Stories from Monday, April 2, 2012

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) -- Redrawn voting maps for the Missouri Legislature shifted numerous lawmakers into the same districts, but maneuvering since then will result in relatively few voters being asked to decide between incumbent legislators in primary elections this year...

LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) -- Police are forcefully warning Kentucky fans that a repeat of the dangerous weekend celebrations won't be tolerated for the game to decide college basketball's national champion. Lexington Police Chief Ronnie Bastin said some revelers Saturday night acted in a "dangerous and criminal" way in setting fires and damaging property. He says such behavior won't be tolerated Monday night...

Brian Naylor, Washington Desk correspondent for NPR News, will help local NPR affiliate KRCU kick off its spring membership drive this week. Naylor will speak at the station's annual membership breakfast at 7:30 a.m. Tuesday in Statuary Hall in the Wehking Alumni Center on the campus of Southeast Missouri State University. The station hopes to raise $38,000 in April...

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- Perryville's fire chief has now lost his job in the fallout from the investigation into stolen city property. The city's board of aldermen made a unanimous decision March 20 to dismiss fire chief Charlie LaRose. LaRose had already been removed from his position as water/wastewater superintendent, along with three other public works employees, coinciding with a city investigation into the theft of scrap metal owned by the city. ...

The Southeast Missouri State baseball team, one day after breaking its school-record 10-game losing streak, failed to put together a two-game winning streak. Host Eastern Illinois sent the Redhawks to their 17th defeat in their past 20 contests with Sunday's 10-0 romp in Charleston, Ill...

The Jackson Heritage Association announced the winners of its seventh art contest at a reception Sunday afternoon at Jackson High School. Each year, the association chooses a different subject for the art contest, one that is deemed to have some historical value for Jackson. This year the subject was the old "A" building at Jackson High School, which currently serves as the school's cafeteria and reception area, and stands on the site of the former Jackson Military Academy...

Peyton's turkey he shot Sunday morning of youth turkey season.

Scientist, inventor, comedian, writer and award-winning television personality Bill Nye will speak at the final event of Southeast Missouri State University's 2011-2012 Speaker Series at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Show Me Center in Cape Girardeau. Best known as "The Science Guy," Nye will discuss science as it relates to the world, climate and environment, and is expected to relate personal experiences and how he became interested in science...

Editor's note: This is the second in a series of stories about each of the three "points of contention" outlined by Cape Girardeau County in response to Fruitland's bid to incorporate as a village. Before allowing the village of Fruitland to incorporate, Cape Girardeau County wants to be sure it will provide adequate services to its residents...

SoutheastHEALTH unveiled its new Healthy Beginnings exhibit at the Discovery Playhouse children's museum in Cape Girardeau on Saturday, March 31. Pictured at a ribbon cutting ceremony with Southeast's "Stork" from left: (front row) Olive, Nahla, Christian and Evie Rose, children of Paul A. ...

The Perryville High School Lady Pirates volleyball team's historical season has reached another milestone, months after the final match on the court. All 3 starting seniors have now signed letters of intent to play the sport at the collegiate level...

THE CIGAR INDUSTRY NOW HAS A CHAMBER OF COMMERCE Based in Ft. Lauderdale yet First Member in Cape Gerardeau Cigar Chamber of Commerce was filed with the Secretary of State in Florida by The South Florida Foundation, Inc. on March 23rd 2012 by President Jay Shapiro. ...

Hutch is the sweetest! He is only 2 years old, and I bet you can't find a more mellow, gentle, lap cat! He just went to an adoption day, and stayed awake all day so that he could be petted and talked to by everyone that came past his cage. He didn't want to miss a minute of it! Hutch loves people and desperately wants his own family and home...

The African Methodist Church Cemetary near Old Appleton had fallen into disrepair. Serveral storms had downed large trees, and the weeds were waist-high. Several people in the area were making plans for a clean-up day, and contacting others to get more help. ...

This large, beautiful moth stopped by our slider screen one evening recently and stayed till morning. Maybe Aaron Horrell can tell us what it is.

ANNA, Ill. -- Police identified a man fatally struck by an Amtrak train traveling north early Saturday as Matthew Amezquita of Anna. To read the rest of this story, visit www.thesouthern.com. Pertinent address: Anna, Ill.

SIKESTON, Mo. -- An ongoing drug investigation has led to the arrest of two Sikeston brothers. Demarco Simpson, 25, and his brother, Laumphiauma Simpson, 22, were each charged with possession of drug paraphernalia and second-degree drug trafficking, according to Sikeston Department of Public Safety...

Today is Monday, April 2, the 93rd day of 2012. There are 273 days left in the year. Today's Highlight in History: On April 2, 1912, the just-completed RMS Titanic left Belfast to begin its sea trials eight days before the start of its ill-fated maiden voyage...

You can't prevent all accidents, but there are ways to make your home safe, lessening the chance of an injury at home. On March 7, AARP Missouri state director Craig Eichelman visited Cape Girardeau to discuss small changes we all can make in order to live independently for as long as possible...

About 22 years ago, Estelle Wood had an idea. She took it to Dr. Frank Nickell and other faculty members in the history department at Southeast Missouri State University, and the Mississippi River Valley Scenic Drive was born. "We have a wonderful landscape, a lot of historical buildings, churches and places of interest," says Wood, who still coordinates the drive each year...

Spring has sprung in Southeast Missouri, bringing with it warm days and plenty of sunshine. It's the perfect time to go ride a bike. Bonus: It is also really good for your health -- body and mind. "It's a low-impact aerobic activity," says John Dodd, owner of Cyclewerx in Cape Girardeau. "So as opposed to jogging or something, it's easy on the joints."...

If your fondest memories are from the days of saddle shoes, rock 'n' roll and "The Ed Sullivan Show," you'll want to see Notre Dame Regional High School's "Bye Bye Birdie" production this month. "Our music teacher has wanted to do it for a long time, and we felt like we had talent that matched the production and performance needs this year," says director Cynthia King...

It's 1970, and Matt Elfrink is sitting in the back row of his art class at Southeast Missouri State University, just like he always does. It's business as usual until Marsha, the girl who always sits in the front row, spills an entire bottle of Gesso on the desks and floor...

Most of us have been to a number of the 50 United States. Many have even made a few trips abroad. But few people are as well traveled as Dorothy Miles. This centenarian has visited all 50 states, as well as 185 countries and all seven continents. "My husband Paul and I were never able to have children," says Dorothy. "If we had, we would have stayed at home and raised them and educated them like everyone else. But since that didn't happen, our lives took a different path."...

In 1936, voters created our science-based conservation agency as a response to depletion of Missouri's fish, forest and wildlife resources through unchecked hunting, fishing, and logging. Today, the Missouri Department of Conservation is respected nationally for science-based wildlife management, as well as hunter education and safety success...

Bill Nye, a comedic scientist (yes, you read that right) will bring his analytical charm to the Show Me Center on Tuesday as part of the University Speaker Series, a program that has brought the likes of Michael J. Fox, Kurt Warner and Lisa Ling. Nye, according to the biography found on his website, is a scientist, engineer, comedian, author and inventor. He's know as "the Science Guy" and is absolutely beloved by those who follow him...

Sen. Crowell has it right. Missouri does not balance its budget. ("Crowell vows to block budget ‘gimmicks,'" Southeast Missourian, March 22, 2012, page 1A, by David A. Lieb, The Associated Press). Welcome to the party. The U.S. government has not balanced its budget for decades...

I guess it's official: You can run a red light, because I was at Mount Auburn Road and William Street on Tuesday and a SUV and a regular patrol car from the Cape Girardeau Police Department were sitting there and two people ran red lights right in front of them and they didn't do anything...

O Father God, thank you for sending your son as a sacrifice to cover our transgressions. Amen.

LOS ANGELES -- NBC's talent show "The Voice" is jumping on Facebook's "timeline" app bandwagon to give fans another way to vote for their favorite contestants. The new application allows viewers to cast votes for "Voice" singers and connect with friends and others watching the show, NBC and Facebook said Friday. Voting on live performances begins Monday...

Bill Zellmer, franchise owner and operator of six Buffalo Wild Wings Grill and Bar restaurants, has announced that Jerry Lynn, Cape Girardeau's general manager, has won the 2011 Grand Prix Manager top award. Lynn was evaluated at the corporate level, competing against 54 others in the region of the more than 800-unit chain made up of both corporate and franchise-owned restaurants. ...

The owner of an office complex at 1707 N. Mount Auburn has been given until April 16 to repair or demolish the building. The building was condemned by the city after a fire in November. Hollie Overstreet of Storey Management said the company has been working with its insurance company and getting bids for both renovating the building and tearing it down...

The Jackson Police Department released the following items. Arrests do not imply guilt. Arrests Firefighters responded the following calls Thursday:...

Firefighters responded to the following calls Thursday:...

The Cape Girardeau Police Department released the following items. Arrests do not imply guilt. DWI The Cape Girardeau County Sheriff's Department released the following items. Arrests do not imply guilt. DWIs...

Robert Dean Strong, 77, of Cape Girardeau died Sunday, April 1, 2012, at Landmark Hospital in Cape Girardeau. He was born June 19, 1934, in Belleville, Ill., to Willis E. and Marie Lemmon Strong. He and Mary E. Dolan were married June 18, 1983, at St. Charles, Ill...

Theon Louis "Junior" Schlosser, of Scott City died Sunday April 1, 2012, at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. He was born Nov. 1, 1932, at Illmo, the son of Theon John and Ella Irene LeDure Schlosser. He and Patricia Anne Drury were married Nov. 5, 1955, in Cape Girardeau...

Dorothy J. Link, 87, of Jackson died Saturday, March 31, 2012, at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. Visitation will be from 5:30 p.m. to time of service Tuesday at Shawnee Hills Baptist Church in Jackson. A memorial service will be held at 7 p.m. Tuesday at the church, with the Rev. Don Estes officiating...

Mark Michael Gerdes, 62, of Jackson passed away Saturday, March 31, 2012, at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. He was born March 16, 1950, in St. Louis, son of Olin and Irene Goebel Gerdes. He and Georgiana Felker were married June 25, 1971, in Chaffee, Mo...

Ralph L. Dumey, 84, of Jackson, died Sunday, April 1, 2012, at his home. Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at McCombs Funeral Home and Cremation Center in Jackson, and from noon until time of service Wednesday at New McKendree United Methodist Church in Jackson...

When it comes to coffee, Robbie Britt is competitive. The owner of Dynamite Coffee just finished in the top six at the Big Central Regional Barista Competition held in Chicago in March. This qualified him to compete in the United States Barista Championships in Portland, Ore., later this month. ...

The battle to replace Southeast Missouri State record-setting quarterback Matt Scheible begins in earnest today when the Redhawks kick off spring workouts at 6 a.m. While the competition certainly will carry over into fall practice, it will be an upset if Kyle Snyder doesn't open the season as the Redhawks' starter...

The Southeast Missouri State softball team suffered another tough Ohio Valley Conference loss Sunday. Host Tennessee Tech scored two unearned runs in the bottom of the seventh and final inning to beat the Redhawks 3-2. Tech (14-19, 8-7) took two of three in the series after the squads split Saturday's doubleheader...

JUPITER, Fla. -- Mike Matheny has a positive outlook for his St. Louis Cardinals with spring training winding down. "I think the guys are right where we should be," the Cardinals' first-year manager said. "I believe that spring training can drag. It hasn't for me because there has been a lot going on. It's interesting talking to these guys, too, because usually you get to this point and they are like, ‘Let's just get out of here.' I had a couple of them say it went really fast, too."...

The Southeast Missouri State University Board of Regents unanimously accepts a proposal to establish a major in nonmedical health management that, if approved by the Missouri Coordinating Board of Education, would meet a need for such a major not only in the region but statewide...

Southeast Missouri State University was founded in 1873 as the Third District Normal School. Here is a list of the men and one woman who have served as presidents of the institution. Lucius H. Cheney, 1873-1876 Alfred Kirk, 1876-1877 Charles Henry Dutcher, 1877-1880...

St. Vincent Indians Last season's record: 22-5 2011 final game: Lost to Springfield Catholic 3-2 in the Class 1 state title game Returning starters: Abby Lappe, sr., MID; Holly Blandford, so., FOR; Courtney Heberlie, sr., MID; Storm French, sr., DEF; Holly Cissell, jr., MID; Kayla Seabaugh, sr. DEF; Katie Mattingly, so., GK...

Central Tigers Returning starters: Pablo Jaramillo, jr.; Sam Stahly, sr.; Austin Shupert, sr. Other top returning players: Alvaro Jaramillo, sr.; Jake Wright, sr.; Sushil Sobti, sr.; Ryan Watts, jr.; Skylar Horton, sr.; Joe Kiefner, sr. Notre Dame Bulldogs...

Delta Bobcats Coach: Rebecca Cook Last season's record: 10-2 Returning starters: Macey Parks, sr., OF/INF; Myra Henson, sr., P; Chasity Taylor, so., OF; Megan Perry, so., INF/OF; Rachel Birkman, so., 1B Other top returning players: Lisa Lankford, jr., OF...

Bell City Cubs 2011 final game: Lost to Scott County Central 15-5 in a Class 1 District 2 quarterfinal Returning starters: Josh Overbey, P/SS; Jared Yates, CF/P/C Other top returning players: Aaron Smith, P/INF Chaffee Red Devils Last season's record: 19-7...

Notre Dame Bulldogs Returning starters: Gunnar Knudtson, sr.; Tyler Arpin, sr.; Cody Cox, jr.; Jake Seabaugh, sr.; Brady Dixon, so. Other top returning golfers: Jake Janet, jr.; Nick Cantoni, so. Top newcomers: Austin Williams, fr.; John Stroup, fr.; Tyler Allen, fr.; Trent Schumer, fr.; Jon Renner, fr...