Cemetery. The students learned about cholera outbreaks, Mississippi River shipwrecks and unmarked graves. They took photographs of gravestones, heard ghost stories and learned about the city's founders...

The Cape Girardeau Plaza Tire Post 63 Junior American Legion baseball team improved to 6-2 by beating host Charleston 14-4 Sunday. Ronnie Scott was the winning pitcher. Jamie Pickel and Andrew Williams both had two hits. B.I. Howard drove in three runs while Pickel and Josh Compas each added two RBIs...

ST. LOUIS -- An 18-year veteran firefighter from Creve Coeur has died after his plane crashed in St. Charles County, according to KSDK-TV. Dave Lucas, 52, crashed his plane into a cornfield off Greens Bottom Road near the Katy Trail. It happened around 11 a.m. Sunday after he took off from Creve Coeur airport. Authorities said he was an amateur but experienced pilot...

The Plaza Tire Capahas suffered a rare doubleheader home sweep Sunday, making them just 2-2 through their first four games of the season. You can bet that .500 record won't last for long because the tradition-rich Capahas always field stellar teams...

Cape Girardeau The following items were released by the Cape Girardeau Police Department. Assault n An assault was reported near Themis and Hanover streets. Thefts n Jasper's, 10 S. West End Blvd., reported two thefts of fuel. n Jasper's, 1008 N. Kingshighway, reported a theft of fuel...

DES MOINES, Iowa -- After the biggest immigration raid in U.S. history, hundreds of workers have been sentenced but not one company official as yet faces any charges -- something critics say is typical of a federal government that is tough on employees but easy on owners...

25 years ago: June 2, 1983 Despite a last minute request from Southeast Missouri State University's dean of the College of Humanities, Dr. Fred Goodwin, the Cape Girardeau City Council last night gave initial approval to a $16.8 million city budget that contains no funds to help operate the university-run cable television public access channel; the university had sought $20,000...

HUGHES, Ark. -- Police didn't have to look too hard to figure out the source of a soda vending machine found in a front yard -- they just followed the tracks. Deputies from the St. Francis County sheriff's office spotted a Pepsi machine on Thursday in the yard of a home in Hughes. A set of dolly tracks in front of the machine led back to a liquor store less than a mile away that had reported it missing...

ST. LOUIS -- Tens of thousands of black St. Louis residents took to the streets Sunday in a unity march against violence that has plagued some city neighborhoods. On a steamy afternoon, throngs of black ministers, Black Panthers and other black men hungry for change marched through the historically black Ville neighborhood of north St. Louis as black women cheered them from the sidelines...

The Cape Girardeau's City Council will decide the use of millions of dollars at today's meeting. The packed agenda includes the city's annual operating budget for the fiscal year, which begins July 1. Annual revenue for the coming year is projected at more than $22 million...

Manager Jess Bolen doesn't know when the last time his Plaza Tire Capahas were swept in a home doubleheader. Suffice to say, it had been a long time. "I can't remember the last time we lost a doubleheader here," Bolen said. "It's been years."...

When the Salvation Army opened a thrift store in May 2007 in Chaffee, Mo., the agency hoped the business would increase revenue so it could provide more services in the area. Little did they know that 11 months later the store would close its doors...

Businesses could be banned from using people hired to hold signs from curbsides that draw potential customers if a new ordinance is passed by the Cape Girardeau City Council. The ordinance, which amends Section 15-16 of the city code, prohibits "selling or soliciting on public streets, rights-of-way, intersections, medians or sidewalks."...

I was recently taken to task for using the term "women of a certain age" in one of my columns. The upbraider was an attractive, intelligent, seemingly progressive woman of 62; in other words, what the French would not hesitate to call a woman of a certain age...

Edna Geringer BIEHLE, Mo. -- Edna H. Geringer, 94, of Biehle died Sunday, June 1, 2008, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. She was born Aug. 10, 1913, in Crystal City, Mo., daughter of Frank Anton and Albertine Ruch Blechle. She and Ewald M. Geringer were married Nov. 19, 1935. He died April 24,1954...

Bonnie Wilcox Bonnie Fay Crain Wilcox passed away Saturday, May 31, 2008, in Cape Girardeau. She was born Dec. 23, 1920, in rural Columbus, Kan. Bonnie's parents were John and Frances Sales Crain. She married Homer Carl Wilcox on Jan. 26, 1939. Homer preceded her in death Aug. 2, 2000...

Despite a season that fell short of his expectations, Southeast Missouri State baseball coach Mark Hogan has high hopes for next year. The key, said Hogan, will be to shore up a pitching staff that sprung too many leaks. So many leaks, in fact, that the Redhawks' 5.92 earned-run average was the worst in Hogan's 14 seasons at Southeast...

SIKESTON -- Fans of the NBC show "America's Got Talent" will see a familiar face when the show's third season premieres later this month. Sikeston native Neal Boyd -- also dubbed "The Voice of Missouri" -- will be a contestant, showing off his singing talents...

The Dutchtown post office opened to customers Monday morning for the first time since its evacuation March 18 due to the flood that temporarily ousted 15 families from their homes in the village of 99 people. For two and a half months, residents picked up their packages from the post office in Gordonville four and a half miles away, where all Dutchtown mail was rerouted until the flood repairs could be completed, said Mindy Lemons, postmaster at Dutchtown...

CALENDAR Today n Breast-feeding class: 3 to 4 p.m. in the Generations Center at Southeast Missouri Hospital. The class covers topics such as the benefits and techniques of breast feeding, family involvement and support. For more information or to register, call 651-5825...

BLOOMFIELD, Mo. -- A Dexter man originally charged with child molestation has now plead guilty to first-degree statutory rape. Christopher Abernathy, 35, was arrested in April on suspicion of the rape of a 2-year-old girl. Abernathy allegedly admitted to the charges to the Dexter Police Department...

MIDDLEBURY, Vt. -- Call it poetic justice: More than two dozen young people who broke into Robert Frost's former home for a beer party and trashed the place are being required to take classes in his poetry as part of their punishment. Using "The Road Not Taken" and another poem as jumping-off points, Frost biographer Jay Parini hopes to show the vandals the error of their ways -- and the redemptive power of poetry...

25 years ago: June 3, 1983 Charles N. Harris, a Cape Girardeau businessman whose interests ranged from automotive firms to plastics, dies at a local hospital at age 63; Harris was associated with his father in Harris Motor Co. from 1938 to 1972 and in Harris Truck and Trailer; he was one of the founders of Atlas Plastics and was associated with many other businesses...

CHARLESTON, Mo. -- The 38th annual Patti Simmons School of Dance recital on Saturday had a surprise finale so grand, it brought the former owner and director to laughter and tears. After the dancers performed and awards were presented, owner and director Melissa Seiler tearfully read a thank you to her former teacher, Patti Simmons Marriott, now retired...

DURHAM, N.C. -- Sen. Edward M. Kennedy underwent what his doctor called successful surgery Monday to treat his cancerous brain tumor, and told his wife shortly after that he felt "like a million bucks," a family spokeswoman said. Kennedy was awake for the 3 1/2-hour procedure at Duke University Medical Center, his doctor said. The Massachusetts Democrat is expected to undergo chemotherapy and radiation in coming weeks, and will likely remain at the North Carolina facility for about a week...

ST. LOUIS -- Missouri appears ready to resume executions for the first time in nearly three years. The Missouri Supreme Court said late Friday it will set dates for a Cape Girardeau man and another death row inmate in "due course" while the Department of Corrections confirmed Monday for the first time that its execution team is in place...

Cape Girardeau Firefighters responded to the following calls Sunday: n At 6 p.m., emergency medical service in the 3300 block of Kage Lane. n At 6:08 p.m., emergency medical service in the unit block of South West End Boulevard. n At 9:22 p.m., emergency medical service in the 1200 block of Missouri Street...

Betty Metcalfe Betty Jo Werner Metcalfe, 82, of Cape Girardeau died Monday, June 2, 2008, at Southeast Missouri Hospital. Ford and Sons Mount Auburn Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

ST. LOUIS -- Clean-up work continues after a towboat began sinking and spilling diesel fuel in the Missouri River. Department of Natural Resources spokesman Larry Archer said diesel leaked from vents in the boat's fuel tanks after it ran aground Friday near West Alton. Divers over the weekend were able to close off the vents...

ST. LOUIS -- The National Park Service is considering changes to the grounds of the famed Gateway Arch, and the public will have opportunities to share its opinions. Two "open house-style" meetings have been planned: the first meeting will be from 5 to 8 p.m. June 25 at the visitors' center in Forest Park in St. Louis. The second will be from 3 to 6:30 p.m. July 1 in the Old Courthouse downtown...

BEIJING -- Foreigners attending the Beijing Olympics better behave -- or else. The Beijing Olympic organizing committee issued a stern, nine-page document Monday that covers 57 topics. Written in Chinese only and posted on the official Web site, the guide covers everything from a ban on sleeping outdoors to the need for government permission to stage a protest...

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Cleaning the Bingham-Waggoner Estate in Independence last summer, volunteers made a rare find in a cluttered third-floor bedroom: an 1893 Zimmer's Base Ball Game. The board game, which features a full-color board and portraits of 18 star players, is one of only about 10 known copies in the world. ...

The current discussion about school transfers in the Cape Girardeau School District is good. The district has, over the years, attempted to make transfers within the district easier for students. But the district's policy, which allows principals and the superintendent to permit students to stay in familiar surroundings even when they move into the attendance area of another elementary school, is pretty much left up to each administrator. ...

To the editor: Occasionally, people come along who greatly inspire those around them. Even when they are gone, the lives of the people they touched will never be the same. Staff Sgt. Bradley J. Skelton was one of those people. He entered the Missouri Army National Guard in 1984 while he was still in high school and served with the 1140th Engineer Battalion headquartered in Jackson until he was deployed to Iraq from 2004 to 2005. Upon his return, he retired from the National Guard...

Each winter, a lighted star shines from the radio tower at Cape County Park North. The name of the tower's owner, however, is in the dark. That's what Dick Knaup learned after being asked by the county commission to identify who is responsible for the tower...

After reminding those present that the city of Cape Girardeau will continue to support the sales tax holiday despite a loss of the revenue, the city council unanimously approved the first reading of the 2009 budget. The city will run with three fewer full-time employees and charge a total of 3.47 percent more for city-provided utilities such as water, sewer and refuse pickup...

War propaganda IN A recent column, David Limbaugh alluded to "propaganda against the war." Thanks to Scott McClellan, former White House press secretary, we now know that the wrongheaded invasion of Iraq (we should have used our military resources against Afghanistan) resulted from a Bush administration-orchestrated propaganda campaign to convince those inside and outside the government that Iraq (there were no weapons of mass destruction or al-Qaida threat in Iraq before the invasion) should be the main target. ...

Jude Schultz Jude Weldon Schultz, 10 days, died Saturday, May 31, 2008, at Cardinal Glennon Hospital in St. Louis. He was born May 21, 2008, in Cape Girardeau, son of Jared W. and Hannah Lucille Moore Schultz. Jude came into this world too early and left the same way. In the 10 days he was here he touched everyone who knew him. He was known as the "Wild Man" at Cardinal Glennon Hospital...

n Learn to swim and swim well. No one should swim alone. Adults should practice "reach supervision," which means to be within arm's length of a child in case an emergency occurs. n Outfit everyone with proper gear. Children and adults who are not strong swimmers should use U.S. Coast Guard-approved personal flotation devices when they are in or around water...

Jackson The Jackson Police Department released the following items. Arrests do not imply guilt. Thefts n A burglary was reported in the 700 block of West Jackson Boulevard. n A burglary was reported in the 200 block of North Farmington Road. Miscellaneous...

Louis Cordia ST. LOUIS -- Louis E. Cordia, 85, of St. Louis, baptized into the hope of Christ's resurrection Sunday, June 1, 2008, at his home. He was born at Richwoods, Mo., son of John Henry and Louise Cordia. Cordia retired as a truck driver with a freight company...

THUWANA, Myanmar -- As students filed into Middle School No. 1 on Monday for the first day of classes since the cyclone hit Myanmar a month ago, all eyes stared skyward -- at the gaping hole in the roof. The school in Thuwana, a southern suburb of Yangon, was one of at least 4,100 that were damaged or destroyed by Cyclone Nargis, according to UNICEF...

SAN ANGELO, Texas -- A judge on Monday ordered the immediate return of more than 400 children taken from a polygamist sect's ranch, bringing an abrupt end to one of the largest custody cases in U.S. history. Texas District Judge Barbara Walther, responding to a state Supreme Court ruling last week, signed an order filed by attorneys for the parents and Child Protective Services, allowing the parents to begin picking their children up from foster care facilities around the state...

Businesses could be banned from using people hired to hold signs near curbsides to draw potential customers if a new ordinance is passed by the Cape Girardeau City Council. On Monday, the board unanimously approved the first reading of the ordinance, which amends Section 15-16 of the city code, prohibiting "selling or soliciting on public streets, rights-of-way, intersections, medians or sidewalks."...

UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif. -- The "Transformers" have another chunk of metal to add to their collection. The blockbuster about robots in disguise took home the golden popcorn trophy for best film at the MTV Movie Awards on Sunday night, and Johnny Depp won two buckets for best comedic performance and best villain...

ST. LOUIS -- St. Louis Children's Hospital is cited among the best in the nation in the latest ranking by U.S. News & World Report. The 2008 edition of "America's Best Children's Hospitals" ranks St. Louis Children's as among the best in all seven specialty areas...

A headline and story in Sunday's Lifestyles section should have said this year's downtown golf tournament will be the First-ever Third Annual Louis J. Lorimier Memorial World-famous Downtown Golf Tournament and All-You-Can-Eat Catfish Buffet. The Southeast Missourian regrets the error...

Coomer Daughter to Todd and Valerie Coomer of Cookeville, Tenn., Cookeville Regional Medical Center, 11:56 a.m. Friday, May 23, 2008. Name, Mylie Ava. Weight, 7 pounds, 10 ounces. Second daughter. Mrs. Coomer is the former Valerie Barnes, daughter of Lloyd and Helen Barnes of Algood, Tenn. She is a medical transcriptionist at Cookeville Regional Medical Center. Coomer is the son of Drew and Sue Coomer of Scott City. He is employed at Nissan North America Plant in Smyrna, Tenn...

To the editor: In his recent letter, Alan Journet suggests that there is a scientific consensus that global warming is occurring and that it is caused by human activity. He also seems to suggest that, given such a consensus, those who oppose or doubt his view on the matter should simply remain quiet and there should be no debate. Both of his suggestions are absurd...

An item in Thursday's police report should have said Keith L. Monia, 47, 3719 Carolwood Drive, was issued a summons for unlawful use of a weapon, not arrested. The Cape Girardeau Police Department regrets the error.

An item in Sunday's police report incorrectly said Verlan Graham, 502 Sycamore St., Jackson, was arrested on suspicion of driving while intoxicated. Cassandra Whitledge was arrested in the incident, not Verlan Graham. The Southeast Missourian regrets the error...

WASHINGTON -- Barack Obama neared victory in the Democratic presidential race Monday on the eve of a final pair of primaries amid signs that Hillary Rodham Clinton was preparing to acknowledge defeat. Said a confident-sounding Obama: "I told her that once the dust settled I'm looking forward to meeting with her at a time and place of her choosing." That was from a conversation the two rivals had Sunday night. He did not describe her response...

Eva Moore ADVANCE, Mo. -- Eva Christine Moore, 91, of Advance passed away Sunday, June 1, 2008, at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. She was born April 22, 1917, near Advance, daughter of Bernice and Nellie Sims Moore. Eva worked as a bookkeeper many years at Morgan Funeral Home in Advance. ...

Nearly five years after the first shovelful of dirt was turned on the new federal courthouse in Cape Girardeau, the building is open for business. The first legal hearing in the Rush Hudson Limbaugh Sr. United States Courthouse came Monday in a civil case, Bartoe v. ...

Gators swim coach Steve Franklin has seen 3 year olds who could compete in every event at a swim meet, but he still doesn't think it's a good idea. The American Academy of Pediatrics says children are not developmentally ready for swimming lessons until after their fourth birthday. They recommend any pool time be supervised and serve only to introduce the child to water...

Come join the fun in Marble Hill, June 28 from 11-3pm

Cape Girardeau, Mo. – It was a beautiful afternoon on May 19 when participants of the fifth annual Ken Hayden Memorial Golf Tournament hit the fairways. More than 120 golfers and 30 volunteers turned out for the event that raised $25,000 for Saint Francis Medical Center’s Cancer Care Fund...

ADVANCE, Mo. -- A major traffic issue was created on Highway 25 Monday afternoon when a young black bear climbed a tree next to the highway about two miles east of Advance on County Road 347. Four officers from the Missouri Department of Conservation were on hand to make sure that there was no contact between the bear and about 60 curious local residents, whose vehicles lined the side of the highway...

Natural gas service has returned to normal after a construction worker ruptured a gas line in the 600 block of Charles Street this morning. The Cape Girardeau Fire Department responded about 11:45 a.m. at the intersection of Charles Street and Hawthorne Road, west of Arena Park...

Customers left holding gift certificates and gift cards from Spa 151 on the River will get their money back, the Missouri Attorney General's Office announced Tuesday. After almost four months of working on complaints filed against Spa 151, which closed in late January, Attorney General Jay Nixon, in a news release issued Tuesday, announced that the former owners will pay up to $103,000 to redeem the cards and certificates...

The Dexter Show Choir under the direction of MaryRuth Boone performed May 26 at Walt Disney World in Florida. The choir posed for photographers after their concert in the Rose Garden near Cinderella's Castle in the heart of Disney World. The choir was invited to perform in the Galaxy Palace Theater in Tommorowland. ...

By MAYRA PERTOSSI The Associated Press BUENOS AIRES, Argentina -- Francis Ford Coppola's spokeswoman and a leader of the Argentine actors union have revealed more details that better explain a dispute over the production of "Tetro," his latest film...

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (AP) -- Two women have been cited for stealing flowers off gravesites at a St. Joseph cemetery, including some arrangements honoring war veterans on Memorial Day. Prosecutors said Monday that Jo Ann Milbourn and her daughter Rebekah Rutherford were cited after a man saw them May 27 with 30 containers of flowers in the back of their vehicle. The man -- Larry Whitmore -- placed one of the pilfered pots for his father, a World War II veteran...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) -- Missouri Attorney General Jay Nixon said Tuesday that he is joining 10 other states in asking the California Supreme Court to delay finalizing its ruling to legalize same-sex marriage. Nixon, in a letter to Chief Justice Ronald George, said that the court should hold off on implementing its decision until November. That's because the California secretary of state has certified a ballot measure that, if approved by voters, would overturn the court ruling...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) -- Natural gas and utility industry representatives tell regulators increasing demand could fuel higher energy prices. Chris McGill with the American Gas Association says there are now two peak periods for natural gas demand. There's the traditional winter heating season, and one in summer because more electrical plants use natural gas...

Cape Girardeau police have removed 10 dogs, including a dead puppy, from a Middle Street home. The animals were discovered by a neighbor who heard one dog yelping and found four adult dogs tied up and five puppies running loose in the backyard of 220 Middle St. The neighbor said one female dog was unable to reach some water, so he pushed the pan closer...

UNIVERSITY CITY, Mo. (AP) -- Presidential candidate Barack Obama claims another Democratic superdelegate from Missouri. State Representative Maria Chappelle-Nadal endorsed Obama in his bid for the party's nomination at a news conference today in the St. Louis suburb of University City...

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (AP) -- Springfield police say an elderly couple has been found dead of gunshot wounds at their home. Police Lt. Scott Leven said 84-year-old man called 911 Tuesday morning saying that his wife had shot herself, and that he was about to shoot himself. Officers secured the home and went inside about two hours later and found the man and his wife, who was 74, dead of gunshot wounds...

Luwanda Bryant, 61, of Plano, Texas, formerly of Cape Girardeau, passed away Wednesday, May 28, 2008, at Richardson Regional Medical Center in Richardson, Texas, after a brief illness. Survivors include her children, Julia and Jeremy of Dallas; grandchildren, J'Nae and Jalen; her mother, Malinda Haynes of Florissant, Mo.; a brother, Louis Haynes of Spanish Lake, Mo.; four sisters, Shirley Sides of Cape Girardeau, Gladys Johnson of Florissant, Sharon Sides of Forney, Texas, Gretchen Woods of Urbandale, Iowa; and a host of nieces and nephews.. ...

Betty Jo Werner Metcalfe, 82, of Cape Girardeau died Monday, June 2, 2008, at Southeast Missouri Hospital. She was born Jan. 31, 1926, in Cape Girardeau, daughter of Edward and Rosa Bingenheimer Haman. She and Alvin Werner were married Nov. 4, 1950, in Cape Girardeau. He died Dec. 15, 1987. Then she married Donald Metcalfe on March 19, 1994, in Cape Girardeau. He died April 4, 2005...

My dad likes to give me a hard time about my attempts to "save the planet." Reusing, conserving and being good stewards of the Earth were part of my mom's and dad's lives growing up as farm kids in Southeast Missouri. The ebbs and flows of nature dictated good seasons and bad seasons, hearty years and years of struggle...

It was a popular phrase in the 1980s: "The one who dies with the most toys wins." Judging by the clutter problems plaguing households across the country, a lot of Americans took that axiom seriously. An entire organization industry has sprung up around managing household clutter, but we still don't appear to be winning the battle. Interior designers see clutter in nearly every home they visit, and they're often called upon to creatively eliminate it...

WILMINGTON, Del. -- General Motors Corp. officially blew up its old business model Tuesday, closing four pickup truck and sport utility vehicle factories, announcing a new small car that could get 45 miles per gallon and shedding 8,350 jobs in the process...

Cape Girardeau police removed 10 dogs, including a dead puppy, from a Middle Street home Tuesday afternoon. The animals were discovered by a neighbor, who responded to the yelps of one dog only to find three more dogs tied up and five puppies running loose in the backyard of the home at 220 Middle St. The neighbor did not want to be identified for fear of possible reprisal. He said one female dog was unable to reach its water, so he pushed the pan closer...

ST. PAUL, Minn. -- Cheered by a roaring crowd, Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois laid claim to the Democratic presidential nomination Tuesday night, taking a historic step toward his once-improbable goal of becoming the nation's first black president. "America, this is our moment," the 46-year-old senator and one-time community organizer said in his first appearance as the Democratic nominee-in-waiting. "This is our time. Our time to turn the page on the policies of the past."...

Military issues TIMES ARE tough. I agree with President Bush about no military pay increase. I know my spouse hasn't received a raise this year. Times are tough, and he's producing the same amount of work and quality of work he's always done. Regarding scholarships for college for military personnel, there are no free rides. ...

Over the weekend I ran across a couple of recipes I want to try as side dishes to accompany our cookouts. I think the slaw recipe would be delicious alongside my husband's favorite bacon-wrapped pork tenderloin teriyaki recipe. If you have a favorite side dish recipe, send it in so we can include it here and other readers can try the new recipes over the summer cookout months...

Cape Girardeau Firefighters responded to the following calls Monday: n At 5:16 p.m., emergency medical service in the 200 block of Country Club Drive. n At 5:56 p.m., emergency medical service in the 1300 block of Carolyn Drive. n At 6:24 p.m., emergency medical service in the 1000 block Dorothy Street...

WASHINGTON -- Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke has moved inflation up on his list of worries, suggesting more pointedly than ever that the time for cutting interest rates is over in view of soaring oil and commodity prices and a weakened dollar...

ST. LOUIS -- The rhetoric is set to heat up this summer over the use of crop-based fuels like ethanol as a number of activist groups will protest biofuels as a key reason for rising food costs. While the voices might be many, the source behind them is a single food lobbying group...

By John P. "JP" Brown III We have heard an outcry in recent years for better health care for recently returned veterans from the global war on terror. Numerous reports cite high rates of suicide among our young vets, and nearly 30 percent suffer from some kind of mental health problem upon returning from combat...

KENNETT, Mo. -- Dunklin County authorities are on the hunt for an alleged rapist who escaped from the Dunklin County Justice Center over the weekend. According to Dunklin County Sheriff Bob Holder, Dewey Odell Hopper Jr., 42, escaped from custody about 9 p.m. Saturday...

PITTSBURGH -- The Stanley Cup was out of its crate, getting one last polish. The Detroit Red Wings had rallied, taken the lead and were only 35 seconds from hoisting that shiny prize. That's when a player no one expected to be on the ice struck for the Pittsburgh Penguins...

The Dutchtown post office is open again. Last week, residents there held a fund-raiser in conjunction with the 100-Mile Yard Sale. Dutchtown would rather not be in the news, but when the water rises, so too do the blood-pressure readings of residents there. Nestled in the lowlands, Dutchtown is the path of least resistance when the Diversion Channel outgrows its banks. In the huge flash floods earlier this spring, the water came like residents hadn't seen before...

DUJIANGYAN, China -- Angry parents whose children were killed in an earthquake-stricken school shouted "Oh, my child!" and "Tell us something!" when police forcefully removed them Tuesday from a protest outside a courthouse. The police action was the clearest signal yet that authorities are hardening their stance against the impromptu displays of public anger over the May 12 earthquake that collapsed schools and killed thousands of children...

25 years ago: June 4, 1983 Fire guts a Cape Girardeau boarding house, forcing the evacuation of some residents but causing no serious injuries; the fire, in a two-story building at 18 N. Fountain St. that contained about 20 rooms, is reported by a tenant at about 4:30 a.m...

SIKESTON, Mo. -- Michael McKnight, 53, died Monday, June 2, 2008, at Clearview Nursing Center in Sikeston. He was born Feb. 4, 1955, in Memphis, Tenn., son of Buster and Betty Joe Freshour McKnight. McKnight was a member of Shady Acres Church of Christ and worked as a project manager for PB2 Architecture and Design in Rogers, Ark...

ATLANTA -- An outbreak of salmonella food poisoning first linked to uncooked tomatoes has now been reported in nine states, U.S. health officials said Tuesday. Lab tests have confirmed 40 illnesses in Texas and New Mexico as the same type of salmonella, right down to the genetic fingerprint. An investigation by Texas and New Mexico health authorities and the Indian Health Service tied those cases to uncooked, raw, large tomatoes...

UNITED NATIONS -- The chief prosecutor for the International Criminal Court charges that "the whole state apparatus" of Sudan is implicated in crimes against humanity in the Darfur region, linking the government directly with the feared janjaweed militia...

WASHINGTON -- A Veterans Affairs psychologist denies she was trying to save money when she suggested counselors make fewer diagnoses of post-traumatic stress disorder in injured soldiers. Norma Perez, who helps coordinate a post-traumatic stress disorder clinical team in central Texas, indicated she might have been out of line to cite growing disability claims in her March 20 e-mail titled "Suggestion." She said her intent was simply to remind staffers that stress symptoms could also be adjustment disorder. ...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Several of Missouri's top-ranking superdelegates endorsed Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama on Tuesday night after Obama proclaimed he had won the nomination. The state Democratic Party said Obama picked up the support of Attorney General Jay Nixon, who is the party's leading gubernatorial candidate, as well as that of Secretary of State Robin Carnahan and state party chairman John Temporiti...

Jackson, Cape bands ready to start season The Cape Girardeau Municipal Band officially begins its summer series of outdoor concerts today in the Capaha Park band shell. The free concert features the "Stars and Bars March," "Chorale and Shaker Dance," "America, the Beautiful" and selections from the musical "Cats." Ronald Nall will direct the band for the concert, which will be from 8 to 9 p.m. ...

WASHINGTON -- The St. Louis Cardinals faced more resistance from Mother Nature than from the Washington Nationals, enduring more than 2 1/2 hours of delays before finishing off a 6-1 victory Tuesday night. A miscue-filled, four-run first-inning, highlighted by Yadier Molina's three-run homer, was all the Cardinals needed against a Nationals team whose inept hitting and defense mercifully were interrupted twice by a storm over the nation's capital. ...

ORAN, Mo. -- The Missouri Department of Transportation will host a public hearing this week concerning replacement of the Route W bridge west of Oran, according to a news release from MoDOT. The hearing will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday at the Oran Elementary School's multipurpose building at 310 Church St...

NEW YORK -- Tatum O'Neal told a newspaper columnist she is grateful to the New York City police officers who busted her for cocaine and saved her from herself. "I'm still sober!" the 44-year-old actress told New York Post columnist Andrea Peyser in a phone call shortly after being released from custody Monday...

ADVANCE, Mo. -- Carl E. Ward, 89, of Advance died Tuesday, June 3, 2008, at his home. He was born April 22, 1919, at Sylvia, Mo., son of Leonard and Grace Carlton Ward. He and Trella Pape were married June 2, 1947, in Piggott, Ark. She died Dec. 23, 1996...

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- Poplar Bluff's precipitation during the past six months surpassed the previous 12 months and nearly equaled the average annual amount. According to the National Weather Service at Paducah, Ky., the precipitation totaled 43.85 inches from Dec. 1 through May 31. This is about 1.3 inches more than the 42.58 inches received from Dec. 1, 2006, through Nov. 30, and only 3.3 inches below the yearly average of 47.14 for the 30-year period from 1971 to 2000...

CARACAS, Venezuela -- Venezuelans may be forced to spy on their neighbors or risk prison terms under President Hugo Chavez's new intelligence decree, raising fears of a Cuba-style system that could be used to stifle dissent. Chavez said the intelligence law he quietly decreed last week will help Venezuela detect and neutralize national security threats, including assassination or coups plots. ...

CHAFFEE, Mo. -- Edward Dale Lewis, 62, of Chaffee died Sunday, May 25, 2008, at his home. He was born Aug. 7, 1945, at Chaffee, son of Delbert and Frances Evelyn Golightly Lewis. Lewis was a U.S. Army veteran of the Vietnam War. Survivors include a brother, Bob Lewis of Waynesville, Mo.; and two sisters, Karen Cline and Donna Richmond of Noble, Okla...

Cape Girardeau The Cape Girardeau Police Department released the following items. Arrests do not imply guilt. Arrests n Jeremy C. Jones, 18, 919 S. Pacific St., was arrested on suspicion of stealing. n Kristopher R. Knaeble, 17, 701 Broadway, was arrested on suspicion of stealing and being a minor in possession of alcohol...

WASHINGTON -- A little strategically placed makeup quickly turns the wimpiest of male barn swallows into chick magnets, amping up their testosterone and even trimming their weight, new research shows. It's a "clothes make the man" lesson that -- with some caveats -- also applies to human males, researchers say...

JONESBORO, Ill. -- Paul Dean Housman, 73, of Jonesboro died Monday, June 2, 2008, at his home. He was born Sept. 29, 1934, in Anna, Ill., son of Ernest Franklin and Helen Groner Housman. He and Caroline M. Norrbom were married Nov. 28, 1969, in Riverside, Calif...

Cape police report one complaint about signs The Cape Girardeau Police Department reported Tuesday that it has received one formal residential complaint regarding the use of people holding signs near curbsides to draw in potential customers to businesses. ...

NEW YORK -- Go Girl. King 888. Brain Toniq. No, we're not introducing new IM lingo. But when you're competing with 250 energy drinks, according to a recent count from BevNET.com, a catchy name is crucial. With more Americans searching for energy and willing to pay a premium for it -- some energy drinks are $3 a can -- many drink makers are hoping to duplicate the success of Red Bull, which sold 3.5 billion cans last year, according to company figures...

SIKESTON, Mo. -- An agreement that "resolved" a housing discrimination complaint against the city will be reviewed by the city's attorney. City council members looked over documents from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development during their regular meeting Monday...

BAGHDAD -- American troops grabbed two al-Qaida in Iraq bombing suspects and a Shiite militia leader Tuesday in separate raids north and south of Baghdad, the U.S. military said. One of the two al-Qaida suspects, who was captured with four aides in Mosul, is believed to have overseen security for the group's branch in that northern city, the military said. Mosul is one of the terror network's last urban strongholds and the target of a joint U.S.-Iraqi operation...

NEW YORK -- Angling for a vice presidential nod, Hillary Rodham Clinton refused to bow out of the Democratic race Tuesday, hoping to maintain leverage as Barack Obama clinched the delegates needed to secure the party's nomination. "A lot of people are asking, 'What does Hillary want?'" Clinton told supporters at a rally in New York City. "I want what I have always fought for: I want the nearly 18 million people who voted for me to be respected and heard."...

Tools taken from shed at Dexter business DEXTER, Mo. -- A Dexter business was burglarized over the weekend. Cory Mills, a detective for the Dexter Police Department, said several construction tools were taken from a storage shed at Key Stone Automotive on Conder Drive. ...

Route E in Bollinger County closed Thursday Route E between routes TT and P in Bollinger County will be closed Thursday while MoDOT crews replace a drainage pipe beneath the roadway. Weather permitting, the work will be done 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday. Signs will mark the work zone and drivers are cautioned to take care while traveling through the area. For more information, call the Missouri Department of Transportation's Customer Service Center at 888-275-6636...

When Spa 151 on the River closed without warning in late January, hundreds of customers were left holding worthless gift certificates and gift cards. On Tuesday, after almost four months of investigation and negotiation, Missouri Attorney General Jay Nixon announced those consumers will get their money back. Ashli and Scott Rowland, owners of the spa, and Brent Wills, a one-time business partner of the Rowlands, agreed to pay up to $103,000 in restitution...

A $4 million contract bid for a construction project on Independence Street was approved Monday night by the Cape Girardeau City Council and granted to Fronabarger Concreters Inc. The construction, which will focus on widening with repaving and an update to the storm drainage system, will take place between Pacific Street and Kingshighway over the next year...

Southeast Missourian A construction worker ruptured a gas line Tuesday in the 600 block of Charles Street, but only a brief service interruption to one customer was reported. The Cape Girardeau Fire Department responded at about 11:45 a.m. at the intersection of Charles Street and Hawthorne Road, west of Arena Park...

Since the Cape Girardeau Regional Airport resumed passenger service May 19, business has been slow. As of Tuesday, 16 passengers have flown on Great Lakes Airlines, the latest airline to serve the area. Because of the low number of passengers who have purchased tickets, airport manager Bruce Loy said, the majority of the scheduled flights so far have been canceled. The most passengers any flight has had is four; the least is one...

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- Kaylee learned how to blow kisses while in the hospital. She gives them out indiscriminately, stealing nurses' hearts with her smile. Wendy, with the help of new hearing aide "ears," now talks nonstop. After 65 days in the hospital, she is getting close to release, if breathing problems subside...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) -- Republican gubernatorial candidate Sarah Steelman is criticizing U.S. Rep Kenny Hulshof for missing votes on legislation related to war funding and petroleum. A nonpartisan voting tracking service shows Hulshof has missed nearly 30 percent of the votes this year in Congress. That's partly because he's been campaigning for governor...

DEXTER, Mo. -- On her second visit to Dexter in as many months, State Treasurer Sarah Steelman, who is bidding for the top spot in Missouri's political arena, met with several female supporters during a luncheon held at the Hickory Log Tuesday afternoon...

Cape Girardeau County Circuit Judge William Syler granted a defense motion to throw out the jury trial against a Delta man for DWI today.Dallis F. Coomer, a repeat DWI offender, was on trial for allegedly having a blood alcohol content nearly three times the legal limit while driving on Feb. ...

Ah, the panda. There's no cuter member of the animal kingdom, so why has he taken so long to land a starring role in Hollywood? The truth is, we like our cartoons to be the less attractive eccentrics: mice, rats, whatever Gonzo is. But in "Kung Fu Panda," Jack Black's panda isn't cuddly; he's an overweight dreamer who has more in common with Nacho Libre than Hsing-Hsing. He puts the giant in giant panda...

US 61 in Cape Girardeau County will be reduced to one lane with a 12-foot width restriction while MoDOT crews perform drainage work in the northbound and southbound lanes.  This section of roadway is located at the intersection of Route D.Weather permitting, the work will take place Thursday and Friday from 8 a.m. ...

ST. CHARLES, Mo. (AP) -- A Catholic priest from St. Charles County is facing charges of second-degree assault and driving while intoxicated following an accident in St. Louis County. Prosecutors say the Rev. John Brockland ran a red light and hit another car last month, leaving the other driver with a fractured clavicle, ribs and pelvis...

Thirteen area individuals were recently arrested following a "round-up" conducted by the Bootheel Drug Task Force with help from the Pemiscot County Sheriff's Department, Caruthersville and Hayti police departments and the FBI. In the early morning hours Friday, several arrests were made as a result of investigations conducted by the above listed agencies over the past six months to a year...

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — The National Weather Service is giving advance warning of a possible tornado outbreak in the Great Plains on Thursday with conditions similar to a deadly day in 1974 when 39 tornadoes touched down. Computer forecasting models for Thursday resemble those on June 8, 1974, when more than three dozen tornadoes touched down in the southern Plains and killed 22 people, including six in Emporia...

ST. LOUIS (AP) -- Authorities are investigating a possible kidnapping after a man is found alive in the trunk of a car at Lambert Airport in St. Louis. The man was found Monday night at the East Terminal. The car was parked in the parking garage. A passer-by heard something coming from the trunk and notified airport police. Officers and firefighters were able to open the trunk and found the man inside, tied up...

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- Three Rivers Community College president Dr. John Cooper was fired during a special board of trustees meeting Tuesday night. During an executive session, James Grassham offered a motion for Cooper's termination, which was seconded by Bill Hollida. The vote was unanimous...

Edward C. Nobus, 86, of Jackson passed away Tuesday, June 3, 2008, at Monticello House in Jackson. He was born May 25, 1922, in Belgique, Mo., son of Edward and Mary Verstringer Nobus. He and Esther Bingenheimer McClard were married Dec. 5, 1981. Edward was a member of Emanuel United Church of Christ in Jackson, where he served on the church council and as an usher. He worked as a security guard for SEMO Security at Procter & Gamble...

SIKESTON, Mo. -- James A. Westrich, 68, of Sikeston died Wednesday, June 4, 2008, at Hunter Acres Caring Center. He was born Sept. 11, 1939, in Oran, Mo., son of Lawrence and Clara Glastetter Westrich. He and Margot Zimmerman were married June 12, 1961, in Benton, Mo...

CHICAGO -- United Airlines said Wednesday that it's cutting up to 1,100 more jobs, removing an additional 70 fuel-guzzling airplanes from its fleet and slashing domestic capacity as it tries to cope with spiraling fuel prices. The nation's No. 2 carrier said it plans to cut an additional 900 to 1,100 salaried, contract and management employees by the end of the year, in addition to 500 previously announced job reductions. ...

Southeast Missouri State senior Miles Smith received the news he expected. Smith earned an at-large bid to the NCAA national track and field championships in the 400 meters. Smith enters the meet with the nation's 11th fastest time of 45.67 seconds, which he ran at the University of Arkansas on April 19...

Government help ALTHOUGH I voted for him twice and in ways consider him among our greatest presidents, I think one of the most damaging generalizations ever uttered by an aspiring chief executive was Ronald Reagan's line that "government is part of the problem and not part of the solution." Government can be of great assistance beyond just helping make the rich richer...

ST. LOUIS (AP) -- The crowd from a march to end violence in St. Louis had barely dissipated when police were called to respond to St. Louis' latest homicide. Shirlene Williams suffered a gunshot wound to the head while at a gas station parking lot Sunday night. The 16 year-old later died...

Live music Doug Rees Tunes embassador plays with special guest Keith Sykes. Where: Stooges, Jackson When: 7 to 11 p.m. today Ivas John Band He's got the blues. You can hear em. Where: Water Street Lounge, Port Cape...

WASHINGTON -- A corruption scandal engulfing Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert was pushed into the background Wednesday as the beleaguered Israeli leader and staunch ally President Bush displayed chummy relations and declared resolve against Iran and for Mideast peace...

Cape Girardeau Firefighters responded to the following calls Tuesday: n At 4:26 p.m., emergency medical service in the 1700 block of Carolina Lane. n At 6:28 p.m., a rescue in the 1000 block of Ranney Avenue. n At 7:35 p.m., emergency medical service in the 700 block of Ranney Avenue...

Charge Jay Purcell with a misdemeanor. Seal the secret audio tape he made April 17. Those are just two requests made Wednesday by the Cape Girardeau County Commission's attorney. They came in the form of the legal brief answering the Sunshine Law suit filed last month by Purcell, the county's 2nd District commissioner...

PADUCAH, Ky. — Hot on the heels of "Sex and The City," the ultimate gal-pal movie, Paducah's Carson Center presents "Girls Night: The Musical." The show is a musical comedy about a group of friends who relive the past on a wild night out at a karaoke club...

The Edward Bernard Gallery may not be clustered in the local artistic epicenter of downtown Cape Girardeau, but it also stands alone in less geographical terms. NICHE magazine, the exclusive trade publication for progressive retailers of fine American craft, has named the Edward Bernard Gallery as a nominee in its 2008 Top Retailer Awards. ...

To the editor: There is a serious problem with the election process in the U.S. How on God's green earth did we ever come by enough brilliant minds to decide on such foolish things as caucuses, delegates, superdelegates, primaries and all the other unnecessary, costly procedures to select a candidate for either party?...

FARMINGTON, Pa. -- Attorney General Michael Mukasey, defending military commissions to prosecute suspected terrorists, told federal judges Wednesday the upcoming trials will be "in the best traditions of the American legal system." Mukasey's remarks came amid fresh criticism of the legal processes at Guantanamo Bay. Just this week, the Pentagon defended the abrupt removal of a judge from a case after rulings unfavorable to the government...

MARBLE HILL, Mo. -- Carl E. Ward, 89, of Marble Hill, formerly of Zalma, Mo., died Tuesday, June 3, 2008, at his home. He was born April 22, 1919, at Sylvia, Mo., son of Leonard and Grace Carlton Ward. He and Trella Pape were married June 2, 1947, in Piggott, Ark. She died Dec. 23, 1996...

NEW YORK -- Renters may be the biggest winners in the current housing slump, especially in places like Florida, Las Vegas and Southern California, that have thousands of vacant for-sale and foreclosed homes and condos on the market. Apartment vacancies are edging up in many areas of the country as frustrated sellers instead try to rent out their homes and condos in once red-hot housing markets. ...

What's worse than spending 12 hours stuck in a car on the way to a vacation in Florida? Not going on a vacation. It seems to be the choice people have to make this summer. You don't have to stay home, but if you do, there's plenty going on in your backyard. As gas prices get higher, maybe the distance of your trip should just get shorter. Nestled somewhere in the back of this magazine each week, you'll find a page filled with suggestions of things to do within a few hours drive...

SAN FRANCISCO -- California's highest court Wednesday refused to stay its decision legalizing same-sex marriage in the state, clearing the final hurdle for gay couples to start tying the knot this month. Conservative religious and legal groups had asked the California Supreme Court to stop its May 15 order requiring state and local officials to sanction same-sex unions from becoming effective until voters have the chance to consider the issue in November. ...

NEW YORK -- Relax, everybody. Despite its racy come-on, the new CBS drama "Swingtown" isn't pushing recreational drugs and mate swapping, any more than it endorses smoking on airplanes or drinking Harvey Wallbangers, which are also part of the 1970s world it inhabits...

LOS ANGELES -- Ed McMahon, who for decades appeared as Johnny Carson's sidekick on "The Tonight Show," is fighting to avoid foreclosure on his multimillion-dollar Beverly Hills home, according to published reports. The former "Star Search" host was $644,000 behind on payments on $4.8 million in mortgage loans when a unit of Countrywide Financial Corp. filed a default notice Feb. 28 with the Los Angeles County Recorder's Office, The Wall Street Journal reported Tuesday...

With licensure appearing imminent, the director of the Family Resource Center is proceeding with a laundry list of big-ticket repairs in order to operate come fall. "We're watching our bank account dwindle, but we're hanging on another day," director Denise Lincoln said...

June 5, 2008 Dear Leslie, When my niece Kim heard DC and I were getting married, now almost 15 years ago, she asked if that meant I didn't love her anymore. I reassured her that love is the only thing in the world that has no limits. That the more love you give, the more you create for everyone, including yourself...

KENNETT, Mo. -- Dunklin County authorities, under the direction of Sheriff Bob Holder, located and apprehended an alleged rapist and felony offender who recently escaped custody from the Dunklin County Justice Center, according to the Daily American Republic. ...

Cape Girardeau County Circuit Judge William Syler granted a defense motion Wednesday to throw out a Delta man's charge of driving while intoxicated. Dallis F. Coomer, who has nine prior convictions for DWI, was on trial for allegedly having a blood-alcohol content of 0.234, nearly three times the legal limit, while driving Feb. 10, 2007, in Delta. The legal limit in Missouri is 0.08...

1. "The Last Lecture" by Randy Pausch, Jeffrey Zaslow 2. "The Hollow" by Nora Roberts 3. "Odd Hours" by Dean Koontz 4. "The Host" by Stephenie Meyer 5. "Twilight" by Stephenie Meyer

DUJIANGYAN, China -- Authorities cordoned off some schools that collapsed in last month's mighty earthquake, keeping out grieving parents and reporters Wednesday in a sign that Beijing was becoming increasingly nervous over accusations of shoddy construction...

DONGOLA, Ill. -- Louie S. Smith, 67, of Dongola died Tuesday, June 3, 2008, at his home. He was born Feb. 3, 1941, in Oran, Mo., son of Sam and Gladys Phelps Smith. Smith lived in Union County most of his life. He was retired from Union County Highway Department. He was a member of Operating Engineers Local 318, VFW Auxiliary and Anna Moose Lodge...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- To everybody's relief, astronauts fixed the toilet at the international space station Wednesday and were on the verge of opening up a grand new science lab. The toilet problem had fast become the most pressing issue of the mission, so much so that a spare pump was rushed from Moscow to Cape Canaveral last week for a last-minute ride aboard space shuttle Discovery...

ST. LOUIS -- Over the last six years, Missouri has evolved into a national model for helping released prisoners re-enter society and not reoffend. Overcrowding led the state to accept a national group's offer in 2002 to be a pilot for reducing recidivism...

Bankers' hours aren't what you'd expect. That's one thing Greg Steffens, president of Southern Missouri Bank, wishes he'd known when he got into the banking business. The same is true for Steve Taylor, president of First Missouri State Bank. The hours — "you don't get off work at 3 p.m." — and not everyone's nice to you, Taylor said...

BENTON, Mo. -- Scott County commissioners have agreed to partner with the city of Benton to resurface the parking area in front of the courthouse. Commissioners explained during their regular meeting Tuesday that city officials asked if the county would pay half of the cost for a new blacktop cap on the parking apron on the east side of the courthouse alongside U.S. 61...

Cape Girardeau The Cape Girardeau Police Department released the following items. Arrests do not imply guilt. n Dantrail S. Tipler, 20, of Sikeston, Mo., was arrested on two Cape Girardeau warrants for contempt of court for stealing, a Sikeston warrant for trespassing and Scott County warrants for tampering with a motor vehicle, resisting arrest and leaving the scene of a motor vehicle accident...

DETROIT -- Thieves who stole an 8-foot statue of Jesus Christ off a crucifix in Detroit may have been seeking copper to sell as scrap. Problem is, it's made of plaster. The Rev. Barry Randolph said Wednesday that the statue at the Church of the Messiah is green and looks like copper, one of several metals coveted by thieves because of soaring scrap prices...

Southeast Missourian U.S. 61 in Cape Girardeau County will be reduced to one lane with a 12-foot width restriction while MoDOT crews perform drainage work in the northbound and southbound lanes. This section of roadway is located at the intersection of Route D...

The Kelson Gallery "Inspiring Environment of Land and Sea" an exhibit featuring Chris Parsons, Gary Benefield, Ged Mitchell, Lawerence Coulson and other artists. 13 S. Spanish, 334-0097 Edward Bernard The gallery features Goyer-Bonneau, a husband and wife team of ceramistes with colored porcelain, resolutely contemporary and centered on the form and function of the object. ...

Dew Son to Kepa Casado Saintz and Lyndea Dew of Barcelona, Spain, Clinica Teknon in Barcelona, Wednesday, Feb. 6, 2008. Name, Sawyer Kepa Casado. Weight, 2 pounds. First child. Lyndea is the daughter of Larry and Judy Dew of Clarksville, Mo., formerly of Cape Girardeau. She is international marketing director with Puig Beauty and Fashion Group. Kepa is the son of Jose Luis and Maria Elena Casado of Bilbao, Spain. He is an independent 3-D animator...

Foundation, restaurant offer Father's Day gift Southeast Missouri Hospital Foundation and The Branding Iron have partnered to offer The Branding Iron's pork ribs as a Father's Day gift and benefit patient care services and programs of Southeast Missouri Hospital at the same time. ...

Sincerity and guts. That's what legendary blues guitarist Bryan Lee says his music is all about. The New Orleans native has played all over the world with some of the finest blues musicians, including being on stage with Pine Top Perkins, Hubert Sumlin, Buddy Flett and Willie Big Eyes Smith. ...

It's a Thursday afternoon, and country music star Jason Michael Carroll sits in a crowded airport in California, waiting for his flight to Nashville, Tenn. He talks above the noisy intercoms and airport chatter to explain his life as a traveling musician away from his friends and family most nights...

Cathryn Maya was stunned Wednesday when dozens of friends called her saying they had seen her name and photo in the CrimeStopper feature that appeared in the Southeast Missourian. It appears Maya's situation was cleared up weeks ago, but some communication lapses ignited a rather simple matter over restitution of a bad check written in 2007 in Scott County. ...

When Neal Boyd was growing up in Sikeston, Mo., his singing talent was obvious to his classmates, teachers and his fellow parishioners at St. Paul's Episcopal Church. When he was pursuing a degree at Southeast Missouri State University, Boyd was well-known in Cape Girardeau for his commanding tenor voice and his superb performance skills. Now Boyd's talent will be showcased nationally as a contestant on NBC's "America's Got Talent," which starts its third season later this month...

A hickory wood and charcoal aroma fills the 19th-century brick building at the corner of Broadway and Water Street, a mere 50 feet from the banks of the Mississippi River, where the Port Cape Girardeau restaurant stands. Built in the early 1800s, the building is one of the oldest standing structures west of the Mississippi River. ...

Scott County downs Farmington 10-4 Shae Simmons went 4-for-5 to help lead the Scott County American Legion baseball team to victory Wednesday. Simmons drove in two and stole three bases as Scott County beat Farmington 10-4. Kody Campbell picked up the win on the mound, going three innings and striking out three. He also went 2-for-4 with two RBIs at the plate...

I just want to start off by saying that Meredith (my wife) and I love "Sex and the City." We had a marathon viewing of the entire series, as soon as the last episode was available on DVD some four years ago. Then one night, in a darkened movie theater, we heard that familiar theme music play and saw the teaser for the movie. I thought Meredith was going to jump out of her seat. She even spilled her popcorn...

CHARLESTON, Mo. -- Charleston will not have a bed tax, the Standard-Democrat reported. Residents voted 174 to 166 on the ballot initiative during Tuesday's election, rejecting the proposed 5 percent hotel-motel tax. A simple majority was needed to pass the measure. Voter turnout was described as being extremely low by the county clerk's office. The proposal was promoted by the Charleston Chamber of Commerce, which sought the tax to promote tourism in the city...

SAN ANGELO, Texas -- The members of a polygamist sect raided by authorities two months ago have their children back, but with a criminal investigation looming, the sect's troubles may not be over. "There have been criminal problems located out there," said Schleicher County Sheriff David Doran, who was with state troopers and child welfare authorities when they raided Yearning For Zion Ranch in west Texas on April 3...

"Dirty Harry" Clint Eastwood is back to make your day again as all five of his "Dirty Harry" cop thrillers return to DVD and debut on Blu-ray high-definition disc. Eastwood introduced the character of San Francisco inspector Harry Callahan in 1971's serial-killer tale "Dirty Harry" and reprised the role in "Magnum Force," "The Enforcer," "Sudden Impact" and "The Dead Pool." The films are accompanied by extensive cast and crew interviews in new and vintage documentary segments, while each includes commentary with such people as critic Richard Schickel, "Magnum Force" screenwriter John Milius and "Enforcer" director James Fargo. ...

Municipal court proceedings were interrupted Tuesday in Cape Girardeau when a water snake meandered into the courtroom at city hall and began slithering up the wall. The reptilian intrusion did not cause much pandemonium to ensue, and no one screamed as they attempted to herd the snake to safety, said Dana Rambo, a clerk at the municipal court...

Community theater kicks off new season STE. GENEVIEVE, Mo. — ColeBeanBay Theatre Company starts its sophomore year in operation June 19, with "Caberet." The company performs in the Orris Theatre at 265 Merchant St. ...

The Ford and Sons Cape Girardeau Post 63 American Legion baseball team split a doubleheader with Perryville Post 133 on Tuesday at Capaha Field. Post 63 won the first game 8-2, but dropped the second game 10-1. Garrett Stevens picked up the win in the first game. He went all seven innings, striking out three and allowing one earned run...

WASHINGTON -- Researchers secretly tracked the locations of 100,000 people outside the United States through their cell phone use and concluded most people rarely stray more than a few miles from home. The first-of-its-kind study by Northeastern University raises privacy and ethical questions for its monitoring methods, which would be illegal in the United States...

BAGHDAD -- A truck packed with rockets blew up Wednesday in a Shiite area of Baghdad, killing 18 people in the deadliest single blast in the city in more than three months. Three U.S. soldiers were killed by gunfire north of the capital. A U.S. military spokesman said the blast appeared to have been an accident that occurred as Shiite militiamen were transporting the weapons through a densely populated neighborhood of northern Baghdad -- possibly to fire at a nearby American base...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- A frequently ignored state panel that sets salaries for judges and elected officials is missing almost half its members. Gov. Matt Blunt is supposed to pick 12 members, the secretary of state randomly selects one representative from each of the state's nine congressional districts and the Supreme Court picks a retired judge. Under the state constitution, those selections were due Feb. 1...

DUBLIN, Ireland -- The rival parties in Northern Ireland's power-sharing administration announced a deal Wednesday that will permit both sides to elect a new leader and keep their unlikely coalition running. The British Protestants of the Democratic Unionist Party and the Irish Catholics of Sinn Fein said they would jointly elect new leaders to the year-old coalition when the Northern Ireland Assembly convenes today...

WASHINGTON -- Hillary Rodham Clinton has decided to end her presidential campaign while leaving her options open to retain her delegates and promote her issue agenda, a campaign official said. The former first lady told House Democrats during a private conference call Wednesday that she will express support for Barack Obama's candidacy and congratulate him for gathering the necessary delegates to be the party's nominee...

Baseball n Capahas camp: The Plaza Tire Capahas will hold their annual baseball camp Monday and Tuesday at Capaha Field. The camp will be from 8 a.m. to noon Monday and 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday, with lunch served at noon Tuesday. The camp, which will be broken into age brackets and skill levels, is for boys and girls ages 7 through 17. ...

Cape Girardeau City Councilwoman Loretta Schneider was appointed Wednesday to the Governor's Council on Aging by Gov. Matt Blunt. The advisory council is a 12-member board assigned to the Missouri Division of Aging. The board has four main with responsibility for advising the governor on the impact state decisions have on the independence and dignity of senior citizens, advising the Department of Health and Senior Services and the Division of Aging on the administration of programs for senior citizens, encouraging the coordination of and discouraging the duplication of efforts for seniors and serving on committees to assist in the promotion and operation of the Missouri State Senior Games. ...

DEXTER, Mo. -- Some of the country's top ranked racking horses will gather at the Stoddard County Fairgrounds at Dexter's East City Park on Saturday to vie for the title of Missouri State Championship Racking Horse. The 31st annual championship competition, sponsored by the Dexter Chamber of Commerce, will commence at 6 p.m. with equestrians competing in 25 categories from Amateur Youth Pleasure Racking to Gaited Pleasure Stake and Racking Horse Stake...

Sherbet is a 2yr old neutered male. He loves attention! Sherbet is up for adoption at The Humane Society of Southeast Missouri, (573)334-5837. June is Adopt a Cat Month, all cat adoption fees will be half-off during the month of June! Have your pets spayed or neutered!...

Cape Girardeau County residents now have another farmers market to choose from. The Jackson Farmers Market debuted Tuesday in the courthouse parking lot. For only the opening day, the M&J Mobile Shredding tractor-trailer was present to shred customers' sensitive residential documents for free. ...

SIKESTON, Mo. — Whether they're doing it for the health benefits or to save a few bucks due to rising prices in the grocery aisles, more people seem to be putting out gardens this year. "I've noticed a few more people buying plants asking questions this year,' said Shirley McCall, co-owner of Garden Lane Nursery in Sikeston. "I've heard a couple of people mention the prices in grocery stores and everywhere else (as their reasons)."...

Ron Hines enjoys his 55-mile commute to Cape Girardeau each day. The countryside and hills provide a breathtaking backdrop for his drive from Carterville, Ill., to the Southeast Missouri State University campus, where he has been the sports information director for the past 29 years...

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) -- A manager of an ice cream truck company will serve probation and pay a fine for enticing Russian students to come to Kansas City and then forcing them to work long hours for little pay. The company, Frosty Treats, also agreed Wednesday to pay $47,000 in restitution, end its foreign worker program for two years and pay restitution to the six college-age workers...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) -- Gov. Matt Blunt is asking the state Supreme Court to consolidate several defamation claims brought by a former staff attorney into a single case. Former governor's office attorney Scott Eckersley originally sued Blunt in Jackson County for wrongful firing and defamation...

ALLENDALE, Ill. (AP) -- The U.S. Geological Survey says a 3.6-magnitude earthquake rumbled across Southern Illinois. The quake at about 2:15 a.m. was centered in Allendale, which is in southeast Illinois near the Indiana border. Geophysicist Julie Martinez says it was an aftershock to the 5.2-magnitude temblor on April 18th near West Salem...

BONNE TERRE, Mo. (AP) -- A 22-year-old Bonne Terre man charged with assault and armed criminal action against a former friend told police he considers himself a cult leader. Anthony Merseal was arrested Monday night after he allegedly held a knife to the throat of Zachery Metcalf, 23, and allegedly cut Metcalf's hand in a struggle for the weapon...

North Kingshighway in Cape Girardeau will be reduced to one lane while MoDOT crews perform drainage work in the southbound lane.  This section of roadway is located from Hopper Road to East Rodney Drive in Cape Girardeau.Weather permitting, the work will take place Monday from 7:30 a.m. ...

KANKAKEE, Ill. (AP) -- Roads are flooded and trees knocked down in some northern Illinois communities in the wake of a powerful line of thunderstorms. Kankakee County sheriff's Sergeant Craig Long says as much as six inches of rain fell in some spots and there were reports of lightning striking some buildings. But there weren't any reports of the strikes causing major fires...

SIKESTON, Mo. — A rural Sikeston man will stand trial by a jury next week for the shooting death of a Morehouse man last year. Lee Roy "Chuck" King II, 35, of 7698 State Highway E will appear before 36th Circuit Court Judge Mark Lee Richardson at 8 a.m. Wednesday and Thursday at the Butler County Courthouse in Poplar Bluff...

To the editor: In our local newspaper, the Contra Costa Times, there was a piece on the endless war in Iraq. In it, Kevin Sexton, political science professor at Southeast Missouri State University, is quoted as saying: "We're so deep into the war now, I don't think one person is simply going to be able to end it."...

SIKESTON, Mo. — A rural Sikeston man will stand trial by a jury next week for the shooting death of a Morehouse, Mo., man last year. Lee Roy "Chuck" King II, 35, of 7698 Route E will appear before 36th Circuit Court Judge Mark Lee Richardson at 8 a.m. Wednesday and Thursday at the Butler County Courthouse in Poplar Bluff, Mo...

PARIS -- If official statistics were tallied for fist pumps and self-exhortations during Grand Slam matches, Ana Ivanovic might well have established a record while winning her French Open semifinal. Perhaps Ivanovic did not raise a clenched hand and let out a yelp after each of the 96 points she earned. It sure did seem that way to the woman she beat 6-4, 3-6, 6-4 on Thursday, Jelena Jankovic, who mocked the gesture at least twice, drawing laughs from fans...

Cody Van de Ven n Hometown: Leopold, Mo. n Parents: Roy and Sharon Van de Ven n Post-graduation plans: Attending Southeast Missouri State University, major undecided. n Activities while in high school: Blue Claws pep club, spirit leader, Beta Club, Business Club, concert choir, Student Activities Council, CYC, basketball, baseball...

CANALOU, Mo. -- Donald Lee Holder, 65, of Canalou died Wednesday, June 4, 2008, at his home. He was born July 4, 1942, in New Berlin, Ill., son of Carl and Evelyn Workman Holder. He and Mary J. Nichols were married April 5, 1985, at Canalou. Holder attended schools in Divernon and Auburn, Ill. He was a diesel mechanic with LaPlant Implement Co. in East Prairie and New Madrid, Mo. He was a member of Operating Engineers Local 513...

NEW YORK -- Hey, you, media consumer. You used to be a TV watcher. But an excess of choices has left you changed -- and perhaps spoiled. Also overwhelmed. There's just too much to keep up with. New media outlets are spreading you thin. No wonder the 27 series that premiered last fall on the traditional broadcast networks, and all their new shows after that, struggled to win your support. ...

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- Kenneth G. Staggs, 62, of Perryville died Wednesday, June 4, 2008, in West Memphis, Ark. Young and Sons Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Parental caution A REMINDER: School is out and thefts are up. Don't leave anything in your vehicle that would tempt others. Parents, know where your children are at all times. Winning team MANY THANKS to the community of Scott City for the overwhelming support that was given to the Scott City state champion baseball team. And thanks, team, for bringing out Scott City's true colors...

Planners don't know whether to expect 300 or 3,000 people. Either way, they guarantee the Jackson All-School Reunion, a first, to be a major event. In connection with the city's 100th Homecomers festival, the reunion is intended to attract alumni dating back to 1927, when the oldest known living alumnus graduated. Planners promise food, nostalgic videos, themed music and tours of the under-construction high school...

Tiemann Daughter to Blake E. and Kathy A. Tiemann of Cape Girardeau, Southeast Missouri Hospital, 4:43 a.m. Wednesday, May 28, 2008. Name, Madison Riley. Weight, 7 pounds, 14 ounces. Fourth child, second daughter. Mrs. Tiemann is the former Kathy Janzen, daughter of David and Sharon Janzen of Peoria, Ill. Tiemann is the son of William and Gwen Tiemann of Overland Park, Kan. He is a minister at Cape First...

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- When Butler County authorities began looking into a missing-person report earlier this week, they found the Poplar Bluff woman they were looking for in a Florida jail charged with bank robbery. Butler County Sheriff Mark Dobbs said a concerned family member came into the sheriff's department Monday afternoon asking deputies to try to track down Donna Sue Bynum, 40, of the 7600 block of Route AA...

SCHOLARSHIPS n Derek Gaines, a graduate of Notre Dame Regional High School, received a Cargill Community Scholarship from FFA to attend Southeast Missouri State University. He also received a scholarship from Scott County Women in Agriculture...

WASHINGTON -- The foreclosure hammer is hitting ever harder. People lost their homes at the highest rate on record in the first three months of the year, and late payments soared to a new high, too -- an alarming sign that the housing crisis and its damage to the national economy may only get worse...

CANTON, Ohio -- Homeowners who don't mow their grass in this northeast Ohio city now face stiffer penalties -- including possible jail time. The city council unanimously passed a law Monday that makes a second high-grass violation a fourth-degree misdemeanor carrying a fine of up to $250 and as many as 30 days in jail...

GUANTANAMO BAY NAVAL BASE, Cuba -- Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the reputed mastermind of the Sept. 11 attacks, told a military judge at his arraignment Thursday that he welcomes the death penalty as a way to martyrdom and ridiculed the proceedings as an "inquisition."...

BROWNSVILLE, Texas -- A family sued a justice of the peace Wednesday, complaining that he ordered a man to paddle his teenage stepdaughter in the courtroom and threatened to convict her of truancy if he didn't. The lawsuit filed by Mary Vasquez and her husband, Daniel Zurita, described the paddle provided by Gustavo Garza, Cameron County justice of the peace, as fashioned from a thick piece of lumber...

ORAN, Mo. -- Route W between Oran and Painton, Mo., is straight and fairly smooth as it passes wheat fields maturing from bright green to rich gold. But since March 18, when heavy rains spawned powerful floods, motorists have been warned off a stretch of the two-lane highway between Route P and County Road 277. ...

The SEMO Alliance for Disability Independence has released a survey to area businesses with the intent of improving its service to the community. "Basically, we are hoping to find out what programs are missing and which ones we can improve upon in the community," said Sara McDowell, director of independent living and program development for the Cape Girardeau-based organization. ...

North Kingshighway in Cape Girardeau will be reduced to one lane while MoDOT crews perform drainage work in the southbound lane. The section of roadway being repaired is from Hopper Road to East Rodney Drive. Weather permitting, the work will take place from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday...

WASHINGTON -- After blowing a six-run lead, the Washington Nationals got a lift from Elijah Dukes to salvage a doubleheader split and end a four-game skid. With the Nationals trailing 9-8 in the bottom of the 10th and a runner on first, Dukes drilled a 2-2 slider over the center- field fence for a two-run homer to give the Washington Nationals a 10-9 win over the St. Louis Cardinals in the second game of a day-night doubleheader Thursday...

Four people were arrested Monday on drug charges following the execution of three search warrants at different living units at one address in Scott City, according to a news release sent Wednesday by the Scott City Police Department. The Scott City Police Department, the Scott County Sheriff's Department Special Response Team and members of the Southeast Missouri Drug Task Force served the warrants on three homes in Scott City...

Did you know you can push a skewer through a balloon without popping it? It's another wowing science experiment that might get you and your family "Hooked on Science." Ingredients n Balloon n Skewer n Cooking oil Instructions STEP 1: Blow up the balloon, let some air out and then tie a knot at the end to hold the air inside the balloon...

The Rev. James L. Reynolds, 63, a priest of the Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau, died Tuesday, June 3, 2008, of complications from cancer. A prayer service will be held at 7 p.m. Sunday at St. Mary Church in West Plains, Mo. The funeral Mass will be at 11 a.m. Monday at the church. Burial will be in Resurrection Cemetery in Springfield...

Cape Girardeau Firefighters responded to the following calls Wednesday: n At 5:47 p.m., a field fire on Airport Road. n At 9:54 p.m., emergency medical service in the unit block of South Sprigg Street. Firefighters responded to the following calls Thursday:...

ST. LOUIS -- The St. Louis Cardinals chose Arizona State third baseman Brett Wallace with the 13th pick in the baseball draft Thursday. Wallace, 21, was particularly of interest to the team due to his hitting skills, said Jeff Luhnow, the club's vice president of player development...

VAN BUREN, Mo. -- The art of Ozark handcrafted instruments will be celebrated today and Saturday at Big Spring, Mo., for Ozark National Scenic Riverways Heritage Days. The theme of the fourth annual event was chosen, in part, to show how diverse Ozark heritage is, said Elisa Kunz, Ozark National Scenic Riverways chief of interpretation...

DALLAS -- Business travelers are likely to lose out when the fall off-peak season arrives and airlines that have cut flights slap more restrictions on the cheap fares that usually come that time of year. On Thursday, Continental became the latest airline to announce cutbacks, saying it will shed 3,000 jobs -- more than 6 percent of its work force -- and reduce capacity by 11 percent...

Gordon T. Neumeyer, 88, of Cape Girardeau died Thursday, June 5, 2008, at Missouri Veterans Home. Lorberg Memorial Funeral Chapel is in charge of arrangements.

Friday n Tunes at Twilight featuring Keith Sykes @ Commonpleas Courthouse Gazebo, 7 p.m. Saturday n Quarry Hike @Trail of Tears State Park, second PeeWah Trailhead, 9:30 a.m. n Folk Music Concert featuring Jamin Bray @ Trail of Tears State Park Amphitheatre, 7 p.m...

CAMPBELL, Mo. — A 19-year-old Campbell man died Tuesday evening from electrocution due to faulty wiring in a metal shed outside his home. According to witnesses who spoke with Campbell police chief Weldon Wallace, Jose Torres, 19, was outside of his home between 11 and 11:30 p.m. when he walked across the wet grass in the backyard of his residence to retrieve his shirt, which he had previously removed and draped across a fence that lined the perimeter of his property...

DETROIT -- A Detroit woman has found Jesus ... in an alley. The pastor of a church in the city says its stolen 8-foot Jesus statue was recovered from bushes in an alley about two blocks away. Patricia Bowers says she notified the church late Wednesday that she had seen the statue the previous day after she had gotten off a bus...

HONOLULU -- The U.S. military intercepted a ballistic missile Thursday in the first such sea-based test since a Navy cruiser shot down an errant satellite earlier this year. The military fired the target, a Scud-like missile with a range of a few hundred miles, from a decommissioned amphibious assault ship near Hawaii's island of Kauai...

ANCHORAGE, Alaska -- Hey, kids! Need a nifty science fair project? Neal Brown wants to lift your ideas to new heights. The former rocket range manager and Alaska Space Grant Program director is a principal behind a new Alaska science and education effort, the Balloon Experiment And Research Program, or BEAR for short...

Cape Girardeau The Cape Girardeau Police Department released the following items. Arrests do not imply guilt. DWIs n A subject is in custody pending formal charges of driving while intoxicated, driving while revoked, operating a motor vehicle without ignition interlock, failure to drive on right half of roadway and a stop-sign violation...

EL FASHER, Sudan -- The U.N. Security Council got a firsthand look Thursday at the worsening conflict in Darfur, which has killed up to 300,000 people and forced 2.5 million to flee their homes. Facing one of the world's worst humanitarian crises, the council delegation met with officials from the U.N.-African Union peacekeeping force that has struggled to get up to its full strength of 26,000 troops since its January launch...

The Cape Girardeau County Transit Authority faces being thousands of dollars in the red as fuel prices have risen sharply and funding for other programs has been running out. The transit authority, in information provided to the Cape Girardeau City Council in March, budgeted the fuel cost for the bus system alone at $3 per gallon. ...

When Ty Metzger, the nuisance abatement supervisor for the Cape Girardeau Police Department, isn't busy collecting snakes that have wandered into buildings or rescuing neglected animals, he's busy responding to complaints about zoning or overgrown yards...

The Lake Boutin swimming beach and Sheppard Point Trail at Trail of Tears State Park will be closed throughout the 2008 season due to erosion from the torrential March rains and flooding in Southeast Missouri. The Missouri Department of Natural Resources said Thursday it would close the beach and meet with an engineer from the Dam Safety Program to discuss a contract to repair the dam at Lake Boutin...

The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services received 12,177 reports of abuse and neglect of the elderly in 2006. The number of reports is on the rise, according to the department, though the crime is widely underreported due to many factors, the most frequent being the emotional and close bond between perpetrator and victim...

Clean-up of the dead hogs found rotting in a Scott county barn will begin Saturday morning, Sheriff Rick Walter said Friday. A company, who has requested that its name be withheld, has agreed to orchestrate the removal of the animal carcasses, and has reached an agreement with the property owners, Walter said...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) -- The chief of staff for Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder is facing pornography charges. Kinder aide Eric Feltner has been charged with two misdemeanor counts of attempting to furnish pornographic materials to a minor. A probable cause statement from a Jefferson City police officer says Feltner believed he was contacting a 13-year-old girl over the Internet -- but that person really was an undercover officer. ...

O'FALLON, Mo. (AP) -- A measure outlawing cyberbullying is about to become law in Missouri. Gov. Matt Blunt is scheduled to sign the bill Friday afternoon at a library in St. Charles County. The bill signing will occur just a couple of miles from the neighborhood where 13-year-old Megan Meier hanged herself in 2006 after receiving cruel over the Internet. Last month, a former neighbor of the girl, 49-year-old Lori Drew, was indicted by a federal grand jury on charges related to the case...

MEXICO, Mo. - This week, one Sikeston resident is competing for the title of Miss Missouri. Erin Bell is representing Miss Metro St. Louis at the Miss Missouri pageant. This will be Bell's third year participating in the Miss Missouri pageant, which began Wednesday. Two years ago she received first runner-up. The crowning of this year's Miss Missouri will be on Saturday night...

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) -- Several tornadoes dropped from a line of strong storms that moved across Kansas into Missouri on Thursday, destroying at least one home and spooking a pair of circus elephants that escaped their enclosure.The elephants, part of a traveling circus in WaKeeney, were apparently frightened by the storm and wandered through the town after breaking loose, said Trego County Sheriff Richard Schneider.One elephant wandered into a resident's backyard less than a mile from the Trego County Fairgrounds and was blocked off by fire trucks until its trainers could coax it onto a truck, Schneider said."I guess it got tired of walking around," he said.The second elephant was tranquilized in another resident's backyard, coaxed into a truck and taken back to the circus, which was already packing up to head to the next town, Schneider said.There were no reports of damage from the elephants, but winds and hail caused extensive roof damage in nearby Collyer, he said.The National Weather Service in Kansas City, Mo., said there were 30 reports of tornadoes across the Midwest, with 14 of those coming after 5 p.m. ...

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Strong storms bring more rain and strong winds to parts of Missouri. The latest wave of storms hit on Friday and drenched the state from southwest Missouri up through the St. Louis area. The Washington County Sheriff's Department says there are reports that a tornado touched down near Richwoods, about 65 miles southwest of St. Louis. No damage was immediately reported...

MOUNTAIN GROVE, Mo. (AP) -- Police in southwest Missouri are investigating what they believe was a murder-suicide that left three people dead and one wounded.Mountain Grove police said Friday that a woman is hospitalized with a life-threatening gunshot wound in the head. ...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Gov. Matt Blunt signed bills Friday authorizing millions of dollars of agricultural tax breaks and imposing new requirements on water parks as the summer swimming season begins. The swimming legislation is a response to last summer's drowning of 6-year-old Ethan Cory, of Joplin, while on a field trip to a privately owned for-profit water park...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — The chief of staff for Republican Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder resigned Friday after news broke that he has been charged with attempting to provide pornography to a minor. Kinder aide Eric Feltner, 40, of Columbia, faces two misdemeanor pornography counts stemming from incidents alleged to have occurred a year ago...

NEW YORK -- Oil prices made their biggest single-day leap ever Friday -- clearing $139, dragging the Dow Jones industrials down nearly 400 points and raising the once-unthinkable prospect of $150 oil and even higher gas prices by the Fourth of July...

WASHINGTON -- Pink slips piled up and jobs disappeared into thin air in May as the nation's unemployment rate rose to 5.5 percent in the biggest one-month jump in decades. Wall Street swooned, and the White House said President Bush was considering new proposals to revive the economy...

Kenneth Staggs WEST MEMPHIS, Ark. -- Kenneth G. Staggs, 62, of Perry County, Mo., died June 4, 2008, in West Memphis. He was born July 16, 1945, son of Hartwell M. and Aileen O. (Phillips) Staggs. He and Sharon K. Holzum were married Oct. 11, 1969. He was the owner and operator of Staggs Trucking. He was a member of St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church and the Elks Lodge. He served in the U.S. Army and was an active member of the American Legion...

Israel Moore MIAMISBURG, Ohio -- Israel Ezra Alan Moore, 21, of Miamisburg, formerly of Richmond, Ind., died Monday, June 2, 2008, at his home. Moore was born Aug. 30, 1986, in Cape Girardeau, son to Dennis A. and Debbie A. (Riehn) Moore. Survivors include his parents of Richmond; three sisters, April An Moore and Charity Ann Moore, both of Richmond and Grace Ann Zieba of Grove, Okla.; his maternal grandmother, Viola Riehn; and paternal grandmother, Judith Moore, both of Missouri...

Marion Thomas Marion M. Thomas, 81, of Cape Girardeau died Friday, June 6, 2008, at Saint Francis Medical Center. He was born July 21, 1926, in Lynville, Ky., the son of Stanley and Ruthie (Cook) Thomas. He and Laura Faye (Timmons) Thomas were married Dec. 19, 1959, in Springfield, Mo...

Gospel groups perform at Villa Ridge, Ill., church VILLA RIDGE, Ill. -- The Gloryroad Travelers of Mounds, Ill., and Potters Clay Remodeled of Ringo Ky., will be in concert at 7 p.m. today at Shiloh Baptist Church in Villa Ridge. Vacation Bible school held at New McKendree church...

We love conspiracy theories. Conspiracies are concocted stories developed to keep the truth at bay -- Nessie, Big Foot, the lunar landing. They are stories and events that capture and foster a childlike imagination buried within us all. Sometimes, though, imagined risks and invented dangers can keep us from fully living...

I needed a haircut badly. My hair had grown well past my shoulders, and time did not allow me the chance to make a beauty appointment. So I persuaded my daughter, Tess, to give me a trim. I actually prefer my hair longer, but I asked her opinion anyway...

The wait is over for Southeast Missouri State senior long jumper John Berry, who late Thursday received the news he was hoping for and expected. Berry made the cut for next week's NCAA outdoor track and field championships. The event will be held Wednesday through Saturday at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa...

Ninety seconds. That's all. A month and a half later, it's the time aspect that bothers Harry Schumer the most. The Rev. Daniel McCall was banged up but alive, talking and mobile when Schumer reached him. McCall escaped death by those 90 seconds. "At the time, you do what you do and you don't think about it. ...

Scott City senior Ryan Modglin, who recently helped the Rams baseball team win their first state championship, was drafted Friday by the Kansas City Royals. Modglin was selected in the 39th round of the Major League Baseball first-year player draft. He was the 1,165th pick overall...

The Plaza Tire Capahas do not have the services of all the key players they are counting on. But the Capahas are steadily moving in that direction, and Friday night they added two more pieces to the puzzle. Both paid major dividends in their 2008 debuts as the Capahas steamrolled the visiting Charleston Riverdogs 18-3...

The Rev. James Reynolds The Rev. James L. Reynolds, 63, of West Plains, Mo., a priest of the Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girar¿deau, died at 12:12 p.m. Tuesday, June 3, 2008, at his home from complications from cancer. He was born April 11, 1945, in Vicksburg, Miss., to Katie Lucille Rogers Reynolds...

Scott City High School's baseball team recently completed one of the most dominant hardball seasons in recent memory. On their way to winning the Class 2 state title in Springfield last week, the Rams compiled a 23-1 record under second-year head coach Lance Amick...

MEXICO, Mo. -- This week, one Sikeston resident is competing for the title of Miss Missouri. Erin Bell is representing Miss Metro St. Louis at the Miss Missouri pageant. Bell will be a senior at Maryville University in St. Louis in the fall. She will graduate next year with a degree in marketing...

ST. LOUIS -- A class-action lawsuit filed Friday alleges many immigrants who have met the requirements to become U.S. citizens are left in limbo for months or years due to slow processing of FBI name checks. The lawsuit, filed in federal court in St. Louis, says some immigrants have had to wait more than four years to be cleared by the FBI. It says the delays violate time limits set by law aimed at reducing naturalization backlogs...

WASHINGTON -- So much for trimming the pork. The practice of decorating legislation with billions of dollars in pet projects and federal contracts is still thriving on Capitol Hill -- despite public outrage that helped flip control of Congress two years ago...

Trammell records hole in one Ashland's Jeff Trammell recorded his first career hole in one at Kimbeland Country Club. Trammell aced hole No. 18, which was playing 156 yards. He used an 8-iron. Leroy Pulley, Greg Hatfield and Dave Zak witnessed the shot...

Cape Girardeau Firefighters responded to the following calls Thursday: n At 6:50 p.m., emergency medical service in the 3400 block of William Street. n At 6:52 p.m., an extrication outside the city. n At 8:50 p.m., emergency medical service in the 800 block of Clark Avenue...

Gordon Neumeyer Gordon T. Neumeyer, 88, of Cape Girardeau died Thursday, June 5, 2008, at the Missouri Veterans Home in Cape Girardeau. He was born Jan. 20, 1920, at Cape Girardeau, son of Edwin W. and Emma Aufdenburg Neumeyer. He and Mary E. Shulte Neumeyer were married May 4, 1946, in Jefferson City, Mo...

Azalea Spane FARMINGTON, Mo. -- Azalea Beatrice Limbaugh Spane, a resident of Presbyterian Manor of Farmington, passed away peacefully on Friday, June 6, 2008, at the age of 86. She was born July 9, 1921, to Arthur B. Limbaugh and Willie Mae Moore Limbaugh. She was preceded in death by her parents; four brothers, Ruthford Limbaugh, Delta Limbaugh, Joe Limbaugh, Isadore Limbaugh; and two sisters, Ruth Limbaugh and Mae Sander...

NEW YORK -- A senior city buildings official took bribes in exchange for falsely reporting that cranes had been inspected and that crane operators had been certified, but his actions did not appear to be connected to two recent crane collapses that killed nine people, authorities said Friday...

ST. LOUIS -- The International Bowling Museum and Hall of Fame is leaving St. Louis for Arlington, Texas. The museum's board of trustees made the decision this week. The Museum and Hall of Fame will be moved to a new development that will include the United States Bowling Congress and the Bowling Proprietors Association of America...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- The chief of staff for Missouri's lieutenant governor resigned Friday after news broke that he has been charged with attempting to provide pornography to a minor. Eric Feltner, 40, of Columbia, faces two misdemeanor porn¿ography counts stemming from incidents alleged to have occurred a year ago...

When traveling across the state of Missouri, drivers may notice a sign on rural property that designates a tract of farmland as a "Missouri Century Farm." The distinction is granted to landowners whose property has been within the same family for more than 100 years...

ST. LOUIS -- A new Web site is trying to block the rumored takeover of Anheuser-Busch Cos. Inc. by Belgium-based brewer InBev SA, playing on patriotic fervor to stop an iconic American firm from slipping into foreign hands. The Web site, SaveBudweiser.com, encourages visitors to contact elected officials and Anheuser-Busch shareholders to discourage the deal. It features an online petition "To Save Our Beer," and claims to have more than 18,000 signatures...

NEW ORLEANS -- Guy Gunter couldn't forget June 6, 1944, if he had to. At 1 a.m. that day, Gunter was piloting a glider carrying 15 soldiers in the Normandy invasion, which turned the tide of World War II in Europe and forced the surrender of Germany less than a year later...

Nominations are now being accepted for the Southeast Missourian's annual Spirit of America Award to be presented on the Fourth of July. "The award goes annually to a person who personifies the character and service to community that helped shape America," said Jon K. Rust, publisher of the Southeast Missourian. "Since the award's inception, each recipient has been a remarkable individual, a local hero. The newspaper is proud to sponsor this prestigious award."...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- The space station's huge new Japanese lab got even bigger Friday when the astronauts attached an attic to it for extra storage. The attic -- essentially a 14-foot shed for spare tools and equipment -- was popped atop the 37-foot Kibo science laboratory by astronauts operating the international space station's robot arm...

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. -- Illinois school officials say more than 1,600 programs will be available this summer to feed children from low-income homes for free. Summer food programs provide free meals to children through age 18 for free when school's not in session. They typically run in June, July and August, but some start in May and run into September...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- State transportation officials have given approval for a potential contractor to begin the engineering work on a massive repair project for 802 bridges. The Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission still has not awarded a contract for the project. Negotiations continue with a group identified as the preferred contracting team last December...

ST. MARIES, Idaho -- More than three years after a poacher shot off her upper beak, a bald eagle named Beauty can finally live up to her name -- with the help of volunteers. A team attached an artificial beak to the 15-pound eagle in mid-May, improving her appearance and, more importantly, helping her grasp food...

JASPER, Texas -- Ten years after James Byrd Jr. was dragged to death down a three-mile stretch of country road simply because he was black, some things have changed in Jasper. Black and white teenagers can be seen playing basketball together at James Byrd Jr. Memorial Park. Blacks now make up a majority on the city council. And an iron fence no longer separates the graves of whites and blacks in the 171-year-old cemetery where Byrd is buried...

Cape Girardeau The Cape Girardeau Police Department released the following items. Arrests do not imply guilt. DWIs n Jimmy L. Simms, 44, 2081 Pear Tree Court, Apt. 5, was arrested on suspicion of driving while intoxicated. n Thomas S. Eftink, 39, 932 Rodney Vista Blvd., was arrested on suspicion of DWI and operating motor vehicle without headlights....

CHAFFEE, Mo. -- Cleanup of the dead hogs found rotting in a Scott County barn will begin this morning, Sheriff Rick Walter said Friday. A company, who has requested that its name be withheld, has agreed to orchestrate the removal of the carcasses and has reached an agreement with the property owners, Walter said...

Jason Bandermann believes the interchanges along Interstate 55 in Cape Girardeau County are in need of a facelift. With the exception of exit 96, Bandermann said, travelers may notice a significant lack of attractive landscaping near the area's interchanges. If a group chooses to fund a proposed initiative, travelers would instead notice a sign and flowers, shrubs or other small plants that would send a welcoming message with the hopes of drawing visitors to local businesses...

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- Just a little more than three months after taking over as president of the University of Missouri system, Gary Forsee already has a contract extension. Curators announced on Friday that Forsee's contract has been extended to five years from three...

LOS ANGELES -- Ed McMahon blames the possible foreclosure of his multimillion-dollar Beverly Hills house on a set of problems all too familiar to many Americans: a foundering economy, health problems and poor planning. "If you spend more money than you make, you know what happens," McMahon said Thursday night on CNN's "Larry King Live." "You know, a couple of divorces thrown in, a few things like that. And, you know, things happen."...

PARIS -- As the points piled up and the light faded, it was tough to decide which scenario had seemed less likely at the outset of the French Open semifinals Friday: That Rafael Nadal would be so dominant during a 6-4, 6-2, 7-6 (3) victory over Novak Djokovic, a man who is, after all, ranked No. 3 and a Grand Slam champion?...

WYATT, Mo. -- A 22-year-old is dead following an early Thursday morning shooting in Wyatt. The victim was Shondra Lindell, who received a gunshot wound to the head while at 206 Walnut St. It is the second shooting at that home in just four days -- another man was injured in a shooting there on Monday...

Converter issues I RECENTLY installed a digital converter on one of my television sets in my home. The day was rainy, and I was disappointed with the results. I removed the converter after getting frustrated and went back to analog. The digital receivers are easy to install, and the picture -- when the signal is good -- is clear but the signal strength is so weak. ...

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. -- Aristotle. Nietzsche. Buffy? The blond heroine of the campy television series "Buffy the Vampire Slayer," as well as other works by creator Joss Whedon, is the focus of a three-day academic conference that began Friday at Henderson State University. The show starring Sarah Michelle Gellar won cult fame and critical praise during its seven seasons on The WB and UPN networks...

GENEVA -- Aid agencies in Zimbabwe said Friday the government order for humanitarian groups to suspend work would cut off care and medicine to those living with AIDS. Aid groups and Western officials also said many in the impoverished African country will starve without food aid, amid allegations that President Robert Mugabe's regime is using food to cement his rule...

25 years ago: June 7, 1983 After placing a telephone call to Cape Girardeau lawyer Stephen N. Limbaugh yesterday morning, President Ronald Reagan officially nominated him to fill a federal court judgeship in the Eastern District of Missouri. A monument has been placed at the County Farm Park as a memorial for people who died at the county's poor farm; there are no exact records of how many are buried at the Potter's Field at the park; some estimates are as high as 700...

The Roloff family of the reality television show "Little People, Big World" will be coming to Cape Girardeau in early July to film a vacation, according to a recent news release from the Red House Interpretive Center. The family will arrive via the riverboat the American Queen and visit three sites in Cape Girardeau: the Red House, the Glenn House and Fort D...

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Terry Starks planted the first crop of herbs at her central Illinois farm this spring and hoped to harvest them sometime next year. Instead, she's looking at a droopy, wet mess. "I put in about $600 worth of herbs, and that stood under water for a good three days," said Starks, who grows crops in Williamsville, about 12 miles northeast of Springfield. "I'm hoping that's going to come out of it."...

To the editor: Shadow Cabinet: The British candidate for prime minister announces, in advance, some or all of the people who would be in his Cabinet if he were to be elected prime minister. This group then campaigns together. Barack Obama should do that in this election...

A new resource is available to people interested in local Lutheran history and to those interested in genealogy. Ruth Kasten and Sandra Fluegge have compiled a comprehensive history of Trinity Lutheran Church of Egypt Mills. The book, with more than 300 pages and an index, is a meticulously recorded compilation of births, baptisms, confirmations, marriages and deaths from 1867 to 2007. Edgar Dreyer translated some of the earlier records from German to English...

David and Pam Rutherford of Cape Girardeau announce the engagement of their daughter, Melody Anne Rutherford, to Michael James Dodd. He is the son of Paul and Denise Salmon of Cape Girardeau, and the late David Dodd. Rutherford is a 2005 graduate of Central High School, and is attending Southeast Missouri State University...

Caroline Leimer and Robert Thornburgh were married Oct. 20, 2007, at New McKendree United Methodist Church in Jackson. The Rev. Denny Lumos performed the ceremony. Soloist was Paige Englehart, cousin of the bride, and guitarist was Chase McDaniel, both of Jackson...

Sam and Theresa Farrow of Jackson announce the engagement of their daughter, Sarah Louise Farrow, to Neil Christopher Briner. He is the son of Tim and Janelle Briner of Cape Girardeau. Farrow is pursuing a degree in nursing from Southeast Missouri Hospital College of Nursing and Health Sciences. She is employed at the hospital...

Claudia Ann Britt and Michael Earl Seabaugh exchanged vows May 10, 2008, at Victory Life Center United Pentecostal Church in Oran, Mo. The Rev. Brian Flanigan performed the ceremony. Pianist was Christy Flanigan. The bride is the daughter of Tim and Jackie Britt of Granite City, Ill. The groom is the son of Lorene and Hank Murray of Morley, Mo., and Jay and Angelena Seabaugh of Scott City...

Mr. and Mrs. Bill Needle of Cape Girardeau celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary with a reception June 7, 2008, at First Presbyterian Church. Hosts were their children, Bill Needle of Bonner Springs, Kan., Ellen Coats of Midland, Ga., and Kathy Elliot of Columbia, Mo...

Billy and Vicki Thompson of Columbia, Mo., formerly of Jackson, announce the engagement of their son, Corey Thompson, to Krista Odaffer. She is the daughter of Steve and Kipra Odaffer of Parsons, Kan. Odaffer is a 2003 graduate of Labette County High School in Kansas. She received a degree in social work from Missouri State University in 2007, and received a master's degree in social welfare from the University of Kansas in May...

Mr. and Mrs. Donald L. Bonney of Cape Girardeau are celebrating their 60th wedding anniversary today with an open house at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Jackson. Hosts are their children. Bonney and Darlene L. Fiedler were married June 8, 1958, at Zion Lutheran Church in Pocahontas, by the Rev. R.M. Jank. Maid of honor was Shirley Bock Bonney and best man was Larry Bollinger...

Wayne and Marilyn Steffens of Cape Girardeau announce the engagement of their daughter, Heather Lynne Steffens, to Benjamin Jacob Ross, both of St. Louis. He is the son of Paul and Nola Heidbreder of St. Louis. Steffens is a graduate of Central High School and Southeast Missouri State University. She is employed at the Medicine Shoppe in Kirkwood, Mo...

Mr. and Mrs. James H. Duckworth of Perks, Ill., will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary with a reception June 15, 2008. The event will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. at Maple Grove Baptist Church Fellowship Hall in Perks, hosted by their children and grandchildren...

Mr. and Mrs. Alan Langston of Cape Girardeau will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary with a reception Saturday. The event is being hosted by their children, Steve Langston and Gloria Kies. Langston and Ruth Sprengel were married June 14, 1958...

Harry and Fran Rediger of Cape Girardeau celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary with a reception at the Marquette Tower, hosted by their children and grandchildren. The Redigers were married June 8, 1958, at First Methodist Church in Seward, Neb...

John and Susan Tomsu of Jackson announce the engagement of their daughter, Cameron Nicole Tomsu, to Brian Keith Johnson. He is the son of Brian and Sandra Johnson of Cape Girardeau. Tomsu is a 2007 graduate of Jackson High School. She is employed at Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield of Missouri...

Andrea Sue Buerck and Gabriel Carl Hensley exchanged vows Jan. 12, 2008, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Altenburg, Mo. The Rev. Stephen Dressler performed the ceremony. Organist was Matt Palisch, pianist was Lucas Leigh, and soloist was Dale Rauh. The bride is the daughter of Sally Buerck of Altenburg, and the late Craig T. Buerck. The groom is the son of Rick and Vicki Hensley of Farmington, Mo...

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- Diana M. Otte, 75, of Brewer, Mo., died Saturday, June 7, 2008, at Perry Oaks Manor in Perryville. She was born Oct. 7, 1932, at Ste Genevieve, Mo., daughter of Ernest J. and Emelia Grass Basler. She and Joseph V. Otte were married July 10, 1954...

CAMP VERDE, Ariz. -- The Rev. Lee Cook, age 90, formerly of Gravel Hill, Mo., passed away Saturday, May 17, 2008, at his home in Camp Verde. He was born Nov. 20, 1917, in Sedgewickville, Mo., son of Robert and Mary Hanners Cook. He and Delphine Jenkins were married Nov. 23, 1939...

Gordon T. Neumeyer, 88, of Cape Girardeau passed away Thursday, June 5, 2008, at the Missouri Veterans Home in Cape Girardeau. He was born Jan. 20, 1920, in Cape Girardeau, son of Edwin and Emma (Aufdenburg) Neumeyer, who preceded him in death. He and Mary E. (Schulte) Neumeyer were married May 4, 1946, in Jefferson City, Mo...

Ronnie Lee Conklin, 56, of Jackson died Saturday, June 7, 2008, at Southeast Missouri Hospital. He was born Aug. 1, 1951, in Cape Girardeau, son of Oscar F. and Ruby Lucille (Underwood) Conklin. He graduated from Cape Girardeau Central High School. He served in the U.S. Marines from March 25, 1969, to April 6, 1971. He was the owner and operator of Ace Drainage & Sewer and was a member of Carpenter's Local 1770...

Kayla McCain, 5, of Jackson liked the Saturday morning puppet program at the Cape Girardeau Public Library so much that she came back for the afternoon program after lunch. The programs, including a hands-on puppet-making workshop, encouraged children to read, learn and use library etiquette...

The Ohio Valley Conference may be on the brink of expansion. The conference is poised to add Southern Illinois University Edwardsville as a new member, sources told the Southeast Missourian on Friday. An announcement could come as soon as this week...

BLODGETT, Mo. -- The wheat field behind Bob Laseter's farmhouse was drying quickly as a warm west wind swirled through the ripening grain. In about a week, Laseter will start harvesting. But on this day, he wasn't showing visitors the grain, of which he is rightfully proud. ...

ALTENBURG, Mo. -- Hundreds flocked the second day of the eighth annual Perryville County Community Rodeo where riders from the U.S. and Canada came for bronc riding, bull riding and mutton busting. The rodeo, sanctioned by the American Cowboy Rodeo Association and International Professional Rodeo Association, was at the East Perry Fairgrounds in Altenburg both Friday and Saturday...

PHOENIX -- The first sample of Martian dirt dumped onto the opening of the Phoenix lander's tiny testing oven failed to reach the instrument and scientists said Saturday they will devote a few days to trying to determine the cause. Photos released by the University of Arizona team overseeing the mission showed a scoopful of dirt sitting on and around the open oven door after being dumped by the craft's 8-foot robot arm. ...

SIKESTON, Mo. — If they hadn't already, many local residents flipped the on switch to their air-conditioning units as temperatures soared into the 90s last week. In an already tough economy, many consumers are looking for ways to cut costs. One of the areas where they're trying to do that is in cooling their homes this summer — an expense that makes up 49 percent of the average energy bill, according to Environmental Protection Agency statistics...

Baseball n Capahas camp: The Plaza Tire Capahas will hold their annual baseball camp Monday and Tuesday at Capaha Field. The camp will be from 8 a.m. to noon Monday and 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday, with lunch served at noon Tuesday. The camp, which will be broken into age brackets and skill levels, is for boys and girls ages 7 through 17. ...

The Annwood Estates subdivision is nestled away from Jackson Boulevard, although it is accessed from the road. This home on Nicole Lane has three bedrooms on the main level. There are two rooms on the lower level that could be used for bedrooms, an office, playroom, craft area or study...

MIANYANG, China -- Water poured from a massive lake formed by China's deadly earthquake in a carefully engineered diversion Saturday to ease the threat of flooding for a million people in the sprawling disaster zone. After two weeks of frantic work by engineers and soldiers, waters flowed into the hurriedly built spillway, but at a rate too slow to cause the lake's level to drop. ...

As candidates campaign for the nation's highest office, they make promises about reforming health care. Actually delivering on those promises can be another matter entirely. A visit to the Cape Girardeau Senior Center revealed that most retired people there that day had Medicare and a supplement and were, for the most part, satisfied with them. Some have found they unexpectedly had to dip into their savings to pay for health care costs...

Dear Dr. Dobson: As a father, what should I be trying to accomplish with my son in these teen years? Dear Reader: Someone has said, "Link a boy to the right man and he seldom goes wrong." I believe that is true. If a dad and his son can develop hobbies together or other common interests, the rebellious years can pass in relative tranquility. What they experience may be remembered for a lifetime...

The first thing we saw was the box of Band-Aids sitting out on the counter. That's never a good sign. But Wilma Stratton had warned us that nicks and cuts come with the territory. She also warned us that glass shards might occasionally fly up our noses. I (Callie) searched for nose plugs before leaving the house that morning, but came up empty-handed. In retrospect, perhaps I should have brought a clothes pin or something...

NEW YORK -- Graffiti artists come to New York City from all over the world to make their mark on subway cars, buildings and billboards. They spend hours surveying and then spray-painting hard-to-reach spaces with remarkable precision. The finished product may be impressive, but it's also illegal -- and constantly being monitored by a specialized police department graffiti unit. ...

As the clock ticks down to Monday's court hearing that could be the first step toward undoing the murder conviction of Joshua Kezer, Kezer's original defense attorneys are questioning some of the tactics used by the prosecution at the time. A potential violation in court law that prohibits prosecutors from knowingly or unknowingly keeping evidence from the defense will be at the center of Kezer's fate starting Monday. ...

LOS ANGELES -- Leaders of Hollywood's second-largest actors union approved a new contract with studios that grants actors more money for Internet work -- an issue that sparked a crippling writers strike this year. The board of the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists approved the three-year deal late Friday, and it will go to the union's 70,000 members for ratification this month, the union said Saturday. The existing contract was set to end June 30...

Matthews wins division with 92 Emily Matthews shot a 92 to finish first in the 18-hole tour girls 16 to 19 division of the PGA Gateway Junior Series. The event was held at Hidden Trails in Dexter. Jessica Houseman was second with a 105. In the boys 16 to 19 18-hole tour division, Jack Connell took first with an 88, followed by Caleb Moss (89) and Aaron Griffin (91) and Brett Slaten (91)...

Alpha Mu Master The Alpha Mu Master Chapter of Beta Sigma Phi met at the Royal N'Orleans restaurant for its annual end-of-the-year dinner with Joyce Hays, president, presiding. An executive board meeting will be held this month. Members should call Carole Calvin if they have any changes for the yearbook...

MARION, Ill. -- Sharon Kay Dodson, 62, of Wolf Lake, Ill., died Saturday, June 7, 2008, at Heartland Regional Medical Center in Marion. Friends may call from 10 a.m. to noon Wednesday at Crain Funeral Home in Anna-Jonesboro, Ill. The funeral will be at noon Wednesday at the funeral home. Interment will be at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday in Holy Cross Cemetery in Fairview Heights...

CHICAGO The dining room at Alinea is a rare and special place where dark-suited waiters glide past tables, carrying trays laden with fantastical creations: Steelhead roe in coconut suspended from vanilla pods. Granola-encrusted bison with oatmeal foam. Sweet potato and bourbon tempura pierced by a smoking cinnamon stick...

Buy rings for champs IT IS both great and sad to be a former Scott City Ram. I have heard that the booster club is not willing to help with purchasing a state championship ring for the baseball team. What is the booster club for, and where is my money going? I would like for the money that I have given to the club to help with the rings...

WASHINGTON -- Hillary Rodham Clinton suspended her pioneering campaign for the presidency Saturday and summoned supporters to use "our energy, our passion, our strength" to put Barack Obama in the White House. "I endorse him and throw my full support behind him," said the former first lady, delivering the strong affirmation that her one-time rival and other Democratic leaders hoped to hear after a bruising campaign...

MEXICO, Mo. -- A graduate of Northwest Missouri State University has been crowned Miss Missouri 2008. Lacey A. Fitzgerald, 24, Miss Gateway to the West, won the crown Saturday night at the conclusion of the pageant in Mexico, Mo. The first runner-up was Miss Tri-Counties, Karie Gai; second runner-up was Miss Mid-Missouri, Abigail Grimmett; third runner-up was Miss Spirit of St. Louis, Katie Smart; and fourth runner-up was Miss Gateway St. Louis, Tara Osseck...

LUCKNOW, India -- He's a revered Hindu monkey god. And now, he's the chairman of an Indian business school. Hanuman, the popular god known for his strength and valor, has been named official chairman of the recently opened Sardar Bhagat Singh College of Technology and Management in northern India, a school official said Saturday...

In terms of the antiquity, diversity and quality of its archaeological finds, Peru is the Egypt of South America. Hard to believe, but according to its National Cultural Institute, there are more than 100,000 archaeological sites here. Just since my arrival five months ago a claimed "lost" city has been debunked, the remains of a 4,000-year-old human sacrifice have been identified and a gold necklace thought to be the oldest in the western world has been found. And that is only a sampling...

Cape Girardeau The Cape Girardeau Police Department released the following items. Arrests do not imply gilt. Arrest n Devon R. Strohmeyer, 19, of Cape Girardeau was arrested on a Cape Girardeau warrant for failure to appear and on a Cape Girardeau County warrant for probation violation...

PRISTINA, Kosovo -- Armed assailants trying to break into the home of Kosovar Prime Minister Hashim Thaci exchanged fire with guards, but the leader was away and his family was not hurt, police said Saturday. Police later said they had arrested a 19-year-old ethnic Albanian man suspected in the shooting. They said they found the suspect, who was already known to authorities, after a tip from his father...

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- For nearly a decade, Angela Hills of Columbia has been known to her fans as Angie Daniels, a Harlequin romance novelist who writes about strong, sexy women and the men who love them. This time, Hills is her own heroine. In March, the 40-year-old fulfilled a longtime dream when she graduated from Air Force Basic Military Training at Lackland Air Force Base in Texas, becoming the oldest person ever to complete the program...

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- As a star prosecutor, Kenny Hulshof could rivet a courtroom. His commanding presence and oratorical skills led to convictions in some of the state's most gruesome death penalty cases -- and paved the way to six terms in Congress. Now Hulshof wants to be governor of Missouri, a job that includes the ability to grant a pardon or commute a death sentence...

The Jackson American Legion baseball team split a doubleheader with Ste. Genevieve on Friday, then lost two games to Anheuser-Busch on Saturday. Jackson won 8-5 over Ste. Genevieve with Ethan Devenport leading the way. Devenport went 3-for-4 with three RBIs. He also earned the win on the mound, tossing six innings. He allowed five runs on eight hits while striking out three...

WASHINGTON -- Administrators of a Washington psychiatric hospital have asked a federal district judge to expand release privileges of would-be presidential assassin John Hinckley Jr., court records show. Hinckley has been committed to St. Elizabeths Hospital since he shot and wounded President Reagan in 1981. Hinckley was found not guilty by reason of insanity...

WASHINGTON -- Police in the nation's capital set up controversial vehicle checkpoints Saturday in a neighborhood reeling from gun violence, with civil liberties groups considering legal action and closely observing officers. Police in neon yellow vests stopped motorists traveling through the main thoroughfare of Trinidad -- a neighborhood near the National Arboretum in the city's northeast section. ...

Cape Girardeau Firefighters responded to the following call Friday: n At 10:29 p.m., emergency medical service at 40 S. Sprigg St. Firefighters responded to the following calls Saturday: n At 8:27 a.m., emergency medical service in the 300 block of Bristle Ridge...

The existing portion of Cape LaCroix Trail has attracted thousands of walkers, runners, bikers and skaters over the years, making it one of the best-used facilities Cape Girardeau has to offer. For years, the city has been expanding and upgrading the trail system to connect all of the city's major parks...

n May 22, 1958: Born in Sikeston, Mo. Raised on family farm in Bertrand, Mo. n 1976: Graduates from Kelly High School, Benton, Mo. n 1980: Graduates from University of Missouri-Columbia, bachelor's degree in agricultural economics. n 1983: Graduates from University of Mississippi law school...

Eldorado, Ill. -- James Read, 65, of Eldorado, formerly of Anna, Ill., died Friday, June 6, 2008, at Ferrell Hospital in Eldorado. He was born June 15, 1942, in Tamms, Ill., son of Lewis and Hazel Coleman Read. Survivors include five sisters, Mary Jane Barbeau of McClure, Ill., Brenda, Ann and Sue Read, all of Niles, Ill., and Ruth Stilley of Minneapolis; and a brother, Donald Read of Dalton, Tenn...

25 years ago: June 8, 1983 Explosions and fire burn out a garage and storage building just north of Cape Girardeau, destroying a large amount of fireworks that had been stockpiled by the owner of a fireworks stand; in addition to the structure itself, the fire destroys a car parked in front of the building on North Sprigg Street...

The Southeast Missourian has launched a comprehensive online service for local businesses. The Web site, SemoMarketplace.com, offers free listings for more than 4,000 area businesses that include such information as store hours, methods of payment and photos of the businesses...

Benjamin Dow has heard the stories too often. An individual learns of an enticing investment opportunity, with dreams of earning thousands of dollars on its future earnings. In the end, that person has invested hundreds of dollars only to learn later that he or she had fallen for a scam...

The Chateau Girardeau Garden Club meets monthly for programs on herbs, caring for potted plants and bird identification, as well as for presentations on components that enhance a garden, including patios and blooming flowers. A recent open house at the Courtyard at Chateau Girardeau, sponsored by the garden club, was attended by 50 residents from Independent Living, Chateau Estates, Residential Care, Assisted Living and the Health Center. ...

NEW YORK -- The average price of regular gas crept up to $4 a gallon for the first time over the weekend, passing the once-unthinkable milestone just in time for the peak summer travel season. Prices at the pump are expected to keep climbing, especially after last week's furious surge in oil prices, which neared $140 a barrel in a record-shattering rally Friday...

The Plaza Tire Capahas split a tightly contested doubleheader with the St. Louis Kings last season. That had Plaza Tire manager Jess Bolen anticipating two more tough games Sunday when the Kings paid another visit to Cape Girardeau. But the Capahas are on a roll these days as they have been gaining the services of many of the key players they are counting on...

Trucking company receives safety honor Jerry Lipps Trucking Company, 3888 Nash Road in Cape Girardeau, was awarded a Gold Safety Award as part of Great West Casualty Insurance Company's National Safety Awards program. The program recognizes carriers across the country with awards based on their safety performance. On hand to accept the award were Dennis Laubach, Vickie Marler and John Lesar...

JAKARTA, Indonesia -- Scuba divers swept away in strong currents survived 12 hours in shark-infested waters before scrambling onto a remote Indonesian island where they faced yet another threat: a Komodo dragon. The divers -- three from Britain and one each from France and Sweden -- came face-to-face with the giant, carnivorous lizard on Rinca's palm-fringed beach and fought it off by pelting it with rocks and pieces of wood, Pariman, a port official said Sunday...

The sorry saga of Spa 151 played out its final chapter last week when Attorney General Jay Nixon's consumer protection division secured a $103,000 settlement for holders of gift cards and gift certificates. For most of the past four months, I made a weekly call to Nixon's office, seeking information on the progress of the effort to win refunds from owners Ashli Rowland, Scott Rowland and Brent Wills. ...

WASHINGTON -- Makers and sellers of wheelchairs, oxygen machines and other medical equipment are on the verge of getting Congress to delay, if not scrap, a new program the Bush administration says would save Medicare about $1 billion a year. For years, lawmakers and the Bush administration have complained that Medicare pays much more than private insurers and the general public for medical equipment. ...

n 3:30 p.m.: Welcome, duck race sponsored by Cape Girardeau Esprit and Southside Optimist Clubs and music by Boone Project n 3:30 to 8 p.m.: Kids' Zone with free face painting and activities at the Themis and Water streets parking lot sponsored by the Evening Optimist Club...

Cape Girardeau The Cape Girardeau Police Department released the following items. Arrests do not imply guilt. DWI n Jarell Gingles, of Florissant, Mo., was arrested on suspicion of driving while intoxicated, failing to maintain a single lane, not wearing a seat belt and having no insurance...

25 years ago: June 9, 1983 Douglas Wayne Thompson, who has twice been convicted of the murder of a Cape Girardeau auxiliary police officer in 1961 and has had both convictions overturned, is scheduled to go to trial once again; county Prosecuting Attorney Larry Ferrell filed new murder charges against Thompson yesterday in the death of Herbert L. Goss...

LONG POND, Pa. -- Kasey Kahne never thought his start to the season was all that bad, despite how it looked on paper. In hindsight, there was something missing and it took last month's win in the all-star race to see it. Now Kahne is on a roll, riding a wave of momentum from that $1 million payday into a championship-contending run...

WASHINGTON -- From Jeannie Harrison's perspective, the social lives of most teenagers tend to revolve around their cell phones -- even when they are behind the wheel. "People don't want to be inaccessible for even 15 minutes driving up the street," said Harrison, 19, a sophomore at Marshall University in Huntington, W.Va. "They're so used to being accessible all the time."...

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- Columbia fire officials say a two-alarm blaze at a manufacturing plant caused an estimated $1 million in damage. No injuries were reported in the fire, which occurred about 8:15 a.m. Sunday at Engineered Plastic Components. Fire crews had to call for backup after getting to the scene and finding heavy smoke inside the building...

QINGLIAN, China -- A magnitude 5.0 aftershock shook a brimming, earthquake-formed lake and sent landslides tumbling down surrounding mountains Sunday, underscoring the persistent threat of flooding to more than 1 million weary refugees downstream. No new evacuations were ordered and the lake's dam of unstable mud and rocks did not collapse, said Hu Peng, a media officer at the disaster relief headquarters of the lake. He had no additional details...

In her rookie year on the LPGA Tour, playing in only her third major championship Sunday, 19-year-old Yani Tseng felt lucky to become the youngest winner of the LPGA Championship. After the day she had at Bulle Rock in Havre De Grace, Md., that was hardly the case...

Climate protection group to hold meeting The Southeast Missouri Climate Protection Initiative will hold its monthly meeting at 7 p.m. Thursday in room one of the Osage Community Centre on North Kingshighway in Cape Girardeau. The primary focus of the meeting will be discussions of projects and plans for the summer. ...

PARIS -- Early in the second set of the French Open final, not quite halfway into what would wind up as Roger Federer's worst loss in 173 career Grand Slam matches, he watched intently as Rafael Nadal pushed a forehand wide to end a lengthy exchange...

CHICAGO -- Residents of Chicago's southern suburbs spent Sunday cleaning up from a series of tornadoes that pelted the region this weekend, while bracing for another round of severe weather. The National Weather Service said a sprawling storm system generated six separate tornadoes in Chicago's southern suburbs on Saturday, tearing off the roofs from homes, knocking down power lines and overturning semitrailers. One tornado was reported in the northern suburbs...

A fire Saturday night at Bloomfield Road and Chesley Drive in Cape Girardeau was ruled arson by the State Fire Marshal's office Sunday. Cape Girardeau firefighters went to the location at 10 p.m. Saturday after a person came to the station and said there was smoke in that area. Firefighters found heavy smoke pouring from the residence at 402 Chesley Drive, according to a news release...

BOSTON -- Banner No. 17 is halfway to the rafters. The Celtics are two wins from another NBA championship. And maybe a little lucky to be there. Paul Pierce, darting around the parquet floor with ease, scored 28 points, Boston's defense mobbed Kobe Bryant long enough and unknown Leon Powe scored 21 points as the Celtics held off a remarkable Los Angeles rally for a 108-102 win over the Lakers on Sunday night. The Celtics have a 2-0 lead in these trip-down-memory-lane NBA finals...

ST. LOUIS -- Anna Shafer-Skelton's parents met at an orienteering meet, which may explain why she came by the sport so naturally. At 19, the Washington University freshman is a nationally ranked orienteering competitor. "I started with my parents going to meets," she said. "How long do I plan to do it? Ages go up to 85."...

TEHRAN, Iran -- Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki pushed Iran on Sunday to back off its fierce opposition to a U.S.-Iraqi security pact, Iraqi officials said, as he promised Iranian leaders that Iraq will not be a launching pad for any attack on their country...

To the editor: Take a drive to the Sansey Village Plaza on the corner of Silver Springs Road and Themis Street and see the property owner's commitment to the beautification of Cape Girardeau. I applaud this business for its commitment to Cape Girardeau, its visible interest in improving the property and its leadership example. What an amazing improvement from a dull corner to a perfectly blended landscape of plants and flowers...

NEW YORK -- A Chicago chef known for his ethereal cooking -- as well as the tongue cancer that nearly ended his life -- was named the nation's top chef Sunday by the James Beard Foundation. The award marked another victory in a tumultuous year for Grant Achatz, who last July was diagnosed with Stage 4 tongue cancer, underwent aggressive treatment to save his life and sense of taste, and by December was cancer free...

HOUSTON -- The St. Louis Cardinals scored five runs in one inning off Houston miscues Sunday and rallied to win another series from the Astros. Brendan Ryan hit a two-run single to cap a comeback fueled by two Houston errors and St. Louis beat the Astros 5-4...

BAGHDAD -- A suicide truck bomber who concealed his explosives under tanned animal hides struck a U.S. patrol base Sunday in northern Iraq, killing one U.S. soldier and wounding 18 other Americans, U.S. and Iraqi officials said. Two Iraqi contractors working at the base in Tamim province also were wounded, according to a brief statement from the military. ...

Cape Girardeau Firefighters responded to the following calls Saturday: n At 9:59 p.m., house fire in the 400 block of Chesley Drive. n At 11:36 p.m., emergency medical service at Themis and Main streets. Firefighters responded to the following calls Sunday:...

This column was written in Michigan, where I've been working on house projects. Making the four-state drive is always an eye-opener. While on the freeway, I saw a truck outfitted for spotting tornadoes. I looked but did not see any twisters, though more than one reportedly touched down in northeast Illinois and northwest Indiana about 45 minutes after I blew through that area...

Hiding the naughtiness I DON'T think it hurts anything for people to hold advertising signs. It provides these people with jobs. All we're doing these days is hiding the naughtiness in our society. I noticed horse racing may come back to Missouri. When there's betting in our state, it weakens our country. Money that would be used for gambling could be going to better things. How sad when we take away money from ordinary people holding up a sign but somehow cover up our gambling industry...

LANGDON, N.H. -- Sharon Crossman hadn't tasted fresh fruits or vegetables in a week. Since her husband had two heart attacks and stopped working, she has relied on disability checks and the free food provided by a food pantry. But lately, the only fresh produce available at the Fall Mountain Foodshelf where she volunteers has been shriveled potatoes and sprouting onions...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Shuttle Discovery's astronauts breezed through their third and final spacewalk Sunday, replacing an empty gas tank at the international space station and collecting a sample of dusty debris. Spacewalkers Michael Fossum and Ronald Garan Jr. wrapped up their work so quickly that Mission Control threw in some extra chores...

A year ago, Southern Illinois economic development leaders held a meeting where big plans for alternative fuel factories dominated the discussions and confident predictions about groundbreaking dates became the big news. Not a single shovel-full has been turned, however, and the three projects that were making headlines, including a $3.4 billion coal gasification plant just north of Cairo, Ill., are all apparently dead...

Efforts are underway to rename Jackson's National Guard armory after Staff Sgt. Bradley Skelton, who died earlier this year while serving in Iraq. For those who haven't heard the story, Skelton, who was 40 years old when he died, came out of retirement to serve a second tour in Iraq. Skelton, a single man with no children, told others he wanted to serve again so another soldier who had children wouldn't have to. His temporary sacrifice turned into a permanent one...

RENO, Nev. -- A months-long swarm of earthquakes picked up again Sunday as a string of minor temblors rattled Reno, causing downtown high-rises to sway and knocking items off walls and shelves. There were no immediate reports of injuries or major property damage after about 20 minor quakes reported on the western edge of Reno over 12 hours ending about noon...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Missouri politicians say they sprinted toward the front in the national race to crack down on illegal immigration, but the front-runners still have a comfortable lead. Missouri's legislation includes mandates for employers and police as well as penalties for illegal immigrants and cities that don't cooperate with federal immigration authorities...

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. -- A lack of federal dollars caused by the war in Iraq could halt planned construction and expansion for the 139th Airlift Wing at Rosecrans Memorial Airport in St. Joseph. "At the current rate of construction, our 20-year plan to build a new base on the north end of the airport is becoming an 80-year plan," said Col. Stephen Cotter, the Wing commander...

MEMPHIS, Tenn. —Johnny Wilbur Young, 86, of Memphis died Wednesday, June 4, 2008, at Saint Francis Hospital in Memphis. He was born in Henson, Mo., son of John Sampson and Claudie O'Guin Young, and graduated from Illmo High School in Scott City. He was married to Audrey Lois Hammond Young for 62 years. She preceded him in death...

TOKYO -- A man plowed into shoppers with a truck Sunday and then stabbed 17 people within minutes, killing at least seven of them in a grisly attack that shocked a country known for its low crime rate. The lunchtime violence in the Akihabara district, a popular electronics and video game area, sent thousands of people fleeing...

AUSTIN, Texas -- Arson is suspected in the fire that struck the historic Texas Governor's Mansion early Sunday, causing damage that state officials described as "bordering on catastrophic," the state fire marshal said. No one was inside the 152-year-old mansion at the time, said Robert Black, a spokesman for Gov. Rick Perry. The mansion had been undergoing a $10 million renovation, and Perry and his wife, Anita, had moved out last fall...

ST. LOUIS -- In one of the photographs hanging in a conference room at a new Covenant House shelter for teens in St. Louis, a young woman stands in the burned-out remnants of a vacant house where she used to sleep. It's a little hard to make out, but written across her T-shirt is one ironic word: "Spoiled."...

FREMONT, Ohio -- A small plane crashed Sunday afternoon in a residential area and killed all six people aboard, including the pilot, a former state lawmaker who had offered joyrides to airport visitors after a charity breakfast. Gene Damschroder Sr., 86, was flying the fixed-wing, single-engine Cessna when it crashed about 1 p.m., the Ohio State Highway Patrol said. His five passengers also died in the crash in Sandusky County...

It's always a lot of fun to follow the Major League Baseball draft, and the 2008 edition conducted last week had some angles that held quite a bit of interest for area sports fans. Topping the list was the first-round selection of Eastern Kentucky junior left-hander Christian Friedrich, who went to the Colorado Rockies with the 25th pick overall...

A sold-out crowd watched country star Carrie Underwood perform at the Show Me Center on Sunday night. According to early sales totals, 6,117 people attended the show. The crowd was made up of men and women, young and old, wearing everything from collared shirts to cutoffs. Underwood took the stage after a 30-minute performance by opener Jason Michael Carroll...

With music, art, fireworks and an air show rolled into one Fourth of July event on the riverfront, Libertyfest Air Show 2008 is preparing for its inaugural year. Marla Mills, Old Town Cape executive director, said this year will bring two events the community loves together for the first time. The Cape Regional Air Festival is typically held at the Cape Girardeau Regional Airport and an admission fee is charged. This year, festivalgoers will be entertained for free...

Summer school is decidedly different from school at Jackson Junior High this year. Gone are days of mandatory remedial classes, the structure of summer school when director Bill Myers was in school. Classes like landscaping, online scrapbooking and Windows Movie Maker have taken its place. ...

A Cole County, Mo., judge continued hearings on the murder conviction of Joshua Kezer today, setting another court date for July 28 in Jefferson City.Kezer's defense team is challenging his conviction for the 1992 murder of Angela Mischelle Lawless, whose body was found at an Interstate 55 exit ramp near Benton, Mo. ...

An arson fire that did extensive damage to a home on Chesley Drive doesn't appear to be connected to a string of arsons in central Cape Girardeau, including one that killed a man on April 29. A dedicated arson squad with members from the Cape Girardeau Police Department, the Cape Girardeau Fire Department and the Missouri Fire Marshal's Office was working Monday on an investigation of the Chesley Drive fire, fire chief Rick Ennis said. ...

BRIDGETON, Mo. (AP) — The Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry on Monday endorsed Republican Kenny Hulshof in his bid to become Missouri's next governor. Chamber president and chief executive officer Dan Mehan made the announcement at Hunter Engineering Co. in the St. Louis suburb of Bridgeton. The chamber is Missouri's largest business association, representing about 3,000 employers...

CAPLINGER MILLS, Mo. (AP) -- Three people are dead after separate weekend drownings in Missouri. A western Missouri man drowned on Sunday when he jumped off a rope swing into the Sac River and was repeatedly pulled under by strong currents. The Missouri State Water Patrol said 24-year-old Jason Corbin of Raymore landed in the fast-moving water, was swept down river and drowned after trying to swim to safety...

ST. LOUIS (AP) -- Barack Obama is expected to be in St. Louis on Monday for the first time as the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee. The senator from Illinois will attend a private fundraiser at the Renaissance Grand Hotel Monday night after spending the earlier part of the day campaigning in North Carolina...

ST. LOUIS (AP) -- Anheuser-Busch continues to expand into Asia, now launching Budweiser in Vietnam. The St. Louis-based brewer on Monday announced an import and distribution agreement with the Gannon Distribution Co., making Budweiser available in Vietnam starting early this month. A specific date was not announced...

BRIDGETON, Mo. (AP) -- Republican Kenny Hulshof is announcing an endorsement in his bid to become Missouri's next governor. The announcement was scheduled for Monday afternoon at Hunter Engineering Co. in the St. Louis suburb of Bridgeton. Hulshof is currently the congressman for Missouri's 9th District. He is opposing state Treasurer Sarah Steelman for the GOP nomination. Incumbent Republican Gov. Matt Blunt announced in January that he would not seek a second term...

ST. LOUIS (AP) -- Barack Obama kicked off what is essentially the first week of the general election campaign by visiting Missouri on Monday, trying to shore up support in a bellwether state where his razor-thin victory during the Democratic primary campaign might signal a tough fight against Republican John McCain...

UNIVERSITY CITY, Mo. (AP) -- Police are searching for a Torah valued at $30,000 that was stolen from a St. Louis-area synagogue. The handmade scrolls have been missing from the Congregation Bais Menachem-Chabad in University City since May 24th. The Torah is the first five books of Hebrew scriptures...

Power has been restored to the over 350 AmerenUE customers who experienced an outage early this afternoon. The outage was caused by a tree falling on power lines on Henderson Avenue near its intersection with Dunklin Street, said Mike Cleary, a spokesman for AmerenUE...

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NEWTONIA, Mo. (AP) -- Local preservationists hope that repairs to the tornado-damaged Ritchey Mansion will be complete by Sept. 1. The Newtonia Battlefields Protection Association estimates that between $86,000 to $100,000 will be needed to repair damage to the building caused by the May 10 twister...

ST. LOUIS (AP) -- Two people are dead after separate weekend drownings on eastern Missouri rivers. Both incidents happened on Saturday. On the Current River near Doniphan, 17-year-old Tyler Snowden of Strafford, Okla., was swimming across the river with several other young people. The teen and his brother began to have trouble and clung to a root wad. The Missouri State Water Patrol says the brother made it to shore but Tyler went under...