Stories from November 2008

Here is the text of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin's speech Thursday at the Show Me Center in Cape Girardeau. She was introduced by U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Emerson of Cape Girardeau. Thank you. ... It is so good to be here. First I want to thank Jo Ann [Emerson] for that warm welcome. Jo Ann, you said it all. That was great. Appreciate you...

Ronnie W. Preyer, 47, of Cape Girardeau died Friday, Oct. 31, 2008, at Saint Francis Medical Center. Ford and Sons Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

After two weeks of practice -- and plenty of turmoil -- the Southeast Missouri State men's basketball team will take the court for a game tonight. Although the 7 p.m. exhibition opener against Missouri Baptist at the Show Me Center won't count on the Redhawks' record, it figures to be a nice change of pace for them...

Cape Girardeau Firefighters responded to the following calls Thursday: n At 5:33 p.m., emergency medical service in the 1300 block of North Sprigg Street. n At 6:53 p.m., emergency medical service in the 1700 block of Oak Hills Road. n At 9 p.m., emergency medical service in the unit block of South West End Boulevard...

SIKESTON, Mo. -- Regina Frances Anderson, 88, of Sikeston died Thursday, Oct. 30, 2008, at Chateau Girardeau in Cape Girardeau. She was born Dec. 31, 1919, in Harvel, Ill., daughter of John Theodore and Bertha Frances Hoehn Todt. She and Floyd Anderson were married Jan. 25, 1941, in Oran, Mo. He died June 19, 1981...

DES MOINES, Iowa -- Despite John McCain's prediction of an upset, Barack Obama reached for a landslide Friday, invading his rival's home state with TV ads and building a lead in early voting in key battlegrounds as the presidential race headed into a hectic final weekend...

WASHINGTON -- Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said Friday that the housing finance system being constructed following the collapse of the current system will need better safeguards to allow it to function during times of stress. Whatever shape the new system takes should ensure that the institutions that support the financing of home mortgages do not pose a systemic risk to our financial markets and the economy, Bernanke said in a speech prepared for a housing conference in Berkeley, Calif.. ...

Do the homework THIS TIME around I am doing my own homework. I will not be voting out of fear based on lies and innuendoes. Using more energy WE READ about, we talk about, we see on the news on television and in the paper about conserving energy and how we're using too much energy. ...

ST. LOUIS -- Missouri Attorney General Jay Nixon reached a $31 million settlement with a pharmaceutical company in a Medicaid fraud case on Friday. New Jersey-based Schering-Plough agreed to the settlement of a 2005 lawsuit to resolve allegations that its former Warrick Pharmaceuticals Corp. division inflated its prices, said Nixon spokesman Scott Holste. Lawyers for the state argued the deception cost Missouri taxpayers millions of dollars...

As Election Day approaches. candidates hoping to persuade voters at the last minute will be making visits to Cape Girardeau and both major party organizations plan a weekend of telephoning and knocking on doors. Meanwhile, Cape Girardeau County voters who will be out of town Tuesday or who for other reasons need to use an absentee ballot may do so from 8 a.m. ...

The Red House Interpretive Center will offer an opportunity today for visitors to learn about the Lewis and Clark Expedition. The [StartDouble]Lewis and Clark Corps of Discovery Trunk,[CloseDouble] containing materials and equipment used by the explorers during their journey to the mouth of the Columbia River from 1803 to 1806, will be on hand for examination. ...

MEALS Fish fry Menu includes fried fish, potatoes, baked beans, coleslaw, hush puppies, coffee and tea. Children 5 and younger eat free. When: 5 to 7 p.m. Friday Where: First Assembly of God, 312 Dearborn St., Scott City Sausage supper...

Cape Girardeau The Cape Girardeau Police Department released the following items. Arrests do not imply guilt. Arrests n Detrayaous D. Curry, 25, 1423 Luce St., No. 2, was arrested on suspicion of tampering. n Joseph H. Boyer, 56, of Oak Ridge was arrested on a Taney County, Mo., warrant for failure to appear and six Cape Girardeau warrants for contempt of court and failure to appear...

MARBLE HILL, Mo. -- Justin Michael Howell, 21, of Marble Hill died Thursday, Oct. 30, 2008 at Saint Francis Medical Center. Friends may call at 12:30 p.m. Monday at Ford and Sons Mount Auburn Funeral Home. The funeral will be at 1:30 p.m. Monday at the funeral home. Burial will be at Memorial Park Cemetery...

Raymond C. Greaser, 84, of Cape Girardeau died Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2008 at the Lutheran Home. He was born Feb. 9, 1924, in Dutchtown, son of Leo and Lillie Thomure Greaser. He and Jean Krebs were married June 9, 1956, in Indiana, Pa. Greaser was a graduate of Jackson High School. ...

25 years ago: Nov. 1, 1983 Cape Girardeau Mayor Howard C. Tooke, who two weeks ago cast the deciding vote against a liquor-by-the-drink license request, says he now supports a new package liquor license request for the combination service station/convenience store and deli restaurant at a site opposite the First Baptist Church on Broadway...

This year marks the church's 10th anniversary of Lynwood Baptist Church's Judgment House, a drama that shows scenes from life and their consequences in the afterlife. Susan Russell, national volunteer trainer and co-director at Lynwood Baptist, has been involved with Judgement House at the church since the beginning. She has presented it 14 times and trained other ministries outside of Missouri...

WASHINGTON -- After half a century as more of a curiosity than a convenience, passenger trains are getting back on track in some parts of the country. The high cost of energy, coupled with congestion on highways and at airports, is drawing travelers back to trains not only for commuting but also for travel between cities as much as 500 miles apart...

Defending Ohio Valley Conference football champion Eastern Kentucky got off to a slow start this season. But there has been nothing slow about the Colonels' play entering today's 1 p.m. game at Southeast Missouri State. The Colonels (5-3, 4-1 OVC) will put a four-game winning streak on the line against the Redhawks (3-5, 1-3)...

I was driving back to Southeast Missouri the other day from St. Louis and I needed to make a couple of phone calls. It's hard to imagine what we did in the car without cell phones, MP3s and DVDs. I began to scan my contact list, looking for a number that I was sure was there. ...

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. — As a Poplar Bluff teenager awaited surgery at a St. Louis hospital Thursday, local authorities continued to search for the man they believe shot him Wednesday afternoon. Markell Eskridge, 16, was taken to Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center and subsequently flown to Cardinal Glennon Children's Hospital for treatment of a gunshot wound to the head...

MARBLE HILL, Mo.-- Victor Joseph Self Sr., 84, of Marble Hill died Thursday, Oct. 30, 2008, at his home. He was born July 30, 1924, in St. Louis, son of Cleveland and Elizabeth Bittick Self. He and Rita Barylski were married in 1947 in St. Louis. Self had worked at Nabisco Brands in St. Louis. He moved to Bollinger County in 1979. He was a member of St. John's Catholic Church...

In the 1984 movie "The Natural," the owner of the fictional New York Knights baseball team sits in his dark office, his work illuminated only by a small desk lamp putting out a feeble light. The drapes are drawn closed. The team's star player, Roy Hobbs (played by Robert Redford), has a testy conversation with the owner, and as he leaves, Hobbs switches on the overhead fixture...

Angel heart Mary Alice Blaylock's third child, born on Jan. 20, 1961, was almost her undoing. "We moved around and back in those days. We didn't know I needed a C-section," she said. She also didn't know she'd contracted malaria during her pregnancy. Labor lasted more than 24 hours, further distressing Blylock's body. Her suddenly heart stopped beating...

There is little that's more disheartening than to walk out of your home and discover that your house or yard or automobile -- or perhaps all three -- have been vandalized. Or to arrive at your business and see graffiti on the walls and windows. That's exactly what happened to eight members of Congress -- three senators and four representatives, five men and three women, four Democrats and four Republicans -- this week in Missouri and Minnesota. ...

COBDEN, Ill. -- Polly M. Williams, 81, of Cobden died Thursday, Oct. 30, 2008, at Memorial Hospital of Carbondale, Ill. She was born Aug. 27, 1927, in Makanda, Ill., daughter of Joseph Wesley and Dorothy Hogg Hawk. She and Harry E. Williams were married April 9, 1947, at Makanda. He died June 16, 2004...

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- Stephen G. Statler, 49, of Perryville, formerly of Marble Hill, Mo., died Friday, Oct. 31, 2008, in Marble Hill. He was born June 29, 1959, at Lutesville, Mo., son of Claude and Patricia R. Slinkard Statler. He and Debra Workman were married Sept. 8, 2000...

WACO, Texas -- Dreams of a national championship dashed by consecutive losses, the Missouri Tigers have narrowed their focus. While the Big 12 North title and a return to the league's championship game remain a distinct possibility for the 14th-ranked Tigers, even that is more broad than coach Gary Pinkel wants his team to consider...

From the Bible to popular culture, people have recounted experiences outside the realm of the everyday when having a brush with death. Sometimes the experiences come in the form of beings they describe as angels, and sometimes they involve interactions with loved ones who have already passed on...

ST. CHARLES, Mo. -- Freddy the beagle is in the care of St. Charles Animal Control after being in the middle of a violent custody battle among three homeless people. St. Charles police say a homeless couple assaulted a homeless man with a stick and knife and stole his beagle...

MOSUL, Iraq -- Car bombs rather than Obama, making it home rather than McCain dominate the talk among many U.S. soldiers in Iraq's deadliest city during the final countdown to America's presidential election. Dangers, distance from home and the dawn-to-dark effort in an alien environment push U.S. politics into a corner for many soldiers -- especially in combat outposts where television and the Internet are not readily available...

The Cape Girardeau Fire Department has issued its annual advisory on rules for burning leaves. Burning must take place between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. The department said burning building materials, tires, rubber, materials containing asbestos, hazardous materials, Styrofoam, plastics, petroleum-based products, treated wood or other refuse is prohibited. ...

Three schools are making adjustments to handle crowds expected to flow through the buildings on Election Day. Jackson Junior High, Nell Holcomb and Oak Ridge schools will serve as polling locations Tuesday. School will remain in session. Some districts throughout Missouri will cancel classes that day due to fears of disruption, traffic congestion and security issues. ...

ST. LOUIS -- A federal appeals court says Missouri should be barred from enforcing a state law limiting protests near funerals until it can be determined whether the law is constitutional. The 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in St. Louis reached the same decision last December. But the state of Missouri appealed...

NEW YORK -- The stock market closed out October, its worst month in 21 years, with a big advance Friday as more investors took chances on stocks turned into bargains by waves of intense selling. The advance -- which gave the market its first back-to-back gains in more than a month -- raised hopes that Wall Street has indeed found a bottom...

NEW YORK -- Joaquin Phoenix is quitting movies to focus on music. Phoenix's publicist, Susan Patricola, has confirmed his earlier comments to TV's "Extra": The upcoming "Two Lovers" will be his last performance on film. Said Patricola: "He has said that 'Two Lovers' is his last. But this is not strange. Joaquin has been directing music videos and been involved in music for the last number of years."...

Thirteen Southern Illinois residents were injured in a car accident Friday morning on Highway 177 eight miles north of Cape Girardeau, according to the Missouri State Highway Patrol. The people received minor injuries and were all transported by ambulance to Saint Francis Medical Center. The accident happened when another vehicle hit the Ford van they were riding in at 6:33 a.m., striking the van's outside rearview mirror. The other vehicle left the scene...

VIENNA, Austria -- Two Austrians kidnapped in Tunisia by an al-Qaida affiliate have been released, ending an eight-month ordeal and anguished diplomatic attempts to win their freedom. Wolfgang Ebner, 51, and Andrea Kloiber, 43, were freed Thursday after 252 days in captivity and were under the protection of Mali's military, Foreign Minister Ursula Plassnik said Friday...

Molly Davis is the shortest volleyball player in the Ohio Valley Conference. But that hasn't prevented her from standing tall in the Southeast Missouri State record book. Davis became the all-time digs leader in Southeast's Division I history Friday night, recording 16 during a 25-11, 25-17, 25-11 rout of visiting Eastern Illinois...

The Southeast Missouri State cross country teams have an opportunity to make their mark in the Ohio Valley Conference without leaving Cape Girardeau. Southeast will host the OVC Championships today at the Jaycee Municipal Golf Course. The 5K women's race begins at 9 a.m., followed by the 8K men's race at 9:45 a.m...

BANBAN, Saudi Arabia -- The contestants scampered down the runway, bleating at their admirers. Poets sang their praises in verse as the male-only audience appraised the competitors' physical beauty, right down to the length of their necks. But instead of receiving roses and a tiara, it was off to the highest bidder for many finalists in the first Saudi beauty pageant featuring locally bred sheep...

Charles Seaton "Bud" Pewitt, respected community leader and humanitarian, left this earth at age 81 Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2008. Bud resided in Cape Girardeau at the Missouri Veterans Home. Bud began his journey in life Sept. 12, 1927, in Belton, Mo. He was the son of Verna and Seaton Pewitt, and baby brother to Bion, Virginia and Lena...

ATHENS, Greece -- For thousands of years the Acropolis has withstood earthquakes, weathered storms and endured temperature extremes, from scorching summers to winter snow. Now scientists are drawing on the latest technology to install a system that will record just how much nature is affecting the 2,500-year-old site. They hope their findings will help identify areas that could be vulnerable, allowing them to target restoration and maintenance...

Perryville senior Brent Roth did a little bit of everything — again — for the Pirates football team Friday night. This time, he was in on enough key plays to propel 3-6 Perryville into the Class 3 playoffs, as the Pirates clinched a spot with a 28-6 victory against Dexter...

I took this photo from where I was standing the whole time at the rally. I didn't arrive at the Show Me Center until about 5:45am. But I got in pretty quickly and worked my way through the already-formed crowd to the front. It was quite an experience!...

The Southeast Missouri State Golden Eagles and Sundancers perform at halftime of the SEMO vs. Eastern Kentucky game.

High fives from Sarah.

The Southeast Missouri State Redhawks drive down the field for another score against Eastern Kentucky

I took this photo with my own camera. I was one of the lucky ones who got to shake hands and briefly speak with Gov. Palin. She is so classy. I have several close ups like this of Todd, too, and I'll try to upload those shortly.

Before shooting and killing her rapist early Friday morning, a Cape Girardeau woman had never fired a shotgun in her life. Though the woman, whose name has been withheld, lived alone, she'd always felt safe in her neighborhood, where she'd lived for the past four years...

MARBLE HILL, Mo. -- Justin Michael Howell, 21, of Marble Hill died Thursday, Oct. 30, 2008, at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. He was born March 23, 1987, in Tallahassee, Fla., son of Nathan Shawn and Sharon Medley-Davis Howell. He was a self-employed heavy equipment operator in Alaska and Southeast Missouri...

ANNA, Ill. -- Christmas may have arrived early this year for officials and property owners in Alexander and Union counties whose land got damaged from floods this spring. Warren Ribley, director of the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, presented checks of nearly a half-million dollars to each county during a public gathering Friday at Anna City Hall...

Name: Ronda Elfrink Party: Republican Birth: July 9, 1961, Advance, Mo. Spouse, children: Alan; Jennifer Leimer, 26, Iris Elfrink, 25 Occupation: Property management administrative support assistant Employer: Mitek Corp...

Cape Public Library November schedule. To register for events or get more information, call 334-5279, visit the Information Desk at the library or go online at the www.capelibrary.org. November n The Scrapbooking Club meets in the library meeting area from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday. Bring your materials. The club meets the second Saturday monthly. Join anytime...

At the 30th anniversary celebration of the founding of Phi Beta Chi, a national Lutheran collegiate women's sorority, co-founders Mary Gerlach of Cape Girardeau and the late Bonnie Helfer of St. Louis received awards of excellence. Helfer's daughter, Barbara Wissman accepted the award on her behalf At the awards banquet, held in Frontenac, Mo., the Order of the Mantle was presented to the two women for their example of dedication to chapter, church and community. ...

Making decisions about the family's computer and Internet usage can be difficult for parents with children who are often more Internet-savvy than they are. To assist parents to protect themselves and their children online, Judy M. Brunner and Dennis K. Lewis presented an Internet safety, harassment and intimidation program to staff and later to parents -- on what they can do to help -- at Jackson High School recently. A program for administrators was held in June...

FARMINGTON -- When Notre Dame senior Matt Reinagel crossed the finish line of the Class 3 District 1 meet in 17th place Saturday, he couldn't help but wonder if his season was over. He finished directly behind a trio of Festus runners and just ahead of two runners from three-time defending state champion Potosi. He had fallen short of the team's goal -- five in 15 -- in a meet that had little margin for error...

To the editor, As a lifelong resident of Missouri, I encourage all Missourians to vote no on Proposition A because it: Is not about schools. It is about casinos. Is confusing and misleading. Would permit 130,000 convicted felons, sex offenders and problem gamblers to enter casinos...

Name: Roger Hudson Party: Republican Birth: July 8, 1953, Perryville, Mo. Spouse, children: Elizabeth; Seth, 23, Zach, 21 Occupation: Cape Girardeau County Treasurer Employer: People of Cape Girardeau County...

ST. LOUIS -- Central sophomore Mary Dohogne was not feeling well as she crossed the finish line Saturday at the Class 4 sectional meet at Jefferson Barracks Park in St. Louis County. She collapsed and had to be helped up by teammate Brittany Moreland...

Southeast Missouri State senior tailback Timmy Holloman put together his first 100-yard rushing game in more than a year. Holloman said he would have been a lot happier about that if the Redhawks had not suffered a 29-16 loss Saturday to Eastern Kentucky...

Officiating n Officials association meeting: The Heartland Officials Association will hold its monthly meeting today at 6 p.m. in room 107 at the Southeast Missouri State Student Rec Center. The focus of the meeting will be in-depth rules discussion, and the agenda primarily is for new or inexperienced officials, but all officials are welcome. Info: Rick Heuring, 264-3643 or 450-8134...

Cape Girardeau Firefighters responded to the following calls Friday: n At 3 p.m., a motor vehicle accident with injuries at William Street and Kingshighway. n At 3:07 p.m., an alarm sounding in the 200 block of Franks Lane. n At 3:21 p.m., a citizen assist in the 1400 block of South West End Boulevard...

Leading up to Tuesday's elections, the Southeast Missourian has presented information on the five measures -- two constitutional amendments and three propositions -- that will be on every ballot in Missouri. Proponents and opponents of those measures have had an opportunity to make their cases. Here is a quick review that includes recommendations for voters...

Name: Paul Koeper Party: Republican Birth: June 17, 1955, Perryville, Mo. Spouse, children: Ellen Koeper; Chris Koeper, Andrea Koeper, Jessica Sostillio, Natalie Koeper Occupation: Civil engineer, vice president of Penzel Construction Co. Inc...

Gary and Joyce Welter of Cape Girardeau announce the engagement of their daughter, Stacy Linette Welter, to William Joseph Duschell. He is the son of Brian and Phyliss Duschell of Jackson and Bud and Susan Richards of Anna, Ill. Welter is a 1993 graduate of Notre Dame High School, and attended Cape Girardeau Excellence School of Real Estate. She is co-owner of C&S Cleaning Services...

A new website for Cape Girardeau County, www.capecounty.us, was launched quietly Friday. Eric McGowen, the county's information technology director, said he wanted it to be online before Election Day, when poll results will be posted on the county clerk's page...

Name: Tim M. Brewer Party: Republican Birth: May 11, 1964, Perryville, Mo. Spouse, children: Angie Brewer; Garrett, 15, Miranda, 12, Conner, 6 Occupation: Business owner and manager Employer: Self Businesses owned by candidate or spouse, all or in part: Brewer Monument Inc.; Brewer Graphics Inc...

JACKSON -- After Saxony Lutheran sophomore Kristen Dippold was the first runner to cross the finish line at the Class 1 District 1 girls meet Saturday afternoon, she hardly could wait to call her sister Deanna to tell her about her run. Deanna Dippold, a 2008 Saxony graduate, ran for the Crusaders and now is a member of the cross country team at Lambuth University in Jackson, Tenn. Deanna got Kristen to go out for the team as a freshman last year...

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- Cailey Lynn Perkins and Jason Todd Slykhuis were married Dec. 1, 2007, at Crossroads Friendship Church in Jackson. Jim Matthews performed the ceremony. Music was by Scott and Todd Mills of Patton, Mo. Parents of the couple are Randy and Dana Perkins of Perryville, and Charlie and Ginny Slykhuis of Raleigh, Ill...

Wilson "Woody" Craft, 91, of Leemon, Mo., passed away Friday, Oct. 31, 2008, at the Jackson Manor Nursing Home in Jackson. He was born July 15, 1917, at Neelys Landing, son of Tom and Collie Phillips Craft. He and Grace Abernathy were married Dec. 9, 1939, in Jackson...

Name: Bill D. Burlison Party: Democratic Birth: March 15, 1931 Spouse, children: Michal Sue Prosser; James, 50, Laura, 48, Jeff, 44 Occupation: Lawyer Employer: Self-employed Businesses owned by candidate or spouse, all or in part: Attorney's office, small family farm...

PIEDMONT -- Scott City volleyball coach Haley Jennings predictably was emotional after her team swept the Class 2 sectional at Clearwater High School on Saturday. With two wins, the Rams clinched the program's first trip to the state tournament. And the day brought a flood of memories back for Jennings, who played on the 1997 Bernie team that won the sectional at Clearwater to advance to state...

ER frustrations AS A nurse, I get frustrated when I read the comments about local emergency rooms. While I understand that wait times are long and that it is frustrating for patients, let me tell you what I think is frustrating: having to tell someone they will have to wait because we are backed up taking care of patients who use the ER as their primary-care provider, people who call 911 and take an ambulance to the ER for head lice, people who come in for sexually transmitted disease checks on a regular basis (the health department does these for free), people who come in on a weekly or daily basis and people who come in just to get a prescription for generic Tylenol so Medicaid will pay for it. ...

Susan Marie Wellendorf and Jeffrey Jaco Plucker exchanged vows Aug. 23, 2008, in the gardens at Stone Mill Inn in Hallam, Pa. The Rev. Carrie Tuttle, cousin of the groom, performed the ceremony. Harpist was JoAnn Wang. The bride is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James Wellendorf of Lancaster, Pa. The groom is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Julius Plucker IV of Mooresville, Ala., formerly of Jackson...

Some reminders about how to make Election Day easier: n Poll hours 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. n Checking registration www.govotemissouri.com n Promoting candidates No clothing, hats, pins or other items promoting a candidate or a party in the polls. Voters will be asked to remove pins and hats; shirts can be turned inside out...

TAMMS, Ill. -- James Thornton, 82, of Tamms died Saturday, Nov. 1, 2008, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. Arrangements are incomplete at Crain Funeral Home in Tamms.

Name: Jason Glennon Crowell Party: Republican Birth: Feb. 3, 1972. Spouse, children: None Occupation: Attorney and state Senator Employer: Osburn, Hine, Kuntze, Yates and Murphy, LLC Public offices held: State Representative, 2001 to 2005; State Senator, 2005 to present...

Cheryl Rhodes, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Scott Rhodes of Advance, Mo., granddaughter of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Shultz, was recently chosen by the VFW auxiliaries of Missouri as Youth Volunteer of the Year. She received the 2007 Volunteer of the Year award from VFW Auxiliary 10495 in Jackson. An engraved silver tray and a cash award were presented to her by the state VFW auxiliaries...

Dr. Kenneth Stilson knows the life of an actor can be difficult. That's why Southeast Missouri State University theater and dance professors devote a chunk of their efforts to teaching students how to launch a career. "We teach how to survive in this business," said Stilson, a professor of acting and directing...

It was far from a thing of beauty. But even though it won't count on the record, at least it was a win. The Southeast Missouri State men's basketball team opened its two-game exhibition schedule by rallying past visiting Missouri Baptist 81-73 on Saturday night...

Name: Patrick J. Heaps Party: Democratic Birth: Aug. 4, 1950, St. Louis Spouse, children: Cynthia Heaps; Holly Williamson, 34, Mackenzie Plunkett, 32 Occupation: Maintenance superintendent Employer: Lake Perry Lot Owners Association...

Betty Ann McClanahan and Joseph Wayne Spalding exchanged vows June 27, 2008, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Scott City. The Rev. Oliver Clavin performed the ceremony. Pianist was Christy Bohn and guitarist was Rick Bohn, both of Scott City. Soloist was David "Coop" Dirnberger of New Hamburg, Mo...

Name: Jay Purcell Party: Republican Birth: Nov. 26, 1967, Cape Girardeau Spouse, children: Kelly; Austin, 14, Miranda, 13, Dayton, 11, Reece, 6 Occupation: County commissioner Employer: People of Cape Girardeau County...

Navy Reserve Seaman Apprentice Roxanne E. Jackson, daughter of Joey T. William of Cape Girardeau, was recently promoted to her current rank upon graduation from recruit training at Recruit Training Command, Great Lakes, Ill. Jackson received the early promotion for outstanding performance during all phases of the training cycle. ...

DE SOTO -- The third time was not the charm for the Notre Dame volleyball team Saturday. The Bulldogs were sent packing for the third year in a row by Lutheran South. The Lancers defeated Notre Dame 17-25, 25-23, 25-14 in the Class 3 sectional at De Soto High School...

Name: Jennifer Friedrich Party: Constitution Birth: Jan. 15, 1975, Jackson Spouse, children: Single, no children Occupation: None Employer: None Businesses owned by candidate or spouse, all or in part: None...

The barrage of door knocking, phone calls, text messages, radio, television and newspaper advertisements, spam e-mails and pop-up ads is almost over. Tuesday is Election Day. County clerks in Southeast Missouri report strong interest and high voter registrations. In Cape Girardeau County, absentee voting could be up as much as 40 percent from 2004, County Clerk Kara Clark said Friday...

A little more than one quilt per volunteer was the result of one day of the Ugly Quilt Weekend held at the de Paul Center in Cape Girardeau. By quitting time Saturday, more than 100 quilts were produced by 81 volunteers. On Sunday another 75 quilts were completed...

Name: Michael Winder Party: Democratic Birth: Aug. 13, 1975, St. Louis County Spouse, children: Angela Winder; Jessica, 5, Michael Jr., 20 months Occupation: Ironworker Employer: MC Industrial Public offices held: None...

Mark and Lisa Dambach of Jackson announce the engagement of their daughter, Lauren Elizabeth Dambach, to Travis Allen Grammer. He is the son of Eric and Robin Boyer of Cape Girardeau. Dambach is a 2005 graduate of Jackson High School. She is attending Southeast Missouri Hospital College of Nursing and Health Sciences. She is employed at Blockbuster Video in Jackson...

ANNA, Ill. -- Violet Cantrell, 96, of Anna died Saturday, Nov. 1, 2008, at St. Luke's Hospital in Chesterfield, Mo. Arrangements are incomplete at Crain Funeral Home in Anna-Jonesboro, Ill.

Name: Marvin McMillan Party: Democratic Birth: Oct. 6, 1949, Cape Girardeau. Spouse, children: Sharon McMillan; Amy Cattor, Jessica Ponder, Jon McMillan. Occupation: Truck driver. Employer: Ready Mix Concrete...

Name: Joe Allen Party: Democratic Birth: July 8, 1977; Mansfield, Mo. Spouse, children: Not married; none. Occupation: Attorney Employer: The Merrell Law Firm, city of Rockaway Beach, Mo. Businesses owned by candidate: Tri-Lakes Traffic Center, Tri-Lakes Enterprises LLC...

Name: Branden McCullough Party: Libertarian Birth: March 12, 1979; Cape Girardeau Spouse, children: Beth; none. Occupation: Teacher, Doctoral student in History Employer: Southern Illinois University -- Carbondale...

Name: Leo E. McElrath III Party: Republican Date of Birth: Jan. 23, 1949, St. Louis Spouse, children: Carolyn McElrath; Leo McElrath IV, 36, Eric McElrath, deceased. Occupation: Chief Deputy Bollinger County Sheriff Department Employer: Bollinger County Sheriff's Department...

Linnea Woldtvedt was all smiles after reaching her goal at Saturday's Ohio Valley Conference Cross County Championships. Competing in her hometown at the Cape Girardeau Jaycee Municipal Golf Course, Woldtvedt finished 14th to earn second-team all-OVC honors. Her time in the 5K race was 19 minutes, 31.3 seconds...

Name: Clint Tracy Party: Republican Birth: Jan. 1, 1974, Greenville, Ill. Spouse, children: Carissa; none Occupation: Timber buyer Employer: Timberline International Forest Products Inc. Businesses owned by candidate or spouse, all or in part: Bloom...

Name: Jo Ann Emerson Party: Republican Birth: Sept. 16, 1950; Bethesda, Md. Spouse, children: Ron Gladney; two adult daughters, five adult stepdaughters and an adult stepson. Occupation: Member of Congress Employer: Missouri's 8th Congressional District...

BELL CITY -- It's no secret that whenever and wherever Leopold plays, it brings with it one of the most boisterous local cheering sections in high school volleyball, led by student spirit leaders. Bell City libero Sherilyn Long said she is able to tune out the loud cheers...

Ayden Michael Thiele, 8 weeks, has gone to celebrate a heavenly homecoming with his Lord and Savior on Thursday, Oct. 30, 2008. Ayden was born Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2008, in Cape Girardeau, son of Joseph Thiele and Brittney Thomas, of Jackson. He brought into this world a special gift of love and happiness to his parents; his paternal grandparents Richard "Rick" Thiele, Judith "Judi" Ervin and husband Tim of Jackson; maternal grandparents Joan Thomas and Lamont Herron of Jackson; paternal great-grandparents Evelyn Thiele, Gordon (Martha) Feeney and Jacqueline Seeley, all of Jackson; maternal great-grandparents Wallace and Charmaine Thomas of McClure, Ill.; his aunts and uncles Corey, Jean, Tracy, Mark, Phillip, Jerri, Jeff, Alex, Danielle, Chrystie and husband Jeff Lefave; loving cousins Kiarra, Cole, Candace, Peddie, Austin and Preston, Paige, Mark and Kelli; great cousins, Mason and Aubri; and many other loving family and friends whose lives he touched.. ...

SEDGEWICKVILLE, Mo. -- Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Hahs of Sedgewickville recently celebrated their 30th wedding anniversary. Hahs and Debbie Jones were married Oct. 14, 1978, at Sedgewickville Lutheran Church. The couple has three children, Kristi (Milton) Hays, Jill and Julie Hahs, all of Sedgewickville. They have one grandchild...

Name: William "Rock" Finch Party: Independent Birth: Sept. 20, 1950, St. Louis Spouse, children: Rachel; Carrie, Molly Occupation: Insurance broker Employer: Self Businesses owned by candidate or spouse, all or in part: Marathon Benefits Group...

Clemon and Naomi Crain of Cape Girardeau will observe their 65th wedding anniversary Nov. 9, 2008. The celebration will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. Nov. 9 at the Family Life Center of Centenary United Methodist Church. Host is their daughter, Carolyn Crain...

Name: Charles M. Huey Party: Republican Date of Birth: Sept. 24, 1984; Sikeston, Mo. Spouse, children: None Occupation: Student and small business owner Employer: Self Businesses owned: Huey's Taxi Co...

BELLEVUE, Neb. -- Carl Foster, 87, of Bellevue died Thursday, Oct. 30, 2008. He was born May 25, 1921, in Bell City, Mo., the son of Jesse W. and Jesse Mae Wheeler Foster. He served as a navigator in the U.S. Air Force, retiring as a lieutenant colonel and World War II veteran. He was of the Methodist faith. As a young man, he was invited to try out as a pitcher for the St. Louis Browns...

ST. LOUIS -- Woodland cross country runner Corey Chapman has one goal next week when he runs at the Class 2 state meet in Jefferson City. "I just don't want to come in last," Chapman said. Chapman earned a spot at the state meet with a 15th-place finish at the Class 2 District 1 meet Saturday at Jefferson Barracks Park in St. Louis County...

Name: Ron McCormick Party: Republican Date of Birth: Aug. 27, 1957, East St. Louis, Ill. (Parents resided in Chaffee, Mo.) Spouse, children: Mindy McCormick; Adam, 30, Brandon, 26, Hanna McDonald, 22, Bailey McCormick, 18...

Ralph and Verneda LeGrand of Cape Girardeau celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary Oct. 11, 2008, with a Mass and renewal of vows at St. Mary's Cathedral, and a dinner and reception at the VFW Hall. Hosts were their children and spouses, Kathy and Randy McLain and Steve and Mary LeGrand of Cape Girardeau, Linda and Allan Lawson of Benton, Mo., Cheryl and Kevin Market and Amy and Rodney Edwards of Jackson...

Cape Girardeau The Cape Girardeau Police Department released the following items. Arrests do not imply guilt. DWIs n Lanna J. Kelle, 39, of Scott City was arrested on suspicion of driving while intoxicated, no proof of insurance and failure to maintain a single lane...

Carl "Gary" Lathum, 66, of Scott City died Saturday, Nov. 1, 2008, at Chaffee Nursing Center. There will be no public services. Amick-Burnett Funeral Chapel in Scott City is in charge of arrangements.

Name: Deborah Young Party: Democratic Birth: No answer given. Spouse, children: Married; two grown children Occupation: Community organizer, office manager, minister Employer: No answer Businesses owned: No answer...

Name: Shelley (White) Keeney Party: Republican Birth: June 24, 1979, Cape Girardeau Spouse's name: Matt Keeney Occupation: Former teacher at Leopold Schools, district assistant to Senator Jason Crowell and Representative Rod Jetton...

Name: Andy "Bud" Wiesner Party: Democratic Birth: Nov. 23, 1940, Allentown, Pa. Spouse, children: Bette, but goes by the name of Penny; Andrew J. Wiesner III, 45, Heidi-Jo Richardson, 43 Occupation: Retired Detective Lieutenant Supervisor...

Name: Rick Walter Party: Democratic Birth: Sept. 26, 1960, Chaffee, Mo. Spouse, children: Lisa Walter; Natalie, 23, Trent, 21, Seth, 18 Occupation: Scott County Sheriff Employer: Residents of Scott County Businesses owned by candidate or spouse, all or in part: None...

Sherry Rene Kuehn and Timothy James Davis exchanged vows Oct. 22, 2008, at Fred Ball Park in Tampa Bay, Fla. Sonia Garcia performed the ceremony. The bride is the daughter of Terry and Cindy Kuehn of Jackson. The groom is the son of James and Cheryl Davis of Riverview, Fla...

Name: Linda Sanders Party: Democratic Birth: Cape Girardeau Spouse, children: George, deceased; five grown children Occupation: Retired Public offices held: Chairwoman of State Democrat Committee; secretary of the Democrat Central Committee...

Name: Stephen M. Jordan Party: Republican Birth: June 4, 1958, Marble Hill, Mo. Spouse, children: Darlene; Chris, 27, Amanda, 25 Occupation: Truck driver Employer: Bo Co Coop Businesses owned: Farm, raising cattle...

Susan Elizabeth Brackin and Ronald Eugene Spooler were married Aug. 16, 2008, at Centenary United Methodist Church. The Rev. Jeff Long performed the ceremony. Liturgist was Mark Brackin of Cooter, Mo., brother of the bride. Beverly Reece of Cape Girardeau was organist and pianist...

Fall festival and dinner St. Joseph Parish of Apple Creek in Perryville, Mo., will hold a fall festival and buffet-style dinner with pork sausage, backbone and sauerkraut, chicken and dumplings and all the trimmings from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. There will be a country store. Discounted price for children 6 to 12...

Name: Wes Drury Party: Republican Birth: Sept. 1, 1961, Cape Girardeau Spouse, children: Connie; four children ages 21, 17, 14 and 7. Occupation: Investigator Employer: Scott County Prosecuting Attorney Businesses owned by candidate or spouse, all or in part: None...

SPRINGFIELD, Va. -- Warmed by the cheers of thousands, John McCain and Barack Obama plunged through the final weekend of their race for the White House, the Republican digging for an upset while his confident-sounding rival told supporters, "We can change this country."...

Name: Chester L. Hayes Party: Democratic Date of Birth: July 19, 1948, Poplar Bluff, Mo. Spouse, children: Not married; Shawn Hayes; Ginger Ossig Occupation: Public transportation driver Employer: Southeast Missouri Transportation Service...

25 years ago: Nov. 2, 1983 A man hired to guard documents of the plaintiffs' lawyers in the Westborough Mall federal lawsuit reports to police he was injured early today when someone threw a large fire extinguisher through a glass door of the office housing the papers; the man was cut on the forehead and arm...

JACKSON -- Saxony Lutheran senior Ross Gage and Oak Ridge junior Garret Light don't know each other very well off the cross country course. But on the course, they are quite familiar with each other. They frequently compete in the same meets and their head-to-head battles have gone back-and-forth as they enjoy similar talent...

WAYNESVILLE, Mo. -- Top leaders of Iraq's police forces are in southern Missouri, working with U.S. Army trainers in a bid to increase professionalism by Iraqi officers and give Americans a deeper understanding of Mideast cultural issues. The Fort Leonard Wood Army post routinely has foreign military personnel coming for specialized training, often in the Captains Career Courses for the engineer, military police and chemical corps programs...

Name: Robert Roland Party: Libertarian Birth: June 17, 1940, Poplar Bluff, Mo. Spouse, children: Lorene Roland; none Occupation: Environmental consultant Employer: Self-employed Businesses owned by candidate or spouse, all or in part: Roland & Associates...

Name: Donnie Kiefer Party: Democratic Date of Birth: March 15, 1959, Cape Girardeau Spouse, children: Mary Ann Kiefer; Morgan Swinford, 25, Mallory, 22, Madelyn, 18, Bailey McCormick, 18 Occupation: Mechanic/small business owner...

Theresa Elaine Hale and Thomas Andrew Hoffmeister were united in marriage Sept. 27, 2008, at Cape County Park. The Rev. Travis Clayton performed the ceremony. The bride is the daughter of Ron Hale and Joice Whitby of Cape Girardeau. The groom is the son of Carol Carter of Cape Girardeau, and the late Clarence J. Hoffmeister of St. Louis...

Christina Miskell and Matthew Tygett were united in marriage Oct. 11, 2008, at Navarre Beach, Fla. The Rev. Luther Rhodes performed the sunset ceremony. Music was by Linda McKinney and son, Jacob Long, of Jackson. The bride is the daughter of Angie Miskell of Jackson and John and Cathy Miskell of Cape Girardeau. The groom is the son of Anita Tygett of Cape Girardeau, and the late Dr. Tom Tygett...

ADVANCE, Mo. -- Sarah JoAnn Georger and Thomas Anthony McNutt were married May 3, 2008, at St. Joseph Catholic Church. The Rev. David Dohogne performed the ceremony. Music was by Trio Girardeaux. Parents of the couple are Gary and Helen Georger of Advance, and Tom and Mary McNutt of Barnhart, Mo...

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Some of the more than 75,000 Missourians who own small parcels of state land are upset with a proposal by the state to begin charging them for hunting permits that previously had been free. It's a change from a practice that has been in place since the mid-1980s, allowing residents who owned five acres or more to have free firearms and archery deer and turkey tags...

Daniels Daughter to Billy Gene Daniels and Natasha Lynn Sullivan of Cape Girardeau, Saint Francis Medical Center, 6:01 p.m. Monday, Oct. 20, 2008. Name, Faith LeAnn-Marie. Weight, 7 pounds, 14 ounces. Ms. Sullivan is the daughter of Theresa Sullivan and Ronnie Romans and James Hendrick of Cape Girardeau. Daniels is the son of Janet Lawrence and Ron Lawrence of Clarksville, Tenn...

Name: Scott C. Amick Party: Democratic Date of Birth: Sept. 27, 1957, Cape Girardeau Spouse, children: Not married; Brandon, 27, Britne, 24, Blake, 23. Occupation: Embalmer and Funeral Director at Amick-Burnett Funeral Chapels in Benton, Chaffee, Oran and Scott City...

Name: Billy Pat Wright Party: Republican Birth: March 17, 1937, Rector, Ark. Spouse, children: Linda Wright; Elaine, 41, Leah, 39, Laura, 37 Occupation: State representative, 159th District Employer: State of Missouri...

By Peg McNichol Southeast Missourian A series of escalating confrontations on South Hanover Street led to the shooting of a man Sunday evening. As police inspected a car damaged during the shooting and tried finding the victim as well as the gunman — both had left the scene — people living on the street fumed...

Husband-and-wife journalists Bob Miller and Callie Clark Miller use this space to offer their views on everyday issues. Here Bob offers his view on child rearing. HE SAID Taking care of a baby seems to me kind of like an election. Remember when Alaska Gov. ...

The Southeast Missouri State cheer squad performs for the crowd in a timeout during the Eastern Kentucky game.

While out on one of the trails at County Park, early on Saturday morning the sun came through a tree!

In the hours before Election Day, as inevitable as winter, comes an onslaught of dirty tricks -- confusing e-mails, disturbing phone calls and insinuating fliers left on doorsteps during the night. The intent, almost always, is to keep folks from voting or to confuse them, usually through intimidation or misinformation. But in this presidential race, in which a black man leads most polls, some of the deceit has a decidedly racist bent...

David Pepple, 76, of Chaffee, Mo., died Sunday, Nov. 2, 2008, at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. Arrangements are incomplete at Amick-Burnett Funeral Chapel in Chaffee, Mo.

25 years ago: Nov. 3, 1983 Cape Girardeau becomes the largest city in the state to be awarded the status of an All-Missouri Certified City; the announcement culminates a year-long process to meet the Community and Economic Development Department's tough criteria...

LOS ANGELES -- Five people were found shot to death Sunday in a homeless encampment obscured by heavy brush in the shadow of a Long Beach freeway, police said. Officers received an anonymous call Sunday morning and went to an area between several commercial buildings and freeway ramps. They found five dead adults, all of them gunshot victims, Long Beach deputy police chief Robert Luna said...

BOULDER, Colo. -- Boulder police have ticketed about a dozen people running naked on the street while sporting freshly gutted pumpkins on their heads as part of an annual Halloween event. The citations for indecent exposure Friday night came as dozens of other costumed revelers, including a man with a red cape and a sword, chanted to police officers to let go of the streakers and "find real criminals."...

Jane Stacy received a well-deserved moment in the spotlight during Southeast Missouri State University's Homecoming events last weekend. After helping to organize Homecoming for 35 years, she was recognized with an Alumni Merit Award and was selected to serve as the parade's grand marshal. A reception in her honor drew quite a crowd...

PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- The Narragansett Indian Tribe bought a 31-acre lot in 1991, saying it would be used for "economic development" and housing for the elderly and poor. However, the state of Rhode Island, fearing the tribe really wants to create a tax-free zone or build a casino, sued to block the Narragansetts from putting the land into federal trust, which would essentially free it from state and local law...

ST. LOUIS — Miroslav Satan had a goal and two assists, and the Pittsburgh Penguins snapped a three-game losing streak when they rallied to beat the St. Louis Blues 6-3 on Saturday night. Evgeni Malkin and Jordan Staal each had a goal and an assist for Pittsburgh. ...

YANGON, Myanmar -- Six months after Cyclone Nargis hit Myanmar's coastline, killing tens of thousands of people, aid groups say once-lagging relief efforts have picked up pace but the task of rebuilding and recovery is far from finished. Foreign aid staffers were initially barred from cyclone-affected areas and the ruling military junta was criticized for its ineffective response to the May storm. ...

ST. CHARLES, Mo. -- "Go Knights!" the squad yelled from the soccer field sidelines as they flew into the air in a flurry of kicks and quick jumps. The girls shook their shiny black pompoms furiously as the boys shouted into megaphones. In the back row, three of the cheerleaders were watching the rest of the squad closely. ...

ANNA, Ill. — Violet Cantrell, 96, of Anna died Saturday, Nov. 1, 2008, at St. Luke's Hospital in Chesterfield, Mo. Visitation will be from 1 to 3 p.m. Tuesday at Crain Funeral Home in Anna-Jonesboro, Ill. Services will be at 3 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home, with the Rev. Albert Nyland officiating. Interment will be in Anna Cemetery...

Preusser named senior credit underwriter David Preusser has been named senior credit underwriter for the Central Southern Missouri and Western Kentucky markets of Regions Bank. Preusser works at the branch at 407 N. Kingshighway in Cape Girardeau. He started his banking career with US Bank in 2003. He most recently served as credit underwriter and assistant relationship manager in the Cape Girardeau market...

HOUSTON -- Texas Tech may have knocked off No. 1, but the upset settled nothing in college football's toughest division. The Red Raiders (9-0, 5-0 Big 12) jumped to No. 2 in The Associated Press Top 25 and took control of the Big 12 South with their 39-33 win over then-top-ranked Texas on Saturday night...

The Sunday night sock hop at the Cape Area Family Resource Center, originally scheduled as an outdoor event and twice canceled by bad weather, may have been tripped up by sunny skies. Fewer than 50 people attended the dance. "First Hurricane Ike, and then a thunderstorm and here we are with a beautiful, almost 80-degree day in November," said Michelle Wallace, the resource center's executive director. ...

William F. "Bill" Miller, 77, of Anna, Ill., died Saturday, Nov. 1, 2008, at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. He was born Oct. 22, 1931, at Makanda, Ill., son of Everett and Eva Smith Miller. He and Joyce Treece were married Jan. 27, 1951, in Cobden, Ill...

Ryan Palmer made a 10-foot birdie on the 18th hole Sunday to break out of a six-way tie for the lead and win the Ginn sur Mer Classic, earning a two-year exemption on the PGA Tour. Palmer, who was at No. 143 on the money list with two tournaments remaining, had to call a penalty on himself and made bogey on the 10th hole, then took double bogey on the next hole with a tee shot into the water...

The Central boys swimming team finished ninth out of 16 teams Saturday at the Springfield Invitational. Sam Gramling led the way for the Tigers with a fourth-place finish in the 500 freestyle. He touched the wall in 4 minutes, 58.90 seconds. Central's 200 freestyle relay team was seventh in 1:36.49. Jordan Gramling, Trey Simpson, Sam Gramling and Caleb Coots comprised the team...

With a volatile stock market draining retirement savings from the bank accounts of seniors throughout the U.S., Larry Reiminger believes hope for some Southeast Missouri retirees lies in the reverse home mortgage. As a reverse mortgage consultant with Wells Fargo Home Mortgage, 1131 N. Kingshighway in Cape Girardeau, Reiminger travels to area senior centers, quilting shows, financial planning seminars and other events to spread his message...

TONGO, Congo -- Tutsi-led rebels tightened their hold on newly seized areas of eastern Congo on Saturday, forcing tens of thousands of civilians out of makeshift refugee camps and stopping some from fleeing to government-held territory. Aid organizations said they were worried about a lack of food and shelter...

In the Perry County Commission race, Republican candidate Tim M. Brewer is vying against Democrat Patrick J. Heaps for District 1 Commissioner. Heaps is no stranger to Perry County politics. He served as District 1 Commissioner from 2000 to 2004, and as vice president of the Perry County Democratic Committee...

WASHINGTON -- The government is investigating whether any laws were broken in the disclosure that Barack Obama's aunt was living in the country illegally. Obama's half-aunt, who is from Kenya, was ordered to leave the United States years ago after an immigration judge denied her request for asylum, a person familiar with the matter said late Friday. This person spoke on condition of anonymity because no one was authorized to discuss the case...

Willie Lee Harris, 60, of Cape Girardeau died Friday, Oct. 31, 2008, at his home. Visitation will be from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Friday at Ford and Sons Mount Auburn Funeral Chapel in Cape Girardeau. Funeral service will be at 1 p.m. Friday at the funeral home...

The Tigers remain in good position to win the Big 12 North. By STEPHEN HAWKINS The Associated Press WACO, Texas -- Chase Daniel was already getting into a defensive mode, ready to make a tackle if necessary. With Missouri tied with heavy underdog Baylor at 28-28 and only 2 1/2 minutes left, Daniel thought he had just thrown his third interception. But Jordan Lake, already with a pick, couldn't hold onto another one...

SIKESTON, Mo. — Carl Gary Lathum, 66, of Sikeston died Saturday, Nov. 1, 2008, at the Chaffee Nursing Center. He was born Oct. 4, 1942, in Sikeston, son of Ezra and Maxine Daugherty Lathum. He and Sharon Wright of Oran, Mo., were married May 15, 1962...

WASHINGTON After half a century as more of a curiosity than a convenience, passenger trains are getting back on track in some parts of the country. The high cost of energy, coupled with congestion on highways and at airports, is drawing travelers back to trains not only for commuting but also for travel between cities as much as 500 miles apart...

TAMMS, Ill. — James F. Thornton, 82, of Tamms died Saturday, Nov. 1, 2008, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. He was born on Sept. 24, 1926 in Jackson, Tenn., the son of Huey and Resse Mae Bell Thornton. He married Mary Abernathy on March 27, 1948. She preceded him in death on June 12, 2006...

WASHINGTON -- Elect Republicans or else. That's the final battle cry of struggling Republican candidates at the close of the election. They are warning that a victory by Barack Obama will give Democrats running the White House and Congress unfettered freedom to raise taxes, expand government -- and who knows what else -- in a time of crisis when checks and balances are most needed...

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Barack Obama and John McCain uncorked their get-out-the-vote operations in more than a dozen battleground states Sunday, generating millions of telephone calls, mailings and door-knockings at the end of the $1 billion campaign. Together, they'll spend about $8 per presidential vote...

BAGHDAD -- Iraqi leaders expect an American response to requested changes in a draft security pact soon after this week's U.S. presidential election, an aide to the prime minister said Sunday. Another Iraqi official said the U.S. indicated it would accept all the proposed changes except one -- greater Iraqi legal control over American soldiers and contractors...

The Tennessee Titans remained perfect -- even if they needed a little extra time to stay that way. Rob Bironas got a second chance at redemption in overtime, kicking a 41-yard field goal with 9:36 to go that kept the Titans the NFL's last unbeaten team with a 19-16 victory over the Green Bay Packers on Sunday...

FROHNA, Mo. — Rose Mary Schremp-Johns. 57, of Frohna, Mo., died Saturday, Nov. 1, 2008, at her home. She was born Oct. 25, 1951, in St. Charles, Mo., daughter of Alfred and Thelma Luebrecht Sachs. She married Randy J. Schremp on March 11, 1972. He preceded her in death Nov. 6, 1972...

LUBBOCK, Texas -- Texas Tech appeared well on its way to not just beating, but knocking around the nation's top team. Then, the Red Raiders let Texas off the hook. Down by 19 at halftime, the Longhorns got three touchdowns by early in the fourth quarter to pull within 29-26...

NEW YORK -- Critics are outraged that the nation's banks are using billions of dollars of federal bailout money to buy other banks instead of boosting their lending. But is that really such a bad thing? The official line from the White House is that the banks should use the $250 billion to make loans. If lending unfreezes, they say, that would help to stabilize the financial system...

Good driving I WAS in Cape Girardeau. A huge truck with this a big piece of equipment was pulling out of Southeast Missouri State University. There were all kinds of red flags and yellow lights. I followed the truck down Broadway. People were passing him on the right and on the left, and they were crossing the yellow line. ...

CHICAGO -- New research suggests pregnancy rates are much higher among teens who watch a lot of TV with sexual dialogue and behavior compared with those who have tamer viewing tastes. The new study is the first to link those viewing habits with teen pregnancy, said lead author Anita Chandra, a Rand Corp. behavioral scientist. Teens who watched the raciest shows were twice as likely to become pregnant over the next three years as those who watched few such programs...

SCOTT COUNTY, Mo. - A Sikeston, Mo., woman was injured Saturday afternoon as the vehicle she was driving ran off the right side of the roadway, traveled down an embankment and overturned off Route AA, according to the Missouri State Highway Patrol crash reports website. ...

NEW YORK -- The bloodletting in the stock market the past month is a reminder of why October is a hall-of-famer when it comes to crashes. For investors, October sits like a sharp curve in the road that must be approached with care. In good years, investors might grow nervous but ultimately pass safely, while in a year like 2008, October can be treacherous. But the month that brought the 1929 crash and 1987's Black Monday can also help change the stock market's fortunes...

A series of escalating confrontations on South Hanover Street led to the shooting of a man Sunday evening. As police inspected a car damaged during the shooting and tried to find the victim as well as the gunman -- both had left the scene -- people living on the street fumed...

Hoffman Daughter to Martin Gerard and Kimberley Rose Hoffman Jr. of Jackson, Saint Francis Medical Center, 2:49 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 23, 2008. Name, Katelynn Jane. Weight, 8 pounds, 11 ounces. Second daughter. Mrs. Hoffman is the former Kimberley Hutson, daughter of Jo Ann Dallas of Jackson, and Dwayne and Terry Hutson of Marquand, Mo. ...

Cape Girardeau Firefighters responded to the following calls Saturday: n At 6:28 p.m., alarm sounding at 1912 Broadway. n At 7:34 p.m., emergency medical service in the 200 block of Edgewood Road. n At 10:30 p.m., emergency medical service in the 2100 block of Brink Avenue...

Cape Girardeau The Cape Girardeau Police Department released the following items. Arrests do not imply guilt. DWI n Howard R. Tittle Jr., 46, 402 Vanderverter St., Kennett, Mo., was arrested on suspicion of driving while intoxicated, no operator's license and failure to maintain the right half of the roadway...

An accident on Highway 72 proved fatal for a Jackson girl on Sunday.At around 12:10 p.m. Sunday, authorities responded to a head-on collision on Highway 72 in Millersville.According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol crash reports website, Harvey E. ...

Though Jason "Parker" Crombie is not the young gnome's biological father, he still felt a special bond holding him for the first time. It was difficult, but he was able to send How-We out into the world to make a difference! "How-We LIVE UNITED" the advocacy gnome is traveling around town reminding people to Give, Advocate, and Volunteer locally. Look for more How-We pics on www.semissourian.com or www.unitedwayofsemo.org...

How-We is seen here hanging with his lifting buddy at HealthPoint Plaza. "How-We LIVE UNITED" the advocacy gnome is traveling around town reminding people to Give, Advocate, and Volunteer locally. Look for more How-We pics on www.semissourian.com or www.unitedwayofsemo.org...

A Nevada, Mo., man died in a one-vehicle accident which closed Lexington Avenue at Northchurch Street for the remainder of the afternoon....

Kevin Priester (Alliance Water) and Heather Brooks (City of Cape, Manager's Office) shown here doing some charitable hair spraying. The City of Cape Girardeau was celebrating the success of their United Way campaign which came in well over goal.

Lexington Avenue has reopened following a morning car accident that killed a Missouri man, Cape Girardeau police reported just before 4:30 p.m. A one-vehicle accident this morning resulted in downed power lines and the closure of Lexington Avenue at Northchurch Street for the entire afternoon...

Taken early morning on the River Campus

Old Town Cape and the Southeast Missourian sponsored a Halloween Blood Drive with the American Red Cross. The event was a great success with the help of many inluding the Sigma Phi Epsilon fratenity.

The park was just wonderful on Sunday.

The Southeast Missourian and Old Town Cape teamed up with the American Red Cross in a blood drive this past Halloween. 10/31/08

ST. LOUIS -- St. Louis' school superintendent Kelvin Adams starts his new job by meeting with students and staff at three city schools. The New Orleans native worked briefly in St. Louis two years ago. He started his new superintendent job Monday by observing at schools to better familiarize himself with the district...

<!-- /Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; @page Section1 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0; div.Section1 --> John McCain/Sarah Palin (Republican) — 11,563. ...

John McCain/Sarah Palin (Republican) — 3,971 Barack Obama/Joe Biden (Democrat) — 1,690 Bob Barr/Wayne A. Root (Libertarian) — 30Chuck Baldwin/Darrell Castle (Constitution) — 26...

HONOLULU -- Barack Obama's grandmother, whose personality and bearing shaped much of the life of the Democratic presidential contender, has died, Obama announced Monday, one day before the election. Madelyn Payne Dunham was 86. Obama announced the news from the campaign trail in Charlotte, N.C. The joint statement with his sister Maya Soetoro-Ng said Dunham died late Sunday night after a battle with cancer...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- A judge has refused to dismiss a lawsuit by a former aide to Gov. Matt Blunt claiming defamation and other wrongdoing in his September 2007 firing. Scott Eckersley, the former staff attorney in Blunt's office, sued the governor and four past and current staff members claiming he was fired for suggesting the governor's administration was destroying e-mails in violation of the state's record retention laws...

Cape Girardeau The Cape Girardeau Police Department released the following items. Arrests do not imply guilt. DWI n Lanna J. Kelley, 39, of Scott City was arrested on suspicion of failure to maintain a single lane, driving while intoxicated and no proof of insurance. ...

Violet Cantrell ANNA, Ill. -- Violet Cantrell, 96, of Anna died Saturday, Nov. 1, 2008, at St. Luke's Hospital in Chesterfield, Mo. She was born April 9, 1912, in Union County, Ill., daughter of Jefferson and Susie Fitzgerald Hankla. She and Charles Newton "Newt" Cantrell were married April 9, 1946. He died Nov. 18, 1980...

Natalie Ann Wood, 10, of Jackson joined her heavenly father Sunday, Nov. 2, 2008, at Saint Francis Medical Center. She was born April 2, 1998, in Orlando, Fla., daughter of Eddie and Maggie Whitener Wood. Natalie attended fifth grade at West Lane Elementary School in Jackson. She was on the A Honor Roll and sang in the choir...

LANDOVER, Md. -- Byron Leftwich led two touchdown drives after Ben Roethlisberger reinjured his throwing shoulder and the Pittsburgh Steelers beat the Washington Redskins 23-6 Monday night. The Steelers' top-rated defense had seven sacks, allowed only 221 yards and became the first team this season to intercept Jason Campbell...

Democrats prevailed again in Scott County, keeping the tradition of defeating GOP candidates as voters elected a Democrat by a significant margin in every one of the three local contested races. At the polls, county officials were predicting about a 75 percent turnout, but many of the 23 precincts in Scott County showed about 60 percent of registered voters were represented, said Mary Hopper at the county clerk's office...

Highly motivated voters are turning out in the anticipated droves to polls in several Southeast Missouri counties. "It's no secret. We knew and the voters knew it was going to be busy," said Sherri Lomedico, voter registration clerk in the Cape Girardeau County clerk's office. After Monday's intense absentee vote turnout, the clerk's office seemed almost quiet, with the exception of clerk's deputies answering questions phoned in by voters or precinct workers...

LEE'S SUMMIT, Mo. -- Democrat vice presidential candidate Joe Biden made a last-minute pitch for swing-state Missouri on Monday, vowing that he and Barack Obama would "re-establish the middle class" by focusing on job creation and helping homeowners facing foreclosure...

ADVANCE, Mo. — Ivan Henry Parker III, 84, of Advance died Sunday, Nov. 2, 2008, at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. He was born March 19, 1924, in San Francisco, son of Ivan Henry and Vivienne Sager Parker Jr. He and Doris G. Loida were married Nov. 20, 1953, in Marburg, Germany...

Posted at 11:15 a.m. NEW YORK (AP) _ Voting problems surfaced in several areas early Tuesday when people turned out in droves as presidential balloting commenced in the eastern United States, as long lines and malfunctioning machines greeted voters...

Calendar Today n Breast-feeding class: 3 to 4:30 p.m. in meeting Room 102 at Southeast Missouri Hospital. The class will cover topics such as the benefits and techniques of breast feeding, family involvement and support. To register, call 332-1587...

They work 15 or more hours without a break. Their pay is $100 for the day. And they must remain pleasant and helpful all day, regardless of whether the people they are helping are cheerful or abusive. Election judges have some of the most part-time of part-time jobs, working up to four, or perhaps five, days in a year. ...

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- An emotional Phillip Fulmer, with his wife at his side and tearful, angry players surrounding him, announced Monday that he had accepted Tennessee's decision that this will be his last season as the Volunteers coach. Fulmer, 58, is being forced out after 17 years as Tennessee's coach, a run that included a national championship. He has a 150-51 record with the Vols, including the 1998 NCAA title -- the school's first since 1951...

Lexington Avenue has reopened following a morning car accident that killed a Missouri man, Cape Girardeau police reported just before 4:30 p.m. A one-vehicle accident this morning resulted in downed power lines and the closure of Lexington Avenue at Northchurch Street for the entire afternoon...

MADERA, Calif. -- Authorities said Monday they have positively identified some of Steve Fossett's remains: two large bones found a half-mile from where the adventurer's plane crashed in California's Sierra Nevada. Madera County Sheriff John Anderson said DNA tests conducted by the state Department of Justice positively identified the bones as the remains of the millionaire aviator who disappeared last year...

We've implemented a quick fix to allow users to post comments again on seMissourian.com.The comment function was down much of the day due to problems with our hosting service. We hope the issue is now resolved...

Henry Frank Cruse Sr., 90, of Cape Girardeau died Sunday, Nov. 2, 2008, at Southeast Missouri Hospital. Lorberg Memorial Funeral Chapel is in charge of arrangements.

<!-- /Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; @page Section1 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0; div.Section1 --> John McCain/Sarah Palin (Republican) — 24,767. ...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin made a final-day campaign appeal Monday to Missouri's conservative center by tapping into fears of tax increases and terrorist attacks if Democrat Barack Obama were to win the presidency...

25 years ago: Nov. 4, 1983 An unsigned letter delivered to Dr. Leslie H. Cochran, vice president of academic services at Southeast Missouri State University, requesting a review of the athletic department has set the wheels in motion for that review...

DANA POINT, Calif. -- Baseball general managers began an offseason of economic uncertainty when they gathered Monday for their annual meeting -- at the same posh resort Rep. Henry Waxman criticized AIG executives for convening at following the company's government bailout in September...

ST. LOUIS -- Lines could be long, so be prepared to wait. The ballot questions will be many, so do your homework ahead of time. And don't forget to bring identification. Election officials hope those suggestions will help reduce wait times and eliminate problems for what is expected to be a near-record turnout on Election Day in Missouri...

To the editor: I would like to let people know of a corrupt legal system, for those who already didn't know. A 22-year-old boy is accused of a first-degree felony assault for defending himself. There were no weapons. The accused has never been in trouble before, yet his bond was set at $250,000. The so-called victim, age 25, was intoxicated, swung first and threatened to shoot the accused...

To the editor: This won't be anything new for those who know Mike Dumey and Robyn Hosp, but I wanted to write about the charitable hearts of these two wonderful and amazingly gifted people. After our mother died unexpectedly, my family and I found ourselves painfully aware of the almost cruel realization that life goes on. ...

SCOTT CITY -- Stephanie Essner is a bit of a talker. Whether it's on the court or in the huddle during a timeout, chances are the Scott City junior rarely will close her mouth during a volleyball match. "She always has something to say," Rams junior Brooke Simpson said. "Normally it's good. She's a good person. Usually it's sarcastic comments. It's usually random."...

Sunday's editorial, "Ballot issues," incorrectly referred to Constitutional Amendment 2, the amendment that would amend the Missouri Constitution to change provisions relating to the financing of storm-water control projects. It is Constitutional Amendment 4 on today's ballot...

Children can learn and have fun at the same time. That is the goal of the Discovery Playhouse, which is renovating a former furniture store at 502 Broadway in Cape Girardeau for the children's museum and hands-on activity center. The museum's board hopes the facility can open by early spring next year, but that depends largely on the generosity of donors who already have given $140,000 to the project...

LONDON -- It's a bona fide scandal. Britain's Latin and Greek aficionados are outraged at a decision by some local councils to veto the use of Latin words and phrases -- including bona fide, ad lib, et cetera and e.g. -- in official documents. The councils say Latin is no longer widely understood. But classicists say axing Latin phrases is an attack on the foundations of English -- the linguistic equivalent of "ethnic cleansing."...

CHAFFEE, Mo. — David Pepple, 76, of Chaffee died Sunday, Nov. 2, 2008, at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. He was born Aug. 6, 1932, in Bernie, Mo., son of David K. and Dessie M. Holt Pepple. He and Maxine Finch were married Aug. 8, 1954...

With just three games left in the season and Southeast Missouri State sporting a 3-6 record, it might be tempting for a coach to start building toward next year. Especially regarding the playing time of true freshman Matt Scheible, who is considered the Redhawks' quarterback of the future...

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- Already on probation, a Poplar Bluff man may face new charges after he allegedly fired shots Friday night in a residential neighborhood. "A witness came by the station and reported shots being fired by a guy named 'Bryce,' with a yellow shirt on," explained Poplar Bluff police chief Danny Whiteley. " They said there were approximately three shots fired from a black handgun, described as a revolver."...

BENTON, Mo. -- A Matthews, Mo., man was sentenced Thursday to life in prison for the 2006 shooting death of a Sikeston, Mo., man. Vincent Keith Minner was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for the murder of Michael Terry, whose death was ultimately caused by Minner shooting him on Nov. 5, 2006. Minner appeared before Judge Frank Conley in Boone County, Mo., where he had previously been granted a change of venue...

JAKARTA, Indonesia -- When Sri Murtiningsi asked her third graders what they wanted to be when they grew up, the answers ranged from doctors to a pilot. One boy in the class raised his hand: Barack Obama said his dream was to be president of the United States...

The Cape Girardeau School Board will hold a special meeting at noon today at 301 N. Clark Ave. Action items listed on the agenda are to approve a dental, term life and medical insurance plan and to approve a tax anticipation note. The insurance plans will become effective in January...

Saxony Lutheran scored a pair of goals in the first half and poured on five second-half goals in a 7-0 rout of Hancock in the first round of the Class 1 District 1 soccer tournament Monday. Garrett Fritsche had a goal in each half as the Crusaders improved to 17-7 and advanced to Wednesday's 6 p.m. semifinal game against the Bayless-Kennett winner at John F. Kennedy High School in Chesterfield, Mo...

Donald E. Caldwell Jr., 69, of Dutchtown died Sunday, Nov. 2, 2008, at Life Care Center in Cape Girardeau. He was born Dec. 28, 1938, in Cape Girardeau, son of Donald E. and Deana Thompson Caldwell. He and Elsie Underwood were married June 15, 1974, in Cape Girardeau...

Dangerous barrier THE MISSOURI Department of Transportation should have installed the crossover barrier in the middle of the I-55 median instead of on the shoulder. Since the crossover barrier was installed on the shoulder and within four feet of the left lane of the interstate, a vehicle hitting the barrier could easily be hit by another motorist on the interstate. ...

<!-- /Font Definitions */ @font-face mso-font-alt:"Century Gothic"; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:swiss; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:-1610611985 1073750139 0 0 159 0; /Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal margin-top:0in; margin-right:0in; margin-bottom:10.0pt; margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; @page Section1 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0; div.Section1 --> Proposition A on Tuesday's ballot is a straightforward, common-sense measure that benefits Missouri's economy and our schools - bringing more than $1.5 million annually in new revenues to Cape Girardeau County's public schools without increasing taxes on local residents. The facts are clear: Just two states impose no limits on the number of casino licenses or the precise locations of casinos: Missouri and Nevada. ...

A Chaffee, Mo., man faces a felony charge of animal abuse as a result of torture for allegedly starving an 8-month-old boxer puppy nearly to death. Ryan McGuire, 21, brought the dog to the Humane Society of Southeast Missouri on Oct. 18, hoping they would take the animal off his hands, according to a probable-cause statement...

Most of us probably consider ourselves to be reasoned voters. We pay attention to the issues — especially those that touch our lives personally — and we carefully assess the character of the person who is aspiring to be the leader of our beloved country. Right?...

Posted 3:40 p.m. KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) _ Turnout appeared on track to set records Tuesday despite a mixup with voter registration books in Kansas City and fraudulent text messages and "robo-calls" telling Democrats to stay home until Wednesday...

When it comes to the myriad risk factors that can contribute to heart disease, few things top LDL cholesterol. A true bodily evildoer, this bad-boy lipid hogs all the media attention as a potential cardiac killer. Meanwhile, triglycerides quietly accumulate in your bloodstream, systematically forming fat in your cells and wondering what havoc they must wreak to garner some notice. ...

TAMPA, Fla. -- Sen. Barack Obama radiated confidence and Sen. John McCain displayed the grit of an underdog Monday as the presidential rivals wrapped up their campaigns in battlegrounds from the Atlantic Coast to Arizona. "We are one day away from change in America," said Obama, the Democratic candidate...

The biggest race in Cape Girardeau County this year wasn't even close. Rock Finch, an independent backed by some of the biggest names in county Republican politics, lost to incumbent Republican Jay Purcell in the District 2 commission race. Purcell beat Finch 9,195 to 6,995...

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Enrollment at charter schools in Kansas City has increased by 15 percent this year as the city's public schools continue to lose students. This academic year, about 23 percent of school children in the Kansas City public school district are now getting their education at one of the city's 18 public charter schools...

The Cape Girardeau City Council on Monday approved a zoning variance for a new hotel, set employee insurance rates for the coming year and added its voice to a proposal to name Cape Girardeau County as an area with too much air pollution. Mayson Investments, owned by Rhodes 101 partner Jim Maurer and his son, Jeff Maurer, needed the special-use permit to allow construction of a four-story hotel on the southwest corner of an 11-acre site at Bloomfield Road and Mount Auburn Road. ...

Caring for a family member in your home who has Alzheimer's? Lutheran Family and Children's Services provides monthly support group meetings on Mondays. The next meeting is November 10 at 6:30 P.M. Shannon Kitchen from the Alzheimer's Association will give a presentation about the latest findings in research about the disease. ...

Highly motivated voters are turning out in the anticipated droves to polls in several Southeast Missouri counties. See the details and see a sample ballot and precinct list for Cape Girardeau County...

<!-- /Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; @page Section1 11.0in; margin:1.25in 1.0in 1.25in 1.0in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0; div.Section1 --> Initially filed at 7:15 a.m. ...

Voters waited patiently in lines for up to 45 minutes this morning, supporting pre-election predictions that this year's balloting in Cape Girardeau County would set records for participation and total voters.By just before noon, over 2,100 voters had cast ballots at two precincts voting at the Arena Building in Cape Girardeau. At 10:40 a.m., 905 ballots had been cast in Scott City...

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) _ Republican Rep. Jo Ann Emerson defeats Democrat Joe Allen to win re-election in Missouri's 8th Congressional District. The Associated Press declared Emerson the winner based on an analysis of current returns, voter turnout and previous voting patterns...

To the editor: A recent Speak Out comment stated concern over pulpit politics. It stated that pastors have no business telling us for whom we should vote. It stated that it's irresponsible for pastors to influence your vote, to support someone just because of a policy position, but to look at the whole picture...

It's no surprise Tyler Hansbrough made The Associated Press' preseason All-America team -- this is his record third straight year as its leading vote-getter. For the first time, however, the North Carolina forward was a unanimous selection. Joining Hansbrough on the team Monday were UCLA guard Darren Collison, also a repeat from last year's preseason team, Davidson guard Stephen Curry, Notre Dame forward Luke Harangody and Oklahoma forward Blake Griffin...

Pet Name: Lacy Breed: Miniature Schnauzer Adopted from local animal shelter Favorite Activity: Playing Fetch

Cape Girardeau Firefighters responded to the following calls Sunday: n At 6:11 p.m., emergency medical service at Bloomfield and Hanover streets. n At 6:47 p.m., emergency medical service in the 1100 block of Bloomfield Street. n At 11:55 p.m., emergency medical service in the 1700 block of Georgia Street...

BLOOMFIELD, Mo. — Two brothers from Dexter are being held in the Stoddard County Jail on charges of manufacturing methamphetamine. Terry Wayne Bollinger, 56, and his 54-year-old brother, Gary Michael Bollinger, were initially spotted Friday night around dusk by a Stoddard County sheriff's deputy inside their pickup truck, parked on the bank of the Castor River on Route AB near the rural community of Clines Island, situated northeast of Bloomfield. ...

<!-- /Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; @page Section1 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0; div.Section1 --> . ...

Sibley Daughter to Allen Neal and Sandra Denise Sibley of Cape Girardeau, Saint Francis Medical Center, 9:14 a.m. Monday, Oct. 20, 2008. Name, Miranda Denise. Weight, 6 pounds, 9 ounces. Fifth child, fourth daughter. Mrs. Sibley is the daughter of Denise and Joe Pinkowski of Lewes, Del. She is a pharmacy technician at Walmart Supercenter in Cape Girardeau. Sibley is the grandson of Webb and Helen Sibley of Matthews, Mo., and the late Michael Sibley. He is employed at Advanced Logistics...

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- The probe of a central Missouri funeral company accused of mishandling bodies continues to widen, with a state prosecutor saying as many as 60 families have viable complaints against the Warren Funeral Chapel. The Missouri attorney general's office sued the family-owned business in late July after state inspectors reportedly found a decaying woman's body stored in an electrical room for 10 months without being embalmed or refrigerated. ...

With just a short time to go before polls close, a spot check of nine precincts around Cape Girardeau showed that turnout was running from about 40 percent to as much as almost 60 percent. Cape Girardeau County Clerk Kara Clark had predicted that as many as 85 percent of the county's more than 51,000 voters would cast ballots today. All of the spot-checks were conducted before lines began forming with people returning from work...

WASHINGTON -- Election watchers won't have to wait for polls to close in the West to know how things are going. The first clues will come early, when voting ends in Georgia, Indiana and Virginia. If Democrat Barack Obama wins any of the three, he could be on his way to a big victory. If Republican John McCain sweeps them, he could be headed for a comeback. And if any of these three are too close to call quickly, that could indicate a long night ahead -- and, perhaps, a squeaker of a result...

A steady stream of people arrived at the Cape Girardeau County Clerk's office to file absentee ballots Monday. So many mistakenly walked into the county assessor's office, the deputy assessors working there posted a printed sign with instructions. But many people ignored the sign, and by 11:15 a.m. it was replaced with a hand-lettered notice in red marker that simply read "VOTE UPSTAIRS CLERK."...

BEREA, Ohio -- Joe the Football Player isn't ready to give up the game he loves. Cleveland wide receiver Joe Jurevicius, forced to sit out the 2008 season because of a serious staph infection in his surgically repaired right knee, plans to come back next season for his beloved Browns...

Southeast Missouri State junior Sarah Barth has been named the Ohio Valley Conference setter of the week for volleyball. Barth had 98 assists, 29 digs and 14 kills last week as the Redhawks went 2-0. She just missed a triple-double against Murray State with 58 assists, 20 digs and seven kills. She also set a career high with four aces. The Redhawks (11-11, 9-5) are tied for fourth place in the 10-team OVC as they have won four straight matches...

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- Tight end Chase Coffman sprained his left big toe in No. 13 Missouri's victory at Baylor, but said Monday he expects to play this week. Coffman set an NCAA career record for receptions by a tight end earlier this season and has extra incentive to play against Kansas State on Saturday night: It's the Tigers' home finale and his father -- former NFL Pro Bowl tight end Paul Coffman -- played for the Wildcats...

With over half the precincts reporting in Cape Girardeau County, incumbent Republican county commissioner Jay Purcell has a sizable lead over independent challenger Rock Finch in the race for 2nd District commissioner. With 26 of the county's 35 precincts in, Purcell leads Finch 8,685 to 6,672, making Purcell a sure winner of re-election. ...

SIKESTON, Mo. -- Should there be an emergency in Sikeston, residents can be notified quickly, thanks to a new system installed by the Sikeston Department of Public Safety (DPS). The "CodeRED" Emergency Notification System is an ultra high-speed telephone communication system that will allow the department to relay vital public safety information to the public, according to a news release from DPS. ...

As a prisoner of war, Edward Bender was forced to march more than a hundred miles during the bitterly cold winter of 1945. The Cape Girardeau native had been held at a German prison camp since April of the previous year, when a plane he was flying caught fire...

This photo was taken in Fruitland at 6:20 AM this morning when I arrived at 5:45 AM the line was longer than this!

Preliminary results from a national Associated Press exit poll of voters in Tuesday's elections: THE ECONOMY DOMINATES Six in 10 voters picked the economy as the most important issue facing the nation. None of four other issues on the list — energy, Iraq, terrorism and health care — was picked by more than one in 10...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) _ Democrat Jay Nixon, Missouri's longest-serving attorney general, won election as governor Tuesday by turning back Republican Congressman Kenny Hulshof. Nixon's win was based on an analysis of information from voters interviewed as they left the polling places. The interviews were conducted for The Associated Press by Edison Media Research and Mitofsky International...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- A refrigerator-sized piece of space junk fell harmlessly into the South Pacific Sunday night, according to NASA. The junk was a tank full of ammonia coolant on the international space station that was no longer needed. Astronaut Clayton Anderson discarded during a spacewalk in July 2007...

Southeast Missourian SCOTT COUNTY, Mo. -- A Sikeston, Mo., woman was injured Saturday afternoon as the vehicle she was driving ran off the right side of the roadway, traveled down an embankment and overturned off Route AA, according to the Missouri State Highway Patrol crash reports website. The 2000 Ford driven by Krystal A. Henson, 16, was totaled...

DETROIT -- U.S. auto sales dropped to their lowest level in more than 17 years last month as consumers stayed away from showrooms, prompting some auto company executives to predict dire consequences if the market doesn't improve. By the time all automakers reported their numbers Monday, sales had dropped 32 percent to just more than 838,000 vehicles, the lowest monthly sales figure since January 1991, according to Autodata Corp. and Ward's AutoInfoBank...

Content: Dear Sam: I am writing my first résumé. I have always been recruited for positions through my network and now I find myself in a new situation requiring development of a résumé. I think I know how to write about my experiences, and have been reading up on formatting and strategy, but what are some of the common mistakes you see in résumés that I should avoid? - Steve...

WASHINGTON -- Barack Obama swept to victory as the nation's first black president Tuesday night in an electoral college landslide that overcame racial barriers as old as America itself. The son of a black father from Kenya and a white mother from Kansas, the Democratic senator from Illinois sealed his historic triumph by defeating Republican Sen. John McCain in a string of wins in hard-fought battleground states -- Ohio, Florida and Virginia...

For five years the Zonta Club of Cape Girardeau has named women of achievement in the community, and this year's award again exemplifies the many outstanding accomplishments of the winner, Denise Stewart. Stewart was for many years the executive director of the Otahki Council of the Girl Scouts. ...

Ronnie W. Preyer, 47, of Cape Girardeau died Friday, Oct. 31, 2008, at Saint Francis Medical Center. He was born Aug. 4, 1961, in Millington, Tenn., son of Wallace and Hattie Jefferson Preyer. He and Kirsten Holland were married July 5, 2008, in Cape Girardeau...

DANA POINT, Calif. -- Listing some of the Wall Street firms that have fallen, baseball commissioner Bud Selig warned general managers about the national economy as they formally began their annual meeting Tuesday. Some club executives say teams have delayed setting budgets for payroll because they want to determine whether the economic downturn will change revenue projections...

GOMA, Congo -- Congo rejected a rebel warlord's demand for direct talks to solve the conflict that has left hundreds of thousands hungry and homeless in a mineral-rich eastern province. The rebels warned that the government's refusal Tuesday could lead to more fighting...

The story goes, according to one election observer in Jackson, that a woman brought her young daughter to the voting booth Tuesday. The mother filled out her ballot, handed it to the daughter and instructed the girl to put it into the machine to be counted. The girl did as instructed, and when the daughter did so, the mother said to her, "See there? We made history today."...

Henry F. Cruse, 90, of Cape Girardeau died Sunday, Nov. 2, 2008, at Southeast Missouri Hospital. He was born June 8, 1918, in Blytheville, Ark., son of Henry Frank and Lula C. Gilliam Crusel. He and Mary Ann Bohl were married 44 years. Cruse was a civil engineer. He had worked at the U.S. Air Force Base in Vandenburg, Calif. He was a member of American Legion Post 63 and VFW Post 3838 in Cape Girardeau, Retired Officers Association and Disabled American Veterans in Santa Maria...

Totals are for presidential, governor, lt. governor and county commission races only. President-vice president &lt;!-- /Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;; mso-fareast-font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;; @page Section1 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0; div.Section1 --&gt; John McCain/Sarah Palin (Republican) — 235 Barack Obama/Joe Biden (Democrat) — 92Governor &lt;!-- /Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;; mso-fareast-font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;; @page Section1 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0; div.Section1 --&gt; Kenny Hulshof (Republican) — 179 Jay Nixon (Democrat) — 132Lt. ...

VIENNA, Austria -- Oil prices made up some lost ground Tuesday after plummeting on mounting evidence of a U.S recession and waning Chinese demand. Monday's steep slide was precipitated by U.S. manufacturers reporting lethargic activity numbers for October. The Institute for Supply Management said its manufacturing index fell to 38.9, the worst reading in more than a quarter-century. Any reading below 50 signals contraction...

To the editor: The River Campus of Southeast Missouri State University is a treasure that has the promise of great community cultural advantage. That's why I was so disappointed in the Oct. 29 production of "Sister Mary Ignatius." The young actors put everything they had into the production, but the subject matter was insulting at best and sacrilegious at worst. ...

KABUL, Afghanistan -- Gen. David Petraeus, the new chief of the U.S. Central Command who is credited with turning the tide in Iraq, took a firsthand look at the war in Afghanistan on Tuesday. With U.S. deaths at an all-time high in Afghanistan and attacks against Westerners on the rise, Petraeus arrived from neighboring Pakistan on his first visit to the region since taking charge of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq...

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- A Florida school board voted late Monday night to keep the name of a Confederate general and early Ku Klux Klan leader at a majority black high school, despite opposition from a black board member who said the school's namesake was a "terrorist and racist."...

SAN FRANCISCO -- For nearly a year, six Chinese crew members on a ship that crashed into the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge -- creating the bay's worst oil spill in nearly 20 years -- have been detained by federal authorities. The sailors are being held as material witnesses in the crash of the Cosco Busan. The men, including four who are not accused of wrongdoing, are fighting for the right to return to their families in China...

LOS ANGELES -- Pete Carroll insists he doesn't understand how the BCS system works. He understands enough to know he doesn't like it one bit. "I think it stinks. I don't think it's the way it should be," Carroll said concerning how college football crowns its champion. "But all we can do is keep talking about it."...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Missouri's current attorney general claimed an early victory Tuesday in his governor race, but the race to replace him was far closer. With about three-quarters of the state's precincts reporting, Democrat Chris Koster led Republican Michael Gibbons by 28,000 votes. It was the state's first open attorney general race in 16 years because Democrat Jay Nixon skipped re-election to run for governor...

Michael David Monn will probably be celebrating Thursday. That's because Thursday is National Nachos Day and Monn is given to going overboard when it comes to arguably the most famous of Tex-Mex snacks. A few years ago Monn broke into a snack bar in his hometown of Marysville, Tenn., at 5 a.m. on a Sunday, stripped naked, covered himself in nacho cheese, and then scaled an 8-foot-high wall to return to his car where he was nabbed, no doubt with some difficulty, by police...

Southeast Missourian For the third night in a row, Cape Girardeau police received a call of gunfire near the 400 block of Hanover Street. Around 10:30 p.m. Tuesday, police responded to the area of Bloomfield and Hanover Street to a report of shots fired...

The Democrats lost their best chance to pick up a legislative seat in Southeast Missouri when Republican Shelley Keeney of Marble Hill parlayed her job as a district aide to House Speaker Rod Jetton into taking over his job. The GOP took a sweep of contested races in the area as all other area legislative seats have Republican incumbents who won easily or who faced only token minor party opposition...

Josh Compas scored two goals Tuesday to help Central to a 6-1 win over Poplar Bluff in a Class 3 District 1 tournament soccer semifinal contest. Dillon Huber, Zach Zaruba, Garrett Duncan and Michael Denmark each scored one goal for the Tigers (17-9)...

Cape Girardeau School Board members voted to eliminate the district's most expensive health insurance option and offer a health savings account plan at a special meeting Tuesday. The plans will go into effect in January. Even with the elimination, the district will pay 12.63 percent more for the core plan it offers employees at no charge. ...

DES PLAINES, Ill. -- Firefighters rescued a 23-year-old suburban Chicago man who spent nearly 24 hours trapped in a restaurant exhaust vent. Police would not say why the man was in the vent, which goes through the roof at the Little Amsterdam restaurant in Des Plaines. The restaurant closed in June...

NEW YORK -- It takes a lot of paper to raise a crane in New York City these days. On top of maintenance records and operator certification tests, engineers have to sign off before cranes are raised or dismantled. The city also requires documents that prove a safety meeting was held before work begins...

The Oct. 19 Perspectives page featured four political cartoons implying that Acorn voter registration in Missouri would lead to voter fraud. The Oct. 26 Perspectives page featured two cartoons predicting voter fraud in the presidential election. Please take a moment to consider the impact that these cartoons have upon this country. ...

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- Missouri linebacker Brock Christopher isn't one to say much on the field, but with his production as a three-year starter it's easy to see why he doesn't have to. With 34 career starts and 294 total tackles, the senior has always been the type to go about his business in a low-key manner...

Republicans claimed all the contested races in Bollinger County. In the 2nd District commission race, Republican Steve Jordan defeated his Democratic opponent Andy "Bud" Wiesner. With all 14 precincts in, Jordan showed an unofficial win by a vote of 2,470 to 964...

Willie Lee Harris, 60, of Cape Girardeau died Friday, Oct. 31, 2008, at his home. He was born July 14, 1948, in Marion, Ark., son of Sylvester and Mozella Bass Harris. Harris was a self-employed mechanic and lawn-care provider. Survivors include his ex-wife, Esther Williams of Marietta, Ga.; six sons, Willie Harris Jr. ...

Perry County experienced a hearty turnout in its 19 precincts, though not quite as high as they were predicting going into Tuesday's election, county officials said. Democratic candidate Patrick J. Heaps won 2,336 votes over Republican Tim M. Brewer's 1,733 votes in the District 1 Perry County Commission race...

Roy R. Skaggs, 95, of Cape Girardeau died Sunday, Nov. 2, 2008, at the Lutheran Home. He was born July 5, 1913, in Perry County, Mo., son of Raymond and Elizabeth McDowell Skaggs. He and Ruby A. Hand were married July 25, 1935. She died Nov. 29, 1986...

Cape Girardeau will be buzzing with young soccer players this weekend. The Cape Area Youth Soccer Association's 20th annual Fall River Rage Tournament will take place Friday through Sunday at the Shawnee Soccer Complex. Approximately 1,700 players -- boys and girls -- on 107 teams will participate in age divisions ranging from kindergarten through high school seniors...

25 years ago: Nov. 5, 1983 Hanging on to the pigskin for most of the second half, the Missouri-Rolla Miners post 17 second-half points to earn a 24-14 Missouri Intercollegiate Athletic Association victory over the Southeast Missouri State University Indians at Houck Stadium...

ST. LOUIS — The Rams placed wide receiver Drew Bennett and wide receiver/kick returner Dante Hall on injured reserve Tuesday, a day after coach Jim Haslett said both would be out for the season. Bennett broke his leg in the first quarter of the season opener and struggled in rehab efforts. Hall sustained a high ankle sprain in Sunday's 34-13 loss to the Cardinals...

ROTTERDAM, Netherlands -- It's not easy to keep a banana yellow. To get it to market ripe but unblemished by brown sugar spots takes careful timing, a slight fiddling with nature's rhythms and a delivery system that is increasingly computer-driven and technical...

WASHINGTON -- The financial world looked ahead Tuesday to a new president who will confront an economy beset by a housing slump and the worst financial crisis in 70 years, which has caused consumers and businesses to sharply reduce their spending. "He will inherit an economy that is in recession and ... is likely to get worse before it gets better," said Stuart Hoffman, chief economist for PNC Financial Services...

(All games start at 7 p.m.) CLASS 5 Jackson (5-5) at Chaminade (7-3) Last week: Jackson 27, Central 14; Chaminade 21, Webster Groves 13. Outlook: Jackson, the District 1 runner-up which is making its second straight appearance in the Class 5 playoffs, will play on the road against District 2 runner-up Chaminade tonight. ...

BUTLER COUNTY, Mo. -- An 11-year-old boy was taken by helicopter to a St. Louis hospital Sunday morning following a hunting accident. Hunter Ham and his 18-year-old cousin, Kelci Scott, were hunting at 7:30 a.m. on family property on County Road 569 when the accident occurred...

U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Emerson was never seriously challenged in her bid for a seventh term Tuesday, building on her 2006 margin of victory even as trends went against Republicans nationwide. Emerson had received 71 percent of the vote with 420 of 476 precincts reporting across the 28-county district. She carried every county that had reported by 11 p.m...

Think your cookies take the cake? The Southeast Missourian and its special publications are teaming up for a holiday baking blowout. Enter your favorite cookie recipe in our Holiday Best contest by e-mailing the recipe to she@semissourian.com. The best recipes will be selected by a panel of Southeast Missourian staffers and local food experts, with winners invited to bake and enter their cookies in the final stage of the contest. ...

WASHINGTON -- The Supreme Court spent an hour Tuesday talking about dirty words on television without once using any or making plain how it would decide whether the government could ban them. The dispute between the broadcast networks and the Federal Communications Commission is the court's first major broadcast indecency case in 30 years...

Offended by officers CAPE GIRARDEAU police officers were not prepared for Sarah Palin's visit. Two officers on bikes leading Palin from the Show Me Center down Lexington Avenue were yelling at motorists who had done nothing wrong. Vehicles pulled over, and they were still yelling. The leader nearly lost control of his bike in the process. If the police wanted everyone off the road, the smart thing to do would've been to block off where Perryville Road and Lexington meet...

GUANTANAMO BAY NAVAL BASE, Cuba -- A U.S. military jury sentenced Osama bin Laden's media specialist to life in prison for terrorism, a victory for Guantanamo prosecutors who painted him as a hardened al-Qaida operative during his war-crimes trial...

More than 13,500 voters have paved the way for Republican Paul Koeper to assume the role of 1st District Cape Girardeau County commissioner Jan. 1. Koeper's votes totaled 13,639 over the 5,514 received by Democrat Marvin McMillan. "I was humbled again tonight by the amount of people that came out in favor of me," Koeper said. "I'm ready to take ahold and go!"...

I am excited to pass along to you information about a new cookbook in our community. SADI, or SEMO Alliance for Disability Independence, has put together a cookbook, "Independently Cookin' with SADI," as a fundraiser. SADI is a community-based, not-for-profit, nonresidential independent living center that provides services to people with disabilities...

The Southeast Missouri State Student-Athlete Advisory Committee is participating in the Ohio Valley Conference canned food drive being held through Monday. Canned food and other nonperishable items will be collected at Southeast home athletic events this weekend...

MOREHOUSE, Mo. -- Lois Hughes, 78, of Morehouse died Saturday, Nov. 1, 2008, at her home. She was born Nov. 6, 1929, in Marked Tree, Ark., daughter of Edgar and Lydia Sorters Powell. She and Thomas Hughes were married in 1952 in Piggott, Ark. He died June 1, 1989...

Exciting things are afoot in the world of rugs: Wools and silks are sheared, sculpted, shagged and shaped into what may count as works of art, crafted in luxurious textures and rich hues. By nature, a carpet shares a kinship with an artist's canvas. It's up to homeowners whether to put these pieces on the wall or the floor...

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- Margaret E. Bachmann, 103, of Perryville died Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2008, at Independence Care Center of Perry County. She was born May 14, 1905, at Sereno, Mo., daughter of Ed and Louise Villhard Valleroy. She and Theodor M. Bachmann were married May 6, 1928. He died July 3, 1973...

CHARLESTON, Mo. -- Johnny Ray "Cotton Chopper" Lishman, 65, of Charleston died Sunday, Nov. 2, 2008, at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. He was born July 9, 1943, in Carroll County, Miss., son of Wheeler and Minnie Lou Blakely Lishman...

SIKESTON, Mo. -- Should there be an emergency in Sikeston, residents can be notified quickly, thanks to a new system installed by the Sikeston Department of Public Safety. The "CodeRED" Emergency Notification System is a high-speed telephone communication system that will allow the department to relay public safety information to the public, according to a news release from the department...

DONIPHAN, Mo. -- A Doniphan woman is recovering from a gunshot wound in a Cape Girardeau hospital following an incident Sunday that left her husband dead. Police have arrested the woman's 21-year-old stepson, Bryan Portwood Jr., on charges of first-degree murder, first-degree assault, unlawful use of a weapon and two counts of armed criminal action. Portwood is being held without bond at the Doniphan City Jail...

ST. LOUIS -- Cardinals pitcher Chris Carpenter had surgery Tuesday to transpose a nerve in his right elbow, the same procedure St. Louis slugger Albert Pujols had last month. The Cardinals did not say whether Carpenter remained on a timetable to return by spring training...

OMAHA, Neb. -- Nebraska officials say a 15-year-old girl dropped off at a hospital is the 27th child left under Nebraska's unique safe-haven law. Children and family services division director Todd Landry said in a statement Tuesday that the girl was left at a hospital in Omaha by her legal guardian Monday...

BollingerJason Crowell (Republican) — 3,683Linda Sanders (Democrat) — 1,935Cape GirardeauJason Crowell (Republican) — 24,290Linda Sanders (Democrat) — 11,528MadisonJason Crowell (Republican) — 2,778Linda Sanders (Democrat) — 2,069MississippiJason Crowell (Republican) — 2,497Linda Sanders (Democrat) — 2,438PerryJason Crowell (Republican) — 5,506Linda Sanders (Democrat) — 2,496ScottJason Crowell (Republican) — 10,304Linda Sanders (Democrat) — 6,842 . ...

BEREA, Ohio -- Derek Anderson answered the final question, bowed his head and stared blankly at the floor. He then walked slowly toward a door at the far end of Cleveland's locker room, pausing to exchange a fist bump with linebacker and fellow team captain Andra Davis on his way out...

To the editor: Dear Joe/Jane sign thief: This morning I saw that you had stolen the two Obama signs in our yard and those in our neighbors' yards. Initially, I was willing to write this off as typical Halloween mischief, until I realized that the McCain signs are still in yards across the road...

RENO, Nev. -- A storm dropped as much as 15 inches of snow in the Sierra Nevada, hastening the state of the ski season but bogging down traffic on mountain highways. The Boreal resort atop Donner Summit reported up to 15 inches of snow from late Monday into Tuesday, and said it hopes to open Thursday. Alpine Meadows resort north of Lake Tahoe reported as much as 14 inches of snow during the night, and hopes to open Nov. 26...

Roger Hudson will be Cape Girardeau County's treasurer for four more years. Hudson, a Republican, won the nod over Democratic challenger Deborah McBride Young, garnering 19,431 votes, more than double Young's 9.621, Hudson raised nearly 12 times the amount Young did, taking in nearly $12,000 in contributions compared to her $1,000...

TAIPEI, Taiwan -- China and Taiwan made history Tuesday with an agreement that allows planes and ships to travel directly across the Taiwan Strait -- the place where many have feared they would fight their next battle. Still, the Asian rivals appear far from resolving the root causes of nearly six decades of hostilities and distrust. The pact was possible because negotiators set aside thorny political disputes and only focused on trade and economics...

Cape Girardeau Firefighters responded to the following calls Monday: n At 9:31 p.m., emergency medical service in the 200 block of South Lorimier Street. n At 10:32 p.m., an alarm at 3145 Park Place Drive. n At 10:34 p.m., an alarm at 644 S. Spring Ave...

BELL CITY -- Sherilyn Long learned her lesson in seventh grade. Long decided to team with Codie Lancaster for drills and other games. Long realized that if you can't beat Lancaster, join her. "Oh, she is extremely competitive," Long said of Lancaster. "You don't want to win against her. If we're in the gym, she's going to win. That's her attitude...

JJEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — The Main-Spanish Commercial Historic District, along Main and Spanish streets in Cape Girardeau, and the Old Appleton Bridge are two of 15 sites being considered for nomination to the National Register of Historic Places...

Michael Landeros, from Benton Missouri and formerly of Chaffee, received the First Place Award and Best Acrylic in the 55th Annual Poplar Bluff Artist Guild. Landeros feels that the natural world is an inspiration to him. He said he hopes to express to those who view his paintings that everthing in life is beautiful. You can view more of Michael's paintings and for future showings of his artwork, visit his website at www.landerosgallery.com...

Well go figure! The sun came up this morning just as it has every day. The world may have changed, but it didn't end. And regardless of your feelings this morning, I would suspect everyone agrees that the end of this long, maddening campaign comes as welcome news...

Cape Girardeau police responded to a shooting Tuesday night on Bloomfield Street near South Hanover Street, said Sgt. Barry Hovis, spokesman for the police department. Two men, one a teenager, were wounded in Tuesday's incident; Hovis said not much more is known at this time...

"Repo! The Genetic Opera" is easily one of the worst movies of the year, if not all time. This goth garbage isn't clever enough to be "Sweeney Todd" and it isn't campy enough to be "The Rocky Horror Picture Show" — it's not even worthwhile in a culty, midnight-movie way. ...

A beutiful wolf that i took a picture of.

SIKESTON- The Christian Women's Luncheon group of Sikeston and the surrounding area gathered Monday, November 3rd at La Villetta Restaurant, Sikeston for lunch, fellowship, and an encouraging word given by Ava Huffstutler. Ava, a former librarian, opened her testimony in the reading of a poem which was the beginning of her message; God's love, absolute knowledge and forgiveness. ...

We go all out every year on Halloween. This is our front porch right before the trick-or-treaters arrive.

Fall at Mingo

Landon and Layton Hahn look at their 4 sets of twins this Fall with their dad Lance and Grandpa Larry Hahn

Fall at Mingo

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- As the nation tips toward Democrats, Missouri apparently still hangs in the balance. Republican John McCain held a small lead Wednesday over Democratic president-elect Barack Obama in Missouri, bucking a national trend in which Obama turned red states blue while Democrats added to their majorities in Congress...

Overlooking private lake from our front porch.

Cape Girardeau The Cape Girardeau Police Department released the following items. Arrests do not imply guilt. Arrests n Michael L. Perry, 30, 327 S. Spanish St., was arrested on suspicion of domestic assault. n Tiffany A. Tippen, 25, of East Prairie, Mo., was arrested on a warrant for probation violation and an Imperial, Mo., warrant for driving while suspended...

Live Music Ivas John Band Southern Illinois blues Where: Water Street Lounge, Port Cape When: 8 p.m. to midnight today Tipping Holly Instruments you don't normally see. Music you'll want to hear again. Where: Rude Dog Pub...

WASHINGTON -- Fighting irrelevance and a ticking clock, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice embarked Wednesday on yet another Middle East peacemaking trip, hoping to secure fragile Israeli-Palestinian negotiations and leave a viable process for the President-elect Barack Obama's administration...

The long dry season of mediocre films is over. Clint Eastwood's new film "The Changeling" will pick up Oscar nominations for best film, best director, best actress, production design and costumes. Only moments after the opening credits I wrote in my notebook "heavy." The word was shorthand for a seriousness not often seen in modern films. ...

The effort was unprecedented for Cape Girardeau County and Southeast Missouri. U.S. Sen. Barack Obama's presidential campaign opened an office in May on Broadway, more than two months before he was officially named the Democratic Party nominee. Office staff and volunteers were packing up Wednesday after organizing dozens of volunteer teams, signing up thousands of new voters and using every resource to make sure those newly registered voters went to the polls...

STE. GENEVIEVE — Senior quarterback Kory Faulkner created a lot of trouble for the Perryville defensive secondary Wednesday. And Perryville caused a lot of trouble for itself with early mistakes. Faulkner, who is generating interest from several Division I college programs including Southeast Missouri State, completed 27 of 36 passes for 293 yards and four touchdowns, plus ran for two scores and caught one...

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Voters in the swing state of Missouri set new voting records but failed to meet turnout projections. Secretary of State Robin Carnahan's office reports a record 2.9 million ballots were cast in Tuesday's general election. But the nearly 70 percent of eligible voters casting ballots fell short of the projections of 76 percent...

Listen to advice THIS IS regarding the comment about chip and seal. We were warned about potential problems before we even put it down. Perry County tried it and had bad results. Even though we had that information, the powers that be decided to go ahead and put the cheaper stuff down. Now it's costing more because the crews have to keep repairing it. County officials, take information before you make a decision. If you would have listened, we wouldn't be in this pickle...

ARTifacts Tickets for the laugh man on sale @SL_body_copy_ragged:Tickets for Jerry Seinfeld's stand-up comedy show go on sale at 10 a.m. Saturday. Yadda, yadda, yadda Seinfeld will be at the Fox Theatre for a 7 p.m. show Feb. 7. Tickets are $81, $66 and $51 and available at the Fox Box Office, MetroTix outlets or by calling 314-534-1111. Order tickets online at www.metrotix.com...

Borders Daughter to Joshua Leonard Borders and Amy Victoria Wooldridge of Cape Girardeau, Southeast Missouri Hospital, 3:17 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 26, 2008. Name, Alyssa Lynn. Weight, 7 pounds, 11 ounces. Ms. Wooldridge is the daughter of Jeanne Wooldridge of Jackson. She is a customer service representative at National Asset Recovery Services. Borders is the son of James Borders of Paducah, Ky. He is majoring in education at Southeast Missouri State University...

This is our new "furbaby" Rowdy, he is so playful and really lives up to his name!

RALEIGH, N.C. -- An airline crew used duct tape to keep a passenger in her seat because they say she became unruly, fighting flight attendants and grabbing other passengers, forcing the flight to land in North Carolina. Maria Esther Castillo, 45, of Oswego, N.Y., is due in court today, charged with resisting arrest and interfering with the operations of a flight crew aboard United Airlines Flight 645, from Puerto Rico to Chicago...

taken in dennis scivally park 11-4-08

This is along Cape Rock Drive, a pretty contrast of colors

A Cape Girardeau man was injured earlier this morning as the vehicle he was driving near Trail of Tears State Park ran off the right side of the roadway and overturned, according to the Missouri State Highway Patrol crash reports website. ...

SIKESTON, Mo. — Highway 74 in Cape Girardeau County will be reduced to one lane while MoDOT crews perform concrete repairs, starting at 9 a.m. Friday. This section of road is located between the intersection of Sprigg Street and Fountain Street in Cape Girardeau...

There is the legend of Sweeney Todd. There is also the Tim Burton-directed film with Johnny Depp in the title role, and then there is the Stephen Sondheim stage musical, "Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street," which will be performed at the Bedell Performance Hall at the Southeast Missouri State University River Campus...

Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder of Cape Girardeau was the only Republican to escape a Democratic sweep of statewide offices in Tuesday's election, a victory he said showed the value of reaching out to minorities and other traditionally Democratic voting blocs...

LOS ANGELES -- In a defeat for the gay-rights movement, California voters put a stop to gay marriage, creating uncertainty about the legal status of 18,000 same-sex couples who tied the knot during a four-month window of opportunity opened by the state's highest court...

Willard D. "Bill" Myers, 93, formerly of Jackson, died Monday, Nov. 3, 2008, at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. He was born Oct. 9, 1915, son of Marion and Addie Dickman Myers, at Old Appleton. He and Wilma Biri were married Sep. 25, 1940, in Benton, Mo...

CLAYTON, Mo. - The first-degree murder trial of a 15-year-old southeast Missouri boy is postponed.Owen Welty of Bloomfield, Mo., was set to be tried Monday in St. Louis County on a change of venue. ...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) -- Missouri Republicans were swept out of nearly every statewide office, but they increased their majority in the Senate and held on to power in the House. Going into the election, Republicans held 92 of the 163 seats in the House, where it takes 82 members to control the chamber. Half of the 34-member state Senate also was up for election, where Republicans held a 20-14 advantage over Democrats...

Cape Girardeau police responded to a shooting Tuesday night on Bloomfield Street near South Hanover Street, said Sgt. Barry Hovis, spokesman for the police department. Two men, one a teenager, were wounded in Tuesday's incident; Hovis said little else is known...

Norman Cook, 72, of Jackson died Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2008, at the family home in Jackson. He was born Jan. 5, 1936, in Bessville, Mo., son of Henry Lee and Luddie Iona Garland Cook. He and Doris Jean Leadbetter were married Sept. 1, 1956. Cook was a maintenance worker at Deal Nursing Home in Jackson. He was formerly of Marble Hill, Mo., and a member of Hurricane Fork General Baptist Church...

Less than 2 hours away The Fox Theatre, St. Louis For the first time in more than 25 Years, Pink Floyd's legendary rock opera "THE WALL" is being presented live in concert and in its entirety — performed by the talented tribute band The Australian Pink Floyd Show. ...

25 years ago: Nov. 6, 1983 Gerald Gibson, president of Mid-South Christian College in Senatobia, Miss., is the guest speaker for the Fall Celebration and Renewal Weekend at New Testament Christian Church. An organ dedication and recital are held in the afternoon at First Presbyterian Church; Dr. Gary Miller, church organist and assistant professor of music at Southeast Missouri State University, presents the recital...

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- Mabel E. Buchheit, 84, of Perryville died Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2008, at Independence Court. She was born May 5, 1924, in Kingston, N.Y., daughter of Willis and Anna Clapper Warren. She and August H. Buchheit were married Nov. 6, 1944, at Camp Upton Long Island, N.Y. He died Dec. 21, 2007...

Those with a thirst for community theater will have one last opportunity to see a performance before the River City Players Group calls it curtains on another season. The group's final performance this season will be "Charming Billy," described as a comedy about "dogs, fleas and family."...

The Southeast Missouri University Foundation has received a partial payment of $2 million from the estate of Wilver W. Wessel to benefit the Wilver W. and Dolores H. Wessel Scholarship awarded to students in the Donald L. Harrison College of Business...

ST. LOUIS -- Burned by Steven Jackson's ineffective play coming off a thigh injury last week after the running back insisted he was ready, St. Louis Rams coach Jim Haslett said Wednesday he'll go with untested backups until Jackson proves it on the field...

Donovan McNabb grew up in Chicago never believing he would see a black man become president. Perhaps that was one reason why the 31-year-old Philadelphia Eagles quarterback didn't register to vote until this election. McNabb, though, had met Barack Obama, believed in his ideas and supported his policies. Watching Obama deliver his victory speech at Grant Park brought back all sorts of memories...

Southeast Missouri State University president Dr. Ken Dobbins will update business leaders on the progress of the institution at the monthly Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce First Friday Coffee on Friday at the Show Me Center. The program will begin at 7:40 a.m. and is sponsored by CPU Inc. and the Southeast Missourian...

Dr. Gerald McDougall, dean of the business college at Southeast Missouri State University, was named interim vice president for university advancement Wednesday. He will also serve as the interim executive director of the university's foundation. McDougall temporarily replaces Wayne Smith, who accepted a job at Saint Francis Medical Center. ...

SCOTT CITY — Running back Raphael Jones recently emerged as Malden's go-to guy. Scott City's defense bottled up the little fellow, generously listed at 5 foot 6. The problem for the Rams is that the Green Wave attacked through the air. Malden passed for 138 yards and one score as the Green Wave beat the Rams 24-8 in their Class 2 football regional Wednesday. The Rams finished the season 4-6...

Willie Lee Harris, 60, of Cape Girardeau died Friday, Oct. 31, 2008, at his home. He was born July 14, 1948, in Marion, Ark., son of Sylvester and Mozella Bass Harris. Harris was a self-employed mechanic and lawn-care provider. Survivors include his ex-wife, Esther Harris of Marietta, Ga.; six sons, Willie Harris Jr. ...

David Wayne Barks, 67, of Cape Girardeau died Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2008, at Missouri Veterans Home. McCombs Funeral Home in Cape Girardeau is in charge of arrangements.

Otis and Frankie showing off their new Halloween costumes waiting for treats!!!

Breakfast Tuesday was a banana and a thing of yogurt. I had a macaroni dish and peaches and cream for lunch and a salad for dinner. I'm not counting calories. I'm counting my blessings. The Food and Agriculture Organization published a report in September that said 923 million people in the world were hungry. Not growling stomach hungry, but undernourished, begging for bread, actually starving hungry...

The partners in Cape Girardeau's DREAM Initiative will hold an open house from 5 to 7:30 p.m. today at the new home of the Children's Museum at 502 Broadway. Representatives of Old Town Cape, city government and the Cape Girardeau Area Chamber of Commerce will be available to answer questions about the initiative, a state-sponsored program that provides planning assistance and priority in grants to revitalize the core areas of smaller cities across the state. ...

ALLEN PARK, Mich. -- The Detroit Lions tried to be coy about how much Daunte Culpepper practiced Wednesday and whether their new quarterback will play just days after signing. In the locker room, though, it seemed obvious Culpepper is expected to make his Lions debut against the Jacksonville Jaguars...

On Saturday, the high-definition broadcast from the Metropolitan Opera will be John Adams' Dr. Atomic. The performance will begin at noon at the Town Plaza Cinema. The encore broadcast will be at 7 p.m. Nov. 19. The opera tells the story of Robert Oppenheimer, the mastermind of the Manhattan Project, which developed the atomic bomb. ...

In a world of crowded, loud and generic lunch stops, the Marquette Restaurant and Bar serves as a throwback to times when a meal was relaxing and service was personal. They also serve up original dishes for both dinner and lunch with a "rustic American" flavor, according to general manager Jay Holiman...

Two Arkansas residents were injured this morning in a two-car accident on Interstate 55, according to the Missouri State Highway Patrol crash reports website.The accident occurred five miles north of Fruitland at around 6 a.m. ...

The First Friday Art Walk will have soundtrack to accompany it starting Friday. A group has reserved the Marquette Terrace for concerts to be held the first Friday of each month, coinciding with the art walk downtown. The Wrights, who appeared at Old Towne Cape's Tunes at Twilight series June 13, will be the inaugural performers for the new First Friday music series...

Anyone who has driven by the Cape Girardeau Public Library on Clark Avenue has seen the shape of things to come. The old library building has been replaced by a much larger structure that, when completed early next year, will offer library users dozens of options...

James Stapleton believes that for students to survive in today's competitive global market they must develop an entrepreneurial mindset. To help his students, Southeast Missouri State University's Center for Entrepreneurial Studies -- where Stapleton is director -- has launched a yearlong initiative to help collegians of all majors and others in the community further their innovation skills...

Sport can't cause a society to change course suddenly, the way this earthquake of an election can. Instead, like an aftershock, sport produces ripples that nudge people in a different direction. It's far from the biggest reason Barack Obama was swept to the threshold of the White House late Tuesday night. The civil-rights movement, political realities and the inclusion of blacks in the military had much more to do with making race matter less in this presidential season...

Miss is a very happy little dog, her owners Dean & Norma Renz take her for lots of walks and Missy always looks like she is smiling, and everyone that she greets smiles too !

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Basking in victory after years of campaigning, governor-elect Jay Nixon plans to spend some time focusing on football and fishing before launching an effort to expand government spending on health care and college scholarships. Nixon on Wednesday claimed a voter mandate for an "agenda of progress for Missouri," topped by reversing the 2005 Medicaid cuts, enacting a tuition-free college grant program and expanding job opportunities...

MARSHALL, Mo. — In a Jackson County court proceeding Wednesday, Judge Marco A. Roldan handed down a life sentence to Joshua C. Walden, 28, of Warsaw, Mo., for the murder of Steve A. Ford in October 2006.Walden also will serve a concurrent sentence of 30 years on a related charge of armed criminal action.Wednesday's sentencing was the result of a plea agreement that reduced the original charge of first-degree murder to second-degree murder.In his testimony Wednesday, Walden said he shot Ford, "3 or 4 times," when the two argued at Ford's home. ...

CREVE COEUR -- Drew Bucher and the Jackson football team went from the thrill of what seemed like certain victory to the agony of what looked like defeat, back to victory in a span of about 30 minutes Wednesday night in a 38-30 double-overtime win at Chaminade...

I am always amazed at how beautiful and yet aggressive these birds are. KC Game Bird Farm is owned and operated by Kyle Cook just outside Gordonville, MO. on Hwy 25. You can see this bird and hundred more in a wide variety of breeds on Kyle's Farm.

The following letter was written late Saturday night and put in the mail Sunday after Wendy and I attended the theater at the River Campus: Dear Gary Miller, Robert Cerchio, Rhonda Weller-Stilson, Ken Stilson, Robert Dillon, President Dr. Ken Dobbins:...

A very tiny snail , found in the garden of Margie Suedekum on a warm fall day.

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- An attorney representing Gov. Matt Blunt against a lawsuit over access to his office's e-mail records urges a state trial judge to dismiss the case. The lawsuit is being pursued by a bipartisan team of lawyers selected by Cole County Judge Richard Callahan. ...

For 17 years, Model United Nations has turned high school students into delegates tasked with fostering world peace and stability. Participants are assigned countries, which they must research to determine positions. Sessions follow actual UN procedure and the simulation is meant to be as authentic as possible.Each year about 350 students from across Southeast Missouri and Southern Illinois attend. ...

Photo taken in Capaha Park

Nov. 6, 2008 Dear Julie, Millennials is the sci-fi-sounding label that has been placed on the generation now coming of age. They are being studied and analyzed, and not just by advertisers who covet their dollars. People who do what I do, advise and teach college students, have been trying to figure them out as if they were intergalactic travelers, aliens suddenly making themselves at home on planet Earth...

WASHINGTON -- President-elect Barack Obama is facing a Congress with bulked-up Democratic majorities in both the House and Senate to put much of his agenda into law. Obama will inherit a Congress with Democratic House and Senate majorities comparable to those enjoyed by President Clinton when the party last controlled both Congress and the White House in 1992. ...

MEXICO CITY -- A fiery plane crash into rush-hour traffic claimed the life of Mexico's most powerful official after the president, a heavy blow to the government's escalating battle against drug cartels. Officials say all indications are that the crash was an accident, but they vowed to investigate thoroughly to rule out the possibility of an attack and brought in U.S. and British investigators to help...

The Cape Girardeau County road and bridge advisory board is asking for $2.5 million to put hard surfaces on 14 miles of roads in 2009. Proposition 1 funds will provide less than $1.5 million; the board has suggested a few other funding sources. County commissioners learned Monday the advisory board hopes to add nearly $1 million to the budget, drawing from the $305,000 FEMA reimbursement to the county's highway department's work after the ice storms and floods this year; an estimated $225,300 in interest earned on the account for Prop 1 and the county's emergency fund; and $340,000 in excess Prop 1 money from the county sheriff's department.. ...

As the price of gas at Kidd's dipped below $2, motorists reading the sign from the afternoon traffic on Broadway swung into the parking lot toward the pumps. The price dropped to $1.99 around 1 p.m. Thursday, about a nine-cent decrease in the past 24 hours, a clerk at Kidd's said...

The Saxony Lutheran boys soccer team defeated Bayless 2-1 in two overtimes Wednesday to advance to the championship game of the Class 1 District 1 tournament at John F. Kennedy High School in Chesterfield, Mo. Ross Gage and Andrew Etzoldt scored the goals for the Crusaders (18-7)...

NEW YORK — Age is no issue for Greg Maddux when it comes to fielding his position. The 42-year-old pitcher won his record 18th Gold Glove on Wednesday while outfielder Shane Victorino of the World Series champion Philadelphia Phillies was among five first-time winners in the National League...

Michael Crichton, the million-selling author who made scientific research terrifying and irresistible in such thrillers as "Jurassic Park," "Timeline" and "The Andromeda Strain," has died of cancer, his family said. Crichton died Tuesday in Los Angeles at age 66 after privately battling cancer...

DEXTER, Mo. -- Robert L. Scherer, 75, of Dexter died Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2008, at his home. He was born Aug. 3, 1933, in Heagy, Mo., son of Fred Joseph and Mary Elizabeth Sanders Scherer. He and Mona Jones were married Feb. 5, 1953, at Dexter. Scherer was a retired farmer. He was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Dexter, Knights of Columbus and Bell City, Mo., Rotary Club. He was a 1951 graduate of Bell City High School...

BELL CITY -- Senior Sherilyn Long has played just about everywhere. She has been moved from libero to outside hitter back to libero over the past two seasons. Back on her junior high school team, when she was a seventh-grader, Long won the offensive player award as a star middle hitter...

NEW YORK -- A case of postelection nerves sent Wall Street plunging Wednesday as investors looked past Barack Obama's presidential election and returned to fears of a deep and protracted recession. The Dow Jones industrials fell nearly 500 points, and all the major indexes tumbled more than 5 percent...

Beautiful fall foliage towers over the vineyard at Broken Oak.

STE. GENEVIEVE — Valle Catholic expected a much tougher test from St. Vincent than what the Indians presented the first time the teams played. St. Vincent delivered Wednesday. Valle and St. Vincent slugged it out in a first-round Class 1 playoff game that hung in the balance entering the final period...

I live in Memphis and I travel frequently by car to visit family in Columbia and Cardinals in St. Louis. Like many readers who pass the Cape Girardeau exit on the Interstate, I find a stop at Royal N-Orleans Restaurant to be de rigueur. Other than that, however, my knowledge of Cape Girardeau has been severely lacking...

Alma E. "Nonna" Petrucci Dombrowski of Wilmington, Del., passed away peacefully Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2008, at St. Mary's Health Center in St. Louis. Nonna was beloved wife of Stanley A. Dombrowski, with whom she shared 59 years of total happiness; loving mother to S. Cordell Dombrowski and wife Ann of Cape Girardeau; Cindi Dombrowski of Wilmington; Alan F. Dombrowski and wife Donna of St. Louis; sister to Mae Messina, Eva Saienni and Josephine Mace, all of Wilmington...

Forget the annual fall comedy at Notre Dame Regional High School this year. When the house lights go down tonight, students will be tackling a genre much deeper and darker. "And Then They Came for Me: Remembering the World of Anne Frank" tells the story of two Holocaust survivors: Frank's boyfriend, Ed Silverberg, and Frank's friend and neighbor, Eva Schloss. Students say they have been haunted by scenes...

The challenges facing the United States are large: two wars, an economic meltdown, partisan rancor within our federal government and an ongoing concern about terrorism, just to name a few. The policy debates about how to best address these concerns will be complicated, and the recent campaign often provided more heat than light in offering solutions. ...

NEW YORK -- Christie's is auctioning a handwritten copy of the 1864 speech Abraham Lincoln delivered at the White House after being re-elected in the midst of an unpopular Civil War both he and his opponents believed might cost him his job. The four-page manuscript, which remained in the family's hands until 1916, will be sold on the bicentennial of Lincoln's birth on Feb. 12, 2009, the auction house announced Thursday. It is expected to fetch more than $3 million...

SIKESTON, Mo. — Highway 74 in Cape Girardeau County will be reduced to one lane while Missouri Department of Transportation crews perform concrete repairs starting at 9 a.m. today. This section of road is between of Sprigg and Fountain streets in Cape Girardeau. Weather permitting, the work will be done by 4 p.m. Saturday. Call the MoDOTS's Customer Service Center toll-free at 1-888-275-6636 for details.�...

MILWAUKEE — Anheuser-Busch Cos Inc. saw its third-quarter profit drop nearly 6 percent because of charges related to its pending sale to InBev, but revenue rose as it raised prices on the majority of its brands and gained market share. The brewer, like its rivals including Molson Coors Brewing Co., is seeing sales slump in some countries such as Britain. But in the U.S. the taste for beer is growing...

SCOTT CITY -- The Scott City volleyball team is trying to follow in the footsteps of the school's baseball team. The Rams baseball players won the school's first team state title in May. That team suffered one loss all season. The Rams volleyball team enters today's Class 2 state tournament with one loss and will try to bring home the school's first state title in a girls team sport...

UNIONTOWN, Mo. -- Herbert A. Kramer, 86, of Uniontown died Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2008, at Perry County Memorial Hospital. He was born Sept. 4, 1922, at Frohna, Mo., son of Ernst and Martha Vogel Kramer. He and Wilma A. Reisenbichler were married Aug. 17, 1947. She died June 28, 2002...

TEHRAN, Iran -- Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Thursday congratulated Barack Obama on his election win -- the first time an Iranian leader has offered such wishes to a U.S. president-elect since the 1979 Islamic Revolution. An analyst said Ahmadinejad's message was a gesture from the hard-line president that he is open to some sort of reconciliation with the U.S...

Cape Girardeau has lost one of its best fund-raising experts, and another is moving from one side of town to the other. Bill Kiel, vice president of development at Saint Francis Medical Center, has taken a similar position with Foote Health System in Jackson, Mich. In his 11 years at Saint Francis, Kiel helped raise $7.5 million for the Saint Francis Foundation...

Cape Girardeau County's retail sales tax figures for the first 10 months of 2008 reflect an increase of $4,681 over last year -- just eight-tenths of a percent, but county officials are smiling over it. "We're doing much better," said Cape Girardeau County Treasurer Roger Hudson. "A lot of counties are way behind."...

Gene Benthal Sr., 67, of Cape Girardeau died Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2008, at Southeast Missouri Hospital. Visitation will be from 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday at McCombs Funeral Home in Cape Girardeau. The funeral will be at 11 a.m. Monday at the funeral home.

Stay healthy I'M A big believer in personal responsibility. Let's continue to raise taxes on tobacco products and alcohol. And with the epidemic of obesity in this country, why not take it a step further and tax those who are 50 pounds overweight or more? These three types of people are slowly killing themselves. ...

SCOTT CITY -- The first time coach Haley Jennings watched foreign exchange student Anna Laitinen hit a volleyball, she knew her already talented team was even better. "We had her hitting," Jennings said. "Me and my sister were like, 'Oh, my God.' It's like we have a great team together, but this is just going to be an added bonus."...

To the editor: After reading John Blackwell's letter in the Missourian, "Let's have tax breaks for seniors," I couldn't agree with him more. Most of us have worked most of our lives and paid school taxes all those years. Our children are all grown and out of school. ...

It's something my 4- and 5-year-old boys do each time we come home from the grocery store. They grab the box of cereal, rip it open and pour out the cereal to discover the hidden toy inside. The good news, you can use science to move the toy from the bottom of the box to the top...

The Southeast Missouri University Foundation has received a partial payment of $2 million from the estate of Wilver W. Wessel to benefit the Wilver W. and Dolores H. Wessel Scholarship awarded to students in the Donald L. Harrison College of Business. ...

Willard Basil Crites, 86, of Scott City died Thursday, Nov. 6, 2008, at Missouri Veterans Home in Cape Girardeau. He was born Sept. 7, 1922, at Dutchtown, son of Elmer Dale and Dorothy Katherine "Mom" Grojean Crites. He first married Sarah Jane Dickerson May 1, 1947. She died July 25, 1968. He then married Mildred Pinkston Wolfe April 29, 1972. She died Jan. 9, 1997...

ANNA, Ill. -- Candy Michelle Ashline, 34, of Anna died Thursday, Nov. 6, 2008, at the Union County Hospital in Anna. She was born March 8, 1974, in Carbondale, Ill., daughter of Michael K. and Mary Bracken Batson. She and Glenn Ashline were married March 13, 1992...

25 years ago: Nov. 7, 1983 Two Cape Girardeau businessmen were honored Saturday for their work with Boy Scouting; the Silver Beaver, the highest honor that can be given a volunteer leader in Scouting by a local council, went to Pat Tlapek; the Award of Merit went to Ron Grebing...

ORAN, Mo. -- Ethel Lee "Ann" Evans, 67, of Oran died Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2008, at her home. She was born Jan. 11, 1941, in Fayette County, Ala., daughter of Bersie Lee and Clara May Tucker Tidwell. She and Larry Evans were married Aug. 31, 1974, at Matthews, Mo...

Taylor Palmer plays the lead role in Notre Dame Regional High School's fall production of "And Then They Came for Me: Remembering the World of Anne Frank." The play, which started Thursday and continues today and Saturday at 8 p.m., uses video from two friends of Anne Frank to tell their experiences during the Holocaust. The students act out flashbacks and scenes described on the screen...

To the editor: I was disappointed to learn that Michael Winder, candidate for state representative in the 156th District, had conceded his race to Shelley Keeney. The Republicans ran a bitter, negative and misleading campaign against Winder, which included manipulating facts from Project Vote Smart's 2006 candidate survey, prompting Project Vote Smart to condemn their actions, but that's not the only trick the Republicans had up their sleeve. ...

The DREAM Initiative is still alive, even if the governor who gave it life has only two months left in office. One of the signature programs of Gov. Matt Blunt's administration, the DREAM, or Downtown Revitalization and Economic Assistance for Missouri, Initiative awards money to smaller cities across Missouri for surveys and planning help. The program also puts those cities on a priority list for economic development grants and tax credits...

CARBONDALE, Ill. -- Patricia Kay Simpson, 57, of Carbondale died Monday, Nov. 3, 2008, at her home. She was born Aug. 9, 1951, daughter of Eugene and Edith Spiceland Simpson. Simpson was a 1970 graduate of Cairo High School in Cairo, Ill. She was a member of University Baptist Church and vacation Bible school volunteer...

By 11:30 a.m., delegates had discussed cyberterrorism, genocide in Darfur and the war in Afghanistan, and were moving on to Russia's relationship with Georgia. "Russia is suggesting peaceful negotiations with separatist movements. It's hypocritical. They used military power and invaded," said Michael Limbaugh, a United Nations delegate representing Libya...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Democratic governor-elect Jay Nixon stood in a show of unity Thursday with newly chosen Republican and Democratic legislative leaders and pledged to work together -- though not on any specific agenda. Nixon met for about a half-hour with the top Republican and Democratic officials from each legislative chamber. They then appeared at a brief news conference in which Nixon did all the talking...

Cross country coaches Mark Hahn of Central and Bill Davis of Notre Dame agree about one thing on their approach to Saturday's state cross country meet: The race really doesn't begin until the first mile is in the books. While Hahn will be checking the watch to see what kind of pace his girls are running in the Class 4 race, Davis will be more concerned with where his boys stand in relation to the rest of the Class 3 pack...

Boyd Son to Morris Enos Boyd and Ashley Elizabeth Schermerhorn of Jackson, Southeast Missouri Hospital, 5:16 p.m. Monday, Oct. 27, 2008. Name, Jaiden Terrial. Weight, 7 pounds, 2 ounces. Ms. Schermerhorn is the daughter of Christine Schermerhorn and Eric Schermerhorn of Jackson. Boyd is the son of Alice Combs of Cape Girardeau and Frank Boyd of St. Louis...

Two Cape Girardeau men face felony assault charges after allegedly beating another man in what Missouri law considers a "hate crime," said Cape Girardeau County Prosecuting Attorney Morley Swingle. Shaun J. Cole, 30, of 2826 Whitener St., and Eric L. Frymire, 22, of 611 W. Washington Ave., were arrested and charged Thursday with third-degree assault-hate crime as a result of an incident that occurred Aug. 31...

According to an old song, one is the loneliest number. But for Cape Girardeau County motorists, one is a happy number. Gas prices slipped below $2 a gallon at several area retailers Thursday, following a downward trend that had already sent prices to that figure and below in many locations across the state. And for Cody Sandusky, the cashier at the Cash Only station on East Jackson Boulevard in Jackson, that means smiling customers...

SCHOLARSHIPS n Jessica Riley of Kelly High School received a MAP Scholarship to attend Southeast Missouri State University next year. n Natalee Glastetter of Oran High School received a Missouri Leadership Award to attend Southeast Missouri State University next year...

Edward Bernard Gallery will donate the November "Gallery Giveaway." A glass candlestick will be given away this month. Patrons of the arts can get a sheet from any of the seven participating galleries, get a stamp from each gallery and turn the paper in by Nov. 30 for a chance to win the candlestick. Participating galleries are Edward Bernard Gallery, Westray Gallery, Garden Gallery, Crisp Museum, Global Cafe, Arts Council of Southeast Missouri and The Artist Studio...

WASHINGTON -- A fresh wave of bad economic news, including a half-million Americans newly out of work and the weakest October retail sales in nearly 40 years, pummeled the stock market Thursday, driving the Dow Jones industrials under 9,000 again, with a two-day decline of 10 percent...

David Wayne Barks, 67, of Cape Girardeau died Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2008, at Missouri Veterans Home. He was born Oct. 26, 1941, in Cape Girardeau, son of Raymond and Wilma Heider Barks. He and Shirley Jean Moore were married April 6, 1968. She died Oct. 9, 2006...

Edward A. Schwent Jr., 75, of Cape Girardeau passed away Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2008, at St. Luke's Hospital in Chesterfield, Mo. He was born Feb. 15, 1933, in St. Francois County, son of Edward A. and Bertha Link Schwent. He and Rosemarie Schwab were married Dec. 17, 1955, in Flat River, Mo...

Judith Ann Staires, 66, of Scott City died Thursday, Nov. 6, 2008, at Life Care Center in Cape Girardeau. She was born Dec. 4, 1941, in Bonne Terre, Mo., daughter of Arvil D. and Ada Dunwoody Link. She married Bill Staires. Staires had been an assembly line worker at LeeRowan...

Walter "Jack" Jackson, 76, of Cape Girardeau died Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2008, at Fountainbleau Lodge. He was born July 20, 1932, in St. Louis, son of James Wilford and Nellie Sprous Jackson. He and Mary McFall were married March 6, 1959, in St. Louis. Jackson served in the U.S. Army...

KIWANJA, Congo -- Villagers who fled fighting in this rebel-held town trickled home Thursday to find the bodies of more than a dozen men in civilian clothes in and around mud huts -- and accused rebel leader Laurent Nkunda's forces of the slayings...

Pope meets Muslim scholars, urges better ties VATICAN CITY -- Christians and Muslims must overcome their misunderstandings, Pope Benedict XVI told Muslim clergy and scholars Thursday as he pressed for greater freedom of worship for non-Muslims in the Islamic world. ...

Mary Lou Reid, 71, of St. Charles, Mo., died Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2008, at Fairwinds River Edge in St. Charles. She was born Jan. 24, 1937, in Cape Girardeau, daughter of Donald and Deana Thompson Caldwell. She and William Robert Reid were married Dec. 27, 1969, in St. Louis...

TAMMS, Ill. -- The Capaha Bank branch in Tamms was robbed at gunpoint Thursday afternoon. According to a statement released by the Illinois State Police, two men and possibly two accomplices, fled in a black sport utility vehicle with tinted windows. The men left with an undisclosed amount of cash...

JACKSON -- Seckman's Jake DiMaio saw an errant pass and pounced on the mistake. He worked the ball past the goalie and buried a shot into the open goal. The Jaguars added a second goal and held on for the 2-1 victory over Central to claim the Class 3 District 1 boys soccer title Thursday...

The Notre Dame boys soccer team defeated host Hillsboro 3-0 on Thursday and moved within a victory of the Class 2 District 1 title as it pursues its third straight state championship. The Bulldogs improved to 20-4 and moved into today's 6 p.m. championship game against De Soto in Hillsboro...

NEW YORK — Hollywood and Bollywood rarely meet. But in the new film "Slumdog Millionaire," the two international epicenters of filmmaking find an unusually fruitful cinematic union. The connection comes by way of British director Danny Boyle, who shot the film in Mumbai, India, with a cast of mostly Bollywood and local nonprofessional actors...

By John V. Mackel In recent months, there has been much talk of health coverage, and Barack Obama has committed to a new third-party system equal to the congressional plan for those currently not covered. I will call this Obamacare. Accessing this new plan would be an estimated 47 million people without coverage and an additional 50 million who have inadequate coverage with excessive deductibles, co-pays and exclusions, totaling 97 million people. ...

Friday n New movies "Beer for My Horses" Rated PG-13 @ Cape West 14 Cine, today to Sunday "Madagascar Escape 2 Africa" Rated PG @ Cape West 14 Cine "Religulous" Rated R @ Town Plaza Cinema "Role Models" Rated R @ Town Plaza Cinema...

CHICAGO -- Barack Obama is signaling a shift in tactics and temperament as he moves from candidate to president-elect, picking sharp-elbowed Washington insiders for top posts. His choice Thursday for White House chief of staff -- Rahm Emanuel, a partisan who doesn't mind breaking glass and hurting feelings -- is a significant departure from the low-key aides that "No-Drama Obama" surrounded himself with during his campaign. ...

BELL CITY -- Last year was supposed to be Bell City's year. Not much was expected of the Cubs volleyball team this year. That's how this year's team likes it. "Everybody thought we wouldn't go anywhere," Bell City senior Bethany Chilton said. "We're a class that likes to prove people wrong."...

If, during those hectic final days of election season, you were paying any attention to what was going on in your own backyard, you surely were impressed by the colorful display of falling leaves. This is leaf season. For a lot of folks, this means raking leaves into huge piles -- and them jumping into them, often to find out a pile of leaves isn't always as soft as the mattress on your bed. But it's fun, so a few bumps and bruises are OK...

Notre Dame won the SEMO Conference boys swim meet Thursday at Southeast Missouri State University. The Bulldogs finished with 392 points, and were followed by Jackson (311) and Central (302). Central's Sam Gramling was selected meet MVP, winning the 200 and 500 freestyles and a member of the Tigers' winning 200 freestyle relay. Gramling won the 500 in a conference-record time and the 200 relay qualified for the state meet...

ANAHEIM, Calif. — Ryan Getzlaf scored two goals, including a 190-foot shot into an empty net, and Jonas Hiller made 31 saves for the Anaheim Ducks in a 5-2 victory against the St. Louis Blues on Wednesday night. Rob Niedermayer, Teemu Selanne and Corey Perry also scored for the Ducks, who have earned 17 of a possible 18 points in their last nine games (8-0-1)...

Two artists with a flair for spontaneity will be awarded the Arts Council of Southeast Missouri's most esteemed honor today. Dodie Eisenhauer, who uses screen wire as a medium, will be honored with the 2008 Dingeldein Award for Excellence. The award is named after council founder Otto F. Dingeldein and recognizes people who have made significant, culture-enriching contributions to the art community...

ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- The lowly stick could be a magic wand, a knight's sword or a fishing rod. Now the universal plaything has landed in the National Toy Hall of Fame, along with Baby Doll and the skateboard. The three were chosen Thursday to join the lineup at the Strong National Museum in Rochester. Previous inductees include the bicycle, Mr. Potato Head, Crayola crayons and the cardboard box...

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- Entering his third season at Missouri, Mike Anderson finally believes it's truly his team. Two of Anderson's stalwarts are holdovers from the Quin Snyder era, high-scoring 6-foot-9 forward Leo Lyons and 3-point specialist Matt Lawrence. Most of the rest, including five freshmen, are players he recruited with designs on plugging them into his pressing system...

Cape Girardeau Police responded to a shooting at around 7:20 p.m. today. Witnesses said they heard 20 to 30 shots fired at a home in the 1500 block of Rand Street. The suspect fled north on foot. More information will be available later on semissourian.com...

KENNETT, Mo. -- Two individuals from Kennett play key roles in a newly published book called "Wayne County's Lost River Settlements." The title refers to the forgotten settlements of Chaonia, Center Ridge, Kime, Ojibway, Bethl and Taskee that were submerged by the rising waters of Lake Wappapello. Only a few people can still recall the names of the evicted farm families who were forced to flee to adjoining counties, said author Cletis Ellinghouse of Puxico, Mo...

Three southeast Missouri men face charges for violating Missouri’s new law restricting the actions of convicted sex offenders on Halloween.Cape Girardeau County prosecutor Morley Swingle announced the misdemeanor charges Friday against 30-year-old Terry Greable of Jackson, 59-year-old Armando Torres of Cape Girardeau, and 40-year-old Sammy Sweaney of Cape Girardeau.Swingle says all three failed to comply with the provision requiring that they post a sign outside their home stating that no candy would be given out. ...

"Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa" epitomizes the best and the worst of what animated filmmaking has become in an era dominated on the one hand by ever more sophisticated computerized imagery and, on the other, by the grasping, increasingly grating desire to be hip...

The main phone line for the Cape Girardeau Police Department, 335-6621, has been repaired and is back in service, according to Sgt. Barry Hovis, department spokesman. It was out for an unspecified reason between for approximately 30 minutes this morning...

My Black german shepherd dog Sally stands out beautifully against fall's colorful backdrop in Bollinger County.

With freshmen enrollment steadily increasing and a new residence hall on the horizon, President Ken Dobbins believes the sky is the limit for Southeast Missouri State University.And Dobbins believes much of that success is due in part to Southeast Missouri's relationship with the community."In my 28 years of involvement in higher education, I've never been at a university with such an outstanding relationship with a town and community," Dobbins told business leaders at the monthly First Friday Coffee at the Show Me Center in Cape Girardeau. ...

The Cape Girardeau Fire Department responded to call at 7:26 a.m. today of smoking appliances inside a kitchen at Saint Francis Medical Center. When crews arrived at the scene, hospital maintenance workers had unplugged the appliances. Capt. Billy Crump reported no damage to the kitchen....

My German Shepherd Blackjack strikes a perfect pose while hiking through the woods aka "our backyard" along the Crooked Creek. The sunlight was hitting him just right and the fallen colorful leaves were surrounding him. If you look over the right of him you can see The Crooked Creek far below the rock cliffs...

UNITED WAY REACHES 30% OF GOAL As the temperature drops all across the state, one local group is very happy to see their thermometers rising. The United Way campaign goal thermometers across Cape Girardeau and Jackson have finally crept up to the 30 percent mark...

The football teams at Southeast Missouri State and Murray State share one major theme entering today's game in Murray, Ky. Both squads feature third-year coaches trying to build up floundering programs. While progress appears to have been made in each camp, wins have not come as frequently as either coach would like...

During a recent road trip, my husband and I took the longest route to our destination. Riding and watching the scenery are always awesome. Although others can't always understand the mystery, beauty and majesty I see, I've learned to stop trying to explain it and simply store the magnificence inside...

PETIONVILLE, Haiti -- A hillside school where roughly 500 students usually crowded into several floors collapsed during classes late Friday morning, killing at least 30 people and injuring many more. Rescuers used bare hands to pull bleeding students from the wreckage...

CLAYTON, Mo. -- The first-degree murder trial of a 15-year-old Southeast Missouri boy has been postponed. Owen Welty of Bloomfield was set to be tried Monday in St. Louis County on a change of venue. But Circuit Judge John Ross' office said Thursday that the prosecutor and defense attorney are seeking a new trial date...

Sachse Son to Tom Lee and Cheryl Ann Sachse of Friedheim, Saint Francis Medical Center, 11:45 a.m. Friday, Oct. 24, 2008. Name, Jon McKinley. Weight, 7 pounds, 5 ounces. Third son. Mrs. Sachse is the former Cheryl Hacker, daughter of Earl and Delores Hacker of Uniontown, Mo. She is a cook at Independent Care Center. Sachse is the son of Edith Sachse of Oak Ridge, and the late Grover Sachse. He is a technician at Procter & Gamble...

HILLSBORO -- Notre Dame senior Brock Dirnberger used the space between him and the DeSoto defender to juke a little to his left and shake a little to his right. There was no defensive help coming, and Dirnberger read the defender's every move as he raced closer to the goal...

Dr. Charles E. DeFelice, 68, of Cape Girardeau died Friday, Nov. 7, 2008, at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau of chronic lymphocytic leukemia complicated with hemalytic anemia. He was born June 7, 1940, in Hagerstown, Md., the son of Phillip and Frances (Bonebrake) DeFelice. ...

MANCHESTER -- Saxony Lutheran's third-year boys soccer program has its first district championship. Andrew Etzold scored two goals and goalkeeper Bryant Steffens recorded the shutout in the Crusaders' 2-0 win against top-seeded host Kennedy on Friday night in the Class 1 District 1 title game...

Three area Presbyterian churches have stepped forward to make a difference in the lives of others. The Global Mission Committee, made up of representatives from First Presbyterian Church in Jackson and First Presbyterian and Westminster Presbyterian churches in Cape Girardeau, have held an authentic Cuban dinner for the last four years to raise funds for a sister church in Matanzas, Cuba...

LAS VEGAS -- O.J. Simpson was denied a new trial Friday by the Nevada judge who presided over his conviction in the gunpoint robbery of two sports memorabilia dealers in a Las Vegas hotel room. Clark County District Judge Jackie Glass said challenges raised by lawyers for Simpson and co-defendant Clarence "C.J." Stewart did not rise to the level of granting another trial...

Change is a fact of life. Some of us adjust well to it; others collapse under it. Some changes are brought about by our own decisions and actions. Psychologists have discovered the most stress creating circumstances are changes for good. Choosing to go back to school, taking that new job, buying a new car or house, saying "I do" -- all are exciting, but stressful change...

Three men working for the Cape Girardeau County highway department were injured on the job in October. In October, one man hurt his back while lifting bales of straw; another tripped over a piece of equipment and fractured an elbow. A third was hit in the back by a branch being trimmed by another highway department worker. All three were treated and have returned to work, but highway administrator Scott Bechtold said they are on light-duty assignments...

CHAFFEE, Mo. -- Jerry L. Hahn, 73, of Chaffee died Friday, Nov. 7, 2008, at Saint Francis Medical Center. He was born April 10, 1935, at Whitewater, son of Leroy "Jack" and Mary M. Kinder Hahn. He and Madolyn Roberts were married Feb. 3, 2006. Hahn was a retired truck driver and worked for Koss Construction Co. in Kansas City, Mo. He was a member of the Church of God in Delta...

SPECIAL EVENTS Vincentian Marian Youth Encounter Mass featuring contemporary Christian music and a 10-minute Faith Alive. Evening concludes with food and fellowship. When: 6 p.m. Sunday Where: Shrine Church, 1811 W. Saint Joseph St., Perryville, Mo...

With freshman enrollment steadily increasing and a new residence hall on the horizon, president Dr. Ken Dobbins believes the sky is the limit for Southeast Missouri State University. And Dobbins believes much of that success is due in part to Southeast's relationship with the community...

Guts and glory are the two things students think of first. "Kids ask me all the time, 'When you were in Iraq, did you shoot people?'" said Dr. Andrew Rogers, assistant principal of West Lane Elementary School in Jackson. "No, I did not. I helped with their sewer, their water, electricity and agriculture systems," he responds, dispelling misconceptions that war is only about destruction...

LOS ANGELES -- Britney and Justin still share one bond: Madonna. In separate appearances, Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake performed Thursday night during Madonna's show at Dodger Stadium. The former pop power couple did not take the stage together, and it wasn't clear if they'd crossed paths...

CHARLESTON, Mo. -- Dropping oil prices are slowing down but not halting uranium development plans in Mississippi County, according to Commissioner Martin Lucas. Lucas said during the regular county commission meeting Thursday that investors backing efforts to set up a uranium recovery operation in the county are using money from oil and natural gas to fund their efforts in Mississippi County...

The Southeast Missouri State volleyball team continued its late-season surge by beating the Ohio Valley Conference leader. After a tight first two games, the Redhawks took control and eased past visiting Tennessee Tech on Friday night. The 26-24, 22-25, 25-17, 25-19 victory was the fifth straight win for the Redhawks...

To the editor: In the wake of Barack Obama's election as the 44th president of the United States, I, a former Republican, could not resist sharing my thoughts about the decadence of Republican Party of Honest Abe. Over the past year I have listened to the hateful and vitriolic rhetoric of the right-wing Republican radio talk-show hosts such as Rush Limbaugh during my lunch break and Sean Hannity before dinner. ...

NEW YORK -- Buyers returned to Wall Street on Friday after two days of heavy losses, mindful of the economy's growing problems but attracted by stocks' lower prices. Analysts said the advance, which also came amid relief that a bad report on unemployment wasn't worse and followed dour third-quarter reports from Ford and General Motors, was to be expected as Wall Street experiences a rocky recovery from October's devastating selling...

Southeast Missourian Cape Girardeau police responded to a report of gunfire in the 1500 block of Rand Street around 7:16 p.m. Friday. Officers arrived at the scene to find a vehicle parked on the street had been sprayed with bullets, according to Sgt. Barry Hovis. It is not known whether anyone had been in the car at the time, but there were no injuries reported, he said. Witnesses said they heard 20 to 30 shots fired. The suspect fled on foot...

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- Lucille M. Young, 92, of Perryville died Thursday, Nov. 6, 2008, at Independence Care Center of Perry County. She was born Dec. 30, 1915, in Perry County, daughter of August P. and Anna Gotto Versheldon. She and Wallace Willard Young were married Oct. 9, 1937. He died Aug. 15, 1994...