Stories from Monday, April 4, 2011

ST. LOUIS (AP) -- Boy Scouts at a Missouri camp site helped lead searchers to a small plane that had been missing for several days. Madison County, Mo., Coroner Chris Follis on Monday identified the victims. The pilot was 61-year-old Lyle Anthony Fettig of the Milwaukee area. Passengers were 52-year-old Violet Badagliacco of Palos Hills, Ill., and 55-year-old Eun Young Reneau of Eau Claire, Wis...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- The speaker of the Missouri House says he doesn't understand state lawmakers' opposition to the newly redrawn Eighth Congressional District. Rep. Steven Tilley, R-Perryville, said Monday he disagreed with criticism suggesting that including part of Jefferson County in the Eighth District in a proposed congressional redistricting map significantly changes the make up of the district. ...

The Southeast Missouri State softball team wanted to bury Austin Peay after sweeping Saturday's doubleheader. Ashley Bolda had other ideas. Bolda, the only Missouri native on the Austin Peay roster, pitched a four-hitter in her home state as the Governors beat the host Redhawks 2-1 on Sunday to salvage a victory in the three-game series...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Several of Missouri's congressional districts may become more competitive among Republicans and Democrats in the 2012 elections, if the first drafts of Missouri's proposed redistricting maps are any indication. Republicans in control of a state House committee on redistricting released a proposed map last week that reconfigures Missouri's nine existing U.S. ...

When Bob Cerchio was 15 the guy who had the locker next to him in junior high asked him if he wanted to work "on the stage." He's been there ever since. Cerchio, assistant director of Southeast Missouri State University's bustling River Campus, is Southeast's Mr. Entertainment -- the guy responsible for bringing to town everyone from blues legend B.B. King to the zany "Spamalot."...

SIKESTON, Mo. -- A Sikeston man has made his mark at an Australian business. Floyd Presley Jr., owner of Presley Sales and Service, recently completed the installation of a thermal storage unit at a foam plant in Australia. Presley came up with the concept for the units, which cool the chemicals in foam plants, about 30 years ago...

The Zion United Methodist Church - Gordonville is the recipient of a $4,000 Hamilton Grant from the Missouri United Methodist Foundation. Presentation of the grant will be at Zion United Methodist Church, 3652 State Hwy. Z in Gordonville on April 10, 2011 during the 10:30 a.m. service...

Everyone is invited to New McKendree United Methodist Church's fried catfish and chicken tenders dinner Saturday, April 16, from 4:00-7:00 PM. Meal includes catfish and/or chicken tenders, cole slaw, baked beans, spiral potatoes, dessert, and a drink. Adults eat for $8, ages 5-12 $5.00, and kids under 5 eat free. It will be a great night of food and fellowship. We hope to see you there!...

Worldwide-based accounting firm, RGL Forensics, an international forensic accounting, investigation and consulting firm, today announced that it was named one of the fastest growing firms in the nation by Accounting Today. From 2009 to 2010, as the economic downturn was taking its toll on businesses across the country, RGL achieved more than a 10 percent increase in revenue and was listed as the eleventh fastest growing accounting firm in the U.S. by national publication, Accounting Today...

Kevin Govero- Tree Advisory Board Chairman, Tim Gramling, Public Works Director/Board Member, Brock Davis, Parks Division Manager/Board Member, Daniel J.Grimm-Vice-Chairman. (Board Member Robert Harris was not available for picture.) The Cape Girardeau Tree Board planted a Flowering Dog Wood Tree at 12:30 p.m. ...

Most of Cape Girardeau County's fire departments have responded to a large natural cover fire east of Fruitland. The fire has spread to around 50 acres, according to scanner traffic around 4:15 p.m., in the area of 324 Cissus Lane, east of Highway V...

After a freezing cold game in Archie MO, the week before, the SEMO Copperheads caught a break in the weather this past Saturday April 2nd going up against there next door neighboring team the Jackson Apaches. This was a highly anticipated battle as the Copperheads where coming off of a victory in last weeks game against the West Central Warriors bettering there record to a undefeated 2-0, tensions where high because of the rivalry between the two cities being so close to each other, but on that beautiful Saturday only one team would be able to take home bragging rights until the end of the season when they meet again.. ...

Opie "chillin" after doing his favorite activity, chasing a tennis ball.

For weeks now, homes and businesses have been knocked down one by one to make room for Cape Girardeau's new Isle of Capri $125 million casino complex. "I've got memories there a bulldozer can't touch," said Greg Lincoln, who attended the Evening Light Church at 234 Mill St. It's one of the few buildings still standing on the 23-acre Isle of Capri site, which includes more than 60 individual parcels...

Day one -- Sept. 20, 2009 After a poor night's sleep at the Vicksburg Super 8, one of the worst we have ever stayed in, Marla, Danny, Colleen and I had a good breakfast at Cracker Barrel. I, of course, had my favorite pecan pancakes. ...

In this day and age, health care consumers need to be particularly wise in the choice of their health care services as many options are available. In the realm of medical procedures and treatments this is particularly true. Happily, medicine has benefited greatly from advances in technology over the years. These are the advances that have allowed for a wider range of choice for health care consumers with regard to their care...

I am wondering why so few people in this town want to have this bike trail? So many people will be inconvenienced by no longer being able to park in front of their homes. We park in front of our home three to four times a year for the holidays and will no longer have anywhere for our guests to park. It seems that this bike trail is wanted by a few individuals, with no regard for others' input. Let the people have a say...

Almighty God, this season's beauty is yet another example of your masterful creation. Amen.

For a landlocked state, Missouri has a surprising number of scuba divers. TBY chatted with five local scuba divers about how they dived into the hobby -- and why it's a sport anyone can enjoy.

Tuesday night the Southeast Missouri State University 2010-2011 Speakers Series continues with James Lewis, director and senior fellow of the Technology and Public Policy Programs at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). Lewis researches innovation and economic change, Internet policy and cybersecurity, space programs and intelligence reform at CSIS...

Sarah Jane Guebert, 50, of Cape Girardeau, died Friday, April 1, 2011, at Saint Francis Medical Center. She was born Nov. 17, 1960, in Cape Girardeau to Louis H. and Allyne Crites Bodenstein. She and Perry L. Guebert were married Oct. 18, 1997, at Jackson...

Retiring as Cape Girardeau mayor after 17 years, Howard C. Tooke has been appointed by the Cape Girardeau County Commission to seek out federal grants and other funds to enable the county to get its fair share of federal tax money. Liability insurance for the county sheriff's department and jail will cost $18,375 over the next year compared to $6,000 over an annual period that ends Thursday; the County Commission awarded the contract to Ricci Associates of St. Louis...

BLUE SPRINGS, Mo. -- Woodrow James Niswonger, 89, formerly of Jackson and Cape Girardeau, died Saturday, April 2, 2011, at his home. Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at the Ford and Sons Mount Auburn Funeral Home in Cape Girardeau. Funeral will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at the funeral home...

YUMA, Ariz. -- Inspectors have found small, subsurface cracks in two more Southwest Airlines planes that are similar to the cracks that caused a jetliner to lose pressure and make an emergency landing in Arizona, the airline said in a statement Sunday...

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

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

MARBLE HILL, Mo. -- Mildred Lucille Page, 92, of Marble Hill, died April 2, 2011, at Woodland Hills in Marble Hill. She is now playing piano for the Heavenly Choir. She was born on July 6, 1918, in Lutesville, Mo., the daughter of Willard and Minnie Bretz Hastings...

Firefighters responded to the following calls Saturday:...

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The St. Louis Blues insisted that their lopsided win over Columbus on Sunday was nothing personal. Patrik Berglund scored twice and Jaroslav Halak had 23 saves as the Blues dominated for much of the game and won 6-1 on Sunday. St. Louis sent the Blue Jackets off their home ice to a chorus of boos from the few fans left behind from an announced reported crowd of 13,538...

Eastern Kentucky bounced back from a doubleheader loss with an 11-5 victory

Southeast Missouri State director of athletics John Shafer's formula with his major coaching hires is to keep matters confidential, with no search committee, no public interview forums and no comment on potential candidates. Shafer's current search for a women's basketball coach has followed suit. He recently told me the position has attracted plenty of candidates but he hasn't said much else about the situation...

Jackson senior Blake Smith won the long jump at the Missouri Relays on Saturday in Columbia, Mo., setting a new meet record with a leap of 22 feet, 7 inches. Smith's jump, which tied the school record, led several strong performances by Jackson athletes...

ST. LOUIS -- Cardinals manager Tony La Russa batted the pitcher eighth to boost the St. Louis offense. Quickly shedding awful spring numbers, Jaime Garcia needed very little help. The 24-year-old left-hander looked nothing like the kid saddled with a 6.26 spring ERA, throwing a four-hitter with a career-best nine strikeouts as St. Louis avoided a season-opening sweep at home with a 2-0 victory over the San Diego Padres on Sunday...

New stores, restaurant relocations and a remodel are all planned this spring inside West Park Mall. rue21, which offers some of the newest emerging fashion trends in apparel and accessories for young women and men with 16 other stores in Missouri, opened Thursday at West Park Mall. ...

ST. LOUIS -- Taxpayers picked up the $35,050 tab for Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder to spend at least 329 nights at hotels in St. Louis and St. Louis County since 2006, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported Sunday...

James Cain, who previously operated the restaurant Cain in downtown Cape Girardeau, is now working as executive chef at Dalhousie Golf Club. Cain attended the International Culinary School at the Art Institute of Chicago, graduating in 2007 with an associates degree in culinary arts. ...

Route OO in Cape Girardeau County between Route F and Route Z will be closed today while Missouri Department of Transportation crews replace a pipe under the roadway. Weather permitting, the work will be done from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. The work zone will be marked with signs. For more information, contact MoDOt's Customer Service Center at 888-275-6636...

Dexter, Mo. -- Highway 25 in Stoddard County from U.S. Business 60 to Stoddard Street will be reduced to one lane with a 16-foot width restriction, while Missouri Department of Transportation crews perform pavement repair. Weather permitting, work will be done today through Wednesday, 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...

While 34 percent of American adults are battling obesity and its ensuing diseases, many seniors are facing another food-related problem: malnutrition. The American Journal of Nursing reported in 2005 that an estimated 20 to 60 percent of elderly home-care patients are malnourished or will be soon; the estimate rises to 85 percent in nursing homes. ...

Betty Spalding, principal at St. Joseph School in Scott City, likes being in control of her surroundings. But, when an earthquake strikes, like the minor one she experienced in Southeast Missouri in the late 1980s, she knows she has to give that up and it's scary, she said...

The Rev. Deborah Young has met scores of homeless children in her time in ministry to the poor, but the face she just can't seem to shake is of the 6-year-old boy who begged to stay. "This mother had six children, and they were living in a van and this particular child had been in the van for two weeks," said Young, director of New Life Evangelical Ministry Homeless Outreach Center and Thrift Store at 707 Broadway. ...

Delta Junior & Senior High School Third Quarter A Honor Roll 7th grade: Erin Bond, Jamie Hodge, Kelsi Kinder, Katie Nance, Lydia Reitzel, Kaitlyn Shallow, Austin White 8th grade: Caleb Amelunke, Ciara Coomer, Jesse Criddle, Danielle Helderman, Shantel Hendrix, Daniel Hester, Amy Russell...

St. Mary Cathedral School Third Quarter A Honor Roll 4th grade: Salma Abuhamda, Dawson Compas, Lilly Edwards, Paige Emmenderfer, Rachel Essner, Sierra Greaser, Melanie Hayden, William Parsons, Laura Santana, Sarah Smith, Cassidy Swain, Abby Wilson. 5th grade: Lauren Boswell, Cole Emmenderfer, Caleb Farrow, Allie Givens, Jordan Goodson, McKenzie Goodson, Stephen Gullette, Vincent Landewee, Justin Laurentius, Ashley Pittman, Zoe Pleimann, Cole Renner, Samantha Snyder, Jayna Timpe, Hadeel Wadi, Olivia Williams, Kalli Yarbro.. ...

Oran Elementary School Third Quarter 3rd grade: Paige Bradley, Heather Gosche, Tristin Schlosser, Jada Tyler, Leah Urhahn, Lyndsi Bryant, Kenna Graviett, Kaiden Massey, Caden White, Todd Priggel. 4th grade: Megan Henson, Alexandria Hornback, Lilly Beth Jones, Laney Koch, Claire Ramsey, Calen Read, Layne Robinson, Gavin Roslen, Jacob Shoemaker, Sam Smith, Katelyn Streeter...

Notre Dame Regional High School Third Quarter A Honor Roll 9th grade: Madison Baumgart, Hailey Bedell, Amy Blattel, Collin Boner, Madison Buelow, Abigail Charlier, Colleen Compas, Derek Dittlinger, Christopher Dixon, Benjamin Dohogne, Michelle Dominguez-Salinas, Mitzi Dominguez-Salinas, Rebecca Earley, Samantha Easley, Conner Elfrink, Taylor Feeney, Gretta Goodin, Brock Hammers, Matthew Hayes, Rachel Hearnes, Caleb Heisserer, Andrew Hobeck, Ross James, Joshua Jansen, Reagan Kapp, Collin Kramer, Sara Long, Halle Lynch, Jacob Meadors, Michael Nelson, Matthew Parker, Emma Pickett, Ethan Pobst, Karsen Powers, Zachary Raines, Abby Ritter, Anthony Rosati, Madeline Rosenquist, Mollie Ross, Claire Schafer, Megan Schmittzehe, Katherine Sellers, Anna Marie Siebert, Christen Siebert, Griffin Siebert, Adele Soutar, Sarah Stroup, Megan Thompson, Dorothy Turner, Anna Unterreiner, Benjamin Wedemeier, Kaitlin Welter, Matthew Westrich, Andrea Younghouse.. ...

In the fall of 1993, Dr. Frank Nickell gathered a small group together at the Center for Regional History with the purpose of organizing the Civil War Roundtable. There are many similar groups throughout the country -- folks who gather together to study the Civil War and generate interest in local war sites and history. ...