Stories from Wednesday, November 2, 2011

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) -- Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon has filled vacancies on the governing boards of four state universities. Nixon appointed Democrat Peter Hofherr and Republican Stephen Hoven to the Missouri State University board. Hofherr was the director for the state Department of Agriculture from 2003 to 2005. Hoven is the corporate vice president of public affairs for SSM Health Care in St. Louis...

Make and model: 1968 Dodge Charger "General Lee" Owner(s): Brian Hahs Owner's hometown: Jackson, MO Special features: 1968 Dodge Charger "General Lee" replica. 440 cu. in. (7.2L) 4 bbl V8. A727 3 speed automatic. It does have the "Dixie" horn. The trunk lid is signed by the original cast members...

The salad bars at St. Louis-based grocery store chain Schnucks have been at the center of an E. coli investigation in St. Louis, where 26 individuals have confirmed cases. Although no illnesses have been reported in Cape Girardeau, Schnucks has voluntarily removed items in question from its salad bars company wide as a proactive measure, said Schnucks spokeswoman Lori Willis...

U.S. Senate candidate John Brunner made a stop in Cape Girardeau Tuesday morning as part of a tour to see manufacturing in Missouri. Brunner and two campaign staff members spent the morning touring Horizon Screen Printing in Cape Girardeau with the business' owner Drew Reeves...

Some students may not care about their grades. They'll skimp on an assignment, turning in the minimum required or sometimes nothing at all. But that just won't fly at Jackson's Russell Hawkins Junior High School. Eighth- and ninth-graders there can't receive a zero, based on a method adopted by the school as part of the ongoing implementation of Professional Learning Communities in the Jackson School District...

A trailer that became unhitched caused a fracas on Interstate 55 Tuesday afternoon that shut down traffic and sent one person to the hospital. Around 5 p.m., a vehicle towing a trailer lost control when the trailer became unhitched and overturned, blocking traffic on northbound Interstate 55 near the 86 mile marker in Scott County, Scott County Sheriff Rick Walter said...

The Jackson boys soccer team defeated rival Central 4-0 in a Class 3 District 1 semifinal Tuesday.

Babycakes is a lovable Dotson that never meets a stranger. owners: Fred and Sherry Lange of Scott City Mo Babycakes favorite activity is to cuddle and give doggie kisses.

A pumpkin patch drive is a sure sign of Fall time leading to the home of Joann Lester, Benton Mo

CHICAGO -- A Chicago federal court will begin hearing an appeal today from an Illinois atheist who wants a Bald Knob Cross booster organization to return a state grant it received to restore the 11-story cross. The 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals will take up Rob Sherman's appeal involving the $20,000 grant used to rehabilitate the Bald Knob Cross of Peace, located in Alto Pass, Ill...

MARBLE HILL, Mo. -- The Bollinger County Sheriff is waiting for the county prosecuting attorney's blessing and autopsy results before making an arrest in connection to the pit bull that was allegedly dragged and burned Oct. 21. Sheriff Leo McElrath said his department has conducted two interviews after receiving promising leads from locals and is waiting on the go-ahead from Bollinger County Prosecuting Attorney Stephen Gray to make any arrests...

CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates of Southeast Missouri, Inc.) will attend the Second Annual Children's Fair hosted by the Children's Coalition Saturday, November 5th at St. Andrew's Church in Cape Girardeau. CASA will help raise awareness on foster care and adoption...

The former federal building in Cape Girardeau will go back on the auction block by the end of next week, now that three of the top bidders in an online auction have backed away from their offers to buy the building at 339 Broadway.

US Bank donated $1200 to Southeast Missouri Food Bank, Inc. US Bancorp Foundation donates to organizations that offer support to programs that improve the educational and economic opportunities of low and moderate income families. Pictured from the left are Jim Ham, Commercial Lender with US Bank, Amanda Winschel, Children's Program Manager with SEMO Food Bank, and Steve Green, Market President of US Bank...

Miranda and her mommy Tasha are ready for some Halloween fun in Scott City Mo

Two Perryville Area Career and Technology Center local Skills USA chapters recently preformed a Community Betterment Project. They visited Independence Court Residential Living Center in Perryville and assisted Activities Director Kathy French with the morning and afternoon residents playing washers and a new bingo game called Pokeno. ...

Congratulations to Steve Popp! He shot a hole-in-one Wednesday, November 2,on hole #8 at Bent Creek Golf Course in Jackson, MO. Steve used a 5-Iron from 156 yards out.

Made a trip to the newly renovated Bald Knob Cross yesterday. Beautiful day, beautiful drive, inspirational! Wish everyone could make a trip there.

The Cape Girardeau County Commission isn't the only government agency anxious to see what the future holds for the former federal building -- some city officials are keeping a close eye out, too. A county purchase of the building on Broadway would free up the Common Pleas Courthouse after county offices are relocated from one building to the other. Cape Girardeau officials have held early talks about the future of the courthouse and nearby annex building...

Today is Wednesday, Nov. 2, the 306th day of 2011. There are 59 days left in the year. Today's Highlight in History: On Nov. 2, 1861, during the Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln relieved Maj. Gen. John C. Fremont of his command of the Army's Department of the West based in St. Louis, following Fremont's unauthorized efforts to emancipate slaves in Missouri...

Like an angry professor, President Obama continues to lecture mainstream Americans while scolding the rich and dictating his will upon a Republican Congress. In 2008 he told fundraisers that Americans were just a frustrated group of people needing to cling to their Bibles and guns...

Over the past month many of us have been wearing red and supporting the St. Louis Cardinals on their way to a World Series Championship. But there's another team wearing red that also deserves our support. The Southeast Missouri State University football team is coming off a tough loss last week to UT Martin. ...

THOSE guys must really rake in the dough. Twenty-five of the 100 highest paid CEOs made more money than their employers paid in taxes. THAT'S harsh. The federal government hasn't done anything right since 1988, according to Ron Paul. WHILE the Republicans are having their temper tantrums, right or wrong, Obama is trying to move forward and help the American people...

O Lord God, may we resist evil, standing firm in our faith in you. Amen.

ATHENS, Greece -- The Greek government teetered and markets around the world plunged Tuesday after the prime minister's decision to put a European debt deal up for a public vote. As governing Socialist party lawmakers in Athens revolted and European leaders watched anxiously, the ripples reached Wall Street, where investors unloaded stocks and euros because of fear that the Greek turmoil would unleash protracted financial chaos across the globe...

OMAHA, Neb. -- For the first time in two years, the overall Business Conditions Index for a nine-state region of the Midwest and Plains took a negative turn. Thursday's report on the survey of supply managers and executives says the index dropped to 49.9 in October, compared with 52.2 in September...

It just happened to work out that all of the recipes for today are desserts. Occasionally there is a theme for this column, and today is one of those days. Some of these desserts have a flavor of fall, others are great all year. I hope you enjoy this extra sweet variety for you today...

WASHINGTON -- Republican presidential candidate Herman Cain denied on Tuesday that he's changing his story as he struggles to contain the fallout from sexual harassment allegations that could threaten his recently surging campaign. He also suggested his race could be a factor in the storm...

WASHINGTON -- Antwain Black was facing a few more years in Leavenworth for dealing crack. But on Tuesday, he was on his way home to Illinois, a free man. Black, 36, was among the first of potentially thousands of inmates who are being released early from federal prison because of an easing of the harsh penalties for crack that were enacted in the 1980s, when the drug was a terrifying new phenomenon in America's cities...

SERHANIYEH, Lebanon -- Syria has planted land mines along parts of its border with Lebanon, further sealing itself off from the world and showing just how deeply shaken Bashar Assad's regime has become since an uprising began nearly eight months ago...

JERUSALEM -- Israel has authorized its military to take all necessary steps to stop rocket fire from Gaza, including a ground operation, an Israeli military official said Tuesday, as Egypt worked on a truce and said Israel had agreed to delay stepping up its response...

WASHINGTON -- For a world already weary of weather catastrophes, the latest warning from top climate scientists paints a grim future: More floods, more heat waves, more droughts and greater costs to deal with them. A draft summary of an international scientific report obtained by The Associated Press says the extremes caused by global warming could eventually grow so severe that some locations become "increasingly marginal as places to live."...

Joe Wayne Smith, 66, of Scott City died suddenly Tuesday, Nov. 1, 2011, at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. He was born Nov. 2, 1944, in Cape Girardeau, to Fred Ivan and Vera Held Smith. He married Joyce Marie Wylder on July 28, 1965, in Scott City...

PATTON, Mo. -- Rosemary Jones, 69, of Patton passed away Monday, Oct. 31, 2011, at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. She was born April 30, 1942, daughter of Jacob Leslie and Lucille Irene McKean Sibole. She and Raymond "Frank" Jones were married Sept. 7, 1985...

CHAFFEE, Mo. -- Pauline Tallent McMichael, 79, of Chaffee passed away Monday, Oct. 31, 2011, at Southeast Hospital in Cape Girardeau. She was born Aug. 24, 1932, in Scopus, Mo., daughter of Robert and Tora Avis Seabaugh Tallent. She married Lee Daniel McMichael, who passed away Dec. 28, 1999...

JONESBORO, Ill. -- Jeffery Dale Emrick, 58, of rural Jonesboro died Sunday, Oct. 30, 2011, at his home. A memorial visitation will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Rendleman and Hileman Funeral Home in Anna, Ill. Private burial will be in Jonesboro Cemetery...

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- Ruben L. Weber, 83, of Perryville died Tuesday, Nov. 1, 2011, at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. He was a U.S. Army veteran of the Korean conflict. Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday and 6:30 to 8:30 a.m. Friday at Young and Sons Funeral Home...

Daughter to David Michael and Angela Dawn Smith of Oran, Mo., Saint Francis Medical Center, 2:31 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 19, 2011. Name, Olivia Dawn. Weight, 8 pounds, 3 ounces. Third child, first daughter. Mrs. Smith is the former Angela Scott, daughter of Lewis and Pat Scott of Risco, Mo. She is a counselor at Oran High School. Smith is the son of Robert and Barbara Smith of Chaffee, Mo. He is a service technician with Halter Gas Co...

MOUNDS, Ill. -- Mildred Jean Calvert, 82, of Mounds died Tuesday, Nov. 1, 2011, at her home. Friends may call from 9 a.m. until time of service Friday at First Baptist Church in Mounds. A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. Friday at the church, with the Rev. Larry Buckles officiating. Burial will be private...

The congregation of Trinity Lutheran Church observes special Reformation Day services; Dr. Ronald Feuerhahn, assistant professor in the department of historical theology at Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, is the festival speaker. All Saints Day is observed with Holy Communion at worship services celebrated at St. Mark Lutheran Church; the Rev. William West of De Soto, Mo., is special guest and celebrant...

Marine Master Sgt. Danny R. Welker, 57, passed away Saturday, Oct. 15, 2011, at his home in Cantonment, Fla. Danny was retired from the United States Marine Corps after a career spanning three decades. He has served in the Philippines, Japan, England, and during the Gulf War he served in Somalia and Mogadishu. During much of his career with the Marines he was stationed in California at Twentynine Palms and Camp Pendleton. He was also stationed at Camp Lejeune, N.C...

The Cape Girardeau Police Department released the following items. Arrests do not imply guilt. Arrests The Department of Public Safety released the following items. Arrests do not imply guilt. Theft...

Firefighters responded to the following calls Monday:...

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

When city officials in San Jose, Calif., cut back on tending the Municipal Rose Garden because of budget troubles, area residents watched as the flowers struggled and the weeds flourished. After several seasons of neglect, local rose enthusiasts Beverly Rose Hopper and Terry Reilly stepped in to save the garden, which dates to 1932...

SIKESTON, Mo. -- The investigation continues into a Monday night shooting in Sikeston. Tuesday morning, law enforcement officials with the Sikeston Department of Public Safety had identified and were seeking a suspect in an incident that left one injured...

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- For the second time in less than a week, authorities found evidence of suspected methamphetamine production in a Poplar Bluff home after officers attempted to check on the welfare of the children living there. Detective Corey Mitchell and a Missouri Children's Division worker were attempting to check on the welfare of the two children living at a home in the city, according to chief Danny Whiteley...

ULLIN, Ill. -- The Illinois State Police captain who presided over Alexander, Union and Massac counties for nearly seven years retired Monday. Illinois State Police District 22 Commander Capt. Harry Masse retired from the state police after being on the job nearly 27 years...

The Southeast Missouri State women's soccer team won two of the three Ohio Valley Conference weekly awards Tuesday. Senior forward Jessie Crabtree was named OVC offensive player of the week, while sophomore Ashton Aubuchon won OVC goalkeeper of the week...

Jackson High School graduate Grant Ressel likely will miss his second consecutive game for the University of Missouri football team because of a hip flexor injury.

NEW YORK -- Clayton Kershaw, Matt Kemp and Andre Ethier became the first trio of Los Angeles Dodgers to win NL Gold Gloves in the same year, and Adrian Gonzalez, Dustin Pedroia and Jacoby Ellsbury became the first three Red Sox in 32 seasons to win the AL honor together...

ANNA, Ill. -- Dominick "Wood Man" Saittia, 90, of Anna died Tuesday, Nov. 1, 2011, at Union County Hospital. Crain Funeral Home in Anna is in charge of arrangements.

Alvin R. Bess, 64, of Cape Girardeau died Saturday, Oct. 29, 2011, while vacationing in Gulf Shores. Ala. He was born July 16, 1947, in Cape Girardeau, to Ernest Virgil and Della Margaret James Bess. He and Judy Cope were married Jan. 22, 1972, at Red Star Baptist Church...

Construction of Veterans Memorial Drive Phase 1 in Cape Girardeau County began early Tuesday. County Road 618/620 is closed north of the Bainbridge Road intersection and west of Cloverdale Ranch Road. Detour signs are installed to the east of the project along Route W. Bainbridge Road west of South Old Orchard Road is closed due to reconstruction...

SIKESTON, Mo. -- The Missouri Department of Transportation will hold an open-house community briefing from 4 to 6 p.m. Tuesday, to discuss upcoming improvements to the Highway 91 bridge over Drainage Ditch 2 in Scott County. The briefing will be held at MoDOT's District Office in Sikeston, 2675 N. ...

SIKESTON, Mo. -- The monthly meeting of the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission will be held today at the Black River Coliseum in Poplar Bluff, Mo. The meeting will begin at 10:30 a.m. and is open to the public. The commission is a six-member, bipartisan board that governs the Missouri Department of Transportation. ...

A very special Veterans Day is fast approaching. After four years of fighting, in 1918 an armistice was agreed on and World War I ended at 11 a.m. The Treaty of Versailles was not signed until 1919, so President Woodrow Wilson set aside Nov. 11, 1919, as Armistice Day, later to be renamed Veterans Day by President Dwight Eisenhower. ...

NEW YORK -- It was a hair-raising Halloween for Heidi Klum and husband Seal, who donned matching monkey costumes for Klum's New York party Monday at the Dream Downtown hotel. Covered head-to-toe in fur, Klum said she was the "link between man and ape." And though it took the supermodel a grueling six hours to get ready, she was relatively comfortable in the makeup and prosthetics, saying at least she didn't have to wear heels...

MINER, Mo. -- A house fire in Scott County led to a three-car accident on Interstate 55 Monday night north of Miner. Three area fire departments including Scott County Rural Fire Department and the Miner Police Department responded shortly after 8 p.m. to a fire on Sandywood Road near the Sikeston Drag Strip, according to Scott County Sheriff's Department personnel. No injuries were reported...