Stories from Monday, November 21, 2011

Make and model: 1976 Ford CobraII Mustang Owner(s): Girada and Greg Vines Owner's hometown: Cape Girardeau, MO Special features: All orginal, 302 V8 Motor, 84,000 Orginal Miles, Automatic Transmission, White With Blue Stripes How I fell in love with my ride:...

ST. LOUIS -- No trick plays were necessary for the Seattle Seahawks. A punishing defense was more than enough. Wide receiver Sidney Rice provided early flash, completing a 55-yard pass to open the game, catching a touchdown pass and drawing a pass interference call to set up a field goal at the end of the half. Chris Clemons then took charge with three of Seattle's five sacks and two forced fumbles on Sam Bradford in a 24-7 victory over the St. Louis Rams on Sunday...

Samantha Sander had a busy day as a Red Cross blood collection specialist Sunday. Sander helped prepare and extract blood from roughly 40 donors Sunday as part of a blood drive at the St. Mary's Cathedral school gymnasium, effectively eclipsing the drive's 25 pint goal...

Six more VIP Industries employees feel better equipped to handle a major disaster and help their family, friends, and community members, after completing a 20-hour Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training course. In fact, one of those employees recently had the opportunity to put those skills to the test when a fellow co-worker collapsed to the floor. After witnessing the man fall to the floor, Crystal Garner went to him to ask if he was okay. He responded that he was just dizzy...

On November 1, 2011 junior and senior high school band students from all over Southeast Missiouri came to the Jackson Senior High School to audition for a place in the Southeast Missouri All District Band. These kids came from as far away as Poplar Bluff, Perryville, Arcadia Valley, and Sikeston as well as all the local schools. ...

Emma Green, 4 years old, holding two turnips that her Great-Great Aunt Joyce Proffer grew near Burfordville, MO. One weighed in at 5 pounds and the other at 2 pounds.

Colton Kinder, 13 years old, of Daisy, Mo., shot this albino doe on Nov. 19 in the field behind his house. Colton is the son of Kirk and Tammy Kinder.

Zachary along with other team mates from Peak Performance went to Decatur Illinois where they competed in the Midwest Open Tae Kwon Do Championships. Zachary placed 1st in forms and sparring.

As the interests of individual children have driven learning in two Cape Girardeau preschools, those schools have transformed. The visible environments of the schools are a first indicator. Natural light comes from tall windows. Classrooms open to a central piazza. ...

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Like many states across the country, Missouri's graduation rate isn't looking as hot since the state switched to a new federally mandated formula for calculating the statistic. Numbers released Monday show the state had a 79.8 percent graduation rate in 2011, down 6.6 percentage points from the graduation rate the old formula produced for the same year. ...

More retailers will open their doors even earlier this year on Black Friday in hopes shoppers will spend more money. The National Retail Federation is expecting a 2.8 percent increase in holiday spending this year, compared to last year. In 2010, holiday sales jumped 5.2 percent from 2009 spending levels...

ST. LOUIS -- A Greyhound bus driver who abandoned her bus and passengers overnight in southeast Missouri, about 100 miles from their destination, will be disciplined Monday, the company said Sunday. "There will be significant disciplinary action taken," said Maureen Richmond, spokeswoman for Greyhound Lines...

With a one-time city fund nearing depletion, Old Town Cape is asking Cape Girardeau officials to set aside $80,000 to bridge a potential two-year gap in financial support for the downtown revitalization organization. At its meeting tonight, the Cape Girardeau City Council will consider a motion to set aside the money from a dwindling one-time fund to make sure the city can continue to pay Old Town Cape $40,000 a year until June 2014 for its services...

Today is Monday, Nov. 21, the 325th day of 2011. There are 40 days left in the year. Today's Highlight in History: On Nov. 21, 1973, President Richard Nixon's attorney, J. Fred Buzhardt, revealed the existence of an 18-1/2-minute gap in one of the White House tape recordings related to Watergate...

For Lori Fowler, relationships are at the foundation of banking. "I always try to be professional and caring of others," says Fowler, vice president-commercial lending at Alliance Bank in Cape Girardeau. "I try to assist customers in the best way possible and help them in being successful in their business. It's kind of a partnership between the bank and the business. We try to help them be successful, and then when they're successful, we're successful."...

Business licenses issued in Cape Girardeau during October include the following:Cash City, 885 N. Kingshighway Coastal International Security Inc., out of town Collections Recovery LLC, 2711 Thomas Drive H&H Seamless Gutters, 1938 State Highway Y Lil Pea Patch, 709 Broadway...

KASTEN GETS VENDOR AWARD Vernon L. Kasten Jr., CEO of Ceramo Company Inc., attended the 2011 Home & Garden Showplace Show on Sept. 25 in Philadelphia, where Ceramo was named the 2011 Home & Garden Showplace New Vendor of the Year. FARRIS GETS BURROWS AWARD...

Kim Heckemeyer didn't intend to specialize in workers' compensation and Social Security disability cases. But in her 11 years practicing law, she's found those are the areas that really allow her to help people and make a difference in their lives. The desire to make a difference spreads to her personal life: In the past she's helped raise money for several local organizations. ...

Cape Girardeau County Tax liens and lien discharges recorded at the office of Scott R. Clark, recorder of deeds, during October are filed by the Missouri Department of Revenue, except as indicated by IRS designation. For more information, contact the recorder's office at (573) 243-8123...

LUTHERAN HOME NAMES NEW ADMINISTRATOR Mitch Bachtel is the new administrator for the skilled nursing and assisted living facilities at the Lutheran Home, according to Michelle Sinn, CEO of the Lutheran Home and Saxony Village in Cape Girardeau. Bachtel is a licensed nursing home administrator and comes from the St. Louis area, where he served in a similar capacity...

BRIEFS BARBER SHOP OPENS IN P.B. POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- The Greater Poplar Bluff Area Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon cutting to open Cutting Edge Barber Shop and Salon at 104 S. Main St. Chris Jones owns the business. SMOKEHOUSE HOLDS RIBBON CUTTING...

Becky Davidson and Linda Springs have been friends for more than 20 years. For most of that time, they've also been co-workers and business partners. Davidson and Springs are the owners of Belladona Salon and Spa in Cape Girardeau, which recently opened a second location in the City Centre to better serve its growing client list. Belladona's new location also includes added spa services like a facial room, full-body mud treatment room and Sunlighten infrared sauna...

In addition to serving as vice president of marketing at Premier Rehab Physical Therapy, where her husband is the owner, CEO and a physical therapist, Summer Riney recently started her own marketing firm targeting the health care industry. BT: How did your career evolve to get you to where you are today?...

Bankruptcies filed through October for the Southeastern Division of the Eastern District of Missouri's U.S. Bankruptcy Court are listed below with their corresponding case number. The Southeast Division includes the counties of Bollinger, Butler, Carter, Dunklin, Madison, Mississippi, New Madrid, Pemiscot, Perry, Reynolds, Ripley, Scott, Shannon, Stoddard and Wayne. Court is held in Cape Girardeau...

Tiffany Jenkins, director of marketing and public relations at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center, is at the helm of communications efforts surrounding a major expansion at her company -- a new, $173 million hospital. BT: How did your career evolve to get you where you are today? ...

From coordinating family nights and school spirit nights at Chick-fil-A to overseeing the offsite catering orders, it's working with people that Tamilla House enjoys most about her job. Tamilla and her husband, Brian, opened the Chick-fil-A location in September. Tamilla serves as marketing director of the quick-service restaurant...

Solving problems is what Sandy Hastings, president and co-owner of Servpro of Cape Girardeau and Scott Counties, likes best about her job. Sandy and her husband, Richard, co-own the Servpro franchise in this area. In addition, Sandy serves as vice president of the Servpro Missouri Directorship, which oversees all 33 Servpro offices in Missouri...

She's had chances to go into private practice, but for more than a decade Angel Woodruff has served in the Cape Girardeau County prosecutor's office. She's Prosecuting Attorney Morley Swingle's second in command, handling a variety of cases. BT: You've been with the prosecutor's office for more than 10 years. Why that instead of a private practice?...

As the former chief consumer advocate for the state attorney general's office, Laura Clubb was a watchdog for Missouri residents. Since opening a law firm with her husband J.P. Clubb in 2007, she has carved out a niche in the area of employment law, working on sexual harassment and age discrimination cases. When she's not helping clients, Clubb serves on the G.R.A.C.E.S. Council of United Way and is a Brownie troop leader at Alma Schrader Elementary School in Cape Girardeau...

Kathy Bertrand had every intention of being a teacher after college, but when she graduated in the 1980s, teaching jobs were hard to come by. "I always say I was kind of thrust into banking, because I wanted to be a teacher. But I needed a job for my family, and once I got (into) banking, I found out I really did have a love for it," says Bertrand, vice president-commercial loan officer at the Bank of Missouri in Cape Girardeau...

Four local high school students were recognized with an elite honor as National Merit semifinalists this year. Among this year's honorees: Less than 1 percent of students around the country receive this honor, and to have four local students -- out of 16,000 nationally -- qualify as semifinalists is impressive. This spring the scholarship recipients will be announced...

Thank you to everyone who assisted in a successful Veterans Day parade and patriotic ceremony in Jackson. On behalf of American Legion Post 158 and VFW Post 10495 of Jackson, we appreciate the community efforts and participation in this parade. The Veterans Day parade is a very special event in our community to honor veterans and their great dedication to our country...

Many thanks for the nice retirement article in the Southeast Missourian by Erin Ragan. Cape Girardeau is a wonderful media town, and I have enjoyed my 13 years at KFVS12/WQWQ. Rust Communications and the entire Rust family are wonderful people who are always dedicated to doing the best for Cape Girardeau. I appreciate the friendship over the years and the close association between our television stations and the Southeast Missourian...

A note of appreciation to Kara Clark Summers, Cape Girardeau County Clerk, for representing the best interests of the citizens of Cape Girardeau County with positive changes made to consolidate our number of voting precincts in the city of Cape Girardeau...

Someone from the Fruitland area presented a petition to the city of Jackson asking to be annexed into the city. The property location -- center of the Interstate 55 and U.S. 61 Interchange -- was in the city's future anyway. After asking Jackson to annex some of the Fruitland area, they then said they did not really want to be annexed...

Your word, O Lord, is a lamp for our feet, a light on our path. Amen.

HARTFORD, Conn. -- After spending millions of dollars to run a state complex with fuel cells, partly to boast of their size and also to tout a homegrown industry, Connecticut officials concede privately that the cost is too high and they're looking to get out of a complicated, long-term contract...

WASHINGTON -- A special deficit-reduction supercommittee appears likely to admit failure on Monday, unable or unwilling to compromise on a mix of spending cuts and tax increases required to meet its assignment of saving taxpayers at least $1.2 trillion over the coming decade...

MADRID -- Spain's opposition conservatives swept commandingly into power and into the hot seat Sunday as voters enduring a 21.5 percent jobless rate and stagnant economy dumped the Socialists -- the third time in as many weeks Europe's debt crisis has claimed a government...

In more than 45 years as a pharmacist John McMullin, owner of John's Pharmacy in Cape Girardeau, has carved out a niche for his business by specializing in helping patients with diabetes cope with their disease. Diabetes kills more people each year than breast cancer and AIDS combined, according to the American Diabetes Association, which marks November as American Diabetes Month. ...

Cape Girardeau Area Magnet and the Cape Girardeau and Jackson area chambers of commerce will host two training sessions next month to educate local businesses about opportunities to help their businesses grow. The sessions set for Wednesday, Dec. 7, will focus on four different programs to help existing businesses and those interested in starting a new business...

The Southeast Missouri State football team finished with a 3-8 record, including a 2-6 Ohio Valley Conference mark, after Saturday's 35-34 home loss to Murray State. It obviously wasn't the type of season Southeast fans hoped for after last year's historic campaign, but it wasn't really all that surprising considering the Redhawks lost so much talent from 2010...

RENO, Nev. -- Austin and Sarah Hardage's home is burned to its foundations -- the sad aftermath of an early-morning conflagration that raged through an area of southwest Reno. But in a twist that played out time and time again across the 2,000-acre fire, neighboring houses on either side were untouched by flames...

NEW YORK -- An "al-Qaida sympathizer" accused of plotting to bomb police and post offices in New York City as well as U.S. troops returning home has been arrested on numerous terrorism-related charges. Mayor Michael Bloomberg announced at a news conference Sunday the arrest of Jose Pimentel of Manhattan, "a 27-year-old al-Qaida sympathizer" who the mayor said was motivated by terrorist propaganda and resentment of U.S. troops in Afghanistan and Iraq...

VERONA, N.J. -- Retirement communities may have their perks, but Beryl O'Connor says it would be tough to match the birthday surprise she got in her own backyard when she turned 80 this year. She was tending her garden when two little girls from next door -- "my buddies," she calls them -- brought her a strawberry shortcake. It underscored why she wants to stay put in the house that she and her husband, who died 18 years ago, purchased in the late 1970s...

CARACAS, Venezuela -- A 33-year-old British adventurer preparing for a historic solo crossing of Antarctica was waiting at a base camp for the weather to improve on Sunday in order to begin her long journey on skis. Felicity Aston said she has been doing more than physical training to ready herself for the expedition...

JOPLIN, Mo. -- For every volunteer who fed and comforted victims of a deadly Joplin tornado, the community wants to say: "Thank you." Cards from grateful residents will begin hitting the mailboxes of volunteers around Thanksgiving. There are estimates that about 110,000 people helped out after the May 22 twister killed 161 people and destroyed more than 7,000 residences. ...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Power company Ameren Missouri said Friday that it will submit a proposal early next year to resolve recent controversy over homes, boathouses and other structures built along the Lake of the Ozarks. The central Missouri lake is formed by a dam operated by St. ...

WASHINGTON -- Police departments around the country are working to shield their radio communications from the public as cheap, user-friendly technology has made it easy for anyone to use handheld devices to keep tabs on officers responding to crimes...

ST. LOUIS -- St. Louis police are investigating a break-in at an old court building that was discovered after an Occupy St. Louis protest on Thursday. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports protesters held a rally and march through downtown on Thursday, and then that night some unfurled two large banners off the top of the former Municipal Courts building. The banners read "Occupy" and "Everywhere."...

City hall 401 Independence St. Study session, 5 p.m. today Items for discussion Meeting, 7 p.m. today Consent Agenda New Ordinances...

KABUL, Afghanistan -- More than 1,000 university students blocked a main highway in eastern Afghanistan on Sunday to protest any agreement that would allow U.S. troops to remain in the country after a planned transfer of authority in 2014. An assembly of more than 2,000 tribal elders and dignitaries known as a loya jirga over the weekend endorsed negotiating a security pact with Washington, though they also backed a series of conditions proposed by Afghan President Hamid Karzai including the end of night raids by international troops and complete Afghan control over detainees.. ...

The Redhawks seek their first win tonight at the Show Me Center

EUGENE, Ore. -- E.J. Singler scored 21 points to lead Oregon past Southeast Missouri State 86-61 on Sunday. Garrett Sim scored 14 and Jeremy Jacob added 10 points for the Ducks (2-1), who put the game away with a 32-1 run midway through the game...

Clayton "Stu" Pratt, 85, of Portland, Ore., formerly of Olmsted, Ill., died Sunday, Nov. 13, 2011, at Providence St. Vincent Hospital in Portland, Ore. He was preceded in death by his parents, Stewart M. and Isabelle (Neighbour) Pratt, and one brother, Phillip D. Pratt...

Violet A. Heuer, 81, of Cape Girardeau, passed away peacefully Friday, Nov. 18, 2011, at the Lutheran Home in Cape Girardeau. She was born June 20, 1930, in Cape Girardeau to Emil W. and Selma Marie Eggers Lampe. She married Donald C. Heuer on Dec. 30, 1950, in Cape Girardeau...

Maxine G. Heater, 83, of Tamms, Ill., passed away Sunday, Nov. 20, 2011, at the Jonesboro Rehabilitation & Health Care Center in Jonesboro, Ill. Maxine was born May 5, 1928, in Unity, Ill., to the late Elvis and Lois (Flowers) Heater. Maxine had lived in the Sandusky, Ill., community and was a member of the Sandusky Pentecostal Church...

Russell "Rusty" Dakin, 66, of Mounds, Ill., and former Pulaski County sheriff, passed away at 8:25 p.m. Friday, Nov. 18, 2011, at Southeast Hospital in Cape Girardeau. Rusty was born in Cairo, Ill., Aug. 28, 1945, to the late William and Edith (Berry) Dakin...

Daniel F. Sadler, 68, of Dongola, Ill., died Sunday, Nov. 20, 2011, at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. The funeral will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at the Rendleman & Hileman Funeral Home in Anna, Ill., with the Rev. Dean West officiating...

Robert Marion Young Sr., 76, of Cape Girardeau died Saturday, Nov. 19, 2011, at his home. Visitation will be from 2 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at Ford and Sons Mount Auburn Chapel. The funeral will be at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday at the chapel with the Rev. Troy Truitt officiating...

The federal Environmental Protection Agency is considering placing a former pest control chemical laboratory site here on the nation's list of hazardous waste sites slated for cleanup under the Super Fund program; the site, located near the Mississippi River and close to the former J.D. Streett bulk plant oil terminal, was home to the Kem-Pest laboratory between 1965 and 1975...

Cape Girardeau The Cape Girardeau Police Department released the following items. Arrests do not imply guilt. Arrests Assaults Robbery Thefts Burglary Miscellaneous...

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

KENNETT, Mo. -- Officials investigating the Nov. 14 fire at the Kennett Country Club are asking for assistance from the public in solving the case. Investigators have determined the blaze that resulted in a total loss of the country club's clubhouse was arson. The fire is being investigated by the Kennett Police Department, the Kennett Fire Department, the Office of the State Fire Marshal and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms...

CAIRO -- Egyptian soldiers and police set fire to protest tents in Cairo's Tahrir Square and fired tear gas and rubber bullets in a major assault Sunday to drive out thousands demanding that the military rulers quickly transfer power to a civilian government. At least 11 protesters were killed and hundreds were injured...

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

Rick and Tyler Cuba of the Cuba Financial Group and First Allied Securities Inc. recently attended NextGen University's masters program in Atlanta, Ga. Cannon Financial Institute conducted a three-day program for advisers holding the Certified Wealth Strategist designation on the topic of Business Continuity and Business Succession Planning. ...

Shannon Daniels has been fascinated by finance since childhood. As a vice president-financial consultant at Commerce Bank in Cape Girardeau for the past seven years, Daniels' No. 1 goal has been to educate others about investments and financial planning. Now, as she transitions to a new job as senior financial adviser at U.S. Bank, she hopes to continue helping clients plan a secure financial future...