Stories from April 2010

BLOOMFIELD, Mo. -- The Stoddard County Juvenile Court has retained jurisdiction over not only the Puxico student accused of threatening to kill 29 of her schoolmates, but also her younger brother, the Daily American Republic reported. The decision to retain jurisdiction over the Puxico boy was made by Juvenile Judge Joe Satterfield during a hearing Tuesday morning...

Cape Girardeau police officers are looking for a silver sedan said to have hit an 18-year-old female driving a scooter at around 4:45 p.m. today at Good Hope Street and Spanish Street. An ambulance was called to the scene, where the victim was treated for minor cuts to her right arm and put in a neck brace before being transported to a nearby hospital...

Southeast Missourians should prepare for an earthquake, but also for the attention the region will receive as the bicentennial for its biggest earthquake in modern history approaches. "They're going to be looking at the Midwest and what we've done," said Steve Besemer, earthquake program manager for the State Emergency Management Agency...

More than a dozen amateur storytellers will perform along with professionals at the third annual Cape Girardeau Storytelling Festival from April 9 to 11. This year's festival will feature a "Swapping Ground," giving local storytellers an opportunity to show off their skills...

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month, a nationally recognized time dedicated to raising awareness about and promoting prevention of sexual violence. During this month, Safe House for Women will join with people throughout the state and the nation to focus the public's attention on this important issue...

Proscutors will seek the death penalty for the man charged in the Oct. 27 killings of Jamie Lynn Orman and her son, Derrick.

When the Cape Girardeau City Council discussed the city's Capital Improvements Program earlier this year, Councilman John Voss asked why it seemed there was little for his ward on the northeast side of the city. In reply, city officials said the plan deals with citywide priorities and that a large section of Big Bend Road is scheduled to be rebuilt this year. The plan for Big Bend Road includes a new sidewalk along Bertling Street that is part of a biking and hiking path around Cape Girardeau...

The Volunteer Intergenerational Center is gearing up to make this year's National Volunteer Week a success. Our staff will be dedicated in the planning and coordinating of the event which will be held Saturday, April 17 -- Saturday, April 24, 2010. This year's theme will be "Show Me You Care"...

When E. Paul Jackson and seven other men gathered at a St. Louis Holiday Inn in October 1968, the group dreamed of a ministry to help men recovering from alcohol and drug addictions. Two years later, that dream became reality when about 25 men entered the doors of Teen Challenge Mid-America off County Road 621 in Cape Girardeau County...

The Jackson Choir Fest to benefit the JMA Food Pantry will be April 11th, 4:00 pm at St. Paul Lutheran Church. Please come and listen as choirs from our fellow churches throughout the area come together to sing their favorite hymns! You will also get an opportunity to sing a verse or two to Praise the Lord!...

Snickers is a 6 month old Yorkie mix. He is friendly and energetic. Snickers is available for adoption at The Humane Society of SEMO 573-334-5837. See more pets available at www.semopets.org

Two Oran, Mo. men were arrested Monday after a search of their residence revealed materials used in the manufacturing of methamphetamines, according to Scott County Sheriff Rick Walter. Charles Taylor Jr. and Kevin Dennis have been each been charged with attempt to manufacture a controlled substance, a class B felony. Dennis has also been charged with two counts of possession of a controlled substance, also a felony. They are in the custody of the Scott County Jail on a $25,000 bond, respectively...

Cassie Simpher won a state title in the 400 meters as a freshman and has gotten faster her last two years at the state championship meet. That would lead many to the conclusion that Simpher is entering her senior season at Saxony Lutheran in pursuit of her fourth state title in the 400. But Simpher oddly has not duplicated her first-place finish as a freshman. While Simpher has gotten faster, so has the competition, and the senior has grown to accept that reality...

All the scores from Wednesday that were reported to the Southeast Missourian.

Friends and family members are often the butt of jokes. On April Fools' Day they are also easy targets. In recognition of the orneriest day of the year, the Southeast Missourian chatted with some teens during an afternoon at West Park Mall. We asked about pranks they've pulled off and pranks they would try if there were no consequences. Here's what they said:"I would probably freeze somebody's bra."...

What's happening this weekend

"Break a leg!" Those are the words I will be yelling for the last time April 10 as I eagerly await closing night of "The Three Musketeers" production. It will be my last preperformance handshake, and, as my fellow Silver Dagger Players and I circle the cast room, it will be my turn to make a senior speech. ...

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Farmers hope to plant a record crop of soybeans and another huge corn crop this spring, helping fill grain bins around the country and easing fears of global food shortages, according to a report released Wednesday. The report by the Department of Agriculture of estimated crop acreage caused steep drops in soybean and corn prices as analysts reacted to forecasts that reserves of the crops would increase this fall...

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- The U.S. Department of Energy is awarding a Kansas City maker of electric vehicles an additional $22 million to help with the development of zero-emission trucks and research their effectiveness. After announcing the grant during a news conference Wednesday at Smith Electric Vehicles Corp.'s assembly plant, U.S. ...

WICHITA, Kan. -- The man who gunned down one of the few doctors in the U.S. to perform late-term abortions could be sent to prison today for the rest of his life, but he may have gotten what he wanted all along: It is now markedly harder in Kansas to get an abortion...

WASHINGTON -- So a scientist walks into a shopping mall to watch people laugh. There's no punchline. Laughter is a serious scientific subject, one that researchers are still trying to figure out. Laughing is primal, our first way of communicating. Apes laugh. So do dogs and rats. Babies laugh long before they speak. No one teaches you how to laugh. You just do. And often you laugh involuntarily, in a specific rhythm and in certain spots in conversation...

WASHINGTON -- Shaking up years of energy policy and his own environmental backers, President Barack Obama threw open a huge swath of East Coast waters and other protected areas in the Gulf of Mexico and Alaska to drilling Wednesday, widening the politically explosive hunt for more homegrown oil and gas...

The Cape Girardeau Police Department released the following items. Arrests do not imply guilt. DWI...

Firefighters responded to the following calls Monday:...

Ann Sylvia Harllee Schade, 92, died peacefully Friday, March 26, 2010, at Cottonwood Manor in Denton, Texas. She was born Oct. 28, 1917, in Charleston, S.C. Her parents, John William and Lily Bell Canty Harllee preceded her in death, as did two brothers, Oliver Vincent (Pat) Harllee and William Raphael (Bill) Harllee...

Jewell Doylene Herzinger, 82, of Cape Girardeau died Tuesday, March 30, 2010, at Southeast Missouri Hospital. She was born Sept. 6, 1927, at Swinton, Mo., to Doyle F. and Ina Jewell Davis Strauser. She and Everett E. Herzinger were married June 30, 1946, in Cape Girardeau...

ANNA, Ill. -- James C. Huckleberry, 78, of Anna died Tuesday, March 30, 2010, at his home. Visitation will be from 11 a.m. to service time Friday at Rendleman and Hileman Funeral Home in Anna. The funeral will be at 1 p.m. Friday at the funeral home, with the Rev. Mark Roath officiating. Burial will be in Anna City Cemetery...

Irene J. Francis, 71, of Jackson died Tuesday, March 30, 2010, at her home. Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Sunday at the chapel of McCombs Funeral Home and Cremation Center in Jackson. The rosary will be at 7:30, led by St. Ann's Sodality. The funeral will be at 10 a.m. Monday at the funeral home, with Deacon Walter Biri and the Rev. Roger Kiepe officiating. Burial will be in Cook Cemetery near Scopus, Mo...

The Mississippi River is on the rise again; heavy rain over the weekend is pushing the river up once more with a predicted crest of 36.5 feet Thursday; that would put the stream 4.5 feet above official flood stage. During a ceremony at the University Center, Evelyn LeGrand, Cape Girardeau deputy city clerk, swears in 11 Southeast Missouri State University public safety officers as deputy city police officers...

POLICE The Jackson Police Department released the following items. Arrests do not imply guilt. Thefts Miscellaneous FIRE Firefighters responded to the following calls Tuesday:...

SEATTLE -- People who lined up to buy the first iPhone knew what they were paying hundreds of dollars for: a new cell phone that promised to be better. Apple Inc.'s newest gadget, the iPad tablet computer, falls into a category that's foreign to most people...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Give people their money. It's the rallying cry of lawmakers around the country pushing back against states that are delaying tax refunds to shore up their budgets. Holding on to the refunds allows states to use the money for other purposes, earn interest on it or simply wait until there's enough cash to cover the checks. But the cost can be an unhappy public...

University students looking for a way to create the effects of marijuana on research mice developed a chemical substitute called K2 or "spice." It didn't take long for K2 -- a currently legal, smokable herb -- to become popular with humans seeking a pot high without breaking the law...

REGARDING the Upward Basketball Program through Lynwood Baptist Church: I had two children who played Upward basketball this year, and they had a fantastic time. As long as there's veteran leadership with Shannon Aldridge and Laura Kesterside, the program will always continue to rock...

For your holy mysteries and pledge of eternal life, we give thanks to you, O God. Amen.

April 1, 2010 Dear Julie, With the video camera she received for Christmas, DC first photographed eagles. Then she aimed her lens at trees swarming with swallows along Kingshighway. A flock of swallows roosting is a sight neighbors are unlikely to appreciate, but it is magnificent...

A Cape Girardeau man accused of unlawfully entering a residence at at 1325 Dunklin St. was granted a change of venue this week before Circuit Court Judge William L. Syler. Pili Showers' first-degree burglary case will now be heard in New Madrid County...

Scholarships Katie Brucker of Chaffee, Mo., received a President's Scholarship and a Missouri Assessment Program Scholarship. Amanda Bruns of Cape Girardeau and Ashley Brant of Chaffee received a Regents' Scholarship. Belle DelaCruz of Altenburg, Mo., received a President's Scholarship...

Interstate 55 in Cape Girardeau County will be reduced to one lane while crews begin preparation for the new concrete and asphalt paving. Drivers can expect one lane of traffic in the north and southbound lanes from mile marker 105.5 at Fruitland to just south of the Fruitland rest area. Weather permitting, the contractor will begin working from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. daily starting Monday through April 16...

Southbound Interstate 57 in Mississippi and Scott counties will be reduced to one lane with a 16-foot width restriction while MoDOT crews perform pavement repairs. This section of road is from Route CC to Interstate 55 at Sikeston, Mo. Weather permitting, the work will take place beginning at 7 a.m. Monday and will end at 5 p.m. April 9...

Add some science to your Easter celebration by using a few ingredients from around the house. STEP 2: Attach the accessory hose to the storage canister and the food sealer. STEP 3: Start the vacuum food sealer and watch the canister closely. The vacuum food sealer removes all the air from around the Peeps, allowing the air inside the Peeps to escape. As this happens, the Peeps expand...

JUPITER, Fla. -- Cristian Guzman made his first start at second base since losing the shortstop job to rookie Ian Desmond and helped turn two double plays in the Washington Nationals' 9-6 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals on Wednesday. Guzman also went 3 for 4 with two doubles and two RBIs...

Southeast Missouri State's 2010 football schedule, officially released by the university Wednesday, has the Redhawks playing six of their 11 games on the road. The Redhawks open the season Sept. 2 at Division I-A Ball State in their annual "money game" to generate revenue for the athletic department. Ball State will pay Southeast $275,000...

GIRLS Chaffee Red Devils Returners: Liz Schlosser, jr., distance; Sarah Sigman, sr., jumps/distance; Rachel Reischman, jr., distance; Cassie Hindman, so., jumps/sprints/hurdles; Kira Hall, so., thrower; Taylor Kirchdoerfer, sr., distance; Sierra Miller, so., distance; Randi Wiley, jr., distance; Paige Russom, so., thrower...

There was only one constant during Saxony Lutheran's home game against Fredericktown on Wednesday afternoon. It wasn't pitching, it wasn't hitting and it sure wasn't defense. It was wind. A wind that proved to be unkind to both the Crusaders (2-1) and Blackcats (1-2)...

The Southeast Missouri State softball team continued to struggle Wednesday as the Redhawks were swept at home in an Ohio Valley Conference doubleheader. Eastern Illinois remained unbeaten in OVC play with 3-0 and 10-2 victories. The Panthers (15-11, 7-0) have won nine straight as they moved into a first-place OVC tie...

WASHINGTON -- Top Republicans are starting to worry about their health care rallying cry "Repeal the bill." It just might singe GOP candidates in November's elections, they fear, if voters begin to see benefits of the new law. Democrats, hoping the GOP is indeed positioning itself too far to the right for the elections, are taking note of every Republican who pledges to fight for repeal. ...

MAKHACHKALA, Russia -- A Chechen militant claimed responsibility for the deadly attacks on the Moscow subway in an Internet message posted Wednesday, hours after two more suicide bombers struck southern Russia in defiance of Prime Minister Vladimir Putin...

CAIRO, Ill. -- Verle Koch, 100, of Paducah, Ky., formerly of Cairo, died Wednesday, March 31, 2010, at Parkview Nursing Home in Paducah. Arrangements are incomplete at Barkett Funeral Home in Cairo.

ORAN, Mo. -- D.B. Harris, 89, of Oran died Wednesday, March 31, 2010. Arrangements are incomplete at Amick-Burnett Funeral Chapel in Oran.

CHAFFEE, Mo. -- Eugene V. Bushard, 98, of Minneapolis, formerly of Chaffee, died Tuesday, March 30, 2010. Arrangements are incomplete at Amick-Burnett Funeral Chapel in Chaffee.

Access reform for telephone companies is a complex issue. The March 24 guest editorial "Phoning in reform" from the Joplin Globe ignores a crucial truth. Access charges reflect a recognized cost of doing business, compensating local companies for the use of their facilities. That revenue helps keep monthly phone bills affordable and help to build and to maintain the advanced networks that benefit everyone...

ST. LOUIS (AP) -- U.S. Secretary of Energy Steven Chu will deliver the commencement address at Washington University in St. Louis next month. The university made the announcement on Thursday. Chu will speak at the university's 149th commencement at 8:30 a.m. May 21 at Brookings Quadrangle on the Danforth Campus. He will also receive an honorary doctor of science degree...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) -- Senate budget writers want to cut funding by more than half for an early childhood development program that began in Missouri a generation ago and has since spread nationwide. The Parents as Teachers initiative was one of the first programs to take a big hit Wednesday night as the Senate Appropriations Committee began trimming Missouri's proposed budget...

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Bigger grants for college students who need them. Relaxed payment terms for students with loans. More money for community colleges and historically black institutions. The law that President Barack Obama signed Tuesday could mean big changes for hard-pressed students and colleges as the government becomes the primary issuer of student loans. But just whom will that affect and how?...

Each year the president of the Missouri State Eagles Aerie and the president of the Mo. State Eagles Auxiliary choose a charity of their choice to raise money for all year. The Missouri Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) are so grateful that "Prescription Drug Assistance" was chosen as their charity of choice for the year 2009-2010...

Cystic Fibrosis Walk will be held on Saturday, April 17th at 9:00am. The walk will begin at Cape County Park North Pavilion # 4. To register a team or individual walker, please go to www.cff.org/Great_Strides. State: Missouri Host Chapter: Gateway Chapter...

Syd Lieberman is one of six featured performers at the Cape Girardeau Storytelling Festival, which runs April 9 through 11. Lieberman is an internationally acclaimed storyteller, author, and award-winning teacher. Many of his stories deal with growing up and raising a family in Chicago...

All the area high school results reported Thursday to the Southeast Missourian.

Spring has arrived in Southeast Missouri, and with it comes the use of natural surroundings as a canvas for artistic development. The Edward Bernard Gallery is holding its third annual "Sculpture on the Green" exhibit, which showcases work from area sculptors on the lawn next to the gallery...

MARBLE HILL, Mo. -- Once neighbors, Marble Hill and Lutesville have been combined for 25 years now. In April 1985, voters of Marble Hill and Lutesville chose to merge the towns. In Marble Hill the vote was 128 yes; 125 no. Lutesville's voters were more inclined to approve it, with a vote of 200 yes and 43 no votes. Today marks the 25th anniversary of the merger...

A 19-year-old Jackson man accused of burglarizing several Cape Girardeau and Jackson businesses waived his preliminary hearing for all charges Thursday before Associate Circuit Court Judge Gary A. Kamp.

A banker, former superintendent, board member and university department chair are vying for two spots on the Cape Girardeau School Board as the district, like many across the state, is facing a rocky financial period. The composition of the board and many others in the area will change with the outcome of Tuesday's election. ...

Ten property owners just south of Jackson could in 2011 find themselves without coverage of a fire protection district. But to prevent that from happening, the Millersville Fire Protection District is hoping to annex the land that lies south of County Road 328, east of County Road 335, north of County Road 330 and west of Seabaugh Road...

After Tuesday's election, two new members will be inducted onto the East County Fire Protection District board of directors, ending its years as a three-member panel. The newest board members will increase the panel's total to five, which the board president and the department's fire chief say will allow the protection district to serve the community better...

The City of Jackson has scheduled its annual E-cycle Day for April 24. Residents can bring old and obsolete electronic equipment, appliances and other items with recoverable metal to the Recycling Center from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at no charge. However, residents will be charged a small fee for dropping off televisions and computer monitors at the center, 509 Eastview Court...

The United Way of Southeast Missouri's 2009 fundraising campaign contributions leave the organization slightly short of its $1.2 million goal.

BENTON, Mo. -- A Scott County resident is asking for more signs to bring a road closure to motorists attention. "There is no real warning," said Richard Riley, in regards to a road off County Road 505, near Kelly Schools, while speaking with county commissioners at Thursday's meeting. "Someone needs to block it off."...

ST. LOUIS (AP) -- A dry week has been good news for river watchers in Missouri. The Mississippi River has crested and is on the decline from Hannibal to the north to Cape Girardeau to the south. Hannibal officials removed the flood gates Thursday after the river dipped below 18 feet - still two feet above technical flood stage. The crest was 20.7 feet on March 15...

NEW YORK -- Sarah Palin's travelogue series about Alaska has landed at the TLC network, and filming is set to begin this summer. Network owner Discovery Communications announced it had acquired rights to the eight-part series, produced by "Survivor" producer Mark Burnett...

For Kyle Gerecke and Jordan Duncan, the reasons to climb a mountain go far beyond "because it's there." As part of Summit for Someone, Gerecke and Duncan will be taking on the climbs of Mount Orizaba and Ixtacihuatl, also known as Mount Ixta, which are Mexico's highest peaks at 18,410 feet and 17,158 feet respectively...

NEW YORK -- Back in the Mod '60s, when Twiggy conquered London and fashion changed forever, the waif of a teen with huge eyes, a boyish bob and long legs craved the glamour and curves of a different icon. "Whether you're thin, fat, small, dark, blond, redhead, you want to be something else," said the world's first boldface supermodel. "I wanted a fairy godmother to make me look like Marilyn Monroe. I had no boobs, no hips, and I wanted it desperately."...

Arts and entertainment briefs

Galleries open for First Friday

PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- The sun is out. The water is falling. Traffic is starting to flow again. While things appear to be looking up in Rhode Island, the state hit hardest this week by three days of rain and record flooding, health and environmental officials warn there's still danger below the surface...

WICHITA, Kan. -- Defiant to the end, an anti-abortion activist who murdered one of the few U.S. doctors who performed late-term abortions was sentenced Thursday to life in prison and won't be eligible for parole for 50 years -- the maximum allowed by law...

HEBRON, West Bank -- Ultranationalist Israelis flocked to a disputed, volatile holy site in the divided West Bank city of Hebron on Thursday, laying their claim while also denouncing the policies of President Barack Obama toward Israel. Some 10,000 Israelis, heavily guarded by the Israeli military, put on a carnival-like gathering at the Cave of the Patriarchs, revered by both faiths, with cotton candy and pony rides. ...

VATICAN CITY -- Cardinals across Europe used their Holy Thursday sermons to defend Pope Benedict XVI from accusations he played a role in covering up sex abuse scandals, and an increasingly angry Vatican sought to deflect any criticism in the Western media...

Priscilla Howe is one of six featured performers at the third annual Cape Girardeau Storytelling Festival April 9 through 11. "All my stories start with a seed of truth," Howe said. With more than 15 years of experience telling stories, Howe's tales vary from funny to scary and serious to goofy. When performing for children, Howe uses hand puppets to bring her stories to life...

Cape Girardeau police officers are looking for a silver sedan said to have hit an 18-year-old woman driving a scooter around 4:45 p.m. Thursday at Good Hope and Spanish streets. An ambulance was called to the scene, where the victim was treated for minor cuts to her right arm and put in a neck brace before being transported to a nearby hospital. ...

Highway 34 in Bollinger County will be reduced to one lane while Missouri Department of Transportation crews perform pavement repairs today and Monday. This section of road is between Highway 51 and Route B. Work will be performed from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m...

Work began on Interstate 57 near mile marker 1 on Thursday and will continue as highway contractors repair and resurface the road in Mississippi and Scott counties. The work will take place between Route CC and Interstate 55 at Sikeston, Mo. Traffic will be reduced to one lane in each direction during the day and at night...

HAYTI, Mo. -- A Cape Girardeau man has been charged following an attempted shooting in Hayti, the Daily Dunklin Democrat reported. Jeffrey M. Bogan, 25, was charged Wednesday with one count of second-degree assault, one count of unlawful use of a weapon and one count of armed criminal action.

DIEHLSTADT, Mo. -- As of Tuesday evening, Leother Branch, Scott County conservation agent, was trying to find and remove a large python reportedly under a Diehlstadt home, the Sikeston Standard Democrat reported. Branch said dangerous animals and reptiles are supposed to be registered with the county. He said the snake is not a pet of the people who live in the home.

What started as an effort to honor fallen soldiers in Southeast Missouri with signs along interstate highways has evolved into a much bigger challenge: raising enough money to put up signs for all of the more than 100 soldiers who have died in Afghanistan or Iraq since Sept. 11, 2001...

WHEN are the health care lemmings going to wake up? Obamacare will prove to be one of the biggest mistakes ever made. The so-called reforms will destroy the American health insurance industry, bankrupt us and ruin our country. Taxes and premiums will go up, and care will go down. ...

Firefighters responded to the following calls Wednesday:...

The Cape Girardeau Police Department released the following items. Arrests do not imply guilt. Arrests...

Mildred Irene Allen, 86, of Jefferson City, Mo., formerly of Jackson, died Thursday, April 1, 2010, at her home. She was born April 10, 1923, in Elvins, Mo., daughter of James Elmer Thomas and Rosa Ellen Nelson Stokely. She was first married to Robert Lee Smith April 18, 1943. He died Nov. 17, 1959. She later married Elmer Allen on Oct. 29, 1985. He died May 17, 1975...

CHAFFEE, Mo. -- Eugene V. Bushard, 98, of Minneapolis, Minn., formerly of Chaffee, died Tuesday, March 30, 2010. He was born Feb. 26, 1912. Bushard was a member of the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s and barbered at the Minneapolis Athletic Club from which he retired in 1977...

ORAN, Mo. -- D.B. Harris, 89, of Oran died Wednesday, March 31, 2010, at Crystal Oaks Nursing Center in Crystal City, Mo. He was born Aug. 8, 1920, in Okolona, Ark., son of R.L. and Ruth Hughes Harris. He and Frances E. Anderson were married May 6, 1949...

Inell Mason Vogel, 89, of Cape Girardeau passed away Wednesday, March 31, 2010, at the Lutheran Home. She was born Sept. 20, 1920, in Jayton, Texas, daughter of William R. and Ellesa L. Tankersley Mason. In 1927 her family moved to Rule, Texas. She graduated from Rule High School in 1938 and attended McMurry College In Abilene, Texas, in 1938-1939. ...

Kathryn Pauline Lankford Westbrook, 66, of Cape Girardeau, formerly of Russellville, Ark., died Monday, March 29, 2010, at Southeast Missouri Hospital. The funeral will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at Humphrey Chapel in Russellville. Keith Sharp, Jeff Archer and A.W. Goff will officiate. Burial will be in Rest Haven Memorial Park in Russellville...

A preliminary hearing to gather ideas on the location of a bridge to replace the aging Mississippi River span here has been scheduled for May 14 at the Arena Building; the hearing is an initial step that could lead toward plans to build a new four-lane bridge here as soon as eight years from now...

The Jackson Police Department released the following items. Arrests do not imply guilt. Arrests Firefighters responded to the following call Wednesday:...

For the whole world, our Savior suffered death to save us all, and we are thankful. Amen.

Whenever I think there is nothing new to amaze me, something comes along that knocks my socks off. Let's start with what I've experienced in my lifetime. The farmhouse where I grew up on Killough Valley in the Ozarks over yonder didn't have a phone until a couple of years after I left for college...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Senate budget writers want to cut funding by more than half for an early childhood development program that began in Missouri a generation ago and has since spread nationwide. The national president of the Parents as Teachers initiative said Thursday that the "shortsighted" cut could eliminate help for tens of thousands of families with young children...

OMAHA, Neb. -- The economy in nine Midwest and Plains states appears ready to grow and more than one-quarter of the companies in the region plan to add jobs in the next six months, according to a monthly survey of business leaders and supply managers released Thursday...

NEW YORK -- Stronger reports on jobs and manufacturing boosted stocks Thursday ahead of the government's employment report for March. The Dow Jones industrial average rose 70 points to a 2010 high on the final day of a shortened week. The stock market will be closed today and the bond market will close early for Good Friday...

One argument in favor of a charter government for Cape Girardeau County is that appointed department heads are easier to remove from office than elected officials, Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce president John Mehner said Thursday.

It's not hard to see why the Southeast Missouri State baseball team has the best overall record in the Ohio Valley Conference so far this season. Statistics tell the story. The Redhawks lead the league in batting average (.351), earned-run average (5.48) and fielding percentage (.961)...

Southeast Missouri State track and field coach Eric Crumpecker again expects plenty of stellar competition for his program's annual outdoor meet. The 29th annual Joey Haines Invitational will take place today and Saturday at the Abe Stuber Complex. There will be only one event today, the hammer throw at 3:30 p.m. The bulk of the meet will be Saturday, with field events starting at 10 a.m., followed by running events at 11:30 a.m...

JUPITER, Fla. -- Infielder Julio Lugo was traded Thursday from the St. Louis Cardinals to the Baltimore Orioles for a player to be named or cash. The 34-year-old became expendable after the Cardinals signed Felipe Lopez in late February. Lugo was acquired from Boston last July 22 in the trade that sent Chris Duncan -- son of Cardinals pitching coach Dave Duncan -- to the Red Sox...

JUPITER, Fla. -- Newly acquired Nate Robertson allowed one earned run on two hits in seven innings and even drove in a run in the Florida Marlins' 3-1 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals on Thursday. "I got here yesterday with a full car, my family is back in Detroit and I'm pitching seven innings in the final game of the Grapefruit League," Robertson said. ...

Journalism is not a dying industry. It is a changing industry, for sure, but it is not dying. I don't know how many times I've said that to friends, family or new acquaintances in the past few months. They ask if I'm looking for a new job yet, and I laugh sarcastically, but sweetly and tell them, "No. I'm looking at how my job is going to change."...

* Due to a source error, the address for Thomas L. White in Wednesday's Cape Girardeau police report was incorrect. A correct address was not available Thursday.

It is easy to say we need to stop printing, borrowing and spending money. It is time we realize we are virtually living off our friends: China, Japan, Canada, Mexico, Taiwan and too many others. At least 50 percent to 75 percent of our taxes, printed money and other income go to them...

Many people may recall that President Reagan promoted public-school reform by saying that we had a "nation at risk" because the U.S. was falling behind other countries in the field of education. His education initiatives and others such as the No Child Left Behind law that was authored by President George W. Bush with the help of Ted Kennedy have had little effect on our global education standing, and the National Center for Education Statistics reveals many grim facts...

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- The Nashville Predators want everything clicking when they hit the playoffs. Ending a scoring drought on their own ice is a good -- and big -- start. Steve Sullivan scored the go-ahead goal at 6:05 of the third period, and the Predators beat the St. ...

A lot of time, effort and money has been devoted to promoting the passage of a $40 million bond issue, called Proposition 1, for the Cape Girardeau School District. Proponents have explained in great detail where the money will be spent and the resulting improvements. The presentations are slanted toward getting the bond issue passed...

ST. LOUIS (AP) -- The president of St. Louis Community College's Meramec campus has resigned, a week after he drew complaints for not renewing the contract of a popular vice president. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports that Paul Pai's letter of resignation on Thursday stated that he wanted to "pursue another direction."...

Local Cape Girardeau County citizens concerned about the future of our nation will meet in Cape Girardeau Saturday. This group is comprised of volunteers who put together last year's Tea Party events in April and July, as well as those otherwise interested in preserving freedom...

Our dog Elway with bunny ears on.

Sikeston Standard Democrat SIKESTON -- A special award was given at Thursday night's awards banquet. Lt. James E. McNiell of the Missouri State Highway Patrol was honored for his 33 years of service -- 19 in Troop E -- by Capt. George Ridens. McNiell plans to retire in May...

The 2nd Annual Children's Fair will take place Saturday, Apr 3 from 10:00am to 2:00pm in the Lynwood Baptist Church parking lot. Cape Girardeau, MO BACA - Bikers Against Child Abuse with the sponsorship of the Missouri Army National Guard have come together again to host this free fair for all children. ...

On May 21 and 22, a conference for childcare providers, foster parents, parents, and anyone else who works with children will be held at Dempster Hall on the university campus. The conference will be held from 12:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Friday, then start up again Saturday morning at 9:00 a.m. and continue until 5:45 p.m...

Layton Got a New Jack Russell Terrier For Easter. I Don't Know Who Likes Who The Most.

The Downtown Council of Churches will celebrate Good Friday with its 10th annual Way of the Cross march through Cape Girardeau.

When Gov. Jay Nixon asked what it would take to get the most unemployed people back into the workforce during his first visit to Three Rivers Community College in October, president Dr. Devin Stephenson simply replied, "Capacity." Among other Missouri community colleges recently approved under the governor's Training for Tomorrow initiative, Three Rivers will receive about $750,000 to be used to help establish an environment for students to acquire hands-on experience in high-demand fields...

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Caruthersville High School and Southeast Missouri State University art instructor Vicki Bean was recently sworn in as President of the Missouri Art Education Association at an annual convention in Kansas City. With approximately 1000 educator members representing every level from early childhood to post graduate, museum and retired, the association is the nation's 4th largest state art educator organization...

The state blue law banning retail sales of most goods on Sundays was repealed yesterday in seven counties, including the Southeast Missouri counties of Scott, New Madrid and Pemiscot; the votes repealing the law in the three counties means Mississippi County is the only county along the Mississippi River from Cape Girardeau County south to the Arkansas line that bans Sunday sales...

Alen James, 85, of Cape Girardeau died Thursday, April 1, 2010, at his home. Crain Funeral Home in Cape Girardeau is in charge of arrangements.

NEW MADRID, Mo. -- Phillip Ransburgh, 54, of New Madrid died Wednesday, March 31, 2010, at his home. He was born May 23, 1955, in Cape Girardeau, son of Henry Clay and Roseanna Camp Ransburgh Sr. Survivors include three brothers, Dr. Steve Whitten of Cape Girardeau, Foster Whitten of Middletown, N.Y., and Henry Clay Ransburgh Jr. of Columbia, Mo...

FARRAR, Mo. -- Ronald G. "Ron" Lorenz, 52, of Farrar died Thursday, April 1, 2010, at Farrar. He was born Sept. 6, 1957, in Perry County, Mo., son of Leonard J. and Elvira Oehlert Lorenz. He and Linda Fritsche were married June 23, 1979...

Jane Hamelmann, 79, of Cape Girardeau and formerly of Florida, died Thursday, April 1, 2010, at the Lutheran Home. She was born Sept. 16, 1930, in Charleston, Mo., to Sidney and Mary Nickell Schillig. She and William F. Hamelmann were married Nov. 29, 1951, in Folkston, Ga. He preceded her in death June 16, 1997...

Irene J. Francis, 71, of Jackson passed away Tuesday, March 30, 2010, at her home. She was born Jan. 11, 1939, in Salem, Ill., daughter of Frank and Geneva Williams Forst. She and Robert "Bob" Francis were married July 11, 1959, in Salem...

DEXTER, Mo. -- Leslie I. Booher, 59, of Dexter died Tuesday, March 30, 2010, at his home. He was born March 3, 1951, in Kansas City, Kan., son of Ivan P. and Naomi Coffin Booher. Mr. Booher graduated from Crawfordsville, Ind., High School in 1969, served in the U.S. Army, and was a self-employed commodities trader...

Sue Finley, 82, of Cape Girardeau, formerly of East Prairie, Mo., died Wednesday, March 31, 2010, at her home. Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. Sunday at Shelby Funeral Home in East Prairie. The funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Monday in the Shelby Chapel, with the Rev. Ted Wimberley officiating. Burial will be in Dogwood Cemetery...

He doesn't want to forget, but he knows he will. Dale McKenzie and his wife, Maxie, of Chaffee, Mo., have spent the past year coming to grips with a difficult diagnosis: Alzheimer's disease. "They become dependent on you, like a kid in some ways," Maxie McKenzie said. "If they could help it they sure would, but they just can't."...

MARBLE HILL, Mo. -- Children gathered at Harmony Church in Marble Hill to collect more than 10,000 Easter eggs Saturday morning. But according to the Rev. Bill Ross, the number of eggs is a peripheral detail when compared to the reason for the egg hunt itself, which he said was held to remind children of Easter's Christian origin...

Cape Girardeau voters are expected to turn out in strong numbers Tuesday when they select a new mayor and decide the fate of a $40 million school bond issue. As of Friday, 144 voters had cast absentee ballots in Cape Girardeau County, said County Clerk Kara Clark-Summers. "That is high for an April election," she said...

A local group of citizen activists wants to make elected officials more accountable to strict constitutional principals and the voting public they represent. About 30 people gathered Saturday at the Cape Girardeau Public Library for the second meeting of The Preamble Patriot...

For Immediate Release Jackson, MO Native Launches Website Showcasing Art from Ukraine's Orphans April 3, 2010 -- She grew-up in Jackson MO and attended Jackson High School where she was known for her incredible talent as a musician. Jessica (Terry) Tosser spent many hours playing and teaching children how to play the flute before graduating in 2000. Now she's fighting to give homeless children the basic necessities of life in a distant country...

Madison, 7 months, enjoys her first Easter. The Easter Bunny brought her a Ruby doll bunny to play with.

The Cape Girardeau City Council will get at least three -- and possibly four -- new members Tuesday. It will be the biggest change in eight years as term limits push Marcia Ritter, Charlie Herbst and Jay Knudtson out of office. Ritter's replacement is already settled. Kathy Swan, owner of JCS Wireless, was the only candidate to file in Ward 6. Knudtson's replacement as mayor will either be retired businessman Harry Rediger or former councilman Matt Hopkins...

As school districts plan their budgets and send out teacher contracts, they are faced with many unknown factors regarding state funds. Districts are planning for smaller June payments from the state and changes in the funding structure for the upcoming fiscal year, both of which have been described by administrators as moving targets...

There is no slowing down the Southeast Missouri State baseball team right now. The Redhawks remained red hot Saturday, completing a three-game Ohio Valley Conference series sweep of visiting Eastern Kentucky with an 8-7 victory. That came after Southeast captured Friday's doubleheader 17-9 and 7-4...

Laura Dawn Ferris and Ryan William Seabaugh were married Oct. 3, 2009, at St. Norbert Parish in DePere, Wis. The Rev. Salvatore Cuccia performed the ceremony. Music was by Jennifer McAllister. Readers were Mike and Dan Ferris. The bride is the daughter of Tom and Jeanne Ferris of Green Bay, Wis. The groom is the son of Harold and Linda Seabaugh of Cape Girardeau...

CHAFFEE, Mo. -- Kristen Nicole Carpenter and Jason Dennis Mott were married July 11, 2009, at Trinity United Methodist Church in Keokuk, Iowa. The Rev. Emmanuel Dass performed the ceremony. Organist was Aletta Hardin and vocalist was Nalani Proctor, both of Keokuk...

Casie Nicole Urhahn and Ryan Stephen McGill were married Sept. 20, 2008, at Francine's Gardens. The Rev. Ron Watts of La Croix United Methodist Church performed the ceremony. Shane Steck of Cape Girardeau, cousin of the bride, played keyboards. Parents of the bride are Richard Urhahn of Cape Girardeau and Brenda and Don Martens of Jackson. McGill is the son of Donna Laurentius of Cape Girardeau, and the late Greg McGill...

Sandra Decker of Cape Girardeau announces the engagement of her daughter, Jennifer Kay Schlick, to Jason Michael Rezabek, both of Lake St. Louis. He is the son of Steve and Linda Rezabek of Highland, Ill. Schlick is a 2004 graduate of Jackson High School. She received a bachelor's degree in health science and a master's degree in physical therapy from Maryville University. She is a physical therapist with RehabCare...

Phil and Shelia Hager of Jackson announce the engagement of their daughter, Megan LeAnn Hager, to Marc Ryan Ashby. He is the son of Betty Iverson of St. Louis and Earl Ashby of St. Charles, Mo. Hager is a 2003 graduate of Jackson High School. She received a bachelor of science degree in nursing from Southeast Missouri State University in 2007. She is a registered nurse at Southeast Missouri Hospital and Gastroenterology Associates...

ORAN, Mo. -- Paul M. and Frances Dirnberger Sr. of Oran announce the engagement of their daughter, Gail Dirnberger, to Adam DuBois, both of Ashland, Mo. He is the son of Cris and Serita DuBois of Fortuna, Mo. Dirnberger is a 2002 graduate of the University of Missouri-Columbia. She is employed with the Office of State Court Administrator in Jefferson City, Mo...

Mr. and Mrs. Joe D. King of Cape Girardeau celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary with a family dinner March 20, 2010. Hosts were their daughters, Mary (Don) Way and Sheila (Ricky) Pecaut; and King's sisters, Shirley King and Sue Dozier. King and Mary Fulton were married March 20, 1960, at Red Star Baptist Church...

Mike and Sheila Eby of Whitewater celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary with a cruise to Hawaii. The couple was married Nov. 28, 1969, at Chaffee General Baptist Church. The late Rev. Andrew Bullinger performed the ceremony. Their attendants were Sue Traw, sister of Mrs. Eby; Sheree Grimsley; Janet Cook Wessel; the late Rev. Dennis Buttery; Gary Proffer, brother of Mrs. Eby; and the late Paul Traw, brother-in-law of Mr. Eby...

A miraculous event 2,000 years ago in Jerusalem changed the world. On this Easter morning, the story is presented again from the Holy Bible (the Gospel according to St. Matthew, Chapter 28):In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre. ...

Thank you for writing about the difficulties of controlling tuberculosis and the need for concern regarding TB in the U.S. ("Tuberculosis not just a Third World disease," March 30). Unfortunately like most infectious diseases, TB knows no borders, and truly TB anywhere. ...

THANKS for carrying Gene Lyons' column on your Opinion page. It is the only ray of intelligence I have ever found there. JUST think of all the money that the insurance companies are going to have as a result of the health care bill, and all that money will go into the stock market. The Democrats are geniuses. Ronald Reagan is out...

By Chauncy Buchheit I write in response to your editorial ("Air quality," March 31). Basically, I wanted to express our agreement with your position formally and for the record. The Southeast Missouri Regional Planning Commission has a four-decade history of working with local governments, the state government, not-for-profit organizations, community organizations, educational institutions and private business on a variety of issues. ...

There are at least two sides to every story. Two sides at minimum. The History Channel recently ran a story about the Japanese surrender in 1945. Americans have always believed that it was what Harry Truman called "the rain of ruin from the air," the atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, that solely brought Japan to heel. ...

Easter Sunday marks a time every year when the most people pass through the doors of Christian churches to observe the resurrection of their savior. The Rev. Mark Anderson of Lynwood Baptist Church in Cape Girardeau tries to use Easter, as well as Palm Sunday, as a time to reach out to those who only come to church once or twice a year by starting a special sermon series...

He is risen. He is risen indeed. Easter Sunday is so much more than little girls in sundresses and little boys in suits just waiting for grass stains. Easter is more than a spiral ham for brunch, hiding and finding Easter eggs and biting the ears off a chocolate rabbit...

A small spider's web covered in heavy dew gave me pause on an early morning. Drawn initially only to the dew-covered web, I took a few photos before noticing the small spider hard at work. It was not building a web. Instead it was collecting the dew from the web strands with its leg hairs and depositing the tiny droplets onto its back. ...

Cape Girardeau volunteers Lori Powderly and Gail Timpe received awards at the first Girl Scouts of the Missouri Heartland meeting last month in Branson, Mo. Powderly, who has been a Girl Scout troop leader at two schools for the past five years, was recognized with the Girl Scout Appreciation Pin for her positive mentorship of girls and for her efforts to increase the visibility of Girl Scouting. ...

Ronald McDonald House Charities recently donated $4,389 to St. Paul Lutheran School of Jackson to purchase new technology for the school's classrooms. The Learner Response Systems will help to keep the students actively involved in the classroom lessons and give teachers continuous feedback on students' learning progress. ...

Alleluia! Christ is risen. The Lord is risen indeed. Alleluia!

The members of the Alma Schrader PTA hosted their first Knowledge-A-Thon in March. Students were given a list of 100 age-appropriate questions and answers. The questions covered topics in the district curriculum, and were designed so they could be studied at home as well building that important home-school connection. ...

Calisto is a 4-year-old tabby and white long-haired cat. She likes to be petted, but would not like a home with small children. For more information, contact Safe Harbor at 243-9823. ...

Morris is a 2-year-old unaltered male yellow tabby. For more information, contact the Humane Society at 334-5837. ...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon has received a letter from an anti-government group about which federal officials have alerted police across the country. Governors of other states have received similar letters from the Guardians of the Free Republics demanding that state chief executives leave office within three days or be removed. Federal investigators do not see threats of violence in the letters but are concerned they could prompt others to respond violently...

Sue Finley, 82, of Cape Girardeau, formerly of East Prairie, Mo., passed away Wednesday, March 31, 2010, at her home. She was born April 12, 1927, at Sebree, Ky., to the late Edgar and Viola Hunter Rideout. Sue lived in East Prairie most of her life and was retired from Stark Manufacturing in Charleston, Mo. She was of the Baptist faith...

WENTZVILLE, Mo. -- Grace Umfleet Hinkle, 98, of Wentzville, Mo, formerly of Advance, Mo., passed away April 2, 2010, at St. John's Place in St. Johns, Mo. She was born Feb. 14, 1911, the daughter of Edward and Minnie Jones Umfleet. Grace and Ernest Hinkle were united in marriage on Jan. 4, 1933, and he preceded her in death on March 14, 1987...

Helen E. Roberts, 92, of Cape Girardeau died Saturday, April 3, 2010, at her home. She was born Nov. 17, 1917, in Piggott, Ark., to Henry C. and Cora Lee Perkins Nicolaides. She and Joe "Gene" Roberts were married Nov. 17, 1936, at Herrin, Ill. He preceded her in death in 1985...

JONESBORO, Ill. -- Betty Kinslow, 78, of Jonesboro died Saturday, April 3, 2010, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. Friends may call from 5 to 8 p.m. Monday at Rendleman and Hileman Funeral Home in Jonesboro. The funeral will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday at the funeral home, with the Rev. Tony Foeller officiating. Interment will be in Jonesboro Cemetery...

The controversial multipurpose building project is dealt a major blow by Cape Girardeau County Circuit Judge A.J. Seier, who enjoins the city of Cape Girardeau from spending any money on construction of the joint Southeast Missouri State University/city arena; he declares the operating agreement between the city and school is "unconstitutional, illegal and unenforceable."...

Firefighters responded to the following calls Thursday:n Emergency medical service on West Independence Street. Firefighters responded to the following call Friday:...

The Cape Girardeau Police Department released the following items. Arrests do not imply guilt. DWIs...

7 p.m. Monday Cape Girardeau City Hall 401 Independence St. Action items Public hearing New ordinances Resolutions Appointments Other...

The Lutheran Women's Missionary League of the Altenburg Zone will hold the 2010 Spring Rally on April 18 at the Immanuel Lutheran Church in Perryville. Registration will be from 12:30 to 1 p.m. with the rally beginning at 1. The theme for this year's rally will be "Now Go, I Will Help You," based on Exodus 4:12. ...

LONDON -- The Roman Catholic Church in Ireland has lost all credibility because of its mishandling of abuse by priests, the leader of the Anglican church said in remarks released Saturday. A leading Catholic archbishop said he was "discouraged" by the comments...

7:30 p.m. Monday Jackson City Hall 101 Court St. Action items...

WASHINGTON -- As census workers gear up to count us, they are counting themselves lucky to be employed. This once-a-decade temporary work force is giving a timely boost to the job market. Census workers accounted for nearly a third of the jobs added in March, when hiring occurred at the fastest pace in three years...

Firefighters responded to the following calls Thursday:...

SEATTLE -- Now that the iPad is in the hands of early adopters, the hard work for Apple Inc. begins. Eager customers intent on being among the first owners of this new class of gadgetry stood in long lines at stores across the country Saturday. They seemed willing to buy first and discover uses for the iPad later...

Southeast Missourian Interstate 55 in Perry County will be reduced to one lane in each direction with a 16-foot width restriction while Missouri Department of Transportation crews perform concrete repairs. This section of road is from the Cape Girardeau County line to the Ste. Genevieve County line...

Former county auditor Weldon Macke will receive a Senior Service Award from Lt. Governor Peter Kinder for his extensive community service. Kinder will be joined by State Rep. Billy Pat Wright during a ceremony at 1 p.m. Monday at Gordonville Grill, 829 Route Z. The award recognizes senior citizens who volunteer their time and labor to give back to their communities, Kinder said...

Bikers Against Child Abuse member Silver Fox takes Tye Kirby, 3, for a ride on his Yamaha Road Star during Saturday's second annual Children's Fair put on by BACA at Lynwood Baptist Church. The event is sponsored by the Missouri Army National Guard.

All the scores from the weekend that were reported to the Southeast Missourian.

ST. LOUIS -- Carlo Colaiacovo's 26th NHL goal, scored midway through the third period, was the difference in the St. Louis Blues' 2-1 victory over the Dallas Stars on Saturday night. Colaiacovo's goal, scored 8:14 into the third during a scramble in the crease, was his first in eight career games against the Stars and his first game-winner this season...

MINNEAPOLIS -- Joe Mauer helped keep going the early home run derby at Target Field. Mauer and Michael Cuddyer went deep for the Twins in an 8-3 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals on Saturday that wrapped up spring training for both teams. It's too early to tell how Minnesota's new ballpark will treat hitters and pitchers, but the warmup weekend drew plenty of raving reviews -- from customers, players and people in between -- ahead of the official opening April 12...

JUPITER, Fla. -- Shrouded in shadows, obscured by fencing, the batting cages at the St. Louis Cardinals' spring training complex were made for working, not watching. Perhaps it was the perfect spot for Mark McGwire to launch his comeback tour. He quietly could settle in as the Cardinals' new hitting instructor, away from the gawkers who want to see if his body shrunk without steroids...

All the Southeast Missouri State scores from the weekend.

Southeast Missouri State junior center fielder Blake Slattery is having a big season, but one thing had been missing from his resume. Slattery was 0 for 6 with the bases loaded entering Friday's Ohio Valley Conference doubleheader against Eastern Kentucky...

Southeast Missouri State did not win any team titles but turned in plenty of strong performances at the Joey Haines Invitational. Southeast's 29th annual outdoor track and field meet at the Abe Stuber Complex featured 11 women's teams and nine men's squads...

Best known for his commentaries on National Public Radio's All Things Considered, Kevin Kling is one of six featured performers at the Cape Girardeau Storytelling Festival April 9 through 11. Kling's autobiographical tales are often based on his own life, including hopping freight trains, getting hit by lightning, growing up in Minnesota, and eating things before knowing what they are. ...

MONDAY--Spring break. TUESDAY--Crispito with nacho cheese sauce or ham & cheese on bun, corn, pears. WEDNESDAY--Cheesy beef & macaroni or turkey & cheese on bun, broccoli with cheese sauce, garlic breadstick, cinnamon applesauce. THURSDAY--Barbecued rib on bun or ham & cheese on bun, baked beans, pineapple...

Pet name: Ms. Bailey Owner: Steve Cole Favorite activity: Doing the bunny hop. ...

Job retention and creation was a recurring theme at a meeting Friday featuring all six Republican candidates running for Cape Girardeau County presiding commissioner. Hosted by the Cape Girardeau County Republican Women's Club, the event at Dexter Bar-B-Que allowed each candidate to talk about his personal life and vision for the county. It was the first time the candidates officially gathered in one room since Tuesday's deadline to file for the office...

The Rev. David Paul Johnson, senior administrative pastor of St. Paul Lutheran Church, says he was called to become the pastor at St. Paul Lutheran Church. Johnson was born and raised in Omaha, Neb. Throughout his life he has served as pastor in three congregations -- one in Michigan, Nebraska and now in Jackson. ...

MALDEN, Mo. -- A small one-seater airplane came down and burned in a field north of Malden late Friday morning, the Daily Statesman newspaper reported. Unconfirmed reports at the scene gave the name of the pilot as Josh Atchley, who was flying out of the Gideon Airport. Atchley reportedly walked away from the scene with relatively minor injuries...

A section of Main Street in Scott City has been reopened following a morning accident in which a tractor hit a utility pole, said a dispatcher at the Scott City Police Department. The accident forced the closure of part of the street, but the street had been reopened to traffic by noon...

A Continental Express flight traveling from Chicago to St. Louis landed in Cape Girardeau this afternoon, after being diverted to the Cape Girardeau Regional Airport when bad weather in St. Louis prevented it from landing there. The plane refueled and took off, heading back to St. Louis after the weather had cleared enough for a safe landing. The Cape Girardeau Fire Department was called to the airport as a precaution...

CINCINNATI -- Mark McGwire got a lot of ovations and a little rest in Cincinnati the day after he broke baseball's home run record. A dozen years later, he's back in town, looking for a different kind of rejuvenation. Big Mac will be in the St. Louis Cardinals dugout for their season opener against the Reds today, reviving a baseball career enmeshed in debate over the steroid era...

Attendants of the 74th annual Bald Knob Cross Easter Sunday sunrise service leave Sunday as the sun continues to rise. The white porcelain panes that covered the 111-foot cross have been removed because of damage and an effort is underway to raise money for restoration and improvement efforts to the Southern Illinois landmark...

Criminal charges were filed against a 61-year-old Cape Girardeau man Friday, who allegedly shot and killed a canine named Dollar tied up in its own yard. Morrie Lee Carwile, charged with misdemeanor animal abuse, allegedly shot the pit bull, owned by Walter D. Combs Jr. of 1823 Bloomfield Road, after the dog alleged attacked Carwile's Great Pyrenees...

My granddaughter Miranda on a windy Easter Day.

Employees and one volunteer of the Caruthersville Missouri Humane Society traveled to Cape Girardeau Petco yesterday, Saturday, April 3rd. With them they brought six adorable animals; 5 puppies and an adult dog. Sweet Pea, Bubba, Tubby, Brandy, Bruiser, and Sundance (pictured)...

A woman suspected to have robbed Comfort Suites in Jackson March 25 was arrested Sunday in Cape Girardeau. Julie S. Burns, 42, is also connected to a March 24 robbery at an apartment complex in the 1900 block of Delwin Street in Cape Girardeau. She's charged with two counts of felony first-degree robbery...

Dr. Edward M. Bender, cardiothoracic surgeon and section chair of Cardiothoracic Surgery at Saint Francis Medical Center, recently developed five applications for the Apple iPhone to help doctors and patients predict the risks associated with heart surgery. ...

Easter was a beautiful morning, bright blue sky and beautiful blooming trees. Gorgeous.

Cape Girardeau Tree Advisory Board Members plant a Red Sunset Maple at Kiwanis Park as part of the Missouri Arbor Day Observance, a requirement to maintain Tree City USA status. Members Left to Right: Dan Grimm, Kevin Govero, Robert Harris, Tim Gramling and Dan Muser...

POPLAR BLUFF - Music fans of all ages will have the chance of a lifetime to hear one of the most prestigious ensembles in the world as the renowned Academy of St. Martin in the Fields from London arrives in Southeast Missouri. The 20-piece Academy of St. Martin in the Fields orchestra will perform in concert at Three Rivers Community College in Poplar Bluff on Wednesday, April 12. The amazing night of music will begin at 7 p.m. in the Tinnin Fine Arts Center on the college campus...

The Bertrand Home, built in 1906, has a family room that is paneled in oak saved from old church pews. See this and more at the Downtown Historic Home & Garden Show, May 8. More info at www.oldtowncape.org/events.aspx

2 years ago we adopted Bailey from the Humane Society in Cape and she instantly became the heart of our home. Last week a friend of mine ran a story about the Caruthersville Humane Society coming to Petco in Cape and said we should stop by. Always wanting to support homeless dogs I went and that's where I met Bruiser, now know as Carter named after my Moms Dad. ...

the sunrise on Easter morning

A little more than a year before freshly elected Mayor Jay Knudtson and three new city council members took office in 2002, a master plan for public facilities presented a daunting list of needs. A new fire station. A new police station. A new public works building. A water park. A new golf course clubhouse...

Juvenile maple tree seed pods

Major Tommy Sowers served his Country 11 years. He was deployed twice to Irag and he served in Kosovo. Tommy led an Operational Detachment-Alpha (A-Team)of Green Berets. He has been awarded The Combat Infrantryman's Badge and two Bronze Stars. He is Ranger, HALO and jumpmaster qualified...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Significantly more of Missouri's political candidates are calling themselves Republicans than Democrats this year. What isn't clear is whether the high number of Republican candidates is a result of term limits or a frustration with the path of government...

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates -- The observation deck of the world's tallest skyscraper reopened Sunday in Dubai, two months after an elevator malfunction left visitors trapped more than 120 stories above the ground and forced it to close. Dozens of tourists were lining up Sunday for tickets to take an elevator to the 124th floor of the half-mile-high Burj Khalifa, where the tower's observation deck is located...

XIANGNING, China -- Nine miners were pulled to safety early today after spending more than a week trapped in a flooded coal mine in northern China, a rescue that had seemed beyond hope for days before crews heard someone tapping from deep underground...

VATICAN CITY -- It was the Catholic calendar's holiest moment -- the Mass celebrating the resurrection of Christ. But with Pope Benedict XVI accused of failing to protect children from abusive priests, Easter Sunday also was a high-profile opportunity to play defense...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Workers in the Missouri Capitol are using the Internet to post tips on finding free grub. Aficionados of free lunches and desserts have turned to Twitter to track free food opportunities and alert friends where to get a cheap meal...

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Jackson County prosecutors pledged to do more to keep unlicensed drivers behind bars after a man driving without a valid license allegedly caused a crash that killed a child. Clayton R. Dunlap was charged last week with second-degree murder and driving on a revoked license in a Kansas City crash that killed 12-year-old Damian Slayton...

CHARLACK, Mo. -- The first Missouri municipality to install a camera to catch speeders has put its plan on hold. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported this weekend that police chief Tony Umbertino wants to wait to see how pending state legislation fares...

Jackson is now the home of a first-rate baseball stadium, thanks to community members who saw a need and found ways to fill it. In many respects, this was a family project led by the Litzelfelners -- Jack Sr. and Jack Jr. -- and the Ron Clark family. The result is Whitey Herzog Stadium and Clark Field...

CAN anybody tell me why school sports, with the money situation we've got, are more important than our teachers and learning? I'd like somebody to answer that. We need money for books and teachers. ONE great Democratic president, John F. Kennedy, whom I supported, proclaimed "Ask not what your country can do for you. ...

LOS ANGELES -- One of the strongest earthquakes to hit Southern California in decades shook tens of millions of people in two countries and three states on Sunday, swaying buildings from Los Angeles to Phoenix to Las Vegas. At least one person in Mexico was killed and others were feared trapped in their homes...

WASHINGTON -- Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens says he "will surely" retire while President Barack Obama is still in office, giving the president the opportunity to maintain the high court's ideological balance. Stevens said in newspaper interviews Saturday that he will decide soon on the timing of his retirement, whether it will be this year or next. Stevens, the leader of the court's liberals, turns 90 this month and is the oldest justice...

Cape Girardeau Firefighters responded to the following calls Saturday:...

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- Robert Calvin Shaw, 80, of Columbia passed away peacefully at his home on Friday, April 2, 2010. He was born July 1, 1929, in Illmo, Mo., the youngest of eight children, to William Henry and Rose Missouri Palmer Shaw. He married Mary Ann Fisher on Aug. 13, 1955, in Ancell, Mo...

Ray Hendrick, 87, of Ullin, Ill., died Sunday, April 4, 2010, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Tuesday and until 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at Crain Funeral Home in Ullin. Services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at First Christian Church in Pulaski, Ill. Burial will be in Rose Hill Cemetery in Pulaski...

Twin sons to Ryan Williams Livesay and Kacie Nicole Cartwright of Cape Girardeau, Saint Francis Medical Center, Friday, Feb. 26, 2010. Keller Ryan was born at 6:10 p.m. and weighed 4 pounds, 6 ounces. Camden Lane was born at 6:11 p.m. and weighed 3 pounds, 11 ounces. First children. Ms. Cartwright is the daughter of Toni Cartwright of Cape Girardeau and William Cartwright of Scott City. Livesay is the son of Rick Livesay and Lana Livesay of Jonesboro, Ill. He is a PTA at Premier Rehab...

The Cape Girardeau City Council decides in a closed-door meeting to appeal a Circuit Court ruling prohibiting the city from involvement in the construction and operation of a multipurpose building with Southeast Missouri State University. One of the first new building projects of this year's construction season will be an expansion program, including a new recreation and services building, and renovation of the existing property of the First Baptist Church, 926 Broadway...

ST. LOUIS -- Cardinals manager Tony La Russa loves to tinker with the lineup card, using a whopping 135 variations last year in what was a pretty typical campaign. No doubt there'll still be some juggling for St. Louis this season as La Russa factors in lefty-righty matchups and pitcher-vs.-hitter numbers. ...

After the football, men's basketball and women's basketball teams all suffered through big-time losing seasons, Southeast Missouri State fans have been starving for a winner among the university's more high-profile sports. Right now they certainly have one in the baseball squad...

A free training course on how to start a retail business will be offered later this month at the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE) at Southeast Missouri State University. Old Town Cape and the Cape Girardeau Area Chamber of Commerce are co-sponsoring the five-week training program to assist aspiring entrepreneurs...

May we be found worthy, O God, of the joys of your Son's resurrection. Amen.

The Cape Girardeau County Sheriff's Department released the following items. Arrests do not imply guilt. DWI Assault Thefts Burglary Miscellaneous...

WASHINGTON -- Buoyed by good news on the jobs front, the White House claimed credit Sunday for reversing the downward economic spiral while bracing out-of-work Americans for a slow recovery. The Obama administration also eased away from confrontation with China over its artificially low currency. The U.S. wants to encourage Beijing's help on nuclear proliferation and new penalties against Iran for its perceived attempts to build a bomb...

Robert M. Shirley was named president of Campbell Mattress on March 22. Previous owner and president Norman Wood, 87, died March 6. Shirley was appointed to his new position by the Wood family. Shirley retired in 2003 after working for Emerson Electric for 42 years. ...

TAMMS, Ill. -- Herman David Hazelwood, 90, of Tamms died Saturday, April 3, 2010, at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. He was born Feb. 25, 1920, in Tamms to Tom and Ethel (Knifong) Hazelwood. He married Laura Ethelyn Honey on May 1, 1946...

In Sunday's paper, a story on Alzheimer's patients should have said Dale McKenzie served as pastor at Church of God in Chaffee, Mo.

The city of Jackson has scheduled its annual E-cycle Day for April 24. Residents can bring old and obsolete electronic equipment, appliances and other items with recoverable metal to the Recycling Center from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at no charge. However, residents will be charged a small fee for dropping off televisions and computer monitors at the center, 509 Eastview Court...

BAGHDAD -- Suicide attackers detonated three car bombs in quick succession near foreign embassies in Baghdad on Sunday, killing more than 40 people in coordinated strikes that Iraqi officials said were intended to disrupt efforts to form a new government...

Cape Girardeau County Recorder of Deeds Janet Robert has entered relatively unfamiliar territory. For the first time since 1994, Robert will face an opponent in the November general election. Robert, who has held the office for 33 years, will face the winner of the Aug. 3 Republican primary between real estate agent Shelly Lane and J.C. Penney department store supervisor Scott Clark. Robert is running unopposed on the Democrat ticket...

Fusing music, poetry and her gift of storytelling, Minton Sparks will be one of six featured performers at the Cape Girardeau Storytelling Festival from Friday through Sunday. Sparks has been featured on National Public Radio's "All Things Considered" and internationally on the BBC's Bob Harris Show. ...

Jackson The Jackson Police Department released the following items. Arrests do not imply guilt. Arrests Summonses Thefts Burglary Property damage Miscellaneous FIRE Jackson Firefighters responded to the following calls Saturday: ...

Grant money recently awarded to Poplar Bluff School District will help fund junior high renovations scheduled to take place this summer. Estimated to cost $2.3 million, the project is expected to open for bids this week. It would include asbestos removal, as well as lighting, electrical and air conditioning upgrades...

Poplar Bluff School District celebrated the "best of the best" at a ceremony Thursday at the Central Office. Building Teacher of the Year awards were presented to one teacher from each of the district's 10 campuses. "It is very important to celebrate the great teachers we have in our school district," said Assistant Superintendent of Personnel Chris Hon...

The Poplar Bluff School District Teacher of the Year is a priceless asset to families, according to parents. She gives children in her class confidence, students say. These are just two of the reasons Lake Road Elementary third-grade instructor Pam Hamilton received the district's highest honor during a ceremony Thursday at the Central Office. Hamilton is also the Lake Road Elementary Teacher of the Year...

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The Associated Press INDIANAPOLIS -- The too-perfect basketball story with the too-perfect ending is still available on DVD. The real celebration for the new national champion -- that's taking place on Tobacco Road. Kyle Singler scored 19 points and Brian Zoubek rebounded Gordon Hayward's miss with 3.6 seconds left Monday night to help Duke beat Butler 61-59, ending the tiny underdog's try for a "Hoosiers" sequel one win short of the Hollywood ending...

ST. MARY, Mo. (AP) -- An eastern Missouri woman has won more than a half-million dollars in the Missouri Lottery's Show Me Cash game. Lottery officials said Tuesday that 57-year-old Patricia Lipp of St. Mary won $517,332 in the March 23 drawing, the second-largest jackpot among the 80 won in the game that dates to September 2008...

All Cape Girardeau precincts have been counted. The Cape Girardeau school bond issue won easy passage, and Harry Rediger won election as the city's next mayor.

Cape Girardeau police officers say they're searching for a man who reportedly approached a group of people with a knife and demanded money. The people in the group fought off the suspect, who took off running, an officer at the police station said...

Six homes are still without power after a truck struck a utility pole shortly after 3 a.m. near the intersection of West End Blvd and College Street. "It pulled the lines down and did quite a bit of damage," said Ameren UE spokesman Mike Cleary. "We hope to have power restored to those customers around 10:30 this morning."...

SIKESTON, Mo. -- Traffic accident reports filed through the Sikeston Department of Public Safety are now available online, the Sikeston Standard Democrat reported. "Our department has entered into an agreement with Docview LLC to place traffic accident reports on the Internet," said Sgt. ...

A state grant will boost plans for construction in the Cape Girardeau School District, including projects outlined in the bond proposal. The district is slated to receive more than $91,000 as part of a grant awarded to Cape Girardeau County, said engineer Mark Strickland, who worked with district on the bond proposal...

A Cape Girardeau lawyer accused of threatening to kill his fiancee by holding an unloaded firearm to her head will not appear in court again until August when his case is heard before a jury. Scott Reynolds, charged with first- and second-degree assault, child endangerment and possession of marijuana, will appear again before visiting Jefferson County Circuit Judge Robert Wilkins for a three-day jury trial Aug. 10 through 12 at the Cape Girardeau County Courthouse.

A Cape Girardeau man and a Benton, Mo., man charged in connection to three pharmacy burglaries pleaded not guilty to second-degree burglary and felony stealing Monday before Circuit Court Judge William L. Syler. Carlos Miniel, 17, will appear before Syler again April 19, while Charles Dobyns, 20, was granted a change of venue to Scott County, where he's facing additional charges of burglary, property damage and four counts of possession of a controlled substance with the intent to distribute...

At the monthly Service Unit Team meeting of Girl Scouts of the Missouri Heartland, outstanding leaders, volunteers and community partnerships were honored and recognized. Peers nominated Karen Hann, Christina Mattison, Phyllis Pickard, and Jennifer Landewee as Outstanding Leaders. ...

Foxy enjoying our first trip of the year of going to our favorite swimming hole!! We are loving the spring time!!

I took this photo on a return flight from STL to CGI on Cape Air.

Took this photo when Blue Angel #7 visited CGI.

I took this photo the last time I flew into STL on Cape Air from CGI.

Jackson Indians freshmen baseball team used good pitching, defense and timely hitting in sweeping a doubleheader from Cape Central 5-0 and 2-0. Jacob Smith earned the win on the mound. He tossed a 1 hit, complete game shut out. In the batter's box, Cody Harris and Lane Thompson led the way for the Indians with 2 hits apiece...

Justin got this picture of the Easter Bunny while he was hiding the easter eggs!!

A casino company came calling last week seeking endorsement for a riverboat gambling application for Cape Girardeau, Mayor Jay Knudtson told the city council Monday night. During a work session before his final regular business meeting leading the council, Knudtson said the company is a well-established casino operator with licenses in six states. The company owns a 34,000-square-foot floating casino four stories tall it wants to dock here before establishing facilities on shore, he said...

A record fifteen students represented the local chapter of Phi Beta Lambda (PBL) from Southeast Missouri State University in competitive events at the 51st Annual Missouri Phi Beta Lambda Conference in Jefferson City on March 23-25, 2010. The chapter received many awards including: 2nd place in March of Dimes Fundraising, Gold Seal Chapter Award of Merit, and the JoAnn Newcomer Spirit Award. ...

BARCELONA, Spain -- Up to a third of breast cancer cases in Western countries could be avoided if women ate less and exercised more, researchers at a conference said recently, renewing a sensitive debate about how lifestyle factors affect the disease...

Families and friends of those affected by Alzheimer's shared their stories Monday at a community forum that could shape how Missouri deals with the disease.

For veterans in need of medical care, access to U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs facilities in Southeast Missouri means shorter trips. John J. Pershing VA Medical Center in Poplar Bluff, Mo., has expanded its clinic in Cape Girardeau and opened a new clinic in Sikeston, Mo. The reaction from veterans taking advantage of these facilities has been positive...

For too long we have been too complacent about the workings of Congress. Many citizens had no idea that members of Congress could retire with the same pay after only one term, that they didn't pay into Social Security, that they specifically exempted themselves from many of the laws they have passed (such as being exempt from any fear of prosecution for sexual harassment) while ordinary citizens must live under those laws. ...

Join us in our effort to do what our Constitution enables us to do as a free and liberated people: Hold the people elected accountable to "establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity."...

Wanted: Medical professionals who keep politics out of the examining room and have the interpersonal skills to realize patients would only disagree at the risk of their health. Looking for long-term relationship. I would be doubly interested in medical professionals who entered the field for the love of medicine and will continue to be happy to practice the craft however the national politics falls out...

IN response to the story "Spending in east, west sides an issue for some Cape voters": We all pay taxes, and we all are entitled to the same city services. IF you like the highly successful Parents as Teachers program, be advised that the Missouri Legislature may be poised to cut the funding for the program at least by half. Are you surprised? You shouldn't be. When it comes to budget cuts, young babies and children are among the first to be carried to the budget-cutting guillotine...

You have given us hope for eternity, O God, and we are truly thankful. Amen.

Now that the health care reform bill has been signed, it will face legal challenges in courtrooms. However, the judges in these cases do not possess the authority needed to render a final verdict on health care reform. The success or failure of health care reform ultimately depends upon whether or not it conforms to economic laws...

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- At the 7-Eleven in Brookside, one of the latest entries in the beverage wars sits behind a refrigerator door between the beer and soda sections. Appropriate, given the product. Drank is a sweet, purplish potion touted to deliver "extreme relaxation" this side of liquor. On shelves it tends to be crowded out by the enemy -- rows upon shiny rows of energy drinks...

WASHINGTON -- The government is seeking to fine Toyota a record $16.4 million, accusing the Japanese auto giant of hiding a "dangerous defect" in its slow reporting of faulty gas pedals that have been blamed for unintended sudden accelerations and motorists' deaths...

WASHINGTON -- The government launched a new effort Monday to speed up the time-consuming, often-frustrating process of selling your home if you owe more than it's worth. The Obama administration will give $3,000 for moving expenses to homeowners who complete such a sale -- known as a short sale -- or agree to turn over the deed of the property to the lender. ...

AMMAN, Jordan -- A Jordanian newspaper's April Fool's Day report chronicling a late-night visit by 10-foot-tall aliens in flying saucers sparked public panic and almost led to the town's emergency evacuation, officials said Monday. The Al Ghad newspaper published a front-page article April 1 about the fake UFO landing near the desert town of Jafr, some 185 miles from the capital, Amman. ...

PESHAWAR, Pakistan -- Islamist militants unleashed a car bomb and grenade attack against a U.S. consulate in northwestern Pakistan on Monday, killing four people and striking back after months of American missile strikes against Taliban and al-Qaida fighters in the region...

LONDON -- Britain's first national election in five years will take place May 6, Prime Minister Gordon Brown planned to announce today, launching a monthlong campaign that could end in his ouster and the return of the opposition Conservative Party to power for the first time in 13 years...

Alen James, 85, of Cape Girardeau, formerly of Olive Branch, Ill., died Thursday, April 1, 2010, at his home. He was born March 21, 1925, in St. Louis. He and Cheryl Grant were married July 27, 1985. James served in the U.S. Army. He worked as a school bus mechanic...

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- Mary L. Kutz, 85, of Perryville died Sunday, April 4, 2010, at Independence Care Center. She was born Nov. 30, 1924, in Biehle, Mo., daughter of Rudolph and Josephine Hotop Pingel. She and Jesse Kutz were married April 22, 1946, in Biehle. He preceded her in death Aug. 22, 2007...

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- Herbert E. Koenig, 84, of Perryville died Saturday, April 3, 2010, at Arbor Place of Festus in Festus, Mo. He was born Sept. 16, 1925, at Uniontown, Mo., son of Ernst William and Amanda Franke Koenig. He and Viona K. Mirly were married April 15, 1951. She preceded him in death April 15, 2006...

Charles Marx, 69, of Jackson died Friday, April 2, 2010, at his home. He was born Dec. 4, 1940, in St. Louis, son of Pete and Beulah Douglas Marx. Marx was employed 25 years at Chateau Girardeau, retiring in 2005. Survivors include a son, Jeremy Marx (fiancee Jennifer Hauenschild) of Jackson; a daughter, Amy Marx of Jackson; a sister, JoAnne (George) Sears of Hillsboro, Mo.; former wife, Iris Marx of Cape Girardeau; and three grandchildren, Jordan, Donya and Caden Marx...

JONESBORO, Ill. -- Cindy Menz, 52, of Jonesboro died Saturday, April 3, 2010, at her home. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. today at Rendleman and Hileman Funeral Home in Jonesboro. The funeral will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at the funeral home, with the Rev. Richard Pearce officiating. Burial will be in Cobden Cemetery...

ADVANCE, Mo. -- I. Aleene Adkins, 94, of Advance died Saturday, April 3, 2010, at Advance Nursing Center. Visitation will be from 11:30 a.m. to service time Friday at Morgan Funeral Home. The funeral will be at 3 p.m. Friday at the funeral home. Burial will be in Pleasant Hill Cemetery near Advance...

Son to Dana and Suzy Horne of Delta, Southeast Missouri Hospital, 5:41 p.m. Wednesday, March 17, 2010. Name, Ethan Ray. Weight, 5 pounds, 9 ounces. Sixth child, fourth son. Mrs. Horne is the daughter of Jerry Hoffman and Jackie Hoffman of Cape Girardeau. Horne is the son of Carlton Horne and Sandra Horne of Alvin, Texas. He is employed at Havco...

KABUL -- Afghan President Hamid Karzai threatened over the weekend to quit the political process and join the Taliban if he continued to come under outside pressure to reform, several members of parliament said Monday. Karzai made the unusual statement at a closed-door meeting Saturday with selected lawmakers -- just days after kicking up a diplomatic controversy with remarks alleging foreigners were behind fraud in last year's disputed elections...

Cape Girardeau The Cape Girardeau Police Department released the following items. Arrests do not imply guilt. DWI Arrests Assault Thefts Property damage Miscellaneous...

The Southeast Missouri State University Board of Regents is expected to decide Monday whether to join with the city of Cape Girardeau in appealing a circuit court ruling prohibiting the city from involvement in the multipurpose building project; regents president Sydney Pollack expects the university to join the appeal...

Work to replace the U.S. 61 bridge over Buckeye Creek in Cape Girardeau County is scheduled to begin Wednesday, weather permitting. During construction, the road will remain closed from Route KK to Route E. Completion is anticipated in May. This will be the first Design-Build Safe and Sound Project in Cape Girardeau County. Unlike the Safe and Sound Bridge Improvement Program's quick-start projects, which consisted of deck replacements, design-build projects include total bridge replacements...

PHILADELPHIA -- An American woman charged in a global terrorism plot will plead not guilty this week in Philadelphia, her lawyer said Monday. Defense lawyer Jeremy Ibrahim said he has not yet seen any evidence to support the terrorism charge lodged against Jamie Paulin-Ramirez...

MONTCOAL, W.Va. -- Rescue teams were trying to locate at least 19 trapped miners in a large underground coal mine where an explosion killed seven workers on Monday, the coal company and mine safety officials said. Nine rescue crews were at the mine that covers several square miles, but it was not clear if they had headed underground yet to pull people out, said federal Mine Safety and Health Administration spokeswoman Amy Louviere...

NEW YORK -- With backing from the Census Bureau, gay-rights activists are urging maximum participation by their community in the first U.S. census that will tally same-sex couples who say they're married -- even those without a marriage license...

CALEXICO, Calif. -- Inspectors found a landscape of smashed windows and caved-in roofs in this struggling border city's historic downtown Monday after a deadly Easter earthquake in nearby Mexico. The magnitude-7.2 temblor struck just south of the U.S. border near Mexicali, killing two people and destroying dozens of businesses and homes there and severely injuring another in the neighboring California town of El Centro...

Donald Davis is one of six featured performers at the Cape Girardeau Storytelling Festival, April 9-11. "I didn't learn stories, I just absorbed them," said Davis, who was born in southern Appalachia. He grew up hearing fairy tales, scary mountain lore, and ancient Welsh and Scottish folktales. ...

POLICE Jackson The Jackson Police Department released the following items. Arrests do not imply guilt. Assaults Thefts Burglary Property damage Miscellaneous FIRE Jackson Firefighters responded to the following calls Sunday: ...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- A new, loosely organized network of conservatives has arisen in Missouri with hopes of turning the passion of tea party rallies into winning results in local and state elections. In recent months, tea party activists have organized against a sales tax for St. ...

Toter Inc. employees began delivering 96-gallon recycling bins and 64-gallon trash containers to residents Monday in Cape Girardeau.

All the area high school events reported Monday to the Southeast Missourian.

The Notre Dame Bulldogs and the Jackson Indians played to a scoreless draw in the first half Monday night at Jackson. Then the Indians scored -- repeatedly. Jackson netted four goals in the second half and routed the Bulldogs 4-0 in the rivals' first meeting of the year...

The Southeast Missouri State baseball team will try to continue its hot streak today when the Redhawks step out of Ohio Valley Conference play. Southern Illinois visits Capaha Field at 3 p.m. for the first of the two annual meetings between the regional rivals...

Citing opposition from residents of Pioneer Orchard subdivision about the addition of duplexes, the Jackson Board of Aldermen delayed a vote Monday night that would have expanded the development by 66 lots. Established six years ago, the development already has 109 lots on the subdivision off Pioneer Orchard Road...

The third of five Southeast Missouri State University students charged in connection to the Dec. 13 assault of a fellow student has been granted a change of venue to New Madrid County. Circuit Court Judge William L. Syler granted the change of venue Monday...

CINCINNATI -- On only his second swing of the season, Albert Pujols knocked one over the wall. A few innings later, he did it again. The National League's MVP each of the last two seasons is off to another sizzling start, this time with Mark McGwire providing the pointers...

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Jason Aldean, Lady Antebellum and Sugarland each are up for four CMT Music Awards. Six other country music acts received three nominations apiece. CMT announced eight nominees in most categories Monday and fans can vote at the network's Web site until May 3 to narrow each to four finalists. Voting for a winner in all categories except video of the year will start May 11...

Action items Public hearing New ordinances Resolutions Appointments Other...

Tickets are available for the Cape Girardeau Regional Air Festival when the Cape Girardeau Regional Airport will welcome the U.S. Navy Blue Angels on June 19 and 20.

Today voters will go to the polls to decide municipal and school elections. On the ballot locally is Cape Girardeau's school bond issue worth $40 million. Cape Girardeau will also decide on its next mayor and council members in two wards. There are several issues and races on local ballots in several counties across Southeast Missouri. Be sure to check semissourian.com/election for more information. Polls open at 6 a.m. and close at 7 p.m...

ST. LOUIS -- Erik Johnson scored on a power play with 1:01 to go in overtime, keeping the St. Louis Blues' slim playoff hopes alive with a 2-1 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets on Monday night. Andy McDonald had a goal and an assist and Chris Mason made 27 saves for St. ...

ST. LOUIS -- The St. Louis Rams released quarterback Marc Bulger on Monday, perhaps clearing the way for them to take Sam Bradford with the first pick of the draft. Coach Steve Spagnuolo said in a release that it was difficult to make the move and wished the 33-year-old Bulger well. Last month the Rams signed A.J. Feeley, presumably as next year's backup on a team that was 1-15 in 2009...

First among several big wins Tuesday evening was the passage of the Bloomfield School Bond tax levy. Following on the heels of multiple strong defeats, the issue passed with 64 percent of the vote. The proposal was placed on the ballot by the Bloomfield School Board to fund new roofs on the elementary and high schools and make other repairs and energy improvements with any remaining funds from the bond issue...

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Tanner Hiett relied on his defense to subdue Central during Tuesday's game. But when he committed an error, he took matters into his own hands. Hiett scattered eight hits over six innings to pitch the Bulldogs past the host Tigers 7-2. "The curveball was definitely working," Hiett said. "That's about all I threw. I was mixing up the speeds definitely on the fastball, but I knew I had my defense, so it makes it easier to throw strikes."...

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo -- A Poplar Bluff man charged with murdering his sister-in-law's boyfriend during an verbal dispute at his rural Butler County home was released on bond Monday, the Daily American Republic reported. Randy Paul Johnson was released from the Butler County Justice Center after posting a $10,000 bond...

Around 1:15 p.m. today, the National Weather Service in Paducah, Ky., announced a tornado watch is in effect in Cape Girardeau County until 7 p.m. Other local counties in the watch area include Scott, Perry, Stoddard and Bollinger. Rick Shanklin, a meteorologist with the Paducah office, said there is a line of rain and thunderstorms in south central Missouri moving east...

A Sikeston, Mo., man died in a motorcycle accident while a Glen Allen, Mo., man was sent to the hospital after being ejected from his Jeep in separate accidents earlier today. According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, Keith P. Williams, 52, of Sikeston was driving his 1985 Honda motorcycle around 12:15 a.m. when he failed to negotiate a curve on Route AA near Miner, Mo. The motorcycle then ran off the left side of the roadway and overturned, coming to a rest on County Road 807...

Cape Girardeau police officers are still looking for the man who robbed two men at around 9 p.m. Tuesday in the 800 block of Themis Street. Cpl. Adam Glueck, spokesman for the police department, said Wednesday the victims in the crime didn't indicate they were robbed at knifepoint, as previously reported...

SIKESTON, Mo. -- Council members unanimously approved a bill requiring a prescription for the purchase of products containing ephedrine and ephedrine products during the regular Sikeston City Council meeting Monday, the Sikeston Standard Democrat reported...

Over in a flash but anticipated all year is the Candy Rain at First Pentecostal Church of Cape. After all the excitement of singing with the 'Bible Discovery Kids Choir', Resurrection Celebrations in all their classes and an egg hunt too, for the Sunday School children in their elegant finery, the Candy Rain is the 'cherry on top' of a wonderful Easter Sunday! Actually all of us 'big kids' are filled with joy watching them dive for candy! Hallelujah He is risen! What a beautiful day we were given to celebrate it.. ...

Anxiously waiting for the fun to start! Kids watch as the 'powers that be' wait for the go ahead to start the Candy Rain at First Pentecostal Church of Cape, Easter 2010.

Even the 'itty bittys'gather candy during the Candy Rain at First Pentecostal Church in Cape on Easter Sunday 2010.

This is the first year for my granddaughter to play soccer! She really has fun.

Retired businessman Harry Rediger won a landslide victory Tuesday to become mayor of Cape Girardeau. Rediger, 73, defeated former city councilman Matt Hopkins, taking 63 percent of the vote and carrying all but two of Cape Girardeau's 19 precincts. Hopkins won by a narrow margin only in the two precincts that produced the lowest number of votes in the contest...

KENDALL BEING A GLAMOROUS EASTER BUNNY WITH HER HAT, BUNNY EARS, AND LIME GREEN SUNGLASSES!

The kids take advantage of the gorgeous (yet windy!) weather Saturday to pick up the plethora of eggs scattered in the grass. I heard many comments from parents that the kids loved it because there weren't hordes of kids and that there were plenty of eggs for everyone to collect...

Work could start as early as summer on the largest-ever overhaul of buildings in the Cape Girardeau School District. Voters in the district decided overwhelmingly in favor of a $40 million bond proposal to replace an elementary school, build an event complex and address deferred maintenance throughout the district, among other projects. The issue, which required 57.2 percent to pass, garnered 61.26 percent of the vote...

Tickets are now on sale for the Heartland Pops Band and Chorus Patriotic Concert to be held Sunday, May 23 at 2:15 at Crossroads Fellowship Church in Jackson. The band will be performing selections by John Philip Sousa, Glen Miller, and Elvis Presley. ...

The Cape Girardeau Tree Board planted a Red Sunset Maple Tree at Kiwanis Park last week. The tree was planted as part of the State of Missouri's Observance of Arbor Day Friday, April 2. The observance of Arbor Day by the City of Cape Girardeau is one of the criteria for recognition as a Tree City USA...

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo., April 5, 2010 -- Thirty-two runners are teaming up with local charity Room for One More to run in the Nashville Country Music Marathon & Half Marathon April 24, 2010. Room for One More is a non-profit organization dedicated to help orphaned children find forever families, encourage foster-parenting, and support orphan care worldwide. ...

The Missouri Supreme Court has rejected Cape Girardeau County Commissioner Jay Purcell's claim that he and his colleagues engaged in an illegal closed meeting.

U.S. Rep. Roy Blunt used a Tuesday visit to Cape Girardeau to promote his call to repeal the recently enacted federal health care overhaul bill and replace it with "real health care solutions." Blunt, a Springfield Republican, said a 12-point program he is promoting would lower costs, improve care and fix problems with the health care system. ...

An incumbent and new school board member will help implement the district's recently approved $40 million plan while also making decisions regarding state funding cuts. Incumbent Paul Nenninger and banker Phil Moore won at the polls Tuesday. They received 33.87 percent and 26.77 percent of the vote respectively. Moore and Nenninger will now serve three year terms on the board...

Incumbent Cape Girardeau City Councilmember John Voss won a narrow re-election victory and southside voters selected Meg Davis-Proffer to represent them on the council for the next four years.

ATLANTA -- U.S. births fell in 2008, probably because of the recession, updated government figures confirm. The one exception to the trend was the birth rate among women in their 40s, who perhaps felt they didn't have the luxury of waiting for better economic times...

MONTCOAL, W.Va. -- Rescuers held out slim hope Tuesday that four missing coal miners might have survived when a mine repeatedly cited for improperly venting methane gas exploded, killing 25 people in the country's deadliest underground disaster in a quarter-century...

AUGUSTA, Ga. -- Another day at Augusta National brought Tiger Woods closer to the very reason he came to the Masters. He turned his head from side to side so he could make eye contact with fans as he walked off the green. He looked more at ease as he tried to make good on his pledge to be a better person...

NEW YORK -- Sean Connery celebrated Scotland's eclectic style with a fashion show featuring celebrities, athletes and wounded war veterans in modernized kilts, capes and beanies from that country's top designers. Connery said Monday's Dressed to Kilt, marking its seventh year, "certainly brings together a very interesting mix of people."...

BEIJING -- China-based hackers stole Indian national security information, 1,500 e-mails from the Dalai Lama's office and other sensitive documents, a new report said Tuesday. Researchers at the University of Toronto said they were able to observe the hacking and trace it to core servers in China and to people based in the southwestern city of Chengdu. The researchers said they monitored the hacking for the past eight months...

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- Columbia voters have endorsed a plan to put in downtown surveillance cameras to address concerns about rising crime. Unofficial returns from Tuesday's city election show that the initiative petition started by the mother of an assault victim won the support of 59 percent of voters. The ballot measure known as Proposition 1 won by a margin of more than 3,300 votes...

When Barbara Jenkins first moved to her home in New York's Hudson Valley, she fell in love with the wildlife, including the "cute little bunnies" that romped so close. Several years and many nibbled gardens later, the fluffy-tailed hoppers were not quite so cute anymore...

Motorists across Missouri may need to adjust their driving habits in the months to come as this year's construction season kicks off. The Missouri Department of Transportation, looking for ways to save time and money, has contracted for the replacement of 554 bridges over four years. ...

THAT'S a wonderful place the city is building for the children for swimming. It's a big, beautiful complex. I'm sure the children are going to enjoy it. But the children who won't enjoy it are the ones on the south side. They won't be able to afford it. They don't have anything nice down there. How come everybody gets it except the south side?...

The golfing sensation can hope only for public forgiveness, knowing full well they will never forget We pause from the ongoing discussion of health care, soaring deficits, higher gas prices and looming tax increases to tackle a more important topic: the return of Tiger Woods to both the golf and national media stage...

For the beauty of all of your creation, we give you thanks and praise, O God. Amen.

Firefighters responded to the following calls Monday:...

The Cape Girardeau Police Department released the following items. Arrests do not imply guilt. DWI...

MARION, Ill. -- Woodrow Victor Leidigh, 95, died Monday, April 5, 2010, at Parkway Manor in Marion. He was formerly of Cairo, Ill. He was born Dec. 7, 1914, in Grand Chain, Ill., to Walter and Susie Fallenstein Leidigh. He and Anna Louise Newlon were married Nov. 29, 1944. She died Nov. 15, 1998...

Joy Wulfers, 82, of Cape Girardeau died Monday, April 5, 2010, at Saint Francis Medical Center. She was born Jan. 7, 1928, in Kansas City, Mo., to Halbert G. and Betty Jo Williams Swindle. She and John Wulfers were married July 26, 1948, in Cape Girardeau. He preceded her in death Sept. 18, 1987...

SIKESTON, Mo. -- Albert Dewavon Adams, 87, of Sikeston died Tuesday, April 6, 2010, after a brief illness. He was born June 4, 1922, in Portageville, Mo., to the late Albert L. and Annie Edwards Adams of Portageville. He graduated from Wardell High School in 1941. ...

MORLEY, Mo. -- Shannon L. Farrar, 45, of Morley died Monday, April 5, 2010, at his home. He was born Sept. 19, 1964, at Morley, son of Winford and Susan Dalrymple Farrar. Shannon worked for Ingram Construction in Morley. He was a member of First Baptist Church in Morley...

VILLA RIDGE, Ill. -- Ella Louise Dover Smoot, 90, of Villa Ridge passed away Tuesday, April 6, 2010, at her home. She was born April 9, 1919, in Grand Chain, Ill., daughter of Dewey Dover Sr. and Flora Ann Murphy Dover. Ella attended Villa Ridge Union Church and later joined Caledonia Community Church in Olmsted, Ill. She enjoyed visiting area churches as well...

CHAFFEE, Mo. -- Ronald D. Bradshaw, 53, of Chaffee died Sunday, April 4, 2010, at St. Louis University School of Medicine in St. Louis. He was born April 3, 1957, in Cape Girardeau, to Jerome Dean and Letty Williams Bradshaw. Bradshaw was a construction worker...

FRIEDHEIM, Mo. -- Paul D. Lappe, 31, of Friedheim died Sunday, April 4, 2010, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. He was born Feb. 13, 1979, in Cape Girardeau, son of Dennis G. and Marsha Bollinger Lappe of Friedheim. He and Amanda N. Elam were married July 20, 2002...

Pearline Kruse, 91, of Cape Girardeau died Tuesday, April 6, 2010, at Ratliff Care Center in Cape Girardeau. Visitation will be from 9 to 10 a.m. Thursday at Hobbs Chapel United Methodist Church in Cape Girardeau. The funeral will be at 10 a.m. at the church...

Elmer Palisch, 94, of Jackson died Tuesday, April 6, 2010, at the Lutheran Home in Cape Girardeau. Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Jackson. The funeral will be at 10 a.m. Friday at the chruch.

Robert B. Hendrix, 77, of Cape Girardeau died Tuesday, April 6, 2010, at his home. He was president and CEO of Cape Girardeau Area Chamber of Commerce from June 1972 through October 1993. Arrangements are incomplete at Ford and Sons Funeral Home.

POLICE Miscellaneous FIRE Firefighters responded to the following call Monday:...

Recently I purchased a couple of Amish cookbooks, volumes one and two of "Amish Friends Cookbook" by Wanda E. Brunstetter. I have enjoyed them a lot, and I especially like the Amish history at the beginning of each chapter. The Amish way of living has always fascinated me, and their cooking techniques and recipes are interesting. ...

Easter Sunday. Easter sunrise services are held at several area churches, including South Side Baptist Church on Hackberry Street in Cape Girardeau and Hobbs Chapel United Methodist Church on Highway 177. About 100 children participated yesterday in an Easter egg hunt at Capaha Park, sponsored by the Jaycees and the Easter Seal Society...

The southbound Fruitland rest area on Interstate 55 in Cape Girardeau County will be closed while Missouri Department of Transportation crews make repairs.The rest area will close at 7 a.m. today and reopen at 5 p.m. Thursday.

The Jackson Indians have yet to allow a goal this season, outscoring opponents 20-0. The Indians' defense proved to be solid once again Tuesday night. Jackson (4-0) posted its fourth straight shutout with a 3-0 victory over visiting Perryville. "Our defense is very strong," Jackson co-coach Justin McMullin said. "They did a very good job covering each other tonight. Kylie Seyer and Kelsey Bierman are in the middle back there and they do a good job."...

Route BB in Cape County will be reduced to one lane with a 16-foot width restriction while MoDOT crews repair pavement. This section of road is from Route B to the end of state maintenance. The work, begun Tuesday, will continue from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. until Thursday.

Southeast Missouri State's red-hot offense held up its end of the bargain Tuesday. But the Redhawks finally ran into a baseball team that could keep up with them offensively, which led to a rare recent loss. Southern Illinois University-Carbondale outlasted the Redhawks 16-11 in a wild nonconference game at wind-blown Capaha Field that took 3 hours, 20 minutes...

The Southeast Missouri State men's basketball program received another verbal commitment for the spring signing period, this one from a former area high school standout. Bell City product Nick Niemczyk, a sophomore guard at Three Rivers Community College in Poplar Bluff, Mo., recently accepted Southeast coach Dickey Nutt's scholarship offer...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Students at Missouri's colleges and universities could face tuition increases next school year if cuts approved Tuesday by a Senate committee are upheld. The Senate Appropriations Committee decided to cut nearly $65 million from the budgets of public colleges and universities...

The Southeast Missouri State men's track and field program has received Ohio Valley Conference male field athlete of the week honors for the third consecutive week. Senior Brandon Colbert picked up the latest award Tuesday after his performance over the weekend at the Joey Haines Invitational hosted by Southeast...

The Rodney Carrington concert scheduled for Friday at the Show Me Center has been postponed due to "personal reasons" according to press contacts with the performer. Carrington, a comedian, singer and actor, called off or rescheduled shows slated for the next few weeks, including the Cape Girardeau appearance. The show, originally set for 7 p.m. Friday, has been rescheduled to Oct. 23...

ST. LOUIS -- A day after the St. Louis Rams released Marc Bulger, general manager Billy Devaney said it's far from certain that the team will take a quarterback with the first pick of the draft. Smoke screens are typical this time of the year, but Devaney said Tuesday the game plan hasn't changed even though the move leaves them with three inexperienced quarterbacks on the roster. ...

A former firefighter and an adjunct government professor will be inducted as the East County Fire Protection District's two new members April 20, after a vote Tuesday in Cape Girardeau County. The fire protection board, which is responsible for crafting the district's budget, is expanding its panel from three to five members to better serve the communities the district protects...

After Perry County voters approved extending a countywide sales tax for road improvements Tuesday, Presiding Commissioner Carl Leuckel said the county commission will meet Thursday to start discussing roads that are most in need of improvements.

CHAFFEE, Mo. -- The water and wastewater system in Chaffee will receive a makeover after voters approved a $12 million bond Tuesday.

A bond to overhaul school buildings and election of municipal officials were among factors county election supervisors said affected voter turnout in Tuesday's elections. In Cape Girardeau County, election supervisor Joey Keys said turnout was as he expected, with the heaviest in Cape Girardeau. He said the Arena Building was among the busiest in Cape Girardeau, with 1,762 voters casting their ballots at the location...

Perry County voters showed their disapproval for a $2.4 million bond issue for the Altenburg School District at the polls Tuesday, ultimately saying no to the development of a new elementary school.

An incumbent and a former school board member were the two winners in the Scott City School Board election Tuesday. David Gene Thompson, who was elected to the board in 2007, and Lisa Schaefer, who served on the board from 2004 to 2007, won from a field of seven candidates...

Kara Clark-Summers, who as Cape Girardeau County clerk normally supervises elections of all races the county, went into labor Tuesday. But election supervisor Joey Keys, who handled the duties for Summers on election day, said she had yet to deliver her baby at press time...

All the area high school events reported Tuesday to the Southeast Missourian.

BAGHDAD -- At least seven bombs ripped through apartment buildings across Baghdad on Tuesday and another struck a market, killing at least 50 people and wounding more than 180, authorities said. The explosions were the latest in a five-day spree of attacks in and around the capital that have killed at least 119 people. Several bombs were planted inside empty apartments, the government said...

MARQUAND, Mo. -- Alice Kay Mouser, 71, of Marquand died Tuesday, March 6, 2010, at her home. Visitation will be after 4 p.m. today at Follis and Sons Funeral Home in Fredericktown, Mo. The funeral will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at Marquand Methodist Church. Burial will be in Mouser Cemetery at Marquand...

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) -- Voters in Kansas City have elected a slate of candidates who support a massive reorganization plan for the city's troubled school district. The unofficial results of Tuesday's election means that Superintendent John Covington's plan to close nearly half of the district's schools and lay off hundreds of employees will have majority support on the board...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) -- The Senate budget chief wants to eliminate funding for a Missouri program that givers teachers extra pay for taking on extra duties. Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Rob Mayer, of Dexter, wants to get rid of the $37 million Career Ladder program. He says the money could be used to help close a projected $500 million shortfall in next year's budget...

COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) -- Marijuana users at the University of Missouri plan a rally Thursday to build support for pot smoking as an alternative to underage alcohol use and binge drinking. A group called Safer Alternative For Enjoyable Recreation organized rallies last week at more than 80 colleges and universities in 34 states. Proponents on the Columbia campus moved their event to this week because of spring break...

Bob Hendrix, 77, who led the Cape Girardeau Area Chamber of Commerce for more than 20 years, died Tuesday. Arrangements are pending at Ford and Sons Funeral Home. Hendrix served as president and CEO of the chamber from June 1972 through October 1993...

A Jackson alderman appointed to the position in September has won his first election to the same post. Voters on Tuesday elected incumbent Tim Welker to the Ward 1 Board of Aldermen seat. Welker defeated challenger Dustin M. Cauble 148 to 77. A heavy-equipment operator and truck driver for Oscar Welker and Sons, Welker was appointed to fill the unexpired term of Curt Poore in September...

Concerns are being raised about the environmental effect of a proposed wood-fueled power plant in Perryville, Mo. A public forum to discuss the project will be at 6:30 p.m. today at the Perryville Senior Citizens Center, 4 N. Spring St. Liberty Green Renewables of Georgetown, Ind., plans to build a $120 million plant adjacent to the Perryville Industrial Park to burn wood chips to produce electricity...

High Honor Roll 6th grade: Kimalee Story. 7th grade: Cambria Bigham. 8th grade: Aaron Bigham, Danielle Carthell, Katherine Eatmon, Cameron Grueninger, Hannah McClarney, Elizabeth Rundles, Kayde Wood. Honor Roll 6th grade: Kaylie George, Jonah Huffman, Olivia Khourie, Dristin Rose, Kimber White...

High Honor Roll 9th grade: Bryce Bigham, Kyle Bigham, Jimberlea Bledsoe, Corika Coleman, Kaitlyn Heinrich, Skylar Morgan, Austin Murphy. 10th grade: Cedar Buero, Shyah Buero, Austin Caldwell, Jimmy Ellis, Tyler Holshouser, Steven Salzman. 11th grade: Bejamin Doty, Joseph McHughs, Malia Miller, Peninnah Nelson, John Paulson, Cristal Phillips, Anthony Roberson, Dominique Ross, Lindsey Vaughn, Justin White...

High Honor Roll 3rd grade: Brandon Beasley, Daniel Doty, Kyle Jones, Eric Lewis, Nicholas Mitchell, Jordon Reeves, Jordan Shafer, Brooke Sinn, Cassandra Stone, Amaiah Wade. 4th grade: Alaysia Casper, Lonis Eaglebear-Tybo, Lesley Grace, Kourtney Houston, Breeann Johnson, Kayla Kobel, Kelsey McCrite, Page Mix, Tristin Parker, Rileigh Petermichel, Madelynn Smith...

Marilyn Kinsella is one of six featured performers at the Cape Girardeau Storytelling festival this weekend, Friday through Sunday. For 16 years she has worked as a storyteller and puppeteer at the Edwardsville Public Library in Edwardsville, Ill. After her retirement in 2002 she has worked as a full-time, freelance professional storyteller. ...

NEELYVILLE -- Newcomers beat out two multiple-term incumbents in every precinct for three-year terms which were up for election on the Neelyville school board. Donna Akers was elected with 261 votes. Carrie Jones also won with 183 votes over Travis Birdsong's 101 votes and Gene Russom's 86 in Butler and Ripley counties...

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo.--The candidates who expressed their support for the direction administrators are taking at Three Rivers Community College during their campaign won by more than 200 votes each for the two seats up for grabs on the board of trustees. Phil Davis defeated Darrel Reed by 1,229 to 994 votes for Sub-District Three and Randy Grassham ended up with 903 compared with Dr. Gene Oakley's 641 for Sub-District 2 on Tuesday...

The Missouri Forest Products Association will honor Mark Nussbaum of Jackson at its annual State Tree Farm Conference on Saturday. Scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. at the University of Missouri Extension office in Jackson, the conference will feature presentations on insuring timber, the state of Missouri's forests and salvaging fallen timber, a silent auction and an awards ceremony that will include Nussbaum receiving 2009 State Tree Farmer of the Year...

ALTENBURG, Mo. -- In the wake of a failed bond issue, many decisions in the Altenburg School District will hinge on actions at the state level. In Tuesday's election, 56 percent of voters turned down a $2.4 million proposal to build a new school. The bond issue would have increased the tax rate by 83 cents per $100 assessed valuation...

Baseball fans will see how the game was played in the 1860s when a team from Murphysboro, Ill., comes to Jackson City Park to play this month. Scheduled for April 24, the game will feature the Clarkes vintage baseball team, dressed in 19th-century-style uniforms, playing a group of local men...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Missouri Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder said he'll seek private funding for his own legal challenge to the new federal health care law. Kinder, of Cape Girardeau, said Wednesday he will file the lawsuit later this month in a Missouri federal court in his official capacity. A spokesman said the suit will focus on issues dealing with seniors and the solvency of Medicare. He wouldn't provide additional details...

Since Penzel Construction Co. won the contract to build Cape Splash Family Aquatic Center last July, there have been 72 days where weather interrupted construction. But Cape Girardeau Parks and Recreation Department director Dan Muser remains confident that he will deliver the $8.7 million water park to the public in time for a Memorial Day opening...

Forty Perryville High School students received a "I" or "II" rating on their solos and ensembles during the District Music Festival held at Cape Central High School on Friday, March 19. Students receiving a "I" rating are eligible to compete at the State Music Festival in Columbia, Missouri, in May 1. ...

Five Perryville High School softball players were recently awarded with Missouri Fast Pitch Coaches Association Academic All-State certificates. The students were chosen for the award for their academic excellence. Students with a GPA of 3.9-4.0 made the Academic All-State 1st Team and students with a GPA of 3.5-3.8 made the Academic All-State 2nd Team...

Members of the Perryville High School 2010 Prom Court have been selected by a vote of the student body. They are (from left) Nikki Layton, daughter of Don and Cheryl Layton and Josh Bauwens, son of Kurt and Diane Bauwens; Mia Pohlman, daughter of Paul and Jane Pohlman and Jack Meyer, son of Mark and Kelly Meyer; and Chelsea Crouse, daughter of Mark and Aanya Weir and Josh Hargrove, son of Keith and Paula...

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- Economic benefits and environmental effects of a new $120 million wood-fired power plant in Perryville were considered during a public forum Wednesday night.

AmerenUE SEMO Division Manager Jean Mason presented a check for $2,000 to Linda Nash, Executive Director of Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Southeast Missouri, Inc. Trained CASA volunteers advocate in court for abused and neglected children seeking placement in safe, permanent homes. AmerenUE's donation will be used to help fund computer equipment and software to train and support volunteers and to spread the CASA message to the community...

Do you want to be more informed? Do you know what the Cape County Auditor does? Do you know the candidates seeking the position in the upcoming August 3 Primary? The Pachyderm Club believes that "Free Government Requires Active Citizens" and it is our mission to educate the public and create more informed voters...

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. -- After more than 10 years among the enlisted ranks, Karen Silas of Jackson, Mo., was promoted to the rank of second lieutenant last week during a ceremony at the Missouri National Guard armory in Cape Girardeau. Silas, 30, attended Missouri Officer Candidate School at Fort Leonard Wood from spring 2008 until September of 2009. Silas was promoted on April 2 and sworn in by Maj. Scot Ratcliff, the administrative officer for the 1140th Engineer Battalion...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 8, 2010 Southern Theatre (417) 625-9393 MSSU Play Features Jackson, Mo. Resident JOPLIN, MO (SNS) - Southern Theatre will present the play Marian and Robin at 2:30 p.m., April 17-18 (Saturday and Sunday) at Taylor Performing Arts Center on the campus of Missouri Southern State University...

Cookie is adorable! She is loving and needs a home! She will cuddle up and become a great addition to your home! Come visit her today! 7 year old Cookie is up-to-date with routine shots and house trained.

Kara Clark-Summers was absent from overseeing Tuesday's primary elections in Cape Girardeau County, but for good reason. Summers, the county clerk, was in labor at a hospital preparing to give birth to her first child. At 4:27 a.m. Wednesday, her son, Clark Thomas Summers, was born. ...

Cape Girardeau police officers are still looking for a man who robbed two men at around 9 p.m. Tuesday in the 800 block of Themis Street. Cpl. Adam Glueck, spokesman for the police department, said the suspect was able to get away with a small amount of cash after wrestling one of the men to the ground and fleeing the scene...

Route H in Scott County will be reduced to one lane with a 12-foot width restriction while Missouri Department of Transportation crews perform drainage work. The section of road is between County Road 450 and Highway 62 at Miner. Weather permitting, work will be performed daily from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through April 16...

Route E between Spring and Missouri streets in Commerce, Mo., is now open after being closed because of flooding.

Route A between Perry County Road 460 and County Road 444/447 has reopened after being closed because of flooding.

Among the many contested elections in Cape Girardeau County were the races for two open seats on the Delta and Advance school boards and Advance mayor.

A second motion hearing Wednesday before Circuit Judge William L. Syler in the case of Ryan Patterson was continued to May 18 so the defense attorney in the case can review new materials presented to him by the prosecution.

The curtains will go up on a different stage in a different school, but the show is the same. "The Sound of Music" will open at 7 p.m. today at Notre Dame Regional High School. It will be the first time the school has put on the show since its first musical in 1966...

Scott City pounded three big hits in the decisive fifth inning and defeated host Oran 4-2 in a weather shortened five-inning game.

What's happening this weekend

Scholarships Honors, achievements -- From staff reports ...

There is good economic news in Perry County. Gilster-Mary Lee is expanding its facilities and will add 50 employees. The company, which makes cereals and other grain-based products such as pasta and baking mixes, will build a cereal warehouse and trucking garage in the Perryville Industrial Park. The company has operated in downtown Perryville since 1969, and the new facilities will ease traffic congestion...

From April 11 to 17, schools, campuses and communities across the country will celebrate National Library Week, a time to remind the public about the contribution libraries, librarians and library workers make to their communities every day. In today's tough economy, a library card is one of the best bargains around. ...

IF you travel Route M every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, you won't miss it. It's the diaper dumper, two bags of used adult diapers dumped on the road. I'M sick and tired of everybody running down the Obama health care package. Critics keep saying costs will go up. They go up anyway. What caused that?...

April 8, 2010 Dear Leslie, When my brother Scott was in high school, he and some musician friends planned to drive to a city an hour away for a concert by the jazz trumpeter Bill Chase. Then my grandfather died, and my brother couldn't go to the concert because the visitation was the same night. ...

Comfort, O God, those wait to be rescued, and bless those who seek to help them. Amen.

MONTCOAL, W.Va. -- Two full days after the worst U.S. mining disaster in a generation, dangerous gases underground prevented rescuers late Wednesday from venturing into the Upper Big Branch coal mine to search for any survivors of the explosion that killed at least 25 workers...

BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan -- Opposition leaders declared they had seized power in Kyrgyzstan, taking control of security headquarters, a state TV channel and other government buildings after clashes between police and protesters killed dozens in this Central Asian nation that houses a key U.S. air base...

Cape Girardeau The Cape Girardeau Police Department released the following items. Arrests do not imply guilt. Arrests Summonses Thefts Property damage Miscellaneous...

CHESTERFIELD, Mo. -- Robert "Sherry" Kirkpatrick, 73, of Chesterfield passed away Sunday, April 4, 2010. Beloved husband of Vicky Kirkpatrick (nee Denny); dear father of Cynthia (Lew) Lewis and Rob (Caren) Kirkpatrick; grandfather of Jason, Lauren and Robbie; son of Wilma Kinder and the late Robert Kirkpatrick; brother of Ronnie, James and Mark Kirkpatrick; beloved brother-in-law, uncle, cousin and friend to many...

ADVANCE, Mo. -- George "Eddie" Friedrich, 74, of Advance passed away Tuesday, April 6, 2010, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. He was born Nov. 9, 1935, at Advance, son of George and Elsie "Rose" Lee Friedrich. Eddie was a retired farmer...

Robert Bramblet Hendrix, 77, of Cape Girardeau died at home Tuesday, April 6, 2010, following a lengthy illness. Robert, known affectionately as Bob, was born Aug. 17, 1932, in Bowling Green, Mo., to Harvey Robert and Mary Elizabeth "Betty" Bramblett Hendrix. He married the love of his life, Rosemary Holtmeyer, in Washington, Mo., Jan. 17, 1959...

FENTON, Mo. -- Weldon C. Kirn, 67, of Fenton went home to the arms of the Lord on Tuesday, April 6, 2010. He was born Jan. 17, 1943, in Perryville, Mo., to the late Arthur and Elvira Gegg Kirn. Beloved husband of Catherine Straub Kirn; beloved father of Dwayne and Andy Kirn; dearest brother of Glen (Fran) and Norman (Donna) Kirn, Shirley (Bob) Pelker, Darlene Kirn Davies; and brother-in-law of John (Mary) Louis and Beverly Straub. ...

Odis Lee Storz, 78, of Jackson died Tuesday, April 6, 2010, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. He was born Aug. 15, 1931, in Greenbriar, Mo., son of Earnest Moses and Ople Marie Stevens Storz. He and Charlsie Deck were married Nov. 17, 1956. She died Aug. 16, 2003...

TAMMS, Ill. -- Norma Holshouser Morse, 75, of Dorsey, Ill., formerly of Tamms, died Tuesday, April 6, 2010, at Rosewood Care Center in Alton, Ill. She was born May 29, 1934, in Tamms, to Armel Elmer "A.E." and Dorothy Wilson Holshouser. She married James C. Morse, who preceded her in death...

Elmer Ernst Willis Palisch, 94, of Jackson died Tuesday, April 6, 2010, at the Lutheran Home in Cape Girardeau. He was born July 8, 1915, in Frohna, Mo., son to Ernst R. and Cora J. Mueller Palisch. He and Dorothy Lee Rose were married Nov. 13, 1938. She died June 4, 2006...

Pearline Kruse, 91, of Cape Girardeau died Tuesday, April 6, 2010, at Ratliff Care Center. She was born May 16, 1918, in Parma, Mo., daughter to Thomas and Elizabeth Bruce Leathers. She and Thomas C. Kruse were married Jan. 22, 1938. He died June 29, 2008...

MARQUAND, Mo. -- Alice Kay Mouser, 71, of Marquand passed away Tuesday, April 6, 2010, at her home. She was born June 23, 1938, at Marquand, daughter of Elwood and Wanda Mouser. Kay was a graduate of Southeast Missouri State University. She was retired from MSTA and was a member of Marquand Methodist Church. She enjoyed gardening, animals and the St. Louis Cardinals...

CAIRO, Ill. -- Thomas G. Hilt, 72, of Cairo died Tuesday, April 6, 2010, at Daystar Care Center. He served in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean conflict. There is no visitation. Graveside service will be at 11:30 a.m. Friday at Mound City National Cemetery, with the Rev. Johnny Posey officiating. Military honors will be conducted by area veterans organizations and the U.S. Air Force...

MOUND CITY, Ill. -- Doyan R. "Jack" Johnson, 75, of Mound City died Tuesday, April 6, 2010, at Landmark Hospital in Cape Girardeau. Visitation is from 11 a.m. to service time Friday at Barkett Funeral Home in Mound City. The funeral will be at 1 p.m. Friday at the funeral home, with the Rev. Robert D. McCoy officiating. Burial will be in Green Lawn Memorial Gardens in Villa Ridge, Ill...

DONGOLA, Ill. -- Jacob W. Birky, 81, of Dongola, formerly of McBride, British Columbia, died Tuesday, April 6, 2010, at the home of a daughter and son-in-law, Wanda and Glen Weaver. Visitation will be from 4 to 5:30 and 6 to 8 p.m. today at Mount Pleasant Mennonite Church...

After consultation with the board of regents, Southeast Missouri State University president Dr. Bill W. Stacy says the university will continue with preliminary construction work on the multipurpose building project and will assume, for now, architectural and first-phase construction contract costs...

POLICE Jackson The Jackson Police Department released the following items. Arrests do not imply guilt. Summonses Theft Miscellaneous FIRE Jackson Firefighters responded to the following call Tuesday: ...

Did you know taste is the weakest sense? How well do you taste? STEP 2: Place the hole against your tongue. STEP 3: Look into the mirror and count the number of bumps on your tongue. If you have fewer than 15 bumps inside the hole, you are a poor taster. If you have more than 30 bumps inside the hole, you are a super taster. You have about 10,000 taste buds in your mouth. Research shows women have more taste buds than men...

In Tuesday's article about the Alzheimer's forum, a quote about an assisted-living facility was misattributed to Marsha Elfrink. The story should have instead said that for nearly four consecutive years she, her husband and two sisters have cared for her mother 24 hours a day at home...

For the first time this year the Cape Girardeau Storytelling Festival, this Friday through Sunday, will give local tellers an opportunity to perform. Jerry Ford of Cape Girardeau is one of about a dozen local tellers who will participate in the new "Swapping Ground" feature at noon Saturday in the Merriwether Street tent...

Missouri Department of Corrections probation and parole staff and various partners throughout Southeast Missouri met March 26 in Cape Girardeau to discuss issues surrounding criminal offenders re-entering society after serving their sentence. Speakers at the conference included George Lombardi, director of the Department of Corrections, and Bill Dent, manager of the Family and Community Trust in the Department of Social Services...

SIKESTON, Mo. -- Emergency personnel responded to a report of a 65-year-old Sikeston Board of Municipal Utilities worker being electrocuted on Ingram Road near Route HH shortly after 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, the Sikeston Standard Democrat reported. "He was just going to pull a meter and he got his hand in the meter box too far," said Kenny Stokes, distribution superintendent for BMU. ...

A recent letter was absolutely wrong about congressional pensions. The letter claimed that members of Congress receive their full salary as a pension after two years of service. With an adequate foundation of facts, people are entitled to an opinion. But no one is entitled to make up the facts. The facts are at www.senate.gov/reference/resources/pdf/RL30631...

CHICAGO -- Duncan Keith, Ben Eager, Bryan Bickell and Kris Versteeg scored in a 3:08 span in the first period and the Chicago Blackhawks beat the St. Louis Blues 6-5 on Wednesday night for their fifth straight victory. Andrew Ladd and Jordan Hendry also scored to help Chicago reach a franchise-record 109 points and tie San Jose for first place in the Western Conference...

CINCINNATI -- Albert Pujols and Matt Holliday are in the middle of something really good. Pujols singled home the tiebreaking run in the seventh inning and Holliday followed with a two-run double, sending the St. Louis Cardinals to a 6-3 victory over the Cincinnati Reds on Wednesday night...

All the scores from Wednesday that were reported to the Southeast Missourian.

One of the area's fastest high school athletes will take her considerable speed to Southeast Missouri State.

The honors continue to roll in for Scott County Central boys basketball standouts Otto Porter and Bobby Hatchett. The duo combined to lead the Braves to the Class 1 state championship last month, and both earned a spot on the media's all-state team, which was released Wednesday...

ST. LOUIS (AP) -- Two student leaders at Saint Louis University have resigned their positions after a photo surfaced showing them posing with a noose. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported Thursday that the image was posted more than nine months ago on the Facebook social networking site but drew attention this week. ...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) -- Students involved in interscholastic sports or marching band could earn credit toward graduating from a Missouri high school. That's the premise of legislation given first-round approval Wednesday by the state Senate. The bill would let school districts award one unit of physical education credit to students who participate in at least three years of interscholastic sports or marching band...

BRENTWOOD, Mo. (AP) -- A suburban St. Louis school district is trying fight childhood obesity by getting kids to skip the ride and walk or bike to school. The Brentwood School District's "walking school bus" program seeks to reverse a long-standing trend. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported Thursday that about 13 percent of children ages 5-14 walk or bike to school. That's significantly lower than the 48 percent who did so in 1969...

COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) -- Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon has no plans to sit idly while lawmakers consider whether to preserve a tuition freeze deal he assembled before the state's dire financial status was fully known. Speaking Wednesday at the University of Missouri's flagship campus, Nixon said the state's public colleges and universities "should be rewarded for coming forward" last fall in a bid to stave off further cuts...

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (AP) -- The Missouri State University football and basketball programs will lose scholarships after failing to meet the NCAA's requirements for academic progress. The university announced Wednesday that the men's basketball program will lose one of its 13 scholarships for the 2011-12 season. Football will lose 2.83 scholarships for the 2010-2011 season...

THORNTON, Colo. (AP) -- A school food crackdown looming in Congress that aims to reduce childhood obesity went over like a wet potato chip at a suburban Denver elementary school where federal agriculture officials pitched the plan Tuesday. "I like healthy food. But I also like snacks," said Dominic Sotheo, 7, who picked at a bean-and-cheese burrito with corn and low-fat milk served for the visit. Sotheo favors PayDay candy bars and chocolate chip cookies -- treats his school doesn't sell...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) -- The state's public schools would have more freedom to decide how to spend their money, when classes would be in session and how teachers would be paid under bills endorsed Wednesday by the Missouri House and Senate. Senators gave preliminary approval to a bill that would let schools boards vote to schedule classes year-round and allow teachers to accept merit pay if their districts choose to offer it. ...

Three Rivers Community College will be seeing several campus upgrades thanks to a bill approved last fall by the Missouri House of Representatives. Three Rivers president Dr. Devin Stephenson recently announced that college projects to be funded by money from House Bill 22 will include over $40,000 in improvements for the math and science departments. The bill will also provide more than $25,000 for upgrades to the physics lab and the medical lab technology program...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) -- Missouri lawmakers have given final approval to a midyear spending bill that shields one-quarter of the state's school districts from budget trimming. The supplemental budget cleared the House on a 96-51 vote Thursday and goes now to Gov. Jay Nixon...

A Honor Roll 4th grade: Mallory Bittner, Dalton Drum, Liam Green, Tyler Hafford, Chloe Hampton, JaQuan Jones, Dennis Jordan, Jackson Manley, Hannah Thiele. B Honor Roll 4th grade: Justin Biggerstaff, D'Ante Clark, D'Vaisha Collins, Dylan Corvick, Aries Criddle, Taylor Estraca, Robyn Foote, Aereiel Holder, Ethan Hutson, Abigel Jarvis, Destiny Jones, Aubrey Kitchen, September Knupp, Cassandra Martin, Cierra McKinley, Kyra Pearl, Brian Schumer...

Cape Girardeau's new mayor, Harry Rediger, and three city council members elected Tuesday will be sworn into office today. The current city council will meet at 4 p.m. in the council chambers at city hall, 401 Independence St., to certify the results of Tuesday's election. The swearing-in ceremony will follow for Rediger, re-elected council member John Voss of Ward 1, Meg Davis-Proffer of Ward 2 and Kathy Swan of Ward 6...

Congressional candidate Tommy Sowers took on U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Emerson's record on trade and economics Thursday evening before a friendly Cape Girardeau crowd, accusing the Republican incumbent of supporting "policy after policy" that has cost the district jobs...

Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Missouri notified 125 workers Thursday their jobs are being eliminated at its Cape Girardeau operations center.

Fighting back tears, teachers with the Cape Girardeau Adult Education and Literacy program told the triumphant stories of their students during the annual GED graduation ceremony Thursday.

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Republic of the Philippines -- The commanding general of the Philippine Air Force recognized the humanitarian efforts of U.S. military members serving in the southern Philippines during a celebration at Edwin Andrews Air Base (EAAB) April 7...

WAPPAPELLO, Mo. -- With the increasing popularity of global positioning systems, old-fashioned land navigation is becoming a lost art. But Citizen-Soldiers with the Missouri National Guard realize it's still an invaluable skill that could prove vital during future missions...

The National Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Society's Gateway Chapter will host their 21st annual Walk MS event on Sunday, April 18 at Capaha Park in Cape Girardeau. Registration is at noon; lunch is provided by Applebee's and the walk will kick off at 1 p.m. ...

By today the Missouri Department of Transportation is expected to wrap up its two-week traffic count study in Jackson.

A pickup truck caught fire today on South Kingshighway around 11 a.m., causing traffic on the road to be limited to one lane northbound for a brief period. The Cape Girardeau Fire Department and Cape Girardeau police responded to the scene, and the fire was quickly extinguished...

Friday was the first day of the third annual Cape Girardeau Storytelling Festival, which continues through Sunday, in downtown Cape Girardeau. Advance ticket sales totaled 435 tickets by Friday afternoon. "Tomorrow we expect to be a really big day for us because of the weather," said Chuck Martin, executive director of the Cape Girardeau Convention and Visitors Bureau. "We know a lot of our local people are working today, but tomorrow and Sunday have the potential to have the best turnout yet."...

Old Town Cape would like to thank the Trinity Lutheran Girl Scouts for cleaning up Broadway. - And with pizzazz!

BARNHART, Mo. -- A Jackson man was injured Thursday morning when his vehicle hit a rock bluff off Interstate 55. According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, Jeremy W. Rodgers, 19, was driving his 2002 Chevrolet Avalanche southbound on the interstate around 5:40 a.m. when the vehicle traveled off the right side of the roadway. The Avalanche then struck a rock bluff.

Five Jackson educators got a moment in the limelight, and all used it to thank the support group behind them.

Two women were injured late Wednesday after the car they were riding in struck an embankment near Delta. Brittney N. Hutson, 20, of Chaffee, Mo., was driving her 1998 Jeep northbound on County Road 254 around 9:34 p.m., according to a Missouri State Highway Patrol crash report. The Jeep then ran off the roadway and struck the embankment 4 miles west of Delta...

KENNETT, Mo. -- Two women led police on a nearly 30-mile chase late Monday night before being arrested in a rural cemetery, the Daily Dunklin Democrat reported. Rhonda Hindmon, 47, and Misty Cooksey, 27, both of Kennett, were observed in a maroon van and driving at high speed on Ely Road in Kennett at 11 p.m. ...

What kind of day was it Thursday when Scott City and Dexter met for a high school baseball game at City Park in Scott City? One only needed to show up for the final out of the game to see fortune was smiling on the home team. Even when the Scott City center fielder dropped a potential game-ending fly ball, the Rams were not to be denied. They simply threw the ball back to the infield and nabbed a confused Dexter baserunner who looked hopelessly lost between second and third...

One of the two Republicans who filed for Cape Girardeau County Circuit Clerk announced today that he is withdrawing from the race. Jason Holloway of Oak Ridge said he was stepping aside from the contest for personal reasons. He did not elaborate. Holloway's withdrawal leaves Patti Wibbenmeyer, chief deputy circuit clerk, as the only candidate in the race. ...

This isn't your father's art debate. The second Art Slam at the Crisp Museum will unfold as a no-holds-barred verbal cage match of sorts to entertain and provoke the audience. Art Slam pits two individuals in a debate-style atmosphere discussing a particular exhibit. In this case, Dr. Christopher Rieger of Southeast Missouri State University's English Department will be debating Dr. Zenon Duda, a podiatrist and sculptor...

Timothy Krajcir, a confessed serial killer who received his 14th life sentence March 25 in Paducah, Ky., was moved from the McCracken County Jail at Paducah on Wednesday morning back to prison in Stateville, Ill.

Arts and entertainment briefs

Research has long shown that one key to a good, lasting marriage is to keep the romance alive. One of the easiest and most obvious ways to do this is to have a regular date night. Go to the movies, dinner, anything to get you out of the house and into each other's sole company. The newly released "Date Night" takes its premise from this theory...

Former Cape Girardeau resident Soren Paul Petrek has released his award-winning novel, "Cold Lonely Courage." The novel, about a female assassin for the British Special Operations during World War II, won Best Fiction from Fade In Magazine. Petrek grew up in Cape Girardeau and now works as a lawyer in Minnesota. Black Rose Writing released the novel. "Cold Lonely Courage" is available from www.amazon.com and www.barnesandnoble.com...

The third annual Cape Girardeau Storytelling Festival will flood downtown with talkers, listeners and curious individuals who happen upon the three-day event. Tents will be set up on Broadway and at the River Campus. Storytellers from across the country will regale the audience with tales from their journeys, their families and life itself. This year, organizers set aside a time in the Merriwether tent devoted to storytellers from Cape Girardeau...

Cape Girardeau's third annual Storytelling Festival starts today. The three-day event, which drew 3,000 people last year, features a dozen local storytellers as well as six professionals. The professional storytellers will perform throughout the day from 9 a.m. ...

Let me see if I've got this right. Last year, Mayor Jay Knudtson put his foot in his mouth by speaking from the hip before checking his facts on the Shawnee Community Centre project. At a meeting that I was not invited to attend, Knudtson publicly slandered me to the media and on the front page of the local newspaper. ...

On Monday I attended the Missouri Task Force Forum for Alzheimer's at the Osage Community Centre. This meeting was important to me as my two sisters, my husband and I have taken care of my mother 24 hours a day for almost four years. I attended the meeting to give my input on recommendations for legislation to be given to Gov. Jay Nixon...

WHILE attending a meeting at the Cape Girardeau Public Library, I was notified by one of the librarians that the trunk of my car was open. A young man stood guard by the car while his mother alerted the employee. I thanked the young man but did not get his name. Please, if he or his gracious mother sees this, please contact Ms. Stephanie in person at the library...

On behalf of those who govern and legislate, we pray for just decisions, O God. Amen.

If you go to Ironton, the county seat of Iron County in the Ozarks over yonder, you get three towns for the price of one. Arcadia is on the south end, and Pilot Knob is on the north end. And if you're in Ironton, you also are close to three of Missouri's state parks: Taum Sauk, Johnson's Shut-Ins and Elephant Rocks...

It was no surprise when Jay Purcell, associate Cape Girardeau County commissioner, joined the race for presiding commissioner at the last minute, even though he had told a number of people he wasn't going to. The large number of candidates (six) in the Republican primary (Charles Brawley, Doyle Parmer, Clint Tracy, Chris Hutson, Stephen Daume and Jay Purcell) sets up the same scenario as his election to the commission six years ago when nine candidates were in the primary and Purcell won by only 29 votes over Dan Niswonger. ...

DENVER -- A Middle Eastern diplomat who set off a national terrorism scare when he grabbed a surreptitious smoke in a jetliner's bathroom and then joked about lighting his shoe on fire has been released from custody and will likely not face criminal charges...

NEW YORK -- U.S. airlines operated fewer on-time flights in February, the Department of Transportation said Thursday, as massive snowstorms shut down some of the largest East Coast airports. Sixty-one flights were delayed for at least three hours during the month -- triple the number of those delays in January. It was the highest number of three-hour tarmac delays since August. August is one of the busiest months of the year for air travel...

AKOBO, Sudan -- Three-day-old Odong Obong lay in the hospital bed, his pencil-thin arms almost motionless and his shriveled, gaunt face resembling that of an elderly man. Emaciated babies and young children throughout the ward bore the signs of hunger: visible ribs and distended stomachs. Outside, old villagers reclined motionless in the shade, too frail to walk...

PRAGUE -- The nuclear weapons cuts President Barack Obama and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev signed Thursday would shrink the Cold War superpowers' arsenals to the lowest point since the arms race of the 1960s. But they won't touch the "loose nukes" and suitcase bombs seen as the real menace in today's age of terrorism...

MEXICO CITY -- "Pimp My Ride" and former "Survivor" producer Bruce Beresford-Redman was detained Thursday as a suspect in his wife's death days after reporting her missing in the resort city of Cancun, a Mexican official said. The body of Monica Beresford-Redman was found Thursday in a sewer at the swanky Moon Palace resort where the family was on vacation, according to Bello Rodriguez, the outgoing attorney general for Quintana Roo state, where Cancun is located...

TEHRAN, Iran -- Iran's intelligence minister accused three Americans jailed since crossing the border from Iraq in July of having links to U.S. intelligence services, state TV reported Thursday. The comments toughened Iran's accusations against the group, suggesting authorities could be close to bringing them to trial after months of mixed signals and fears in the U.S. that they could be used as bargaining chips in Iran's confrontation with the West...

NITEROI, Brazil -- They are all gone. The Evangelical church where worshippers were praying. A day care center where children were playing. The pizza parlor where a family was eating. All were buried under a mountain of mud, garbage and stone when yet another landslide hit metropolitan Rio de Janeiro late Wednesday. ...

Firefighters responded to the following calls Wednesday:...

The Cape Girardeau Police Department released the following items. Arrests do not imply guilt. Arrests...