Stories from Saturday, August 8, 2009

Eddie Calvin has had an impressive football career at Southeast Missouri State. In fact, Calvin's numbers suggest that he has been among the Ohio Valley Conference's better cornerbacks the past two years. Yet Calvin has never earned any type of postseason OVC recognition, which indicates that the senior just might be among the league's more underrated defensive players...

A Cape Girardeau man pleaded guilty Friday to felony wire fraud in federal court, according to a news release from the U.S. District Court of Eastern Missouri. Calvin Bird, 42, now faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and/or fines up to $250,000. Sentencing has been set for Oct. 30...

SIKESTON, Mo. -- Sikeston's favorite rodeo clown is celebrating a milestone at the Sikeston Jaycee Bootheel Rodeo this year. "I've been coming here for 50 years," Rick Young said. "Can you believe that?" And in that 50 years, Young's attendance would have been perfect had he not been under contract with a rodeo booking company...

Southeast Missourian A convenience store employee reported to the police by her manager for stealing rewards points was charged in municipal court with theft, assault on a police officer and prohibited acts for yelling curses at her boss and an officer, Cape Girardeau Police Department spokesman Cpl. Adam Glueck said Friday...

BENTON, Mo. -- A Sikeston man was arrested Wednesday on a federal indictment for allegedly making a bomb threat, according to a news release from Scott County Sheriff Rick Walter's office. William C. Scott, 39, was arrested for allegedly making a false bomb threat on June 24. ...

A powerful thirst was apparently no match Wednesday for a dedicated employee.

Lloyd Smith returns for a public event in Southeast Missouri tonight after spending four months in his new role as executive director of the Missouri Republican Party. He said he'll bring a message that the Show Me State is in good shape for the GOP...

Since the state sales tax holiday was established in 2005, Ravyn Reed of Jackson had always included Cape Girardeau in her shopping for the savings.

The Cape Girardeau Social Security office held its Grand Opening on August 7th. Pictured above is the ribbon cutting ceremony. From left to right Tricia Blake, Social Security, Bob Burns, Senator McCaskill's office, Ted Spencer, District Manager, Alice Logan, Area Director, Cheryl Hill, Senator Bond's office, Ann Donnelly, Social Security, Josh Haynes, Congresswoman Jo Ann Emerson's office, Kelley Hulse, Social Security...

KIT DOYLE ~ kdoyle@semissourian.com Gov. Jay Nixon, at podium, talks about autism spectrum disorder insurance reform Friday at Southeast Missouri State's Dempster Hall atrium in Cape Girardeau. ...

KIT DOYLE ~ kdoyle@semissourian.com Cape Girardeau School District superintendent Dr. Jim Welker speaks at the Chamber of Commerce First Friday Coffee August 7, 2009, at the Show Me Center....

Being recognized as the best at what you do is a reward for good effort and a good comparison with others doing the same thing. In recent days three notable rankings have put a spotlight on Southeast Missouri State University and the Cape Girardeau-Jackson economy...

Highway signs; Not a pretty sight; Road work; Trash containers; Getting by; Grass in street; Keep it going; Doctors fees; Street beggars; Not a good idea; Moving on; Sharing the road; Hard to take; We are voters

By Paul Walker We had the honor and the privilege of hosting the American Wind Symphony Orchestra here in Manistique, Mich. The unbelievable experience is beyond words. It is my greatest hope your readers partake in this wonderful and rare musical event. Please enjoy my letter to our local newspaper...

For all the little things others do for us, we give thanks to you, O God. Amen.

E.W. (Elbridge) Bartley Jr. is a resident of the Missouri Veterans Home in Cape Girardeau. He served more than 40 years as a United Methodist pastor. On Aug. 6, 1945, Rev. Bartley was Lt. Bartley on the island of Saipan in the South Pacific, far from home and attached to the Second Marine Division. ...

Until the power goes out and stays out, you don't realize how important light is. Light is not just a convenience; it is a necessity. Back in the days before electricity, a tightfisted old farmer was taking his hired man to task for carrying a lighted lantern when he went to call on his best girl...

In the health-care debate, I believe there are at least seven essential provisions that any plan should contain. 1. Prohibit paying out any benefits for illegal aliens. 2. Prohibit paying out any benefits for abortion on demand. 3. Level the playing field so that all taxpayers are treated the same. ...

As Missouri's House speaker, I have led a House leadership team that uses common sense and conservative principles to forge consensus on tough issues. I promise the same with respect to legislation affecting Missouri families impacted by autism...

A Christian rock band from Southeast Missouri will play a familiar venue tonight to help the youth group of Cape Community Church raise funds for travel to state and international conventions. In the past few years, Parallax View, a group originally from Farmington, Mo., has expanded its music beyond the region and continued to work on a new album. ...

WASHINGTON -- It's the clearest sign yet the recession is finally ending: Employers laid off far fewer workers in July, the jobless rate dipped for the first time in 15 months and workers' hours and pay edged upward. Those are the kinds of figures that could give Americans the psychological boost necessary for recovery to take root after the worst recession since World War II...

NEW YORK -- The outage that knocked Twitter offline for hours was traced to an attack on a lone blogger in the former Soviet republic of Georgia -- but the collateral damage that left millions around the world tweetless showed just how much havoc an isolated cyberdispute can cause...

Some of the dirtiest, smelliest, most dangerous jobs are suddenly looking a lot more appealing in this economy. People who have been out of work for months are lining up for jobs at places they once considered unthinkable: slaughterhouses, sewage plants, prisons...

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico -- The U.S. Department of Agriculture has been fined tens of thousands of dollars for alleged improper maintenance of underground storage tanks in Puerto Rico. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency says the department has agreed to pay $30,000 in penalties. It also plans to remove fuel storage tanks in the coastal cities of Mayaguez and Isabela, where the agency operates tropical agriculture research stations...

BAGHDAD -- A suicide truck bomber flattened a Shiite mosque Friday in northern Iraq, and roadside bombs struck Shiite pilgrims in Baghdad, as at least 51 people were killed and many wounded nationwide. It was the second-deadliest day since U.S. forces turned over urban security to the Iraqis more than a month ago, raising fears that Sunni insurgents are intensifying a campaign to re-ignite sectarian violence that pushed the country to the brink of civil war...

ISLAMABAD -- Pakistan's Taliban chief was killed by a CIA missile strike, a militant commander confirmed Friday -- a severe blow to extremists threatening the stability of this nuclear-armed nation and a possible boost to U.S.-Pakistani cooperation in fighting insurgents who wreak havoc along the Afghan border...

WASHINGTON -- On at least a dozen recent flights by U.S. jetliners, malfunctioning equipment made it impossible for pilots to know how fast they were flying, federal investigators have discovered. A similar breakdown is believed to have played a role in the Air France crash into the Atlantic that killed all 228 people aboard in June...

WASHINGTON -- Don't panic, schools. The government is urging school officials to stay calm when swine flu strikes this fall, closing buildings only in drastic cases and allowing sick students to return as soon as 24 hours after their fever is gone...

Cape Girardeau Firefighters responded to the following calls Thursday: Firefighters responded to the following calls Friday: Jackson Firefighters responded to the following calls Friday....

Cape Girardeau The Cape Girardeau Police Department released the following items. Arrests do not imply guilt. Arrests Summons Assault Thefts Miscellaneous Jackson The following items were released by the Jackson Police Department. Arrests do not imply guilt....

Mark Livesay ANNA, Ill. -- Mark Livesay, 52, of Anna died Friday, Aug. 7, 2009. He was born Jan. 17, 1957, in Wadeena, Minn., to Harold and Evelyn Orr Livesay. He and Becky Rogers were married June 3, 1977. Livesay was a member of First Evangelical Presbyterian Church where he held positions of deacon and elder. He was a table leader and prayer warrior on Walk to Emmaus. He was a Promise Keeper and supporter of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes...

Jack Adams SIKESTON, Mo. -- F.G. "Jack" Adams, 83, of Sikeston died Thursday, Aug. 6, 2009, at Missouri Delta Medical Center. He was born July 2, 1926, in Double Springs, Ala., to the late W.G. and Alma McDonald Adams. He first married Maxine Gage on Nov. 3, 1945. She died Dec. 23, 1988. He and Mary Eaton were married Aug. 17, 1990...

Marie Heischmidt Marie Margaret Heischmidt, 90, of Paris, Ill., died Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2009, at Fountainbleau Lodge in Cape Girardeau. She was born Sept. 17, 1918, in Fayette County, Ill., daughter of Jacob Andrew and Caroline Mary Zacha Roedl. Marie and Albert Henry Heischmidt were married Feb. 10, 1945, in Edgewood, Ill. He died Nov. 5, 1986...

Jessie Clippard Jessie Della Clippard, 89, of Jackson died Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2009, at Monticello House. She was born Nov. 23, 1919, near Kurreville, Mo., daughter of Frank and Iva Dell Statler Niswonger. She married Fred B. Clippard April 8, 1939. He died April 20, 2000...

Ruth Hill ANNA, Ill. -- Ruth Amy Hill, 99, of Anna died Thursday, Aug. 6, 2009, at City Care Center of Anna. Visitation will be from 1 p.m. to service time Sunday at Rendleman and Hileman Funeral Home in Anna. The funeral will be at 3 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home, with Phil Lewis officiating. Interment will be in Friendship Cemetery...

Henry Mellone Henry C. Mellone, 78, of Cape Girardeau died Thursday, Aug. 6, 2009, at his home. Arrangements will be announced later by Ford and Sons Mount Auburn Funeral Home.

Harrel Turner ADVANCE, Mo. -- Harrel E. Turner, 81, of Advance, formerly of Patton, Mo., died Thursday, Aug. 6, 2009, at his home. Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. today at Liley Funeral Home in Patton. The funeral will be at 1 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home, with Dwayne Duncan and Kyle Carter officiating. Burial will be in Bollinger County Memorial Park Cemetery near Marble Hill, Mo...

25 years ago: Aug. 8, 1984 With the planned signing of an architectural contract today, the city of Cape Girardeau is back in partnership with Southeast Missouri State University on a joint multipurpose building; the project is being renewed with one qualification -- that the city successfully execute the sale of the $5 million bonds by Sept. 15...

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- So much for Twitter or Facebook. And who really needs camera crews? The Internet has helped some NFL players turn themselves into stars of their own reality TV shows. Nothing, really, is out of bounds for players looking to connect directly to fans, with some broadcasts coming right from the locker room...

Defending national champion Florida tops the USA Today preseason football coaches' poll, receiving 53 of 59 first-place votes. Texas was second in the poll released Friday, followed by Oklahoma, Southern California, Alabama, Ohio State, Virginia Tech, Penn State, LSU and Mississippi. Texas had four first-place votes, and Oklahoma and Southern California each had one...

AKRON, Ohio -- LeBron James is going to make the Cleveland Cavaliers wait -- and sweat. James indicated Friday that he is unlikely to accept a contract extension from the Cavs until after the 2009-2010 season and presumably will become a free agent...

PITTSBURGH -- Chris Carpenter is almost always good for a victory against the Pittsburgh Pirates -- even on a night when a pitcher who hasn't lost since June looked ready to be beaten. Ryan Ludwick's sacrifice fly in the eighth inning scored the go-ahead run and the St. Louis Cardinals withstood a shaky beginning by Carpenter to beat Pittsburgh 6-4 on Friday night, stretching the Pirates' losing streak to six games...

NEW YORK -- John Smoltz may have thrown the last pitch of his storied career. The Boston Red Sox cut the struggling Smoltz on Friday, a day after the New York Yankees sent the 42-year-old righty to yet another early exit. Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein traveled down to New York to personally tell Smoltz that the team had designated him for assignment. The move gives Boston 10 days to trade, release or send Smoltz to the minors...

With no Division I offers, 2009 Notre Dame Regional High School graduate Dylan Drury was prepared to play baseball at Jefferson College. But a recent change of fortune has Drury headed to college baseball's highest level. Drury said Friday that he will attend West Virginia University and join that successful Division I program. He leaves for Morgantown, W.Va., in less than two weeks...

Tony Samuel had the look in his eyes and the excitement in his voice suggesting a coach in charge of a struggling football program about to turn the corner. Samuel wouldn't take the bait from a questioner at Friday's Southeast Missouri State media day seeking a prediction on how much the coach expects his fourth Southeast squad to improve in the win column...

Padraig Harrington broke par for the second straight day, something he hasn't done in four months. Two more days like that and it could lead to something he hasn't done in a year. Without a victory since the PGA Championship, Harrington tread carefully across Firestone Country Club on Friday for a 1-under 69 that gave him a one-shot lead over Tim Clark (68) going into the weekend at the Bridgestone Invitational in Akron, Ohio...