Stories from Sunday, February 15, 2009

For most florists, this Valentine's Day was less challenging than last year's. In February 2008, just a few days after a major ice storm, florists were out trying to deliver expressions of love in less-than-favorable road conditions and cold weather that makes fresh flowers and plants vulnerable...

CEDAR HILL -- Jackson's fate as the runner-up team in the Class 4 District 1 meet at Northwest High School was sealed with side-by-side decisions in the finals of the 189-pound weight class. But it was a number of decisions leading up to that point Saturday that lifted host Northwest past Jackson 179.5 to 173 for the district crown. Lafayette (163.5) was third in the 14-team field...

Jarvis Ray Thurman, infant son of Chelci Mae Thurman and Jonathan Ray McCaig, died shortly after birth Thursday, Feb. 12, 2009, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. Survivors include his parents; maternal grandparents, Donald and Ruby Gwinn of Sedgewickville, Mo.; paternal grandmother, Barbara Meatheny of Cape Girardeau; paternal great-grandmother, Georgia Meatheny of Cape Girardeau; and maternal great-great-grandmother, Irene Piatt of Doniphan, Mo...

KELSO, Mo. -- George Paul Leible, 69, of Kelso died Saturday, Feb. 14, 2009, at Life Care Center in Cape Girardeau. He was born Aug. 30, 1939, at Kelso, son of Theodore George and Alma Rose Gosche Leible. He and Georgia Ann Schaefer were married Oct. 3, 1964, at Scott City...

KABUL -- President Obama's new envoy to Afghanistan met with President Hamid Karzai on Saturday amid a downturn in U.S.-Afghan relations and an upswing in militant violence. Karzai says he still has not spoken with Obama almost a month after his inauguration, a sign the Afghan president no longer enjoys the favored status he had under President Bush...

Mary Louise Crawford, 86, of Cape Girardeau, formerly of Delta, died Friday, Feb. 13, 2009, at her home. She was born Nov. 22, 1922, in Delta, daughter of Louis and Elizabeth Poole Hector. She and John Crawford Jr., high school sweethearts, were married Nov. 14, 1942, in Jackson. They lived and farmed in the Delta area until moving to Cape Girardeau in 1992...

CHAFFEE, Mo. -- Jim and Kathy Blevins of Chaffee announce the engagement of their daughter, Sarah Rebecca Blevins, to Lloyd Vincent Powell Jr. He is the son of the late Lloyd Powell Sr. of Cahokia, Ill., and the late Shirley Powell of Fairview Heights, Ill...

Baseball n Cape youth league: The Cape Girardeau Noon Optimist Youth Baseball League will conduct registration at Nearly Perfect Shoes in Cape Girardeau. Registration will be conducted from noon to 3 p.m. Saturday and 1 to 3 p.m. March 1. The league is for players age 5 to 15, with age determined as of April 30, 2009. Info: Percy Huston, 278-6763...

For 36 years, Fran Wolfe worked in area factories, raised her son with her husband Larry and lived a modest life. Debbie Kiefer, likewise, held clerical jobs -- her last full time work was in October 2007 -- while husband Wendell worked for Buch­heit and they raised two sons...

Lack of response MY roommate and I both called the police with a noise complaint. The police did not check out the situation. There was underage drinking going on at the house next door, and the music was audible from a good 200 feet away. This is unacceptable. We have class or work early every morning, and this noise goes on until 5 a.m. Why doesn't our police force take concerns of the people seriously?...

Jim and Theresa Tuvera of Bloomfield, Iowa, announce the engagement of their daughter, Stephanie Ann Tuvera, to Cody Alan Goins. He is the son of Tim and Debbie Goins of Thebes, Ill. Tuvera is a 2006 graduate of Davis County High School. She is serving with the U.S. Air Force at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska...

Let our examples of love and mercy show your greatness, O God. Amen.

COLUMBIA, S.C. -- Police in South Carolina gave away roses on Valentine's Day. All you had to do to get one for your sweetie was turn in a gun. Hoping to get the weapons off the streets with the "Guns for Roses" program, authorities in two central South Carolina cities set up a program where anyone who turned in a gun received a free rose and a Best Buy gift card...

Trey Grovenor captured the heavyweight championship Saturday to earn a trip to the state wrestling meet. Grovenor, a Central junior, will be joined at the state meet by three teammates after successful days at the Class 3 District 1 tournament in De Soto...

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. -- Sen. Roland Burris admitted in a document released Saturday that former governor Rod Blagojevich's brother asked him for campaign fundraising help before the governor appointed Burris to the Senate. The disclosure is at odds with Burris' testimony in January when an Illinois House impeachment committee specifically asked if he had ever spoken to Robert Blagojevich or other aides to the now-deposed governor about the Senate seat vacated by Barack Obama...

TRUMANN, Ark. -- Mary Margaret Willis, 78, of Trumann died Friday, Feb. 13, 2009, at St. Bernards Regional Medical Center in Jonesboro, Ark. She was born Oct. 17, 1930, to James F. and Connie (Cole) Orr in Burdette, Ark. She was married to Garland Eugene Willis on Nov. 7, 1947, at Dyess, Ark. He preceded her in death Feb. 24, 1984...

MARBLE HILL, Mo. -- Wendell and Teresa Jordan of Marble Hill announce the engagement of their daughter, Teresa Lynette Jordan, to Lucas Caleb Cook. He is the son of Kenneth "Punk" and Lisa Cook of Marble Hill. Jordan is a 2005 graduate of New Bethel Christian School. She is employed at Cape Radiology Group Inc...

The Southeast Missouri State softball team won both of its games Saturday as the Louisiana-Monroe Mardi Gras Classic continued. Southeast, which split its two tournament contests Friday, is 4-1 for its best start since the 1996 season. The Redhawks beat Louisiana-Monroe 4-3 and Centenary 5-4 in eight innings...

The Salvation Army's red kettles and bell ringers are a familiar sight during the days leading up to Christmas. The kettle drive is one of the organization's major fundraising efforts. This year the kettles were out again last weekend at several locations, this time helping the United Way of Southeast Missouri raise additional funding for the Salvation Army and the ministerial alliances in Jackson and Scott City...

Three speakers with the Missouri Road Trip for Justice will speak Friday at Southeast Missouri State University on how their own lives have affected the way they see the death penalty. For the past three years, Bess Klassen Landis has been sharing her story on how violence influenced her life. She was 13 years old when her mother was raped and murdered in 1969, she said...

Cammie Gail Kaminskey and Trent James Essner exchanged wedding vows Sept. 20, 2008, at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Jackson. The Rev. David Johnson performed the ceremony. Organist was Geri Beussink and soloist was Robyn Hosp, both of Jackson. Doug and Gina Kaminskey of Jackson are parents of the bride. The groom is the son of Tammy and David VanGennip of Advance, Mo., and Terry and Shelly Essner of Jackson...

Southeast Missouri Hospital recently received the American Heart Association's Get With the Guidelines Coronary Artery Disease Gold Performance Achievement Award. The award recognizes Southeast's commitment and success in implementing a higher standard of cardiac care that effectively improves treatment of patients hospitalized with coronary artery disease...

Dear Dr. Dobson: I'm a teacher and love my students. There is one child in my sixth-grade class, however, who drives me nuts. He works overtime trying to make everybody laugh. What drives this child? Why does he want to make life miserable for me?...

Mesha Grace Russell and Nicholas Aroutsidis were married June 21, 2008, at Cape Bible Chapel. The Rev. James Green performed the ceremony. Pianist was the groom, and vocalists were the groom and his sister, Sophia Aroutsidis. The bride is the daughter of Rob and Janet Rueseler of Cape Girardeau. The groom is the son of Tony and Soula Aroutsidis of Finders, New South Wales, Australia...

I may be one of the few Southeast Missourians who was saddened and concerned when, several weeks ago, then-governor Rod Blagojevich announced he was closing several state parks in Illinois to help balance the severely out-of-whack state budget. One of those state parks is Fort de Chartres State Park in Randolph County, just up the road a bit from Chester...

River City Players hold auditions The River City Players will hold auditions for Lawrence Roman's romantic comedy, "Make Me a Match" at 3 p.m. at Port Cape restaurant. No preparation is required; the audition will be a cold reading. Breakfast at Guardian Angel Church...

GALVESTON, Texas -- Hundreds of revelers gathered Saturday to celebrate an annual Mardi Gras tradition in a show of support for this island ravaged by Hurricane Ike's powerful storm surge just five months ago. "I see this as a hopeful sign," said Sue Orta, a reveler from Houston who has a home on Galveston Island. "The city will recover."...

JOPLIN, Mo. -- A Joplin apartment that was the scene of a fatal shootout with Bonnie and Clyde has been nominated for placement on the National Register of Historic Places. The Missouri Advisory Council on Historic Preservation approved the nomination on Friday. The nomination will be forwarded to the Keeper of the National Register in Washington, D.C., for final approval...

Beth Ann Craiglow and Gregory Scott Seesing were united in marriage Jan. 14, 2009, at Common Pleas Courthouse in Cape Girardeau. Judge Peter Statler performed the ceremony. The bride is the daughter of Milford and Dorothy Seabaugh of Jackson. The groom is the son of Christine and Randy Welland and Paul and Debby Seesing, all of Cape Girardeau...

To slow down drivers and reduce accidents along and near Highway 34, police have stepped up enforcement and, on one section of the highway, fines for driving violations will be doubled. Highway 34 is the winding, narrow two-lane highway that links Jackson, Marble Hill, Mo., and Piedmont, Mo. The 87-mile highway stops just east of Van Buren, Mo...

Russell and Juanita Shelton of Cape Girardeau celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary with a luncheon and open house reception hosted by their children and spouses. The luncheon was held Feb. 7 at Bella Italia, followed by the reception. The Sheltons were married Feb. 11, 1949, in Arkansas...

Jackson Firefighters responded to the following calls Friday: n A Dumpster fire on South Farmington Road. n Emergency medical service on South Bast Street. n Cleanup on East Jackson Boulevard.

BENTON, Mo. -- Natalie Carole Hulshof and Joshua Paul Statler were married April 26, 2008, at St. Denis Catholic Church. The Rev. Normand Varone performed the ceremony. Musician was Katie Fennewald of Dayton, Ohio, sister of the bride. Vocalists were Jim Simmons of Benton, Kari Bickings of Oran, Mo., and Lindsay Grojean of Chaffee, Mo...

ST. LOUIS -- A virus that is endangering the life of a 2-year-old elephant at the St. Louis Zoo has mystified scientists for years. The virus, a herpes infection that can cause extensive internal bleeding, hits only elephants and seems to target the young. It's killed one in five elephant calves born in the U.S. since 2000, according to the Association of Zoos and Aquariums...

Sharon and Len Dreyer of Jackson, semi-retired, volunteer individually and as a couple. They have been Make-A-Wish Foundation wish grant volunteers for more than 25 years combined. Sharon said she fell in love with the organization when she went to a Make-A-Wish presentation at the Elks Club. ...

Shelia Kee and Hugh Davis announce their engagement. She is a school bus driver with First Student. Davis is a custodian at Central High School. A July 4 wedding is planned.

Cape Girardeau The Cape Girardeau Police Department released the following items. Arrests do not imply guilt. DWI n Parish Edwards, 41, 325 Hope St., Jackson, was arrested on suspicion of driving while intoxicated, no proof of insurance and a lane violation...

Sherry Lynn Biddle, 60, of Cape Girardeau died Thursday, Feb. 12, 2009, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. She was a loving and caring wife, mother, daughter and grandmother. She was born Nov. 5, 1948, in Pittsfield, Ill., daughter of Harry A. and Betty Joann Blevins Clough. She and Richard E. Biddle were married July 9, 1971, at the Methodist church in Quincy, Ill...

James Robert and Edith Matthews Lansmon of Cape Girardeau recently celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary. They were married Jan. 27, 1949. The Lansmons have four children, Kathi Travaglini of St. Louis, Patti Lansmon of Missouri Veterans Home, William Lansmon of Dallas, Texas, and Theresa Mitchell of Belleville, Ill. They have eight grandchildren and four great-grandchildren...

Cape Girardeau The Cape Girardeau Police Department released the following items. Arrests do not imply guilt. DWI n Parish Edwards, 41, 325 Hope St., Jackson, was arrested on suspicion of driving while intoxicated, no proof of insurance and a lane violation...

MORLEY, Mo. -- Mary Ann Alcorn, 76, passed away at 5:15 a.m. Feb. 14, 2009. Born April 24, 1932, in Sikeston, Mo., she was the daughter of the late Bennie and Esther Kruger Walker. On June 29, 1947, in Osceola, Ark., she married C.D. Alcorn Sr., who survives of the home...

Husband-and-wife journalists Bob Miller and Callie Clark Miller use this space to offer their views on everyday issues. SHE SAID It's funny how your priorities change when you have children. I recently thought about all sorts of great stuff I'd love to buy with the birthday money my family gave me. It soon dawned on me that none of it was actually for me...

"It's pretty," Cornelia Clements said and then smiled when she received her handcrafted valentine message made by a Jackson Middle School student. Alyssa Nimmer, 12, jam-packed her valentine with doodads, candy hearts and bright colors because she had a lot to say...

Whitney Jean Werner and Adam Gregory Embick exchanged vows Sept. 27, 2008, at Emanuel United Church of Christ in Jackson. The Rev Samuel Roethemeyer performed the ceremony. Music was by Robyn Hosp of Jackson. Parents of the couple are Randy and Connie Werner of Jackson, and Gregory and Pamela Embick of Collinsville, Ill...

CLARENCE, N.Y. -- A commuter plane that smashed into a house was pointed away from the airport it was trying to reach, investigators said Saturday, noting that it apparently fell flat. Flight data showed the plane's safety systems warned the pilot the aircraft was close to losing lift and plummeting from the sky. The ensuing crash killed 49 people on the plane and one in the house...

Robert Hope Wright, 82, of the Missouri Veterans Home in Cape Girardeau died Thursday, Feb. 12, 2009, at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. He was born Nov. 9, 1926, in Cape Girardeau, son of James E. and Della Mae Martin Wright. He and Geraldine "Tubby" Ford Wright were married Jan. 15, 1945, in Blytheville, Ark. She died Oct. 16, 1982...

ST. LOUIS -- Luella Mae Knowles, age 85, of St. Louis, formerly of Patton, Mo., passed away Friday, Feb. 13, 2009, at Delmar Gardens South in St. Louis. She was born July 15, 1923, at Marquand, Mo., daughter of Henry Eugene and Belle Matilda Seabaugh Schell. She and John Knowles were married April 20, 1940. He preceded her in death Aug. 6, 1996...

The Scott County Central boys basketball team raced out to a quick start against the No. 2-ranked team in Class 2. But Portageville rallied to cut the Braves' lead to seven points at halftime. Scott County, ranked second in Class 1, returned to form after halftime and posted the 94-75 road win Saturday...

Sandra Lee Little, 67, of Scott City died Friday, Feb. 13, 2009, at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. She was born Jan. 31, 1942, at Cape Girardeau, daughter of Verlon Edward and Alberta Wright Parker. She and Melvin Dean Little were married...

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia -- The Saudi king on Saturday dismissed the chief of the religious police and a cleric who condoned killing the owners of TV networks that broadcast "immoral" content, signaling an effort to weaken the country's hard-line Sunni establishment...

A heartbreaking loss has dealt a serious blow to Southeast Missouri State's hopes of hosting a first-round game in the Ohio Valley Conference women's basketball tournament. Morehead State got a basket at the buzzer Saturday to stun the Redhawks 55-54 in Morehead, Ky...

The George Carden Super Circus Spectacular will perform at 4:30 and 7 p.m. Monday at the Arena Building. Tickets will be on sale at the arena box office an hour before show time. Free child tickets good with the purchase of a regular-priced adult ticket, distributed throughout Cape Girardeau area businesses, are subject to availability the day of performance...

Children must be 5 years old by Aug. 1, 2009 to attend school in the fall. n A kindergarten meeting for children and parents will be held at the Kelly Elementary Gym. A bus ride, school tour, kindergarten expectations and school supply list will be included in the meeting. ...

A four-part series on the life of Missouri native Dr. George Washington Carver will continue the month of February in honor of Black History Month. The February series starts the Heritage Studies sponsored by the River Corridor Connections, established to highlight the lives of prominent African-AmericansCarver was born at the end of the Civil War. He studied plants and agriculture most of his life and sat on the faculty at the Tuskegee Institute in Alabama...

Knights of Columbus No. 6420 in Scott City will hold fish fries on several Fridays. Fish, hush puppies, seasoned fries, fried chicken, slaw, baked beans, tea and coffee will be served from 4 to 7 p.m. Feb. 20, 27, March 6, 13, 20, 27, and April 3 at the Knights of Columbus hall in Scott City...

Southeast Missouri State made Morehead State work to retain its slim lead in the Ohio Valley Conference men's basketball race. Although the Eagles led from start to finish, they could not shake Southeast until the final minutes of Saturday's matchup in Morehead, Ky...

Stan Seiler, principal at Woodland Elementary School in Marble Hill, Mo., has been selected as the 2009 Southeast Elementary Distinguished Principal by the Southeast Missouri Association of Elementary School Principals. Seiler is one of 13 principals from the state who will be honored by the Missouri Association Elementary School Principals on March 14, during a ceremony at the annual MAESP spring conference. ...