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Stories from Tuesday, October 27, 2009

New Sikeston Orgill facility shows off operation (10/27/09)
SIKESTON, Mo. -- After officially beginning shipping items in early August, Orgill opened the doors of its Mid-America SuperCenter in Sikeston on Saturday to show off its operations to guests and employees' families. "We want to give you a chance to see the facilities up close," said Denny Koonce, Orgill's vice president of the Midwest Division...

Commission OKs retired police officer for position in P.A.'s office (10/27/09)
A veteran of Kentucky law enforcement will soon fill a newly created position within the Cape Girardeau County prosecuting attorney's office. Approved during Monday's Cape Girardeau County Commission meeting, the position will combine the vacated restitution clerk's position with the duties of an investigator to form the post of investigator and restitution manager. ...

Franklin School raises money for the United Way (10/27/09)
Taylor Warren, a second-grade student at Franklin Elementary, talks with school principal Rhonda Dunham, dressed as Prince Charming, and music teacher Josh Reimann, dressed as Cinderella Monday during recess. The faculty made an agreement with the students last week that if each classroom filled a jar with money for the United Way, the principal and music teacher would dress up as Cinderella and Prince Charming. The students and faculty raised $1,200 for the United Way.

Dairy, crop farmers both facing a difficult time (10/27/09)
Dairy and crop farmers are dealing with a tough fall but for different reasons: prices and demand for the former, weather for the latter. Facing a 35 percent decline in profits compared to October 2008, Oak Ridge Dairy producer John Schoen said he's hoping the situation turns around soon...

Saint Francis Medical Center tightening visitation rules to address H1N1 (10/27/09)
Saint Francis Medical Center is tightening the rules for its younger visitors. Visitors under the age of 15 are not allowed in patient rooms until the number of area flu cases decreases, said hospital spokeswoman Emily Sikes.

Cape Girardeau, Jackson to hold joint meeting on planning and zoning (10/27/09)
As development continues on the edges of Jackson and Cape Girardeau, an issue often arises for landowners -- which city can best provide essential services, such as water and public safety. And both cities are eager for the tax revenue that newly added areas provide...

Baby boom?: Winter ice storm might be causing uptick in births in coming weeks (10/27/09)
SIKESTON, Mo. -- It's been nine months since ice storms crippled Southeast Missouri, leaving many without electricity for days. But things were apparently still heating up in some homes, as local hospitals are expecting an increase in births over the next few weeks...

MoDOT crews doing road, pavement work (10/27/09)
Route D in northern Cape Girardeau County will be reduced to one lane of traffic today with a 12-foot width restriction while Missouri Department of Transportation crews cut down the bank next to the roadway. The work will take place from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., weather permitting, on a stretch of road from Cape Girardeau County Road 444 to one half-mile south of that road...

Jackson School Board agenda 10/27/09 (10/27/09)
7 p.m. today Board of Education office, 614 East Adams St. Presentation Finance Action items Informational items Executive session...

Bridge collision, motorcycle crash among Sunday road accidents (10/27/09)
The Missouri State Highway Patrol was busy Sunday responding to crashes in Southeast Missouri involving a motorcycle, a bridge collision and one car's attempt to overtake another. The first crash occurred on Interstate 55 near Matthews, Mo. At 1:55 p.m. a 2001 GMC driven by Sandra K. McCulley, 49, of Cape Girardeau was traveling southbound when it ran off the left side of the roadway and struck a bridge, the highway patrol said...

Police: Mo. town's anti-meth law working (10/27/09)
WASHINGTON, Mo. -- Three months after the town instituted a law requiring the sale of a key meth precursor by prescription only, police are seeing a ripple effect: Sales of products with pseudoephedrine are down not only in Washington but in surrounding communities, too...

Mo. hosts top scientists for global food security summit this week (10/27/09)
ST. LOUIS -- The world's top plant scientists kicked off a weeklong meeting Monday aimed at improving global food security. An estimated 1,300 scientists were expected to attend the International Plant Molecular Biology Congress, which hasn't been to the U.S. in 20 years...

Report: Mo. public defender system still in 'crisis' (10/27/09)
KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Missouri's criminal justice system continues to be threatened by a severely overtaxed public defenders system, according to a new study. Missouri's public defender system has "an overwhelming caseload crisis" that has pushed the state's criminal justice system "to the brink of collapse," said the study issued Friday by the Spangenberg Group and the Center for Justice, Law and Society at George Mason University in Fairfax, Va...

Worsening job picture fuels slide in confidence (10/27/09)
CHICAGO -- Consumers' confidence about the U.S. economy fell unexpectedly in October as job prospects remained bleak, a private research group said today, fueling speculation that an already gloomy holiday shopping forecast could worsen. The Consumer Confidence Index, released by The Conference Board, sank unexpectedly to 47.7 in October -- its second-lowest reading since May...

Snowe would vote to block Reid's health care bill (10/27/09)
WASHINGTON -- Maine Sen. Olympia Snowe says she would vote with fellow Republicans to block the Democratic health care overhaul if changes are not made to the version Majority Leader Harry Reid outlined this week. The Democrats will need 60 votes to get the bill past a threatened Republican filibuster, so Snowe's vote would be crucial if Reid loses any of the chamber's 58 Democrats and two independents...

Obama putting $3.4 billion toward a 'smart' power grid (10/27/09)
ARCADIA, Fla. -- President Barack Obama made a pitch for renewable energy today, announcing $3.4 billion in government support for 100 projects aimed at modernizing the nation's power grid. Touring a field of solar energy panels in west-central Florida, the president urged greater use of several technologies to make America's power transmission system more efficient and better suited to the digital age. ...

Wayward pilots were working on their laptops (10/27/09)
WASHINGTON -- Two Northwest Airlines pilots have told federal investigators they were going over schedules using their laptop computers in violation of company policy while their plane overflew their Minneapolis destination by 150 miles, the National Transportation Safety Board said Monday...

Senate health bill will embrace 'public option' (10/27/09)
WASHINGTON -- Health care legislation heading for the Senate floor will give millions of Americans the option of purchasing government-run insurance coverage, Majority Leader Harry Reid announced Monday, although he stopped short of claiming the 60 votes needed to pass a plan...

Minn. family wants court out of son's cancer case (10/27/09)
MINNEAPOLIS -- The parents of a southern Minnesota teenager who once fled the state to avoid chemotherapy went before a judge Monday and asked for the court's role in the case to end, saying they are following the advice of doctors and making sure their son gets the best medical care...

DEA agents among 14 Americans dead in Afghanistan copter crash (10/27/09)
KABUL -- A U.S. military helicopter crashed Monday while returning from the scene of a firefight with suspected Taliban drug traffickers in western Afghanistan, killing 10 Americans including three DEA agents in a not-so-noticed war within a war...

German political parties reach deal to form goverment (10/27/09)
BERLIN -- Three German party leaders announced a coalition agreement Monday night, pledging to form a government led by Chancellor Angela Merkel that would reform health care and cut up to $36 billion in taxes. The parties approved the coalition deal nearly a month after general elections, after negotiating government policy and ministry portfolios...

Iraq steps up security after 155 killed in Sunday's bombings (10/27/09)
BAGHDAD -- Iraq's government made progress on a new election law that could ease tensions and pledged tighter security Monday after suicide bombings claimed at least 155 lives, including as many as two dozen children trapped in a bus leaving a day care center...

Tigers upend Knights to arrange showdown with Jackson (10/27/09)
The opportunistic Tigers pounced on Farmington's mistakes in Monday's Class 4 District 1 volleyball semifinal.

Bulldogs strike for 1-0 victory vs. Central (10/27/09)
Notre Dame needed one golden scoring opportunity. Sophomore Jonathan Lynch capitalized and the Bulldogs' defense shut down Central on senior night at Notre Dame for a 1-0 victory. "Our defense played really good," Lynch said. "They stepped up in big spots and cleared the ball out. They stepped hard and won some big headers out of the box for us."...

High school roundup: Crusaders volleyball team in district semis (10/27/09)
All the local high school action from Monday that was reported to the Southeast Missourian.

Indians sweep Bluff in semifinal round (10/27/09)
Jackson's lackluster start to the postseason put a scare in the Indians. It took most of the first game for Jackson to start firing on offense. But host Jackson turned it on in time to win the first game on its way to a 29-27, 25-16 victory against Poplar Bluff in a Class 4 District 1 volleyball semifinal Monday...

Local golfers compete in Shawnee Invitational (10/27/09)
John A. Logan took a 50-shot lead with a 432 total during the first day of the Shawnee Invitational at Dalhouise Golf Club. Rend Lake was at 482, Missouri Baptist followed at 486 and host Shawnee Junior College was fourth at 501 in the seven-team field...

Matteson captures win in playoff (10/27/09)
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Troy Matteson blew a chance to win the Frys.com Open in regulation by bogeying the 17th and 18th holes. Playing the same holes in reverse order in a three-way playoff, Matteson recovered from his late collapse. He birdied the second extra hole to beat Jamie Lovemark and Rickie Fowler on Sunday at Grayhawk Golf Club for his second PGA Tour victory...

McGwire joins Cardinals as hitting coach (10/27/09)
ST. LOUIS -- Mark McGwire is back in baseball, reunited with Tony La Russa as the St. Louis Cardinals' hitting coach. La Russa agreed Monday to return for a 15th year as manager with a one-year contract, the first time he hasn't had a multiyear deal with the team. All of his coaches will return except for Hal McRae, who will be replaced by the former star...

Phillies say: Bring on the Yankees (10/27/09)
PHILADELPHIA -- Now the Philadelphia Phillies can say it: The defending champs wanted the New York Yankees all along. Beating the Tampa Bay Rays in last year's World Series was nice. Facing the Los Angeles Angels this week would've been fine. But nothing could top defeating the Yankees, baseball's gold standard for excellence...

Chiefs' Johnson reportedly makes gay slurs to media (10/27/09)
KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Kansas City Chiefs running back Larry Johnson used a gay slur for the second time in as many days Monday, the Kansas City Star reported on its website. Johnson refused to speak with reporters a day after the Chiefs' 37-7 home loss to the Chargers. Sitting in front of his locker, he turned away and muttered the slur in telling reporters to get "out of here," according to the Star, which recorded the comment...

No bingo for DC: Eagles roll, beat Redskins 27-17 (10/27/09)
LANDOVER, Md. -- Sherm Lewis might want to go back to bingo. Or, better yet, he might want to apply for a job as the Philadelphia Eagles' play caller -- it's a much easier job with someone such as DeSean Jackson on your side. Jackson scored on a 67-yard reverse and caught a 57-yard touchdown pass in the first half, and the Eagles converted three turnovers into points Monday night in a 27-17 win over the Washington Redskins...

Rams are bad and schedule's not helping (10/27/09)
ST. LOUIS -- Now 0-7 and saddled with a 17-game losing streak, there's no question the St. Louis Rams have been awful. The schedule isn't giving them any breaks, either. The were pummeled Sunday -- at home -- by the unbeaten Colts 42-6. Indianapolis was the third in a trio of top-shelf teams (Green Bay and Minnesota) they drew to open the home schedule, and all three clobbered St. Louis...

Advance ticket sales brisk for Michael Jackson movie (10/27/09)
LOS ANGELES -- The 50 comeback concerts Michael Jackson planned in London last summer sold out in a few hours. With those shows relegated to what-if status by his death in June, the question now is how well the singer can pack movie theaters with "Michael Jackson: This Is It," a chronicle of his concert preparations that now stands as his final performance...

Madonna launches Malawi girls school (10/27/09)
LILONGWE, Malawi -- Madonna marked the start of construction of her school for girls in Malawi on Monday by planting a tree at the planned site of the $15 million school. The 51-year-old celebrity arrived in the impoverished southern African country on Sunday accompanied by her four children -- daughters Lourdes and Mercy, and sons Rocco and David...

Sticky situation: Chewy candy and braces can be a Halloween nightmare (10/27/09)
NEW YORK -- For the past two Halloweens, Julie Bonn Heath has gotten into a few battles with her son. It wasn't that he was eating too much candy -- he was just eating the wrong kind. Her son, Nick, now 14, wore braces for two years, which meant his favorite treats like sticky, gummy candy and candied apples were off limits...

Weighing in on workout shortcuts (10/27/09)
More of a workout for your walk? Maybe, according to one exercise expert who tried a special shoe that promises to tone your lower level as you walk. In this feature on exercise cheats, gurus weigh in on products promising to do more while you do less...

Jack Weith (10/27/09)
Jack W. Weith, 81, of Jackson died Monday, Oct. 26, 2009, at his home. McCombs Funeral Home in Jackson is in charge of arrangements.

Ina Moore (10/27/09)
Ina Lucille Moore, 72, of Cape Girardeau died Monday, Oct. 26, 2009, at the Lutheran Home. She was born Nov. 8, 1936, in Oak Ridge, to Charles Ardell and Ina Beatrice Bollinger Warren. She and Frank O. Moore were married March 3, 1957, in Cape Girardeau. He preceded her in death Sept. 15, 1985...

Corinne Arbeiter (10/27/09)
Corinne A. Arbeiter, 90, of Cape Girardeau died Monday, Oct. 26, 2009, at the Lutheran Home. Visitation will be from 9 a.m. to service time Friday at Christ Lutheran Church in Jacob, Ill. The funeral will be at 11 a.m. Friday at the church. Burial will be in Christ Lutheran Church Cemetery...

Births 10/27/09 (10/27/09)
Weber; Rabey; Stafford; Monroe

Jefferson Elementary Honor Roll (10/27/09)
Jefferson Elementary A Honor Roll 4th grade: Layton Hamby, Harley Sample. B Honor Roll 4th grade: Montana Boyer, Alex Colegate, Lathan Daniels, Zoe Fields, Kezia Grigsby, DeShawn Johnson, Carrington Mills, Deasya Pearson, Demetrius Rayford, Haylie Reed, Anthony Strack, Decortneyawna Willis, Elijah Woodson...

Blanchard Elementary Honor Roll (10/27/09)
Blanchard Elementary A Honor Roll 4th grade: Dalton Drum, Liam Green, Chloe Hampton, Dennis Jordan, Aubrey Kitchen. B Honor Roll 4th grade: Mallory Bittner, D'ante Clark, D'Vaisha Collins, Dylan Corvick, Aries Criddle, Leigha Douglas, Taylor Estraca, Robyn Foote, Tyler Hafford, Aeriel Holder, Ethan Hutson, Abigel Jarvis, Destiny Jones, JaQuan Jones, September Knupp, John Lawrence, Jackson Manley, DeCraigrionna Marks, Cassandra Martin, Cierra McKinley, Kyra Pearl, Nurissa Rashid, Brian Schumer, Aubrey Talley, Hannah Thiele.. ...

Kelso C-7 School Honor Roll (10/27/09)
Kelso C-7 School District A Honor Roll 2nd grade: Riley Burger, Allison Colbert, Morgan Kern, Grant Menz, Kaylyn Michael, Josh Schmitt 3rd grade: Lexi Spurgeon, Emma Wilhelm, 4th grade: Alex Burger, Ricky Hovis, Claudia Kern, Alyssa Moore, Drew Reischman, Kaitlyn Schiwitz...

Fire report 10/27/09 (10/27/09)
Cape Girardeau Firefighters responded to the following calls Sunday: Firefighters responded to the following calls Monday: Jackson Firefighters responded to the following call Sunday:...

Police report 10/27/09 (10/27/09)
Cape Girardeau The Cape Girardeau Police Department released the following items. Arrests do not imply guilt. Arrests Summonses Assault Theft Miscellaneous The Jackson Police Department released the following items. Arrests do not imply guilt....

Out of the past 10/27/09 (10/27/09)
25 years ago: Oct. 27, 1984 Five more banners belonging to the Cape Girardeau Redevelopment Corp. proclaiming the group's downtown improvement project were reported stolen from the downtown area last night, bringing the total to 13 signs over the past week; a reward of $500 is being offered to anyone who provides information leading to the arrest, charge and conviction of those responsible...

River potential (10/27/09)
The importance of the Mississippi River to the middle of the nation has existed since humans first settled here. The river was a source of food, water, trade goods and transportation. Now river tourism is seen as a market ready for expansion. Already, says Dr. ...

Empty Bowl 11/8, 11/11 (10/27/09)
Due to a reporting error, the date for one of the Empty Bowl Project events was incorrect in Sunday's editorial. The Empty Bowls banquet will be from noon to 3 p.m. Nov. 8 at the Salvation Army. Another banquet for Southeast Missouri State University students, faculty and staff will be Nov. 11 at Dearmont Hall. This important project raises money for hunger-fighting organizations...

Thoughts on climate change (10/27/09)
Not being an atmospheric scientist but having read and attempted to critically analyze global warming, or climate change, here is what I have concluded. By the way, science works a lot like that. 1. The amount of carbon dioxide in our atmosphere is increasing, and humans are probably at fault...

Speak Out 10/27/09 (10/27/09)
Smoking ban; Misused permit; No public smoking; Losing our rights; Steady ideology; ND character; Spelling, grammar; What happened?

Prayer 10/27/09 (10/27/09)
Help us, O God, to achieve positive results, no matter how small. Amen.

Cape Central students selected for Southeast Missouri District Honor Orchestra (10/27/09)
Two dozen Cape Central High School instrument music students are celebrating their selection to the 2009 Southeast Missouri District Honor Orchestra. The Honor Orchestra will perform in Sikeston on Saturday, November 7. The Orchestra will present a concert at 4:00 PM, which is free to the public. Conductor/clinician for the day is Ed Simon, a high school orchestra director from the Parkway School District in St. Louis...

Author Bonnie Stepenoff Leads "Wrting Your Own History Workshop" (10/27/09)
Topics for the "Writing Your Own History Workshop" on Wed., Nov. 4, noon- 1pm will include preserving historic photographs, research in old newspapers, and updates on participants' projects. Everyone is invited to attend and bring photographs, journals, scrapbooks, or examples of writing old family to show and share...

JCPenney Salon Raises Money for Charities (10/27/09)
The Jcpenney Salon in Cape Girardeau have combined their efforts with the JCPenney retail store to raise money for two charities. The idea first came about when the need arose to clean out a stock room. In doing so many of the stylist came to the conclusion that there are many people in the community that could use the beauty items. ...

National Guard Soldiers set sites on weapons training at Fort Campbell (10/27/09)
FORT CAMPBELL, Ky. -- Sgt. Brandon Massey realizes how important it is for a Soldier to stay proficient with the weapons because someday it could be the difference between life and death. But for Massey, and other Missouri National Guard Soldiers who made the trek to Fort Campbell, Ky., last weekend, the added bonus from the annual weapons qualification was that it's always a lot of fun...

Jefferson Trick or Treat Village (10/27/09)
Jefferson's second annual Trick or Treat Village was a success once again. Families flocked to Jefferson for a night of fun and food.

Sunset on Route K (10/27/09)
Sunset on Route K after a storm

Bouquet with granddaughter (10/27/09)
Sharing a bouquet with my granddaughter

Butterfly (10/27/09)
butterfly

African Lovebird (10/27/09)
African Lovebird

Fall picture (10/27/09)
Colorful leaves for Fall 2009

Jefferson students celebrate MAP Success (10/27/09)
Jefferson students are treated to dinner at Bella Italia to celebrate their acheivement on the MAP test.

Jefferson students celebrate MAP Success (10/27/09)
Jefferson students get treated to dinner at Bella Italia to celebrate their acheivement on the MAP test.

A Beautiful Autumn Scene (10/27/09)
a view of the quarry pond at Elephant Rocks State Park.

Smiling Camel (10/27/09)
We took our kids for their very first trip to Grants Farm a couple months ago, and they got really excited when we walked by the camels.. so we decided to take a picture and this one looks like he was smiling for the camera!