Stories from October 2010

This week, students at Cape Girardeau Alternative Education Center took their first steps to what educators hope will be healthier bodies and more focused minds. For 35 minutes each day, just before lunch, students in fifth through seventh grades participate in a walking program. They'll earn prizes for meeting mileage goals. Walking will replace recess...

Cape Girardeau County commissioners signed a grant application that could provide the funds for dredging at the Southeast Missouri Regional Port Authority. A community development block grant issued through the Missouri Department of Economic Development would provide $400,000 to dredge the port. ...

An inner-city phenomenon popularized by ESPN is coming to the Show Me Center Saturday evening. The AND1 Streetball Live Tour, showcasing the talents of athletes featured on the ESPN series "Streetball," pits the Streetball Legends team against a team of local basketball stars in a game that tips off at 7:30 p.m...

The Woolworth's lunch counter, ice cream from Baskin Robbins, haircuts at Al's Barber Shop and back-to-school shopping at Sears are fond memories to those who grew up shopping at Cape Girardeau's Town Plaza. Fifty years ago, the Town Plaza Shopping Center was a new and modern retail concept built at what was then the western edge of the city. Today, it remains a commercial hub for the city's midtown area...

Saint Francis Medical Center is investing $2.1 million in upgrading its women's health services to fight breast cancer, hospital president and CEO Steven C. Bjelich announced Thursday.

"Superman," a.k.a. Scott Givens, Manager of HealthPoint Fitness in Jackson, poses for a photo with former patient Doris Dawson at a reception for Southeast Missouri Hospital's Inpatient Rehab Unit.

"Superman," a.k.a. Scott Givens, Manager of HealthPoint Fitness in Jackson, made a surprise appearance at the Southeast Missouri Hospital Inpatient Rehab reception last week. Givens entertained former patients attending the event by leading the staff in an impromptu dance performance, and he got the crowd moving and laughing with fun exercises...

CASA volunteers are everyday heroes who have the power to change children's lives. Each year, more than half--a-million abused and neglected children are removed from their homes and enter the court system as victims of abuse, neglect, or abandonment. These children need a voice! CASA volunteers make a difference in a child's life through their advocacy on behalf of children...

I continue to read stories and speak out opinions from people who are opposed to the casino on the basis of morality as well as those who think that small businesses will go under because of it. To all of these people I say, please look at the BIG PICTURE!...

Tom Daschle is a standard-bearer of the Democratic Party, particularly its moderate and liberal wings. As both a majority and minority leader, the former U.S. senator from South Dakota gained a reputation for consensus-building even as he worked to expand government's role...

Three witnesses testified in a Cape Girardeau County courtroom Thursday against a Cape Girardeau father accused of fatally abusing his 7-week-old son. Allen R. Walker Jr. was charged with child endangerment Aug. 25, but Cape Girardeau County Prosecuting Attorney Morley Swingle added a second count -- second-degree murder -- when the infant died Aug. 26 at a St. Louis hospital...

Bethany Soucy of Kansas City works hard to make a long bow at the Cape Girardeau Conservation Nature Center's bow making class Friday. If you missed this class, Saturday, Oct. 2, will be a good day to visit the Nature Center for "Nature and the Arts" from 1 to 4 p.m...

In support of National Breast Cancer Awareness month, Saint Francis has launched Pink Up Cape, a campaign to raise awareness of the disease in the community and throughout the Medical Center. Beginning October 1, Saint Francis' exterior will be lit with pink lights, employees will wear pink exam gloves and pink scrubs, and all advertising materials will go pink in support of the cause...

A former president and vice president of Clippard Elementary PTA and office manager of a local business, Amy McDonald was hired to take the reins of the Cape Girardeau Public School District Foundation. She is the mother of two children attending Cape Public Schools and a former Foundation President and Vice President...

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (September 25, 2010) -- Joe B. Miller etched his name into the record books as the winner of I-30 Speedway's Fifth Annual 600 Nationals presented by Hoosier Tires championship finale by taking the $3,500 winner's share in Saturday night's 30-lap main event...

These are perfect pink for October!

The visiting Hornets defeated St. Vincent 41-6.

This fall has already been busy with fun activities in Southeast Missouri. Southeast Missouri State University held its annual Family Weekend last weekend. To top it off, the Southeast football team defeated Tennessee Tech for its third win of the season. Nearly 10,000 people attended the game. Coach Tony Samuel's team also moved up in the college football rankings to 27th in one national Division I-AA poll. Congratulations to the Redhawks...

WHAT do you expect from a government-run school? Cape Girardeau public schools want more money. What's been done with the money from the last bond issue? I need to see some results from this bond issue before I consider a donation. TO the author of the Speak Out comment titled "Casino assets": By the time you ended your comment, you indicated that the area around the casino remained crime-infested...

Thank you, Lord Jesus, that your word does not come back void. Amen.

A homegrown art exhibit will premiere tonight during First Friday events. The art instructors from across the Cape Girardeau public school system are bringing their art together under the roof of the Black Door Gallery in downtown Cape Girardeau. This first Faculty Art Show will have 31 pieces including paintings, sculptures, photography, mixed media, drawings, abstracts and more...

Rochelle Steffen has dedicated most of her life to the rescue and care of animals. "I have always rescued anything that would let me," Steffen said. "I've had iguanas, lizards, snakes, gerbils, hamsters, hedgehogs, dogs, cats, pretty much everything."...

NEW YORK -- Will J.K. Rowling write another book about Harry Potter? That's among the topics discussed on Oprah Winfrey's first interview with the author, whom she met recently in Edinburgh, Scotland. The interview will air today on Winfrey's television program. Check local listings for stations and times...

A few months ago I read that the definition of a "couch potato" is someone who spends less than 30 minutes a day doing some sort of physical activity. Sadly, I realized I fit that definition to a T. Except for mowing the lawn -- and that hasn't been needed much during the just ended parched summer, I was spending far too much time using whatever muscles it takes to operate a remote control...

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- Missouri residents will now be able to observe a previously closed state panel's interviews of prospective judges as well as nominate potential candidates and find out the panel's votes. State Supreme Court Chief Justice William Ray Price Jr. announced the changes Thursday at an annual meeting of nearly 1,000 lawyers and judges in Columbia...

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- A Joplin couple who owned a southwest Missouri group home where 11 people died in a 2006 fire has been convicted of federal health care fraud. Federal prosecutors announced late Thursday that Robert and LaVerne DuPont were each found guilty of one count of fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud. Robert DuPont was found not guilty of money laundering...

SIKESTON, Mo. -- Melinda M. "Wink" Evans Bula, 54, of Sikeston died Thursday, Sept. 30, 2010 at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston. She was born Jan. 11, 1956 in Sikeston to the late James Clayton and Geraldine Marie Compas Evans Sr. She was married to James M. "Jim" Bula on Sept. 22, 2000, in Benton, Mo. He preceded her in death Feb. 13, 2001...

Marcus K. Rogers, 72, of Cape Girardeau died Wednesday, Sept. 29, 2010. He was born Aug. 11, 1938, in Cape Girardeau, to John Edward and Violet Curry Rogers. He was a business agent with Craftsman International Union and was past secretary/treasurer...

Arson is suspected in yesterday's fire that damaged a duplex at 526 Good Hope St.; firefighters were called to the home just after 4 p.m. and found fire in a bedroom; a strong odor of fuel oil or a similar substance was detected in the bed clothing on a mattress there...

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- Three Rivers Community College will return to its roots in downtown Poplar Bluff for the spring semester. Construction is underway on a nursing and health sciences center in Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center's South Campus on Pine Street through a five-year lease agreement with the hospital at an annual cost of $1...

Cape Girardeau business owner Jeffery Overbeck has been sentenced to two years in state prison following a guilty plea Monday on a felony workers' compensation noncompliance charge. Overbeck, who operated Overbeck Construction in Cape Girardeau, was sentenced by Circuit Judge William Syler as a prior offender...

CHICAGO -- White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel is set to give up his influential national post today to begin a run for Chicago mayor, a job he has long coveted but won't win unless he persuades voters he's still one of them. People close to Emanuel said he will fly home over the weekend and hit the streets Monday to talk to voters, after announcing his resignation today. ...

From dressing in drag to posing nude for his 80th birthday, Tony Curtis truly was a defiant one. He overcame early typecasting as a lightweight pretty boy to become a serious actor in such films as "Sweet Smell of Success," "Spartacus" and "The Defiant Ones," the latter earning him an Academy Award nomination...

WASHINGTON -- Applications for jobless benefits dropped last week for the third time in four weeks, a sign that employers are cutting fewer jobs. New claims for jobless benefits fell by 16,000 to a seasonally adjusted 453,000, the Labor Department said Thursday. Still, they are higher than they would be in a healthy economy and not low enough to signal rapid job growth...

Imogene Marie Varnum, 87, of Cape Girardeau died Tuesday, Sept. 28, 2010, at St. Francis Hospital in Tulsa, Okla. She was born Oct. 13, 1922, in Cape Girardeau County, daughter of Harry and Mayme Niswonger Ikerman. She and Dewey Lee Varnum were married May 27, 1944, in Cape Girardeau. He died March 21, 1979...

Firefighters responded to the following calls Wednesday:...

WASHINGTON -- The U.S. Postal Service's bid to raise the cost of mailing a letter by 2 cents was rejected Thursday, denying the agency immediate relief from a worsening financial crisis. The Postal Service lost $3.8 billion last year and is headed toward a loss of about $7 billion this year as people do more business on the Internet and the recession erodes the volume of marketing mail...

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

Cape Girardeau artist Edwin Smith will have a photography exhibit at the Cape Girardeau Public Library. Smith, a retired art professor from Southeast Missouri State University, will display 42 photographs of architecture and sculpture from around the world. Smith will be present from 2 to 4:30 p.m. today, but a formal reception will take place from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Monday at the library...

FIRST FRIDAY RECEPTIONS Hunter Valley Winery Local artist Jim Parker will display stitchery in the Grape View room at the winery just north of Cape Girardeau. Parker has a long history in the arts as a curator, painter and artist. Reception from 5 to 9 p.m.; artwork on display during winery hours in October...

The Indians posted a 25-17, 28-26 home victory Thursday night

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

ST. LOUIS -- Acupuncture helped Steven Jackson's groin strain feel better, but it didn't get him back on the practice field. A day after reporting on his Twitter feed that he had undergone acupuncture treatment, the two-time Pro Bowler was relegated to off-field exercises Wednesday. Rams coach Steve Spagnuolo believed Jackson, who speaks with media on Thursdays, was improved but would be day to day...

Shirley Moore carded a hole-in-one Tuesday at Cape Girardeau Country Club. Moore used a driver to ace No. 2, a par 3 playing 130 yards. Beth Mapes and Katherine Weed witnessed the shot. Linda Williams used a 5-wood to ace hole No. 12 at Cape Jaycee Municipal Golf Course...

"Once on this Island," the high energy, fast-paced, Caribbean interpretation of "The Little Mermaid" continues this weekend with performances at 7:30 p.m. today and Saturday and the last show at 2 p.m. Sunday. The Southeast Missouri State University's department of theater and dance put together the musical as the season opener for the student shows. ...

ST. LOUIS -- Chris Carpenter threw his first complete game of the season Thursday night and the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Colorado Rockies 6-1. Carpenter (16-9) snapped a four-game losing streak -- during which he posted a 7.17 ERA -- with the four-hitter...

A look at this week's games for the Southeast Missourian's teams.

The Jackson Police Department released the following items. Thefts Firefighters responded to the following call Wednesday:...

The best teachers are those who've been there. Those people who have practiced what they preach. Sometimes it's hard to see the experience of an instructor when learning is relegated to listening to them in a classroom where you only have words and anecdotal stories about the subject...

RALEIGH, N.C. -- A massive rainstorm drenched the East Coast from the Carolinas to Maine on Thursday, causing at least four deaths, flooding roads and washing away months of dry weather. The worst of the rain fell in North Carolina, where Jacksonville picked up 12 inches -- nearly a quarter of its typical annual rainfall -- in the six hours. ...

ISLAMABAD -- Pakistan closed the most important supply route for U.S. and NATO troops in Afghanistan after a coalition helicopter attack killed three Pakistani soldiers at a border post Thursday, raising tensions in a vital relationship for both Islamabad and Washington...

After assisting the Missouri Children's Division with a child endangerment call, Jackson police arrested Tamni S. Routhieaux on Wednesday for allegedly manufacturing methamphetamine at her home. Officers found a "shake and bake" meth lab inside the Jackson woman's home, which she shared with her 13-year-old daughter, according to a news release from the Jackson Police Department. ...

SIKESTON, Mo. -- Northbound Interstate 55 in Scott County will be reduced to one lane between Highway 77 at Benton, Mo., and U.S. 61 at Scott City while contractor crews make pavement repairs. Weather permitting, the work will be done from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily Oct. 12 through 15. The work zone will be marked with signs...

Route FF in Stoddard County between U.S. 60 and Highway 114 will be reduced to one lane Monday and Tuesday while Missouri Department of Transportation crews overlay the road. Weather permitting, the work will take place from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily. The work zone will be marked with signs. For more information, contact MoDOT's Customer Service Center at 888-275-6636...

With an all-star lineup of contemporary Christian artists and one of the nation's most popular authors speaking, Sunday evening's performance of the Make a Difference Tour would figure to be a hot ticket.

BLOOMFIELD, Mo. -- A variety of music, food and fun can be found this weekend just east of Bloomfield, with proceeds going to two local causes. The Stars and Stripes Museum and the Bootheel Youth Camp will both benefit from the musical charity festival to be just off County Road 510 beginning Friday afternoon and continuing through late Saturday night...

The River City Music Festival kicks off today with performances by everything from local favorites to out-of-towners. The festival will take over Main Street at 6 p.m. today and Saturday and have entry gates at Broadway and Independence Street. People who just want dinner at a restaurant on Main Street or to see the art in local galleries for First Friday will not be charged an entry fee. ...

The Redhawks travel to the reigning champs for Saturday's game.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol has released the name of the 4-year-old Jackson girl struck and killed by a truck Friday evening at a Fruitland area mobile home park. Makayla A. Overy was pronounced dead at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau at 6:25 p.m., about a half-hour after first responders were called to Mulberry Acres mobile home park, on Legend Drive, according to the highway patrol...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Oct. 1, 2010 Rick Vandeven -- Libertarian Party Candidate for US House 8th District Missouri, Wins Endorsement from the Boston Tea Party CHAFFEE, MO -- The campaign to elect Rick Vandeven, the Libertarian Party candidate for MO 8th Representative, is pleased to announce an endorsement by the Boston Tea Party National Convention...

The great Forest Park Balloon Race 2010

This photo was taken on Table Rock Lake, Mo. Had a good day of fishing and took this picture as we where starting back to the dock. I am retired and I call my boat my office.

Even though the neighbors don't want it and the Cape Girardeau Planning and Zoning Commission unanimously rejected it, the City Council postpones action on a special use permit request for a proposed day care at a house at 321 S. Spring St. Theodoras Lyras of the American College of Greece, meets with Southeast Missouri State University officials to discuss a student exchange program between the two schools; the program could begin with the spring semester of the current academic year...

Dr. Lenore K. Bierbaum passed away Thursday, Sept. 30, 2010. Dear daughter of the late Milton and Madge Bierbaum; beloved sister of Madge (Glenn) Wiesner and Dr. Gene (Agnes) Bierbaum of Gainesville, Fla.; loving aunt of Paula Bogardo, Ellen (Julien) Carter, Mark (Maggie) Bierbaum, Diane (Paul) Muckstadt and Bob (June) Bierbaum; dear great-aunt, cousin, teacher and friend...

JONESBORO, Ill. -- Anita D. Bittle, 83, of Jonesboro died Friday, Oct. 1, 2010, at Jonesboro Rehab and Healthcare. Visitation will be from 11 a.m. to service time Sunday at Rendleman and Hileman Funeral Home in Jonesboro. The funeral will be at 1:30 p.m. Sunday, with Chaplain Greg Bittle officiating. Burial will be in Jonesboro Cemetery...

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- Eula J. Smith, 96, of Perryville died Thursday, Sept. 30, 2010, at Perry County Memorial Hospital. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Monday and 6:30 to 9:50 a.m. Tuesday at Miller Family Funeral Home. The wake will be at 7 p.m. Monday. The rosary will be recited at 9 a.m. Tuesday at the funeral home...

Kim Kurka McDowell, 58, of Cape Girardeau passed away Friday, Oct. 1, 2010. She was a woman of beautiful spiritual belief who loved her husband, her family, her pets, friends and everyone she worked with. Battling cancer for nearly two years primarily through faith, she was private about her health as she didn't want others to worry about her. ...

Southeast improved to 3-0 in the OVC with a victory over a perennial nemesis

It's not that Mike Ingram doesn't think he won't like his new neighbors. He just doesn't want them driving on his roads. He and the others in the two neighboring subdivisions own the roads in Whispering Oaks and the Meadows at Whispering Oaks as dues-paying members of the homeowner associations...

Some came to see "The Professor" and his ball handling and passing skills. Others came hoping to see a 720 dunk.

For the past two years Mother Nature has silenced the music of the Southeast Missouri High School Band Association Band Festival, commonly called the Jackson Band Festival, but band director Scott Vangilder said it appears weather forecasts look favorable for Tuesday night's event...

From Wiffle ball to politics to one big downtown party, Cape Girardeau is rocking this weekend -- and all that activity means big business for the Cape Girardeau-area economy. The River City Music Festival welcomed a few thousand partiers downtown on Water and Main streets. ...

Rebecca Cook's work day often begins early and ends late. The Delta School District teacher is in by 7:30 a.m., and spends her mornings teaching seventh- and eighth-grade science. In the afternoons, Cook leads physical education and health classes. After school, in the early fall, she's on the field coaching the Delta High School softball team. ...

Erica Danielle Schnurbusch and Aaron Bornstein were married June 19, 2010, at Lemp Mansion in St. Louis. Dan Greene performed the ceremony. Pianist was Molly Young of Cape Girardeau. The bride is the daughter of Craig Benz of Pacific, Mo., and Beth Nielsen of LaVergne, Tenn. The groom is the son of Allan and Nancy Bornstein of Cape Girardeau...

Kristen Lea Howard and Cory Lawson Daniel were married June 26, 2010, in Negril, Jamaica. Dr. Edward Leoni performed the ceremony. The bride is the daughter of Greg and Joan Howard of Jackson. The groom is the son of Crystal Daniel of Jackson and Chuck and Ann Daniel of Imperial, Mo...

Jessica Ann Sachse and Sidney Thomas Burks were united in marriage Aug. 14, 2010, at the Water's Edge in Gordonville. Dan Brown performed the ceremony. Music was presented by Zachary Garrison of Cincinnati, Ohio, and Travis Niswonger of Cape Girardeau...

Amy Michelle Eisman and Ryan Joseph Weissmueller exchanged vows July 3, 2010, at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Jackson. David Johnson performed the ceremony. Music was by Timothy Eisman of New Berlin, Wis. The bride is the daughter of Carl and Lynne Eisman of New Berlin. The groom is the son of Bill and Doris Weissmueller of Gordonville...

William H. and Lisa Curtis of Jackson announce the engagement of their daughter, Erin Mae Curtis, to Charles Peter Ressler. He is the son of Chris Ressler of Roy, Utah, and Wes and Janet Wade of Jackson. Curtis is a 2007 graduate of Jackson High School. She expects to receive a bachelor of science degree in hospitality management from Southeast Missouri State University in December. She is employed at HealthPoint Fitness in Cape Girardeau...

Mr. and Mrs. R.C. Kasten of Jackson celebrated their 55th wedding anniversary with an open house Aug. 29, 2010, at St. Paul Lutheran Church Fellowship Hall. Hosts were their children. Kasten and Ruth Ann Eifert were married Aug. 28, 1955, at Eisleben Lutheran Church in Scott City. The Revs. Wilbur Maring and Walter Keisker performed the ceremony...

Cape Girardeau Elementary MONDAY--Homestyle chicken bites & bread or ham & cheese on bun, broccoli with cheese sauce, mixed fruit cup, sugar cookie with sprinkles. TUESDAY--French toast sticks with syrup and sausage patty or turkey & cheese on bun, potato tots, pears...

The Nancy Hunter Chapter NSDAR met Sept. 22 in the Penzel Conference Room at Cape Girardeau Public Library as they resumed there meetings after a summer break. The new officers assumed their duties; they are: Sheila Holloway, regent; Ruth Lang, vice regent; Dorothy Points, chaplain; Catherine Allison, recording secretary; Helen Ruth Towns, corresponding secretary; LaFern Stiver, treasurer; Mary Lou Lett and Charlotte Slinkard, co-registrars; and Patsy Robert, librarian.. ...

Editor's Note: This is the third in a series of articles from the Dexter Daily Statesman focusing on special needs of special children. By NOREEN HYSLOP Dexter Daily Statesman When Kelsey Sandage was expecting her first child four years ago, she was told by her doctor that the baby would be born with Down syndrome. An amniocentesis performed when she was about seven months pregnant revealed that likelihood...

Although there are numerous native wild plants throughout the Midwest with yellow flowers, this one may be the most showy. It is the Jerusalem artichoke. During late summer and early autumn, this plant seems to magically appear from the greenery with a bounty of bright sunflowerlike blossoms. The leaves are coarse and hairy. The stem is almost woody. The plant can grow to more than 8 feet tall...

The Southeast Missouri Music Academy will present its 11th annual Standing Ovation concert Oct. 10. This year's concert features a variety of entertainment, from instrumental performances to vocal selections, both original and traditional. An addition to the Standing Ovation concert for this year is a trumpet fanfare, titled "Academy Fanfare," that was written by Scott Vangilder, head director for Jackson school bands...

The Cape Girardeau Noon Optimist Club celebrated its 30th anniversary Wednesday. Members gathered for lunch and speeches. Dr. Charles Wiles, club founder, spoke to members and charter members like Jim Ham, Dr. Robert Fox, Kevin Gerlach, Mike Blechle and Club President Bill Humphries. ...

It's a question that comes up frequently for interior designers: How do you create a stylish living space when a dog who sheds or a cat who scratches is part of the mix? "Many people are incorporating their pets into daily life," designer Mallory Mathison says, yet they don't want to sacrifice style. ...

Caleb is a 1-year-old male tabby-and-white cat. He has a sweet and gentle personality. Caleb is neutered and up-to-date on shots. For more information, contact Safe Harbor at 243-9823. ...

Mika is a nearly 2-year-old female yellow Labrador retriever. She has tested negative for heartworm, is up to date on her shots, is microchipped and has been spayed. For more information, contact the Humane Society at 334-5837. ...

Dr. Michael A. Coleman, the chaplain of Legacy Hospice in Sikeston, Mo., is used to being called several names due to his 22-plus years in that ministry. His congregations used to call him Pastor Mike. In his classroom at Southeast Missouri State University, his students refer to him as Dr. ...

The Wesley United Methodist Church in Fruitland will host its annual fried chicken and kettle beef dinner from 3:30 to 7 p.m. Saturday. The dinner will consist of all-you-can-eat kettle beef, fried chicken, mashed potatoes, green beans, corn, homemade baked bread, coleslaw and desserts. ...

If you were to take an informal survey with the question "what are you afraid of?" you would probably hear some extremely interesting answers. Spiders, snakes, closed-in spaces, heights, hurricanes, tornadoes and other natural disasters. The point is that we are all afraid of something...

One good deed could be the culmination of several thoughtful actions, as is the case with this week's Good Deed. Rochelle Steffen, an artist in the Cape Girardeau community, has been creating art that illustrates the plight of unwanted and abused animals. ...

The Southeast Missouri Hospital Auxiliary recently honored Bob and Alene Matthews of Cape Girardeau with the Ilena Aslin Award for their contributions as hospital volunteers. The Ilena Aslin Award was established to pay tribute to Ilena's dedicated service to the hospital and the auxiliary. ...

In a story that may well be apocryphal, a man was asked after church what the preacher talked about in worship that day. "Sin," the man replied. "Well, what did he say about it?" came the query. "He was agin' it." The other day, in this fine publication, a letter to the editor was published in which two questions were asked: "Where is the church? Where are the God-fearing preachers?" The writer was lamenting what he perceives as the relative silence of the clergy contingent in Cape Girardeau about the upcoming November referendum on casino gambling.. ...

The Tuesday Night Round Robin golf league at the Cape Girardeau Country Club has been played for more than 50 years. At the annual banquet, held on Sept. 28, the 2010 Round Robin players presented a plaque to Dori Lage in remembrance of her husband Wally Lage, who passed away on Aug. ...

Health officials are optimistic about this year's flu season. Vaccine supplies are not in short supply. Health officials do not anticipate a major problem with the H1N1 flu virus that afflicted many last year. According to the Cape Girardeau County Public Health Center, anyone older than 6 months is eligible to receive the flu shot...

What will it profit the people who make their homes in Cape Girardeau and the surrounding areas to have a casino? It will only mean a substantial investment of dollars at the outset and little return in the long run. Reports from other cities that have welcomed casinos and other forms of legalized gambling indicate that they have experienced a negative effect when the new allure of the casino wears off. ...

On Sept. 22, a letter to the editor was published in the Southeast Missourian concerning the Missouri State Highway Patrol's presence aboard casinos during gaming hours. The Gaming Division was created in 1994 after the citizens of Missouri voted to allow gaming in Missouri. ...

On Sept. 19, Nell Holcomb School celebrated its 50th year in existence with an open house, reunion, program and reception. The day was an absolute success. Special thanks to the steering committee: Mr. Mike Hahn, Ms. Karen Fornkahl, Dr. John Holcomb, Mr. ...

I agree with the person who said some people could have insurance, but just don't want to buy it. I don't see a problem with the possibility of a casino being built in Cape Girardeau. I see any economic development in this area as a positive source of much needed tax revenue and jobs. And if you are against the idea of a casino, don't go. The casino could only benefit this town, not harm it...

Thank you, Lord Jesus, that what is impossible with man is possible with you. Amen.

St. Louis won 1-0 in 11 innings

Meadow Heights only surrendered five points in its first-game win on its way to a sweep of Greenville in volleyball action Friday. Erin Bollmann paced the Panthers with seven kills in their 25-5, 25-20 win. Whitney Welker added five kills, while Jillian Mills had three kills and three aces for Meadow Heights (12-6)...

Central senior fullback Rodney Reynolds said the Tigers' rushing attack overwhelms opponents because it features speed and power. So does Reynolds bring speed or power? "A little of both," he said. The 5-foot-8, 180-pounder flashed his speed on a pair of lengthy touchdown runs in Central's 47-0 victory over St. Charles West on Friday...

PORTAGEVILLE, Mo. -- Portageville found its way back to the .500 mark with its 37-13 victory over Scott City on Friday. "We did pretty well," Portageville's Tevin Walker said. "It was our homecoming and we came out pretty pumped and got the win. We had a few penalties but got through it."...

CHAFFEE, Mo. -- The Chaffee football team worked on blocking out a loss from the previous week for 11 straight weeks. But the Red Devils found themselves trying to block out something totally different -- wins -- the past two weeks. That, too, can be a learning experience, and Chaffee discovered that the hard way Friday night in a 42-0 homecoming loss to East Prairie...

The Indians had a late drive end on downs in a 21-20 loss Saturday afternoon

CHARLESTON, Ill. -- Linebacker Darrick Borum had the type of day defensive players dream about. Safety Tylor Brock had the type of play defenders dream about. Those sophomores highlighted another strong showing by Southeast Missouri State's' defense, which forced a season-high five turnovers to help key Saturday's 28-13 win at Eastern Illinois...

The Southeast Missouri State soccer team begins a three-game homestand today on the 80th anniversary of the opening of Houck Stadium. Southeast faces Eastern Illinois in a 2 p.m. Ohio Valley Conference matchup. Houck Stadium held its first event on Oct. 3, 1930, as Southeast played Southern Illinois in football...

St. Louis has lost 10 straight games to Seattle

Eugene Borchelt, 81, of Egypt Mills died Friday, Oct. 1, 2010, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. He was born Jan. 22, 1929, in Egypt Mills to Herbert A. and Barbara Exler Borchelt. He and Anita G. Wilkinson were married Sept. 29, 1961, at Egypt Mills...

Dorothy L. Farishon, nee Schumer, of Florissant, Mo., died Friday, Oct. 1, 2010, fortified with the Sacraments of Holy Mother Church. Dorothy was born July 4, 1916, in Webster Groves, daughter of the late Edward and Clara Schumer. She enjoyed quilting, puzzles and reading...

MaKayla Ann Overy, 4, of Jackson passed away Friday, Oct. 1, 2010, at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. She was born Oct. 4, 2005, in Cape Girardeau to Michael and Kristen Johnson Overy Jr. Loving survivors of the immediate family include her mother and father, Kristen and Michael Overy Jr., both of Jackson; two brothers, Cameron and Zackery Overy, both of Jackson; and a half sister, Ashton Overy, also of Jackson...

Kim Kurka McDowell, 58, of Cape Girardeau passed away Friday, Oct. 1, 2010. She was a woman of beautiful spiritual belief who loved her husband, her family, her pets, friends and everyone she worked with. Battling cancer for nearly two years primarily through faith, she was private about her health as she didn't want others to worry about her. On more than one occasion she said: "I have no fear about the future. God is love -- all-encompassing and all-good. Nothing is by accident."...

Dr. Lenore K. Bierbaum passed away Thursday, Sept. 30, 2010. Dear daughter of the late Milton and Madge Bierbaum; beloved sister of Madge (Glenn) Wiesner and Dr. Gene (Agnes) Bierbaum of Gainesville, Fla.; loving aunt of Paula Bogardo, Ellen (Julien) Carter, Mark (Maggie) Bierbaum, Diane (Paul) Muckstadt and Bob (June) Bierbaum; dear great-aunt, cousin, teacher and friend...

Alene Catherine Heuring, 79, of Kelso, Mo., died Friday, Oct. 1, 2010, in Orlando, Fla. Arrangements are incomplete at Amick-Burnett Funeral Chapel in Scott City.

Stephanie Hampton, 37, of Puxico, Mo., formerly of Chaffee, Mo., died Saturday, Oct. 2, 2010, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Arrangement are incomplete at Amick-Burnett Funeral Chapel in Chaffee.

JONESBORO, Ill. -- Anita D. Bittle, 83, of Jonesboro died Friday, Oct. 1, 2010, at Jonesboro Rehab and Healthcare. Visitation will be from 11 a.m. to service time today at Rendleman and Hileman Funeral Home in Jonesboro. The funeral will be at 1:30 p.m. today, with Chaplain Greg Bittle officiating. Burial will be in Jonesboro Cemetery...

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- Eula J. Smith, 96, of Perryville died Thursday, Sept. 30, 2010, at Perry County Memorial Hospital. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Monday and 6:30 to 9:50 a.m. Tuesday at Miller Family Funeral Home. The wake will be at 7 p.m. Monday. The rosary will be recited at 9 a.m. Tuesday at the funeral home...

Lake Girardeau, near Crump, has "sprung a leak"; the leak was discovered earlier this week while someone mowed the levee; the Missouri Department of Conservation has "pulled the plug" on the lake, causing a draw down of about eight feet of water which will allow the situation to be assessed...

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- A half-million dollar economic development grant for electricity system upgrades will help create 50 new jobs over the next two years at TG Missouri in Perryville. Gov. Jay Nixon visited TG Missouri today to announce the $500,000 Industrial Infrastructure Community Development Block Grant needed to make the project possible...

Candidates for local office will take submitted questions from the public Tuesday at the League of Women Voters of Southeast Missouri Voter Forum. In addition to the candidates' question and answer segment, there will be a "Casino in Cape" panel discussion featuring citizen groups...

Two statewide issues on the Nov. 2 ballot dealing with earnings and real estate transfer taxes could affect businesses. Ray McCarty, president of the Associated Industries of Missouri, spoke about ballot measures at the Cape Girardeau Area Chamber of Commerce's First Friday Coffee at the Show Me Center Friday...

Kim McDowell, head of human resources at the Southeast Missourian and longtime community activist, has died. She was 58. She was the newspaper contact for many local charitable organizations and was heavily involved in the Toys for Tots and Christmas for the Elderly campaigns. ...

CHARLESTON, Mo. -- Police were searching Friday for a Charleston man in connection to the Thursday shooting of another local man, the Sikeston Standard Democrat reported. Charleston Department of Public Safety Chief Robert E. Hearnes said about 5:30 p.m. Thursday DPS received a 911 call of a 36-year-old man with a gunshot wound who was at the Bertrand Nursing Home in Bertrand, Mo. Medical personnel and the Mississippi County Sheriff's Department were dispatched to the scene, the chief said...

About 85 area supporters of a proposed Cape Girardeau casino gathered Friday afternoon at the site where they hope the $125 million facility will soon be built. The Yes for Gaming Committee also unveiled more renderings of Isle of Capri's proposal as well as informed voters that on Nov. 2, the casino question will be on the back of the ballot...

BENTON, Mo. -- A four-month investigation led to the arrest of a Scott City couple on drug and child endangerment charges. The Sikeston Standard Democrat reported John Maglone, 28, and Yvaughna Maglone, 29, are both charged with manufacturing a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance and four counts of child endangerment, according to a news release provided by Scott County Sheriff Rick Walter...

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

ST. LOUIS -- Citing her strong support for the U.S. armed forces and her commitment to Missouri's military families, Veterans and Military Families for Progress has announced its endorsement of Robin Carnahan for U.S. Senate. In a news release, the organization highlighted Carnahan's work across party lines as secretary of state to pass the Veterans Business Protection Act, which the group said makes it easier for those serving overseas to keep their businesses in good standing with the state after they return home.. ...

Firefighters responded to the following calls Thursday:...

The Cape Girardeau Police Department released the following items. Arrests do not imply guilt. DWI The Cape Girardeau County Sheriff's Department reported the following items. Arrests do not imply guilt. DWI...

GREENVILLE, Mo. -- A 76-year-old Poplar Bluff, Mo., resident died Wednesday in an apparent accidental shooting while he was hunting in Wayne County.

A 4-year-old Jackson girl was struck and killed by a truck Friday evening at a Fruitland-area mobile home park. MaKayla A. Overy was pronounced dead at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau at 6:25 p.m., about a half-hour after first responders were called to Mulberry Acres mobile home park on Legend Drive, according to the Missouri State Highway Patrol. MaKayla would have turned 5 on Monday...

The Central boys cross country team took first place Saturday at the nine-team Notre Dame Invitational with 42 points. Scott City junior Brandon Shemonia finished first in the boys' race in 16 minutes, 0.81 seconds.

Pet name: Rowdy Owners: Susie Green and her son Favorite activity: Having his picture taken. ...

A mistake by Eastern Illinois gave Southeast Missouri State an early opportunity. Courtney Luehmann made EIU pay and the Redhawks made Luehmann's goal off a free kick stand up. Luehmann's 18-yard blast from the edge of the penalty box in the 14th minute Sunday lifted Southeast to a 1-0 win at Houck Stadium...

Cape Girardeau Public Schools will hold a public forum to unveil a revised Comprehensive School Improvement Plan at 6 p.m., Monday, Oct. 11, at the Central Middle School cafeteria. The district has been working on the revised plan for nearly a year. The last plan was adopted in 2005 and updated in 2007...

The Cape County Board for Developmentally Disabled is going to hire an executive director to oversee the board's new targeted case management program. Currently case management operates through a state office in Sikeston, Mo. Board chairwoman Dory Johnson said case workers there often have up to 60 clients, so localizing the service will mean a smaller case load and personal attention...

More than 200 people gathered to support U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Emerson and U.S. Rep. Roy Blunt, Republican candidate for U.S. Senate, at the Arena Building on Sunday.

Cape Girardeau Area Magnet is looking at a new economic development tool to help attract businesses to the area. Economic development leaders are considering the formation of an enhanced enterprise zone in Cape Girardeau County to offer tax incentives for qualifying companies locating in parts of Cape Girardeau and Jackson, said Mitch Robinson, Magnet executive director...

My son, Justin, took this night time pic of this spider & his web. He's moved onto the porch just in time for Halloween!!

Just at sunrise the fog and mist began to lift in the Smoky Mountains.

To those who STILL think that a casino and legalized gambling is the answer to a faltering and crumbling downtown, I offer facts and solid reasoning. I understand that facts and solid reason makes many people uneasy, so I offer a disclaimer: If you are easily upset by factual evidence at the expense of your opinion-based beliefs, do not read any further. ...

Some of the top names in contemporary Christian rock music came together on the Show Me Center stage Sunday to perform for church groups and families from around Missouri.

October 4,2010 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Cisse Spragins, Ph.D. Cell: 612 309 9232 Email: chair@lpmo.org Missouri Libertarian Party to Robin Carnahan: It's a Bit Early to Be Breaking Promises The Missouri LP criticizes Kansas City Public Television and the Carnahan and Blunt Campaigns for excluding the Libertarian candidate, Jonathan Dine, from its October 14th US Senate Debate...

Today, Robin Carnahan's campaign launched Students for Robin to bring together young Missourians who share her commitment to education. The group is co-chaired by students from across the state: Shawn Williams, Missouri State University; Lauren Gepford, University of Missouri-KC; Alex Witt, Truman State University; and Bryan Weintrop, University of Missouri. http://www.robincarnahan.com/students...

As the Jackson School District celebrates its third annual disability awareness week, associate superintendent Dr. Beth Emmendorfer said the observance is about celebrating the worth of every child in the district. "It is just reinforcing that we are all valued members of our school community. ...

Schnucks now has a bike rack, thanks to "bike racks for businesses." The program, launched by Commrades student organization at Southeast University, helps businesses obtain a bike rack, at cost, from Cyclewerx, a local bike shop. Commrades' president, Nicole Connoyer, explains, "Cape encourages cycling with 'share-the-road signs,' but when cyclists arrive at a store, they rarely find designated, safe parking for their bike. ...

Mum's in the afternoon almost all the way open.

By organizer accounts Saturday, this year's River City Music Festival was a success. Thousands of people took in 60 bands at 10 venues in downtown Cape Girardeau on Friday and Saturday. Early estimates showed a doubling of attendance for the festival/fundraiser, which means more money going to scholarship for music programs at area schools and churches.

VonAmp would like to thank all of their family and friends who came out to the Elk's Lodge for the dinner, auction, and rockin' music Saturday night! The band enjoyed the spirit of all of the teen girls who danced the night away. VonAmp appreciated the following individuals who helped with the event: John Busey, Joseph Scarpaci, Aaron Barrett, Tonya Pfeiffer, Stuart Swope, Melanie Combs, Sunshine & Patrick Gibbons, and the Streiler Family (Brandon, Sam, & Justin)...

Cord Polen, President and CEO of Alliance Bank, recently scored a hole in one at the 11th Annual Saxony Golf Classic at the Cape Girardeau Country Club. The Hole in One contest was sponsored by Van Matre Buick GMC Cadillac, a recent Mark of Excellence Award Winner. Polen received $1,000 in passport products for his accomplishment on the 8th hole...

a banana tree in cape girardeau with bananas growing on it

October morning sunrise on the Mississippi

No time to soak and boil dried chickpeas? Shave some time off this recipe by using canned chickpeas. Just be sure to rinse them well in a mesh strainer. Canned beans can be very salty, which could throw off the flavor of the soup...

Law enforcement officials are trained to identify situations of theft, assault and domestic violence, but when it comes to elder abuse, the situation is a bit more complicated. "It's usually family-based abuse," says Branden Caid, detective sergeant with the Scott County Sheriff's Department. ...

The soft, pinkish red of Kousa dogwood fruits, some still hanging on trees, does hint at luscious flavor. Some people see their shape as something like a combination of strawberry and raspberry, which adds to the appeal. But doesn't that shape -- a studded sphere -- look more like a medieval weapon than a strawberry or raspberry? Yes, the fruits are edible, but they aren't very palatable. They have a rubbery skin over mealy, just slightly sweet flesh...

Dr. Phenu Zachariah's favorite holiday is Halloween -- and as the newest endocrinologist at Cape Diabetes and Endocrinology, he knows how diabetics can enjoy this candy-crazed holiday, too. "They can enjoy sweets, they can have cake at a party, they can have Halloween treats -- it's just the planning that is different from a diabetic to a nondiabetic person," says Zachariah. ...

My undergraduate degree is in history and, although I am not good at remembering dates, I do love to read about life in different periods of history and especially how the customs of the day were reflected in the lives of the women. "The Hidden Diary of Marie Antoinette" by Carolly Erickson takes place in Europe in the late 1700s...

Dave Hardesty continues a day-by-day account of his Mississippi River kayaking trip, an adventure shared with his friend Danny Rees.

Notre Dame Regional High School is once again seeing a growth in enrollment. Recently, the Catholic school announced its largest freshman class of 150 students. The total school enrollment is up to 528 students -- 30 students more than last year. This growth is despite a national trend among Catholic schools that shows decreasing enrollment...

Four years ago I watched my boys tear into their presents on Christmas morning. At a time when a mother should feel nothing but joy, I was sad. I knew that at that very moment a child was walking into his or her living room expecting to find presents and seeing nothing...

A casino for Cape, I sure hope not; if luck holds out, they'll find another spot. IT'S going to be humorous to watch all of these so-called supporters of school reform come up with every rationale conceivable to oppose the extension of the school year. ...

Don't be fooled by the slick television ads or the Hollywood celebrities. The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) is not your local pet shelter but an east coast fundraising organization. Very little (less that one-half of 1 percent) of the money it raises is used to rescue dogs and cats but rather to finance an extremist agenda that is targeting pet breeders, livestock producers and hunters...

Thank you, O Lord, that when we face the trials of life, you are still with us. Amen.

WASHINGTON -- If you don't like the economy, blame President Barack Obama and Democrats because they're making times tougher, Republicans are telling voters entering the four-week homestretch to an election the GOP hopes will return the party to power in Congress...

MADRID -- A rare advisory for U.S. travelers to beware of potential terrorist threats in Europe drew American shrugs Sunday, but tourism officials worried that it could deter would-be visitors from moving ahead with plans to cross the Atlantic...

CHAFFEE, Mo. -- Floyd Charles Blue Sr., 79, of Chaffee, died Saturday, Oct. 2, 2010, at the family home. He was born in Randles on June 2, 1931, to the late Floyd D. and Bullah Beatrice Spain Blue. He married Glenda Crowden on April 6, 1957. Floyd retired as a shoe cutter from the Florshiem Shoe Co. in Chaffee. He was a member of the Free Trinity Pentecostal Church in Randles...

DONGOLA, Ill. -- James Forrest Jones, 87, of Dongola died Saturday, Oct. 2, 2010 at his home. Visitation will be after 9 a.m. Tuesday at the Mount Moriah Lutheran Church in Anna, Ill. Masonic rites will be at 10:30 a.m. at the church by Anna Masonic Lodge No. 520 AF & AM...

ADVANCE, Mo. -- Leroy Dean Nunn, 77, of Advance died Thursday, Sept. 30, 2010, at his home. Visitation will be from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. today at Hutchings Funeral Chapel in Marble Hill, Mo. The funeral will be at 1 p.m. at the funeral home. Burial will be in Baker Cemetery near Marble Hill...

Daughter to Adrian LeCline Bird and Takara Brianna Woods of Cape Girardeau, Saint Francis Medical Center, 11:37 a.m. Monday, Sept. 13, 2010. Name, Patience Jazamai. Weight, 3 pounds, 15 ounces. First child. Son to Brandon Kyle and Julia Marie Streiler of Webster Groves, Mo., 1:03 p.m. ...

Charles Kruse, a Dexter, Mo., area farmer and director of the Missouri Department of Agriculture, discusses the nation's agriculture problems at the First Friday Coffee, sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce. An exhibit detailing the history of rural Cape Girardeau County schools opens at the Southeast Missouri State University Museum; the display was coordinated through the efforts of Christabel Lacy and Bob White of the university's Center for Regional History and Cultural Heritage...

Disappointed with the advertising of the two major party competitors in our race? With over $1,000,000 of campaign contributions, they've determined the best way to present their message is to put up unflattering pictures of their opponent and then disparage each other, ending with "and I approved this message."...

As a historian devoted to understanding our democracy's unmatched capacity to heal itself, I'm writing to support Tommy Sowers for three simple reasons:1. Experience. This Green Beret is a decorated combat veteran who defended our country for 11 years. Tommy stood up to terrorists in the desert; he'll stand up to both party's leadership and special interests in Washington...

Jackson The Jackson Police Department released the following items. Arrests do not imply guilt. Miscellaneous...

Southeast Missouri State's storybook football season continued Saturday with a rare win at Eastern Illinois. Now Southeast is poised to break into the national rankings for the first time since early during the 2003 campaign. The Redhawks' 28-13 victory over defending Ohio Valley Conference champion Eastern Illinois accomplished a pair of firsts for Southeast's program...

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- John Strong, an associate professor of religious studies at Missouri State University, was frustrated with his classes. "My lectures, for whatever reasons, did not produce a lot of questions from students," Strong said. "Basically I was the focal point of the class, and I could just videotape my lectures."...

The Southeast Missouri State football team keeps racking up wins and Ohio Valley Conference honors. Southeast earned multiple OVC player of the week awards for the second time this season Sunday when senior tailback Henry Harris was named offensive player of the week and sophomore linebacker Darrick Borum was named defensive player of the week...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Officials in central Missouri want to limit how many dogs and cats people can own and make it illegal to feed feral animals on public land. An ordinance proposed in Jefferson City would make it illegal for people to dump animals or feed animals they don't own while on public land...

Pujols finished as the NL leader in both home runs and RBIs

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

401 Independence St. Study session, 5 p.m. today Meeting, 7 p.m. Study session items for discussion Public hearings...

ST. LOUIS -- Steven Jackson was a question mark until the first snap. There was no way he was going to miss this one for the St. Louis Rams. So, he went out and showed the Seattle Seahawks he could play hurt and still make a big impact. "I knew I wouldn't be 100 percent, but I knew I had enough to give," said Jackson, who blocked out a strained groin Sunday. "I feel like the team is going in the right direction and I wanted to be a part of it."...

As October's Fire Prevention Week kicks off, Brian Shaffer, battalion chief and fire marshal with the Cape Girardeau Fire Department, has a full schedule. He'll be visiting nearly ever school in the area to help teach fire prevention tips and perform fire drills. ...

SIKESTON, Mo. -- Nearly a year after implementing BackPacks for Fridays at Morehouse Elementary, students from another Sikeston school are now benefiting from the program. SEMO Food Bank was able to support the expansion of the program to serve Southeast Elementary after receiving a $10,000 grant. It also received a $20,455 grant to support food acquisition for the entire program. The grant is being funded by Unilever U.S., one of the world's leading suppliers of consumer goods...

A Cape Girardeau and a Jackson teenager were injured in separate early Sunday morning accidents in Cape Girardeau County. The first accident occurred around 12:40 a.m. on Cape Girardeau County Road 618 east of Route W when 16-year-old Brooke P. Baugher ran off the right side of the road and struck a tree...

Stan Crader of Jackson started out screwing nuts onto bolts at his grandfather's International Harvester tractor dealership in Marble Hill, Mo. He soon graduated to refilling the GoJo dispenser and cleaning the toilets at Crader Equipment Co. The company's focus turned to growing its Stihl chain saw distribution, and after returning from college Crader started working with his father full time at what was then called Crader Distributing Co. ...

The United Way of Southeast Missouri has appointed Scott City Mayor Tim Porch to its board of directors. Porch has lived in Scott City since 1969 and is the owner of Interior Plus, a commercial subcontractor specializing in metal studs, gypsum drywall, insulation, acoustical tile ceilings and plastering. ...

Eugenia Myers, 84, of Cape Girardeau, died Saturday, Oct. 2, 2010, at Ratliff Care Center in Cape Girardeau. Arrangements are incomplete at Crain Funeral Home in Cape Girardeau.

Norman Whiteman, 82, of Cape Girardeau, died Sunday at Life Care Center in Cape Girardeau. Arrangements are incomplete at Crain Funeral Home in Cape Girardeau.

Oct. 3 through 9 is National Long-Term Care Residents' Rights Week, a time to acknowledge the contributions and sacrifices that many long-term care residents have made to better our community. This year's theme -- Defining Dining: It's About Me -- was selected to call attention to the fact that residents should have choices about food and dining, and residents should be part of decision-making in long-term care facilities...

A new pre-employment training program will be offered this fall for dislocated workers in the Cape Girardeau area. The five-week, 200-hour program is free to qualified participants and is funded by the Missouri Division of Workforce Development through funds awarded to Mineral Area College. ...

"Oh my goodness, I go around town, people are talking about Southeast football," Southeast director of athletics John Shafer said. "People are excited.

NEW MADRID, Mo. -- Facebook, that social networking site which has some 500 million active users, has added one more -- the New Madrid County Sheriff's Department. The Sikeston Standard Democrat reported that New Madrid County Sheriff Terry Stevens, bowing to the popularity of the Internet and social networking especially with the younger generation, decided to add a Facebook page for his department. ...

The Cape Girardeau City Council has tossed the potentially controversial peripheral zoning proposal into the hands of county government. Council members passed a resolution on a unanimous vote Monday night to send a packet on peripheral zoning, which would empower city leaders to control what is built outside its borders, to the Cape Girardeau County Commission and asking it to take action...

It may seem like a backwoods issue, but Cape Girardeau may soon join New York, Chicago and Seattle as cites that allow its residents to keep chickens on their property. After a discussion at Monday night's Cape Girardeau City Council meeting, city staff has been directed to finalize an ordinance that would amend the city code relating to chickens and is expected to be placed on the Oct. 18 agenda for first-reading consideration...

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- As far as missed attacks go, this one was more a warning shot than an unsuccessful spike. Notre Dame's Kate Edwards got the first set of Game 2 in the Bulldogs' match against Perryville on Monday night and delivered a blistering shot around the Pirates' block and down the sideline, missing just wide as the Perryville crowd let out a collective sigh of relief...

Mills Lake - Rocky Mountain National Park

A majestic bull that had been shunned by the herd. This taken in the Rockies.

Black Lake lies 5 miles up the trail in Rocky Mountain National Park.

Sunrise over Rocky Mountain National Park...

Of the 2.5 million people locked up in U.S. jails and prisons, nearly 1 million of them are between the ages of 18 and 29. The majority of prisoners are doing time for drug-related crimes. Alcohol is a factor in about 30 percent of suicides.

The annual Heartland Pops Christmas Concert will be held on Friday, Dec. 17 at 7:00P.M. at the Donald C. Bedell Performance Hall located at SEMO's River Campus. Guest choir will be the Immaculate Conception Church Choristers and special guests will be the trio "Replica". ...

View of Ausable Chasm, Upstate New York

My husband Dennie Meier picking Chambourcin grapes at our vineyard south of Kelso, Mo.

Today, Robin Carnahan's Senate campaign released a new television ad: http://www.robincarnahan.com/dayslater titled "Days Later," which sheds more light on Congressman Roy Blunt's 14-year record of wasteful spending, corruption and sticking it to the middle class. "Days Later" tells the story of just one of the many wasteful and shady earmarks that Blunt led the charge to pass and the motivation surrounding it...

The Rineharts started at Peak Performance 2 months ago. Since beginning they have been on FIRE! Coming sometimes 4 times a week! They have shown all the requirements for their Yellow Belt the first level of Taekwondo. Proud Parents of these shining stars are David and Merrily Rinehart...

You are invited to join the Southeast Cancer Control Coalition and the Missouri Foundation for Health (MFH) for: Federal Health Care Reform: Why? What? When? Who? A presentation on federal health care reform and its impact in Missouri. Tuesday, October 19, 2010...

Cape Girardeau, Mo. -- Natalie DuBois, of Cape Girardeau, was recently promoted to specialist in the 1140th Forward Support Engineer Battalion. DuBois has served in the Missouri National Guard for a year and was surprised to receive the promotion so soon...

City of Roses 1st Place U11 Girls Champions. Pictured left to right, 1st row: Lauren Boswell, Zoe Pleiman, Jayna Timpe, Hadeel Wadi, Grace Pehle, Lauren Welker, Mattie Huff. 2nd row: Coach Stephanie Kulavic, Blake Sparkman, Hannah Landewe, Shelby Bauwens, Kaitlyn Schnurbusch, Brooke Blankenship, Corin Carroll. Not pictured: Laurel Mueller...

Southeast Missouri State University's strong start to its football season has created buzz and excitement in Cape Girardeau and the surrounding area.

After the first five months, Cape Girardeau's collection of recyclable material is up 57 percent over last year, which is almost twice the amount city officials hoped for when the new program was being dreamed up. The one catch: The new trucks used for pickup have hit a mechanical snag...

Daniel Love of St. Joseph, Missouri, learns to use the shaving horse to prepare a pole at Fort D during the Heritage Days weekend.

Our trip to Guntersville, AL

Our trip to Guntersville, AL.

Darango is just one of the sweetest dogs ever. He lives in Scott City , and is owned by Gary and Susie Gibbs

Big Springs on Summer day

doms game

kaybug at the lake

BENTON, Mo. -- A Benton father and son, along with a Sikeston woman, were arrested by Scott County authorities Friday for allegedly stealing prescription medication and selling the controlled substances to an undercover officer, according to a news release issued Monday by the Scott County Sheriff's Department...

There are a few things that come to mind when autumn rolls around: cooler temperatures, football and, of course, marching band music. Tonight is the 66th annual Jackson Band Festival. The festivities begin at 4 p.m. with a parade through uptown Jackson. At 6:30 p.m. the bands will play at the Jackson High School Stadium. Admission to the show is $2 for adults and $1 for students. Proceeds from the event will benefit the Southeast Missouri High School Band Association...

The Southeast Missourian has been blessed with many outstanding journalists over the years. It is with pleasure that I have the opportunity once again to read the byline of Scott Moyers. He is an outstanding writer, and it is great to read his articles each week. Keep up the excellent work, Scott. It is nice to have you back on the beat...

ONE of the people who spoke at the casino hearing said Cape Girardeau residents love downtown. If that were the case, they would support it by shopping and eating there. The stores would not be struggling, there wouldn't be empty storefronts and the restaurants would be packed to the gills every night they're open...

O Lord, help us show mercy and love toward others, just as you have shown us. Amen.

Whenever October rolls around each year, people of all ages begin to "think pink" and organize rallies and events to draw attention to the ravaging effects of breast cancer. What better cause to support than prevention of cancer? No one can argue with the importance of drawing attention to a disease that robs individuals and families of meaningful years of life...

HAVANA -- Washington is working on a plan to bring the vast majority of exiled Cuban political prisoners from Spain to the United States and has already processed the first case, a senior State Department said on Monday. The official said nearly all of some three dozen former prisoners who are already in Spain, along with more than 100 family members, are likely to accept the offer...

WASHINGTON -- The Supreme Court began a new era Monday with three women serving together for the first time, Elena Kagan taking her place at the end of the bench and quickly joining in the give-and-take. In a scene that will repeat itself over the next few months, Kagan left the courtroom while the other justices remained to hear a case in which she will take no part. ...

CHICAGO -- Have you ever worked on your laptop computer with it sitting on your lap, heating up your legs? If so, you might want to rethink that habit. Doing it a lot can lead to "toasted skin syndrome," an unusual-looking mottled skin condition caused by long-term heat exposure, according to medical reports...

Activities to recognize October as breast cancer awareness month.

As part of its first concert of the season, the Southeast Missouri Symphony Orchestra will feature pianist Jack Gibbons. Gibbons, a renowned pianist and George Gershwin expert, will give two public presentations in the week leading up to his performance with the orchestra at its concert "Rhapsody in Blue" at 7:30 p.m. ...

Work to replace the Route V bridge over drain ditch No. 101 in Bollinger County began Monday. The road will remain closed from Route C to Route K until the work is completed, around Nov. 7. Signs and warning devices are in place, and motorists are urged to use caution while traveling near the area. For more information, contact the Missouri Department of Transportation at 888-275-6636...

Eugenia Myers, 84, of Cape Girardeau died at 9:55 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 2, 2010, at Ratliff Care Center in Cape Girardeau. She was born on Jan. 3, 1926, in Chicago to Raymond and Marie (Roe) Warren. She married Raymond E. Myers on Oct. 5, 1946, in Hannibal, Mo...

Dr. Frank Arrington Wiley, 82, of Jackson, noted educator and administrator, died Friday, Oct. 1, 2010, at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. Dr. Wiley was born July 7, 1928, in Holly Grove, Ark., to Foster Neal and Zoe Arrington Wiley. Dr. Wiley and Martha Ann Cox were married Dec. 23, 1950...

ADVANCE, Mo. -- Claude F. Stephens, 96, of Advance was born July 12, 1914, in McGee, Mo., the son of James and Ada Trafford Stephens, and passed away Oct. 3, 2010, at the Chaffee Nursing Center. Claude had been a cattle farmer for 20 years. He had been a construction worker for 13 years. ...

Fill up to lose fat. If you're trying to lose weight, filling up on fiber and low-calorie liquids are key. Low-fat soups for example, especially varieties that are loaded with nutrient-rich vegetables, are an excellent way to go. They are both filling and low in calories...

Alene Catherine Heuring, 79, of Scott City died Oct. 1, 2010, in Orlando, Fla. She was born Dec. 24, 1930, to Albert John and Vernetta Julia Burger Scherer. She married Elmer George Heuring on Sept. 11, 1948, in New Hamburg, Mo. He preceded her in death on Feb. 6, 2005...

PUXICO, Mo. -- Stephanie Rena Hampton, 37, of Puxico died Saturday, Oct. 2, 2010, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center in Poplar Bluff, Mo. She was born Oct. 12, 1972, in Fort Smith, Ark., daughter of Paul Wayne and Vera J. Cato Harper. She and Jerry "Wayne" Hampton Jr. were married April 11, 1998...

Dr. Norman Richard Whiteman Jr., 82, of Cape Girardeau, formerly of Victoria, Texas, died Oct. 3, 2010, at Life Care Center under hospice, from complications arising from chronic illness since January. He was born to Norman and Cleio Whiteman on Feb. ...

Dennis Hinkebein, 54, of Jackson died Sunday, Oct. 3, 2010, at St. Louis University Hospital. Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, with times for parish prayers, rosary and Elks services to be announced...

JONESBORO, Ill. -- Carter L. Partridge, 74, of Jonesboro died Sunday, Oct. 3, 2010, at the Hillview Health Care Center in Vienna, Ill. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday at Rendleman & Hileman Funeral Home in Anna. The funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at the funeral home. Burial will be in Anna Cemetery...

A fugitive who escaped from the Cape Girardeau County Jail on June 29 is arrested by Illinois authorities in the morning along Highway 4, a mile west of Oraville, Ill., in Jackson County. Walter H. Oberheide, who rose from janitor-messenger of Farmers & Merchants (Boatmen's) Bank to become its president, dies at the Lutheran Home, where he had been a resident nine years; he was 89 years old...

VATICAN CITY -- The Vatican's top bioethics official said Robert Edwards, who received the Nobel Prize in medicine Monday for developing in vitro fertilization, opened "a new and important chapter in the field of human reproduction" but is also responsible for the destruction of embryos and the creation of a "market" in donor eggs...

An enhanced enterprise zone would be an economic development tool for Cape Girardeau and Jackson, Mitch Robinson, executive director of Cape Girardeau Area Magnet, told the Jackson Board of Aldermen on Monday night. Robinson discussed the proposal during the board's meeting, explaining the zone would offer tax incentives to attract businesses and would include sections of Jackson and Cape Girardeau...

BERLIN -- An American missile strike killed five German militants Monday in the rugged Pakistan border area where a cell of Germans and Britons at the heart of the U.S. terror alert for Europe -- a plot U.S. officials link to al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden -- were believed in hiding...

FIRE Firefighters responded to the following call Saturday: * Emergency medical service in the 100 block of Carolyn Drive. Firefighters responded to the following call Sunday: * Emergency medical service on Apache Avenue.

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

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

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- A former Greater Poplar Bluff Area Chamber of Commerce executive and Poplar Bluff mayor will be heading to court after being arrested twice for allegedly driving with a suspended driver's license early Sunday morning, the Daily American Republic newspaper reported...

An elderly man operating his motorized wheelchair at Broadway and West End Boulevard Monday suffered injuries after the driver of a four-door Buick struck him in the intersection. A Cape Girardeau Police officer who responded to the scene wasn't sure of the severity of the man's injuries, but said he was transported to a Cape Girardeau hospital...

WASHINGTON -- The Justice Department on Monday sued the three largest U.S. credit card companies for anti-competitive practices and reached a proposed settlement with two of them, MasterCard and Visa. "We want to put more money in consumers' pockets, and by eliminating credit card companies' anti-competitive rules, we will accomplish exactly that," Attorney General Eric Holder said. ...

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- Kenny Rogers loves to sing and take photos as he travels throughout the United States on his "50 Years in Music Tour." The award-winning country music artist, who has recorded 24 No. 1 country and pop hits, will perform after Billy Dean opens the concert at 7:30 p.m. Friday in the Black River Coliseum...

Haley Glastetter scored the winning run on a squeeze bunt by Kristen Powell in the bottom of the sixth inning as Kelly defeated Jackson 3-2 in girls high school softball Monday in Benton, Mo. Glastetter also connected for a double, while Jade Rampley went 2 for 3 in the win...

ST. LOUIS -- For the first time since 1996, his first season with the St. Louis Cardinals, Tony La Russa plans to drive home to Northern California. The biggest reason is to ease clutter in an office loaded with knickknacks and books, but he'll no doubt use those long hours on the highway to ponder what went wrong in his 15th season and whether he wants to return for a 16th...

Consecutive wins has St. Louis players in a positive frame of mind

Public hearings Consent agenda New ordinances Appointments...

NEW YORK -- The Nobel Prize in medicine went to a man whose work led to the first test tube baby, an achievement that helped bring 4 million infants into the world and raised challenging new questions about human reproduction. Robert Edwards of Britain, now an 85-year-old professor emeritus at the University of Cambridge, lived to see the far-reaching ramifications of his hugely controversial early research...

Ken Swinford carded his seventh hole-in-one Saturday at Dalhousie Golf Club. Swinford used a 6-iron to ace No. 13, a par three playing 178 yards. Witnesses were Ken Carmode and Greg Howard. Dave Roberts fired a hole-in-one Saturday at Cape Girardeau Country Club...

Southeast Missouri State University will host a debate among the four candidates for the 8th District congressional seat from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Monday in the Shuck Recital Hall at the River Campus. Candidates vying for the seat are Larry Bill, U.S. Rep. ...

Cape Girardeau, MO --Cape Girardeau Honda will host a midnight event this Saturday, October 9th, marking the first ever Midnight Sale Event in the history of this Honda dealership. A day of fun and information is set for all. Southeast Missouri Hospital will be operating a Wellness Tent, checking blood pressure and inspecting child car seats for proper installation -- all compliments of Cape Girardeau Honda. ...

According to the USDA, food insecurity affects more than 49 million Americans. Nowhere is this problem more difficult to address than in rural areas. Here, reaching those in need is more complicated, and the stigma of seeking help is greater. Southeast Missouri Food Bank, a member of Feeding America, has been serving the Southeast Missouri area for 25 years helping 40,000 people in 2009...

City of Roses 1st Place Champions-U12 Boys. Pictured left to right, 1st row: Garrett Hesselrode, Drew Brown, Nick Powers, Trevor Lukefahr, Kwaid Fears, Hunter Crowden, Logan Hunt, Camren Mirgeaux. 2nd row: Michael Rosenquist, Sam Mocherman, Garrett Siebert, Dylan Jannin, Blake Bauwens, Josh Scholl, Rudy McClellan, Brayden Emmons. Coach Scott Goodin...

St. Vincent gave up one touchdown in the opening 12 minutes and never regrouped Tuesday, falling at former doormat Grandview 33-7.

The Cape Girardeau Fire Department responded to a structure fire at 419 S. Sprigg St. Tuesday at 11: 47 p.m. According to a news release issued by the department, upon arrival firefighters saw moderate smoke showing from the structure. They were able to extinguish the fire and contain it to the living room area and portions of the ceiling...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Despite an upturn in state revenue collections, optimism on the state's economic future is not running rampant. On Monday, State Budget Director Linda Luebbering announced that Missouri revenue collections were running 2.6 percent ahead of last year at this time, with an uptick of 9.1 percent in September collections over last year...

Chris Starr, director of the Charleston, Mo., High School band, never thought he'd be teaching his students how to play a song by pop star Lady Gaga. Still, the pop star's "Poker Face" wasn't the only contemporary tune Charleston marching band played for a crowd of more than 800 Tuesday at the Jackson Band Festival...

It's another record-breaking year for Missouri community colleges, with enrollment soaring 8 percent from 2008. Explosive growth sounds like a broken record for a post-secondary education system that has posted record enrollment for the past five years and, as of the first day of fall classes, boasted a census of 106,000 students...

Jordan's 4H Best of Show Bird Bath @ the Stoddard County Fair 2010

Fredericktown, Mo. -- Soldiers in the Missouri National Guard's 1138th Engineer Sapper Company recently used the personal marksmanship training system to prepare for their annual weapons qualifications. The system allows the Soldiers to practice honing their weapons and shooting skills without using bullets or outside ranges. A laser system is placed in the barrel of each weapon. When Soldiers pull the trigger, the laser is read on the electronic target and displayed on a laptop...

Jackson and Kennett, Mo. -- One of the basic warrior tasks and missions for military police in the Missouri National Guard is crowd control techniques. Soldiers of the 1137th Military Police Company in Jackson and Kennett recently spent a weekend honing their individual and squad level skills with these techniques...

Jamie Mayfield demonstrates the Erlbacher-Gearhart circular sock knitting machine at Fort D during Heritage Days.

Girl Scout troop 50336 enjoyed the downtown historical sites on Saturday. At the Cape River Heritage Museum they helped maked apple cider and butter.

14th River City Music Festival Brant Hutchcraft performs live with Emaciation at The Dockside in Cape Girardeau, MO.

After a successful summer, Discovery Playhouse Children's Museum's staff and board are developing new exhibits to keep crowds coming back. Since opening in March, more than 13,000 people have visited the museum, said executive director Jennifer Mullix...

Zoning questions and issues affecting the local economy dominated much of Tuesday night's League of Women Voters of Southeast Missouri voter forum. Candidates for Cape Girardeau County Presiding Commissioner were asked if they would permit peripheral zoning as the Cape Girardeau City Council referred it to the commission. ...

As the country marks National Fire Prevention Week October 3-9 the American Red Cross Southeast Missouri Chapter is urging everyone to help save lives by making sure their home is protected by smoke alarms. "The largest percentage of home fire deaths occur in homes with no smoke alarms or alarms that don't work," said Jamie Koehler, Emergency Services Director, Southeast Missouri Chapter. ...

found on my porch never seen one up close

Better-than-expected revenue -- buoyed by Cape Splash Family Aquatic Center, sales-tax income and an unanticipated air show -- have helped Cape Girardeau to come in under budget by more than $700,000, an amount that was double what city officials expected in a struggling economy...

Support Pink! Stay Healthy!

NEW YORK -- The U.S. service sector, the nation's predominant employer, expanded in September for a ninth straight month, although the growth has not been consistent enough to dent the high unemployment rate. The Institute for Supply Management said Tuesday that its service-sector index rose last month to 53.2 from 51.5 in August. The rate hit a high point of 55.4 in March, stayed there in April and May, and has fluctuated since. Readings above 50 signal growth...

CHICAGO -- Hands-only CPR doesn't just eliminate the "yuck factor." A new study shows it can save more lives. It's the first large American study to show more adults survived cardiac arrest when a bystander gave them continuous chest presses to simulate a heartbeat, compared to traditional CPR with mouth-to-mouth breathing...

ST. LOUIS -- A St. Louis man who federal agents say helped smuggle nearly 29 million cigarettes from Missouri to Illinois to profit from differences in their sales taxes on smokes has been indicted on more felony counts. A federal grand jury has charged Ghalib Shahjamaluddin, 43, with two counts of knowingly possessing, shipping, transporting and distributing contraband cigarettes, as well as two felonies claiming he knowingly trafficked the black-market smokes without keeping government-required records.. ...

ORANGE BEACH, Ala. -- BP's $20 billion fund to compensate victims of the Gulf oil spill has been inundated with inflated or unsupported claims and in some cases, outright fraud -- all slowing down the process of getting money to people who need and deserve it, the administrator of the program says...

BRUSSELS -- Ryanair chief executive Michael O'Leary said Tuesday he's not ready to buy new airplanes just yet. He said his company meets twice a year with Airbus and Boeing, the world's largest airplane makers, but called those meetings routine discussions...

NEW YORK -- Frito-Lay hopes to quiet complaints about its noisy SunChips bags by switching out the biodegradable bags for the old packaging on most flavors. The company is switching back to original packaging, which is made of a type of plastic, for five of the six varieties of the chips. It will keep the biodegradable bags for its sixth variety, its original plain flavor. That's its second best-selling, after Harvest Cheddar...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Missouri has lagged behind other states in identifying employers that avoid taxes and unemployment and workers' compensation payments by classifying their workers as contractors instead of employees, a state audit reported Tuesday...

Firefighters responded to the following calls Monday:...

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

The progress of Southeast Missouri State University can be directly attributed to the tireless efforts of people like Donald Dickerson. A Southeast graduate, Dickerson was recently honored with the unveiling of a bust sculpture at the Southeast Missouri State University River Campus. The bust was installed at the center of the Donald L. Dickerson River Campus Commons...

Now that Americans have awakened to the corruption that is in Washington, D.C., our representatives and senators have a chance to do something about our 66,000 page tax code. The FairTax bill is currently in the U.S. House of Representatives with more than 60 co-signers. ...

Having maintained residence in both Cape Girardeau and St. Louis for many years, one need not be an economist to see the negative impact of a city earnings tax. It is one of the most egregious taxes that burden families and businesses. It is for this reason I support Proposition A...

In light of the upcoming vote on casino gambling in Cape Girardeau, I would like to offer an easy solution. However, the solution will only work if you are a Christian. To be clear, Christians are those who have personally repented of their sins and received Christ into their hearts...

I strongly support Jackson schools using "the box" as punishment. In fact, I think it's an effective form of punishment. I congratulate those who thought up the idea for being creative or as others might say, thinking outside the box. RECENTLY I have been surprised to see in this paper that there are so many local citizens concerned about people with gambling addictions. ...

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- Velma L. Fadler Seabaugh, 92, of St. Charles, Mo., died Monday, Oct. 4, 2010, at NHC Health Care in Maryland Heights, Mo. Mrs. Seabaugh was born Jan. 31, 1918, in Alliance, Mo., to Joseph F. and Etta Robinson Fadler. She married Delmera Seabaugh May 2, 1943, in Sikeston, Mo. He preceded her in death May 21, 1989...

Jennifer Lynn Pyatt, 64, of Eureka, Mo., died Tuesday, Oct. 5, 2010 at St. Luke's Hospital in St. Louis. Arrangements are incomplete at Ford and Sons Funeral Home.

Dean Allison, 83, of Cape Girardeau died Tuesday, Oct. 5, 2010, at Landmark Hospital. A memorial service will be held at a later date. Ford and Sons Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Raymond A. Ponder, 81, of Jackson died Tuesday, Oct. 5, 2010, at his home. Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday at McCombs Funeral Home and Cremation Center in Jackson. Parish prayers will be at 7. Funeral Mass will be at 10 a.m. Friday at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church. Burial will be in St. Michael Cemetery at Apple Creek, Mo...

Daughter to Dale and Teresa Birk of Jackson, St. Mary's Hospital in Richmond Heights, Mo., 11:16 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 16, 2010. Name, Hope Canaan. Weight, 2 pounds, 4 ounces. Third child, first daughter. Mrs. Birk is the former Teresa Dixon, daughter of Larry and Clara Dixon of Jackson. She is employed by Alzheimer's Association. Birk is the son of Glen and Alice Birk of Jackson. He is a self-employed farmer...

Preliminary plans for development of a 3 3/4-acre commercial tract at the southeast corner of Independence Street and Sheridan Drive have been unveiled by the property's owner, E.C. Younghouse; the development, to be known as Independence Square, will involve the construction of several structures...

SEOUL, South Korea -- North Korea's heir apparent observed military drills with his father, according to a state media report Tuesday, heralding a growing public profile for Kim Jong Un as he takes on a more prominent role in the reclusive nation...

BEIT FAJJAR, West Bank -- Six rabbis from West Bank settlements took a step Tuesday to defuse tension over an arson attack at a West Bank mosque, apparently by extremist settlers: They presented 20 new Quran books to replace those damaged in the blaze...

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico -- A Guantanamo prisoner who has been on a hunger strike for more than five years is occasionally eating solid food, but is still underweight and suffering from a medical condition likely caused by his protest, officials say in recently filed court documents...

WASHINGTON -- The government's giant bank bailout may well have averted a second Great Depression, economists say, but a lot of voters aren't buying it. Support for the program is turning into a kiss of death for many in Congress. Longtime Republican lawmakers -- tarred by their votes for the emergency aid to banks, insurance and auto companies -- have been sent packing in primaries. ...

In the days before the electric light bulb, kerosene- and gas-fueled lanterns were the only source of artificial lighting. While these can't compare to the effectiveness of today's more modern electric lighting systems, their charm and elegance still have great consumer appeal...

The Jackson Police Department released the following items. Arrests do not imply guilt. DWI Firefighters responded to the following calls Monday:...

There's nothing like some "me" time in a luxurious spa after a long day. And it takes just a little effort to transform your own bathroom into just such a place, an oasis in which to relax and rejuvenate. Some simple fixes and inexpensive accessories can do the trick, designers say...

The St. Louis rookie looks mature beyond his years in helping the once forlorn franchise to a 2-2 start

The Jackson girls tennis team upended top-seed Oakville 5-2 on Tuesday to win the Class 2 District 1 title.

LOS ANGELES -- Anna Nicole Smith was surrounded by a circle of enablers -- including her boyfriend and two doctors -- who supplied her with drugs for years despite her obvious addiction, a prosecutor told jurors Tuesday. Deputy district attorney Renee Rose continued the prosecution's closing argument for a second day in the drug conspiracy trial of Smith's lawyer-boyfriend Howard K. Stern and two physicians...

Today is my friend Cheryl Mothes' birthday. She lives life to its fullest and all the time, so I dare even think what she is dreaming up to do on her special day. In honor of her birthday and vegetarian lifestyle and her desire to have "no one die" as a food source, I am including two of her recipes here today. ...

KOLONTAR, Hungary -- A lethal torrent of toxic red sludge from a metal refinery engulfed towns in Hungary, burning villagers through their clothes and threatening an ecological disaster Tuesday as it swept toward the Danube River. The flood of caustic red mud triggered a state of emergency declaration by Hungarian officials. At least four people were killed, six were missing and 120 injured, many with burns...

BRUSSELS -- Japan declared an end Tuesday to a dispute with China over a high-seas collision last month and the two countries agreed to resume exchanges and projects that had been stopped because of the incident. The breakthrough came after the prime ministers of the two countries held an impromptu after-dinner meeting in the corridor of an Asia-Europe summit...

TRENTON, Mo. -- Gov. Jay Nixon is touting a north-central Missouri school district as one making good use of interest-free bonds from the state for taxpayer-saving improvements. Nixon on Tuesday visited the Trenton School District to detail the work being funded by $1.6 million in bonds the district received earlier this year from $162 million in available bonds he announced at the time. ...

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- A woman has filed a lawsuit claiming two former Missouri priests sexually abused her when she was a teenager in the 1970s. A 49-year-old woman listed only as Jane Doe filed the lawsuit Friday in Jackson County Circuit Court. ...

NEW YORK -- It is the thinnest and strongest material known to humanity -- no thicker than a single atom and 100 times tougher than steel. Could grapheme be the next plastic? Maybe so, says one of two scientists who won a Nobel Prize on Tuesday for isolating and studying it...

NEW YORK -- The Pakistani immigrant who tried to detonate a car bomb on a busy Saturday night in Times Square accepted a life sentence with a smirk Tuesday and warned that Americans can expect more bloodshed at the hands of Muslims. "Brace yourselves, because the war with Muslims has just begun," 31-year-old Faisal Shahzad told a federal judge. "Consider me the first droplet of the blood that will follow."...

SIKESTON, Mo. -- Work to replace the second bridge on Route Z over drainage ditch No. 2. in Scott County is expected to begin Oct. 25, weather permitting. The road will remain closed from Route DD to U.S. 61 during construction. Completion is expected in November. Signs and warning devices will be in place as improvements are made. ...

SIKESTON, Mo. -- Work to replace the Route K bridge over Wolf Creek in Stoddard County is expected to begin Oct. 18, weather permitting. The road will remain closed from Route V to Route BB as construction progresses. Completion is anticipated in late November. Signs and warning devices will be in place, and motorists are urged to use caution while traveling near the area...

Route C between County Road 620 and County Road 618 (two miles east of Highway 51) in Bollinger County will be closed while contractor crews replace a box culvert under the road. Weather permitting, the work will begin at 7 a.m. Oct. 18 and will reopen at 5 p.m. Nov. 5. The work zone will be marked with signs...

SIKESTON, Mo. -- Work to replace the Route W bridge over Little River Drainage Ditch No. 1 in Scott County is expected to begin Oct. 18, weather permitting. The road will remain closed from Route P to Route CC as construction is continues. Completion is anticipated in mid-December. Signs and warning devices will be in place. For more information, contact the Missouri Department of Transportation at 888-275-6636...

Socialism is openly being defended by some individuals The highly-promoted One Nation rally Saturday in Washington, D.C., was a bit of a flop. Organized by Progressives and labor unions, despite the rhetoric, the rally was a reaction to the recent Glen Beck rally. Primary organizers on MSNBC had all but promised the rally would far exceed the Beck rally in attendance...

Lyndell L. Bradshaw, 67, and LaVerne E. Bradshaw, 65, of Jackson passed away Monday, Oct. 4, 2010. Lyndell was born June 21, 1943, in Bell City, Mo., son of Kenneth Jack and Bessie Lee McCauley Bradshaw. LaVerne was born April 28, 1945, in St. Louis, daughter of Charles B. and Bethal McCarty Walker...

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- Neoma M. Rollet, 91, of Perryville died Tuesday, Oct. 5, 2010, at Independent Care Center of Perry County. She was born April 30, 1919, in St. Mary, Mo., daughter of the late Charles and Caroline Rose Giesler Lawrence. She and Everett Francis Rollet were married Oct. 23, 1935. He preceded her in death May 4, 1988...

Dennis Hinkebein, 54, of Jackson passed away Sunday, Oct. 3, 2010, at St. Louis University Hospital. He courageously fought a short-term battle with aggressive pancreatic cancer. He was born Dec. 16, 1955, in Cape Girardeau, to Ennis W. and Dorothy Sperling Hinkebein. He and Diane Heisserer were married Jan. 8, 1991, at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church...

Like others in Missouri, several pharmacies in Cape Girardeau and Jackson have yet to connect to a statewide database that tracks the sale of pseudoephedrine products. The new electronic tracking database went online Sept. 28 and requires pharmacists to enter information, such as name, date of birth and signature, of people purchasing products containing pseudoephedrine, a key component in making methamphetamine...

Women came together Wednesday to celebrate surviving breast cancer and to help those still struggling to overcome it. More than 240 people attended the American Cancer Society's seventh annual Pink Ribbon Luncheon at Drury Lodge raises money for its Patient Service Fund...

Heartland Materials LLC has filed an open pit mining application with the Missouri Department of Natural Resources Land Reclamation Program for a limestone quarry on 161 acres near Fruitland. The application, received Monday, is now under review by DNR staff. If uncontested, the permit process will take 60 to 90 days to complete, DNR spokeswoman Renee Bungart said...

The conference will be held from 8 a.m.to 3 p.m. on Oct. 22nd at the Tanner Street Church of God located at 619 Tanner St., in Sikeston. The conference theme is "Things Every Woman Should Know". The conference will provide health and educational information to participants. There is free admission, a continental breakfast, special speakers, booths to visit and door prices. Lunch will be provided at no cost...

MATT STEEL will be at Performing at PBR Grill & Bar 7570 St Hwy 177 Cape Girardeau Mo. this Friday Oct. 8th, 9pm. where you can get your ticket on a chance to win this One of a Kind, Ibenez "Mudbog" Guitar autographed by MATT STEEL, Proceeds will go to the "GUMPATHON" to help raise money for wounded soldiers and their families!...

In support of Saint Francis Medical Center's efforts to "Pink Up Cape" for breast cancer awareness, the trees lining the median on Normal Avenue on Southeast Missouri State University's campus received pink ribbon makeovers this week. Saint Francis launched Pink Up Cape, a campaign to raise awareness of the disease in the community and throughout the Medical Center, in support of National Breast Cancer Awareness month. ...

Isle of Capri and city officials will try to convince the Missouri Gaming Commission that Cape Girardeau is the best choice for the state's newest casino Oct. 20 at a hearing in Jefferson City. After that, a decision between the four applicants -- three if Cape Girardeau voters say no at the ballot box Nov. 2 -- should come by Thanksgiving, said commission chairman Jim Mathewson...

Please join us on October 16 for our fried catfish and chicken tenders dinner at New McKendree's Celebration Center. Meal includes fried catfish, chicken tenders, cole slaw, baked beans, spiral potatoes, dessert, and a drink. The dinner is from 4:00 - 7:00. Adult meals are $8.00. Children ages 5-12 eat for $5.00 and under age 5 eat free. We look forward to seeing you there!...

The smell of barbecue will fill the air at Jackson City Park this weekend at the eighth annual Jackson Bar-B-Que Cook Off. Shane West Anderson, director of the city's parks and recreation department, said this event is more of a backyard cookout than some of the more formal, sanctioned barbecue contests in the area...

Join us for our annual Pretty In Pink Fundraiser! With your help, we are hoping to raise money for the Susan G. Komen Foundation for breast cancer awareness. Come on out for great specials, a silent auction, raffles, music, food, fun, and even a live fire thrower! Win prizes from Andrew Jackson, Amelia's Fashion Exchange, Computer 21, and much more! Everyone is invited, so bring your friends and family and remember to wear pink! Oct 22 9am-6pm 243-1070...

October 8, 2010 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Cisse Spragins, Ph.D. Cell: 612 309 9232 Email: chair@lpmo.org Missouri Libertarian Party: Is Roy Blunt Really Afraid of Jonathan Dine?...

Jackson junior Katie Garner had seen a nine-run lead shrink to one when she stepped to the plate in the fifth inning of Wednesday night's Class 4 District 1 opener against Poplar Bluff. "We're kind of used to the pressure -- all of us," Garner said. "We've all been in that situation and you've just got to keep a calm head and deliver."...

Seventeen years ago, Cape Girardeau first voted against -- then for -- a gambling boat. It was then painted as a romantic excursion on the river with limits to time and how much you could gamble. Despite the "positive" vote, Cape Girardeau was delivered from an industry based on greed, historically associated with crime and the underworld and directed toward extracting as much of your disposable income as possible...

As a children's therapist, I would like to comment on Jackson's discipline method of using "the box." I have been talking to teachers in area schools for several years about having children walk or run (child's choice) a track during recess instead of sitting against a wall. Children need to get some fresh air, to have a change of scenery and to burn off energy. I am pleased to find Jackson is using "the box" in this manner...

THE Cape Girardeau city council says we need a dog park. Look at our streets. Look at all the people that are hungry. They say we need a dog park? You've got to be kidding. ANOTHER Constitution Day has passed and there was little coverage in the media. ...

Lord Jesus, thank you for the armor of God that helps us take a stand against evil. Amen.

When they take the stage Saturday night in New York City, they'll be treading the same stage Ray Charles, Bob Dylan and Elvis Presley once did. Not bad for four teens from Jackson. Jackson band VonAmp hits the Big Apple as one of six bands on the bill for the Kids Helping Kids benefit at the East Village's landmark Webster Hall. A half-century ago, the hall served as the famous RCA live recording studio, home to rock, soul and folk legends like Charles, Sam Cooke, Dylan and Presley...

What's happening this weekend

WASHINGTON -- The Obama administration blocked efforts by government scientists to tell the public just how bad the Gulf oil spill could become and committed other missteps that raised questions about its competence and candor during the crisis, according to a commission appointed by the president to investigate the disaster...

WASHINGTON -- Supreme Court justices suggested Wednesday they would like to rule for a dead Marine's father against fundamentalist church members who picketed his son's funeral -- but aren't sure they can. Left unresolved after an hourlong argument that explored the limits of the First Amendment: Does the father's emotional pain trump the protesters' free speech rights?...

Raymond A. Ponder, 81, of Jackson passed away Tuesday, Oct. 5, 2010, at his home. He was born July 7, 1929, in Apple Creek, Mo., to William and Clara Trapp Ponder. He and Dorothy Berkbigler were married April 21, 1951. Raymond was raised in Uniontown, Mo., and attended school at Apple Creek, Mo. He honorably served in the U.S. National Guard from September 1950 to September 1953...

Jennifer Lynn Jones Pyatt, 64, of Eureka, Mo., died Tuesday, Oct. 5, 2010, at St. Luke Hospital in Chesterfield, Mo. Jennifer was a woman of tremendous grace, strength and beauty, whose devotion to her family and 44-year marriage was an inspiration to everyone. ...

ADVANCE, Mo. -- Robert A. Reynolds, 77, of Advance passed away Tuesday, Oct. 5, 2010, at Chaffee Nursing Center in Chaffee, Mo. He was born Jan. 9, 1933, at Bell City, Mo., son of Jess Owen and Ethel May Stroup Reynolds. He married Evelyn Stohlmann...

William Ralph LeGrand, 80, of Cape Girardeau died Wednesday, Oct. 6, 2010, at Missouri Veterans Home. He was born Feb. 14, 1930, in Oran, Mo., to William and Lucy Helen Grojean LeGrand. He married Ruby Jacobs Graff in January 1955. LeGrand was chief engineer for Cargill Inc. and a member of Teamsters Union in St. Louis...

Leonard G. "Slim" Beussink, 76, of Gordonville passed away Tuesday, Oct. 5, 2010, at Saint Francis Medical Center. He was born Oct. 24, 1933, in Leopold, Mo., son of Herman and Mary Holzum Beussink Sr. He and Carolann Clippard were married Oct. 26, 1957...

Donald E. Blankenship, 80, of Cape Girardeau passed away Saturday, Oct. 2, 2010, at Landmark Hospital. He was born March 2, 1930, in Cape Girardeau, son of Major and Faye Blankenship. He was first married to Delores Mae Trickey. On March 15, 1983, he married Lavine Proffer Kinnison. She passed away Sept. 7, 2000...

Daughter to Daniel and Jennifer Record of Hillsboro, Mo., Missouri Baptist Hospital in St. Louis, 7:57 a.m. Monday, June 28, 2010. Name, Alicia Anne. Weight, 9 pounds, 1 ounce. Fourth daughter. Mrs. Record is the former Jennifer Gates, daughter of Jim and Nora Gates of Kirksville, Mo. She is a registered nurse. Record is the son of Roger and Constance Record of Benton, Mo. He is a registered nurse and board-certified prosthetist...

Possibly the largest sale of apartment buildings in Cape Girardeau's history was finalized last week by the purchase of eight buildings along Themis Street; the buildings, which include 54 family units, were purchased by Mr. and Mrs. Jack Johnson of Advance, Mo., and Mr. and Mrs. Gene Johnson of St. Louis from Bean Properties, which is owned by Frank Bean...

Do you have questions about the upcoming elections and how they will affect Southeast Missouri? Are you interested in learning more about how we can make our future brighter? If so, I encourage you to tune in at 7 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 11, for the first congressional debate to take place in our district in a very long time. ...

You can make your own lava lamp, no electricity required! STEP 2: Fill the plastic bottle the rest of the way with water. STEP 3: Place several drops of food coloring into the plastic bottle. STEP 4: Break the Alka-Seltzer tablet into two pieces. STEP 5: Place each of the pieces of Alka-Seltzer tablet into the bottle...

Last Thursday we celebrated the career and retirement of former Southeast Missourian editor Joe Sullivan. Having served as a reporter, editor, columnist and publisher, Joe knows the newspaper business and is a role-model newspaper man. His wisdom on a variety of issues is a gift...

Oct. 7, 2010 Dear Leslie, The last of the season's crop of tomatoes remain in the garden. The cucumbers, beets, carrots and lettuce struggled this year, but we couldn't eat all the tomatoes. I know someone who serves Bloody Marys made with fresh tomatoes from her garden. Fresh and real are impossible to simulate...

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- The University of Missouri's flagship campus is reviewing 75 degree programs for possible elimination or consolidation as the state seeks costs savings. The state Department of Higher Education defines such "low-producing" programs as those awarding fewer than 10 bachelor's degrees a year on average. The cutoff is five graduates for master's programs and three graduates for doctoral programs...

The Southeast Missouri State women's basketball team has taken advantage of a new NCAA rule to get an early jump on things. Southeast held its first official practice Monday under the new rule that allows Division I women's squads to begin practice 40 days before their first game. They still are allowed only 30 practices, the same as under the old system...

FREDERICKTOWN, Mo. -- A former St. Francois County Commissioner admits that he stole equipment from the county and had county employees do work for his benefit. Attorney General Chris Koster announced Wednesday that Ronald Varvera of Fredericktown entered the guilty plea to felony stealing charges. He was sentenced to seven years in prison...

BENTON, Mo. -- A Cape Girardeau doctor was arrested has been charged with driving under the influence of drugs and three counts of possession of a controlled substance. According to a news release from the Scott County Sheriff's Department, officers Tuesday noticed the man was driving erractically and appeared to be under the influence of narcotics and alcohol...

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

Firefighters responded to the following calls Tuesday:...

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

STEELE, Mo. -- Three students from South Pemiscot High School are facing charges following an incident involving a fight and a school resource officer. According to Steele police chief Billy Joe Stanfield, officers received a call Sept. 28 from the South Pemiscot High School resource officer, requesting assistance and referring a fight between students on campus...

BENTON, Mo. -- While things have cooled off a bit, boarding ICE prisoners has turned out to bring in more money that expected. Scott County Sheriff Rick Walter and county commissioners discussed revenue received from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement during the regular county commission meeting Tuesday...

Trevor Irwin used a 5-iron to score an ace on hole No. 12 at Cape Jaycee Municipal Golf Course. The hole was playing 169 yards. Shayn Maybury witnessed the shot. Jason Rodgers used an 8-iron to record a hole-in-one on hole No. 8 at Cape Jaycee Municipal Golf Course...

Jackson avenged an earlier loss with a 1-0 win over Notre Dame

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

ORAN, Mo. -- Chaffee senior Hannah Bedwell came up clutch right when the Reds Devils needed it Wednesday. Bedwell kicked off a fifth-inning rally by hitting a shot to left field to score Sierra Miller from second before crossing the plate herself for the game winner in what ended up being a 5-1 victory over Van Buren in a Class 1 District 1 quarterfinal softball game...

Central fell into an early hole and lost to Sikeston 9-3

North- and southbound Interstate 55 in Cape Girardeau County will be reduced to one lane Wednesday and Oct. 14 while Missouri Department of Transportation crews perform routine bridge repairs. The bridge is at Route AB and spans the Diversion Channel. ...

Route OO in Cape Girardeau County will be reduced to one lane Wednesday while Missouri Department of Transportation crews perform routine bridge repairs. The bridge, over the Whitewater River, is between County Road 379 and County Road 365. Weather permitting, work will be performed from 7 a.m. 3 p.m. The work zone will be marked with signs. Motorists are urged to use caution while traveling near the area. For more information, contact MoDOT's Customer Service Center at 888-275-6636...

SIKESTON, Mo. -- Work to replace the Route DD bridge over Little River Drainage Ditch No. 36 in Scott County is expected to begin Nov. 1, weather permitting. The road will remain closed from Route Y to Route Z as construction continues. Completion is anticipated in late December. ...

Route A in Cape Girardeau County will be reduced to one lane on Tuesday while Missouri Department of Transportation crews perform routine bridge repairs. The bridge is between Highway 74 and County Road 234. Weather permitting, work will be performed from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. The work zone will be marked with signs. Motorists are urged to use caution while traveling near the area. For more information, contact MoDOT's Customer Service Center at 888-275-6636...

ADVANCE, Mo. -- Wesbecher Construction has put the finishing touches on the new Advance Cross Trails Medical/Dental Center in the middle of downtown Advance. The new facility will be open for patients Monday, one year and two months after the ground-breaking. Between governmental red tape and initial wet weather during construction, observers were wondering if the new building would ever be completed...

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

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."...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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.

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...

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."...

The ceremonial grand opening of the new Wal-Mart store here will be scheduled later, but the store at Silver Springs Road and Route K opens for business at 9 a.m.; the new 80,000-square-foot retail outlet replaces the Wal-Mart at Kingshighway and Route K...

CAIRO, Ill. -- Lonis Elizabeth Dillworth, 91, of Cairo died Wednesday, Oct. 6, 2010, at Daystar Care Center. Visitation will be from 11 a.m. to service time Monday at Crain Funeral Home in Ullin, Ill. The funeral will be at noon Monday at the funeral home, with the Rev. Scott Kelley officiating. Burial will be in Green Lawn Memorial Gardens in Villa Ridge, Ill...

Carole Hirsch Folwell, 69, of Cape Girardeau died Thursday, Oct. 7, 2010, at Ratliff Care Center in Cape Girardeau. She was born July 18, 1941, in Cape Girardeau, daughter of Ralph L. and Laverne Moore Hirsch. She and John D. Folwell were married in August 1968 in Alton, Ill...

A new $270 million medical center planned in Poplar Bluff isn't expected to take patients away from Cape Girardeau's hospitals. The Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center is seeking state approval to build a new 300-bed facility at the junction of U.S. 60 and 67. The new facility, part of the Eight Points development in Poplar Bluff, is planned to open in early 2014...

The Cape Girardeau Firefighters Association formally endorsed the Cape Girardeau casino project in a news release Friday, saying it will encourage its members to vote for gaming on the Nov. 2 ballot. The association is made up of more than 50 firefighters from Cape Girardeau...

The University Fight Tour kicked off a 12-city mixed martial arts tournament at the Show Me Center on Saturday, with fighters from some of the largest gyms in the country. Fans said they were there thrilled with the opportunity to see some big names in the world of professional mixed martial arts and the Ultimate Fighting Championship in Cape Girardeau...

Three challengers and a 14-year incumbent will face off four times in the next eight days in a series of highly anticipated debates, each hoping to capture the political prize of Missouri's 8th district congressional seat for the U.S. House of Representatives...

Old-time paddle-wheelers chug through the dark water of the Upper Mississippi River while recreational gamblers play blackjack, dice and roulette "in the spirit of the roughnecks and rogues who ruled the river" more than a century ago. It's a quaint picture the denizens of Dubuque, Iowa, painted in an April 1989 New York Times article published the day after Gov. Terry Branstad signed into law a bill that would make Iowa the first state to launch riverboat gambling...

German Shepherd Nikita Galadriel of Crooked Creek rests in the pasture surrounded by the hillsides of Bollinger County ablaze in late afternoon sunshine.

Bailey loves birthdays and Strawberry cupcakes.

The distant hillside is ablaze in fall color.

The Maple trees seem to glow in the afternoon sunshine in the foreground while the hillside in the background shows it's many colors as well.

The Missouri SAFE (Save America's Free Enterprise) Trust, the political action committee of the National Federation of Independent Business, has endorsed Donna Lichtenegger for the 157th District seat in the Missouri House of Representatives. In a news release announcing the endorsement, director Brad Jones said Lichtenegger has a clear understanding of the needs of small-business owners and will work to provide the tools small-business owners need...

A 72-year-old Daisy man was found dead Saturday in a field near his tractor. Cape Girardeau County Coroner John Clifton said the man was found by passers-by and that the death has been ruled accidental. The cause of death has not been released, pending notification of family members, he said...

A Cape Girardeau man injured in a domestic dispute Thursday night returned to the scene for a rematch with his victim after being released from a hospital, according to police reports. Sola Depree Jr., 48, was charged Friday with two counts of felony domestic assault connected to two separate incidents Thursday evening at his home on South Louisiana Street...

Southeast Missouri State had plenty of chances to administer a knockout blow. The Redhawks failed to deliver despite dominating Tennessee State statistically -- yet they lived to tell about it as their remarkable football season continued. Southeast survived a big rally by the visiting Tigers to hold on for a 19-17 victory Saturday night...

Valerie Nichole Gibbons and Daniel Shane Jackson exchanged vows June 12, 2010, at St. Augustine Church in Kelso, Mo. The Rev. Oliver Clavin performed the ceremony. Organist was Hope Essner of Kelso. Vocalists were Renee Reinagel of Kelso and Donna Hess of Chaffee, Mo...

Amy Michelle Pohlman and Adam Paul Thomas were married May 1, 2010, at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Jackson. The Rev. Roger Steinbrueck performed the ceremony. Organist was Matt Palisch of Jackson. Soloists were Carrie Leonard of Grain Valley, Mo., sister of the groom, and Laura Kilpatrick of Independence, Mo., aunt of the groom...

Cheryl Deberry and Tyrone Deberry of Cape Girardeau announce the engagement of their daughter, Ashley Cherrelle Minor, to Jay Kirk Shirrell. He is the son of Marvin Shirrell and Linda Shirrell of Cape Girardeau. Minor is a 2010 graduate of Central High School, and plans to attend LPN school. She is a certified nurse assistant...

Mark and Sabrina Rightnowar of Jackson and Edwin and Shari Irizarry of Ketchikan, Alaska, announce the engagement of their daughter, Savanna Layne Irizarry, to Michael Charles Irey. He is the son of Roger Irey and Kimberly Turnbough of Scott City. Irizarry is a 2005 graduate of Eagle Ridge Christian School. ...

Kenneth and Ann Green of Cape Girardeau announce the engagement of their daughter, Kelley Green, to Jacob Rogers, both of Columbia, Mo. He is the son of Mike and Kathi Rogers of Slater, Mo. Green is a 2000 graduate of Central High School. She received a bachelor's degree in elementary education in 2004, and a master's degree in curriculum and instruction in 2005, both from the University of Missouri-Columbia. She is a third grade teacher with Columbia Public Schools...

Conley and Dee Laster of Scott City announce the engagement of their daughter, Amber Nicole Laster of Kelso, Mo., to Robert Glenn Gill Jr. of Cape Girardeau. He is the son of Glenn and Marie Gill of Portageville, Mo. Laster is a 2001 graduate of Kelly High School. She received a bachelor's degree in elementary education from Southeast Missouri State University in 2006. She is a third grade teacher at Scott County Central...

Mr. and Mrs. Virgil Chirnside of Cape Girardeau celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary with a family dinner Sept. 30, 2010, in St. Louis. Hosts were their children. Chirnside and Joyce Covington were married Sept. 30, 1950, in Jefferson City, Mo., by Dr. Heaton. Their attendants were Anne Covington Koch and Donald Chirnside...

Bobby C. and Jean Lincoln of Cape Girardeau celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary with a dinner at their home Oct. 9, 2010. Hosts were their children. The Lincolns were married Oct. 9, 1950, in Piggott, Ark. They have three children, Carol (Robert) Skowbo of Cape Girardeau, Tammie (Larry) Koenig of Jackson, and David (Trudy) Lincoln of Tupelo, Miss. The couple has four grandchildren, Kara Lincoln of New Orleans, La., Molly Lincoln of Jackson, Miss., Andrew and Austin Koenig of Jackson, Mo...

Robert D. and Margaret Nix of Jackson observed their 50th wedding anniversary March 11, 2010, at First Church of God in Cape Girardeau. Their children and grandchildren hosted the surprise dinner celebration. The couple was married March 11, 1960, at the Assembly of God Church in Advance, Mo., by the Rev. Frank Ivie...

The Rev. Mark K. Rogers of the Scriptural Evangelical Lutheran Church in Cape Girardeau hasn't been on the job long as head pastor, but his goal for the church is clear: to get to know the people and to serve them. After a short time, Rogers describes his church as being formed by dedicated Christians who saw their church body departing from the word of God. Rogers hopes to help the church members continue their spiritual journey and reach out to the community...

Jack is a 3 1/2-year-old Great Pyrenees. He is calm and friendly, has been leash trained and is heart worm negative. For more information, contact the Humane Society at 334-5837. ...

Dolly is a 1 1/2-year-old declawed gray-and-white cat. She loves people but would like to be the only cat. Dolly is up-to-date on shots and is spayed. For more information, contact Safe Harbor at 243-9823. ...

Cape Girardeau residents Steven and Lori Peel cannot thank their neighbor Jason Crombie enough for his heroic actions. Earlier this month while Lori Peel was outside of her home she heard a strange noise come from her garage. When she opened her garage she found that her 2005 Ford Escape had caught on fire. ...

Cape Girardeau resident Patsy Johnson of the John Guild Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution placed third in the nation for her matchstick construction of the Oliver House. The award, which was presented to state regent Donna Nash in Washington, D.C., was given to Johnson at the Southeast District meeting in Cape Girardeau...

The American Legion Post 158 in Jackson installed officers for the 2010 to 2011 year. Front row from left are, Bill Poe, service oofficer; Julius Phillips, chaplain; Gerry Keene, first vice commander; Jim Nelson, historian. ...

The white oak can grow into a massive tree by Midwestern standards. It can live to more than 500 years old and commonly grows to more than 80 feet tall. The wood of the white oak is hard and tight-grained. It is the favored firewood for use in home heating. Other uses include the making of wine barrels, hammer handles and railroad ties...

Cape Girardeau resident Natalie DuBois was recently promoted to specialist in the 1140th Forward Support Engineer Battalion. DuBois has served in the Missouri National Guard for a year. DuBois is the daughter of Pierre and Beckey DuBois of Cape Girardeau. She is a graduate of Jackson High School and is attending Metro Business College...

The mid-term elections are only three weeks away. This year Missouri voters will be voting on several ballot issues -- both state and local. Here is a brief look at the issues Missourians will be facing. n Constitutional Amendment No. 1 would require all county assessors to be elected...

On Saturday, Oct. 2, SADI held our second annual Walk-A-Thon to raise money for the GAPS program. GAPS is the acronym for Giving Autistics' Parents Support. Thanks to the generosity of our community and the wonderful staff at SADI, the GAPS program will have $7,000 more to assist families in 2011. ...

I am writing about Proposition A, the "Let Voters Decide" initiative that is on the Nov. 2 ballot. As a working person, I support this initiative. I feel very strongly that it is important to protect the rights of the voters and taxpayers, and that is what Prop A does. Jackson does not have an earnings tax, but current state laws would allow politicians to impose one. I already pay federal and state taxes. I cannot afford to pay more taxes...

The odds of winning the Powerball Jackpot are 1:195,249,054. To put these odds in a more understandable perspective, consider 195,249,054 pennies laying flat in a line along the centerline of an interstate highway. Interstate 40 extends from Barstow, Calif., eastward to Wilmington, N.C. Incredible to most, this line of 195,249,054 pennies (16 pennies equal 1 foot) would extend eastward from Barstow along I-40 to within a few miles of Winston-Salem, N.C...

HERE'S one thing the people in Fruitland can do to prevent the rock quarry. Write your state and U.S. political officials and complain. The more you write or complain, it will slow it down or stop it. I don't think it's needed because of the children in that school next door to it. There are plenty of areas for Mr. Strack to build a rock quarry besides next to a high school...

By Ray McCarty For years, family businesses have had to plan for inheritance and estate taxes (so called "death taxes") when the owner of the business dies and leaves the business to his or her heirs. Associated Industries of Missouri and other business groups have consistently fought to eliminate these "death taxes" at the state and federal level. But some states have decided to tax these transactions anyway through the use of a "real estate transfer tax."...

The following is the text of the issues that will appear on the November ballot:Constitutional Amendment No. 1 Shall the Missouri Constitution be amended to require the office of county assessor to be an elected position in all counties with a charter form of government, except counties with a population between 600,001-699,999?...

BEIJING -- Awarding the Nobel Peace Prize to an imprisoned Chinese dissident sparked praise from Western governments, brought condemnation from Beijing and is exposing the difficulties fitting a powerful, authoritarian China into the international order...

DEVECSER, Hungary -- The cracking wall of an industrial plant reservoir appeared on the verge of collapse late Saturday, and engineers were working to blunt a possible second wave of the caustic red sludge that has already deluged several towns in western Hungary and killed seven...

Carole Hirsch Folwell, 69, of Cape Girardeau died Thursday, Oct. 7, 2010, at Ratliff Care Center in Cape Girardeau. She was born July 18, 1941, in Cape Girardeau, daughter of Ralph L. and Laverne Moore Hirsch. She and John D. Folwell were married in August 1968 in Alton, Ill...

Leah Anne Qualls, 54, of Scott City died at her home Friday, Oct. 8, 2010. She was born April 10, 1956, at Wyatt, Mo., daughter of Luther C. and Hazel E. Harvey Qualls. Leah Anne is survived by a daughter, Lacey Tollison of Bakersfield, Calif.; a brother, James Qualls of Scott City; two sisters, Sherry Bollinger of Scott City and Mona Settles of Doniphan, Mo...

Harley A. McSpadden, 90, of Jackson passed away Saturday, Oct. 9, 2010, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. He was born July 21, 1920, in Van Buren, Mo., to Moses and Stella Mae Kinnard McSpadden. He and Eula Mae Martin were married March 8, 1942, in Van Buren...

Juanita Pearl Grubb, 75, of Scott City died Oct. 9, 2010, at her home. She was born Sept. 17, 1935, at Truman, Ark., the daughter of James Henry and Samanthy Ida Frost Galloway. She married Hubert Grubb June 17, 1950, at Caruthersville, Mo. Juanita had work as a deputy and jailer for the Cape Girardeau County Sheriff's Department before she and her husband owned and operated Grubbs Mobile Homes at Benton, Mo...

CAIRO, Ill. -- Lonis Elizabeth Dillworth, 91, of Cairo died Wednesday, Oct. 6, 2010, at Daystar Care Center. Visitation will be from 11 a.m. to service time Monday at Crain Funeral Home in Ullin, Ill. The funeral will be at noon Monday at the funeral home, with the Rev. Scott Kelley officiating. Burial will be in Green Lawn Memorial Gardens in Villa Ridge, Ill...

Daniel Sebaugh, 72, of Daisy died Saturday, Oct. 9, 2010. Arrangements are incomplete at McCombs Funeral Home and Cremation Center in Jackson.

Son to Codie Wayne Hale and Jennifer Lynn Honey of Cape Girardeau, Southeast Missouri Hospital, 4:25 a.m. Friday, Oct. 1, 2010. Name, Cameryn Michael. Weight, 8 pounds, 12 ounces. Ms. Honey is the daughter of Kent Honey of Olive Branch, Ill., and Sherry Honey of Cape Girardeau. She is employed at Brennecke Chevrolet. Hale is the son of David Hale and Aretta and Mike Myers, all of Thebes, Ill. He is employed at ER and R...

According to final figures, Southeast Missouri State University's fall enrollment dropped 169 from last year's record undergraduate enrollment of 8,511. ZALMA, Mo. -- Firefighters from five Bollinger County fire departments are on "pins and needles" for more than six hours, guarding a 500-gallon liquid propane gas tank in the midst of a large house fire on Zalma's main street; many of the town's 118 residents are evacuated from within a two-block radius...

Firefighters responded to the following call Thursday:...

The Jackson Police Department released the following items. Arrests do not imply guilt. Thefts...

The Cape Girardeau Firefighters Association formally endorsed a $125 million proposed casino, saying that the additional tax revenue to the city will provide new resources for public safety. "Just like everybody else, the economic hard times have hit the city pretty hard," said association president Norman Baker. "This is our best chance, maybe our one opportunity in the foreseeable future, to increase that revenue."...

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- A 52-year-old southern Missouri woman who claimed to be a midwife has been charged in the death of an infant. Elaine Marie Diamond has been charged in Greene County court with involuntary manslaughter after a child she had been called in to deliver died. The infant died days later of complications from birth...

The Cape Girardeau Police Department released the following items. Arrests do not imply guilt. Arrests The Cape Girardeau County Sheriff's Department released the following items. Arrests do not imply guilt...

Firefighters responded to the following calls Thursday:...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- To save money on grading, Missouri is trimming its annual standardized tests by erasing exams for writing and solving complex problems. The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education told school administrators last week that the two sections will be suspended until the 2012-2013 school year but urged districts to continue teaching students those topics...

MOUND CITY, Mo. -- The Squaw Creek National Wildlife Refuge near the northwest Missouri town of Mound City is celebrating its 75th year. The St. Joseph News-Press reported that Missouri Western State University's Wildlife Society members will put on programs Saturday to commemorate the anniversary...

O Lord, everything else is worthless compared to the infinite value of knowing you. Amen.