Stories from Tuesday, November 15, 2011

WASHINGTON-- The Supreme Court said Monday it will hear arguments next March over President Barack Obama's health care overhaul, accepting a case that could rival the historic Bush v. Gore ruling in shaking the political landscape. The decision to hear arguments in the spring allows plenty of time for a decision in late June, just over four months before Election Day. This sets up an election-year showdown over the White House's main domestic policy achievement...

Most Ameren Missouri customers in the Cape Girardeau and Jackson area left without power in the wake of powerful afternoon storms Monday had power restored before 10 p.m.

A Wallis tanker truck carrying diesel fuel overturned on Giboney Street in Cape Girardeau around 4:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 15, 2011. The driver of the truck was not injured. Cape Girardeau firefighters and workers from McBride Mack and Midwest wrecker service arrived on scene to pump the diesel fuel into a second tanker before up-righting the overturned one. (Kristin Eberts)...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) -- Missouri's unemployment rate declined last month to its lowest point in more than 2 1/2 years. The state Department of Economic Development said Tuesday that Missouri's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 8.5 percent in October -- down two-tenths of a percentage point from September. It was the lowest mark since an 8.4 percent rate in February 2009...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) -- St. Louis businessman Dave Spence said Tuesday that he will run for Missouri governor, setting up a likely Republican primary for the right to challenge Democratic Gov. Jay Nixon in next year's elections. Spence, who declared his candidacy in an interview with The Associated Press, becomes the first prominent Republican to officially enter the governor's race. ...

Two people jumped from a second-story window to escape a house fire in Cape Girardeau Monday night. According to a news release from the Cape Girardeau Fire Department, the fire broke out at about 11 p.m. at 302 S. Benton St. Everyone was out of the house when fire crews arrived, though two of them told firefighters they had jumped from the window to escape the fire. One had a minor ankle injury, according to the fire department...

NEW YORK (AP) -- Hundreds of police officers in riot gear raided the Occupy Wall Street encampment in New York City in the pre-dawn darkness Tuesday, evicted hundreds of protesters and then demolished the tent city, leaving the future of the demonstration in limbo...

ST. LOUIS (AP) -- A federal judge has refused to order a city park re-opened for round-the-clock protests by the group Occupy St. Louis. The group was seeking a preliminary injunction barring enforcement of a 10 p.m. curfew in St. Louis parks.

JONESBORO, Ill. -- The Union County Sheriff's Office is investigating a fatal Monday traffic accident. The accident took place on Illinois Highway 146, 1 mile west of Jonesboro. Both the driver and passenger were transported to Union County Hospital after the vehicle went off the road and struck a tree. ...

ZALMA, Mo. -- Someone entered a farm near Zalma early in October and shot a registered bull worth $3,000. Truman Lemons of Cape Girardeau, who owns Lemons Coin Machines, is offering a reward of $1,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person responsible for killing the bull...

Redhawks' first win comes against overmatched NAIA school Harris-Stowe

Quarries, casinos and former federal buildings -- the area's top elected officials can expect questions about these and other high-profile topics at a town-hall meeting scheduled for next month. The League of Women Voters of Southeast Missouri is hosting its second such town-hall meeting at noon on Dec. 6 at the Cape Girardeau Public Library...

Of the more than 1,200 warning letters the Federal Drug Administration sent to retailers nationwide regarding the sale of tobacco to minors, two were issued to Cape Girardeau businesses that have both since corrected the issues cited in the letters...

Strong winds up to 45 mph over the weekend hampered deer hunting success for the first two days of the firearms season.

Despite an emotional plea from his mother, the man who pleaded guilty to helping beat a Cape Girardeau man almost to death was sentenced to 20 years in prison Monday. Brandon E. Geiger, 20, pleaded guilty to first-degree assault last month, and after viewing a sentence assessment report, Cape Girardeau Circuit Court Judge Benjamin Lewis sentenced him to 20 years in prison...

More than six months after the Birds Point-New Madrid Floodway levee was intentionally breached, the threat of rain has again become the enemy of Mississippi County farmers desperate to have crop-saving flood protection. With Monday's storms and a chance of precipitation predicted for seven of the next nine days, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is working round-the-clock to repair the three places it blew with explosives in May...

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- A new downtown redevelopment plan in Perryville will ensure the town isn't going to rot from the inside out, says its mayor, Debbie Gahan. The newly formed Perryville Tax Increment Financing Commission, including members of the board of aldermen, county commission and Perry County School District, held its first meeting Monday to discuss a plan for a TIF district to help attract new businesses to downtown...

Hannah Trautman and Savannah Lively receive their Girl Scout Bronze Award for their Storm Drain Stenciling Project. After learning chemicals, cigarette butts, paint, trash and yard wastes take this path into our waterways, spoiling them for people and wildlife, Hannah and Savannah wanted to raise the community awareness that only rainwater belongs in storm drains. ...

Hannah Trautman and Savannah Lively receive their Girl Scout Bronze Award for their Storm Drain Stenciling Project. After learning chemicals, cigarette butts, paint, trash and yard wastes take this path into our waterways, spoiling them for people and wildlife, Hannah and Savannah wanted to raise the community awareness that only rainwater belongs in storm drains. ...

US Bank donated $1200 to Cape Girardeau Public School Foundation. 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 are Amy McDonald, executive director of Cape Girardeau Public School Foundation and Steve Green, Market President for US Bank...

A Cape Girardeau building that has been on Broadway for 105 years isn't likely to see its 106th. Trinity Lutheran Church has asked for -- and been issued -- a demolition permit by city officials that gives it until late December to tear down the building at 501 Broadway, a structure now best known for the large mural on its west wall...

Cape Girardeau County commissioners approved Monday the first major change to Cape County Park North in the building of Melaina's Magical Playland. Shelter No. 7 will be torn down to make room for play structures. According to project co-founder Andrea Cunningham, shelter No. 8 was also planned to be removed, but engineers found a way to spare it. Equipment is set to begin arriving this week and the park will ideally be ready to open by late spring or summer 2012...

A man involved in an incident at a Cape Girardeau house party in May that put one person in the hospital with stab wounds received two years probation Monday. Kollin Payne, 22, pleaded guilty to a third-degree assault, a misdemeanor, in Cape Girardeau Circuit Court last month and was given a one-year suspended prison sentence and two years probation by Judge Benjamin Lewis Monday...

Salvation Army volunteer Adam Rookard works Monday, Nov. 14, 2011, to sort out donated items collected by First Student's Stuff the Bus donation drive. Donations totaled 3,800 non-perishable food items in addition to monetary donations that were used to purchase paper products and meat...

A Cape Girardeau woman was sentenced to five years probation Monday for filing false tax returns that included her husband's medical practice. Patricia Stahly, 57, was the business manager for her husband, Dr. Randall L. Stahly's medical practice in Cape Girardeau. ...

Today is Tuesday, Nov. 15, the 319th day of 2011. There are 46 days left in the year. Today's Highlight in History: On Nov. 15, 1777, the Second Continental Congress approved the Articles of Confederation. On this date: In 1806, explorer Zebulon Pike sighted the mountaintop now known as Pikes Peak in present-day Colorado...

Earlier this month the Southeast Missouri State University soccer team's season ended with a tough 2-1 loss to Morehead State in the Ohio Valley Conference tournament. The Redhawks were the OVC regular-season champion and hosted the six-team league tournament -- yet another big event over a weekend that saw the state's high school volleyball championships also held in Cape Girardeau...

In a Nov. 9 article, Andrew Rosenthal, a columnist for The New York Times, made a list of 26 questions he would like to see the Republican presidential candidates answer at their debates. Below are a half a dozen of these questions to which I think any candidate for this office should provide a very thorough and detailed answer...

ORLANDO, Fla. -- People recovering from a heart attack or severe chest pain are much less likely to suffer another heart-related problem or to die from one if they take a new blood-thinning drug along with standard anti-clotting medicines, a large study finds...

O Lord, may we have a compassionate heart and be a blessing to others. Amen.

As the Senior Advocate for Missouri, I am appalled at the utter failure of Gov. Nixon and the Department of Health and Senior Services to adequately address the in-home health care crisis for Missouri's seniors and disabled population. ...

Norman W. Fletcher, 84, of Cape Girardeau died at 10:55 a.m. Nov. 14, 2011, at Fountainbleau Lodge in Cape Girardeau. He was born Aug. 10, 1927, to James Clarence and May Jordan Fletcher. He married Gail Emmons in April 1997, and she preceded him in death Nov. 9, 2011...

Jack Alton Hensley, 82, of Cape Girardeau died Monday, Nov. 14, 2011, at his home. Arrangements are incomplete at Ford and Sons Funeral Home.

Virginia LaGrand, 84, of Cape Girardeau died Monday, Nov. 14, 2011, at Southeast Hospital in Cape Girardeau. Arrangements are incomplete at Ford and Sons Funeral Home.

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- Merlin J. Zahner, 55, of Perryville died Sunday, Nov. 13, 2011, at Southeast Hospital in Cape Girardeau. Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. today and from 6:30 a.m. to time of service Wednesday at Young and Sons Funeral Home. The funeral will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday, with the Rev. Milton Ryan officiating. Burial will be in St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery in Highland, Mo...

Bill (Haney) Boner, 80, of Jonesboro died Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011, at Cobden Nursing and Rehab in Cobden, Ill. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. today at Crain Funeral Home in Anna-Jonesboro. The funeral will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Crain Funeral Home in Anna-Jonesboro, with the Rev. Danny Jones officiating. Interment will be in Casper Cemetery...

ANNA, Ill. -- Golda H. Brown, 87, of Anna died Thursday, Nov. 10, 2011, at the Union County Nursing Home in Anna. Friends may call from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday at Rendleman and Hileman Funeral Home in Anna. The funeral will be at 11 a.m. Friday at the funeral home. Interment will be in Jonesboro Cemetery...

Dr. Earl Fuhrmann, 91, a longtime resident of Concordia, Mo., passed away on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011, in Martinsville, Ind., where he resided with his daughter. Funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Concordia, with the Rev. ...

BENTON, Mo. -- Irene Anne Sadler, 72, of Benton died Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011, at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. She was born July 19, 1939, in Northampton, England, to Alfred and Pearline Hobbs Barker. She married Albert Ray Sadler Aug. 13, 1956. He preceded her in death Sept. 13, 1992...

Howard "Doug" Huffman, 63, of Cape Girardeau, died Sunday, Nov. 13, 2011, at Fountainbleau Lodge. He was born Oct. 18, 1948, in Greenville, Miss., to Howard Cibet and Ann E. Thompson Huffman. Doug was a Central High School graduate. He worked as a security guard and was also a licensed tankerman in the river barge industry...

Minnie M. Verble, 99, of Pulaski, Ill., passed away at 5:50 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 13, 2011, at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. Mrs. Verble was born Sept. 18, 1912, in Pulaski County, Ill., to the late Henry H. and Elizabeth Glenzy Modglin...

Sister Mary Jacinta Diebold, 98, died Nov. 8, 2011, at the Franciscan Woods Nursing Home in Brookfield, Wis. She was born in Kelso, Mo., in 1913. Sister Jacinta graduated with a nursing degree from DePaul Hospital School of Nursing, St. Louis in 1935. She entered the Wheaton Franciscan order in 1950 and professed perpetual vows in 1959...

Curtis C. Bronenkant, 74, of Jackson died Nov. 14, 2011, at The Lutheran Home in Cape Girardeau. He was born Sept. 16, 1937, in Seventy-Six, Mo., to Herbert W. and Mathilda M. Lorenz Bronenkant. He and Venita M. Rodgers were married June 25, 1987. She preceded him in death July 18, 2006...

Michael Wayne Gateley, 63, passed away Sunday, Nov. 13, 2011, at his home in Gravel Hill, Mo. He was born Aug. 19, 1948, in Chaffee, Mo., to Franklin W. and Lodis V. Loucks Gateley. He and Mary Ladine Davenport-Haners were married June 8, 1991. Mike attended Chaffee High School and honorably served in the U.S. Army in Vietnam. He then worked many years as a self-employed auto mechanic...

CHICAGO -- Every child should be tested for high cholesterol as early as age 9 -- surprising new advice from a government panel that suggests screening children in grade school for a problem more common in middle age. The idea will come as a shock to most parents. And it's certain to stir debate...

WASHINGTON -- Sidestepping controversy, House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, R-Va., declined to take sides Monday on a proposal for higher tax revenue backed by fellow Republicans on Congress' supercommittee, yet expressed confidence the panel would agree on a deficit-reduction plan of at least $1.2 trillion by a Nov. 23 deadline...

A spokesman for Rep. Bill Emerson's Washington office says the Cape Girardeau Municipal Airport's FAA Flight Service Station is scheduled to close sometime next fall; meanwhile, the FAA says it hasn't decided on whether it will place the Cape Girardeau station on a part-time operation after the first of the year...

SIKESTON, Mo. -- The city of Sikeston has declined to support a tax credit application for investors in a proposed senior housing project on West Malone Avenue. A motion to support the application died for lack of a second during a special Sikeston City Council meeting Thursday...

ST. CHARLES, Mo. (AP) -- Whether St. Charles County joins the growing list of St. Louis-area places that ban smoking may be up to the voters to decide. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports that Republican county councilman Joe Cronin wants a vote of the people on the smoking ban, and on a second issue related to smoking: whether casinos should be excluded from any smoking bans...

ST. LOUIS -- Maybe the St. Louis Rams made their own luck. Coach Steve Spagnuolo said Monday that game tape showed defensive end James Hall getting a piece of Cleveland's blown field goal near the end of their 13-12 victory over the Browns a day earlier. Spagnuolo said tackle Gary Gibson had good penetration on the line and the Browns' timing was off, a combination that allowed Hall to deflect the ball with his right forearm...

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- Phil Pressey scored a career-best 22 points with four assists and five steals, helping No. 24 Missouri beat Mercer 81-63 on Monday. Kim English added 18 points and Michael Dixon contributed 14 points. Missouri (2-0) used its speed to force 14 steals. Dixon and Pressey combined for 18 points in the Tigers' first game against Southeast Missouri State on Friday...

MARSTON, Mo. -- A fire that started Sunday night destroyed 68 cotton modules at the Richardson Gin in Marston. The fire started at about 11:15 p.m., according to a representative at the gin. Firefighters were still on the scene Monday morning. At one point part of U.S. 61 in New Madrid County had to be closed because of low visibility due to smoke from the fire...

ST. LOUIS -- The St. Louis Cardinals signed Mike Matheny to a two-year contract as their manager, with a club option for a third season. The World Series champs say they are not worried that Matheny never has filled out a lineup card for a major league game...

Three Benton, Mo., men were arrested in connection to several thousand dollars' worth of copper wire being stolen from a Scott County farmer. Mathew Bristow, 26, Jeffrey Bunch Jr., 23, and Michael Gunter, 20, were arrested after a short car chase Thursday night, according to a Scott County Sheriff's Department news release. The three men are allegedly linked to the theft of copper wires from an irrigation center pivot, according to the release...

A fire at a Jackson home sent two people to the hospital Friday morning. Fire broke out in a room at 111 E. Madison St. around 10:30 a.m. and sent two people to the hospital with burns. One victim was transported to St. Louis for treatment, Jackson Fire Department Capt. Curtis Sparks said...

ANNA, Ill. -- Emmett Lee Duncan, 67 of Anna died Sunday, Nov. 13, 2011, at his home. Friends may call after 10 a.m. and until the service at 11 a.m. Thursday at Rendleman and Hileman Funeral Home in Anna.

A Honor Roll 4th grade: John Essner, Gavin Holland, Grace Landewee, Paul Scherer. 5th grade: Eli Campbell, Cayden Dannenmueller, Collin Dumey, Clare Fennewald, Megan Heisserer, Nate Hulshof, Ben Jansen, Kassidy Leimbach, Adam Moeser, John Scherer, Shelby Seyer...

3rd grade: Kaylee Bolen, Kody Bramlett, Victor Flores, Chase Gray, Destin Koerner, Garrett Moore, Jason Presley, Andrea Stevens, Katelynn Ward, Seth Westmorlan, Breanna Backfisch, Mollie Bartlett, Noah Burger, Brandon Carlyle, Gavin Kirk, Alissa Londo, Carly Long, Daniel Parker, Cameron Samples, Caedyn Shoemaker, Alex Swope, Madison Walls, Jeremiah Wright, Keaton Fitzgerald, Kate Hughes, Will LeDure, Rylan Lemonds, Griffen Moore, Ashley Parker, Joseph Romano, Miranda Sadler, Ethan Wisdom...

Scholastic Honor Roll 5th grade: Tate Bagley, Faith Boettcher, Faith Dynneson, Ashley Ernstmeyer, Kate Hallman, Faith Littleton, Micah Mirly, Austin Mueller, Sydney Russo, Payton Salyer, Madalyn Weber. 6th grade: Brittany Byrd, Ben Krewson, Laurel Mueller...

6th grade: Brianna Amschler, Jordan Barker, Kaitlyn Carter, Brianna Harrison, Alexis Johnson, Jordan Layton, Amanda Meyer, Travis Sides, Cody Strop. 7th grade: Steven Masterson, Beth Mize, Brynn Myers, Katelyn Oehl, Olivia Ruiz, Maci Schamburg, Jarett Seabaugh, McKenzie Slinkard...

The flying angel features a very full skirt with lots of curves and turns. Made to hang, top a tree, or sit on a perch. The 4-inch and 6-inch sized make lovely ornaments. The 8-inch, 12-inch, and 16-inch work well as tree toppers. http://www.villagedesigns.com/products/w......

A colorful Christmas tree, perfect for the holidays. Choose from the earring set or pendant with adjustable mini bead chain. The pendant measures approximately 2 inches and the earrings are 1 inch. http://www.villagedesigns.com/products/s......

A tiny two-inch angel that can hang or stand. Available in gold or silver with a crystal or pearl head.http://www.villagedesigns.com/products/wire/ornaments/littleangel.shtml 573-266-3642 800-268-3642 (toll free) Village Designs 310 State Hwy AA Daisy, MO 63743...

Wire mesh roses arranged in a curled wire ball vase. http://www.villagedesigns.com/ 573-266-3642 800-268-3642 (toll free) Village Designs 310 State Hwy AA Daisy, MO 63743

Curled wire wreath decorated with metal mesh flowers.

Stay cozy and comfy indoors and out with the Dakota and Ansley moccasin from Ugg Australia. Available in women's and children's sizes. http://www.marcysplanetshoes.com/index.h... (573) 335-2066 3050 William Cape Girardeau, MO 63703

Like us on Facebook for exclusive offers and discounts, new arrivals, and more! http://www.marcysplanetshoes.com/index.h... (573) 335-2066 3050 William Cape Girardeau, MO 63703

Ring in the holiday season with style! Marcy's Planet Shoes has the latest styles of Sperry Top-Sider - available in adult and children's sizes. http://www.marcysplanetshoes.com/index.h... (573) 335-2066 3050 William Cape Girardeau, MO 63703

Life is Good apparel and gifts make great stocking stuffers for the entire family. From hoodies to winter accessories to gift items - we have the perfect gift for everyone on your shopping list. Available at Marcy's Planet Shoes...