Stories from Friday, October 8, 2010

Notre Dame pushed across five runs in the bottom of the fourth and held on from there to claim the Class 3 District 1 softball championship 7-3 in front of an energized crowd.

It's going to be a thriller night Oct. 23 in Sikeston, Mo., when ghouls and zombies put on their dancing shoes to participate in a worldwide event. For the second year in a row, two Sikeston women are organizing a local entry in the "Thrill the World" project, an event that combines charity and with a global, simultaneous performance of the dance from Michael Jackson's "Thriller" music video...

The city of Jackson will host its 7th Annual Customer Appreciation Day at the recycling center from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, as a way of saying thank you to people who participate in Jackson's recycling program. From 9 a.m. to noon M&J Shredding, LLC, will also provide shredding services at the event...

Dozens of Southeast Missouri State University students will get a glimpse of what it's like to be homeless, if just for a night. On Saturday, beginning at 7 p.m., the campus chapter of Habitat for Humanity will erect a "box city" at Parker Field, with an anticipated 75 Southeast students spending the night in cardboard boxes...

In what officials say is a stepped-up measure to keep abusers out, the Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau is strengthening its background check procedures, part of an extended training effort to better spot sexual predators and respond to children who have suffered abuse...

An oversight in the office of Russell Heights Cemetery in Jackson led the family of a 4-year-old girl killed in an accident last week to launch a graveside sit-in Thursday.

Volunteering is a great way to make a positive impact in your community. Many people don't volunteer because they don't know where to go and how to offer their help. Why should you volunteer? Have you ever heard the saying, "It takes a village to raise a child"? This is a very true statement, and can be applied to many situations. ...

Texting While Driving by Liz Coram How many people text behind the wheel of their vehicle? Can we relate to the following story? Jaci Lemonsis driving down the street, headed to school. The 17 year old driver is texting another friend. As she looks down to read the incoming text, Jaci veers off to the right and crashes head-on into the back of a parked vehicle. ...

Today, Robin Carnahan's Senate campaign released its latest television ad titled "Differences," http://www.robincarnahan.com/differences where Robin speaks directly to Missourians about her priorities to put middle class families and small businesses first to get the economy back on track and create jobs. ...

Guarding the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier continues as an honor twenty-four hours a day. The changing of the guard is an impressive ceremony that all visitors to Arlington should try and see.

Jackson McDonald's recently hosted "Everybody Counts Night's" on Oct. 5 and 6, from 4-8pm, where 20% of all proceeds were donated back to the Jackson R-2 Parent Partnership Council. These evenings coinsided with the districts week long activities promoting, "Everybody Counts" Awareness Week. Accepting a check for the Parents Partnership were: Melissa Baer and Traci Ritter,presenting check were: Cheryl Farrow, Supervisor for McDonald's, and Donna Martin, Jackson McDonald's Store Manager...

At first, Joy Kaye Watson of Jackson thought her itchy bug bites came from camping. Then her four daughters started getting bites, even when they weren't playing outside. After not getting any bites during an out-of-town trip, Watson found a bedbug while changing her sheets. That night she slept on the couch and got 55 bites. The bedbugs had invaded her furniture, too...

McDonald's of Jackson recently hosted a McTeacher's Night on Sept. 21 from 4-8pm. McDonald's donated 25% of the proceeds from all sales between 4-8pm back to the Jackson R-2 Foundation. These funds will be used throughtout the distric to award grants for teachers. ...

Cape Girardeau 6th Grade MeanMachine Travel Football Team wins 5th/6th Grade Ranger Roundup in Benton, IL on October 6, 2010. The 6th grade team was 7-0 at the tournament, while the 5th grade team placed 4th out of 14 teams.

The Semo North Baseball Team placed 2nd at the Cal Ripkin 11-year-old Missouri State Tournament in Boonville, MO on July 26, 2010. Front Row: Peyton Ford, Brittan Jones, Ty Wilthong, and Jordan Kluesner. Second Row: Lance Pruden, Caden Hillemann, Preston Wuebker, and Ryan Wilfawn. Third Row: Brandon Sokolowski, Winston Welter, Dawson Mayo, and Braden Cox. Back Row: Coaches Darrell Welter, Kevin Wilthong, and Matt Cox...

General Watkins Conversation Area Morley Missouri

City leaders, school officials and local business representatives met to discuss forming an Enhanced Enterprise Zone in Cape Girardeau County Thursday at the Osage Community Centre. Carol Shoemaker of the Missouri Department of Economic Development shared information about the application process and what's been done in the other 87 enhanced enterprise zones across the state...

People might wonder why a renowned college basketball coach like Bill Self would make time to be in Cape Girardeau, especially with his season right around the corner. Self said it was a no-brainer based on his longtime friendship with Southeast Missouri State coach Dickey Nutt...

NEW YORK -- Rhode Island U.S. Rep. Patrick Kennedy, son of the late Sen. Edward Kennedy, is writing a memoir. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt announced Tuesday that Kennedy's "Coming Clean" is planned for next fall. Kennedy, who has battled depression and alcohol and drug addiction, will write "a truly revealing, intimate portrait," the publisher said...

Arts and entertainment briefs

A political advertisement mailed to me shows Roy Blunt's travel guide to China. It proclaims he sent Missouri jobs to China. But then I looked at who the mailing was from and it was the American Federation of State and County Municipal Workers. This is a union. That's who sent our jobs overseas. Excessive regulation has caused companies to leave. This would cause me to vote for Mr. Blunt...

Southeast Missouri State University's football team is off to a tremendous start to the 2010 season. The team is 4-1 overall and 3-0 in conference play. The Redhawks were recognized this week with a No. 25 ranking in the Sports Network media poll. Southeast is offering a special deal for families attending Saturday's game. ...

To the person who was concerned about what the Bible says about gambling, here are a few references: 1 Timothy 6:9, "People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs."...

After one full week, I can report that retirement is easy. As a matter of fact, I'd retire again, if I could. The question I get most often those of you already retired have heard it too is, "What are you going to do with your time?" Who knew that you could spend an entire morning properly watering your newly aerated and seeded lawn?...

This week's best bet is a location rather than a single event. The Pink Galleon is the place to be this week. Following up on the success of their summer comedy series, the owners started an October Comedy Fest, which continues at 7 p.m. Wednesday with Dwayne Clark. ...

"Das Rheingold" is the first opera of Richard Wagner's monumental "Der Ring des Nibelungen." "'The Ring' is not just a story or a series of operas, it's a cosmos," said Robert Lepage, the director of the new cycle at the Met. The god Wotan will be sung by the Welsh bass Bryn Terfel...

O Lord, you alone are our rock in whom we take refuge. Amen.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- A Southern Baptist leader who is calling for Christians to avoid yoga and its spiritual attachments is getting plenty of pushback from enthusiasts who defend the ancient practice. Southern Baptist Seminary president Albert Mohler says the stretching and meditative discipline derived from Eastern religions is not a Christian pathway to God...

MINNEAPOLIS -- This corn turns out to be a good neighbor. Corn that's been genetically engineered to resist attacking borers produces a "halo effect" that provides huge benefits to other corn planted nearby, a new study finds. Since the borers that attack the genetically modified crops die, there are fewer of them to go after the nonmodified version...

ST. LOUIS -- St. Louis' Lambert Airport is deploying new full-body imaging machines designed to scan passengers for nonmetal weapons, explosives or other items not picked out by metal detectors. The first passengers are to be examined by the new system today in one of the terminals. Passengers who decline that kind of screening will be subject to a pat-down...

WASHINGTON -- "That's a lie. You know that's a lie. I never said it." That was Republican Linda McMahon going after Democrat Richard Blumenthal this week as the Connecticut Senate rivals shared a debate stage. Afterward, he insisted she was the one playing "fast and loose with the facts."...

BLOOMFIELD, Mo. -- The second annual Stars and Stripes Museum Car Show takes place Saturday at Bloomfield. The Dexter Daily Statesman reported that the show takes place on the grounds of the museum on Highway 25 just north of the Missouri Veterans Cemetery and features a display of award-winning vehicles. There is no admission charge for spectators...

SIKESTON, Mo. -- Law enforcement officials are searching for two men in connection with a strong-armed robbery this morning, according to the Sikeston Standard Democrat. At 6:18 a.m., the Sikeston Department of Public Safety received a phone call in reference to the robbery which occurred at 308 E. Kathleen. The victim, a man, reported that as he was walking out of his house to go to work, he was jumped by two males...

A Cape Girardeau man was seriously injured in a Thursday morning vehicle accident eight miles north of Cape Girardeau on Highway 177. According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the 2003 Chevrolet driven by 47-year-old Phillip E. Brethold ran off the road and struck a tree at 6:30 a.m. Brethold was partially ejected through the rear window...

The Cape Girardeau County Commission accepted a proposal from Marathon Benefits Group of Cape Girardeau for benefit broker services to assist in review, placement and support of the county's group health, dental, vision and long-term disability insurance. After reviewing all six proposals and checking company references, Cape Girardeau County Clerk Kara Clark Summers and the county's health insurance committee recommended Marathon...

JERUSALEM -- In the clearest sign that a deal may be emerging to keep the troubled U.S. Mideast peace push alive, a top Palestinian official said Thursday that his side would accept an American proposal for Israel to curtail settlement construction for two months...

KOLONTAR, Hungary -- The toxic red sludge that burst out of a Hungarian factory's reservoir reached the mighty Danube on Thursday after wreaking havoc on smaller rivers and creeks, and downstream nations rushed to test their waters. The European Union and environmental officials fear an environmental catastrophe affecting half a dozen nations if the red sludge, a waste product of making aluminum, contaminates the Danube, Europe's second-longest river...

Benita Irene "Peggy" Slinkard, 83, of Cape Girardeau died Thursday, Oct. 7, 2010, at her home, surrounded by her family. She was born Dec. 29, 1926, in Illmo, Mo., to Arthur E. and Gustava Hanks. She and Loyd Slinkard were married Jan. 4, 1947, in Wickliffe, Ky...

CHAFFEE, Mo. -- Michael Schoelhamer, 74, of Chaffee died Wednesday, Oct. 6, 2010, at his home. He was born April 14, 1936, in Leadwood, Mo., son of Karl Willham and Mary Helen Tyndyk Schoelhamer. He and Euna Fay Barlow were married Sept. 24, 1988...

Son to Kirk Charles and Melissa Ann Miller of Cape Girardeau, Southeast Missouri Hospital, 10:56 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 25, 2010. Name, Lawson Charles. Weight, 6 pounds, 14 ounces. Second child, first son. Mrs. Miller is the former Melissa Reitzel, daughter of James and Barbara Reitzel of Whitewater. She is a registered nurse at Doctors Park Surgery. Miller is the son of Kathryn Miller of Jackson, and the late Kenneth Miller. He is a quality engineer at TG Missouri Corp...

Carole Hirsch Folwell, 69, of Cape Girardeau died Thursday, Oct. 7, 2010, at Ratliff Care Center. Ford and Sons Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

The long-term future of the state's property tax is the issue at a Joint Committee on Ad Valorem Taxation hearing in Cape Girardeau; the hearings, being held across the state, are an outgrowth of the reassessment process. The first concrete for the $16.5 million city/university multipurpose building is poured; Cape Ready Mix Co. is pouring the concrete footings for the building's west foundation...

POLICE The Jackson Police Department released the following items. Arrests do not imply guilt. Arrests Property damage Miscellaneous FIRE Firefighters responded to the following calls Wednesday: Firefighters responded to the following call Thursday: ...

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

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

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- Vice President Joe Biden praised Missouri Democrat Robin Carnahan on Thursday as a gritty U.S. Senate candidate unlikely to buckle to others, and helped her raise an estimated $100,000 in the hometown of her Republican rival...

NEW YORK -- The Christmas shopping season doesn't kick off for another six weeks, but retailers already are signaling they're prepared to discount aggressively to entice shoppers still skittish about spending. Gift buyers are likely to scrutinize every purchase, from $20 toys to $1,000 designer jackets, do their homework before they buy, and limit how many stores they visit...

CARUTHERSVILLE, Mo. -- A teenage bicyclist was arrested after officers discovered he was carrying illegal drugs. The Sikeston Standard Democrat reported that at 4:45 p.m. Wednesday, Caruthersville officers received information a person was in possession of drugs and stopped the person while he was riding a bike on East 13th Street, according to Caruthersville Police Chief Chris Riggs. ...

All of the area high school events reported Thursday to the Southeast Missourian.

Last week: Malden 27, Kennett 12; East Prairie 42, Chaffee 0 Last year: Malden 7, Chaffee 6 Outlook: As in all games around the state, this will be the final game before the three-game district competition begins next week. Malden has won four games straight since suffering its lone loss, 20-12, to Hayti in Week 2. Chaffee also lost to Hayti, a 42-0 loss in Week 3, a game in which the Red Devils only trailed 8-0 at halftime...

Freshmen played a big role in the Indians' 4-2 victory against Farmington

The Eagles beat Chaffee 6-1 and will play for the title today

They have played different types of schedules, but Tennessee State and Southeast Missouri State are dominating the Ohio Valley Conference's major team statistical categories. Saturday the squads will get to decide who is better on the field in a 6 p.m. kickoff at Houck Stadium. The matchup is billed as Blackout Night, with Southeast fans encouraged to wear black...

One thing that often keeps people from participating in new activities is fear. Fear of failing. Fear of looking silly. Fear of being laughed at. I let go of that fear last week when I drove down to Sikeston, Mo., to participate in a dance lesson for the "Thrill the World" event, scheduled for Oct. ...

STOCKHOLM -- Peruvian Mario Vargas Llosa won the 2010 Nobel Prize in literature Thursday as the academy honored one of the Spanish-speaking world's most acclaimed authors and an outspoken political activist who once ran for president in his tumultuous homeland...

North- and southbound Highway 25 in Stoddard County will be reduced to one lane Thursday while Missouri Department of Transportation crews perform routine bridge maintenance. The bridge is over U.S. 60 at Dexter, Mo. Weather permitting, the work will take place from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. The work zone will be marked with signs...

Highway 114 in Scott County will be reduced to one lane Thursday and Oct. 15 while Missouri Department of Transportation crews replace traffic signal heads. The section of road is at Highway 114 (Malone Avenue) and the New Madrid Street intersection. Weather permitting, work will be done from 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily. The work zone will be marked with signs...

The Cape Girardeau Sheriff's Department is considering a Thursday morning fire at an abandoned mobile home suspicious, according to Lt. David James. The fire occurred on County Road 420. A storage shed was also destroyed. "There was no electrical to the house, which means its got to be someone's hand that caused it," James said. ...

Highway 74 in Scott County will be reduced to one lane Thursday while Missouri Department of Transportation crews trim trees along the road between County Road 403 at Lambert, Mo., and U.S. 61 at Benton, Mo. Weather permitting, the work will be done from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The work zone will be marked with signs. For more information, contact the MoDOT's Customer Service Center at 888-275-6636...

SIKESTON, Mo. -- The Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission has awarded a contract to install guardrail on Interstate 55 in Scott County. The $93,362 contract was awarded to Freedom Fence LLC of Belgrade, Mo. Work could begin as early as November and must be completed by March. As work progresses, there will be one-lane closures. Installation of the guardrail will take about 14 days. ...

North- and southbound Interstate 55 in Scott County will be reduced to one lane Tuesday while Missouri Department of Transportation crews perform routine bridge maintenance. The bridge is between Highway 62 at Sikeston, Mo., and Route A. Weather permitting, the work will take place from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The work zone will be marked with signs...

Opposition to casino gambling cannot be dismissed as simply the emotional moralizing of religious zealots. In spite of the extravagant promises of gambling company executives, study after study has shown that casino gambling is a net economic loser for states and local communities...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- They disappeared from the Missouri landscape nearly 150 years ago. Now, it appears elk will once again return to Missouri, though they may not be universally welcomed home. The Missouri Conservation Commission appears ready to OK the reintroduction of a tightly managed herd of these large herbivores at its upcoming meeting Oct. 15 in Kirksville, Mo. The reintroduction in Shannon, Carter and Reynolds counties could occur as early as next spring...

Two fighters from two of the largest gyms in the country will be the main event Saturday at the Show Me Center, where fans of mixed martial arts and the Ultimate Fighting Championship will for the first time have the opportunity to watch professional fights in Cape Girardeau...

The Southeast Missouri Symphony Orchestra plans to open its new season with an all-American program in tribute to American composer, George Gershwin. The concert will be Tuesday at the Bedell Performance Hall on the River Campus and will feature one of Gershwin's most well-known works, "Rhapsody in Blue."...