Stories from Saturday, February 28, 2009

Geneva Elizabeth Elfrink, 78, of Jackson, formerly of Leopold, Mo., died Thursday, Feb. 26, 2009, at her home, under the care of her husband and Southeast Hospice. She was born May 26, 1930, in Lutesville, Mo., daughter of Joseph H. and Regina M. Koenig Thele. She married Richard J. Elfrink on May 24, 1952, at St. John Catholic Church in Leopold...

EVANS, Ga. -- The Rev. Joel P. Borchelt, 56, husband of Debra F. Schipull Borchelt, entered into rest at his residence Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2009. A memorial service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Monday at the Lutheran Church of the Resurrection, with the Rev. David Hunter officiating...

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Until about a year ago, Jyra Hill never had a green thought in her life. Hill, who turned 17 recently, admits she regularly threw trash out the car window. And recycling? "That was for fools," she said. The problem was that Hill grew up in a Kansas City core neighborhood where people don't have much time or money to spend on rain gardens and solar panels...

KENNETT, Mo. -- A Sheryl Crow fan club has raised $10,390 for Delta Children's Home during its annual fundraising event celebrating Crow's birthday. The birthday drive began in 2001. Since then, the fundraiser has given more than $100,000 to Delta Children's Home, according to fan club moderator Gregg Dempsey...

CHICAGO -- Nearly 182 years after Beethoven's death, three musicians are getting ready to give the first known performance of a lost piano trio by the immortal composer. The 12-minute trio in E flat will be performed Sunday, along with the North American premieres of two other once-lost Beethoven pieces -- piano trios in D major and a second in E flat trio, Opus 63...

MEXICO CITY -- Mexico blames Americans for arming the world's most powerful drug cartels, a complaint supported Friday by a U.S. government report that found nearly all of Mexico's escalating drug killings involved weapons from north of the border...

WASHINGTON -- A typical American family would get a tax cut under President Obama's budget proposal, and their low-income neighbor would fare even better. Their wealthier counterparts, however, would face some steep tax increases, starting in 2011...

CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. -- President Obama consigned the Iraq war to history Friday, declaring he will end combat operations within 18 months and open a new era of diplomacy in the Middle East. "Let me say this as plainly as I can: By August 31, 2010, our combat mission in Iraq will end," Obama told Marines who are about to deploy by the thousands to the other war front, Afghanistan...

DENVER -- Conservative evangelical leader James Dobson has resigned as chairman of Focus on the Family but will continue to play a prominent role at the organization he founded more than three decades ago. Dobson notified the board of his decision Wednesday, and the 950 employees of the Colorado Springs, Colo.-based ministry were informed Friday morning, said Jim Daly, the group's president and chief executive officer...

At midday Friday, Cape Girardeau city manager Doug Leslie was in his office discussing Monday night's city council meeting with Mayor Jay Knudtson and assistant city manager Ken Eftink. It is a meeting Leslie will not attend. Instead, Monday will be Leslie's first day of retirement. ...

Southeast Missouri State's potent offense finally was silenced in the second game of Friday's doubleheader against visiting Purdue. But not before the Redhawks ran their winning streak to four with a thrilling 13-10 victory in the opener. "The first game was pretty exciting, especially when you can come back the way we did," junior catcher Jim Klocke said...

CEDAR HILL -- The Poplar Bluff girls basketball team ran a zone defense that focused on not allowing Central center Wendi Zickfield to score inside during the Class 5 District 1 championship game Friday. It was much different from the man-to-man defense that the Mules ran against Central on Jan. 8 when Zickfield scored 19 points...

CEDAR HILL -- Central's Josh Harris drove in for a layup and got his shot to fall against Poplar Bluff and his team down four points with two and a half minutes remaining. But Harris was called for a charge, which was his fifth foul. So instead of going to the free-throw line with a chance to cut the deficit to one point, Harris went to the bench with his team still down by four and losing steam...

SIKESTON -- There was no miracle finish for Notre Dame this time. The Bulldogs' best game wasn't enough to derail top-ranked Sikeston from a 49-47 victory in the Class 4 District 1 boys basketball championship at Sikeston Fieldhouse. Sikeston senior Michael Porter's steal and layup with 25 seconds to go accounted for the only scoring in the final 2 minutes of a dramatic contest between the two rival schools. ...

SIKESTON -- Jane Morrill started the second half on fire, helping Notre Dame mount a comeback against the top-ranked team in Class 4. But every time the Bulldogs girls basketball team rallied, Dexter would answer with a critical basket to pad its lead...

''mound city national cemetery established in 1864 whereby president abraham lincoln to purchase cemetery grounds..to be used as a national cemetery for soldiers who have died in service of there country..it began as a civil war cemetery for the field hospital in mound city'' now operated by jefferson barracks.. ...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- One person suggests using Missouri's share of the federal money as kindling. Another says spending the money would be "immoral in the extreme." Yet another advises: "Tell Washington to stuff the Porkulus money where the sun don't shine."...

"Create and begin living the life you've always wanted. Find your dream and pursue it now. Don't wait." Almost everyone has heard those words, and there's positive reinforcement and inspiration contained within them. But does that mean that the life you are living now is unsatisfactory?...

In joy and peace we share your love in our dealings with one another, O God. Amen.

NEW ORLEANS -- Three and a half years after Hurricane Katrina, the National Guard is pulling the last of its troops out of New Orleans this weekend, leaving behind a city still desperate and dangerous. Residents long distrustful of the city's police force are worried they will have to fend for themselves...

Cape Girardeau Firefighters responded to the following calls Thursday: n At 9:46 a.m., emergency medical service on Hanover Street. n At 6:20 p.m., a mutual aid request in the 1200 block of West Cape Rock Drive. n At 6:29 p.m., emergency medical service in the 2700 block of Hopper Road...

Thank you to all who aided in the explanation of the recent Scott County ballot initiative and to all who voted to approve it. Your help was greatly appreciated. The passage of this ballot was crucial for Scott County to continue providing the services you have become accustomed to, expect and demand. ...

ADVANCE, Mo. -- Roy Elbert Sitze, 88, of Advance died Thursday, Feb. 26, 2009, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. He was born Oct. 9, 1920, at Arab, Mo., son of Emanuel Jacob and Susan Ethel Fish Sitze. He and Charlotte Evelyn Cox were married March 30, 1956. She died in August 1977. He and Hazel Payne were married in February 1979. She died May 2, 2002...

Shelby Denise Lewis, 51, of Washington, D.C., died Sunday, Dec. 21, 2008, at George Washington University Hospital in Washington, D.C. She was born Nov. 14, 1957, in Chicago, daughter of John Henry and Mary Sue Campbell McCline. Lewis was a nurse. Survivors include her mother and stepfather, Mary and Harry Wilson; a brother, Tony R. ...

MOSCOW -- Russia's foreign minister said Friday he will focus on arms control talks during his meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton next week, while Moscow has demonstrated its revived military might by sending a bomber on patrol near Canada and putting a new military radar on duty...

VATICAN CITY -- An apology from a bishop who denied the Holocaust wasn't good enough, the Vatican said Friday, adding that he must repudiate his views if he wants to be a Roman Catholic clergyman. The statement by Bishop Richard Williamson "doesn't appear to respect the conditions" the Vatican set out for him, said the Rev. Federico Lombardi, a spokesman for the pope...

Habitat for Humanity leaders will break ground today for a home that will be built mostly by Southeast Missouri State University students on its campus. Leaders say its exterior will be finished within two weeks. Construction is expected to begin on the parking lot near 920 Broadway on March 7 and end March 21, when the entire house will be loaded on a trailer and transported to its new address at 1640 N. Main St. Groundbreaking will take place at 11:30 a.m...

WASHINGTON -- President Obama plans to repeal a Bush administration rule that has become a flash point in the debate over a doctor's right not to participate in abortions. The regulation, instituted in the last days of the Bush administration, strengthened job protections for doctors and nurses who refuse to provide a medical service because of moral qualms. ...

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- Retired Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor on Friday defended Missouri's judicial selection plan while offering suggestions to disarm critics by increasing public participation. In a speech at the University of Missouri-Columbia law school, O'Connor told a group of students, professors, attorneys and judges that the role money plays in states with partisan judicial elections has risen to "obscene levels."...

Oak Ridge junior Garret Light recorded his 1,000th career point during his team's 74-88 victory over Cooter on Friday. @z_agate_HSbasketball_linescore:Cooter14151918--58 Oak Ridge21181520--74 @z_agate_no tab_no indnt_bld ld:COOTER (58) -- Kelly Wells 7, Zack Watkins 5, Collin Givens 2, Aaron McCaig 24, Jonathan Boone 16, Charles Copeland 4. FG 24, FT 7-13, F 28. (3-pointers: McCaig 2, Boone 1. Fouled out: Boone, Givens, Watkins)...

The Southeast Missouri State women's basketball team is not likely to earn a first-round home game for the Ohio Valley Conference tournament. Thursday's 70-54 loss at Tennessee State probably took care of that. But coach John Ishee said the Redhawks have plenty to play for as they end the regular season today at Austin Peay...

The remainder of Southeast Missouri State's four-game weekend baseball series against Purdue is up in the air because of anticipated bad weather. Southeast and Purdue played a pair of nine-inning games Friday at Capaha Field. Only one contest originally was scheduled, but today's scheduled doubleheader was moved up to Friday...

Danny J. Cruz, 50, of Whitewater died Friday, Feb. 27, 2009, at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. Arrangements are incomplete with Cracraft Miller Funeral Home in Jackson.

NEW YORK -- Don't think of the government's new investment in Citigroup as cash. Think of it as time. Citigroup will save $2 billion a year now that it doesn't have to pay the government dividends. But what the move really does is give the bank a bit longer to prove itself viable -- and do some ruthless restructuring, analysts say...

PADACUH, Ky. - A winter weather advisory has been issued to 10 p.m. today by the National Weather Service, for the following Missouri counties: Cape Girardeau, Scott, Bollinger, Perry, Mississippi. The advisory includes Union, Pulaski and Alexander counties in Illinois. Snow this evening over Southeast Missouri, Southern Illinoi and into the southern portions of Western Kentucky will result in a quick slushy inch or two of snow accumulation, especially on grassy areas. ...

Holloway Son to Matthew Thomas Holloway and Rebecca Sue Sneed of Jackson, Saint Francis Medical Center, 1:13 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 15, 2009. Name, Logan Matthew. Weight, 5 pounds, 1 ounce. Second son. Ms. Sneed is the daughter of Beth Platz and Mike Platz of Lake City, Ark. She is employed at Taco Bell. Holloway is the son of Diane Holloway of Anna, Ill., and Larry Holloway of Jackson. He is employed at Langford Sheet Metal and Mechanical...

25 years ago: Feb. 28, 1984 The worst winter storm since the 1979 blizzard continues its assault on the area with heavy drifting of snow that by morning shuts off many rural roads and puts another glaze of ice and snow on traveled routes; progress made by highway and street crews by dusk yesterday is wiped away by the wild winds and another inch or two of fresh snow...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- A group of Republican lawmakers proposed this week to limit increases in property tax assessments as a way to give relief to Missouri homeowners. Their legislation would prohibit the assessed value of homes from rising by more than 2 percent or the rate of inflation, whichever is less...

With the economy continuing to struggle, many Missourians are looking carefully at their budgets to see where their money is going and how they can get their finances balanced. The state is in a similar situation, and I have noticed a disturbing pattern of growth in state tax credits. The issuance of tax credits is out of control because of a lack of oversight and accountability. This must change...

AURORA, Ill. -- Faymel L. Bergfeld, 87, of Aurora died Sunday, Feb. 15, 2009, at her home. She was born Oct. 5, 1921, in Carterville, Ill., daughter of Arthur and Josie Schultz Ervin. She married Bernard Bergfeld, who preceded her in death. Survivors include a son, Leonard Bergfeld of French Creek, W.Va.; three daughters, Jo Anne Nowak of Big Rock, Ill., Rochella "Shelly" Heller of Amboy, Ill., Carol Wiewiora of Aurora; a sister, Viola Bagby of Jackson; a brother, Marvin Ervin of Dongola, Ill.; nine grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.. ...

Quality Jobs is an incentive program that gives tax credits to qualifying Missouri companies that create new jobs. The program was started in 2005 when Matt Blunt was governor. The current governor, Jay Nixon, is including Quality Jobs in his emergency Show Me Jobs plan and wants to remove the cap on the tax-credit program...

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- Everyone seemed to learn something at an earthquake awareness seminar hosted by Perry County's emergency management action committee Friday. "I thought the soft sand around the [Mississippi River] would withstand the shaking better than rock," said Perry County Presiding Commissioner Carl Leuckel...

Central High School product Tyler Terry won the long jump Friday at the Ohio Valley Conference indoor track meet in Charleston, Ill. Terry, a Southeast Missouri State sophomore, had a distance of 24 feet, 5 3/4 inches. Southeast's other winner Friday was Nate Shipley in the 5,000 meters (15:06.90)...

Cape Girardeau The Cape Girardeau Police Department released the following items. Arrests do not imply guilt. DWIs n Lonnie L. Brockmire, 59, 104 N. Sunset Boulevard, was arrested on suspicion of driving while intoxicated. n A subject was in custody pending charges for driving while intoxicated, driving while revoked, failure to equip vehicle with ignition lock and careless and imprudent driving...

CARBONDALE, Ill. -- Members of the bomb squad for Southern Illinois University and Carbondale have a new member, hard-wired to handle the dangerous work. The squad has purchased a $150,000 remote-controlled, bomb-disposing robot with a federal grant...

Going to the ER NO wonder insurance costs are rising and the emergency room bills are going through roof. It's because people are going to the emergency room for trivial things. I'm 74 years old, and I've got sense enough to know what to do when I get constipated...

I meet many discouraged people throughout the course of a given week. Discouragement is a dangerous cancer that is easier to lay hold of than it is to remove. It is covert in its approach, practicing guerrilla warfare on its victims, sneaking in under the cover of darkness...

The Rev. Ann Mowery understands the challenges some women clergy face in churches throughout the United States. Though Mowery has never experienced ill-will from her congregations during 15 years of full-time ministry, she understands a woman in the pulpit could bring on some hardships from church members...