Stories from Wednesday, November 9, 2011

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) -- Defying Mississippi's conservative reputation, women voters appeared to lead the charge against a ballot measure that sought to ban abortion and could've made some birth control illegal and deterred doctors from doing in vitro fertilization...

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. -- Penn State trustees fired football coach Joe Paterno and university president Graham Spanier amid the growing furor over how the school handled sex abuse allegations against an assistant coach.

Ellen Dillon took the next step in her Cape Girardeau City Council Ward 3 campaign Tuesday, turning in the more than 50 signatures required to run. City Clerk Gayle Conrad confirmed that Dillon, a Southeast Missouri State University speech and communications instructor, turned in a petition with 52 signatures from those who live in the central-city ward. ...

One insect problem on trees and shrubs that seems to go unnoticed until it is almost too late is scale. It goes unnoticed because the signs are not always evident during the growing season. So fall and winter is a good time to check plants for scale...

The Jackson boys soccer team stuck with powerhouse De Smet Jesuit for most of Tuesday's Class 3 sectional on a night better suited for lounging on the couch by a fire. The Spartans scored in the opening two minutes and made it stand up for a 3-0 victory in miserable conditions...

State officials and leaders from other Missouri youth centers lauded the Girardot Center for Youth after touring the facility for troubled teens Tuesday afternoon. The tour came as part of the Division of Youth Services Program Visits and Advisory Board meeting taking place in Cape Girardeau Tuesday and today...

SIKESTON, Mo. -- Paying county taxes online should cost just a bit less this year for tech-savvy area residents. "A few of us [county collectors] went with a new company called Federal Payments," Scott County Collector Mark Hensley said. "The rates for the taxpayer are more affordable."...

What a tangled web the River City Players weave in their current production, "First Things First."

The board members of Public Water Supply District No. 5 heard opposition Tuesday to details of a settlement to satisfy claims of construction damage to residents' property. The district voted to incorporate in 2001 and it has taken more than 10 years to realize its original plan of supplying public water lines to residents of the rural Egypt Mills community near Nell Holcomb School District...

Fall colors reflected in the lake while a sole fisher (heron) could care less. Taken in Cape Girardeau County. This photo is interesting also turned upside down.

A silhouette of a blue heron set against haze at Cypress Lake near Burfordville.

A dogwood tree's contribution to the fall color spectrum in Cape Girardeau County in October 2011.

Fall colors sprinkled into a hillside, contrasted with evergreen cedar.

Buddies/kindred spirits looking for a handout in the morning frost at an exotic animal farm near Burfordville.

A beautiful camel cuts a striking profile. I thought its coat had a unique pattern.

White sheets draped over forms seem to actually move near Burfordville.

Early morning mist over a lake in Cape Girardeau County in October 2011.

The Southeast Missouri Food Bank has teamed up with United Way's GRACES Women's Council to provide 47 children and their families with food every weekend. Children at Jefferson and Clippard Elementary Schools in the Cape Girardeau School District will receive food through the BackPacks For Friday program. During the 2011-2012 school year we are expanding this much needed service to Clippard Elementary School...

McDonald's of Jackson recently hosted a DisAbility Awareness Night on Monday, Oct. 3, 2011. Melaina's Magical Playland received a percentage of profits from sales totaling more than $1600. This night was part of the Jackson R-2 Schools DisAbility Awareness Week. ...

Operations will continue at a quarry near Saxony Lutheran High School until a Cole County Circuit Court-ordered hearing is held by the state on the quarry's permit request. Judge Daniel Green's order granted summary judgment in the case in favor of Saxony and Save Our Children's Health Inc. ...

Southeast SportsCare partnered with the Jackson High School fall sports teams to create "Champions Against Cancer Week," which was held Sept. 26 -- 30, to raise money for the fight against cancer and help fund the school's fall sports programs. Nearly $3,500 was raised from the sale of "Champions Against Cancer" t-shirts and other fundraisers. ...

George Starkey of Fredericktown, Mo., guides his new recruits for their second time in front of the plow at an antique plowing event held in East Cape Girardeau, Ill.

Earl Amelunke of Gordonville plows with his "matched pair" mules at an antique plowing event held near East Cape Girardeau, Ill. He has been working his team for over four years.

Matt King of Farmington, Mo., gives his four-horse team their turn behind rein and harness. Horse and mule-drawn plows were seen turning over the fertile, black soil, showcasing their prize equine teams at an antique plowing event held in East Cape Girardeau, Ill...

Darold Mills of Patton, Mo., proudly introduces his team to visitors attending an antique plowing event held near East Cape Girardeau, Ill., in October. Mills said that once a team learns to work together, they can plow up to two acres per hour.

Sidney is 1 year old. She is a sweet girl! Sidney is available for adoption at The Humane Society 573-334-5837. See more pets available at www.semopets.org

Longer-than-expected utility work has delayed the completion of the $1.25 million Bloomfield Road project by about a month, city officials said Tuesday, though they expressed confidence in a new mid-December end date. The city intended to be finished with the road-widening work that's being paid for with voter-approved Transportation Trust Fund dollars by Nov. 16, but the installation of gas, water and electric lines have pushed that date back...

Today is Wednesday, Nov. 9, the 313th day of 2011. There are 52 days left in the year. Today's Highlight in History: On Nov. 9, 1965, the great Northeast blackout occurred as a series of power failures lasting up to 131/2 hours left 30 million people in seven states and part of Canada without electricity...

ST. LOUIS -- Ken Hitchcock's debut as St. Louis Blues coach was a huge success -- even if he had quibbles with his first game behind the bench in nearly two years. "I think far and away the weakest player was me," the 59-year-old Hitchcock said after the Blues beat the Chicago Blackhawks 3-0 on Tuesday night. "I'm going to have to get a little bit further up to speed because it was a playoff atmosphere with a playoff-style game."...

The Southeast Missouri State men's basketball program breathed a collective sigh of relief Tuesday after favorable results of an MRI on its top player. Senior forward Leon Powell injured his left knee during an awkward landing early in Monday's 68-63 exhibition loss to Harding. He played only six minutes...

WASHINGTON -- The Dover military mortuary entrusted with the solemn duty of receiving and caring for America's war dead twice lost body parts of remains shipped home from Afghanistan, the Air Force revealed Tuesday. Three mortuary supervisors have been punished for what the Air Force called "gross mismanagement," but no one was fired in a case reminiscent of the scandalous mishandling and misidentifying of remains at Arlington National Cemetery...

LEOPOLD, Mo. -- Luke Robert Jansen, 86, of Leopold passed away Monday, Nov. 7, 2011, at Woodland Hills Nursing Home. He was born Dec. 3, 1924, in Leopold, son of Gerhard L. and Anna Debrock Jansen. He married Mary Louise Steinnerd on June 28, 1947, at St. John's Catholic Church...

Brittney Dawn Seabaugh, 21, of Jackson died Monday, Nov. 7, 2011, at her home. She was born Jan. 10, 1990, in Cape Girardeau, to Kenny and Dawn Palisch Seabaugh. Brittney was a 2008 graduate of Jackson High School. She was a junior at Southeast Missouri State University majoring in animal science and pre-veterinary medicine. ...

Jack Finis Ellis, 83, of Cape Girardeau died Monday, Nov. 7, 2011, at Saint Francis Medical Center. He was born Jan. 23, 1928, in Advance, Mo., to William and Sadie Seabaugh Ellis. He first married Evelyn McElyea in 1952 in Arkansas. She preceded him Jan. 20, 1994. He and Jewell Estes were married Oct. 4, 1987, in Clay County, Ark. She preceded him in 1997...

MARBLE HILL, Mo. -- Virginia Lucille Miles, 92, of Marble Hill departed this life Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2011, at the age of 92. She was born March 27, 1919, in Christopher, Ill., to Samuel C. and Nola Ruby Jackson Glassford. Virginia and Logan Andrew Miles were married Aug. 26, 1940. He passed away Dec. 3, 1988...

PEKIN, Ill. -- Charles Lowell Hale, 89, of Pekin passed away Monday, Nov. 7, 2011, at his home, with his family by his side. He was born Oct. 15, 1922, in Morrilton, Ark., to James Albert and Ruth Ethel Cunningham Hale. He married Leota Eugenia Colyer of McClure, Ill., on Jan. 1, 1950, in Tamms, Ill. She preceded him in death Oct. 16, 2002, after 52 years of marriage...

FENTON, Mo. -- Michael K. Zimmerman, 54, of Fenton died Saturday, Nov. 5, 2011, at his home. Beloved husband of Phyllis Zimmerman; loving father of Melody and Torie; dear son of Willa and the late Lloyd; dearest brother of Daniel; our dear son-in-law, uncle, cousin and friend to many...

Alberta L. Kunkel, 88, of Cape Girardeau died Monday, Nov. 7, 2011, at Saint Francis Medical Center. She was born June 29, 1923, in Waterloo, Ill., daughter of Fred and Mary Welsch Lang. She is the wife of the late Robert Kunkel; mother of Daniel (Patricia) Kunkel of St. ...

Tracy Michelle Abbott, 44, of Jackson passed away Monday, Nov. 7, 2011, at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau, from injuries sustained in a vehicle accident. She was born Sept. 21, 1967, at Dexter, Mo., daughter of Larry Abbott and Sharon Murphy...

Jim and Caroline Tilghman have purchased Medical Arts Pharmacy Inc., 937 Broadway, from its founder, Kenneth Mehrle; Jim Tilghman went to work for the pharmacy as a part-time delivery man 26 years ago. An agreement between the city of Cape Girardeau and C. ...

When it comes to finding ways to reduce fat and calories, I favor reinventing a classic recipe rather starting from scratch. And many times, that's all it takes. For example, just a little innovation was all that was needed to reinvent an old classic like chicken cordon bleu...

NEW YORK -- Stocks turned higher Tuesday once investors got the news they had been hoping for: Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi promised to resign once a new budget was passed. The Dow Jones industrial average closed up 101 points. Italy became a key focus for investors this week after doubts emerged that the country would go through with a tough package of austerity measures. ...

NEW YORK -- Haven't booked your holiday flight yet? Smart move. The cheapest fares for Thanksgiving and Christmas aren't going to the travelers who booked months in advance. Experts say they'll go to those who can take advantage of some last-minute deals...

NAIROBI, Kenya -- In Africa's remotest jungle, where paved roads and telephones don't exist, a U.S. aid group is installing new high frequency radios to help track the Lord's Resistance Army, a brutal militia that 100 U.S. special forces troops are now helping hunt...

VIENNA -- The U.N. nuclear atomic energy agency said Tuesday for the first time that Iran is suspected of conducting secret experiments whose sole purpose is the development of nuclear arms. The report is the strongest sign yet that Iran seeks to build a nuclear arsenal, despite claims to the contrary. With Israel threatening a military response, the report opens the way for a new confrontation between the West and Iran...

WASHINGTON -- With a Thanksgiving deadline fast approaching, the GOP members of a deficit-reduction supercommittee are pressing a plan to cut the deficit by about $1.5 trillion over the coming decade, showing flexibility on tax revenue increases for the first time while pressing curbs on Medicare spending and a less generous cost-of-living increase for Social Security beneficiaries...

You know you have good friends when they see a cookbook somewhere and bring it home for you. I had this happen to me last week. Debbie and Steve Chapman were in Shawneetown for a meeting at Trinity Lutheran Church and brought me back a copy of the church's cookbook. ...

While there are plenty of areas to criticize government for its inefficiencies, it's nice to highlight areas where legitimate progress is being made. Missouri's Division of Youth Services (DYS) and its Missouri Model is one such example. Tuesday afternoon, as part of the two-day DYS advisory board meeting in Cape Girardeau, board members toured the Echo Community Resource Center and Girardot Center for Youth and Families...

ALL area students from public and private schools should be required to take the National Association of Educational Progress exam. It's the closest thing we have to a national report card. It would allow us to identify student strengths and weaknesses and to do an even better job of educating the leaders of tomorrow...

While the American public is focused on the "Dancing With The Stars" outcome or the Kardashian drama or the NFL schedule, there's a small matter of the failing economy that should put the target on the Congressional supercommittee. The bipartisan group is supposed to be working feverishly toward proposals to save our sagging economy. And their critical deadline is just a week away...

Brogan Davis and Gabriela Vieira combined to set seven Gator Swim Team records in the Gator Great Times Invitational last weekend. Davis lowered two of his own records in the boys 11 and 12 age division in winning the 50-yard backstroke (29.67 seconds) and 100 backstroke (1:02.72)...

The Redhawks still need one win to clinch a berth in the OVC tournament

O Lord Jesus, may we not be anxious about anything but trust in you always. Amen.

WARDELL, Mo. -- A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Dec. 12 for a man charged in a weekend stabbing. Lyndell Butler was arraigned Monday on charges of first-degree assault and armed criminal action. Butler posted a $25,000 bond and was released from custody, according to Missouri Case.net...

Jackson The Jackson Police Department released the following. Arrests do not imply guilt. Arrests Summonses Thefts Miscellaneous Firefighters responded to the following calls Monday:...

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

Cape Girardeau The Cape Girardeau Police Department released the following. Arrests do not imply guilt. Arrests Summonses Burglary Theft Miscellaneous...

SIKESTON, Mo. -- Northbound Interstate 55 from exit 49 to exit 52 in New Madrid County will be reduced to one lane today and Thursday while Missouri Department of Transportation crews make shoulder repairs. Weather permitting, the work will be done from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily. The work zone will be marked with signs...

SIKESTON, Mo. -- Highway 72 in Bollinger County will be reduced to one lane today and Thursday while Missouri Department of Transportation crews make pavement repairs. This section of road is from Highway 51 to one and a half miles west of Highway 51, to the Little Whitewater Creek. Weather permitting, the work will be done from 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily. The work zone will be marked with signs. For more information, contact MoDOT's Customer Service Center at 888-275-6636...

SIKESTON, Mo. -- Highway 34 from U.S. 67 to Route Y in Wayne County will be reduced to one lane Wednesday and Thursday while Missouri Department of Transportation crews perform shoulder repairs. Weather permitting, the work will be done from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. daily. Signs will mark the work zone...

SIKESTON, Mo. -- Westbound U.S. 60 in Butler County will be reduced to one lane today while Missouri Department of Transportation crews perform pavement repairs. This section of road is at the intersection of Route T. Weather permitting, the work will be done from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. The work zone will be marked with signs...

SIKESTON, Mo. -- Northbound Interstate 55 from exit 40 to the Marston, Mo., rest area in New Madrid County will be reduced to one lane Nov. 22 while contractor crews make pavement repairs. Weather permitting, work will be done from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. The work zone will be marked with signs...

ROME -- Italian Premier Minister Silvio Berlusconi said for the first time Tuesday that he would resign once parliament approves economic reforms, and Greek politicians said they were close to agreeing on a new government to lead their country through painful cutbacks...

BEIRUT -- The death toll in the Syrian uprising has soared to at least 3,500 people, the United Nations said Tuesday, a sobering measure of the scope of a military crackdown that has bloodied city after city but failed to crush the 8-month-old revolt against President Bashar Assad's regime...

NEW ORLEANS -- BP will no longer be responsible for cleaning up oil that winds up on shores of the Gulf Coast unless officials can prove it comes from the company's well that blew out in 2010, causing the worst offshore spill in U.S. history, according to a plan approved by the Coast Guard and obtained by The Associated Press on Tuesday...

PASADENA, Calif. -- Wildlife advocates appeared in federal court Tuesday seeking to stop gray wolf hunts that are already well under way in the Northern Rockies, arguing that Congress overstepped its authority in stripping federal protections from the canines...

AARP is working hard to prevent cuts to Medicare and Social Security as the Congressional supercommittee wages war on the federal deficit. Millions of Americans nationwide, and the 992,968 Medicare beneficiaries and 1,137,581 Social Security beneficiaries in Missouri, would be greatly affected if cuts are implemented...

A Honor Roll 4th grade: Abbey Brandon, Abbey Broom, Clayton Eftink, Luke Jones, Bryson Ketcher, Grace Lemons, Rajan Marasini, Connor Missey, Winnie Pickett, Bailey Schott, Andrew Thurston, Natalie Timpe, Yusuf Wadi. 5th grade: Salma Abuhamda, Dawson Compas, Lilly Edwards, Paige Emmenderfer, Rachel Essner, Sierra Greaser, Melanie Hayden, Kennedy McGhee, Laura Santana, Sarah Smith, A.J> Stroup, Cassidy Swain, Kristen Tarno, Abby Wilson...