Stories from Sunday, April 8, 2012

Recent severe weather, including the Joplin, Mo., tornado last year, has renewed the public's interest in tornado warning sirens, Cape Girardeau fire chief Rick Ennis told business leaders Friday.

If voters elect U.S. Rep. Todd Akin as Missouri's next senator this fall, he promises to reduce the size of government, repeal President Barack Obama's health care reform, rebuild a powerful military and cut what he called "job-killing red tape." Akin brought his conservative message to Cape Girardeau on Friday in the hopes of setting himself apart from his Republican rivals who all are hoping for the same thing -- the chance to knock off Democratic incumbent U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill...

BLOOMFIELD, Mo. -- They numbered more than 40 -- most of them wearing pink T-shirts in support of the victim of an alleged rape that took place in rural Stoddard County in the early morning hours of March 18. The group included the woman who police reportedly found being raped in an isolated cemetery south of Advance, Mo. Family and friends encircled her outside the Stoddard County Justice Center on Thursday morning before a court appearance by her alleged attacker...

A judge has denied a request by Clay Waller's lawyer to dismiss state harassment and stealing charges against him. Scott Reynolds, Waller's lawyer in the state case, submitted a motion last month to dismiss the case on the grounds that Waller, who is in prison on federal charges, can't get a speedy trial...

Work on the Broadway reconstruction project will start Monday. An email from city planners to Cape Girardeau business officials said the contractor is ready to start work on the project Monday, beginning at Water street and progressing west. The $4.5 million project will reconstruct Broadway from Water Street in the east to Pacific Street in the west...

A sunny spring day.

A cloudy evening.

A rose.

Buckets, baskets, bags and containers of all kinds and sizes were toted around by children and adults Saturday at the 20th annual Easter egg hunt at the Osage Centre in Cape Girardeau. The hunt was sponsored by Schnucks, Pepsi MidAmerica, River Radio and the Cape Girardeau Parks and Recreation Department...

BLOOMFIELD, Mo. --A toddler was struck and killed Friday afternoon. The Missouri Highway Patrol reported the Jason R. Fields, 20, of Bloomfield was backing out of a driveway onto Route E, one mile east of Bloomfield, at 4:30 p.m. Friday when his vehicle struck Hali M. Rice, 2, of Bloomfield...

Work to restripe various state routes in Cape Girardeau, Jackson, Poplar Bluff, Mo., Dexter, Mo., Sikeston, Mo., and Kennett, Mo., will begin Monday, weather permitting, according to a Missouri Department of Transportation news release. Striping work will be underway from 6 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. daily. It is expected to be completed by Friday. Motorists are advised to stay back 500 feet from striping machinery and follow all safety signage...

Jackson firefighters were able to contain a house fire on Donald street in about 10 minutes Thursday. A resident called 911 shortly before 8 p.m. and firefighters were on the scene for approximately an hour, according to Capt. Ryan Davie of the Jackson Fire Department...

BEIRUT -- The U.S. warned Syria it won't be able to deceive the world about compliance with a cease-fire plan, as regime forces pounded more opposition strongholds Saturday in an apparent rush to crush resistance before troops must withdraw. The latest fighting killed at least 87 civilians, almost half in the central Syrian village of al-Latamneh, activists said. ...

DOHA, Qatar -- The leader of the Islamist militant group Hamas has vowed to kidnap more Israeli soldiers to pressure the Jewish state to release Palestinian prisoners. The comments from Khaled Mashaal come after the deal Hamas struck last year with Israel to swap an Israeli soldier held by Hamas for more than 1,000 Palestinian prisoners, including many jailed for helping carry out bombings...

ISLAMABAD -- Pakistani soldiers dug into a massive avalanche in a mountain battleground close to the Indian border Saturday, searching for at least 135 people buried when the wall of snow engulfed a military complex. More than 12 hours after the disaster at the entrance to the Siachen Glacier, no survivors had been found...

BAMAKO, Mali -- Mali's parliamentary head, who was forced into exile after last month's coup, returned Saturday to this nation in crisis, marking the first step in Mali's path back to constitutional rule. The 70-year-old Dioncounda Traore was by chance in neighboring Burkina Faso on March 21 when disgruntled soldiers stormed the presidential palace in Mali's capital, ousting the nation's democratically elected leader and overturning two decades of democracy. ...

TEHRAN, Iran -- Iran has the knowledge and scientific capability to produce nuclear weapons but will never do so, a prominent lawmaker has said. Gholamreza Mesbahi Moghadam is a parliamentarian, not a government official, and his views do not represent the Iranian government's policy. It however is the first time that such a prominent Iranian politician has publicly stated that Iran has the technological capability to produce a nuclear weapon...

BENTON, Mo. -- A Sikeston, Mo., man is being held on charges of raping and sexually assaulting a child over several years. Antonio Rodriguez, 63, is charged with five counts of forcible rape, 15 counts of statutory rape, 10 counts of statutory sodomy, five counts of child molestation and two counts of sexual assault, according to Scott County Prosecuting Attorney Paul Boyd...

The Southeast Missourian received 16 awards in the annual contest sponsored by Local Media Association Editorial, formerly known as Suburban Newspapers of America. The Southeast Missourian received the second most awards of any daily newspaper in the 2011 competition, which recognizes editorial excellence in six circulation classes. The Local Media Association serves more than 2,000 member news organizations...

OMAHA, Neb. -- An unusually dry and warm March helped authorities keep space free for floodwaters in reservoirs along the Missouri River, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers said Friday. Nearly all of the 16.3 million acre-feet of the planned storage space for floodwater was available to help protect people and property downstream. The 2,341-mile-long river flows from Montana through North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Iowa and Missouri...

The city of Jackson is accepting bids for the Bainbridge Road Widening and Culvert Improvement Project until 2 p.m. April 19. A prebid meeting will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday at the public works conference room in Jackson City Hall. The project consists of removal of existing concrete culvert and improvements, construction of a replacement structure consisting of a reinforced cast in place single box culvert as well as traffic control, widening and resurfacing of Bainbridge Road and other items specified in city plans. ...

Today is Easter Sunday, April 8, the 99th day of 2012. There are 267 days left in the year. Today's Highlight in History: On April 8, 1952, President Harry S. Truman issued an executive order seizing the American steel industry to avert a nationwide strike. (The U.S. Supreme Court later ruled that Truman had overstepped his authority, opening the way for a seven-week strike by steelworkers.)...

Stephanie Lee Griffith and Jason Trent Riley were married Sept. 10, 2011, at St. Mary's Cathedral. The Rev. Tom Kiefer performed the ceremony. Violinist was Liesl Schoenberger, and organist and pianist was Leann Hendrix. Cantor was Lisa Simmons. The bride is the daughter of Deborah Welker of Cape Girardeau and Rick Griffith of Millersville. The groom is the son of Mark and Cathy Riley of Hannibal, Mo...

Deidre Emily King and James William Lutkewitte were married Sept. 24, 2011, at Epiphany of Our Lord Catholic Church in St. Louis. The Rev. Tom Pastorius performed the ceremony. Harpist was Terri Langerak of St. Louis, and soloist was Dale Rauh of Jackson...

MARBLE HILL, Mo. -- Dennis and Debbie Nenninger of Marble Hill announce the engagement of their daughter, Ashley Dawn Nenninger, to Christopher Michael Tobbe. He is the son of Steve and Patty Tobbe of Louisville, Ky. Nenninger is a 2007 graduate of Notre Dame Regional High School in Cape Girardeau. She expects to graduate from Murray State University in May with a double major in animal science and minor in biology...

CHESTERFIELD, Mo. -- Steve and Janet Rathmann of Chesterfield announce the engagement of their daughter, Jennifer Lee Rathmann, to Bo Bunton. He is the son of Bob and Stephanie Bunton of Chesterfield. Rathmann is a 2006 graduate of Parkway Central High School. She graduated from Stephens College in 2010, where she majored in marketing and event planning...

Mark and Shelly Dohogne of Scott City announce the engagement of their daughter, Brittany Danielle Dohogne, to Brent Jordan McGuire. He is the son of Jay and Theresa McGuire of Cape Girardeau. Dohogne is a graduate of Southeast Hospital College of Nursing and Health Sciences. She is a registered nurse at Southeast Hospital...

There are several kinds of clover. Pictured here are two four-leaf clovers that I found growing together. White clover tends to produce more four-leaf clovers than other kinds of clover. White clover has white flowers. Finding a four-leaf clover is a universal symbol of good luck. ...

Container gardening is growing smaller. Suppliers are downsizing this season with easier-to-use trough planters, raised beds, pots or bags. It's an effective way to produce edibles or blooms in tight spaces. One of the leaders in this less-is-better concept is EarthBox, a Scranton, Pa., manufacturer of self-watering plant containers. ...

Spring has definitely sprung in the weather, flowers, trees and food. Fresh asparagus is wonderful right now and strawberries coming from California and south Texas are pretty good now. So get out your spring recipe file and start cooking all of those favorite dishes to kick off this beautiful spring...

Name: Scoop Owner: Robyn Gautschy Scoop is a 7-year-old long-haired cat originally adopted from the Humane Society of Southeast Missouri. I adopted her from Southeast Missourian editors Bob and Callie Miller about three years ago. Readers may remember Scoop from her series of columns about adjusting to a new baby in the Miller household. These days, Scoop's favorite activities are sleeping under my covers, watching birds and chasing her red laser light...

People often say there isn't enough time to do all God wants them to do. But Cape Girardeau author Pat Renner believes "we can do all God has called us to do if we keep God at the center of our lives." That is the main premise of Renner's first book, "Live Life Fully: Make Every Day Count By Centering on God," which was released Feb. 7...

The Nancy Hunter Chapter of NSDAR met March 28 at the Cape Girardeau Public Library. Shelia Holloway, regent, introduced guest speaker Chief Paul White Eagle of the first Cape Girardeau Native Americans. Following the recitals of the rituals Catherine Allison, secretary, read the minutes and LaFern Stiver, treasurer, gave the treasury report. Both were accepted...

Nell Holcomb R-IV 6th Grade: A Honor Roll: Landon Byrum, Lainey Conklin, Anna Juhlin, Devin Lincoln, Zachary Randolph. B Honor Roll: Nolan Brown, Katelyn Carr, Abbi Dumey, Kassidy Gowan, Peyton Kirchhoff, Sean Murphy. 7th Grade: A Honor Roll: Zach Brock, Brad Orenstein, Alexis Oswald, Brent Tiemann, Jessica Weibrecht. B Honor Roll: Jordan Compass, Cody Dubbs, Katelyn May, Katherine Morton, Emery Naeter, Dylan Seabaugh, Austin Seyer...

Scott City Middle School 5th grade: High Honor Roll: Chloe Clayton, Samuel Jordan. Honor Roll: John Auer, Elijah Berry, Xavier Bollinger, Hope Crawford, Paige Cummins, Kaileigh Dirden, Courtney Enderle, Diamond Ham, Bailey James, Andrew Johnston, Luke Lange, Makenzie Menge, Christopher Rayford, Cody Rhyne, Jonathan Ruebel, Gregory Schwausch, Danielle Simms, Celeste Stanton, Rylee Stroup, Sophie Thompson, Rylee Venable...

3rd grade: High Honors: Omarion Edwards, Zander Kaufman, Aliza Smith. Honors: Terrance Adkinson, Kambria Childress, Liberty Green, Brainard Hagler, Tanija Johnson, Caitlin Marshall, Kaelei Martin, Madison Schoffner, Victoria Vaughn. 4th grade: High Honors: Jaylen Easley, Alyda Hite, Jade Houston, Katerra Jerrett, Orlando Matthews, Simeon Overton, Trison Paul, Clayton Spaulding, Hannah Williams. ...

St. Augustine School 4th grade: A Honor Roll: Riley Burger, John Essner, Grace Landewee, Paul Scherer. B Honor Roll: Drew Heisserer, Addie Gage, Madeline Hulshof, Joey LeGrand, Macie Mabrey, Grant Menz, Zachary Slinkard, Katie Taylor. 5th grade: A Honor Roll: Collin Dumey, Clare Fennewald, Megan Heisserer, Ben Jansen, Kassidy Leimbach, John Scherer. B Honor Roll: Eli Campbell, Alivia Collier, Cayden Dannenmueller, Connor Dirnberger, Nate Hulshof, Adam Moeser, Caleb Ressel, Shelby Seyer...

Scott City High School 9th grade: High Honor Roll: Lauren Bollinger, Levi Buckner, Carly Howell, Nathanial Klipfel, Lyndsie Robert. Honor Roll: Kelly Ashworth, Morgan Baker, Katinya Dudley, Jacob Elders, Jordan Gentry, Elizabeth Hensley, Jacob Hester, Caleb Jansen, Brennen Job, Anna Kern, Michaela Kiefer, Conner Raines, Tyler Rogers, Benjamin Schleinger, Darcy Schwettman, Victor Scouten, Cheyanne Shipman, Austin Spriggs, Bennett Uelsmann, Carrie Vermillion...

Kelly Elementary School 3rd grade: Mrs. Duby's Class: Kaylee Bolen, Kody Bramlett, Victor Flores, Chase Gray, Jacon King, Destiny Koerner, Garrett Moore, Jason Presley, Andrea Stevens, Katelynn Ward, Seth Westmorlan. Mrs. Groner's Class: Breanna Backfisch, Mollie Bartlett, Noah Burger, Brandon Carlyle, Savannah Crowley, Gavin Kirk, Alissa Londo, Carly Long, Alex Swope, Jeremiah Wright. ...

Delta R-V 7th Grade: A Honor Roll: Brett Davault, Charles Ledbetter, William Lincoln, McKenna McRoberts, Triston Perry, Tucker Robinson, Cooper Simpson, Madison Sitzes, Krista Valentine, Kiley Wicker. B Honor Roll: Lydia Borneman, Justin Lovelady, Logan McCoy, Carrie Waddle...

A Honor Roll 4th grade: Abbey Brandon, Clayton Eftink, Evan Givens, Luke Jones, Bryson Ketcher, Rajan Marasini, Connor Missey, Winnie Pickett, Emily Salter, Bailey Schott, Andrew Thurston, Natalie Timpe, Yusuf Wadi. 5th grade: Salma Abuhamda, Dawson Compas, Lilly Edwards, Paige Emmenderfer, Rachel Essner, Sierra Greaser, Melanie Hayden, Alex Kapp, Kennedy McGhee, Taylor Nelson, William Parsons, Laura Santana, Sarah Smith, A.J. ...

Kelly Middle School 6th grade: A Honor Roll: Donald Beck, Bradley Campbell, Gaven Chapman, Katelyn Draves, Cesar Fraire, Elizabeth Hall, Kelsey Hart, Alex Presson, Dalton Stanley, Lauren Wadlington, Alyssa Woodrome, Dawson Yates. B Honor Roll: Meagan Allred, Hunter Bryant, Brent Carlyle, Taylor Crank, Taylor Dorris, Shelby Fisher, Evan Gilliam, Conner Gleason, Madison Hayden, Logan Hodgkiss, Cora Hupp, Wyatt Ledure, Dustin Majka, Chase Morrow, Madison Poat, Dylan Sander, Landon Sides, Lacey Smith, Alyssa Stovall, Noah Tackett, Katelyn Turner, Teva Yancy.. ...

OBAMA must have a clue as to how the Supreme Court is going to rule on ObamaCare. As he describes the United States Supreme Court, the highest court of the land, as an "unelected group of people." How's that for a presidential quote? It almost seems like the name-calling of a little spoiled brat before throwing a tantrum. ...

Jesus, we worship and sing praises to you, for you are the Risen Lord. Amen.

Last week, I received an email from the Local Media Association, a large national newspaper organization that serves hundreds of small- and medium-market newspapers, primarily in suburban areas. The attachment made me proud. It was an awards list, and it showed that the Southeast Missourian had won 16 awards -- awards in nearly every category we had entered. ...

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. -- Zooming along at 170 mph in a fighter jet carrying thousands of pounds of fuel, two Navy pilots faced nothing but bad choices when their aircraft malfunctioned over Virginia's most populated city. "Catastrophic engine system failure right after takeoff, which is always the most critical phase of flying, leaves very, very few options," said aviation safety expert and decorated pilot J.F. ...

TULSA, Okla. -- Residents of Tulsa's predominantly black north side said Saturday they're afraid a shooter is still roaming their neighborhoods looking for victims after five people were shot -- and three killed -- on Friday. "We're all nervous," said Renaldo Works, 52, who was getting his hair cut at the crowded Charlie's Angels Forever Hair Style Shop on Saturday morning. "I've got a 15-year-old, and I'm not going to let him out late. People are scared. We need facts."...

OAKLAND, Calif. -- The suspect in a shooting rampage at a California Christian university that killed seven people was on campus because of a tuition dispute, but previously had not shown any signs of violence, the school's founder says. One Goh became upset when administrators refused to grant him a full tuition refund after he dropped out of the nursing program last fall, Jongjin Kim said Friday...

INDIANAPOLIS -- Sen. Richard Lugar sounded wistful in his gratitude when he thanked supporters packed in the skybox of the Indiana Pacers' home court, as though he could see the approaching end of a political career that has spanned nearly half a century...

WASHINGTON -- It's over, and Mitt Romney is going to be the GOP nominee for president. That's the growing consensus among Republican National Committee members who will automatically attend the party's national convention this summer and can support any candidate they choose...

Mildred M. Schott, 91, of Perry County, Mo., died April 7, 2012, at Independent Care Center of Perry County. She was born April 9, 1920, in Perry County, daughter of William L. and Emma B. Kirn Balsman. She and Walter L. Schott were married Feb. 27, 1943, and he preceded her in death Nov. 15, 1993...

Michael W. Schuette, 63, of Cape Girardeau died Friday, April 6, 2012, at the Lutheran Home. Funeral arrangements are incomplete at Ford and Sons Funeral Home.

Waldemar Karl Mueller, 74, of Jackson died Thursday, April 5, 20112, at Southeast Missouri hospital. Visitation will be from 10 to 11 a.m. Thursday at Ford and Sons Mount Auburn Chapel. The funeral will be at 11 a.m. at the funeral home, with the Rev. Donny Ford officiating. Burial will follow at Cape County Memorial Park...

Alvin W. Kamp, 94, of Jackson died Saturday, April 7, 2012, at the Lutheran Home in Cape Girardeau. Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Monday at the chapel of McCombs Funeral Home and Cremation Center in Jackson. The funeral will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday at the funeral home, with the Rev. Daniel Hale officiating. Burial will follow at Russell Heights Cemetery in Jackson...

Rosie L. Phegley, 90, of Cape Girardeau died Saturday, April 7, 2012, at Southeast Hospital. Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at Ford and Sons Mount Auburn Funeral Home. The funeral will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at the funeral home.

Daughter to James and Molly Samons of Cape Girardeau, St. John's Mercy Medical Center in St. Louis, noon Thursday, March 22, 2012. Name, Charlotte Elizabeth. Weight, 8 pounds, 1 ounce. First child. Mrs. Samons is the former Molly Summers, daughter of Ralph and Mary Summers of Park Hills, Mo. ...

Strong support in metropolitan and most other municipal areas across the state led to passage yesterday of Proposition A, a measure that will generate in excess of $100 million more annually for road and bridge construction in Missouri and $32 million more for city and county road and bridge use; the measure won in Cape Girardeau County by a 59 percent margin...

Margaret Earlene Burger, 95, of Cape Girardeau died Wednesday, April 4, 2012, at Saint Francis Medical Center. She was born Saturday, Feb. 10, 1917, in Cape Girardeau, to Claude M. and Mattie V. Reeves Marlin. She and Raymond Anthony Burger were married Aug. 11, 1934, in Belleville, Ill. He preceded her in death March 4, 2004...

TAMMS, Ill. -- Joey D. Matlock, 47, of Tamms died at 3:58 a.m., Friday, April 6, 2012, at home. He was born June 29, 1964 to Johnnie Carroll and Mary Elizabeth Lucas Matlock in Cape Girardeau. He was united in marriage to Rhonda Hardin. She survives...

NEW YORK -- Ahh, spring. The days get longer, flowers bloom, and gasoline gets more expensive. It's a galling time for drivers, and it's more maddening than usual this year. The average price of gasoline could surpass $4 per gallon nationwide as early as this week. It's already $3.93 per gallon, a record for this time of year...

Elwanda "Wanda" Searcy, 89, of Cape Girardeau died Friday, April 6, 2012, at Southeast Hospital. She was born Nov. 27, 1922, in Malden, Mo. Wanda was an active member of Zion United Methodist Church, was a wonderful cook and enjoyed gardening...

Retired Chief Petty Officer Cecil Wayne Crabb, 71, of Riverview, Fla., sailed his final voyage Tuesday, April 3, 2012, to be with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. While our tears show our sadness, our hearts are joyful knowing that Cecil is with Jesus...

ANNA, Ill. -- Karell "Gene" Sims, 78, of Anna died Friday, April 6, 2012, at his home. Visitation will be from 10 a.m. to service time Tuesday at Crain Funeral Home in Anna. The funeral will be at 1 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home, with Larry Barnhart officiating. Burial will be in Walker Hill Cemetery in Grand Tower, Ill...

The Culpepper & Merriweather Great Combined Circus will perform two shows on Monday at the Tilles Memorial City Park in Oran, Mo. The first will begin at 5 p.m., and the second will begin at 7:30 p.m. Neal E. Boyd, recording artist and winner of the 2008 "America's Got Talent," will perform the national anthem at both performances. ...

CAIRO, Ill. -- Gloria B. Patton, 69, of Cairo died Wednesday, April 4, 2012, at Southeast Hospital in Cape Girardeau. The service will be at 11 a.m. Monday at First Missionary Baptist Church. Burial will be in Mound City National Cemetery at 12:30 p.m., with Jimmy Ellis officiating...

Sarah Elizabeth Nussbaum, a senior at Cape Girardeau Central High School, is a National Merit Finalist. She was notified that she won first place in Southeast Missouri State University's interscholastic essay contest. Central High School English teacher Abigail Beckwith, who entered the essay on behalf of Nussbaum, praised the young writer in a message to her colleagues, thanking "all of you who have nurtured Lizzie's writing talent."...

Linda Scott of Zalma, Mo., sister of Debbie Essner of Jackson, donated about 65 inches of her hair to Locks of Love after learning of her cancer. ...

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

Enis is 10 months old. He is neutered. Enis is available for adoption at The Humane Society, 334-5837.

Merlin is a large 7-year-old cat that is declawed. He is an easy going cat that loves attention and would love to lay around and watch TV with you or enjoy a sunny spot! He is available for adoption at Safe Harbor at 243-9823.

On Oct. 11, 2011, Gregory Ballard was riding an ATV on his property in Pulaski, Ill., with his father-in-law, Darrell Blake. Ballard swerved to miss a dog in his path and flipped over the ATV, hitting his head on the pavement. "He was knocked unconscious," said Carmelle Ballard, Greg's wife of 14 years...

Bunnies, baby chicks, colored hard-boiled eggs, candy and flowers are all symbols of Easter for both Christians and non-Christians. However Christians focus most on the passion, especially the cross, the Jesse Tree and the washing of the feet -- to name a few ways Christians celebrate the season of Easter. Encarta Dictionary describes the word Easter as "the Christian festival in spring, a Christian festival marking the resurrection of Jesus Christ."...

I don't know anyone who doesn't love a good story -- whether it's in movies that capture your attention and inspire you to rise to a cause or books whose author has gripped you that after each page you find yourself saying, "Just one more." We love stories. Stories move us. We connect with the men and women in them. We want to become them. Sometimes we have been them...

Firefighters responded to the following calls Thursday:...

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

MONDAY--No classes. TUESDAY--Cheeseburger or ham & cheese on bun, potato tots, mixed fruit cup. WEDNESDAY--Ravioli or turkey & cheese on bun, candied carrots, roll, grapes. THURSDAY--Breaded mozzarella cheese sticks with marinara sauce or ham & cheese on bun, green peas, peaches...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Every month, 22-year-old Andrew Barbee is supposed to send the Missouri Department of Corrections money to help pay for his supervision as he serves probation until 2015. The fee was originally $30 per month, but Barbee fell behind on the payments after he was put on probation in 2010 for a conviction of possessing stolen property. ...

SIKESTON, Mo. -- Southbound Interstate 55 from Route PP to Route E in Scott County will be reduced to one lane Monday as Missouri Department of Transportation crews make shoulder repairs. Weather permitting, the work will be done from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. The work zone will be marked with signs. Motorists are urged to use caution while traveling near the area...

SIKESTON, Mo. -- Highway 51 between Highway 72 and a half-mile of highways 51 and 72 in Bollinger County will be reduced Monday as Missouri Department of Transportation crews perform drainage repairs. Weather permitting, the work will be done from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. The work zone will be marked with signs. Motorists are urged to use caution while traveling near the area...

SIKESTON, Mo. -- Highway 77 from Route D to U.S. 60 in Mississippi County will be reduced to one lane Thursday through April 16 while Missouri Department of Transportation crews perform pavement repairs. Weather permitting, work will be done from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. The work zone will be marked with signs. Motorists are urged to use caution while traveling near the area...

SIKESTON, Mo. -- Highway 72 from County Road 204 to Route F in Bollinger and Madison counties will be reduced to one lane Wednesday and Thursday as Missouri Department of Transportation crews trim trees. Weather permitting, work will be done from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily. The work zone will be marked with signs. Motorists are urged to use caution while traveling near the area...

ADAM VOGLER ~ avogler@semissourian.com Cape Girardeau City Clerk Gayle Conrad, right, swears in Ward 3 Councilman Trent Summers in front of the rest of the council Friday, April 6....

BLOOMFIELD, Mo. -- Evidence seized Wednesday from a rural Dexter, Mo., home landed five convicted felons in jail facing charges of possessing methamphetamine. Mark Cox, 41, Bradley E. Jackson, 39, David A. Burnett, 48, Darren White, 40, and Chasity K. Jackson, 35, all of Dexter, were charged Thursday with felony possession of methamphetamine...

MILWAUKEE -- Adam Wainwright walked away with confidence after his long-awaited return to the mound in a game that counts, even if he couldn't deliver a win for the St. Louis Cardinals. Wainwright, who missed last season because of elbow surgery, gave up four hits and three runs with a walk and six strikeouts over 5 2/3 innings in a 6-0 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers on Saturday...

MILWAUKEE -- The St. Louis Cardinals aren't counting on one player to replace Albert Pujols. And when four players hit home runs off Yovani Gallardo, it looks like a team-wide approach to making up for Pujols' departure just might work for the defending champions...

DALLAS -- St. Louis Blues coach Ken Hitchcock was hoping for some momentum-building performances that his team could carry into the playoffs. Alex Steen, David Perron and Jaroslav Halak gave Hitchcock exactly what he was looking for. Steen and Perron scored power-play goals, Halak stopped 33 shots and the playoff-bound Blues beat the Dallas Stars 3-2 on Saturday night in the regular-season finale for both teams...

News from around the world of Southeast Missouri State athletics.

Southeast Missouri State track and field coach Eric Crumpecker had few complaints after the 31st annual Joey Haines Invitational. The Redhawks claimed 12 event titles in the meet held Friday and Saturday at Southeast's Abe Stuber Complex. "We had a lot of personal bests, a lot of season bests," Crumpecker said. "We had a lot of people do a lot of good things. I'm very satistfied."...

The Jackson boys track and field team won the title at its own meet for the first time Saturday.

Southeast gave up three home runs in its 9-6 loss Friday

A career performance will extend the season for Southeast Missouri State gymnast Taylor Westrick. Westrick matched her career-best with a 9.900 on balance beam Saturday during the NCAA South Central Regional in Champaign, Ill. She tied for first place to qualify for the national meet...

A rare Southeast Missouri State baseball victory seemed like a mere formality with ace Shae Simmons on the mound carrying an 8-1 lead into the sixth inning. Things didn't work out that way, but the Redhawks couldn't have cared less. They simply were elated to pick up a much-needed win...

NEW YORK -- CBS newsman Mike Wallace, the reporter and interviewer who took on politicians, celebrities and other public figures in a 60-year career highlighted by the on-air confrontations that helped make "60 Minutes" the most successful prime-time television news program ever, has died. He was 93...

NEW YORK -- A listless late shift dragged on that night in the newsroom of The Associated Press and, across town, at The New York Times. Feet up on the AP city desk, an editor named Charles Crane read an H.G. Wells novel to while away the news-free night. "Telegraph instruments clicked desultorily," he said later, "and occasionally one could hear the heartbeat of the clocks."...

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- The Butterfield Overland Trail, a 2,800-mile, 19th-century stage route from Missouri to California, is under consideration to become a national historic trail. The Butterfield, which had an eastern starting point in Tipton, Mo., and ended in San Francisco, marked the beginning of land delivery of U.S. mail to California and played a key role in opening up the West...

A miraculous event 2,000 years ago in Jerusalem changed the world. On this Easter morning, the story is presented again from the Holy Bible (the Gospel according to St. Matthew, Chapter 28):