Stories from Friday, November 11, 2011

Several local Veterans Day events will show support for troops and their families and friends today.

A staff committee has been formed in the Cape Girardeau School District to determine if changes need to be made to the district's dress code policy. According to superintendent Dr. Jim Welker, the committee will review the current policy and research on dress codes, seek input from other staff, parents and the community and propose changes to the policy in the case that changes are determined to be needed. ...

A partnership between Scott City schools and the St. Louis Science Center is helping the schools focus on science as an important part of the curriculum. Representatives from the science center took part in a family science night Thursday at Scott City Middle School. Students in kindergarten through eighth grades and their families visited a portable planetarium and experiment exhibits provided by the science center...

The prevailing theme among Southeast Missouri State basketball players following their lone exhibition game is that they lacked toughness. The Redhawks will need all the toughness they can summon today when they open the season at 25th-ranked Missouri. The 7 p.m. contest at Mizzou Arena in Columbia, Mo., will be televised by Fox Sports Midwest...

On Nov. 16 the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and the Southeast Missouri State University Small Business Technology Development Center (SBTDC) will sponsor a program on various resources of capital for business owners. Bill Vickery, SBA Area Manager says "This will be a great opportunity for small business owners to learn about the options they have when they need money to start or expand their businesses." "We will have representatives from the SBA, USDA Rural Development, and the Missouri State Treasurer's Office to provide information about their small business programs. ...

Immaculate Conception Catholic School in Jackson took 1st plance Honors at the 7th Grade Parochial League End of the Season Tournament in October. Players front row l-r Allie Ziegler, Samantha Brennan, Katie Hanners, Rachel Conrad, Syndey Newell, Taylor Barnes, Brianna Courtney. Back row l-r Emmerson Outman, Shannon Beussink, Allyson Jansen, Taylor Allen, Abby Renaud, Abby Glastetter and Lizzie Spoooler. Congratualations on a great season! We are Proud of You!!...

Airforce Senior Airman Lauren Everett, daughter of Randy Everett of Wappapello, MO and Becky Smith-Everett of Chaffee, MO. She is stationed in Afghanistan as part of the Laghman Provincial Reconstruction Team.

U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Lauren Everett, medic attached to Laghman Provincial Reconstruction Team greets a group of children in Alisheng District, Laghman Province Sept. 12. The PRT partnered with the Security Forces Assistant Team and the Afghan National Police patrolled through a village to talk to the locals and teach the ANP proper procedures during patrols. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Staff Sgt. Ryan Crane, Laghman Provincial Reconstruction Team) PRT Laghman...

U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Lauren Everett, medic attached to the Laghman Provincial Reconstruction Team, fires her M4 rifle at the off-base firing range near forward operating base Mehtar Lam Sept. 10. Members from the PRT traveled to the range to practice with crew served, primary and secondary weapons along with M203 grenade launchers and frag grenades(U.S. Air Force photo/ Staff Sgt. Ryan Crane, Laghman Provincial Reconstruction Team) PRT Laghman...

BLOOMFIELD, Mo. -- With tattered edges, slightly faded newsprint, unidentifiable smudges and folds still marked with yellow where Scotch tape once bound the edges, the first printing of the Stars and Stripes shows its 150 years as Wednesday marked the birthday of a military newspaper now more than 50,000 editions strong...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Missouri House Speaker Steven Tilley, who amassed more than $1.5 million as the Republican front-runner for lieutenant governor, dropped out of the race Thursday while citing a desire to spend more time with his two teenage daughters.

The countdown to the holiday season is upon us, and holiday parties, sweet desserts, and delicious meals are right around the corner. Maintaining a healthy diet and lifestyle this time of year may be a challenge, but it is possible. Keep healthy eating and physical activity part of your holiday season with these tips from the St. Louis District Dairy Council...

ST. LOUIS (AP) -- The 100 or so Occupy St. Louis campers who have been staying at Kiener Plaza in downtown St. Louis have been told to move out, but many have no plans to leave. City staff members told the protesters on Thursday they had until 3 p.m. Friday to remove the 52 tents and end the encampment where they've been staying for several weeks as part of the Occupy movement...

Southeast Hospice Volunteer Coordinator Pearla Smith rings bells as part of the "Let Freedom Ring" celebration on Veterans' Day, Nov. 11, at the Missouri Veterans Home in Cape Girardeau. Veterans, local dignitaries, staff at the home, friends, family members and the St. ...

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) -- The family of a missing Kansas City baby is planning a private gathering to mark her first birthday. Family attorney John Picerno says only close family members will attend the gathering Friday for Lisa Irwin. Authorities have been searching for Lisa since Oct. 4 when her parents reported her missing. He called it a "tough day" for the family and asked the media to respect their privacy...

Bailey is the best! She just lays in the fall decor and will even wait for me to run get a camera.

Avenue of Flags at Cape County Park North, Veteran's Day November 11, 2011

For Junior Swift, it's the standoff with armed bandits in the Iraqi desert. For John Gilman, it's the mortar shells that rained down on the Afghanistan border with disquieting regularity. And, seven years later, Wayne Bowen is still pulled from sleep by the harrowing thoughts of a fellow soldier -- and good friend -- whose body was ripped apart by the actions of a suicide bomber...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Those still shuddering from bitter memories of an unusually frigid winter last year better prepare for some more bad news. This week, an atmospheric scientist from the University of Missouri predicted another extremely cold and snowy winter for Missouri as multiple factors are likely to cause cold weather fronts to stall over the Midwest this season...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) -- The Missouri Conservation Department says young hunters killed a record number of deer during the recent two-day youth firearms season. Missouri has held a deer season for hunters age 6 through 15 since 2001. The Conservation Department says young hunters killed 16,392 deer this past weekend, up 13 percent from the two-day season last year...

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- Billy Williams was finishing up yet another stint in a county jail, this time for violating restrictions of his probation meant to keep him sober, when he was first introduced to the SEMO Veterans Treatment Court Program, the nation's first rural, multi-jurisdictional veterans court program...

CARBONDALE, Ill. -- Dozens of tenured educators and those on track to become so returned to their classrooms Thursday at Southern Illinois University, a day after making enough progress in contract talks to call off their six-day strike at the 20,000-student Carbondale campus...

Cape Girardeau County commissioners approved 12 bids Thursday for the replacement of a bridge northeast of Whitewater on County Road 233.

Today is Friday, Nov. 11, the 315th day of 2011. There are 50 days left in the year. This is Veterans Day in the U.S., Remembrance Day in Canada. Today's Highlight in History: On Nov. 11, 1918, fighting in World War I came to an end with the signing of an armistice between the Allies and Germany...

As I grew in your shadow, I did not know Of the days in the heat, of the nights in the snow Of the foxholes and tents, of rations so few, But safety and warmth was all that I knew. You spent no time bragging of victories won, ...

You don't have to look far to find what appear to be unsolvable problems. Some of our woes seem so big that it is far too easy to throw up your hands rather than putting your fingers to work. Don't let the size of a problem scare you. You and I won't end world hunger. If everyone who had something to contribute pitched in, we would still have people somewhere in the world looking for food...

Thank you, O God, for our veterans, and protect those in harm's way. Amen.

In Flanders fields the poppies blow Between the crosses row on row, That mark our place; and in the sky The larks, still bravely singing, fly Scarce heard amid the guns below....

William Shakespeare's eye for detail and obsession with lavish language demands equal passion and extravagance from those who perform his plays. Southeast Missouri State University's River Campus hired three guest designers to help it achieve another level of excellence in its production of "Hamlet."...

Cape West 14 Cine in Cape Girardeau is among Wehrenberg Theatres that will once again host the annual Cans Film Festival to benefit the Salvation Army's Tree of Lights campaign. On Dec. 3, guests who bring five canned food items to any Wehrenberg Theatre will receive free admission to any movie starting before 5 p.m. ...

The Southeast Missouri Music Academy will show off its talents Sunday with the 12th annual Standing Ovation concert featuring jazz vocals with guitar, piano pieces and opera. The concert raises money for the Music Academy and partial tuition waivers for students. ...

It's baffling to watch "J Edgar" and then try to puzzle out where the wheels fell off this misbegotten historical drama -- a prime example of a director, writer and actor seemingly at odds with each other and their subject.

Some people, when criticized, shut down. The Arts Council of Southeast Missouri has been criticized lately by its parent organization, the Missouri Arts Council. MAC said the organization focused on the visual arts to the detriment of the community...

BURLINGTON, Vt. -- A 35-year-old military veteran apparently shot himself Thursday at an Occupy Wall Street encampment in Vermont's largest city, fellow protesters said. A hospital spokesman said later the man had died. Deputy chief Andi Higbee said the public was not believed to be at risk after the 2 p.m. shooting at City Hall Park in Burlington...

JOINT BASE LEWIS-McCHORD, Wash. -- A U.S. Army soldier convicted of exhorting his bored underlings to slaughter three civilians for sport will be eligible for parole after serving 10 years in prison. Staff Sgt. Calvin Gibbs, of Billings, Mont., was convicted of murder, conspiracy and other charges at his court martial Thursday. The jury had the choice of sentencing him to life with or without the possibility of parole, and they chose the former...

JERUSALEM -- Israel's Supreme Court on Thursday upheld the rape conviction of former president Moshe Katsav and ordered him to begin serving a seven-year prison term next month, a landmark decision that culminated a five-year saga. The rape conviction for the former head of state was hailed as a victory for women's rights and equality under the law, particularly at a sensitive time when Israel's liberal democracy has come under assault from extreme nationalists and the burgeoning ultrareligious minority.. ...

GENEVA -- The western black rhino of Africa has been declared officially extinct, and two other subspecies of rhinoceros are close to meeting the same fate, a leading conservation group said Thursday. The International Union for Conservation of Nature said a recent reassessment of the western black rhino had led it to declare the species extinct, adding that the northern white rhino of central Africa is now "possibly extinct" in the wild and the Javan rhino is "probably extinct" in Vietnam, after poachers killed the last animal there in 2010.. ...

NEW YORK -- Rick Perry had barely gotten through his gaffe in Wednesday's Republican primary debate when a rolling commentary on the TV screen declared his campaign on life support. "Perry is done," came a Twitter posting from a viewer called @PatMcPsu, even while the Texas governor struggled to name the third of three federal agencies he said he would eliminate as president. ...

CHAFFEE, Mo. -- Janis Marie Payne, 70, of Chaffee died Wednesday, Nov. 9, 2011, at Southeast Hospital in Cape Girardeau. She was born May 31, 1941, in Knob Lick, Mo., daughter of John S. and Alma Lee Brown Martin. Janis met John D. Payne while attending Kewanee High School and was married Dec. 27, 1960...

Gail E. Fletcher, 86, of Cape Girardeau died Wednesday, Nov. 9, 2011, at Fountainbleau Lodge. She was born July 10, 1925, in Corning, Ark., to John Timothy and Mary M. Griffith Emmons. She and Norman Fletcher were married in April 1997 at McClure, Ill...

Mary Jo Kester, 80, of Cape Girardeau died Thursday, Nov. 10, 2011, at her home. She was born March 1, 1931, in St. Louis, to Brian and Ruby Ayers Jacobs. She and Billy Lee Kester were married Sept. 30, 1952, in Paragould, Ark. He preceded her in death July 7, 1997...

MARBLE HILL, Mo. -- Theodore "Ted" Peters, 74, of Marble Hill passed away Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2011, at Woodland Hills Nursing Home. He was born May 5, 1937, at Bessville, Mo., son of Charles and Agnes C. Beel Peters. He married Kathleen Hinkebein on Aug. 21, 1971, at St. John's Catholic Church in Leopold, Mo...

Daughter to Rodney Lee Glover and Jessica Fay McCain of Cape Girardeau, Southeast Hospital, 8:50 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 1, 2011. Name, Izriella Lee-Ann. Weight, 6 pounds, 2 ounces. Fourth child, second daughter. Ms. McCain is the daughter of Lisa Ray and Mack Baker of Cape Girardeau. Glover is the son of Tommi Glover and Rodney Glover of Cape Girardeau...

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- Phillip Leon Tudor, 68, of Perryville died Thursday, Nov. 10, 2011, at Independence Care Center of Perry County. Visitation will be from noon to service time Nov. 19 at Young and Sons Funeral Home. The funeral will be at 2:30 p.m. the same day at the funeral home, with the Rev. Jim Kiefer officiating. Private burial will be at a later date...

The city of Cape Girardeau has received two economic development grants; the funding will aid Tri-Con Industries in its $2.2 million plant expansion; it will also be used to assist General Sign Co. in connection with relocation of its operations to a new plant due to repeated flooding problems...

WASHINGTON -- On Veterans Day eve, an uncharacteristically unified Senate emphatically passed a bill to help unemployed veterans and government contractors that includes the first, small slivers of President Barack Obama's jobs agenda that he is likely to sign into law...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Many homes and other structures built along Missouri's Lake of the Ozarks may be allowed to remain after federal energy regulators Thursday revised directions for how to manage the shoreline. Lakeside residents have feared they could lose their homes, patios and boathouses after the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission said in July that many structures may have to go if they encroach onto land that is part of the Ameren Missouri hydroelectric project that created the lake.. ...

Place your bets! Tie the knot! Make a wish! Today is the 11th day of the 11th month of 2011, and around the country, many people are planning to mark the triple convergence of 11s with a splash, hoping it will bring them good fortune or at least amuse them for a day...

SIKESTON, Mo. -- Law enforcement officials are continuing their search for a suspect in an armed robbery that occurred late Tuesday. At 5:42 p.m., the Sikeston Department of Public Safety was alerted to an incident at Food Giant located at 700 N. Main St...

WASHINGTON (AP) -- It's going to cost a bit more to put a traditional Thanksgiving dinner on the table this year. The American Farm Bureau Federation reported Thursday that a meal with turkey and all the trimmings will cost about 13 percent more this holiday...

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) -- The head of the Missouri Department of Transportation said Wednesday the agency will propose making Interstate 70 a toll road, to finance an overhaul of the highway. The idea of charging motorists to use the main highway between St. Louis and Kansas City has been mentioned for years...

Whether it's big band, eclectic bebop or multifaceted modern sounds, jazz music is alive and well in Cape Girardeau. The proof is in the bars. Patrons of LoDo are treated to jazz music every Friday night when the Lower Downtown Jazz Quartet performs. The quartet is Matt Pittman on bass, Chris Deusinger on saxophone, Jay Contrino on drums and Zach Priester on guitar...

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 The Cape Girardeau County Sheriff's Department released the following items. Arrests do no imply guilt...

The Jackson Police Department released the following. Arrests do not imply guilt. Arrest Firefighters responded to the following calls Tuesday:...

St. Louis rallied late to force overtime but was blanked in shootout

The Southeast Missouri State women's basketball team thrived in its only exhibition game, crushing NAIA opponent Harris-Stowe 93-46 on Monday. The competition will get much tougher for the Redhawks today when they officially begin the Ty Margenthaler era with an 11 a.m. season opener at North Carolina State...

Jacksonville State still has a chance to win the OVC football title

Southeast Missouri State men's basketball coach Dickey Nutt is excited about the three players his program landed during the NCAA's week-long early signing period that began Wednesday. Nutt especially is fired up over nabbing highly regarded 6-foot-3, 215-pound point guard C.J. Reese...

Southeast Missouri State sophomore football player Bradley Montgomery and senior volleyball player Paige Dossey received first-team Capital One academic all-district honors Thursday. Montgomery holds a perfect 4.0 grade point average in computer science. The cornerback has registered 32 tackles, one tackle for loss and one forced fumble while starting all nine games so far this season...

Southeast Missouri State women's basketball coach Ty Margenthaler didn't have to venture far from home to find two of his first recruits during the NCAA's week-long early signing period that began Wednesday. Half of the four players Margenthaler landed for his first recruiting class are Jackson High School seniors Connor King, a 6-foot-2 forward/center, and 5-8 combo guard Dru Haertling...

MARBLE HILL, Mo. -- A boil-water order for part of Marble Hill was lifted Thursday. The Marble Hill city government sent notice Thursday afternoon that the order that was issued Tuesday for the area south of Crooked Creek has been lifted. The order was issued following a water main break on Glen Street...

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- Country rock band Confederate Railroad, with two Top 10 albums, will perform at 7 p.m. Saturday at the Rodgers Theatre, with proceeds benefiting restoration efforts at the historic theater. Confederate Railroad was formed in the late 1980s by frontman Danny Shirley and originally performed as a backup band for David Allan Coe and Johnny Paycheck. ...

SIKESTON, Mo. -- Southbound Interstate 55 in Perry County will be reduced to one lane with a 12-foot width restriction next week while Missouri Department of Transportation crews perform pavement repairs. The first section of road is between mile markers 139 and 135, and the second is between mile markers 119 and 113. ...

WASHINGTON -- After countless new rules designed to make Wall Street safer, it's come to this: Another securities firm has collapsed from risky, poorly disclosed bets. The bankruptcy filing last week by MF Global Holdings Ltd. didn't freeze lending and panic investors around the world, as Lehman Brothers' did in 2008. But the rapid fall of the firm run by former New Jersey governor Jon Corzine shows risky behavior persists, despite a vast regulatory overhaul...

ROME -- Expectations that respected economist Mario Monti will lead a new interim Italian government helped calm market fears Thursday the country was heading for a Greek-style crisis that would threaten the existence of the entire eurozone. With a groundswell of Italian politicians voicing support for a technocratic government led by the former European Union competition commissioner, confidence grew that the transition of power from Premier Silvio Berlusconi will be swift...

ATHENS, Greece -- Greece is replacing its prime minister with a banker, and Italy looks likely to do the same with an economist -- both hoping that financial experts can do better than the politicians who drove the eurozone into crisis. Thursday's political agreement in Athens after four days of dithering calmed financial markets, coupled with the prospect that volatile Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi will be leaving office sooner rather than later...

A Honor Roll 4th grade: Kristen Barwick, Matthew Blunt. 5th grade: A.J. Branson, Clayton Deimund, Colton Jones, Scott Limbaugh, Molly McNabb, Audrie Seabaugh. 6th grade: Abigail Blunt, Andrea Diamond, Laura Harris, Andrew Parsons, Bryanna Stevens. 7th grade: Calli House, Bailey Janota, Rachael Koehler, Caitlyn Limbaugh, Paeton Outman, Katelyn Smith...

12th grade: Ashlyn Agee, Zach Baker, Austin Blocker, Erica Brown, Blake Carlyle, Molly Cook, Mitchell Crites, Dalton Dannenmueller, Bethani Davis, Carrissa Dirnberger, Courtney Graviett, Blake Henson, Bethany Holmes, Kali Mills ,Lauren Nenninger, Bethany Phillips, Adam Schaefer, Brandt Schaffer, Courtney Scheeter, Tyler Schlitt, Brandi Taylor, Kyle Tenkhoff, Zeth Westrich, Kelsie Wilburn...

ARLINGTON, Va. (AP) -- Heralding the end of one war and the drawdown of another, President Barack Obama observed Veterans Day on Friday by urging Americans to hire the thousands of servicemen and women coming home from Iraq and Afghanistan. In remarks at Arlington National Cemetery, he called it "a time when America needs all hands on deck."...